DESC:FIELD OF INVENTION:

The present invention relates to an Electronic Wheel Lock that may be employed as fine management for illegal parking or antitheft device and such. More particularly the present invention relates to an unlocking of an Internet of Things (IoT) enabled electronic Wheel Lock, a network and a method thereof.

BACKGROUND & PRIOR ART:

A wheel clamp is a mechanical device that is used to immobilize an automobile from its parked place. The clamp is attached and locked to either rear wheel or front wheel to render the vehicle immobile. The purpose of using the wheel clamp is to penalize unauthorized parking as well as to use as an anti-theft device. After the payment of penalty, the wheel clamp can be unlocked using a key by the authorized person. Examples of such mechanical wheel clamp / antitheft devices are Trimax, Fullstop Nemesis and so on.

With the advent of technology, totally mechanical wheel clamp became electronically operated. Further, wireless technology in the wheel clamp/lock device was incorporated as described in US7571628.

US7571628 discloses an electronic vehicle locking system, mainly for cyclists. The cyclists generally carry a U-clamp for securing the bicycle for the anti-theft purpose. However, they also tend to forget to carry the U-clamp or purposefully do not carry the U-clamp due to its weight. The invention claimed in said patent includes a user input device which is operable to receive user input to engage or disengage the first and second locking elements, an electronic control device is operable in response to the user input to send a signal to engage or disengage the first and second locking elements and a display device is operable to display at least an indication of whether the first and second locking elements are engaged or disengaged. The first and second locking elements may be engaged or disengaged in response to the user input, such as operation of the payment card, identification card or other user input means. The data of the payment card may be transmitted over a network, such as internet, modem etc. Such information may include, but is not limited to, data pertaining to the duration of use of the locking system, the payment charged for use thereof, and the status of the locking system, such as locked, unlocked or deactivated.
The inventors of the present invention have attempted to provide a unique solution the problems addressed in this section.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION:

In order to address the drawback of the prior arts and to achieve the objects stated above, The invention reduces the time, cost and resources required to handle parking offences, and provide a simple, cost-effective way to release the vehicle.

The invention further provides enhanced safety and security to vehicle owner.

Accordingly, the present invention discloses An Internet of Things (IoT) electronic wheel clamp device to be operated on wireless network for securing and subsequently unsecuring the vehicle.

The said device comprises a mechanical lock acting upon an action trigger routed by an electronic processor; an electronic processor configured to communicate with a remote server wirelessly; wherein the electronic processor receives an action trigger from the remote server to activate & deactivate the mechanical lock, the deactivation being based on a predefined condition.

Further, the invention discloses wireless network to activate & deactivate an electronic wheel clamp device for securing a vehicle. The said network comprises a remote server configured to communicate with a wireless electronic wheel clamp device; a wireless electronic wheel clamp device configured to communicate with the remote server, wherein the electronic wheel clamp device processor receives an action trigger from the remote server to activate & deactivate itself; a first communication device to capture vehicle details, communicate with the remote server and fulfil a predefined condition. The action trigger is generated after a specified condition is satisfied from a first communication device.

The Electronic Wheel Clamp device is manually attached to one of rear or front wheels and therefore is secured at one place. An authorized person manually applies the Electronic Wheel Clamp device to one of rear or front wheels and therefore is secured at one place. As soon as, for example, the predefined condition is satisfied through a first communication device via an electronic message, the remote server generates the action trigger and sends the same to the Electronic Wheel Clamp device. The Electronic Wheel Clamp device is subsequently deactivated/unlocked.

In a further embodiment, the invention discloses a method to electronically activate & deactivate a wheel clamp device for securing a vehicle. The method comprises sending vehicle details from a first communication device to a remote server; receiving electronically an action trigger to activate the wheel clamp device; and deactivating the wheel clamp device by receiving the action trigger from the remote server after fulfilling predefined condition via a first communication device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS:

Figure 1 illustrates schematic diagram of an electronic wheel lock device of the present invention.

Figure 2 illustrates internal parts of electronic wheel lock device of the present invention.

Figure 3(a) and 3(b) illustrates a prototype of the present invention.

Figure 4 illustrates electronic wheel lock device of the present invention clamped to the vehicle wheel.

Figure 5 illustrates a flowchart demonstrating a method of the invention.

Figure 6 illustrates a network of the present invention.

Figure 7 illustrates a platform made available on the communication device, to be utilized for the purpose of the present invention.

The part description of each of the reference numeral is as follows:

Reference Numeral Part Description Reference Numeral Part Description
101 electronic processor 112 Motor
102 action trigger 113 Lock tooth
103 the remote server 114 Battery
104 the mechanical lock 115 Rack Trail
105 electronic message 116 Clamping cylinder_1
106 first communication device 117 Clamping cylinder_2
108 a second communication device 118 Tooth Rack
109 a wireless network 119 Front Part
110 Electronic Wheel Clamp device 120 Back Part

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION:

Accordingly, the present invention discloses Internet of Things (IoT) based Electronic Wheel Clamp Device, a network including Electronic Wheel Clamp Device and a method thereof for securing an automobile vehicle at a given place.

The present invention is illustrated in the figures appended at the end of the specification. However, it may be noted that the figures demonstrate the various embodiments of the invention and do not serve to limit the scope of the specification.

Referring to Figures 1-2, which demonstrate a preferred embodiment, the electronic wheel clamp device (110) for securing a vehicle comprises a mechanical lock (104) acting upon an action trigger (102) (shown in Figure 6) routed through an electronic processor (101); and an electronic processor (101) configured to communicate with a remote server (103) (shown in Figure 6). The electronic processor receives an action trigger (102) from the remote server (103) to activate & deactivate the mechanical lock, the deactivation being based on a predefined condition.

The Electronic Wheel Clamp device (110) is manually attached to one of rear or front wheels and therefore is secured at one place. In an embodiment representing a vehicle parked in an unauthorized manner, a field agent, working with the approval of or appointed by state authorities, manually applies the Electronic Wheel Clamp device to one of rear or front wheels and therefore is secured at one place. The field agent does not have to necessarily stay back besides the vehicle. As soon as the predefined condition is satisfied through a first communication device (106) (shown in Figure 6), the said device (106) being carried by the field agent, via an electronic message (105), the remote server (103) generates the action trigger (102) and sends the same to the Electronic Wheel Clamp device (110). In the stated case, the electronic message (105) will be in the form of a penalty to the authority. The penalty will be paid by a vehicle owner through a second communication device (108) (shown in Figure 6). As soon as the vehicle owner pays the fine, either electronically or through any other instrument of payment, the Electronic Wheel Clamp receives the action trigger and is deactivated/unlocked.

To attach the Electronic Wheel Clamp (110) to the wheel, either electronically or mechanically, front part (119) and back part (120) of the Electronic Wheel Clamp (110) are pulled apart from each other and then pushed towards each other. At the same time, the wheel is kept between the front part (119) and the back part (120) such that it is held by a pair of Clamping Cylinders (116,117). The tooth rack (118) of the Back part (120) slides in the rack trail (115) of the front part (119). After the lock is activated, it does not allow both parts to move away from each other, primarily due to engagement of lock tooth (113) and tooth rack (118).

The mechanical lock (104) is deactivated by an action trigger from a remote server; and an electronic processor receiving the action trigger from the remote server and conveying the action trigger to the mechanical lock (104). The lock tooth (113) is coupled to the tooth rack (118), such that only single direction of motion of the lock tooth (113) is allowed, making a better grip on the wheel.

The first communication device (106) is selected from a mobile device, a computer or any other suitable device. The electronic message may be in the form of a payment of fine, an authentication signal or any other suitable signal, depending upon the field of application of the invention. The entire steps of activating/deactivating the lock are illustrated in Figure 5.

The remote server (103) creates a record of a real time data related to the automobile such as number, location, the extent of which the predefined condition is satisfied and such.

In an another embodiment, the Electronic Wheel Clamp device (110) receives the action trigger (102) from an alternative communication device, which may be a short-ranged communication device through bluetooth. For example, in the case of unauthorized parking of vehicle, the said alternative communication device may be carried by the field agent. As soon as the penalty is paid by the automobile owner, the Bluetooth enabled device carried by the field agent sends the trigger to the Electronic Wheel Clamp device to deactivate/unlock the same.

In an another embodiment, the Electronic Wheel Clamp device (110) can be deactivated/unlocked through a manual mechanical key lock at the bottom of the Wheel Clamp Device.

Further, the present invention discloses a network to activate & deactivate an electronic wheel clamp device (110) for securing a vehicle. The network comprises a remote server (103) configured to communicate with an electronic wheel clamp device (110); an electronic wheel clamp device (110) configured to communicate with the remote server (103), wherein the electronic wheel clamp device (110) processor receives an action trigger (102) from the remote server (103) to activate & deactivate itself; and a first communication device (106) to capture vehicle details, communicate with the remote server (103) and fulfil a predefined condition.

Fig. 3(a) shows a prototype of the invention, wherein the part description is equivalent to Figure 1 & 2. Figure 4 shows the engaging of the wheel lock of the present invention with a vehicle wheel.

Fig. 5 illustrates a method of the present invention, preferably employed when the vehicle is parked wrongly or in the way not allowed by the local authorities nominated by the state. In this case, the wheel lock devices described in the present invention are allotted to such authorities. When the vehicle is wrongly parked or otherwise, the vehicle number is captured through the first communication device (106), being carried by the field agent. The said vehicle number is conveyed to the remote server (103). This is indicated at step 501 in Figure 5. At step 502, the remote server (103) receives the vehicle related information, and at step 503, the electronic processor (101) of the device receives instruction to activate the mechanical lock (104). The lock of the device is activated at step 504. The vehicle owner receives an intimation of the vehicle being locked for wrong parking (step 505,506). The vehicle owner fulfills pre-defined conditions, such as payment of fine in this case, after which the remote server receives notification to deactivate the lock (step 507,508,509). The payment of fine may be in form of electronic payment, cash payment or any other suitable form. The remote server receives the notification of fulfillment of the predefined condition and releases deactivation trigger (step 510,511,512).

When multiple such devices are in use, each Electronic Wheel Clamp device has its own “identification number”. The identification number is pre-stored into the remote server. Further, location of each of the wheel clamp device can be traced based on this identification number.

Advantages of the invention:
1. Due to the network disclosed in the specification, multiple devices may simultaneously track large number of vehicles that are wrongly parked or such.
2. The invention allows a management of parking violations involving large number of vehicles are involved.
3. The invention stores large number of data, required for various purposes.
4. The device of the present invention is made of a metal body with a unique design. Due to this sturdiness of the device, unlocking the device without paying charges is difficult.
5. The devices deploy multiple communication technologies, such as GSM, Bluetooth, Mechanical key, to overcome the issue of network and power outage
6. The device of the present invention includes GPS (General Positioning System) enabling tracking of devices and vehicles on digital maps, thereby adding safety and traceability to the devices
7. The application used to lock/unlock asks for Vehicle Registration/Plate no., vehicle type, Vehicle location (by GPS), some Pictures as a proof of violation. Therefore, even if someone (Violator / Vehicle Driver) finds a way to unlock the device without paying his/her fine, officials/handlers will still have the details of car with proof of rule violation and thus have to pay fine with any damage done by him to the device.
,CLAIMS:1. A portable electronic wheel clamp device (110) operable on a network (109) for securing a vehicle comprising:
a mechanical lock (104) acting upon an action trigger (102) routed through an electronic processor (101); and
an electronic processor (101) configured to communicate with a remote server (103);
wherein the electronic processor receives an action trigger (102) from the remote server (103) to activate & deactivate the mechanical lock, the deactivation being based on a predefined condition.

2. The device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the mechanical lock (104) comprises a pair of clamping cylinder (116,117) to hold wheel, a tooth rack (118) to be able to retract, and a lock tooth (113) to be engaged with the tooth rack.

3. The device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the tooth rack (118) is retracted on a rack trail (115).

4. The device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the action trigger (102) is generated after the pre-defined condition is satisfied through a first communication device (106).

5. The device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the remote control (103) is selected from a cloud server, a physical server.

6. The device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the network (109) is selected from a wired, wireless, LAN or any other suitable network.

7. The device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the device is based on Internet of Things (IoT).

8. A network (109) to activate & deactivate a portable electronic wheel clamp device (110) for securing a vehicle comprising:
a remote server (103) configured to communicate with an electronic wheel clamp device (110);.
an electronic wheel clamp device (110) configured to communicate with the remote server (103), wherein the electronic wheel clamp device (110) processor receives an action trigger (102) from the remote server (103) to activate & deactivate itself; and
a first communication device (106) to capture vehicle details, communicate with the remote server (103) and fulfil a predefined condition.

9. The network as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the electronic wheel clamp device (110) comprises
a mechanical lock (104) acting upon an action trigger (102) routed by an electronic processor (101);
an electronic processor (101) configured to communicate with a remote server (103);
wherein the electronic processor receives an action trigger (102) from the remote server (103) to activate & deactivate the mechanical lock, the deactivation being based on a predefined condition.

10. The network as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the mechanical lock (104) comprises a pair of clamping cylinder (116,117) to hold wheel, a tooth rack (118) to be able to retract, and a lock tooth (113) to be engaged with the tooth rack.

11. The network as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the tooth rack (118) is retracted on a rack trail (115).

12. The network as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the action trigger (102) is generated after the pre-defined condition is satisfied through a first communication device (106).

13. The device as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the remote server (103) is selected from a cloud server, a physical server.

14. The network as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the network (109) is selected from a wired, wireless, LAN or any other suitable network.

15. The network as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the device (110) is based on Internet of Things (IoT).

16. A method to electronically activate & deactivate a portable electronic wheel clamp device (110) for securing a vehicle comprises:
sending vehicle details from a first communication device (106) to a remote server (103);
receiving electronically an action trigger (102) from the remote server (103) to activate the wheel clamp device (110); and
deactivating the wheel clamp device (110) by receiving the action trigger (102) from the remote server (103) after fulfilling predefined condition via a first communication device (106).

17. The method as claimed in Claim 16 further comprises capturing vehicle number and communicating the same to the remote server (103) by means of the first communication device.