Patent ID: 9565636
Date: 2017-02-07
CPC Classifications: B60R,G08G,H04W,Y02D

Claim:
1. A power management system for a vehicle locating unit, the vehicle locating unit having a receiver for receiving at an assigned message frame an intermittent transmission from a communications source, wherein each intermittent transmission includes at least one assignable message frame, the power management system comprising: a processing device for controlling wake and sleep modes of the receiver; and a memory for storing a plurality of memory bit patterns for comparison with a pattern of bits contained in some portion of an assigned message frame, wherein the processing device is configured to perform the following steps: index to the receiver's assigned message frame in the intermittent transmission; re-enter wake mode after indexing; and subject the receiver to a constant average current draw; and wherein the vehicle locating unit further comprises a transmitter for transmitting reply code and each intermittent transmission includes at least one of an activate command, a de-activate command, and a speed-up command, wherein the processing device is further configured to perform the following steps: upon receipt of an activate command, switch said transmitter from a de-activated state to a slow mode state; switch said transmitter from the slow mode state to a slower, second slow mode state after a predetermined period; and upon receipt of a speed-up command, switch said transmitter from at least one of the slow mode state and the second slow mode state to a fast mode state; switch the transmitter from the fast mode state to the slow mode state after a predetermined period; switch the transmitter from the second slow mode state to a slower, third slow mode state after a preselected period; and switch said transmitter from the third slow mode state to the fast mode state upon receipt of a speed-up command.