Automated geo-fence boundary configuration and activation

• US 8,581,713 B1
• Filed: 06/14/2013
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US13/918,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20130278403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 151 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.19, 340/426.22, 340/426.18, 340/426.2, 340/426.1, 340/426.36, 340/539.13, 340/5.72, 340/5.1, 340/5.2, 340/5.61, 701/201, 701/202, 701/207, 701/213
• US Class Current: 340/426.19
• 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 comprising:

responsive to a trigger event, activating a geo-fence boundary for an asset, wherein activating the geo-fence boundary comprises;

determining a current location of the asset;

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

activating the geo-fence boundary; and

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

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the trigger event is selected from the group consisting of:

detection that the asset has not moved in a preselected period of time;

when the asset comprises a vehicle;

detection that a key has been removed from an ignition; and

detection that an engine has been turned off;

detection that the asset is in a particular location; and

determination that a preset time has been reached.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

detecting movement of the asset beyond the defined geo-fence boundary; and

responsive to detecting movement of the asset beyond the defined geo-fence boundary, issuing an alert.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the issuing an alert further comprises issuing the alert based on a notification rule set for the asset.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising deactivating the geo-fence boundary in response to a deactivation signal.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the trigger event comprises a user-specified condition in which a geo-fence should be activated.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein an administrator configuration comprises the trigger event.

8. A system comprising:

a processor;

a wireless network interface coupled to the processor;

a computer-readable storage medium coupled to the processor, the storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

responsive to a trigger event, activate a geo-fence boundary for an asset, wherein activating the geo-fence boundary comprises;

determining a current location of the asset;

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

activating the geo-fence boundary; and

subsequent to activating the geo-fence boundary, monitor asset location with respect to the geo-fence boundary.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the trigger event is selected from the group consisting of:

detection that the asset has not moved in a preselected period of time;

when the asset comprises a vehicle;

detection that a key has been removed from an ignition; and

detection that an engine has been turned off;

detection that the asset is in a particular location; and

determination that a preset time has been reached.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

detect movement of the asset beyond the defined geo-fence boundary; and

responsive to detecting movement of the asset beyond the defined geo-fence boundary, issue an alert.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the instructions causing the processor to issue an alert comprise instructions causing the processor to issue the alert based on a notification rule set for the asset.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the instructions further cause the processor to deactivate the geo-fence boundary in response to a deactivation signal.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the trigger event comprises a user-specified condition in which a geo-fence should be activated.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein an administrator configuration comprises the trigger event.