METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE TRACKING

• US 20120223844A1
• Filed: 03/02/2011
• Published: 09/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Giuli, Thomas J., Ross, Joseph N., Schunder, Mark, Alexander, Thomas Richard, Rork, Joseph Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,681,023 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/993
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• 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 1/16 Anti-collision systems road vehicle drive control systems for predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision otherwise than by control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/08
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

A computer-implemented tracking method includes receiving a tracking request at a vehicle associated computing system (VACS). The method also includes authenticating the tracking request and determining a vehicle location via a GPS in communication with the VACS. The method further includes transmitting the vehicle location from the VACS to a tracking request associated computing system (TRACS). The method also includes monitoring the vehicle for at least one delay-event. The method additionally includes transmitting data corresponding to the delay event to the TRACS, contingent on the occurrence of at least one delay-event.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented tracking method comprising:

receiving a tracking request at a vehicle associated computing system (VACS);

authenticating the tracking request;

determining a vehicle location via a GPS in communication with the VACS;

transmitting the vehicle location from the VACS to a tracking request associated computing system (TRACS);

monitoring the vehicle for at least one delay-event; and

contingent on the occurrence of at least one delay-event, transmitting data corresponding to the delay event to the TRACS.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the authenticating further comprises:

notifying a vehicle occupant of an incoming tracking request; and

receiving input from the vehicle occupant to authenticate the request.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the authenticating further comprises:

determining that a request has been previously authenticated; and

automatically authenticating the request using the VACS, contingent on the determination that the request has been previously authenticated.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the VACS is a vehicle computing system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the VACS is contained in a wireless device in communication with a vehicle computing system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the delay-event includes a vehicle PRNDL being shifted into a Park state.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the data includes GPS coordinates of the vehicle when the delay-event occurs.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the data includes identification of a known location corresponding to the GPS coordinates of the vehicle when the delay-event occurs.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the data includes at least one photograph taken from a vehicle camera system in communication with the VACS.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the data includes at least one video footage transmission, the video footage being obtained through a vehicle camera system in communication with the VACS.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein delay-event includes the detection of a vehicle accident through one or more vehicle sensors in communication with the VACS.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the authenticating further comprises:

receiving an authentication code at the VACS; and

verifying the authentication code using the VACS.

13. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, at a tracking request associated computing system (TRACS), data associated with a vehicle-delay event, the data including at least coordinates of a vehicle;

determining, using the TRACS, if a location-type can be correlated with the coordinates of the vehicle;

contingent on the determining, estimating a delay associated with the location-type, using the TRACS;

adjusting an estimated arrival time based at least in part on the estimated delay; and

conveying the estimated arrival time from the TRACS to a requesting party.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

asking the requesting party to identify a delay associated with the location-type; and

using the identified delay as the estimated delay.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving, at the TRACS, at least one photograph or video clip from at least one vehicle camera;

conveying the at least one photograph or video clip to the requesting party;

asking the requesting party to identify a delay associated with the conveyed at least one photograph or video clip; and

using the identified delay as the estimated delay.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining if the vehicle has resumed travel;

contingent on determining the vehicle has resumed travel, adjusting an estimated arrival time; and

conveying the adjusted estimated arrival time from the TRACS to a requesting party.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining if the estimated delay has elapsed and the vehicle has not resumed travel;

contingent on determining the estimated delay has elapsed and the vehicle has not resumed travel, adjusting the estimated delay;

adjusting an estimated arrival time based at least in part on the adjusted estimated delay to obtain an extended arrival time; and

conveying the extended arrival time from the TRACS to a requesting party.

18. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause a vehicle associated computing system (VACS) to execute a method comprising:

receiving a tracking request at the VACS;

authenticating the tracking request;

determining a vehicle location via a GPS in communication with the VACS;

transmitting the vehicle location to a tracking request associated remote source (TRACS);

monitoring the vehicle for at least one delay-event; and

contingent on the occurrence of at least one delay-event, transmitting data corresponding to the delay event to the TRACS.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the VACS is a vehicle computing system.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the VACS is a wireless device in communication with a vehicle computing system.