VEHICLE TRACKING TELEMATICS SYSTEM

• US 20050038598A1
• Filed: 08/11/2003
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Oesterling, Christopher L., Watkins, Gary A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,853,910 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2018 Central base unlocks or authorises unlocking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates

Abstract

A method of tracking vehicles comprising monitoring for registration request signal data and receiving the registration request signal data at a call center. The method further comprises determining a vehicle transmission location based on the registration request signal data and obtaining a registration request signal transmission time from the registration request signal data. Additionally, the method further comprises determining a vehicle indentification number based on the registration request signal data and updating a vehicle tracking database with the vehicle transmission location and the registration request signal transmission time.

Claims

1. ) A method of tracking vehicles, the method comprising:

monitoring for registration request signal data;

receiving the registration request signal data at a call center;

determining a vehicle transmission location based on the registration request signal data;

obtaining a registration request signal transmission time from the registration request signal data;

determining a vehicle indentification number based on the registration request signal data; and

updating a vehicle tracking database with the vehicle transmission location and the registration request signal transmission time.

2. ) The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending the registration request signal data from a vehicle in response to power up of a telematics unit.

3. ) The method of claim 1 wherein said monitoring for registration request signal data further comprises:

monitoring inputs to a wireless service provider database; and

sending the registration request signal data to the call center.

4. ) The method of claim 3 wherein said receiving registration request signal data at a call center further comprises:

receiving an electronic serial number at the call center; and

receiving at least one cell phone tower location at the call center.

5. ) The method of claim 4 wherein said determining a vehicle transmission location based on the registration request signal data further comprises:

determining the vehicle transmission location based on the at least one cell phone tower location.

6. ) The method of claim 1 wherein said monitoring for registration request signal data further comprises:

receiving the registration request signal data at a vehicle holding lot registration monitor; and

sending the registration request signal data from the vehicle holding lot registration monitor to the call center.

7. ) The method of claim 6 wherein said receiving registration request signal data at a call center further comprises:

receiving an electronic serial number at the call center; and

receiving the vehicle holding lot registration monitor location at the call center.

8. ) The method of claim 7 said determining a vehicle transmission location based on the registration request signal data further comprises:

determining the vehicle transmission location based on the vehicle holding lot registration monitor location.

9. ) The method of claim 1 wherein said determining a vehicle indentification number based on the registration request signal data further comprises:

scanning a vehicle database within the call center database for an electronic serial number;

locating the electronic serial number in the vehicle database; and

retrieving the vehicle identification number linked with the electronic serial number within the vehicle data base.

10. ) The method of claim 1 wherein said updating a vehicle tracking database with the vehicle transmission location and the registration request signal transmission time further comprises:

locating a vehicle log within the vehicle tracking database for a vehicle having the determined vehicle identification number;

linking the vehicle transmission location and the registration request signal transmission time; and

inputting the vehicle transmission location and time of transmission into the vehicle log.

11. ) A computer usable medium storing a computer program comprising:

computer readable code for monitoring for registration request signal data;

computer readable code for receiving the registration request signal data at a call center;

computer readable code for determining a vehicle transmission location based on the registration request signal data;

computer readable code for obtaining a registration request signal transmission time from the registration request signal data;

computer readable code for determining a vehicle indentification number based on the registration request signal data; and

computer readable code for updating a vehicle tracking database with the vehicle transmission location and the registration request signal transmission time.

12. ) The computer usable medium of claim 11, further comprising:

computer readable code for sending the registration request signal data from a vehicle in response to power up of a telematics unit.

13. ) The computer usable medium of claim 11, further comprising:

computer readable code for monitoring inputs to a wireless service provider database; and

computer readable code for sending the registration request signal data to the call center.

14. ) The computer usable medium of claim 13 wherein said receiving registration request signal data at a call center further comprises:

computer readable code for receiving an electronic serial number at the call center; and

computer readable code for receiving at least one cell phone tower location at the call center.

15. ) The computer usable medium of claim 11, further comprising:

computer readable code for receiving the registration request signal data at a vehicle holding lot registration monitor; and

computer readable code for sending the registration request signal data from the vehicle holding lot registration monitor to the call center.

16. ) The computer usable medium of claim 11, further comprising:

computer readable code for determining the vehicle transmission location based on at least one cell phone tower location.

17. ) The computer usable medium of claim 11, further comprising:

computer readable code for scanning a vehicle database within the call center database for an electronic serial number;

computer readable code for locating the electronic serial number in the vehicle database; and

computer readable code for retrieving the vehicle identification number linked with the electronic serial number within the vehicle database.

18. ) The computer usable medium of claim 11, further comprising:

computer readable code for locating a vehicle log within the vehicle tracking database for a vehicle having the determined vehicle identification number;

computer readable code for linking the vehicle transmission location and the registration request signal transmission time; and

computer readable code for inputting the vehicle transmission location and time of transmission into the vehicle log.

19. ) A vehicle tracking system comprising:

means for monitoring for registration request signal data;

means for receiving the registration request signal data at a call center;

means for determining a vehicle transmission location based on the registration request signal data;

means for obtaining a registration request signal transmission time from the registration request signal data;

means for determining a vehicle indentification number based on the registration request signal data; and

means for updating a vehicle tracking database with the vehicle transmission location and the registration request signal transmission time.

20. ) The system of claim 19, further comprising:

means for sending the registration request signal data from a vehicle in response to power up of a telematics unit.