Prior art — US Patent 7430471

Prior Art Analysis for U.S. Patent 7,430,471

The following analysis details prior art references cited during the prosecution of U.S. Patent 7,430,471 ('471 patent). These references are evaluated for their potential to anticipate the independent claims of the '471 patent under 35 U.S.C. § 102, based on their content and publication dates relative to the '471 patent's priority date of October 25, 2004.

1. U.S. Patent 5,311,197 A

Full Citation: US Patent 5,311,197 A, "Event-activated reporting of vehicle location," assigned to Trimble Navigation Limited.
Filing Date: February 1, 1993.
Brief Description: This patent describes a system for tracking a vehicle's location using GPS. A key feature is that the system reports the vehicle's location and status to a central station only when specific, predefined "events" occur. These events can include actions like the engine starting, a door opening, or the vehicle moving outside a designated geographical area (a geofence). The system is designed to reduce communication costs by not transmitting data continuously.
Potential Anticipation of Claim(s): Potentially anticipates several elements of claims 1 and 15.
- Detecting movement or activation: The '197 patent explicitly discloses detecting events such as "the ignition being switched on or off" or "a door opening or closing" (Abstract; Column 4, lines 47-52). This corresponds to the "detecting movement or activation of the vehicle" step in the '471 patent.
- Transmitting a signal to a control center: The '197 patent's core function is to transmit a data packet with location and event information to a central monitoring station upon event detection (Column 2, lines 7-13). This maps directly to "transmitting a signal indicating movement or activation... to a control center."
- Limitations: The '197 patent does not appear to explicitly describe receiving or transmitting "operator identification information" that is verified within a specific time interval of the event. While it discusses vehicle ID, it does not link it to an operator's personal identification presented at the time of activation. Furthermore, it does not describe the specific landmark interactions claimed in the '471 patent (either the vehicle detecting the landmark or vice versa). Therefore, it would not fully anticipate claims 1 or 15 on its own.

2. U.S. Patent 6,225,890 B1

Full Citation: US Patent 6,225,890 B1, "Vehicle use control," assigned to Trimble Navigation Limited.
Filing Date: March 20, 1998.
Brief Description: This patent builds on vehicle tracking by adding a layer of operator authorization. It discloses a system where a vehicle can be enabled or disabled based on whether a valid operator is identified. Operator identification can be achieved through various means, including a keypad for entering a code, a magnetic card reader, or a radio frequency (RF) tag. The system can check the validity of the operator ID against a list stored locally in the vehicle or by communicating with a central station.
Potential Anticipation of Claim(s): Potentially anticipates most elements of claims 1 and 15, but lacks the landmark feature.
- Receiving and transmitting operator ID: The '890 patent clearly discloses receiving operator identification via methods like a keypad or an RF tag (Column 3, lines 11-23). It also describes transmitting this information to a central station. This directly relates to the steps of receiving and transmitting "operator identification information."
- Determining validity within a time interval: The system is designed to prevent vehicle operation until a valid ID is entered (Column 3, lines 38-44). This inherently satisfies the '471 patent's requirement of "determining whether an operator identification was received within a time interval" of the activation, as activation is contingent upon receiving the ID.
- Setting an alarm condition: The '890 patent describes disabling the vehicle or sending an alert if an invalid ID is used or if there are repeated failed attempts, which is functionally equivalent to "setting an alarm condition."
- Limitations: While this reference is strong in its disclosure of operator identification linked to vehicle activation, it does not describe the specific methods of interaction with a "landmark" as recited in independent claims 1 and 15. Therefore, it does not, by itself, anticipate these claims.

3. U.S. Patent Application Publication 2004/0204795 A1

Full Citation: US 2004/0204795 A1, "Vehicle security system and method," invented by John Harvey.
Publication Date: October 14, 2004.
Brief Description: This application describes a vehicle security system that uses a combination of GPS and cellular communication. When an unauthorized event is detected (e.g., movement without a valid key fob present), the system sends an alert to the owner and/or a central monitoring station. The system focuses on authenticating the operator via a personal device, such as a "dongle" or key fob, that communicates wirelessly with the in-vehicle unit. If the fob is not detected when the vehicle is started or moved, an alarm state is triggered.
Potential Anticipation of Claim(s): Potentially anticipates several core elements of claims 1 and 15.
- Detecting activation and transmitting signal: The '795 application discloses detecting vehicle activation (e.g., ignition on) and movement (Abstract; Paragraph). Upon an unauthorized event, it transmits an alert via a cellular link.
- Operator Identification: The presence or absence of the authorized key fob serves as the "operator identification" (Paragraph). The system determines if this identification is present at the moment of activation.
- Determining ID within a time interval: The system checks for the fob's presence "at the time the ignition switch is turned on" (Paragraph), which fulfills the "within a time interval" requirement. Failure to detect the fob results in an alarm.
- Limitations: Similar to the other references, the '795 application does not appear to disclose the specific interaction between the vehicle and a "landmark" where either the vehicle detects the landmark (Claim 1) or the landmark detects the vehicle (Claim 15). This missing element prevents it from being a direct anticipation.

4. U.S. Patent 7,009,499 B2

Full Citation: US Patent 7,009,499 B2, "Vehicle anti-theft entry system," assigned to Mack Trucks, Inc.
Filing Date: April 30, 2004.
Brief Description: This patent details an anti-theft system primarily for commercial vehicles. It requires a driver to enter a personal identification number (PIN) on a keypad within a set time period after turning the ignition key. If a correct PIN is not entered in time, the system can prevent the engine from starting, sound an alarm, or limit the vehicle's speed. The system can also log failed attempts and report them.
Potential Anticipation of Claim(s): Potentially anticipates the core security and operator ID elements but not the landmark interaction.
- Detecting activation: The process begins when the ignition is switched to the "on" position (Column 3, lines 43-45).
- Receiving Operator ID: The system uses a keypad to receive a PIN code as the operator identification (Column 3, lines 52-54).
- Determining ID within a time interval: This is a central feature of the invention. The driver must enter the PIN "within a predetermined time period" after turning the key (Abstract).
- Setting an alarm condition: If the correct PIN is not entered, the system can disable the engine starter, limit engine speed, or activate an alarm (Column 4, lines 4-11).
- Limitations: The '499 patent is focused on the operator identification and engine disablement process. It makes no mention of transmitting data to a remote control center about the event, nor does it contain any disclosure related to detecting or interacting with fixed landmarks. This lack of remote communication and landmark interaction means it cannot anticipate the independent claims of the '471 patent.