US 5,223,844 · Granted 1993-06-29
The 1993 Patent That Invented Real-Time Car Tracking
Imagine a hidden device in your car that constantly talks to a control center, pinpointing your exact location using GPS and alerting authorities if someone tries to steal it or you get in an accident. This patent describes the blueprint for modern vehicle tracking and emergency response systems—the ancestor of today's OnStar and similar services.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers a vehicle monitoring system where a hidden Mobile Unit inside a car continuously communicates with a Control Center via transceiver, transmits GPS location data, triggers alarms for theft or intrusion, and allows drivers to manually request assistance through a keypad interface. What's protected here is the specific combination of in-vehicle sensors, GPS positioning, wireless communication to a central hub, and the ability for occupants to request help—all working together as one integrated system.
Why it matters
This patent arrived at a pivotal moment in automotive technology, before GPS was widely available to consumers. It established the foundational architecture for vehicle security and emergency response that became standard in the industry. The patent's emphasis on integrating theft detection, location tracking, and two-way communication created a new product category that insurance companies and consumers demanded, influencing decades of automotive safety features and connected-car services.
Real-world use
When you call roadside assistance from your car's built-in emergency button, or when your vehicle's location is automatically sent to authorities after a serious accident, you're using technology pioneered by this patent.
Original USPTO abstract
The present invention provides a vehicle tracking and security system which allows immediate response in case of vehicle theft, an accident, vehicle breakdown, or other emergency. Guardian and tracking functions are provided through Mobile Units installed in hidden locations in vehicles to be monitored. The Mobile Units communicate with a Control Center. Preferably, the Mobile Unit provides vehicle theft and intrusion protection using an in-vehicle alarm and security system linked to the Control Center by a transceiver in the Mobile Unit. Also, a keypad or other human interface device is provided, allowing a vehicle driver or occupant to signal the Control Center that a particular type of assistance is needed. The vehicle's location may be automatically transmitted to the Control Center along with any automatic alarm signal or manually entered request, the location being precisely determinable anywhere in the world through use of Global Positioning System (GPS) information. The present invention provides continuous monitoring of a large number of vehicles for a broad range of status and emergency conditions over a virtually unlimited geographic area, also allowing manual communication of requests for assistance to that specific location. Advantageously, the system is implemented using existing commercial or police communications equipment.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 5,223,844
- Filing date
- 1992-04-17
- Grant date
- 1993-06-29
- Assignee
- Auto-Trac, Inc.
- Inventor(s)
- MANSELL; JOHN P., RILEY; WILLIAM M.
- CPC class
- G01S5/0009
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