WO2006073475A2

WO2006073475A2 - Anti-theft and crash detection system and method

Info

Publication number: WO2006073475A2
Application number: PCT/US2005/018150
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lee Knight; John Tomljenovic
Original assignee: Guardian Global Technologies, Inc.
Priority date: 2004-05-21
Filing date: 2005-05-20
Publication date: 2006-07-13
Also published as: WO2006073475A3; EP1792290A2

Abstract

A system (10) and apparatus (32) for detecting unauthorized or unsafe movement or crash detection of a moveable object (30) where the system includes a GPS receiver (32), cellular modulator (32), processor (32), pager modem (32), sensor (32) and two-way pager (34). When the system (32) is coupled to a moveable object (30) and is armed via the pager, the sensor is monitored by the processor to determine when a possible theft of the moveable object may be occurring. When the system is coupled to a moveable object and is not armed, the sensor is monitored by the processor to determine when a possible crash detection of the moveable object may be occurring or occurred. In one embodiment the accelerometer is a three axis accelerometer where the sensor detects small movements of the object in three axes. The processor generates a message including the system’s location and unique system identifier (any may include crash severity parameters when a crash is detected). The processor transmits the message to a monitoring center via a cellular network (and the cellular modulator). In one embodiment, the message is a text message and transmitted using a GSM, GPRS, or Short Messaging Service cellular based network.

Description

ANTI-THEFT AND CRASH DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

I. Field of the Invention

001 The invention relates to methods and apparatus for preventing theft and crash detection of movable objects, and more particularly, to preventing theft and crash detection of motorized vehicles.

II. Description of the Related Art

002 Anti-theft and crash detection systems for movable objects ideally track the movable object when a theft or crash has occurred. Traceable or position determinable anti-theft and crash detection systems are commonly large and expensive. It is desirable to have a traceable or position determinable anti-theft or crash detection system that is small, concealable, and inexpensive. For example, a motorcycle may be easily stolen or involved in a crash but present traceable or position determinable anti-theft or crash detection systems are neither concealable nor effective for such a moveable object. A need thus exists for a small, concealable, and inexpensive traceable or position determinable anti-theft or crash detection system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

003 The present invention includes a small, concealable, inexpensive traceable or position determinable anti-theft or crash detection system and method. The method and system includes a GPS receiver, cellular modulator, processor, pager modem, sensor and two-way pager. When the system is coupled to a moveable object and is armed via the pager, the sensor is monitored by the processor to determine when a possible theft of the moveable object may be occurring. When the system is coupled to a moveable object and is not armed via the pager, the sensor is monitored by the processor to determine when a possible crash of the moveable object may be occurring or occurred.

004 In an embodiment, the sensor is a multiple axis accelerometer. In one embodiment the accelerometer is a two axes accelerometer where the sensor detects small movements of the object in two axes. In another embodiment the accelerometer is a three axis accelerometer where the sensor detects small movements of the object in three axes. When the sensor is triggered while armed, the processor pages the two-way pager. The processor also determines the system's location via the GPS receiver. The processor generates a message including the system's location and unique system identifier. The processor transmits the message to a monitoring center via a cellular network (and the cellular modulator). In one embodiment, the message is a text message and transmitted using a GSM, GPRS, or Short Messaging Service cellular based network.

005 When the sensor is triggered while the system is not armed, the processor via a library of acceleration data values may determine whether a crash has occurred. The processor may determine the system's location via the GPS receiver. In one embodiment, the method and system determines a crash has occurred when the acceleration data indicates that the motor vehicle has spun in a circle. In another embodiment, the method and system determines a crash has occurred when the acceleration data indicates that the motor vehicle has rolled, tipped over in the case of a car and laid on its side in the case of a motorcycle. The processor may generate a message including the system's location and unique system identifier. The processor may transmit the message to a monitoring center via a cellular network (and the cellular modulator). In one embodiment, the message is a text message and transmitted using a GSM, GPRS, or Short Messaging Service cellular based network.

006 The monitoring center may automatically perform a number of tasks upon receipt of such a message. The center may log the time and date receipt and forward the tracking information to an appropriate organization such as an ambulance center, police, or likes' computer or office. The monitoring center may also contact a designated contact (such as the object's owner or custodian) via a pager, or series of telephone numbers, email, or other electronic means.

007 The GPS antenna is ideally a small omni directional antenna that may be hidden in the moveable object. The cellular antenna is also ideally a small omni directional antenna that may be hidden in the moveable object. For example, when the moveable object is a motorcycle, the GPS and cellular antenna may be mounted in a holding apparatus. The holding apparatus may be mounted directly on the frame or handle bars of motorcycle. The apparatus may also be mounted in concealed locations such as on the fairing, fenders, seats, or saddlebags. The omni directional nature of each antenna permits them to operate (receive/transmit signals) in these locations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

008 The features, objects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference characters identify correspondingly throughout and wherein:

009 FIG. 1 is an illustration of an anti-theft architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention;

010 FIG. 2 illustrates a monitoring center system of the present invention in functional block diagram format;

011 FIG. 3 illustrates an application of the present invention in functional block diagram format;

012 FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of an anti-theft tracking system and a two-way pager of the present invention in functional block diagram format;

013 FIG. 5 illustrates an algorithm for an anti-theft tracking system in accordance with the present invention in flowchart format;

014 FIG. 6 illustrates an algorithm for initial acceleration processing in accordance with the present invention in flowchart format;

015 FIG. 7 illustrates an algorithm for crash detection in accordance with the present invention in flowchart format;

016 FIG. 8 illustrates an algorithm for populating a crash data library in accordance with the present invention in flowchart format;

017 FIG. 9 illustrates a three axis accelerometer of the present invention in functional block diagram format;

018 FIG. 10 illustrates an algorithm for orienting a sensor in accordance with the present invention in flowchart format;

019 FIG. 11 illustrates an algorithm for determining crash severity in accordance with the present invention in flowchart format; and 020 FIG. 12 illustrates an algorithm for determining when to dispatch emergency services a crash site in accordance with the present invention in flowchart format.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

021 FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an anti-theft architecture 10 of the present invention. The system 10 includes an anti-theft tracking and crash detection system ("ATS") 32 (mounted on a moveable object), pager 34, GPS satellites network 42, 44, cellular network 40, monitoring center 20, dispatch station 12, and communication hub 14. The dispatch station 12 may be operated by a police department. When the system 32 generates a theft or crash detection message (including a location and identifier), the monitoring center may forward this information to the dispatch station 12 and a communication center 14. The communication hub 14 may alert the owner or custodian of the object that a theft may be occurring. The monitoring center 20 may be completely automated or may have one or more human operators that help process and forward theft or crash detection messages to the appropriate individuals or organizations.

022 FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary monitoring center system ("MCS") 20 of the present invention in functional block diagram format. The MCS 20 includes a CPU 22, a RAM 24, a ROM 26, a storage unit 28, a first modem/transceiver 72 and a second modem/transceiver 74. The first modem/transceiver 72 couples the NMC 20 to the dispatch station 12 and communication hub 14. The modem/transceiver 72 may be an Ethernet modem connecting the MCS to a local network or Internet. The second modem/transceiver 74 couples the MCS 20 the cellular network 40. The modem/transceiver may again be an Ethernet modem, telephone modem, wireless modem or other communication device that may communicate with the cellular network 40. The CPU 22 directs communications between the first and second modem 72 and 74 for messages between the dispatch terminals 12 and 14 and one or more ATS 32. It is noted that the MCS 20 may handle messages from numerous ATS 32 at various geographical locations and may forward the message to different dispatch stations as a function of the indicated location of the ATS 32 (as noted in the received message). The ROM 26 may store program instructions to be executed by the CPU 22. The RAM 24 may be used to store temporary program information. The MCS 20 may log received messages in the storage 28.

023 FIG. 3 illustrates an application of the present invention in functional block diagram format. In this application, an ATS 32 is mounted on a motorcycle 30. The ATS 32 is ideally mounted in a concealed location such as under the seat. The ATS 32 is also ideally coupled to the motorcycle's battery, hi a preferred embodiment, the ATS 32 has its own battery that operates when the motorcycle's battery signal is insufficient. In FIG. 3, the GPS antenna and cellular antenna 35 are mounted in the frame. A user 37 may arm the ATS 32 via a two-way pager 34. The ATS 32 may signal the user 37 via the pager 34 when a sensor triggering occurs (potential theft or crash detection).

024 FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of an anti-theft tracking and crash detection system 32 and a two-way pager 34 of the present invention in functional block diagram format. FIG. 4 details specific components that may be employed in an ATS 32 and pager 34 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In an exemplary embodiment, the ATS 32 includes a GPS and a GSM/GPRS/SMS Antenna and a main board including the exemplary components shown in FIG. 4. In an exemplary embodiment the pager 34 includes the exemplary components shown in FIG. 4. In this exemplary embodiment the sensor includes a multiple axis accelerometer. The sensor may also detect movement by comparing GPS positions when armed and indicating an alarm when the GPS position indicates a change in position.

025 In an exemplary embodiment, the ATS 32 further includes a kill switch component that is connected to a main controller of the device where the ATS 32 is coupled to the device and designed to prevent theft of the device. The kill switch component 33 may direct the device main controller to shut down the engine or other components to make the device unusable.

026 FIG. 5 illustrates an algorithm 100 for an ATS 32 in accordance with the present invention in flowchart format. As shown in FIG. 5, the ATS 32 determines when a sensor is triggered when it is armed (steps 102-109). When the sensor is triggered, the ATS 32 pages a user via the pager (step 112), determines the location of the ATS via a GPS system (step 116), generates a message including the location and a unique identifier for the ATS 32 (step 118), and transmits the message to a monitoring center (step 120). The ATS repeats steps 112-120 periodically until the ATS is disarmed (steps 121 and 124). In an exemplary embodiment the process 100 directs the device to kill an engine or otherwise immobilize the device (step 134) when a kill signal is received/detected (step 132).

027 FIG. 6 illustrates an algorithm 140 for initial acceleration processing in accordance with the present invention in flowchart format. In this process 140 three dimensional accelerometer data is received such as from the accelerometer shown in FIG. 4 or the accelerometer 190 in FIG. 9. The process 140 filters the x, y, and z components (or other three dimensional coordinates such as polar, spherical) of the accelerometer data (step 143). In one embodiment the system low pass filters the components to remove small changes in acceleration due to variations in wind, passing traffic and other temporary external forces while the system 32 is armed and variations road condition, contour and riding variations while the system 32 is disarmed. Depending on the whether system 32 is armed (step 144), the system may perform motion analysis (when armed) (such as process 100 shown in FIG. 5) (step 146) or crash detection analysis (when disarmed) (such as process 150 shown in FIG. 7) (step 140).

028 FIG. 7 illustrates an algorithm 150 for crash detection in accordance with the present invention in flowchart format, hi this crash detection process 150 the acceleration and velocity parameters are determined from the filtered accelerometer components (step 152). The following equations may be employed in an embodiment to determine these parameters:

n - Number of Samples in the Interval

030 The determined acceleration and velocity parameters for each component x, y, and z may be compared to library data to determine whether a crash has occurred and to determine the severity of the crash (steps 154, 156, 158). When a crash was not detected (step 156), the non- crash parameters may be stored in the library. When a crash has been detected the process 150 may report the crash including GPS information, unique identifier, and an indication of crash severity including the actual acceleration and velocity parameters.

031 FIG. 8 illustrates an algorithm 170 for populating a crash data library in accordance with the present invention in flowchart format. In this process 170, the library of non-crash or crash values may added into a library with an indication of what they represent (crash, non- crash, crash of a certain severity). In this process 170 the predetermined condition is set (step 172), the three dimensional accelerometer data for the set condition is then measured or received (step 174). Then the process 170 filters the x, y, and z components (or other three dimensional coordinates such as polar, spherical) of the accelerometer data (step 176). In one embodiment the process low pass filters the components to remove variations road condition, contour and riding variations. In this process 170 the acceleration and velocity parameters are determined from the filtered accelerometer components (step 178). The equations presented above may be employed in an embodiment to determine these parameters. Then the determined parameters may be stored in the library as appropriate (step 182) and this process 170 repeated for additional predetermined conditions (step 184).

032 FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of three axis accelerometer 190 of the present invention in functional block diagram format. The accelerometer 190 includes three primary sections: a voltage and current reference section 192, a trimming circuit and test interface section 194, and a clock and phase generator 196.

033 FIG. 10 illustrates an algorithm 200 for orienting a sensor in accordance with the present invention in flowchart format. In one embodiment the process 200 orients an accelerometer (such as 190 shown in FIG. 9). First the process 200 sets the unit or system 32 to teaching mode to orient the accelerometer 190 (step 202). When a user indicates that the unit is oriented (in the case of a motorcycle placed upright for example) the present accelerometer data is stored (it may be filtered and the parameters stored) in the library or other location to indicate the neutral location (step 206).

034 FIG. 11 illustrates an algorithm 158 for determining crash severity in accordance with the present invention in flowchart format. In one embodiment, the algorithm 158 determines the vehicle orientation after a crash has been detected (step 202). In one embodiment the algorithm evaluates the acceleration parameters to determine the vehicle orientation. In an embodiment when the parameters indicate the vehicle is on its side or has rolled over, the crash level severity is set to level two (step 206). Otherwise the crash level severity is set to level one (step 204). In the case of a two wheeled vehicle, the invention sets the crash severity level to two when the vehicle is on its side, in one embodiment when the Z acceleration value is about zero.

035 FIG. 12 illustrates an algorithm 210 for determining when to dispatch emergency services or personal to a crash site/vehicle location in accordance with the present invention in flowchart format. When a call center receives a crash message from a vehicle (step 212), the algorithm 210 may request that emergency personal are dispatched to the vehicle location (step 222) when the crash severity as indicated in the crash message is level two (step 214). In an embodiment, the crash message includes a unique vehicle identifier and location data. The call center may determine the vehicle's location and registered user based on the location data and vehicle identifier. The call center may forward this information to emergency personal to aid their assistance to the vehicle passenger(s). In one embodiment the algorithm 210 may poll the vehicle to determine its current acceleration values when a level one crash message is received. If the acceleration data or other information indicates that the vehicle is on its side or has rolled, the present invention may request emergency personal be dispatched to the vehicle's location. In one embodiment, the invention may also request emergency personal be dispatched to the vehicle's location when the vehicle does not respond within a predetermined time interval. The call center may send a message to the vehicle using text messaging based on the vehicle's unique identifier.

036 The previous description of the preferred embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. The various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without the use of the inventive faculty. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

037 While this invention has been described in terms of a best mode for achieving this invention's objectives, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations may be accomplished in view of these teachings without deviating from the spirit or scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention may be implemented using any combination of computer programming software, firmware or hardware. As a preparatory step to practicing the invention or constructing an apparatus according to the invention, the computer programming code (whether software or firmware) according to the invention will typically be stored in one or more machine readable storage mediums such as fixed (hard) drives, diskettes, optical disks, magnetic tape, semiconductor memories such as ROMs, PROMs, etc., thereby making an article of manufacture in accordance with the invention. The article of manufacture containing the computer programming code is used by either executing the code directly from the storage device, by copying the code from the storage device into another storage device such as a hard disk, RAM, etc. or by transmitting the code on a network for remote execution.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for detecting unauthorized or unsafe movement of a moveable object, the apparatus comprising: a processor; a GPS receiver coupled to the processor, the GPS receiver capable of receiving GPS signals from one or more satellites; a cellular modem coupled to the processor, the cellular modem capable of communicating messages on a cellular network; a pager modem coupled to the processor, the cellular modem capable of communicating messages to a pager; and a movement sensor, the movement sensor capable of generating a movement signal when the sensor is moved in at least one direction; and a concealable GPS antenna coupled to the GPS receiver; a concealable cellular antenna coupled to the cellular modem; and a pager, the pager capable of communicating with the pager modem; wherein the processor is capable of determining a location signal based a signal received from the GPS receiver and creating and sending one of an unauthorized or an undesired movement message including the location signal and unique apparatus identifier to a central location via the cellular modem and sending an alarm signal to the pager via the pager modem when the movement sensor generates an unauthorized movement signal.

2. The apparatus for detecting unauthorized or unsafe movement of a moveable object of claim 1 , wherein the movement sensor includes a multiple axis accelerometer.

3. The apparatus for detecting unauthorized or unsafe movement of a moveable object of claim 1, wherein the movement sensor includes a three axes accelerometer where the accelerometer detects small movements of the apparatus in one of three axes.

4. The apparatus for detecting unauthorized or unsafe movement of a moveable object of claim 3, wherein the unauthorized or unsafe movement message is a text message and transmitted using a GSM, GPRS, or Short Messaging Service cellular based network.

5. The apparatus for detecting unauthorized or unsafe movement of a moveable object of claim 3, wherein the cellular modem communicates text messages using one of a GSM, a GPRS, and a Short Messaging Service cellular based network.

6. The apparatus for detecting unauthorized or unsafe movement of a moveable object of claim 5, further comprising a kill switch that disables operation of the moveable object upon receipt of a kill operation message via the cellular modem.

7. The apparatus for detecting unauthorized or unsafe movement of a moveable object of claim 6, wherein the moveable object is one of a motorcycle, a jet ski, an all terrain vehicle, and a snowmobile.

8. A system for detecting unauthorized or unsafe movement of a moveable object, the system comprising: a central monitoring center, the center capable of communicating messages on a cellular network; and an apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a processor; a GPS receiver coupled to the processor, the GPS receiver capable of receiving GPS signals from one or more satellites; a cellular modem coupled to the processor, the cellular modem capable of communicating messages on the cellular network; a pager modem coupled to the processor, the cellular modem capable of communicating messages to a pager; and a movement sensor, the movement sensor capable of generating a movement signal when the sensor is moved in at least one direction; and a concealable GPS antenna coupled to the GPS receiver; a concealable cellular antenna coupled to the cellular modem; and a pager, the pager capable of communicating with the pager modem; wherein the processor is capable of determining a location signal based a signal received from the GPS receiver and creating and sending one of an unauthorized or an unsafe movement message including the location signal and unique apparatus identifier to the central monitoring center via the cellular modem and sending an alarm signal to the pager via the pager modem when the movement sensor generates an unauthorized movement signal.

9. The system for detecting unauthorized or unsafe movement of a moveable object of claim 8, wherein the movement sensor includes a multiple axis accelerometer.

10. The system for detecting unauthorized or unsafe movement of a moveable object of claim 8, wherein the movement sensor includes a three axes accelerometer where the accelerometer detects small movements of the apparatus in one of three axes.

11. The system for detecting unauthorized or unsafe movement of a moveable object of claim 10, wherein the unauthorized movement message is a text message and transmitted using a GSM, GPRS, or Short Messaging Service cellular based network.

12. The system for detecting unauthorized or unsafe movement of a moveable object of claim 10, wherein the cellular modem communicates text messages using one of a GSM, a GPRS, and a Short Messaging Service cellular based network.

13. The system for detecting unauthorized or unsafe movement of a moveable object of claim 12, the apparatus further comprising a kill switch that disables operation of the moveable object upon receipt of a kill operation message via the cellular modem.

14. The system for detecting unauthorized or unsafe movement of a moveable object of claim 13, wherein the moveable object is one of a motorcycle, a jet ski, an all terrain vehicle, and a snowmobile.

15. The system for detecting unauthorized or unsafe movement of a moveable object of claim 13, wherein the monitoring center is capable of logging the time and date receipt of an unauthorized movement message.

16. The system for detecting unauthorized or unsafe movement of a moveable object of claim 13, wherein the monitoring center is capable of forwarding the tracking information to one of a police computer, a staffed office, and a designated contact.

17. A method of detecting unauthorized or unsafe movement of a moveable object, the method comprising the steps of: a. generating a movement signal when a movement sensor is moved in at least one direction; b. receiving GPS signals from one or more satellites; c. determining a location signal based a signal received GPS signals; d. generating one of an unauthorized and an unsafe movement message including the location signal and unique identifier; e. sending the one of the unauthorized movement and the unsafe message to a central location via a cellular network; and f. sending a page message indicating an unauthorized movement to pager when an unauthorized movement message is generated.

18. The method of detecting unauthorized or unsafe movement of a moveable object of claim 17, wherein the movement sensor includes a multiple axis accelerometer.

19. The method of detecting unauthorized or unsafe movement of a moveable object of claim 18, wherein the movement sensor includes a three axes accelerometer and where step a. includes generating a movement signal when the accelerometer detects small movements in one of three axes.

20. The method of detecting unauthorized or unsafe movement of a moveable object of claim 19, wherein the one of the unauthorized and unsafe movement message is a text message and step e. includes sending the one of the unauthorized and the unsafe movement message to a central location using one of a GSM, a GPRS, and a Short Messaging Service cellular based network.

21. The method of detecting unauthorized or unsafe movement of a moveable object of claim 19, further comprising the step of disabling operation of the moveable object upon receipt of a kill operation message via the cellular network.

22. The method of detecting unauthorized or unsafe movement of a moveable object of claim 20, wherein the moveable object is one of a motorcycle, a jet ski, an all terrain vehicle, and a snowmobile.

23. An apparatus for detecting unsafe movement of a moveable object, the apparatus comprising: a processor; a GPS receiver coupled to the processor, the GPS receiver capable of receiving GPS signals from one or more satellites; a modem coupled to the processor, the modem capable of communicating messages on a network; and a movement sensor, the movement sensor capable of generating a movement signal when the sensor is moved in at least one direction; wherein the processor is capable of determining a location signal based a signal received from the GPS receiver, comparing the movement signal value to a library of movement values, sending an unsafe movement message including the location signal and unique apparatus identifier to a central location via the modem when the movement signal value is greater than a corresponding library of movement value.

24. The apparatus for defecting unsafe movement of a moveable object of claim 23, wherein the movement sensor includes a multiple axis accelerometer, the movement sensor is capable of generating a movement signal having value for each axis when the sensor is moved in at least one axis and the processor is capable of comparing the movement signal value for each axis to a library of movement values, sending an unsafe movement message including the location signal and unique apparatus identifier to a central location via the modem when the movement signal values are greater than a corresponding library of movement values based on the respective axis.

25. The apparatus for detecting unsafe movement of a moveable object of claim 24, wherein the movement sensor includes a three axes accelerometer and the accelerometer detects small movements of the case in one of three axes.

26. The apparatus for detecting unsafe movement of a moveable object of claim 24, wherein the processor is capable of determining the orientation of the apparatus based on the movement sensor values and sending an unsafe movement message including the location signal, apparatus orientation identification, and unique apparatus identifier to a central location via the modem when the movement signal value is greater than a corresponding library of movement value.

27. The apparatus for detecting unsafe movement of a moveable object of claim 24, wherein the processor is capable of determining the orientation of the apparatus based on the movement sensor values and sending an unsafe movement message including the location signal, unsafe movement severity level identifier, and unique apparatus identifier to a central location via the modem when the movement signal value is greater than a corresponding library of movement value.

28. The apparatus for detecting unsafe movement of a moveable object of claim 27, wherein the movement severity level identifier is set to a low level when the determined apparatus orientation is approximately horizontal and the movement severity level identifier is set to a high level when the determined apparatus orientation is approximately forty-five degrees or greater than horizontal.

29. A system for detecting unsafe movement of a moveable object, the system comprising: a central monitoring center, the center capable of communicating messages on a network; and an apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a processor; a GPS receiver coupled to the processor, the GPS receiver capable of receiving GPS signals from one or more satellites; a modem coupled to the processor, the modem capable of communicating messages on the network; and a movement sensor, the movement sensor capable of generating a movement signal when the sensor is moved in at least one direction; wherein the processor is capable of determining a location signal based a signal received from the GPS receiver, comparing the movement signal value to a library of movement values, sending an unsafe movement message to the central monitoring center including the location signal and unique apparatus identifier to a central location via the modem when the movement signal value is greater than a corresponding library of movement value.

30. The system for detecting unsafe movement of a moveable object of claim 29, wherein the movement sensor includes a multiple axis accelerometer, the movement sensor is capable of generating a movement signal having value for each axis when the sensor is moved in at least one axis and the processor is capable of comparing the movement signal value for each axis to a library of movement values, sending an unsafe movement message including the location signal and unique apparatus identifier to the central monitoring center via the modem when the movement signal values are greater than a corresponding library of movement values based on the respective axis.

31. The system for detecting unsafe movement of a moveable object of claim 30, wherein the movement sensor includes a three axes accelerometer and the accelerometer detects small movements of the case in one of three axes.

32. The system for detecting unsafe movement of a moveable object of claim 31, wherein the processor is capable of determining the orientation of the apparatus based on the movement sensor values and sending an unsafe movement message including the location signal, apparatus orientation identification, and unique apparatus identifier to the central monitoring center via the modem when the movement signal value is greater than a corresponding library of movement value.

33. The system for detecting unsafe movement of a moveable object of claim 30, wherein the processor is capable of determining the orientation of the apparatus based on the movement sensor values and sending an unsafe movement message including the location signal, unsafe movement severity level identifier, and unique apparatus identifier to a central monitoring center via the modem when the movement signal value is greater than a corresponding library of movement value.

34. The system for detecting unsafe movement of a moveable object of claim 33, wherein the movement severity level identifier is set to a low level when the determined apparatus orientation is approximately horizontal and the movement severity level identifier is set to a high level when the determined apparatus orientation is approximately forty-five degrees or greater than horizontal and wherein the central monitoring center requests emergency services to be dispatched to the apparatus indicated location when the movement severity level identifier is set to the high level.

35. A method of detecting unsafe movement of a moveable object, the method comprising the steps of: a. generating a movement signal when a movement sensor is moved in at least one direction; b. comparing the movement signal value to a corresponding library of movement value; b. receiving GPS signals from one or more satellites; c. determining a location signal based a signal received GPS signals; d. generating an unauthorized movement message including the location signal and unique identifier; and e. sending an unsafe movement message to a monitoring center, the message including the location signal and unique object identifier when the movement signal value is greater than a corresponding library of movement value.

36. The method for detecting unsafe movement of a moveable object of claim 35, wherein the movement sensor includes a multiple axis accelerometer and step a. includes generating a movement signal having value for each axis when the sensor is moved in at least one axis, step b. includes comparing the movement signal value for each axis to a library of movement values, and step e. includes sending an unsafe movement message including the location signal and unique object identifier to a monitoring center when the movement signal values are greater than a corresponding library of movement values.

37. The method for detecting unsafe movement of a moveable object of claim 36, wherein the movement sensor includes a three axes accelerometer and the accelerometer detects small movements of the case in one of three axes.

38. The method for detecting unsafe movement of a moveable object of claim 37, the method further comprising the step of determining the orientation of the object based on the movement sensor values and step e. includes sending an unsafe movement message including the location signal, object orientation identification, and unique object identifier to a monitoring center when the movement signal value is greater than a corresponding library of movement value.

39. The method for detecting unsafe movement of a moveable object of claim 37, the method further comprising the step of determining the orientation of the object based on the movement sensor values and step e. includes sending an unsafe movement message including the location signal, unsafe movement severity level identifier, and unique object identifier to a monitoring center when the movement signal value is greater than a corresponding library of movement value.

40. The method for detecting unsafe movement of a moveable object of claim 39, wherein the movement severity level identifier is set to a low level when the determined apparatus orientation is approximately horizontal and the movement severity level identifier is set to a high level when the determined apparatus orientation is approximately forty-five degrees or greater than horizontal and further comprising the step of a monitoring center requesting emergency services to be dispatched to the object indicated location when the movement severity level identifier is set to the high level.