Methods and systems of maintaining and monitoring vehicle tracking device inventories
First Claim
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1. A method of tracking an inventory of vehicle tracking devices, comprising:
- registering a tracking device with a supplier using the tracking device by transmitting an electronic installation message using the tracking device to an inventory tracking server when the inventory tracking device is installed, wherein;
the tracking device was issued to an installer by the supplier and the supplier is different and remote from the installer;
the electronic installation message comprises a unique identifier, assigned by the supplier, for the vehicle tracking device transmitting the electronic installation message; and
the supplier maintains an inventory tracking server comprising at least one installer account, where an installer account comprises at least one unique identifier for vehicle tracking devices assigned to a particular installer by the supplier;
verifying an inventory of tracking devices of the installer by the supplier based on the electronic installation message using the inventory tracking server, where verifying an inventory of tracking devices comprises identifying the installer'"'"'s level of vehicle tracking devices based on the received serial numbers and the vehicle tracking devices assigned to the installer account associated with the installer by the supplier; and
notifying the installer of a low inventory via an electronic message initiated by the supplier using the inventory tracking server when a set threshold is reached or exceeded.
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Abstract
Systems and methods of tracking an installer'"'"'s inventory of vehicle tracking devices performed by the supplier of the devices are provided. Inventory levels of the devices are checked based on activation and/or registration of a tracking device and a subsequent stock-out notification is sent to the installer based on the checked inventory level.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of tracking an inventory of vehicle tracking devices, comprising:
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registering a tracking device with a supplier using the tracking device by transmitting an electronic installation message using the tracking device to an inventory tracking server when the inventory tracking device is installed, wherein; the tracking device was issued to an installer by the supplier and the supplier is different and remote from the installer; the electronic installation message comprises a unique identifier, assigned by the supplier, for the vehicle tracking device transmitting the electronic installation message; and the supplier maintains an inventory tracking server comprising at least one installer account, where an installer account comprises at least one unique identifier for vehicle tracking devices assigned to a particular installer by the supplier; verifying an inventory of tracking devices of the installer by the supplier based on the electronic installation message using the inventory tracking server, where verifying an inventory of tracking devices comprises identifying the installer'"'"'s level of vehicle tracking devices based on the received serial numbers and the vehicle tracking devices assigned to the installer account associated with the installer by the supplier; and notifying the installer of a low inventory via an electronic message initiated by the supplier using the inventory tracking server when a set threshold is reached or exceeded. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A vehicle tracking device inventory tracking system comprising:
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a vehicle tracking device associated with an installer, where the vehicle tracking device is issued to the installer by a supplier; a server in electronic communication with the vehicle tracking device associated with the supplier, where; the supplier is different and remote from the installer; the server comprises at least one an installer account; and an installer account comprises at least one unique identifier for vehicle tracking devices assigned to a particular installer by the supplier; and a client processor accessible by the installer and in network communication with the server to receive electronic communications from the server, at least one of the electronic communications being a notification message from the supplier of a low inventory status of the vehicle tracking devices associated with the installer; wherein the vehicle tracking device is configured to transmit an electronic installation message to the server associated with the supplier when the vehicle tracking device is installed by the installer, where the electronic installation message comprises a unique identifier, assigned by the supplier, for the vehicle tracking device transmitting the electronic installation message; wherein the server is configured to verify the inventory status of the vehicle tracking devices for the installer account associated with the installer based on the electronic installation message, where verifying an inventory of tracking devices comprises identifying the installer'"'"'s level of vehicle tracking devices based on the received serial numbers and the vehicle tracking devices assigned to the installer account associated with the installer by the supplier; and wherein the server is configured to notify the client processor of a low inventory via an electronic message initiated by the supplier using the inventory tracking server when a set threshold is reached or exceeded. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification