VEHICLE LOCATING METHOD AND SYSTEM

• US 20070171069A1
• Filed: 03/21/2007
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ira Allen
• Inventors: ALLEN, IRA
• Granted Patent: US 7,511,619 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A method and service that uses radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to track and monitor vehicles that are being service is presented. Each vehicle has an attached RFID tag that contains detailed information about that vehicle. A customer can log onto a website hosted by a service department. The website is populated with real-time data showing the current service area in which the vehicle is located.

Claims

1. A method for tracking a progress of a product that is receiving scheduled product maintenance service, the method comprising:

attaching a radio frequency identifier (RFID) to a product;

using the RFID to locate the product within a service area;

providing a real-time location for the product within the service area to a website, and

accessing the website to determine a progress status of scheduled product maintenance service being performed on the product.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the product is a vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

in response to determining that the vehicle is in a parking lot in which RFIDs are monitored, automatically sending a customer an electronic message notifying the customer that service for the vehicle is complete.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining a coordinate position of the vehicle in the parking lot by triangulating onto the location of the vehicle using one or more local base transmitters that can interrogate the RFID;

assigning a parking space identifier to each parking space on the lot; and

associating the coordinate position of the vehicle with one of the parking space identifiers.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

upon determining the location of the vehicle, sending a signal from a local transmitter to unlock the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

upon determining the location of the vehicle, sending a signal from a local transmitter to flash on lights on the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

upon determining the location of the vehicle, sending a signal from a local transmitter to honk a horn on the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the real-time location of the product within the service area is determined according to a pre-determined order of service steps to be taken on the product.

9. A method for tracking a progress of a product that is being repaired, the method comprising:

attaching a radio frequency identifier (RFID) to a product;

using the RFID to locate the product within a repair area;

providing a real-time location for the product within the repair area to a website; and

accessing the website to determine a progress status of repair work that is being performed on the product.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the product is a vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

in response to determining that the vehicle is in a parking lot in which RFIDs are monitored, automatically sending a customer an electronic message notifying the customer that the repair work for the vehicle is complete.

12. A computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for tracking a progress of a product that is receiving scheduled product maintenance service, the computer program comprising computer executable instructions configured for:

receiving product identification from a radio frequency identifier (RFID) that is attached to a product;

using the RFID to locate the product within a service area;

providing a real-time location for the product within the service area to a website; and

accessing the website to determine a progress status of scheduled product maintenance service being performed on the product.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the product is a vehicle.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the computer executable instructions are further configured for:

in response to determining that the vehicle is in a parking lot in which RFIDs are monitored, automatically sending a customer an electronic message notifying the customer that service for the vehicle is complete.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the computer executable instructions are further configured for:

determining a coordinate position of the vehicle in the parking lot by triangulating onto the location of the vehicle using one or more local base transmitters that can interrogate the RFID;

assigning a parking space identifier to each parking space on the lot; and

associating the coordinate position of the vehicle with one of the parking space identifiers.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the computer executable instructions are further configured for:

upon determining the location of the vehicle, sending a signal from a local transmitter to unlock the vehicle.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the computer executable instructions are further configured for:

upon determining the location of the vehicle, sending a signal from a local transmitter to flash on lights on the vehicle.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the computer executable instructions are further configured for:

upon determining the location of the vehicle, sending a signal from a local transmitter to honk a horn on the vehicle.