Abstract:
A triggerable remote controller is disclosed which includes a trigger signal including a command, a GPS processor coupled to the trigger signal, a position signal carrying position information generated by the GPS processor in response to the trigger signal, a telemetry transmitter coupled to the position signal, a telemetry transmit signal transmitted by the telemetry transmitter, the telemetry transmit signal carrying the position information, a trigger signal controller coupled to the trigger signal, an actuator coupled to the trigger signal controller, the trigger signal controller being configured to attempt to activate the actuator depending on the command. A sensor may also be coupled to the trigger signal controller and the trigger signal controller may be configured to attempt to access the sensor. A GPS antenna embedded in a grommet-shaped housing is also disclosed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to location reporting apparatus and methods. More particularly, this invention relates to location reporting apparatus and methods that use the Global Positioning Satellite System (“GPS”) to ascertain an object&#39;s location. Even more particularly, this invention relates to location reporting apparatus and methods that are triggerable and that report their location derived from GPS signals via cellular, satellite or terrestrial two-way paging signals. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Frequently, people use credit to purchase consumer items, such as automobiles, televisions or computers. The purchasers take possession of the item and take it to their homes or offices and put them into use. They are responsible for making periodic payments to the creditor, the person or entity that extended the credit, to pay off the loan. The creditor retains a lien on the property and is also known as a “lien-holder”. 
     In today&#39;s mobile society, people frequently move from one location to another. When they move, they typically take their possessions, including those possessions covered by a lien held by the lien-holder. Sometimes when they move they stop making their periodic payments to the lien-holder, perhaps believing that they no longer have to make payments and that the lien-holder will not be able to locate them. 
     Further, some people simply move a possession, such as an automobile, covered by a lien, in order to hide it from the lien-holder when they stop making payments. 
     In either case, the lien-holder is faced with having to locate and take possession of the item covered by the lien. At times, such a process can be expensive, time consuming, and even dangerous, requiring the lien-holder to hire investigators to locate the debtor and, hopefully, the item covered by the lien. 
     Stolen items present a similar challenge. In the case of automobiles, thieves can steal a car, take it to a “chop shop”, or a specially outfitted body shop where the automobile is dismantled into salable parts in just a few hours. The traditional response to an automobile theft is to report the theft to the police who then do their best to find the automobile before it is dismantled. 
     Other consumer items can be dismantled or otherwise placed into an underground market within just a few hours of their theft. Alternatively, such items can be removed to the thief&#39;s home, where they are hidden from the eyes of the police or other investigators. 
     Even people are subject to being “stolen”, or kidnapped. Again, the traditional response is to report a missing person to the police and other law enforcement agencies who then conduct a search for the missing person. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Upon receipt of a page or the occurrence of another triggering action, the invention determines its location using GPS signals and reports the location via cellular, two-way page or satellite telemetry. The telemetry is routed to a service provider, which takes an appropriate action, such as informing the lien-holder of the location of the object covered by the lien. The page may include a command that will cause the invention to actuate an actuator or a sensor and report the results via the cellular, two-way page or satellite telemetry. 
     In general, in one aspect, the invention features a triggerable remote controller, comprising a trigger signal including a command, a GPS processor coupled to the trigger signal, a position signal carrying position information generated by the GPS processor in response to the trigger signal, a telemetry transmitter coupled to the position signal, a telemetry transmit signal transmitted by the telemetry transmitter, the telemetry transmit signal carrying the position information, a trigger signal controller coupled to the trigger signal, an actuator coupled to the trigger signal controller, the trigger signal controller being configured to attempt to activate the actuator depending on the command. 
     Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following. The trigger signal source may comprise a page receiver. The trigger signal may activate when the page receiver receives a page. The trigger signal controller may be coupled to the telemetry transmitter. The trigger signal controller may be configured to transmit to the telemetry transmitter a command status signal indicating whether the actuator had been actuated. The command status signal may be incorporated into the telemetry transmit signal. The trigger signal controller may be coupled to an apparatus controller. The trigger signal controller may be configured to transmit to the apparatus controller a command status signal indicating whether the actuator had been actuated. The apparatus controller may be configured to transmit to the trigger signal controller an additional command and the trigger signal controller may perform a function in response to the additional command. The triggerable remote controller may further comprise a second actuator. The trigger signal controller may attempt to actuate the second actuator in response to the additional command. The triggerable remote controller may further comprise a sensor. The trigger signal controller may attempt to access the sensor in response to the additional command. 
     In general, in another aspect, the invention features a triggerable remote controller comprising a trigger signal including a command, a GPS processor coupled to the trigger signal, a position signal carrying position information generated by the GPS processor in response to the trigger signal, a telemetry transmitter coupled to the position signal, a telemetry transmit signal transmitted by the telemetry transmitter, the telemetry transmit signal carrying the position information, a trigger signal controller coupled to the trigger signal, a sensor coupled to the trigger signal controller, the trigger signal controller being configured to attempt to access the sensor depending on the command. 
     Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following. The trigger signal source may comprise a page receiver. The trigger signal may activate when the page receiver receives a page. The trigger signal controller may be coupled to the telemetry transmitter. The trigger signal controller may be configured to read information from the sensor when it accesses the sensor. The trigger signal controller may be configured to transmit the information to the telemetry transmitter. The information may be incorporated into the telemetry transmit signal. The trigger signal controller may be coupled to an apparatus controller. The trigger signal controller may be configured to read information from the sensor when it accesses the sensor. The trigger signal controller may be configured to transmit the information to the apparatus controller. The apparatus controller may be configured to transmit to the trigger signal controller an additional command in response to the information. The trigger signal controller may perform a function in response to the additional command. The triggerable remote controller may further comprise an actuator. The trigger signal controller may attempt to actuate the actuator in response to the additional command. The triggerable remote controller may further comprise a second sensor. The trigger signal controller may attempt to access the second sensor in response to the additional command. 
     In general, in another aspect, the invention features a method for remotely controlling an object comprising receiving a page incorporating a command; determining, in response to the page, the location of the object using GPS signals; transmitting the location of the object via telemetry; attempting an action in response to the command. 
     Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following. The method may further comprise including in the telemetry an indication of whether the function was performed. Attempting an action may comprise actuating an actuator. The method may further comprise including in the telemetry an indication of whether the actuator was actuated. Attempting an action may comprise sensing information from a sensor. The method may further comprise including in the telemetry the information sensed from the sensor. 
     In general, in another aspect, the invention features a GPS antenna comprising a housing having a grommet shape, an antenna configured to receive a GPS signal, and the antenna being embedded in the housing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system incorporating one embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the power management feature. 
     FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the controller. 
     FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the formatter. 
     FIG. 6 is a representation of the data received from the GPS receiver by the data selector. 
     FIG. 7 is a representation of the data output from the data selector. 
     FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the power controller. 
     FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the controller. 
     FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a system incorporating the invention. 
     FIG. 11 is a plan drawing of a panic switch according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 12 is a block diagram of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 13 is a perspective drawing of the invention incorporated in articles of clothing. 
     FIG. 14 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a sensor according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 16 is a perspective view and a block diagram of an antenna system according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     An object  10 , such as an automobile, contains a triggerable location-reporting apparatus  12 , as shown in FIG.  1 . The apparatus  12  is most likely hidden somewhere in the automobile, and may even be integrated into the body or the engine. For example, the apparatus may be integrated into the automobile&#39;s Primary Computer Module. The apparatus can either be connected to the power source associated with the object, such as the automobile battery, or it may have a self-contained power source or sources, as further discussed below. 
     The apparatus  12  receives a page from the paging satellite  14  preferably initiated by personnel or some automatic device located at the service provider  16 . The page request can be initiated from any source. The service provider  16  accepts requests from customers to locate objects that have been lost, stolen or otherwise hidden. For example, a lien-holder  18  may request that the service provider  16  locate an object for which the debtor has fallen into default. The service provider&#39;s response is to send a page to the apparatus  12 . 
     The page need not originate in the paging satellite  14  but can originate in any system capable of sending out pages. For example, a cellular network may be capable of sending out pages and could be used instead of the paging satellite  14 . Further, the system need not use a page to communicate between the service provider  16  and the apparatus  12  but can use any system that allows the service provider  16  to uniquely address the apparatus  12  via a broadcast signal. For example, very low frequency signals or HF radio signals could be used to communicate between the service provider  16  and the apparatus  12 . 
     When the apparatus  12  receives the page it determines its location and direction of movement by accessing the signals of the GPS system  20 , which comprises a plurality of satellites  22  broadcasting signals which can be used to determine an object&#39;s location and heading anywhere on the earth. The apparatus  12  then formats the location information into a cellular telemetry stream and transmits it via the cellular system&#39;s telemetry channels. 
     In the AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone System) cellular system, which is the analog cellular system used in the United States, each cellular base station has  832  channels. The 832 channels are divided among at least two competing cellular carriers. Each cellular carrier uses 21 of the 416 channels to carrying control signals. Each control channel includes a Forward Control Channel (FOCC) and a Reverse Control Channel (RECC). 
     The cellular base station uses the FOCC to send information to cellular telephones and the cellular telephones send information back to the cellular base station via the RECC. The FOCC and RECC are used to establish a cellular telephone call through a local switch. Once the cellular telephone call is established, the call is moved to one of the non-control channels and the released control channel is made available to establish other cellular telephone calls. 
     The cellular base station broadcasts a System Identification (“SID”) signal, which identifies the cellular system to cellular telephones receiving it. When a cellular telephone is turned on, it compares the SID signal it receives against an SID stored within the telephone, which identifies the cellular telephone&#39;s home system. If the received SID is not the same as the stored SID, the cellular telephone is “roaming” and the “roam” indicator on the telephone is illuminated. 
     Subsequently, the cellular telephone transmits its identity to the cellular base station via the RECC. The RECC transmission includes the telephone&#39;s Mobile Identification Number (“MIN”), which is a unique 10-digit number (analogous to a telephone number including an area code) that is programmed into the cellular telephone. The first six digits of the MIN identify the cellular telephone&#39;s home system. The RECC also includes an Electronic Serial Number (“ESN”), a unique 32-bit serial number permanently stored in the cellular telephone which uniquely identifies the cellular telephone. The cellular base station will receive the MIN and ESN through the RECC and determine that the MIN does not correspond to a local number. Using the MIN, the cellular base station will determine the home system for the cellular telephone and send a validation signal to that system. The cellular local switches in the United States are interconnected through the Intersystem Signaling Network, IS-41, which allows them to send and receive validation information. 
     The validation signal, known under IS-41 as a RegistrationNotification Invoke (REGNOT) message, includes the cellular telephone&#39;s MIN and ESN. The REGNOT message also includes the identity of the cellular base station sending the message. The cellular telephone&#39;s home system will respond with a RegistrationNotification Return Result (regnot) message. In the regnot message, the cellular telephone&#39;s home system will either indicate that it will take financial responsibility for calls made by the cellular telephone or it will refuse to validate the cellular telephone. If validation occurs, a subsequent exchange of messages establishes the features (such as call forwarding) available to the cellular telephone. 
     The validation process just described uses the cellular system&#39;s control channels. Again, once a cellular telephone call is initiated the control channel that was used to set up the call is released for other purposes. 
     At least two companies, Cellemetry and Microburst, have developed systems which allow the transmission of information from a cellular telephone to a gateway using the validation signals. Cellemetry, for example, connects a Cellemetry Service Gateway to an IS-41 on a local switch and registers an SID on the IS-41 network. Cellemetry radios transmit RECC signals to local cellular base stations. The local cellular base stations transmit a validation signal to a Cellemetry gateway. 
     In the RECC signal transmitted from the Cellemetry radio, the MIN normally transmitted in a RECC signal is replaced by a 10-digit equipment identification number, identifying a Cellemetry gateway. The 32-bit ESN normally transmitted can be used as a “payload” to transmit information from the Cellemetry radio or a device incorporating the Cellemetry radio to the Cellemetry gateway. The Cellemetry gateway strips the payload information from the validation signal and sends it to a service provider. 
     The Microburst system is similar except that the payload is 55 bits instead of 32. 
     A similar system is used in digital cellular telephone applications such as CDMA and TDMA systems. 
     Returning to FIG. 1, upon receipt of the page from page satellite  14 , the apparatus  12  determines the location and direction of movement, if any, of object  10  using the GPS signals from the GPS system  20 . The apparatus then formats the location and movement information into the payload portion of a cellular RECC signal and transmits it to a local cellular base station  24 . The MIN portion of the RECC signal may contain a unique MIN or it may be a MIN that is common to all triggerable location-reporting apparatus serviced by a common service provider. Alternatively, the MIN may be different for each of the apparatus. 
     The cellular base station  24  determines that the apparatus  12  is a roamer and passes a validation signal into the IS-41 system  25  via a local switch  26 . The common MIN will cause the cellular base station to direct the validation signal to a gateway  28 . The gateway  28  receives the validation signal and reads the payload data and provides it to the service provider  16 . The gateway may also use the information regarding the cellular base station that originated the validation signal to determine an approximate location of the cellular telephone and pass that information on to the service provider  16  as well. A company such as Cellemetry or Microburst may provide the gateway or it may be provided by the service provider  16 . 
     The gateway will preferably respond to the cellular base station with a regnot message indicating that the requested roamer status has been denied. The cellular base station will then know not to try to allocate a voice channel to the apparatus. Alternatively, the gateway may return a message to the cellular base station indicating that the request should be dropped. The cellular base station will eventually allow the request to expire. Further, under some circumstances, the cellular base station may signal the apparatus to turn on a voice channel. 
     The service provider  16  can now communicate the location of the object  10  to the owner  30 , lien-holder  18 , or to the police  32 . 
     A block diagram of the apparatus is shown in FIG. 2. A page receiver  34  receives power through controller  36 , which may be a microprocessor such as a PIC processor. Preferably, the power is passed directly through the controller  36 . Alternatively, the power may bypass the controller entirely and be applied directly to the page receiver  34 . A battery  38  supplies power to the controller  36 . Alternatively, an external power source  40  may supply power to the controller  36 . As still another alternative, the page receiver  34  may have a pager battery  42  separate from the power supplied to the remaining electronics in the apparatus  12 . A separate battery allows the page receiver  34  to remain in a standby state for a long period of time without draining the power supply for the rest of the apparatus. 
     When the page receiver  34  receives a page over antenna  44  that is addressed to the page receiver  34 , the page receiver  34  transmits a “power-on” signal  46  to the controller  36 . The controller  36  then switches power to a global position satellite system receiver  48 , which receives GPS signals via antenna  50 . The GPS receiver  48  acquires the GPS signals and determines a variety of position data regarding apparatus  12 . The GPS receiver sends the GPS data  52  to the controller  36 . 
     The controller  36  buffers and reformats the GPS data into a form acceptable to a cellular network transmitter  54 . The controller then switches power to the cellular network transmitter and sends a “data to transmit” signal  56  to the cellular network transmitter  54 . After the cellular network transmitter (or the controller  36  or a similarly configured modem (not shown)) has had an opportunity to format the “data to transmit” into the payload section of the RECC signal, the cellular network transmitter  54  transmits the RECC signal, including the GPS payload, via antenna  58 . The cellular antenna  58  may be combined with the GPS antenna  50 . One or both of these antennas (or their combination) may comprise dielectric and conducting materials embedded in the object or attached to it with an adhesive or some other attachment mechanism. 
     Preferably, the power-on signal  46  is provided to the controller  36  as the result of a page received by the page receiver  34 , as discussed above. Alternatively, an external trigger  60  may provide the power-on indication to the controller  36 . 
     A flow chart of the power management provided by the controller  36  is illustrated in FIG.  3 . The apparatus  12  receives a page  62 . The page receiver wakes up the controller  64 . The controller wakes up the GPS receiver and reads the GPS position information  66 . The controller wakes up the cellular network transmitter and sends it formatted position information  68 . The transmitter transmits the MIN and the payload to the cellular base station which forwards the data via the RECC transmission to the gateway. The controller then puts the cellular network transmitter and GPS receiver back to sleep  70 . The controller then goes back to sleep  72 . With this power management approach, significant power is being used only when position information is being transmitted over the cellular network. The rest of the time the only drain on system power is the page receiver, which has a very low power requirement when it is waiting for a page. Even this power drain can be eliminated by using a separate pager battery  42 , as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     The controller may store the last location signal it receives from the GPS receiver. Consequently, if the apparatus receives a subsequent page and the GPS receiver cannot perform its function (because, for example, it is shielded from GPS satellite signals), the apparatus will report the stored position. The apparatus may also report the amount of time that has elapsed since the position information was stored. 
     In another embodiment, the apparatus may turn on a homing beacon  74  (see FIG. 2) if the GPS receiver is unable to perform its function. The homing beacon will allow the object to be tracked by a receiver tuned to the beacon frequency. 
     A block diagram of the controller is shown in FIG.  4 . GPS data  52  is received by a formatter  76  from the page receiver  34  where it is buffered and formatted into a form acceptable to the cellular network transmitter  54 . The formatter  76  buffers the reformatted signal and then transmits it as a “data to transmit” signal  56 . 
     A block diagram of the data formatter is illustrated in FIG.  5 . GPS data  52  is buffered by a buffer  78 . A data selector  80  selects data from the buffered GPS data  52  to be transmitted to the cellular network transmitter  54 . A buffer and formatter  82  buffer the selected data and convert it into a format acceptable to the cellular network transmitter  54 . A memory  84  may be provided to store the last reported position from the GPS receiver. The properly formatted “data to transmit” signal  56  is then transmitted to the cellular network transmitter  54 . 
     An example of the data selector function is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. The Motorola® GT Plus Oncore™ GPS family of chips produces an digital output signal  86  containing bits representing the latitude, longitude, height, velocity, and heading of the apparatus  12  and the current time, as shown in FIG.  6 . Similar products manufactured by other companies may be used instead of the Motorola product. Preferably, only the bits representing latitude, longitude, velocity and heading  88  are included in the data to transmit signal  56 , as shown in FIG.  7 . Preferably, the bits representing height and current time are discarded (although they may be sent in alternative embodiments). Further, it may be desirable to change the order that the various portions of the information are transmitted. For example, it may be desirable to send the heading portion first. The data selector selects the data to be transmitted and arranges it into the desired order. 
     Returning to FIG. 4, the controller also performs a power management function, as discussed above. Upon receipt of the power-on signal  46  from the page receiver  34 , a power controller  90  opens and closes switch  92  to apply and remove power to the GPS receiver  48 . The power controller  90  also opens and closes switch  94  to apply and remove power to the cellular network transmitter  54 . 
     A functional block diagram of the power controller is illustrated in FIG.  8 . While FIG. 8 shows the use of delayed action relays it should be understood that any electronics that provide the desired function may be used. The power-on signal from the page receiver is applied to two delayed action relays. Relay  96  engages as soon as the power-on signal is applied, which causes switch  92  to close. Sixty seconds later relay  96  disengages, which causes switch  92  to open. The sixty-second power off delay is adjustable as necessary to allow the GPS receiver  48  sufficient on time to acquire the GPS satellites and determine the location of the apparatus. 
     Relay  98  actuates  45  seconds after the power-on signal is applied. Again, this delay is adjustable so that power is applied to the cellular network transmitter  54  only after the data to transmit signal  56  has been prepared. The cellular network transmitter  54  is turned off  15  seconds after it is turned on, which allows the cellular network transmitter adequate time to transmit the RECC signal to the cellular base station. 
     The controller may have the ability to determine when the apparatus is moving. It can accomplish this by comparing the location data from the GPS location signal to the location data stored in the memory  84  or by examining the velocity data reported by the GPS receiver. In either case, the controller may leave the GPS receiver power on when the apparatus is moving. The controller can then cause the location data to be reported from time to time (e.g. every five minutes) through the cellular telemetry network by applying power to the cellular network transmitter for a short period of time. The controller may keep the GPS receiver operational for a period of time after the apparatus stops moving. This allows the apparatus to provide continuous updates on its position while it is moving. 
     Another implementation of the elements enclosed in the dashed box in FIG. 4 is shown in FIG. 9. A microprocessor system  100  receives the power-on signal  46  from the page receiver  34 . The microprocessor system may include an interconnected microprocessor, program storage area and data storage area. The storage areas may include random access memory (“RAM”) and read only memory (“ROM”). Alternatively, the microprocessor system may be implemented entirely with discrete logic elements or application specific integrated circuits (“ASIC”). The microprocessor system may be implemented with a combination of a microprocessor and discrete and ASIC logic elements. 
     When the microprocessor receives the power-on signal its stored program causes it to assert and un-assert bit outputs  102  and  104  in sequence, as described above. The program may be developed in assembly language, machine language or a higher order language such as C++ or the function of the program may be accomplished with discrete logic or ASICs or a combination of any of these. Preferably, the program is compiled and linked as necessary and stored in one of the storage areas for execution by the microprocessor to accomplish the described functions. 
     A buffer  106  receives GPS data  52  from the GPS receiver  48  and buffers it. The microprocessor system  100  extracts the buffered data through input  108 , selects the data to be sent out as payload and rearranges it as necessary. The microprocessor system outputs the selected and arranged data through output  110  to a buffer/formatter  112 , which formats the “data to transmit” signal  56 . Alternatively, the function of the buffer/formatter  112  and/or the buffer  106  may be accomplished by the microprocessor system  100 . 
     Alternatively, the microprocessor system  100  may communicate with the GPS receiver  48 , the page receiver  34  and the cellular network transmitter  54  via serial or parallel communication lines  114 ,  116  and  118 , respectively. 
     An alternative embodiment of the system that does not use the cellular network is illustrated in FIG.  10 . In this embodiment, the apparatus  12  communicates its location and heading to the service provider  16  through telemetry communications through satellite  120 . 
     In use, for example in the automobile recovery application, a lien-holder would contact the service provider and identify an automobile that the lien-holder wants located. The service provider would cause a page to be sent to the apparatus secured within the automobile. The apparatus would receive the page, ascertain its location using the GPS system, and return the location and heading information to the service provider. The service provider could then tell the lien-holder the location and heading of the automobile. Because of the power management feature described above, the service provider could “track” the automobile as it is being driven, providing the lien-holder with multiple readings regarding the automobile&#39;s location. Further, the apparatus may be configured to provide multiple updates of its position while it is moving. 
     The same function could be supplied with respect to any object, including largescreen televisions, computers or any other item. 
     The apparatus could be used to provide a “panic switch” capability, as illustrated in FIG.  11 . For example, panic switch  122  includes a blue switch  124 , a green switch  126 , a red switch  128  and a yellow switch  130 . Pressing the switches in the correct order (e.g. red, red, green, yellow) will cause the external trigger  60  (FIG. 2) to actuate, causing the position of the panic switch to be reported to through the system illustrated in FIG. 2 to the police or other agency. The police can then query the apparatus  12  located in the panic switch  122  through the service provider in order to track its location if it is moved. 
     The apparatus could be adapted to respond to alarm conditions associated with an object, such as the traditional car alarm, as illustrated in FIG.  12 . For example, when car alarm  132  is tripped, it actuates external trigger  60  (FIG. 2) causing the location of the automobile to be reported via the system shown in FIG.  2 . Subsequently, the police, the owner or anyone else with the capability can track the automobile through the service provider by sending pages to the apparatus  12 . 
     The apparatus  12  could be used to locate people, as illustrated in FIG.  13 . The apparatus  12  could be hidden in a belt buckle or in the heel of a shoe. Subsequently, if another person became concerned about the location of the person wearing the apparatus, the concerned person could have the service provider page the apparatus  12  and locate and track it as described above. 
     In another embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 14, the signal from the paging satellite  14  includes command data to be communicated to apparatus  12 . The page receiver  34  extracts the command data  140  and transmits it to a page data controller  142 , which acts on the commands. The page data controller  142  can be incorporated into the apparatus  12  or it can be a separate device connected to the apparatus  12  by a communications medium such as a cable or an electromagnetic or other type of connection. 
     The page data controller responds to the command data by actuating or sensing actuators and sensors  144  over signal lines  146 . The actuators can be any type of actuator. For example, if the apparatus  12  is installed in an automobile, truck or other wheeled vehicle, the actuators may be the door locks. In that case, the command data may command that the door locks be closed (or opened) in which case the page data controller causes the door locks to be closed (or opened). The page data controller can interface directly with the door locks or it may interface through a microprocessor already present in the automobile. 
     Other examples of actuators in the automobile context include: an actuator to remove the ground from the door locks so that they cannot be opened; an actuator to lock the trunk or hood of the automobile; an actuator to arm an alarm system; an alarm to trigger the alarm system; an actuator to cause the lights in the automobile to blink on and off; or an actuator to trigger a kill switch to prevent the automobile engine from being started or to turn it off if it is already on. 
     The page data controller  142  may send a signal to the controller  36  via controller communications lines  148  indicating whether it has complied with the command. The controller  36  may respond by issuing additional commands to the page data controller  142  over the controller communications lines  148  or it may include the information in the data to transmit  56  to be transmitted to the service provider. 
     The page data controller  142  also reads information from sensors (part of block  142 ) and reports the information to the controller  36  via controller communications lines  148 . The page data controller  142  may be incorporated into the controller  36  or it may be a separate module. The controller communications lines  148  may be cables or any other communications medium. The controller  36  may act on the data directly by sending commands back to the page data controller  142  via the controller communications lines  148  or it may include the data in the data to transmit  56  for transmission back to the service provider  16 . For example, in the context of long-haul trucking, the sensor may be attached to a locking mechanism on the truck&#39;s trailer that senses if the lock has been opened. The page data controller  142  senses the state of the locking mechanism and reports it to the controller  36  via the controller communications lines  148 . The controller  36  can then incorporate that information into the data to transmit  56 , leaving it to the service provider (or some other entity) to act on the information. Alternatively, the controller  36  can send a command back to the page data controller  142  commanding it to close the lock. The page data controller  142  would then actuate a lock actuator included in actuators and sensors  144  that would cause the trailer to lock. 
     An example of a locking mechanism adapted to trigger a triggerable location reporting device is illustrated in FIG. 15. A hasp  150  is secured to one of the rear doors (not shown) of a trailer by a hinge (not shown). A staple  152 , attached to the other of the rear doors (not shown) of the trailer, fits through a slot  154  in the hasp  150  when the two doors are closed. It will be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art that the hasp and staple described above are one of many conventional ways of securing one door with respect to another. 
     A lock  156  includes a shackle  158  which extends from one side of the lock  156 , through the staple  152 , and into the other side of the lock  156 . When the shackle  158  goes through the staple  152  as shown and both ends of the shackle  158  are secured in the lock  156  (i.e., the lock is in its “locked” position), the two rear doors cannot be opened. When the shackle  158  is released, through any conventional technique including the use of a key or a combination, one or both ends of the shackle  158  may be removed from the lock  156 , freeing the hasp  150  from the staple  152  and allowing the two rear doors to be opened. 
     A lock position sensor  160  senses when the shackle  158  of the lock  156  is not in its locked position. The sensing device may be a switch  162  which closes (or, alternatively, opens) when the shackle  158  is in its locked position. Alternatively, the sensing device may be a two position switch, one position sensing when the shackle  158  is in its locked position and the other position sensing when the shackle  158  is not in its locked position. Alternatively, the sensor may be an optical sensor that detects the presence of the end of the shackle  158 . 
     Another type of sensing device is a wire that runs through the shackle  158  and connects to points inside the lock on either side of the shackle  158  (or the shackle  158  may be conductive so that a wire is not needed). In that case, the sensing device will detect when the shackle  158  is not in place or when the shackle  158  is cut. 
     The lock position sensor  160  sends a signal  164  to a trigger transmitter  166  which communicates with a trigger receiver  168 . The sensor may be configured so that it does not send the signal is opened properly, for example, with a key. The communication of the signal may be electromagnetic, electric, optic or any other means of transmitting a signal from one location to another. The trigger receiver  168 , upon receiving the signal from the trigger transmitter  166  sends a signal to the page data controller  142 . The page data controller  142  reports the trigger to the triggerable location reporting device  148  via the controller communications lines  148 . The controller  36  within the triggerable location reporting device  148  can then incorporate that information into the data to transmit  56 , leaving it to the service provider (or some other entity) to act on the information. Further, the trigger receiver can actuate the external trigger signal  60 , which will initiate the sending of location data and other data to the service provider. 
     Other sensors in the automobile context include: a sensor to detect the speed of the automobile; a sensor to detect the number of miles the automobile has traveled; a sensor to detect the state of the door locks (which may have been actuated in response to a command from the page data controller  142 ); a sensor to detect whether the automobile windows are open; sensors to detect a variety of engine parameters; or a sensor that would allow access to all of the data gathered and stored in the automobiles computer. 
     An antenna system is illustrated in FIG.  16 . The cable  170  from the antenna  172  that is supplied with the vehicle is interrupted by a splitter/combiner  174 . The splitter/combiner  174  allows the vehicle antenna  172  to be used to receive page signals  176 , transmit cellular telemetry signals  178 , and continue to operate as an AM/FM antenna as it was originally intended. 
     Further, the grommet  180  that normally separates the antenna  172  from the vehicle  182  is replaced by an antenna  184  which is configured to be visually similar to grommet  180 . Because the antenna  184  is visually similar to the grommet  180 , antenna  184  is hidden from casual inspection and provides a covert apparatus for receiving GPS signals. A cable  186  carries the GPS signals from the GPS antenna  184  to the triggerable location reporting device  12 . 
     The foregoing describes preferred embodiments of the invention and is given by way of example only. The invention is not limited to any of the specific features described herein, but includes all variations thereof within the scope of the appended claims.