Telecommunications – Transmitter and receiver at separate stations
Reexamination Certificate
1994-10-31
2001-05-22
Maung, Nay (Department: 2681)
Telecommunications
Transmitter and receiver at separate stations
C455S011100, C455S039000, C455S426100, C455S574000, C342S457000, C340S991000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06236836
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a portable/mobile transponder for the localizing of movable objects and more exactly the transponder according to the present invention is possible to be enabled via an existing radio network, e.g. type MiniCall and/or MBS-RDS.
PRIOR ART
Today a frequent problem consists in thefts whereby there is no simple way to easily locate these objects. In certain cases, e.g., in the transportation of valuables, cassettes are used which contain a system such that if the cassette is unauthorizedly opened a device is triggered for example staining the banknotes. These systems are however not suitable for larger transports of valuables, nor are they suitable for other individual objects of value.
Therefore in the surveillance of objects which are easily being moved there exists a general demand for a marker transmitter, which for example, is possible to enable if the object to be guarded is brought out of a surveillance area. Such a marker or transponder then must be of small size, self supporting and capable of being applied to or inside the objects which are of interest to track.
By means of such a marker device or transponder, for example, bags containing registered mail or money (currently existing in transportation of valuables) and additionally children or elderly people would be possible to track. The system would be very economical if portions of the system could be built on the utilization of partly prior technique and the system in principle having nation-wide coverage and this then further being combined with an intelligent transponder.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,908,629 is disclosed a microprocessor based transponder for main use in vehicles being activated from the national police headquarters with specifications from the FBI National Crime Information Center register by microwave link to VHF transmitters. Two-way communication on the same frequency with enabling and response. After enabling the transponder transmits ID every tenth second. The transponder may be localized by means of direction-finding equipment in a police car. A limited amount of control information may be transferred to the transponder which however is not applicable for portable use. The drive voltage +12 volts is taken from the supply of the vehicle. In connection with the patent from 1990 it may be noted that the claimed direction-finding equipment was previously published in “73 Magazine” July 1986 by permission of Electronics Australia, February 1986.
Another document, UK Patent Application 2 155 720, concerns a transponder for main use in aircrafts and ships. This system uses two-way communication between the enabling system and the transponder. The localization is obtained by means of a satellite positioning system (NAVSTAR-GPS). No possibility is mentioned for transferring control information to the transponder for this non-portable system.
The document WO, A1 91/19997 concerns a transponder system for essential use in ships, missiles, tanks and other weapons.
Enabling/response takes place in the short wave band, between 4 and 28 MHz, while the positioning takes place by means of GPS. The transponders include readers of, e.g., a so called “smart-card”. The response information contains in addition to the position also information from this “smart-card”. This system like the previously discussed is also not intended to be portable.
Another additional American patent U.S. Pat. No. 5,032,845 is concerning a microprocessor controlled transponder having programs in external PROM:s and intended for vehicles. This transponder contains many sensors directly intended for vehicles such as e.g. ignition coil, door contacts etc. It may if required activate main headlights, horn, ignition system. The transponder is provided with a miniaturized remote key pad. A four digit code must be given before the car is started in order not to have the transponder by itself call for attention. Positioning is made by the system LORAN-C (100 kHz). Voltage supply +12 volts is effected from the electric system of the vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,357 concerning a microprocessor controlled (INTEL 8086) transponder primarily conceived for use in vehicles. The transponder is activated from a base station. Positioning is by means of any of or any combination of the four different methods DRT, DST, DDM and LORAN. The system initiates transmission of an alarm message if the unit is loosing communication with the base station, whereby other similar units may relay such an alarm message. Sensors for driver's seat, motion and upon theft, e.g. if desired, a pager may be activated, but the system is not intended to be portable.
EP-0 467 036 A2 concerns a transceiver “tag” intended for identification of objects. The tags are interrogated from a nearby transmitter having an AM-modulated carrier. ID from the tag is sent via an AM-transmitter being keyed on/off. A global interrogation sequence is transmitted to all tags from the interrogator. If these tags lye within the reception range all tags will transmit their response information constituting identification of the responding tag. All interrogated tags transmit on the same frequency. Subsequent to that identity was being transmitted from the tag and received by the interrogator, the interrogator transmits an acknowledgement of tag ID being received. After that acknowledgement has been received by the tag it goes to a standby mode and waits for the next global interrogating sequence from the interrogator. If ID being sent by the tag is not acknowledged by the interrogator the tag will retransmit its identity until acknowledgement is received from the interrogator.
According to the document it can be understood that no position measure is given or any description otherwise localizing the tag, why it may be assumed that the position of the tag therefore is known or that the position has such a character that the position of the tag does not have to be transmitted to the interrogator. Additionally it may be established that the radio receiver portion of the transceiver in the tag is super regenerative. This leads to a great risk of undesired radiation, large bandwidth (i.e. great risk of interference from other transmitters) and relatively low reception sensitivity.
None of the documents demonstrated is offering a system which is applicable for simple surveillance of objects which are easily being moved out of a surveillance area.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The system proposed by us having a small portable/mobile transponder for localization of movable objects is intended to be enabled via an existing paging network having high functionality.
A first purpose of the present invention is to offer a flexible portable system having small dimensions for the marking of objects, e.g. transport bags for valuables, larger valuables, persons/children or certain types of domestic animals (dogs, cats, etc.), for which object it is a desirable to be able to quickly locate this at a certain moment.
A second purpose of the system according to the present invention is aiming to transfer control information via an existing nationwide covering radio system, e.g. a paging system, whereby the position of the transponder does not have to be known at the enabling moment or after an occasion with activation.
A third purpose according to the present invention is that the position of the activated transponder is localized by means of a direction-finding system by means of radio signals being transmitted by the transponder.
The system according to the present invention constitutes an easily portable or mobile system for the localization of movable objects. The transponder contains a receiver, preferably of the type in a paging system, a decoder, a logic unit, a transmitter portion and a power supply. The system is thereby controllable and triggable by means of an existing tested paging radio system. The advantage in using an already existing paging system is partly that the functionality is well tested while providing generally large coverage area is obtained an
Närhi Anne
Westman Tony
Maung Nay
Young & Thompson
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