METHODS AND SYSTEMS RELATED TO ASSET IDENTIFICATION TRIGGERED GEOFENCING

• US 20140279297A1
• Filed: 05/29/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gordon Howard Associates Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gordon Howard Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: MORGAN, Gerald A., MACHECA, Christopher M., SCHWARZ, Stanley G.
• Application Number:
  US14/290,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20140279297A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0261 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect trespassing over a fixed physical boundary, e.g. the end of a garden
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS

Abstract

Asset Identification Trigged Geo-fencing. At least some of the example embodiments are methods including: coupling a tracking device to a vehicle being part of a dealer inventory, the vehicle having an identification number; associating the identification number with the tracking device; creating a geo-fence boundary containing a location of the vehicle; and sending a first message to a lien-holder indicating the vehicle has crossed the geo-fence boundary.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

coupling a tracking device to a vehicle being part of a dealer inventory, the vehicle having an identification number;

associating the identification number with the tracking device;

creating a geo-fence boundary containing a location of the vehicle; and

sending a first message to a lien-holder indicating the vehicle has crossed the geo-fence boundary.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein creating the geo-fence boundary further comprises creating by at least one method selected from the group consisting of:

creating responsive to the association of the identification number; and

creating the geo-fence responsive to a command from a lien-holder on the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein sending the first message further comprises sending the first message indicating the vehicle has crossed the geo-fence boundary and not returned within a predetermined period of time.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the predetermined period of time is a time window for a test drive of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising, after creating the geo-fence boundary but prior to sending the first message:

receiving a message indicating the vehicle is to be taken for a test drive; and

expanding the geo-fence boundary responsive to the message.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein sending further comprises:

sending the first message from the tracking device to an operations center remotely located from the tracking device; and

then

sending a second message from the operation center to the lien-holder.

7. A method comprising:

coupling a tracking device to a vehicle, the vehicle having an identification number;

associating the identification number with the tracking device;

creating a geo-fence boundary containing a location of the vehicle; and

sending a first message from the tracking device indicating that the vehicle has traveled outside the geo-fence boundary.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein creating the geo-fence boundary further comprises creating by at least one method selected from the group consisting of:

creating responsive to the association of the identification number; and

creating the geo-fence responsive to a command from a lien-holder on the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein associating the identification number with the tracking device further comprises:

coupling the tracking device to a computer system of the vehicle; and

reading the identification number by the tracking device from the computer system of the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein associating the identification number with the tracking device further comprises providing the identification number to the tracking device by way of a portable computing device communicatively coupled to the tracking device.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein sending the first message further comprises sending the message to an operations center.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising sending a second message from the operations center to a lien-holder of the vehicle that the vehicle has traveled outside the geo-fence boundary.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein sending the first message further comprises sending the first message from the tracking device to the lien-holder.

14. The method of claim 7 wherein associating the identification number with the tracking device further comprises associating a manufacturer assigned vehicle identification number with the tracking device.