Patent ID: 6163278
Filing Date: 2000-12-19
Classification: G08G

Abstract:
A system for locating particular vehicles on a holding lot having a large plurality of vehicles parked thereon, wherein each said vehicle is equipped with a single board engine controller (SBEC), the SBEC containing a code corresponding to the vehicle's Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), and the vehicle further having a Body Control Module (BCM) having a Vehicle Theft Alarm (VTA) system for activating at least one of the vehicle's lights or horn, the VTA having a radio frequency receiver associated therewith, the system comprising:a control system for transmitting a locating signal encoded with a particular VIN of a vehicle located on said holding lot, said control system including a computer system for enabling an individual to enter a particular VIN associated with a particular vehicle;a plurality of radio frequency signal repeaters arranged in a grid network on said holding lot and responsive to said locating signal, said signal repeaters each operating to transmit a low power radio frequency signal encoded with said particular VIN;a display system operably associated with said control system which includes a display corresponding to said grid network;wherein said SBEC of said vehicle having said particular VIN causes said VTA of said same vehicle to generate a radio frequency location identifying reply signal upon receipt of said low power radio frequency locating signal, back to one of said repeaters in proximity to said vehicle having said particular VIN; andwherein said repeater relays said location identifying signal back to said display system to enable an individual to determine a location of said vehicle having said particular VIN on said holding lot.