System and method for defining areas of interest and modifying asset monitoring in relation thereto

• US 8,350,696 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2011
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inthinc Technology Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Independent Witness Incorporated (ORBCOMM Incorporated)
• Inventors: McClellan, Scott, Capps, Eric, Follmer, Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNNINGS, TRAVIS R
• Application Number:
  US13/137,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20120044063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 701/213, 342/44, 368/2, 377/24.2
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• 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 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]

Abstract

System and method for tracking assets comprises determining if an asset is inside a geofence area, using a first set of asset monitoring parameters to monitor operation of the asset, if the asset is inside the geofence area, and using a second set of asset monitoring parameters to monitor operation of the asset, if the asset is outside the geofence area. The invention further comprises a system and method for providing one or more competitors with an asset tracking device, wherein the asset tracking device allows each competitor'"'"'s location to be monitored, defining one or more geofence areas on a racetrack, and detecting when the competitors enter a designated geofence area.

Claims

1. A method for tracking assets, comprising:

determining if an asset is inside a defined zone;

using a first set of asset monitoring parameters to monitor operation of the asset, if the asset is inside the defined zone, wherein the first set of asset monitoring parameters comprises a first threshold associated with a first monitoring parameter and the inside of the defined zone; and

using a second set of asset monitoring parameters to monitor operation of the asset, if the asset is outside the defined zone, wherein the second set of asset monitoring parameters comprises a second threshold associated with the first monitoring parameter and the outside of the defined zone.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the asset is a vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the operation of the vehicle is monitored using a vehicle monitoring system that provides mentoring feedback to a driver.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the vehicle is monitored using a vehicle monitoring system capable of detecting the vehicle'"'"'s speed, and wherein the vehicle monitoring system uses a first set of speed parameters, if the vehicle is inside the defined zone;

and the vehicle monitoring system uses a second set of speed parameters, if the vehicle is outside the defined zone.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first and second sets of speed parameters are used to provide feedback to the driver upon detection of a speeding condition.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the first and second sets of speed parameters are used to trigger messages to a third-party upon detection of a speeding condition.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the vehicle is monitored using a vehicle monitoring system capable of detecting acceleration forces acting on the vehicle, and

wherein the vehicle monitoring system uses a first set of acceleration parameters, if the vehicle is inside the defined zone;

and the vehicle monitoring system uses a second set of acceleration parameters, if the vehicle is outside the defined zone.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first and second sets of acceleration parameters are used to provide feedback to the driver based upon vehicle acceleration measurements.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the first and second sets of acceleration parameters are used to trigger messages to a supervisor or parent based upon vehicle acceleration measurements.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the defined zone has a multi-sided shape defined by a geographic region.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the defined zone has a circular shape defined by a radius around a selected point.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

defining the defined zone by drawing an irregular polygon, wherein the irregular polygon is drawn by sequentially designating locations of vertices of the irregular polygon.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the irregular polygon is drawn over a map and the locations of the vertices are selected from points on the map.