Recovery system with repeating communication capabilities
View Patent ↗A recovery system and method with repeating communication functionality includes a station configured to send a first message and at least a first remote transmitting unit responsive to the central station and configured to transmit a second message to a locating unit. At least a second remote transmitting unit includes a receiver which receives the second message, a controller configured to process the second message, and a transmitter for transmitting a third message to the locating unit.
1. A recovery method comprising:
transmitting a first activation message to a vehicle location unit and to a first remote transmitting unit, the first activation message including a first code representing a vehicle location unit identifier;
receiving the first activation message at the first remote transmitting unit but not at the vehicle locating unit;
processing the first activation message to generate a second activation message;
transmitting the second activation message to the vehicle location unit and to a second remote transmitting unit, the second activation message including the first code representing a vehicle location unit identifier;
receiving the second activation message at a second remote transmitting unit but not at the vehicle locating unit;
processing the second activation message to generate a third activation message; and
transmitting the third activation message to the vehicle location unit and to a third remote transmitting unit, the third activation message including the first code representing a vehicle location unit identifier.
2. The method of claim 1 in which the first remote transmitting unit includes a landline connection to a station for receiving the first message.
3. The method of claim 1 in which the first remote transmitting unit includes an RF transmitter for sending the second activation message to the vehicle location unit and to a receiver of the second remote transmitting unit.
4. The method of claim 1 in which the first activation message, the second activation message, and the third activation message include the same information.
5. The method of claim 1 in which the second remote transmitting unit transmits the third activation message only upon receipt of two or more instances of the second activation message.
6. The method of claim 1 in which the first activation message includes a second code which activates the vehicle location unit to transmit a signal and the second and third messages include the first and second codes.
7. The method of claim 1 in which the first remote transmitting unit repeats the transmission of the second activation message.
8. The method of claim 1 in which the second remote transmitting unit repeats the transmission of the third activation message.