Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A system for locating a vehicle among a large number of vehicles. A lock box unit is mounted on a vehicle and includes a key box for storing a vehicle key and a locator unit. The locator unit receives a polling signal from a central base station which includes an address for the particular locator unit to be located. The locator unit decodes the polling signal to determine whether the signal is includes its unique address. If the polling signal is meant for the locator unit then the locator unit transmits a spread spectrum to at least three receiving antennas. The location of the locator unit and therefore the vehicle is determined based upon time arrival data generated by the receiving antennas. The lock box unit may also include an identification device which records who accesses the key box to retrieve the vehicle key. This information is stored in a memory device. A clock may also be used to record the time of access of the key box as well as to prevent access to the key box during certain predetermined time periods.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim