Vehicle repossession utilizing tracking device information

• US 9,639,899 B1
• Filed: 12/03/2014
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DriveTime Automotive Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: DriveTime Automotive Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Gersitz, John Patrick, Gade, Tamar Lynn, Sauder, Mark Graff, Needham, Maureen, Cook, Jodi
• Primary Examiner(s): Iwarere, Seye
• Application Number:
  US14/559,363
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: 705 38, 705 37, 445 6713, 455 39
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Methods, devices, systems, and non-transitory process-readable storage media for utilizing information related to tracking devices to support repossession and improve financing account management. In some embodiments, a server processor is configured to obtain account information corresponding to a borrower account, wherein the account information may include location information of a borrower tracking device within a vehicle associated with the borrower account, generate a message based at least in part on the obtained account information, and transmit the generated message to a borrower device associated with the borrower account. The message may be one or more of an email, a short-message service (SMS) text message, a telephonic call, or a push notification via an application. The borrower device associated with the borrower account may be one or more of a mobile device, a land-line telephone, and the borrower tracking device within the vehicle associated with the borrower account.

Claims

1. A method for a server to utilize data related to borrower tracking devices to control communications with borrower devices, comprising:

determining, by a processor of the server, whether wake up criteria is met for a borrower tracking device that is in a sleep mode;

associating, by the processor of the server, a new telephone number with the borrower tracking device in response to determining the wake up criteria is met for the borrower tracking device, wherein the new telephone number replaces a previously assigned telephone number of the borrower tracking device;

transmitting, by the processor of the server to a static IP address of the borrower tracking device, a wake up message that includes the new telephone number to replace the previously assigned telephone number for use with a subscriber identity module (SIM) of the borrower tracking device;

obtaining, by the processor of the server, account information corresponding to a borrower account, wherein the account information includes location information of the borrower tracking device within a vehicle associated with the borrower account;

generating, by the processor of the server, a message based at least in part on the obtained account information; and

transmitting, by the processor of the server, the generated message to the borrower tracking device, thereby causing the borrower tracking device to render information through a speaker system of the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is one or more of an email, a short-message service (SMS) text message, a telephonic call, or a push notification via an application.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing, by the processor of the server, the obtained account information in association with the borrower account.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, by the processor of the server, whether the borrower account is in-default, and

wherein generating, by the processor of the server, the message based at least in part on the obtained account information comprises generating, by the processor of the server in response to determining the borrower account is in-default, the message based at least in part on the obtained account information.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining, by the processor of the server, whether the vehicle is near a payment center based on the obtained account information, and

wherein generating, by the processor of the server, the message based at least in part on the obtained account information comprises generating, by the processor of the server, the message based at least in part on the obtained account information in response to determining the vehicle is near the payment center.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the generated message includes at least one of a warning and an incentive to make a payment or return the vehicle to a nearby payment center.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising determining, by the processor of the server, whether the vehicle has entered a location associated with the borrower account based on the obtained account information.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein determining, by the processor of the server, whether the vehicle has entered the location associated with the borrower account based on the obtained account information comprises determining, by the processor of the server, whether the vehicle has traveled to at least one of a home address and a work address indicated by data of the borrower account, and

the generated message requests updated information related to the at least one of the home address and the work address.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein determining, by the processor of the server, whether the vehicle has entered the location associated with the borrower account based on the obtained account information comprises determining, by the processor of the server, whether the vehicle has been located within an impoundment lot for a period that exceeds a threshold.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting, by the processor of the server, a second message to a device used by a repossession agent in response to determining the vehicle has been located within the impoundment lot for the period that exceeds the threshold.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calculating, by the processor of the server, a mileage of the vehicle based on the obtained account information received over a period;

determining, by the processor of the server, whether the calculated mileage exceeds a maximum mileage amount; and

calculating, by the processor of the server, an additional fee in response to determining the calculated mileage exceeds the maximum mileage amount, and

wherein the generated message indicates at least the calculated mileage and the maximum mileage amount.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the generated message indicates that maintenance is required for the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 1,

wherein obtaining, by the processor of the server, account information corresponding to the borrower account comprises obtaining, by the processor of the server, account information corresponding to the borrower account from the borrower tracking device using the new telephone number.

14. A computing device, comprising:

a processor configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

determining whether wake up criteria is met for a borrower tracking device that is in a sleep mode;

associating a new telephone number with the borrower tracking device in response to determining the wake up criteria is met for the borrower tracking device, wherein the new telephone number replaces a previously assigned telephone number of the borrower tracking device;

transmitting, to a static IP address of the borrower tracking device, a wake up message that includes the new telephone number to replace the previously assigned telephone number for use with a subscriber identity module (SIM) of the borrower tracking device;

obtaining account information corresponding to a borrower account, wherein the account information includes location information of the borrower tracking device within a vehicle associated with the borrower account;

generating a message based at least in part on the obtained account information; and

transmitting the generated message to the borrower tracking device, thereby causing the borrower tracking device to render information through a speaker system of the vehicle.

15. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the message is one or more of an email, a short-message service (SMS) text message, a telephonic call, or a push notification via an application.

16. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising storing the obtained account information in association with the borrower account.

17. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising determining whether the borrower account is in-default, and

wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that generating the message based at least in part on the obtained account information comprises generating, in response to determining the borrower account is in-default, the message based at least in part on the obtained account information.

18. The computing device of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

determining whether the vehicle is near a payment center based on the obtained account information, and

wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that generating the message based at least in part on the obtained account information comprises generating the message based at least in part on the obtained account information in response to determining the vehicle is near the payment center.

19. The computing device of claim 18, wherein the generated message includes at least one of a warning and an incentive to make a payment or return the vehicle to a nearby payment center.

20. The computing device of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising determining whether the vehicle has entered a location associated with the borrower account based on the obtained account information.

21. The computing device of claim 20, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that determining whether the vehicle has entered the location associated with the borrower account based on the obtained account information comprises determining whether the vehicle has traveled to at least one of a home address and a work address indicated by data of the borrower account, and

the generated message requests updated information related to the at least one of the home address and the work address.

22. The computing device of claim 20, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that determining whether the vehicle has entered the location associated with the borrower account based on the obtained account information comprises determining whether the vehicle has been located within an impoundment lot for a period that exceeds a threshold.

23. The computing device of claim 22, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising transmitting a second message to a device used by a repossession agent in response to determining the vehicle has been located within the impoundment lot for the period that exceeds the threshold.

24. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

calculating a mileage of the vehicle based on the obtained account information received over a period;

determining whether the calculated mileage exceeds a maximum mileage amount; and

calculating an additional fee in response to determining the calculated mileage exceeds the maximum mileage amount, and

wherein the generated message indicates at least the calculated mileage and the maximum mileage amount.

25. The computing device of claim 24, wherein the generated message indicates that maintenance is required for the vehicle.

26. The computing device of claim 14,

wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that obtaining account information corresponding to the borrower account comprises obtaining account information corresponding to the borrower account from the borrower tracking device using the new telephone number.

27. A computing device, comprising:

means for determining whether wake up criteria is met for a borrower tracking device that is in a sleep mode;

means for associating a new telephone number with the borrower tracking device in response to determining the wake up criteria is met for the borrower tracking device, wherein the new telephone number replaces a previously assigned telephone number of the borrower tracking device;

means for transmitting, to a static IP address of the borrower tracking device, a wake up message that includes the new telephone number to replace the previously assigned telephone number for use with a subscriber identity module (SIM) of the borrower tracking device;

means for obtaining account information corresponding to a borrower account, wherein the account information includes location information of the borrower tracking device within a vehicle associated with the borrower account;

means for generating a message based at least in part on the obtained account information; and

means for transmitting the generated message to the borrower tracking device, thereby causing the borrower tracking device to render information through a speaker system of the vehicle.

28. The computing device of claim 27, wherein the message is one or more of an email, a short-message service (SMS) text message, a telephonic call, or a push notification via an application.

29. The computing device of claim 27, further comprising means for storing the obtained account information in association with the borrower account.

30. The computing device of claim 27, further comprising means for determining whether the borrower account is in-default, and

wherein means for generating the message based at least in part on the obtained account information comprises means for generating, in response to determining the borrower account is in-default, the message based at least in part on the obtained account information.

31. The computing device of claim 30, further comprising:

means for determining whether the vehicle is near a payment center based on the obtained account information, and

wherein means for generating the message based at least in part on the obtained account information comprises means for generating the message based at least in part on the obtained account information in response to determining the vehicle is near the payment center.

32. The computing device of claim 31, wherein the generated message includes at least one of a warning and an incentive to make a payment or return the vehicle to a nearby payment center.

33. The computing device of claim 30, further comprising means for determining whether the vehicle has entered a location associated with the borrower account based on the obtained account information.

34. The computing device of claim 33, wherein means for determining whether the vehicle has entered the location associated with the borrower account based on the obtained account information comprises means for determining whether the vehicle has traveled to at least one of a home address and a work address indicated by data of the borrower account, and

the generated message requests updated information related to the at least one of the home address and the work address.

35. The computing device of claim 33, wherein means for determining whether the vehicle has entered the location associated with the borrower account based on the obtained account information comprises means for determining whether the vehicle has been located within an impoundment lot for a period that exceeds a threshold.

36. The computing device of claim 35, further comprising means for transmitting a second message to a device used by a repossession agent in response to determining the vehicle has been located within the impoundment lot for the period that exceeds the threshold.

37. The computing device of claim 35, further comprising:

means for calculating a mileage of the vehicle based on the obtained account information received over a period;

means for determining whether the calculated mileage exceeds a maximum mileage amount; and

means for calculating an additional fee in response to determining the calculated mileage exceeds the maximum mileage amount, and

wherein the generated message indicates at least the calculated mileage and the maximum mileage amount.

38. The computing device of claim 37, wherein the generated message indicates that maintenance is required for the vehicle.

39. The computing device of claim 35,

wherein means for obtaining account information corresponding to the borrower account comprises means for obtaining account information corresponding to the borrower account from the borrower tracking device using the new telephone number.

40. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor of a computing device to perform operations comprising:

determining whether wake up criteria is met for a borrower tracking device that is in a sleep mode;

associating a new telephone number with the borrower tracking device in response to determining the wake up criteria is met for the borrower tracking device, wherein the new telephone number replaces a previously assigned telephone number of the borrower tracking device;

transmitting, to a static IP address of the borrower tracking device, a wake up message that includes the new telephone number to replace the previously assigned telephone number for use with a subscriber identity module (SIM) of the borrower tracking device;

obtaining account information corresponding to a borrower account, wherein the account information includes location information of the borrower tracking device within a vehicle associated with the borrower account;

generating a message based at least in part on the obtained account information; and

transmitting the generated message to the borrower tracking device, thereby causing the borrower tracking device to render information through a speaker system of the vehicle.

41. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 40, wherein the message is one or more of an email, a short-message service (SMS) text message, a telephonic call, or a push notification via an application.

42. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 40, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor of the computing device to perform operations further comprising storing the obtained account information in association with the borrower account.

43. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 40, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor of the computing device to perform operations further comprising determining whether the borrower account is in-default, and

wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor of the computing device to perform operations such that generating the message based at least in part on the obtained account information comprises generating, in response to determining the borrower account is in-default, the message based at least in part on the obtained account information.

44. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 43, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor of the computing device to perform operations further comprising:

determining whether the vehicle is near a payment center based on the obtained account information, and

wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor of the computing device to perform operations such that generating the message based at least in part on the obtained account information comprises generating the message based at least in part on the obtained account information in response to determining the vehicle is near the payment center.

45. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 44, wherein the generated message includes at least one of a warning and an incentive to make a payment or return the vehicle to a nearby payment center.

46. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 43, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor of the computing device to perform operations further comprising determining whether the vehicle has entered a location associated with the borrower account based on the obtained account information.

47. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 46, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor of the computing device to perform operations such that determining whether the vehicle has entered the location associated with the borrower account based on the obtained account information comprises determining whether the vehicle has traveled to at least one of a home address and a work address indicated by data of the borrower account, and

the generated message requests updated information related to the at least one of the home address and the work address.

48. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 46, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor of the computing device to perform operations such that determining whether the vehicle has entered the location associated with the borrower account based on the obtained account information comprises determining whether the vehicle has been located within an impoundment lot for a period that exceeds a threshold.

49. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 48, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor of the computing device to perform operations further comprising transmitting a second message to a device used by a repossession agent in response to determining the vehicle has been located within the impoundment lot for the period that exceeds the threshold.

50. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 40, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor of the computing device to perform operations further comprising:

calculating a mileage of the vehicle based on the obtained account information received over a period;

determining whether the calculated mileage exceeds a maximum mileage amount; and

calculating an additional fee in response to determining the calculated mileage exceeds the maximum mileage amount, and

wherein the generated message indicates at least the calculated mileage and the maximum mileage amount.

51. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 50, wherein the generated message indicates that maintenance is required for the vehicle.

52. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim 40,

wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause the processor of the computing device to perform operations such that obtaining account information corresponding to the borrower account comprises obtaining account information corresponding to the borrower account from the borrower tracking device using the new telephone number.