Geofence-based triggers for automated data collection

• US 8,670,933 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2011
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schenken, Christopher T., Davidson, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALHARBI, ADAM MOHAMED
• Application Number:
  US13/052,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20110238300A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/454
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/09 Driving style or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0866 the electronic data carrier being a digital video recorder in combination with video camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for automated data collection using geofence-based triggers. In one embodiment, the location of a vehicle can be monitored by a variety of computing entities. By using the vehicle'"'"'s location, it can be determined when the vehicle enters and/or exits defined geofences. After a determination that a vehicle has entered or exited a defined geofence, one or more events can be automatically triggered/initiated.

Claims

1. A method for the automated collection of data comprising:

electronically receiving information defining a geofence around a geographic area;

electronically collecting data associated with a vehicle while the vehicle is operated outside the geofenced area, wherein the data collected is selected from the group consisting of (a) image data collected via one or more imaging devices disposed on the vehicle and (b) telematics data collected via one or more data collection devices disposed on the vehicle;

determining the location of the vehicle;

determining whether the vehicle has entered the geofenced area; and

after determining the vehicle has entered the geofenced area, automatically stopping the collection of the data while the vehicle is operated within the geofenced area.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining the location of the vehicle;

determining whether the vehicle has exited the geofenced area; and

after determining the vehicle has exited the geofenced area, automatically starting the collection of the data while the vehicle is operated outside the geofenced area.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data collected comprises image data collected via one or more imaging devices disposed on the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising transmitting at least a portion of the image data from the one or more imaging devices to a computing entity.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the data collected comprises telematics data collected via one or more data collection devices disposed on the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising transmitting at least a portion of the telematics data from the one or more data collection devices disposed on the vehicle to a computing entity.

7. A method for the automated collection of data comprising:

electronically receiving information defining a geofence around a geographic area;

electronically collecting data associated with a vehicle while the vehicle is operated within the geofenced area, wherein the data collected is selected from the group consisting of (a) image data collected via one or more imaging devices disposed on the vehicle and (b) telematics data collected via one or more data collection devices disposed on the vehicle;

determining the location of the vehicle;

determining whether the vehicle has exited the geofenced area; and

after determining the vehicle has exited the geofenced area, automatically stopping the collection of the data while the vehicle is operated outside the geofenced area.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

determining the location of the vehicle;

determining whether the vehicle has entered the geofenced area; and

after determining the vehicle has entered the geofenced area, automatically starting the collection of the data while the vehicle is operated within the geofenced area.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the data collected comprises image data collected via one or more imaging devices disposed on the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising transmitting at least a portion of the image data from the one or more imaging devices to a computing entity.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the data collected comprises telematics data collected via one or more data collection devices disposed on the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising transmitting at least a portion of the telematics data from the one or more data collection devices disposed on the vehicle to a computing entity.

13. A system comprising one or more imaging devices and one or more data collection devices, the system configured to:

receive information defining a geofence around a geographic area;

collect data associated with a vehicle while the vehicle is operated outside the geofenced area, wherein the data collected is selected from the group consisting of (a) image data collected via one or more imaging devices disposed on the vehicle and (b) telematics data collected via one or more data collection devices disposed on the vehicle;

determine the location of the vehicle;

determine whether the vehicle has entered the geofenced area; and

after determining the vehicle has entered the geofenced area, automatically stop the collection of the data while the vehicle is operated within the geofenced area.

14. The system of claim 13 further configured to:

determine the location of the vehicle;

determine whether the vehicle has exited the geofenced area; and

after determining the vehicle has exited the geofenced area, automatically start the collection of the data while the vehicle is operated outside the geofenced area.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the data collected comprises image data collected via the one or more imaging devices disposed on the vehicle.

16. The system of claim 15 further configured to transmit at least a portion of the image data from the one or more imaging devices to a computing entity.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the data collected comprises telematics data collected via the one or more data collection devices disposed on the vehicle.

18. The system of claim 17 further configured to transmit at least a portion of the telematics data from the one or more data collection devices disposed on the vehicle to a computing entity.

19. A system comprising one or more imaging devices and one or more data collection devices, the system configured to:

receive information defining a geofence around a geographic area;

collect data associated with a vehicle while the vehicle is operated within the geofenced area, wherein the data collected is selected from the group consisting of (a) image data collected via one or more imaging devices disposed on the vehicle and (b) telematics data collected via one or more data collection devices disposed on the vehicle;

determine the location of the vehicle;

determine whether the vehicle has exited the geofenced area; and

after determining the vehicle has exited the geofenced area, automatically stop the collection of the data while the vehicle is operated outside the geofenced area.

20. The system of claim 19 further configured to:

determine the location of the vehicle;

determine whether the vehicle has entered the geofenced area; and

after determining the vehicle has entered the geofenced area, automatically start the collection of the data while the vehicle is operated within the geofenced area.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the data collected comprises image data collected via the one or more imaging devices disposed on the vehicle.

22. The system of claim 21 further configured to transmit at least a portion of the image data from the one or more imaging devices to a computing entity.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the data collected comprises telematics data collected via the one or more data collection devices disposed on the vehicle.

24. The system of claim 23 further configured to transmit at least a portion of the telematics data from the one or more data collection devices disposed on the vehicle to a computing entity.