GB2338327A

GB2338327A - Apparatus and method for tagging vessels

Info

Publication number: GB2338327A
Application number: GB9812538A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Daniel Douglas Bryant; Richard James Bryant
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-06-10
Filing date: 1998-06-10
Publication date: 1999-12-15
Also published as: GB9812538D0

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus and method for tagging vessels or boats in a harbour or marina, and tracking their movements upon leaving the harbour or marina. The apparatus comprise a readable information carrying device (20) mountable on the boat, a detector (1) fitted at the harbour or marina entrance/exit for detecting the presence of the information carrying device (20) within a given area (21) and reading information from the device (20), and means to send the information to a processor (26). The processor (26) compares the information with known information about the boat, and actuates an alarm system (25) if the results of the comparison show the boat is being moved without authorisation.

Description

7 1 1 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TAGGING VESSELS is 2338327 The invention

relates to an apparatus and method for tagging vessels or boats in a harbour or marina, and tracking their movements upon leaving the harbour. Boats are usually highly valuable but generally have little in the way of security. Marking of boats is currently limited to usually the name of the boat and possibly the home port or port of registration of the boat, similar to the information displayed on registration plates of cars. Many boats are stolen, particularly from private or public boatyards or marinas. The present invention provides an apparatus and method of using such an apparatus for increasing boat security.

The invention provides an apparatus for monitoring the movements of a boat comprising a readable information carrying device mountable on the boat, a detector for detecting the presence of the information carrying device within a given area and reading information from the device, means to send the information to a processor, the processor operable to compare the information with known information about the boat and to selectively actuate an alarm system depending on the results of the comparison.

Preferably, the information carrying device is powered to transmit and receive signals.

Preferably, the means to send and receive information is through aerial transmission/reception.

Specifically, the information is sent at - 2 radio/cellular frequencies.

In a specific arrangement according to the invention, the detector is positionable at a fixed location in a harbour/marina to detect the information carrying device entering or exiting the harbour/marina.

Preferably, the detector is enclosed in a water tight container.

Preferably, the detector is surrounded on all but one side by a screen which inhibits the given detection area to a defined region. More specifically, the screen is made from steel, aluminium copper, brass, tin or any other metallic material.

The apparatus may further comprise a tracking device mountable in the boat and actuatable by the detector to track movements of the boat by a Global Positioning System (GPS).

The invention, in another aspect, provides a method for monitoring the movements of a boat comprising, providing a readable information carrier on a boat, detecting the presence of the information carrier in a given area, reading information from the information carrier, sending the information to a processor, comparing the information with known information about the boat, and selectively actuating an alarm system depending on the result of the comparison.

The method may also include actuating a tracking device in the boat to provide information such that 3 the boat may be tracked by a GPS.

The following is a description of a specific embodiment of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of the apparatus of the present invention; and Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a proximity meter.

Each boat that registers with a particular boatyard/marina/harbour is fitted with a tag 20 carrying information identifying the boat, as shown schematically in Figure 1, which is similar to known data tags now used in some cars. The tag 20 may be active, i.e. it may be battery powered to act as a transmitter/receiver, or passive, i.e. it may not be powered and is able only to reflect a signal sent to it. In any case, the tag 20 carries information about the boat which can be read remotely.

At a fixed location in the vicinity of the entrance/exit to the harbour/marina, there is fitted at least one detector in the form of a proximity meter 1, encased in a water tight enclosure 11 and incorporating at least one proximity reader 2, as illustrated in Figure 2. As illustrated in Figure 1, the proximity meter 1 acts to emit an electronic screen 21 across the harbour entrance/exit. Currently proximity readers are triggered by tags approaching from any direction. The current invention incorporates a shield, which may be the water tight enclosure 11 or an additional screen around the proximity reader 2, to 4 is direct the electronic screen 21 from the proximity reader 2, in one direction as shown in Figure 1. This shield may be made from steel, aluminium, copper. brass, tin or any such material through which the electronic screen 21 can not pass.

As shown in Figure 2, the proximity meter 1 may be mains powered 3 and may have a battery back-up 4. Current proximity meters are limited to a reader and power supply, hard wired to a computer by a land based physical link. Figure 2 also shows that the proximity meter of the current invention comprises not only the reader and power supply, but also the means to transmit information to a remote site using an aerial system.

When a boat enters or exits the harbour, the tag 20 on the boat enters the range of the proximity meter 1. Proximity meters with a range approaching 50-200 metres are particularly useful in this regard so as to ensure the electronic screen 21 is sufficiently large to cover the whole entrance/exit area. As a vessel passes through the electronic screen 21, the proximity reader 2, in the meter 1, detects the presence of the tag 20. Each tag 20 has a unique code which the proximity meter 1 picks up via an aerial 5. This information is then sent along a serial data connector 6, such as an RS232 cable, to a radio/ telephone sender 7.

:1 The signal sent to the radio/telephone sender 7 may be a digital signal. It may be mixed with a radio frequency signal and then sent, via another aerial 9, to a computer 26 at the Harbour Master's office. It may also be sent at cellular frequencies, i.e., mobile phone frequencies.

The signal sent to the Harbour Master's office is received by radio receiver 29 and past onto a computer 26. The radio receiver 29 may of course be incorporated into the computer 26. The signal may require demodulation to strip the code (from the tag) off the RF or cellular carrier. The code is detected and matched on a database which keeps a log of each of the boats in the marina and the code on their tags.

During authorised usage of the boat, the boat owner may telephone the Harbour Master's office and is tell him when he will be leaving. If not the computer 26 assumes by default that the boat should not be leaving. Thus, if the boat should not be leaving the marina because, for example, the owner has not paid his mooring fees or the boat is being stolen, then the computer 26 activates an alarm 25 in the Harbour Master's office. If the Harbour Master's office is unmanned, e.g., after hours, then the computer 26 forwards an alarm signal to an alternative destination e.g. a police station, either by radio signal or by a land phone line. Indeed, the signal can be sent via a global positioning satellite (GPS) 27 to anywhere in the world.

In addition, when a boat passes the proximity meter 1 and is not cleared to leave the harbour, a global sender unit 8, within the proximity meter 1, is triggered. A signal, sent via a third aerial 10, activates a tracker device in the boat, and thus a GPS satellite tracks the boat after leaving the harbour.

- 6 It will be appreciated that many modifications may be made to the above described embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, only one aerial may be used for the proximity meter to receive and send signals rather than the above mentioned three.

Thus the present invention provides an apparatus and method which greatly improves boat security by tracking its movements into and out of a harbour, and beyond.

7 -

Claims

1. An apparatus for monitoring the movements of a boat, comprising a readable information carrying device mountable on the boat, a detector for detecting the presence of the information carrying device within a given area and reading information from the device, means to send the information to a processor, the processor operable to compare the information with known information about the boat and to selectively actuate an alarm system depending on the results of the comparison.

is

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information carrying device is powered and is able to transmit and receive signals.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the means to send and receive information is through aerial transmission/reception.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the information is sent at radio/cellular frequencies.

5. An apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the detector is positionable at a fixed location in a harbour/marina to detect the information carrying device entering or exiting the harbour/marina.

6. An apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the detector is enclosed in a water tight container.

7. An apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the detector is surrounded on all but one side by a screen which inhibits the given detection area to a defined region.

is n I

8. An apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the screen is made from steel, aluminium copper, brass, tin or any other metallic material.

9. An apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising a tracking device mountable in the boat and actuatable by the detector to track movements of the boat by a GPS.

10. A method for monitoring the movements of a boat comprising, providing a readable information carrier on a boat, detecting the presence of the information carrier in a given area, reading information from the information carrier, sending the information to a processor, comparing the information with known information about the boat, and selectively actuating an alarm system depending on the result of the comparison.

11. A method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising actuating a tracking device in the boat to provide information such that the boat may be tracked by a GPS.

12. An apparatus for monitoring the movements of a boat substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

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13. A method for monitoring the movements of a boat substantially as hereinbefore described with referenc to the accompanying drawings.