GSM BASED VEHICLE THEFT CONTROL SYSTEM

An embedded system is a special-purpose system in which the computer is completely encapsulated by or dedicated to the device or system it controls. Unlike a general-purpose computer, such as a personal computer, an embedded system performs one or a few predefined tasks, usually with very specific requirements. Since the system is dedicated to specific tasks, design engineers can optimize it, reducing the size and cost of the product. Embedded systems are often mass-produced, benefiting from economies of scale.

Personal digital assistants (PDAs) or handheld computers are generally considered embedded devices because of the nature of their hardware design, even though they are more expandable in software terms. This line of definition continues to blur as devices expand. With the introduction of the OQO Model 2 with the Windows XP operating system and ports such as a USB port

both features usually Belong to "general purpose computers", — the line of nomenclature blurs even more.

Physically, embedded systems ranges from portable devices such as digital watches and MP3 players, to large stationary installations like traffic lights, factory controllers, or the systems controlling nuclear power plants.

In terms of complexity embedded systems can range from very simple with a single microcontroller chip, to very complex with multiple units, peripherals and networks mounted inside a large chassis or enclosure.

1.2 HISTORY:

In the 1960s, computers possessed an ability to acquire, analyze, process data, and make decisions at very high speeds. However there were some disadvantages with the computer controls. They were: high cost, program complexity, and hesitancy of personnel to learn. However the new concept of electronic devices was evolved. They were called programmable controllers which later became a part of embedded systems. This concept developed from a mix of computer technology, solid state devices, and traditional electro mechanical sequences. The first mass-produced embedded system was the Autonetics D-17 guidance computer for the Minuteman missile released in 1961. It was built from discrete transistor logic and had a hard disk for main memory.

REQUIREMENTS OF TYPICAL EMBEDDED SYSTEMS: -

EX: CHEMICAL PLANT: Consider a chemical plant. No. of temperatures have to be measured &based on values certain operations are performed, such as opening a value.

INPUT: - From sensors which measure temperatures.

OUTPUT: signal that controls a value.

Ex: MOBILE PHONES: The processor of a mobile phone needs to carry out a great deal of communications protocol processing to make "TELEPHONECAL”.

1.3 CHARACTERISTICS:

·         Embedded systems often use a (relatively) slow processor and small memory size with an intentionally simplified architecture to minimize costs.

·         Programs on embedded systems must often run with  limited resources

·         Embedded system designers use compilers to develop an embedded system.

·         They often have no operating system or a speciali8zed embedded operating system  (often a real-time operating system ).

·         Programs on an embedded system often must run with resources: often there is no disk drive, operating system, keyboard or screen. may replace rotating media, and a small keypad and  screen may be used instead of a PC's keyboard and screen.

·         Embedding a computer is to interact with the environment, often by monitoring and controlling external machinery. In order to do this, analog inputs and outputs must be transformed to and from digital signal levels.

1.4 APPLICATIONS OF EMBEDDED SYSTEMS:

Some widely used applications of embedded systems are listed below:

·         Automatic teller machines

·         Cellular telephones.

·         Computer network.

·         Disc drives.

·         Thermo stats.

·         Sprinklers.

·         Security monitoring systems.

·         Hand held calculations.

·         House-hold appliances.

·         Inertial guided systems.

·         Flight control hardware / software.

·         Medical equipment.

1.5 GSM

The Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) is the most popular standard for mobile phones in the world. GSM phones are used by over a billion people across more than 200 countries. The ubiquity of the GSM standard makes international roaming very common between mobile phone operators, which enable phone users to access their services in many other parts of the world as well as their own country. GSM differs significantly from its predecessors in that both signaling and speech channels are digital, which means that it is seen as a second generation (2G) mobile phone system. This fact has also meant that data communication was built into the system from very early on. GSM is an open standard, which is currently developed by the 3GPP.From the point of view of the consumer, the key advantage of GSM systems has been higher digital voice quality and low cost alternatives to making calls such as text messaging. The advantage for network operators has been 8 the ability to deploy equipment from different vendors because the open standard allows easy inter-operability. Also, the standards have allowed network operators to offer roaming services, which mean the subscribers, can use their phone all over the world. GSM retained backward-compatibility with the original GSM phones as the GSM standard continued to develop, for example packet data capabilities were added in the Release '97 version of the standard, by means of GPRS. Higher speed data transmission has also been introduced with EDGE in the Release '99 version of the standard.

2.2 BLOCK DIAGRAM EXPLANATION:                    

The project “GSM BASED VEHICLE THEFT CONTROL SYSTEM” deals with the design & development of a theft control system for automobiles which is being used to prevent / control the theft of a vehicle. The developed system makes use of an embedded system based on GSM technology. An interfacing mobile is also connected to the microcontroller, which is in turn, connected to the engine.

Once, the vehicle is being stolen, the information is being used by the vehicle owner for further processing. The information is passed onto the central processing insurance system, where by sitting at a remote place, a particular number is dialed by them to the interfacing mobile that is with the hardware kit which is installed in the vehicle. By reading the signals received by the mobile, one can control the ignition of the engine; say to lock it or to stop the engine immediately. Again it will come to the normal condition only after entering a secured password. The owner of the vehicle & the centre processing system will know this secured password. We can modify this concept such that the vehicle owner also can lock the vehicle from his mobile phone.

 The main concept in this design is introducing the mobile communications into the embedded system. With the help of SIM tracking knows the location of vehicle and informs to the local police or stops it from further movement.