System for providing a virtual vehicle boundary

• US 20060238340A1
• Filed: 06/06/2006
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnitracs LLC (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Harvey, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,612,668 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/550
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/105 Radio frequency identification data [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1012 Zone surveillance means, e.g. parking lots, truck depots
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/207 with respect to certain areas, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas with possible alerting when inside or outside boundaries

Abstract

System for providing a virtual vehicle boundary. The system includes a method for activating a virtual fence for use with a delivery vehicle. The method comprises steps of detecting a protection event, determining that the protection event is an activation event, and activating a selected virtual fence based the activation event.

Claims

1. A protection system operable to provide a virtual fence around a vehicle comprising:

input logic operable to receive a protection signal; and

fence logic, coupled to said input logic, being operable to activate a first virtual fence selected from a plurality of virtual fences in response to said protection signal being indicative of one of a plurality of activation events, said fence logic being capable of activating a second virtual fence to be used simultaneously in conjunction with said first virtual fence.

2. A protection system as recited in claim 1 wherein said second virtual fence is selected from a plurality of virtual fences.

3. A protection system as recited in claim 1 wherein said first and second virtual fence are operable to be switched on and off.

4. A protection system as recited in claim 1 wherein said first virtual fence is a route fence, said route fence extending around said vehicle along a vehicle route.

5. A protection system as recited in claim 1 wherein said first virtual fence and said second virtual fence are capable of being activated simultaneously.

6. A protection system as recited in claim 1 wherein said input logic is a sensor input logic and the protection signal is sensor input.

7. A protection system as recited in claim 6 wherein said vehicle comprises a tractor portion and a trailer portion and said sensor input signal indicates when the trailer portion is unhooked from the tractor portion.

8. A protection system as recited in claim 1 being further operable to generate an alarm condition in response to said vehicle moving outside of a boundary defined by one of said route fences.

9. A protection system as recited in claim 1 being further operable to generate an alarm condition in response to violation of a predetermined boundary established by one or more virtual fences resulting in an event consisting of activation of a visual alarm, an audio alarm, one or more vehicle systems or a combination thereof.

10. A protection system as recited in claim 1 being further operable to generate an alarm condition in response to violation of a predetermined boundary established by one or more virtual fences resulting in an event including transmission of a message to a central station.

11. A protection system as recited in claim 9 wherein said activation of one or more vehicle systems consists of activation of one or more door locks or activation of vehicle brakes to prevent vehicle movement.

12. A method of providing a providing a virtual fence for a vehicle comprising:

detecting a protection event;

determining that the protection event is one of a plurality of activation events;

activating a first selected virtual fence from a plurality of virtual fences based on the activation event; and

activating a second selected virtual fence from said plurality of virtual fences based on the activation event, said first and second virtual fences operating simultaneously.

13. A method of providing a virtual fence as recited in claim 12 wherein said first and second virtual fences are selected from a group consisting of a boundary fence, perimeter fence, and a route fence.

14. A method of providing a virtual fence as recited in claim 12 wherein said first or second virtual fence is operable to be switched on and off.

15. A method of providing a virtual fence as recited in claim 12 further comprising generating an alarm condition in response to violation of a predetermined boundary established by at least one virtual fence resulting in an event consisting of activation of a visual alarm, an audio alarm, one or more vehicle systems or a combination thereof.

16. A method of providing a virtual fence as recited in claim 12 further comprising generating an alarm condition in response to violation of a predetermined boundary established by at least one virtual fence resulting in an event comprising transmission of a message to a central station.

17. A method of providing a virtual fence as recited in claim 15 wherein said activation of one or more vehicle systems consists of activation of one or more door locks or activation of vehicle brakes to prevent vehicle movement.

18. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein said first virtual fence and said second virtual fence are activated simultaneously.

19. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for providing a virtual fence for use with a delivery vehicle, the instructions when executed perform a method, comprising the following steps:

detecting a protection event;

determining that the protection event is an activation event;

activating a first selected virtual fence from a plurality of virtual fences; and

activating a second virtual fence from a plurality of virtual fences, said first and second virtual fences operating simultaneously.

20. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 19 further comprising generating an alarm condition in response to violation of a predetermined boundary established by one or more virtual fences resulting in an event consisting of activation of a visual alarm, an audio alarm, one or more vehicle systems or a combination thereof.