G.P.S. management system

• US 6,356,841 B1
• Filed: 12/29/1999
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hamrick, Marvin R., Ingman, R. T. Mitchell
• Primary Examiner(s): IQBAL, KHAWAR
• Assistant Examiner(s): To, Tuan C
• Application Number:
  US09/474,368
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 701/213, 701/204, 701/208, 701/207, 701/206, 340/994, 340/989, 340/995, 340/24, 342/357, 342/457
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/16 Anti-theft; Abduction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0036 of measured values, i.e. measurement on mobile and position calculation on base station
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/00 Methods or arrangements for processing data by operating upon the order or content of the data handled logic circuits H03K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/001 Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/002 Generating a prealarm to the central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/005 Alarm destination chosen according to a hierarchy of available destinations, e.g. if hospital does not answer send to police station
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/006 Alarm destination chosen according to type of event, e.g. in case of fire phone the fire service, in case of medical emergency phone the ambulance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/207 with respect to certain areas, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas with possible alerting when inside or outside boundaries
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/00 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/904 Telephone telemetry

Abstract

A management system using Global Positioning System receivers for tracking remote units from a central office and quickly and conveniently determining if those remote units have varied from a set of predetermined parameters of operation. The system also includes provisions that allows information to be sent from the remote units to the central office and vice versa. The system also has safety features that promote the rapid dispatch of law enforcement personnel when requests for emergency assistance have been made from the remote units.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a remote unit in communication with a central location, the remote unit comprising a Global Positioning System receiver, a processor in communication with the Global Positioning System receiver and in communication with a memory, the remote unit transmitting Global Positioning System data to the central location, wherein the central location compares the Global Positioning System data to a predetermined parameter having a range of acceptable values, and notes if the predetermined parameter is outside the range of acceptable values; and

wherein the system receives a signal from an ignition sensor, determines the location of the vehicle, retrieves a time and stores the time as a start to a shift time.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the remote unit communicates with an ignition sensor.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein a service center location is designated.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the actual start of shift time is compared to a predetermined range of start of shift times, wherein if the actual start of shift time is outside the predetermined range of start of shift times, then the system notes an exception.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the actual speed of the remote unit is compared to a predetermined speed and if the actual speed is greater than the predetermined speed, the system notes an exception.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the length of time the remote unit remains in a stationary position monitored and is compared to a predetermined stationary, and if the length of time that the remote unit remains in a stationary position is greater than the predetermined stationary time, the system notes an exception.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the actual number of times a remote unit is within a predetermined proximity to a service location is compared to a predetermined number of proximities to a service center and if the actual number of proximities to a service center is greater than the predetermined number of proximities, then the system notes an exception.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the length of time a remote unit is in motion is defined as an actual windshield time, and wherein the actual windshield time is compared to a predetermined range of windshield times, and if the actual windshield time is outside the predetermined range of windshield times, the system notes an exception.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the system communicates with an ignition sensor and determines the actual length of time the ignition is turned on for a predetermined time period, the resulting value being defined as a cumulative ignition time, wherein the system compares the actual cumulative ignition time with the windshield time and notes an exception if the ignition time exceeds the windshield time by a predetermined margin.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein a distance traveled by the remote unit in a predetermined time period is defined as actual travel distance, and wherein the system compares the actual travel distance to a predetermined range of travel distances and notes an exception if the actual travel distance is outside the predetermined range of travel distances.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the remote unit detects a loss of Global Positioning System signal and stores information associated with the loss of signal.

12. A system comprising:

(a) a central location;

(b) a remote unit in communication with the central location, the remote unit in communication with a Global Positioning System receiver and receiving Global Positioning System information from the Global Positioning System receiver;

wherein;

the remote unit having a first state wherein the remote unit consumes a first quantity of power and a second state where the remote unit consumes a second quantity of power, the first quantity of being greater than the second quantity of power;

the remote unit storing the Global Positioning System information in a memory wherein the remote unit transmits the Global Positioning System information to the central location when the remote unit is in the second state.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the remote unit is in the first state when a vehicle is on and the remote unit is in a second state when the vehicle is off.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the remote unit is in the first state during a predetermined time coinciding with the work shift of a technician and wherein the remote unit is in the second state during a time other than the predetermined time.

15. The system according to claim 12, wherein other information, in addition to the Global Positioning System information, is stored in the memory.

16. The system according to claim 12, wherein other information is stored in the memory.

17. A system comprising:

a remote unit in communication with a central location, the remote unit comprising a Global Positioning System receiver, a processor in communication with the Global Positioning System receiver and in communication with a memory, the remote unit transmitting Global Positioning System data to the central location, wherein the central location compares the Global Positioning System data to a predetermined parameter having a range of acceptable values, and notes if the predetermined parameter is outside the range of acceptable values; and

wherein the actual speed of the remote unit is compared to a predetermined speed and if the actual speed is greater than the predetermined speed, the system notes an exception.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein a length of time the remote unit remains in a stationary position is monitored and is compared to a predetermined stationary time, and if the length of time that the remote unit remains in a stationary position is greater than the predetermined stationary time, the system notes an exception.

19. The system according to claim 17, wherein the remote unit detects a loss of Global Positioning System signal and stores information associated with the loss of signal.

20. The system according to claim 17, wherein the remote unit has a first state wherein the remote unit consumes a first quantity of power and a second state where the remote unit consumes a second quantity of power, the first quantity of power being greater than the second quantity of power.

21. The system according to claim 17, wherein at least one report is generated.

22. The system according to claim 17, wherein the system notes if the predetermined parameter is outside the range of acceptable values by generating a report that includes information related to the instances where the predetermined parameter is outside the range of acceptable values.

23. A system comprising:

a remote unit in communication with a central location, the remote unit comprising a Global Positioning System receiver, a processor in communication with the Global Positioning System receiver and in communication with a memory, the remote unit transmitting Global Positioning System data to the central location, wherein the central location compares the Global Positioning System data to a predetermined parameter having a range of acceptable values, and notes if the predetermined parameter is outside the range of acceptable values; and

wherein the length of time the remote unit remains in a stationary position is monitored and is compared to a predetermined stationary time, and if the length of time that the remote unit remains in a stationary position is greater than the predetermined stationary time, the system notes an exception.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein the actual speed of the remote unit is compared to a predetermined speed and if the actual speed is greater than the predetermined speed, the system notes an exception.

25. The system according to claim 23, wherein the remote unit detects a loss of Global Positioning System signal and stores information associated with the loss of signal.

26. The system according to claim 23, wherein the remote unit has a first state wherein the remote unit consumes a first quantity of power and a second state where the remote unit consumes a second quantity of power, the first quantity of power being greater than the second quantity of power.

27. The system according to claim 23, wherein at least one report is generated.

28. The system according to claim 23, wherein the system notes if the predetermined parameter is outside the range of acceptable values by generating a report that includes information related to the instances where the predetermined parameter is outside the range of acceptable values.

29. A system comprising:

a remote unit in communication with a central location, the remote unit comprising a Global Positioning System receiver, a processor in communication with the Global Positioning System receiver and in communication with a memory, the remote unit transmitting Global Positioning System data to the central location, wherein the central location compares the Global Positioning System data to a predetermined parameter having a range of acceptable values, and notes if the predetermined parameter is outside the range of acceptable values; and

wherein the actual number of times a remote unit is within a predetermined proximity to a service location is compared to a predetermined number of proximities to a service center and if the actual number of proximities to a service center is greater than the predetermined number of proximities, then the system notes an exception.

30. The system according to claim 29, wherein the actual speed of the remote unit is compared to a predetermined speed and if the actual speed is greater than the predetermined speed, the system notes an exception.

31. The system according to claim 29, wherein a length of time the remote unit remains in a stationary position is monitored and is compared to a predetermined stationary time, and if the length of time that the remote unit remains in a stationary position is greater than the predetermined stationary time, the system notes an exception.

32. The system according to claim 29, wherein the remote unit detects a loss of Global Positioning System signal and stores information associated with the loss of signal.

33. The system according to claim 29, wherein the remote unit has a first state wherein the remote unit consumes a first quantity of power and a second state where the remote unit consumes a second quantity of power, the first quantity of power being greater than the second quantity of power.

34. The system according to claim 29, wherein at least one report is generated.

35. The system according to claim 29, wherein the system notes if the predetermined parameter is outside the range of acceptable values by generating a report that includes information related to the instances where the predetermined parameter is outside the range of acceptable values.

36. A system comprising:

a remote unit in communication with a central location, the remote unit comprising a Global Positioning System receiver, a processor in communication with the Global Positioning System receiver and in communication with a memory, the remote unit transmitting Global Positioning System data to the central location, wherein the central location compares the Global Positioning System data to a predetermined parameter having a range of acceptable values, and notes if the predetermined parameter is outside the range of acceptable values;

wherein the length of time a remote unit is in motion is defined as an actual windshield time, and wherein the actual windshield time is compared to a predetermined range of windshield times, and if the actual windshield time is outside the predetermined range of windshield times, the system notes an exception.

37. The system according to claim 36, wherein the actual speed of the remote unit is compared to a predetermined speed and if the actual speed is greater than the predetermined speed, the system notes an exception.

38. The system according to claim 36, wherein a length of time the remote unit remains in a stationary position is monitored and is compared to a predetermined stationary time, and if the length of time that the remote unit remains in a stationary position is greater than the predetermined stationary time, the system notes an exception.

39. The system according to claim 36, wherein the remote unit detects a loss of Global Positioning System signal and stores information associated with the loss of signal.

40. The system according to claim 36, wherein the remote unit has a first state wherein the remote unit consumes a first quantity of power and a second state where the remote unit consumes a second quantity of power, the first quantity of power being greater than the second quantity of power.

41. The system according to claim 36, wherein at least one report is generated.

42. The system according to claim 36, wherein the system notes if the predetermined parameter is outside the range of acceptable values by generating a report that includes information related to the instances where the predetermined parameter is outside the range of acceptable values.

43. The system according to claim 36, wherein the system communicates with an ignition sensor and determines the actual length of time the ignition is turned on for a predetermined time period, the resulting value being defined as a cumulative ignition time, and wherein the system compares the actual cumulative ignition time with the windshield time and notes an exception if the ignition time exceeds the windshield time by a predetermined margin.

44. A system comprising:

a remote unit in communication with a central office, the remote unit comprising a Global Positioning System receiver, a processor in communication with the Global Positioning System receiver and in communication with a memory, the remote unit transmitting Global Positioning System data to the central office, wherein the central officer compares the Global Positioning System data to a predetermined parameter having a range of acceptable values, and notes if the predetermined parameter is outside the range of acceptable values; and

wherein the remote unit detects a loss of Global Positioning System signal and stores information associated with the loss of signal.

45. The system according to claim 44, wherein the actual speed of the remote unit is compared to a predetermined speed and if the actual speed is greater than the predetermined speed, the system notes an exception.

46. The system according to claim 44, wherein a length of time the remote unit remains in a stationary position monitored and is compared to a predetermined stationary time, and if the length of time that the remote unit remains in a stationary position is greater than the predetermined stationary time, the system notes an exception.

47. The system according to claim 44, wherein the remote unit detects a loss of Global Positioning System signal and stores information associated with the loss of signal.

48. The system according to claim 44, wherein the remote unit has a first state wherein the remote unit consumes a first quantity of power and a second state where the remote unit consumes a second quantity of power, the first quantity of being greater than the second quantity of power.

49. The system according to claim 44, wherein at least one report is generated.

50. The system according to claim 44, wherein the system notes if the predetermined parameter is outside the range of acceptable values by generating a report that includes information related to the instances where the predetermined parameter is outside the range of acceptable values.