Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Vehicle subsystem or accessory control
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-22
2004-04-20
Zanelli, Michael J. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Vehicle subsystem or accessory control
C701S213000, C340S426170, C342S357490
Reexamination Certificate
active
06725138
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the field of automotive control and location determination.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Automobile parking lots have grown in size due in part to the development of large department stores and shopping malls. Often times a driver of an automobile parks in the large parking lot for shopping or other business. When the driver returns to the parking lot the driver may not be able to remember the location of the automobile and thus can waste a significant amount of time hunting for the automobile in the large parking lot. Modem automobiles often are manufactured with a key having an attached remote transmitter that allows the driver to remotely lock or unlock the automobile while the automobile is within a limited wireless transmission range. Such remotes are also available on an after market installation basis. Often, the automobile will sound a horn, flash exterior lights or other audio/visual alert when the remote transmitter is activated in the vicinity of the automobile, thereby facilitating location of the automobile within the limited range. Unfortunately, this limited range between the transmitter and automobile and the limited range of the automobile's audio/visual alert only allows a driver to pinpoint the automobile location if the automobile is close to the driver. This method is of very little use in locating an automobile in a very large parking area or far from the driver.
The advent of global positioning systems (GPS) has allowed determination of a location virtually anywhere on the surface of the planet where the GPS signal can be received. However, consumer GPS devices are usually general purpose having a complex user interface an expensive display. Furthermore, many consumer grade GPS receivers have inaccurate pinpoint location and can only guide to a location which is close, but are incapable of pinpoint accuracy. Furthermore, GPS devices typically operate continuously and consume a large amount of power, thus rapidly depleting batteries used to power portable GPS receivers.
Thus, what is needed is a simple portable device for locating an automobile which takes advantage of the benefits of both GPS and remote transmitter location determination without rapidly depleting batteries powering the device.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5612688 (1997-03-01), Masudaya
patent: 5648763 (1997-07-01), Long
patent: 5991690 (1999-11-01), Murphy
patent: 6093980 (2000-07-01), Yamamoto et al.
patent: 6116201 (2000-09-01), LaBelle
patent: 6148202 (2000-11-01), Wortham
patent: 6172640 (2001-01-01), Durst et al.
patent: 6236918 (2001-05-01), Sonoda et al.
patent: 6360169 (2002-03-01), Dudaney
patent: 6363324 (2002-03-01), Hildebrant
patent: 6392592 (2002-05-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 6405125 (2002-06-01), Ayed
patent: 6489921 (2002-12-01), Wilkinson
patent: 2003/0020638 (2003-01-01), Sari et al.
patent: 2000-145223 (2000-05-01), None
DeLuca Joan S.
DeLuca Michael J.
Lynch Kathy
IdeoCo.com
Zanelli Michael J.
LandOfFree
Automobile lock and locate method and apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Automobile lock and locate method and apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Automobile lock and locate method and apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3234590