Personal security system

A method for safeguarding the personal security of a vehicle operator comprising the steps of:

• storing vehicle identification information in a mobile security assembly which is to be conveyed in a vehicle;
• storing personal identification information relating to particular vehicle operator in a data entry device;
• activating said mobile security assembly upon insertion of said data entry device to capture said personal identification information;
• maintaining a set of "accurate" coordinate values for a location of said vehicle by periodically reading current latitude and longitude coordinate data and a reliability rating from a continuously operating position locator in said mobile security assembly, and comparing each reliability rating with a predetermined threshold rating and updating said set of "accurate" coordinate values with said current latitude and longitude coordinate data when said reliability rating surpasses said predetermined threshold rating;
• combining said vehicle identification information, personal identification information, and "accurate" coordinate location of said mobile unit in a formatted personal security message;
• triggering said mobile security assembly upon an occurrence of a personal security condition to establish a communication link with a central dispatch station, and to transmit said personal security message;
• receiving said personal security message at said central station and decoding the type of personal security condition, personal and vehicle identification information, and "accurate" coordinate values therefrom;
• displaying a digitized map at said central station;
• correlating said "accurate" coordinate values to a corresponding point on said digitized map at said central station and indicating said point on said digitized map;
• and
• superposing the type of personal security condition and said personal and vehicle identification information on said digitized map.

An apparatus for monitoring a vehicle operator inside a mobile vehicle comprising:

• a mobile security assembly installed in said vehicle, said mobile security assembly further comprising,
• a mobile unit having a programmable memory containing vehicle-specific information, a keypad for allowing manual indication of an alarm condition, a position locator for providing position coordinates indicating a location of said mobile vehicle, a scanning device for reading data, and a microcontroller connected to said programmable memory, keypad, position locator and scanning device, and a plurality of remote sensors for automatically sensing an alarm condition and indicating said alarm condition to said mobile unit, and
• data entry means provided with personal information relating to a particular vehicle operator stored thereon, said data entry means being insertable in said scanning device;
• whereby insertion of said data entry means into said scanning device prompts said scanning device to read said personal information therefrom;
• said microcontroller being triggered by a personal security situation indicated at one of said keypad and remote sensors to input said position coordinates from said position locator and to format a security message comprising said alarm condition, vehicle-specific information, personal information and said position coordinates, and
• a portable communication device connected to said mobile unit and conveyed therewith for transmitting said security message to a central dispatch station;
• and
• a central dispatch station, said central dispatch station further comprising,
• a central communication console for receiving said security message from said mobile security assembly and decoding said personal information and vehicle-specific information, position coordinates, and alarm condition from said security message;
• a display console connected to said central communication console for correlating said position coordinates to a digital map, and for displaying said digital map to a central operator with said identification information, position coordinates, and alarm condition indicated thereon.

A method for safeguarding the personal security of a vehicle operator comprising the steps of:

• equipping a vehicle with a mobile security assembly comprising a communication device, a position locator for determining a current position, and a mobile unit connected between said communication device and position locator;
• storing vehicle identification information in said mobile unit;
• storing supplemental information at a central dispatch station,
• capturing personal identification information including a personal account number of said vehicle operator in said mobile unit by reading said personal identification information from a data storage device inserted in said mobile unit by said vehicle operator;
• triggering said mobile unit upon an occurrence of a personal security condition to determine a current position of said vehicle, to establish a communication link with said central dispatch station via said communication device, and to transmit a personal security message indicating said personal security condition, said personal and vehicle identification information, and said current position;
• receiving said personal security message at said central station and decoding said personal security condition, personal identification information, and current position therefrom;
• displaying a digitized map at said central station;
• correlating said current position of said vehicle to a corresponding point on said digitized map at said central station and indicating said point on said digitized map;
• correlating said supplemental information to said personal and vehicle identification information;
• and
• superposing said personal security condition, said personal and vehicle identification information, and said supplemental information on said digitized map.