Automated Geo-Fence Boundary Configuration and Activation

• US 20110307124A1
• Filed: 08/23/2011
• Published: 12/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gordon Howard Associates Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gordon Howard Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Morgan, Gerald A., Schwarz, Stanley G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,164,431 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/10 actuating a signalling device
• 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: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/022 with dynamic range variability

Abstract

A geo-fence is defined and established automatically based on a current location of an asset along with some range or distance, avoiding the need for a user to manually specify a location by drawing a perimeter, specifying a point location, or by any other means. Once established, the geo-fence can be activated so as to notify the owner of the asset and/or some other entity of movement of the asset beyond the boundary specified by the geo-fence. In one embodiment, the geo-fence can be automatically activated upon certain conditions, or can be manually activated, or any combination thereof.

Claims

1. A method for configuring and activating a geo-fence boundary surrounding a vehicle, comprising:

receiving a signal to activate a geo-fence boundary for a vehicle;

responsive to the signal, automatically;

determining a current location of the vehicle;

defining a geo-fence boundary surrounding the vehicle based on the current location of the vehicle; and

activating the defined geo-fence boundary; and

subsequent to activating the defined geo-fence boundary, monitoring vehicle location with respect to the geo-fence boundary.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, responsive to detecting movement of the vehicle beyond the defined geo-fence boundary, issuing an alert.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein issuing an alert comprises:

retrieving an alert profile; and

performing at least one action according to the retrieved alert profile.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, responsive to the detecting movement of the vehicle beyond the defined geo-fence boundary, performing a pre-specified action.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

determining the current location of the vehicle comprises determining the current location by receiving signals from at least one GPS satellite; and

monitoring vehicle location with respect to the geo-fence boundary comprises monitoring vehicle location receiving signals from at least one GPS satellite.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a signal to activate a geo-fence boundary for an vehicle comprises receiving, at a central location, a signal from an onboard device located at the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

prior to receiving a signal to activate a geo-fence boundary for an vehicle, detecting, at the onboard device, a wireless signal indicating proximity of a portable device carried by an operator of the vehicle;

and wherein receiving a signal from the onboard device to activate the geo-fence boundary comprises;

detecting, at the onboard device, loss of the wireless signal indicating proximity of the portable device; and

receiving a signal from the onboard device indicating detection of loss of the wireless signal.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving a signal from the onboard device to activate the geo-fence boundary comprises:

detecting, at the onboard device, a wireless signal from a portable device carried by an operator of the vehicle, the wireless signal indicating the geo-fence boundary should be activated; and

transmitting a signal from the onboard device to the central location to activate the geo-fence boundary.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the wireless signal from the portable device comprises a signal to lock the vehicle.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a signal to deactivate the geo-fence boundary; and

responsive to the received signal, deactivating the geo-fence boundary.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein at least one of the signals comprises a message transmitted from a individual to a central location.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein defining a geo-fence boundary comprises:

determining at least one predetermined characteristic for the geo-fence boundary; and

defining a geo-fence boundary based on the at least one predetermined characteristic and on the current location of the vehicle.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the predetermined characteristic is a radius, and wherein:

defining a geo-fence boundary comprises defining a geo-fence boundary substantially centered around the current location of the vehicle and having a radius specified by the predetermined characteristic.

3. (canceled)

6-7. -7. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

12-14. -14. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

18-20. -20. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

26. A system for configuring and activating a geo-fence boundary surrounding an vehicle, comprising:

a wireless network interface, for receiving a signal to activate a geo-fence boundary for an vehicle;

a processor, coupled to the wireless network interface, for, responsive to the signal, automatically;

determining a current location of the vehicle;

defining a geo-fence boundary surrounding the vehicle based on the current location of the vehicle; and

activating the defined geo-fence boundary; and

a positioning monitoring device, coupled to the processor, for, subsequent to activating the defined geo-fence boundary, monitoring vehicle location with respect to the geo-fence boundary.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising, a message transmitter, coupled to the positioning monitoring device, for, responsive to detecting movement of the vehicle beyond the defined geo-fence boundary, issuing an alert.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the vehicle comprises a vehicle.

29. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

an onboard device, located at the vehicle, for;

detecting a wireless signal indicating proximity of a portable device carried by an operator of the vehicle;

detecting loss of the wireless signal indicating proximity of the portable device; and

responsive to detecting loss of the wireless signal indicating proximity of the portable device, transmitting to the wireless network interface a signal to activate the geo-fence boundary.

32. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

an onboard device, located at the vehicle, for;

detecting a wireless signal from a portable device carried by an operator of the vehicle, the wireless signal indicating the geo-fence boundary should be activated;

responsive to detecting the wireless signal from the portable device, transmitting to the wireless network interface a signal to activate the geo-fence boundary.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein, responsive to the onboard device detecting a signal to deactivate the geo-fence boundary, the onboard device transmits to the wireless network interface a signal to deactivate the geo-fence boundary.

35. The system of claim 26, wherein, responsive to the wireless network interface receiving a signal to deactivate the geo-fence boundary, the processor deactivates the geo-fence boundary.

30-31. -31. (canceled)

33. (canceled)

36. (canceled)