METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING LOCATION INFORMATION OF A VEHICLE TO A USER DEVICE

• US 20110215949A1
• Filed: 03/04/2011
• Published: 09/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Telematics Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Bennett, Richard, Yarnold, Christina
• Granted Patent: US 9,299,255 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/989
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/123 indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, tramstransmission of navigation instructions to vehicles G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

A user device application transmits the device'"'"'s location and unique identifier with a message requesting location information that corresponds to a vehicle associated with the user device'"'"'s unique identifier. The application sends the request message over a communication network to a central computer. The central computer obtains location information corresponding to the vehicle from a device proximate the vehicle. The central computer compares the locations of the user device and telematics device and generates a location differential value corresponding to the distance between them. If the differential value meets predetermined criteria, the central computer causes an action, for example forwarding the location information corresponding to the vehicle to the requesting user device. Or, the central computer sends the requesting device a request denied message. The central computer may also deny the request when the vehicle is moving, or if the user device has requested the vehicle'"'"'s location too frequently.

Claims

1. A method for providing the location of a vehicle to a user device that is remote from the vehicle, comprising:

receiving a location request message that requests the location of the vehicle;

obtaining location information of the vehicle;

obtaining location information of the user device;

evaluating the location information corresponding to the vehicle and the location information corresponding to the user device to generate a location differential value;

comparing the location differential value to at least a predetermined criterion;

generating a result of the comparison; and

causing an action based on the result of the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the obtaining of location information of the vehicle includes retrieving recently stored location information transmitted from a location determining device in the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the obtaining of location information of the vehicle includes requesting that a location determining device in the vehicle wirelessly transmit the location information.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the obtaining of location information of the vehicle includes retrieving the location information generated by a location determining device in the vehicle and recently stored by it.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the obtaining of location information of the vehicle includes retrieving from the user device the location information generated by a location determining device in the vehicle and transmitted to the user device.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the obtaining of location information of the vehicle includes retrieving from a central computer located remotely from the vehicle the location information generated by a location determining device in the vehicle and transmitted to the central computer.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one predetermined criterion includes a distance limit of one mile.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of causing the user device to produce a location request denial message includes displaying a visible message that the request has been denied.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of causing an action based on the result of the comparison includes providing the location of the vehicle to the requesting device.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the location differential value is a straight line position differential value.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the differential value is travel time differential value.

12. A central computer configured to perform a method for providing the location of a vehicle to a user device that is remote from the vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving a location request message that requests the location of the vehicle;

obtaining location information of the vehicle;

obtaining location information of the user device;

evaluating the location information corresponding to the vehicle and the location information corresponding to the user device to generate a location differential value;

comparing the location differential value to at least one predetermined criterion;

generating a result of the comparison; and

causing an action based on the result of the comparison.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the obtaining of location information of the vehicle includes retrieving recently stored location information transmitted from a location determining device in the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the obtaining of location information of the vehicle includes requesting that a location determining device in the vehicle wirelessly transmit the location information.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the at least one predetermined criterion includes a distance limit of one mile.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of causing the user device to produce a location request denial message includes sending a message to be displayed that the request has been denied.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of causing the user device to produce a location request denial message includes sending a message to be audibly played that the request has been denied.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the location differential value is a straight line position differential value.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein the differential value is travel time differential value.

20. A user device configured to perform a method for providing the location of a vehicle that is remote from the user device, the method comprising:

receiving a location request message requesting the location of the vehicle from a user interface;

transmitting location information of the user device to a central computer;

requesting location information of the vehicle from the central computer;

receiving location information of the vehicle;

evaluating the location information corresponding to the vehicle and the location information corresponding to the user device to generate a location differential value;

comparing the location differential value to at least one predetermined criterion;

generating a result of the comparison; and

causing an action based on the result of the comparison.