Asset tracking system

Abstract

An asset tracking system for tracking assets, for example, a vehicle, with an integrated topology that is configured minimize the complexity of the system by eliminating hardware duplication and sensing the ignition state while obviating the need to access the ignition switch circuit; the asset tracking system optionally including a loan obligation management system that is integrated with the asset recovery system which provides in-vehicle notifications of loan obligations for the asset upon which the loan obligation is based from a remote location directly to the asset.

1 . An asset recovery system comprising:
 an application subsystem including an application software program;   a GPS subsystem including a GPS software program for tracking the location of said asset;   a communication subsystem including a communication software program for communicating data including the location of the asset with a remote device;   a power subsystem for providing power to said application subsystem, said GPS subsystem and said cellular subsystem, and   an integrated CPU for running said application software program, said communication software program and said GPS software program.   
     
     
         2 . The asset recovery system as recited in  claim 1 , further including a flash memory device coupled to said integrated CPU for storing said application software program, said communication software program and said GPS software program. 
     
     
         3 . The asset recovery system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said power subsystem is configured to receive an external source of DC power and includes a voltage regulator and a back up battery. 
     
     
         4 . The asset recovery system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said communication system is configured to provide bidirectional communication between said asset recovery system and said remote device. 
     
     
         5 . The asset recovery system as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said application subsystem is configured to be responsive to external inputs. 
     
     
         6 . The asset recovery system as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said external inputs include a signal representative of the ignition state. 
     
     
         7 . The asset recovery system as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said external inputs include a signal representative of the motion of the asset. 
     
     
         8 . The asset recovery system as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said external inputs include a signal representative of the state of a panic button. 
     
     
         9 . The asset recovery system as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said external inputs include a command from said external device. 
     
     
         10 . The asset recovery system as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said asset recovery system is configured to generate external commands. 
     
     
         11 . The asset recovery system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said external commands include a command to disable the vehicle starter. 
     
     
         12 . The asset recovery system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said external commands include a command to sound the vehicle horn. 
     
     
         13 . The asset recovery system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said external commands include a command to illuminate an LED. 
     
     
         14 . A method for determining the ignition state of a vehicle without monitoring the state of an ignition switch, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a.) measuring the voltage of the primary voltage of a vehicle ignition coil during a first sample period, defining a first sample voltage;   (b) storing said first sample voltage;   (c) measuring the voltage of the primary voltage of a vehicle ignition coil during a second sample period, defining a second sample voltage;   (d) storing said second sample voltage;   (e) comparing said first sample voltage and said second sample voltage defining a comparison; and   (f) providing an indication of said ignition state as a function of sad comparison.   
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein step (f) includes determining whether the first sample voltage is greater than or equal to said second sample voltage. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein step (f) includes providing an indication of an ignition state as a function of whether said first sample voltage is greater than or equal to said second sample voltage. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein step (f) includes providing an indication of an Ignition Off State when the difference between said first sample voltage and said second sample voltage is greater than a predetermined value. 
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein step (f) includes providing an indication of an Ignition State Unchanged when the difference between said first sample voltage and said second sample voltage is not greater than a predetermined value. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein step (f) includes providing an indication of an Ignition On State when the difference between said second sample voltage and said first sample voltage is greater than a predetermined value. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein step (f) includes providing an indication of an Ignition State Unchanged when the difference between said second sample voltage and said first sample voltage is not greater than a predetermined value. 
     
     
         21 . A method for managing a loan obligation of an asset which includes: a communication system for enabling communications between said asset and a remote device; a system for detecting the state of said asset and communicating the state of said asset to said remote device by way of said communications system; a system for providing an indication of a payment due; and a system for enabling said asset to be disabled based upon a command from said remote device, the method comprising:
 (a) sending a payment reminder over said communication system to said asset providing an indication of a loan obligation;   (b) disabling said payment reminder as a function of said state of said asset by way of said communication system when a payment is made; and   (c) disabling said asset as a function of said state of said asset by way of said communication system when a payment is not made.   
     
     
         22 . A system for managing a loan obligation of a vehicle, the system comprising:
 a communication system for enabling communication between a vehicle and a remote device;   a system configured to monitor the ignition state of the vehicle; and   a system responsive to commands from said remote device received from said communication system and configured to disable the vehicle in response to receiving a disable command or provide a signal that a payment is due as a function of the ignition state of the vehicle.