Starter-interrupt device incorporating global positioning system functionality

• US 9,183,530 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2006
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gordon Howard Associates Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gordon Howard Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Schwarz, Stanley G., Macheca, Christopher M., Glancy, Michael, Aron, Chris, Karlin, Mary Sue, Chirico, Franco
• Primary Examiner(s): Araque, Jr., Gerardo
• Application Number:
  US11/539,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20070185728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,322 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/045 by limiting or cutting the electrical supply to the propulsion unit
• 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 25/104 characterised by the type of theft warning signal, e.g. visual or audible signals with special characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• 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 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences

Abstract

An onboard starter-interrupt device incorporates Global Positioning System (GPS) functionality in addition to payment schedule enforcement functions. In response to certain events, and/or on a periodic basis, the onboard device transmits vehicle location data to an operations center. In one aspect, a “geo-fence”, or virtual boundary, can be defined; if the vehicle is driven outside the geo-fence, the location information is transmitted to the operations center and/or other action is taken. In response to receiving vehicle location data, the operations center can send a message to cause the onboard device to disable the vehicle, or to present a warning to the vehicle owner, or to notify a third party of the event and/or vehicle location, or any combination thereof.

Claims

1. A method of enforcing a payment schedules for a vehicle purchase, comprising:

receiving, via an electronic communications network, information regarding payments made by a vehicle purchaser;

transmitting, via an electronic communications network, a message to a disabling device onboard the vehicle, the message defines a permitted geographic region of operation for the vehicle, and the transmitting responsive to a nonpayment event;

receiving an indication of violation of the permitted geographic region, the indication created by the device onboard the vehicle; and

responsive to the GPS information indicating violation of the permitted geographic region of operation, disabling the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to the indication of violation of the permitted geographic region of operation, transmitting a message, via an electronic communication network, to an external agent.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the external agent comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a repossession agent;

a credit issuer;

a credit reporting agency;

a lender;

a roadside assistance provider; and

a seller of the product.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to the indication of violation of the permitted geographic region of operation, issuing an alert to the vehicle purchaser.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

on a display device associated with the operations center, displaying vehicle location information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the operations center is located remotely with respect to the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein disabling the vehicle further comprises disabling the vehicle by the device onboard the vehicle, the disabling in the absence of instructions from an operations center.

8. A system for enforcing a payment schedules for a vehicle purchase, comprising:

event logic configured to receive information indicating a nonpayment event;

a wireless transmission interface coupled to the event logic, the wireless transmission interface configured to transmit, responsive to the nonpayment event, a message to a disabling device onboard the vehicle, where the message defines a permitted geographic region of operation for the vehicle;

a location tracking device configured to determining GPS information specifying vehicle location; and

a disablement device located onboard the vehicle, the disablement device communicatively coupled to the location tracking device, and the disablement device configured to disable the vehicle responsive to the GPS information indicating violation of the permitted geographic region of operation.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a display, coupled to the wireless transmission interface, for displaying vehicle location information.

10. A method of enforcing a permitted geographic region of operation for a vehicle, comprising:

defining a permitted geographic region of operation for the vehicle;

transmitting, via an electronic communications network, a representation of the permitted geographic region to an onboard disabling device;

at the onboard disabling device;

monitoring vehicle location; and

disabling the vehicle responsive to violation of the permitted geographic region, and the disabling in the absence of instructions from an operations center.

11. A method of enforcing a permitted geographic region of operation for a vehicle, comprising:

defining a permitted geographic region of operation for the vehicle;

transmitting, via an electronic communications network, a representation of the permitted geographic region to an onboard disabling device;

transmitting, via an electronic communications network, instructions to the onboard disabling device, the instructions specifying action to be taken in the event of a future violation of the permitted geographic region;

at the onboard disabling device;

monitoring vehicle location; and

responsive to violation of the permitted geographic region, performing the specified action.

12. A method of enforcing a permitted geographic region of operation for a vehicle, comprising:

defining a permitted geographic region of operation for the vehicle;

transmitting, via an electronic communications network, a representation of the permitted geographic region to an onboard disabling device;

transmitting, via an electronic communications network, instructions to the onboard disabling device, the instructions specifying action to be taken responsive to violation of the permitted geographic region;

at the onboard disabling device;

monitoring vehicle location; and

responsive to violation of the permitted geographic region;

attempting to contact the operations center via an electronic communications network; and

responsive to an inability to contact the operations center via an electronic communications network, performing the specified action.