Anti-Theft Tracking System for Automobiles
(AutoGSM)
G.S.Prasanth Ganesh, B.Balaji , T.A.Srinivasa Varadhan
gspg90@gmail.com
bbalaji91911@gmail.com
varadhan.srinivasa@gmail.com
Abstract——Technology achieves success only when it meets every
stratum of people. Apart from the various GPS tracking devices
this paper introduces a first of its kind vehicle tracking system
that works only using GSM technology, which would be the
cheapest source of vehicle tracking anti-theft system. It is a small
kit that consists of a GSM module and several other components.
The sys- tem can be switched ON by an SMS from the owner,
which in turn instructs the microcontroller to turn OFF the vehicle,
receive in- formation about the vehicle’s current location or more.
Once this is done, the microcontroller stimulates the GSM
module to forward the details of the nearest Base Station to the
owner’s mobile via text message. The microcontroller which
receives the delivery messages through the GSM module evaluates
the time gap between succes- sive messages to determine the
exact location of the vehicle in a given area. The enviable
advantage of this system is that it helps the owner in tracking the
vehicle at a greater pace, and reduces the complexities comparing
other system, besides being a cheapest alternative for anti-theft
system as well.
Keywords- CBM, Code conversion, Microcontroller, GPS, GSM.
I. INTRODUCTION:
There are various GPS (Global Positioning System) based
tracking systems prevailing today. Still in the Indian scenario
they are not in much of use because of economy. Similarly, all
over the world the systems installed are predominantly for the
four wheelers; but for a country like India where majority of the
population thrives using two wheelers, here is the cheapest source
of an anti-theft tracking system. This system works purely on
GSM (Global System for Mobiles) and proves to be enormously
effective.
II. GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS (GSM):
GSM uses a process called circuit switching. This method of
communication allows a path to be established between two
___________________________________
978-1-61284-632-3/11/$26.00 ©2011 IEEE

devices. Once the two devices are connected, a constant stream
of digital data is relayed. This allows the receiving end to hear
the data being sent before the whole message or data was finished.
The advantage to this is there's no wait time.
A. Mobile Station:
Mobile stations consist of a mobile unit and a smartcard, also
referred to in the trade as a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)
card. This card sits inside the cell phone right under the battery.
The SIM gives the user more personal mobility by providing and
storing many functions that the user many not normally get or use
with a cell phone. The equipment itself is identified by a unique
number known as the International Mobile Equipment Identity
(IMEI).
B. Base station:
The base station is composed of the Base Transceiver Station
(BTS) and the Base Station Controller (BSC). Communication is
established across the standardized Abis interface. The BTS
contains the radio transceiver, which is in reality the cell, and
takes care of the radio-link protocols of the station. It is here that
signals from and to cell phones are established.
C. Network Stations:
The network station consists of the Mobile Services
Switching Center (MSC). This system is what handles all the
mobile subscribers including registration, authentication, location
of user and cell, and call routing. The MSC in cooperation with
the Home Location register (HLR) and the Visitor Location
Register (VLR), take care of mobile calls and routing of phone
calls.
III. SHORT MESSAGE SERVICE (SMS):
One of the key features of GSM systems, besides connecting
user's cell phones, is by using roaming and Short Message
Service (SMS). Both these services give you a lot of
functionality because you can reach and communicate with
others at anytime of the day or night no matter where you may
be.
 IV. MICROCONTROLLER:
The microcontroller is the interface between the GSM module
and the vehicle. It is a combination of microprocessor, data
memory, A/D converters and other peripherals. It stimu- lates the
module in message forwarding and it is programmed in such a
way that it switches OFF the engine once it receives a message
from the user, thus emphasizing its significance in preventing
vehicle hi-jack. The process happens in a short period of time,
and hence proves to be vital for theft control. They are much
smaller and simplified so that they can include all the functions
required on a single chip. Having the micro- controller is of great
use, as it has low design cost and adds intelligence to the system.
V. HOW GPS SYSTEMS WORK:
A tracking device that employs the GPS utilizes the following
as its major components: A GPS Tracking device, a GPS server
and a user interface. Actually what is done here is that, the
tracking device is placed in the vehicle which is acti- vated when
the user desires to switch ON and with the help of the global
positioning satellite, the data is transmitted and is available online.
Using suitable ‘map’ software, the user can determine the exact
location of the tracked system. This uses the GPS server and the
user interface during transmission and reception of valid data.
The major drawback here is the cost, owing to the ‘specific’ use
of positioning satellites and the internet access that is required.
VI. HOW THIS SYSTEM WORKS:
The working is simple and just similar to carrying a mobile
phone along with you and connecting to it from another device.
Here we vary the working from that of the GPS which connects
through the internet and then a user interface, by just displaying
the information containing the location and other essential details
through an SMS.
First, the GSM anti-theft tracking system is put to task when
it receives a message from the user, which is during a vehicle hi-
jack. This triggers the microcontroller in switching OFF the
engine or it stimulates the module in forwarding the location or
both. The message forwarding is explained as given below:
The Cell Broadcast Message (CBM) is common for an area
having a particular Base Station (BS). This message passes on the
information that contains the location as well to the mobiles that
pass by a given area around that BS. It is known that a Cell is a
region having the BS at its center. So a mobile gets registered to
the BS when it enters that particular cell and acquires the
message as soon as it enters the vicinity.

TABLE I. THE EXACT PICTURE OF THE CBM
Octet No. Field
1-2 Serial number
3-4 Message identifier
5 Data Coding Scheme
6 Page parameter
7-88 content of message
Ignoring the first six bytes saves time and it does not take
much time to decode the data in the message into valuable
information. This distinguishes the system’s working from other
tracking devices as we do not present a picture of the vehicle
being tracked, but still determine its exact location and time.
Thus the capabilities are even more enhanced as we can
determine the distance travelled from the information that we
obtain, and the same is also calculated by the system. The exact
picture of the CBM is provided in Table I.
Hence the decoding process carried out by a decoder affixed
separately in the system or as programmed in the micro controller
is required for the raw content from 7-88. The rest of it is
neglected thus saving our time. The entire process is carried out
in a short time, as soon as the broadcast message is received. The
information is converted into a 7-bit ASCII data which contains
the essentials for tracking. The notable feature of this system is
the programming that can be made different for different users.
Thus the system is flexible from the user’s perspective as it can
determine the time duration of sending and receiving the
messages and eventually the time during which the vehicle is
misused. Not alone the timing, but also many other features like
automatic door lock, vehicle condition evaluation and much more.
VII. ADVANTAGES OF GSM:
If you have a cell phone you know how easy it is to pick up
your cell and make a call. The GSM system allows this to happen.
This makes communications around the world possible. You
never have to worry about not being able to get in touch with
your friends or loved ones again when travel- ling.
A. No additional Costs Involved:
There aren't any side costs involved other than maintaining
network connection which is lifetime these days. There are also
no infrastructure establishment costs.
B. Low Operating Cost:
Using GSM keeps your operating costs down because GSM
uses Short Message Service, which keeps band- width and time
down.
C. Reliability:
GSM is a very reliable system. There is hardly any down time
unless a severe electrical storm was to damage a transceiver or
cell somewhere.
D. Global Coverage:
GSM covers the entire globe. So your chances of using your
cell phone to make a call and the call going through are 100% at
best. You won't need to worry about that aspect of the service.
Just travel with confidence knowing you are only a phone call
away from reaching your friends and family.
E. Low Power Consumption:
GSM systems do not use a large amount of power. They rely
on so little energy to operate that you can actually you a solar or
wind system as backup power and you wouldn't have enough
power to operate the system.

VIII. CONCLUSION:
We strongly believe that the development of a nation could
be done only through progressive development of all class of
people. Hence this vehicle tracking system which not only
proves to be effective but also cheap would definitely help a
great deal in bringing down expenses ,ensuring the safety of
the vehicle be it 2 or 3 or 4 or even higher wheeled vehicles.
REFERENCES:
[1]. Kaveh Pahlavan and Prashanth Krishnamurthy, “Principles of wireless
networks: A unified approach 1st,” Prentice Hall PTR Upper Saddle
River, NJ, USA.2001.
[2]. Mazidi; Muhammad Ali, Mazidi; Janice gillspie, Mckinlay, Rolin
D.,“The 8051 microcontroller in embedded systems: Using Assembly
and C,” 2ndedition published by Pearson Education, Inc., Publishing as
Prentice Hall
[3]. ma xim-ic.com - For Microcontrollers.
[4]. beginnersguide.com - For GSM.
[5]. howstuffworks.com - For GSM.