Abstract:
An apparatus that provides for the wireless receiving, storing and dissemination of digital data as part of a motor vehicle license plate is disclosed. The apparatus allows for the querying of data typically associated with driving privileges, such as social security numbers, insurance policy information, addresses, registration information, driving records, driving restrictions and the like. Data would be passed wirelessly upon receipt of a valid request signal from a law enforcement vehicle. Such reporting is viewed as a means to reduce data entry and eliminate errors thus freeing the law enforcement officer to perform other duties, or perform multiple queries in the same time as it takes to perform one in a conventional manner. Remote inputs from alarm systems and panic buttons allow for activation of the transmitter portion to alert law enforcement authorities of a possible crime. Such emergency reporting can only be acknowledged and deactivated by authorized authorities.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   There are no previously filed, nor currently any co-pending applications, anywhere in the world. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to wireless data transfer systems and, more particularly, to a motor vehicle license plate with integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Recent events in our history have reminded us how easily terrorists, criminals and others who are hiding from the law can travel about in motor vehicles. Once such people are inside the anonymity of a car or truck, they can move freely about our country with little danger of being caught. Even if they should be pulled over for a minor travel violation, they are often released without the law enforcement officer even knowing their true identity due to inadequate alerts, incompatible computer systems and often just oversight. Also, due to illegible communications, transcription errors, and the like, incorrect or incomplete license plate numbers are checked, thus allowing criminals and others to be released. Other crimes involving motor vehicles such as car-jackings, kidnaping in motor vehicles and the like are also on the rise and are almost impossible to stop other than by blind luck. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which license plate registrations, driver&#39;s license information, vehicle status and the like can be queried, accessed and verified without the time-consuming effort and error-prone processes afforded by current methods. 
   A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention; however, the following references were considered related: 
   U.S. Patent No. Des. 396,439, issued in the name of Turnquest, discloses an ornamental design for an auto license plate lock box system;
         U.S. Pat. No. 4,001,822, issued in the name of Sterzer, discloses an electronic license plate for motor vehicles;   U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,179, issued in the name of Smith, discloses an electronic display license plate;   U.S. Pat. No. 5,196,846, issued in the name of Brockelsby et al., discloses a moving vehicle identification system;   U.S. Pat. No. 5,579,008, issued in the name of Hulderman et al., discloses an electronic license plate apparatus and method; and   U.S. Pat. No. 5,621,571, issued in the name of Bantli et al., discloses an integrated retro-reflective electronic display.       

   Consequently, there exists a continuous need for new ideas and enhancements for existing products in the electronic tracking and database transmission industry. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device for a motor vehicle comprising a license plate affixed to the motor vehicle. 
   An apparatus that provides for the wireless receiving, storing and dissemination of digital data as part of a motor vehicle license plate is disclosed. The apparatus allows for the querying of data typically associated with driving privileges, such as social security numbers, insurance policy information, addresses, registration information, driving records, driving restrictions and the like. Data would be passed wirelessly upon receipt of a valid request signal from a law enforcement vehicle. Such reporting is viewed as a means to reduce data entry and eliminate errors thus freeing the law enforcement officer to perform other duties, or perform multiple queries in the same time as it takes to perform one in a conventional manner. Remote inputs from alarm systems and panic buttons allow for activation of the transmitter portion to alert law enforcement authorities of a possible crime. Such emergency reporting can only be acknowledged and deactivated by authorized authorities. 
   It is a feature of the present invention to provide an integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device for a motor vehicle comprising a license plate including a legacy system of vehicle identification including a license plate number and at least one registration sticker location; a strip antenna projecting from the plate, the strip antenna receiving and transmitting digital information via a radio frequency signal; an enclosure at an upper rear portion of the plate, the enclosure housing associated circuitry of the plate; an interface cable operatively coupling the enclosure to an electrical supply system of the motor vehicle; and a querying antenna provided on at least one law enforcement vehicle, the querying antenna producing a complimentary radio frequency signal interacting with the strip antenna so as to receive and transmit digital information therebetween; wherein the device provides enhanced efficiency of law enforcement queries. 
   It is a further feature of the present invention to provide an integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device for a motor vehicle comprising a license plate affixed to the motor vehicle, wherein operative coupling between the enclosure and the electrical supply system of the motor vehicle comprises a battery providing a source of electrical power; an overcurrent protective device, wherein the battery is routed through the overcurrent protective device and subsequently routed through a conductor of the interface cable to the enclosure; an emergency notification signal routed from an anti-theft alarm system or a panic alarm in a parallel series through the enclosure; the enclosure comprising a power supply operatively coupled to a controller, an alarm module, a transmitter, a receiver, a multiplexer and a memory block, wherein generated power bus signals are routed from the power supply to the alarm module, the transmitter, the receiver and the controller. 
   It is a further feature of the present invention to provide an integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device for a motor vehicle comprising a license plate affixed to the motor vehicle, wherein the controller is operatively coupled between the power supply and the alarm module, the transmitter and the receiver, the controller further coupled to the memory block, and wherein the transmitter is further coupled to the multiplexer, the multiplexer interacting with the strip antenna for transmitting and receiving digital information, and the multiplexer transmits received digital information to the controller. 
   It is a further feature of the present invention to provide an integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device for a motor vehicle comprising a license plate affixed to the motor vehicle, wherein said emergency notification signal is further routed through said enclosure to said alarm module that is directly coupled to said transmitter. 
   It is a further feature of the present invention to provide an integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device for a motor vehicle comprising a license plate affixed to the motor vehicle, wherein said memory block stores digital information of said motor vehicle and owner thereof. 
   It is a further feature of the present invention to provide an integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device for a motor vehicle comprising a license plate affixed to the motor vehicle, wherein said emergency notification signal is transmitted from said motor vehicle to at least one of said law enforcement vehicle. 
   It is a further feature of the present invention to provide an integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device for a motor vehicle comprising a license plate affixed to the motor vehicle, wherein said emergency notification signal is latched by said plate and reset only by a proper disarming signal incoming from said querying antenna. 
   It is a further feature of the present invention to provide an integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device for a motor vehicle comprising a license plate affixed to the motor vehicle, wherein said emergency notification signal comprises closure of an anti-theft contact integrally coupled with said anti-theft alarm system and actuated upon unauthorized tampering with said motor vehicle. 
   It is a further feature of the present invention to provide an integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device for a motor vehicle comprising a license plate affixed to the motor vehicle, wherein said emergency notification signal comprises closure of a panic contact integrally coupled with a panic button and actuated upon a vehicle occupant depressing said panic button. 
   It is a feature of the present invention to provide an integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device for a motor vehicle comprising a license plate affixed to the motor vehicle, wherein said panic button is provided in a passenger compartment of said motor vehicle. 
   It is a further feature of the present invention to provide an integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device for a motor vehicle comprising a license plate affixed to the motor vehicle, wherein said panic button is provided in a trunk compartment of said motor vehicle. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
       FIG. 1  is an overall perspective view of the motor vehicle license plate with integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device  10  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a detailed perspective view of the motor vehicle license plate with integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a functional interconnection diagram of the motor vehicle license plate with integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device  10 ; and 
       FIG. 4  is a functional logic diagram of the logic sequence as used with the data acquisition and dissemination portion of the motor vehicle license plate with integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device  10 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 4 . 
   DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
   
       
         10  motor vehicle license plate with integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device 
         15  equipped motor vehicle 
         20  radio frequency signal 
         25  law enforcement vehicle 
         30  querying antenna 
         35  complimentary radio frequency signal 
         40  base structure 
         45  license plate number 
         50  mounting holes 
         55  registration update sticker locations 
         60  interface cable 
         65  electronics enclosure 
         70  strip antenna 
         72  access hole 
         75  battery 
         80  overcurrent protective device 
         85  emergency notification signal 
         90  anti-theft contact closure 
         95  panic alarm 
         100  power supply 
         105  alarm module 
         110  direct connection 
         115  transmitter 
         120  multiplexer 
         125  receiver 
         130  controller 
         135  memory block 
         140  power bus signals 
         145  first functional block 
         150  first operational block 
         155  second operational block 
         160  second functional block 
         165  third operational block 
         170  third functional block 
         175  fourth functional block 
         180  fifth functional block 
         185  fourth operational block 
         190  sixth functional block
 
1. Detailed Description of the Figures
 
     
  
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , an overall perspective of the motor vehicle license plate with integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. A plurality of equipped motor vehicles  15  such as automobiles, trucks, busses, vans, or the like, are situated in a real world driving environment as would be found on everyday streets, roads, highways, parking lots, and the like. The motor vehicle license plate with integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device  10  as provided on the equipped motor vehicle  15  is capable of producing and receiving a radio frequency signal  20 , which would be of the frequency, protocol, and power level as approved by governing bodies and is envisioned to be of the digital packet variety to allow for simultaneous and error-proof transmission. One possible frequency of use could be 9 MHZ. A law enforcement vehicle  25  envisioned to be a municipal police officer, state officer, or a federal officer, is equipped with a querying antenna  30  which produces a complimentary radio frequency signal  35 , which interacts with the motor vehicle license plate with integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device  10  on the equipped motor vehicle  15 . It is envisioned that such data as social security numbers, insurance policy information, addresses, registration information, driving records, driving restrictions and the like, would be stored and processed by the motor vehicle license plate with integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device  10 , but is not intended as a limiting factor of the present invention. Due to the digital nature of the information being passed on the radio frequency signal  20  and the complimentary radio frequency signal  35 , any digital file such as photographs, sound files, text files and the like could be stored and transmitted. Such information would result in faster vehicle registration checks which not only frees the law enforcement officer up faster for more important duties, but results in less data entry mistakes, and allows the officer to perform more random registration checks, which may permit the apprehension of more criminals and others hiding from the law. Said apprehensions would result in not only a more safe environment for all, but would be an important benefit for homeland and/or world security. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a detailed perspective view of the motor vehicle license plate with integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device  10  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. A base structure  40 , envisioned to be manufactured from sheet metal, provides the outward appearance of a conventional license plate. A license plate number  45  is provided in the center of the base structure  40  for use in visual observation in the conventional manner. The base structure  40  is held in place on the equipped motor vehicle  15  (as seen in  FIG. 1 ) by a series of four mounting holes  50 , which are spaced and located to match the typical mounting requirements of a conventional license plate. A series of registration update sticker locations  55  are located along the bottom of the base structure  40  to allow for visual indication of yearly registration updates. Such features provided by the base structure  40 , the license plate number  45 , the mounting holes  50  and the registration update sticker locations  55  are those typically afforded conventional license plates and as such, allow the motor vehicle license plate with integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device  10  to enhance such features in lieu of replacing them, allowing legacy systems which rely of the features of a conventional license plate to remain in service. An interface cable  60  is provided to connect to the electrical supply system of the equipped motor vehicle  15  and provide input signals, which will be shown in greater detail herein below. An electronics enclosure  65  is located on a rear upper section of the base structure  40  (shown via phantom lines, for purposes of illustration) which houses the associated circuitry of the motor vehicle license plate with integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device  10 , which will be shown in greater detail herein below. Finally, a strip antenna  70  is shown on the surface of the base structure  40  which allows the strip antenna  70  to receive and transmit the necessary data. The strip antenna  70  is routed through an access hole  72  thus allowing exterior access to the strip antenna  70 . 
   Referring next to  FIG. 3 , a functional interconnection diagram of the motor vehicle license plate with integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is depicted. Electrical power from a battery  75  is routed through an overcurrent protective device  80 , such as a fuse, and then routed on a conductor of the interface cable  60  to the base structure  40 . An emergency notification signal  85  is routed from an anti-theft contact closure  90  and a panic alarm  95  in a parallel arrangement. The anti-theft contact closure  90  would present a contact closure in the event of a theft and would be provided from an anti-theft system or alarm, which is well known in the art. The panic alarm  95  would be located in the passenger compartment of the equipped motor vehicle  15  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) or the trunk if so equipped. In the event of a car jacking or kidnaping, the authorized user or occupant of the equipped motor vehicle  15  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) would activate the panic alarm  95  by pressing alarm  95 . The resultant emergency notification signal  85  would be processed by the base structure  40  as an emergency condition and broadcast to any law enforcement vehicle  25  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) passing by. The signals provided by the anti-theft contact closure  90  and panic alarm  95  are latched by the base structure  40  and could only be reset from a proper incoming signal from the querying antenna  30  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ). The electrical power from the battery  75  is routed to a power supply  100  on the base structure  40 . The emergency notification signal  85  is routed to an alarm module  105  which has a direct connection  110  to a transmitter  115 . In such a manner, an emergency signal can be emitted regardless of the operating state of the motor vehicle license plate with integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device  10 , as the direct connection  110  will take priority. The transmitter  115  is connected to a multiplexer  120  which is then connected to the strip antenna  70 . The multiplexer  120  allows the strip antenna  70  to perform both transmitting and receiving operations. As such, the multiplexer  120  also provides an electrical connection to a receiver  125  which passes any received data onto a controller  130 , which is envisioned to be a computer controlled device. The controller  130  has access to a memory block  135  which holds the required digital data such as, but not limited to, social security numbers, insurance policy information, addresses, registration information, driving records, driving restrictions and the like. The power bus signals  140  are routed from the power supply  100  to the alarm module  105 , the transmitter  115 , the receiver  125 , and the controller  130 . 
   Referring finally to  FIG. 4 , a functional logic diagram of the logic sequence as used with the data acquisition and dissemination portion of the motor vehicle license plate with integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device  10  is disclosed. As the emergency reporting and tracking features of the motor vehicle license plate with integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device  10  provided by the emergency notification signal  85  as aforementioned described in  FIG. 3  take priority over the data acquisition and dissemination portion features, they are not included in this logic sequence. The logic begins at a first functional block  145  whereupon the motor vehicle license plate with integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device  10  is activated. Such access continues in response to a negative result at a first operational block  150 . In the event of a positive response at the first operational block  150 , the motor vehicle license plate with integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device  10  must determine if the incoming signal is a request for data from the motor vehicle license plate with integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device  10  or a request to add or update data already stored in the motor vehicle license plate with integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device  10 , as indicated by the second operational block  155 . In the event that it is a request for data, control will proceed to a second functional block  160  where the request will be authenticated. This step will eliminate the possibility of hacking or other unauthorized access. The authentication process is performed at a third operational block  165  where a negative or unauthorized request will turn control over to the first functional block  145 . A positive or authorized request will recall the requested data from memory at a third functional block  170  and transmit it at a fourth functional block  175 . In the event that a request is made at the second operational block  155  to receive data, such as when updating driving records, addresses, insurance policies and the like, control would be passed to a fifth functional block  180  where verification of proper authority to change said data would be made at a fourth operational block  185 . In the case of a negative response or improper authority, control reverts to the first functional block  145 . In the case of positive or proper authority, the subject data would be stored in the memory block  135  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) as depicted via a sixth functional block  190 . 
   It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
   2. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment 
   The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. The features and benefits of the motor vehicle license plate with integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device  10  are transparent to the normal owner and/or user of the equipped motor vehicle  15 . After purchase or distribution of the motor vehicle license plate with integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device  10  is made, it must be connected to the power supply of the vehicle as depicted in  FIG. 3 . Additionally, optional connections to an anti-theft contact closure  90  or panic alarm  95  can be made, but are not required for operation. After initial programming of the motor vehicle license plate with integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device  10  via a querying antenna  30 , the motor vehicle license plate with integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device  10  is ready for use. 
   To use the present invention, any law enforcement vehicle  25  with the necessary querying antenna  30  could query any equipped motor vehicle  15  at any time. Such querying would be the result of a legitimate traffic stop, or of a random nature should the law enforcement vehicle  25  be looking for invalid registrations, illegal aliens, outdated insurance policies or the like. Additionally, the emergency reporting features of the invention afforded by the connection to the anti-theft contact closure  90  and the panic alarm  95  allows for the broadcast of a crime in progress and would allow the tracking of the subject equipped motor vehicle  15  via standard and well known tracking procedures. Should such an event take place, the querying antenna  30  on the law enforcement vehicle  25  would provide for the resetting of the motor vehicle license plate with integral wireless tracking and data dissemination device  10  to allow for continued use as before. 
   The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.