System and method for automated correction of geofences

• US 10,267,643 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2013
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Connect Development Limited
• Original Assignee: Verizon Connect Ireland Limited (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Mitchell, Peter, Mocanu, Ovidiu
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Jerrah
• Application Number:
  US14/028,008
• Publication Number:
  US 20150081212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,045 Days
• Field of Search: 701300, 701400, 701408, 701410, 701445, 701454
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/367 Details, e.g. road map scale, orientation, zooming, illumination, level of detail, scrolling of road map or positioning of current position marker
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/207 with respect to certain areas, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas with possible alerting when inside or outside boundaries
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/022 with dynamic range variability

Abstract

A system and method and system flow for identifying and correcting geofences.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

one or more memory devices,

the one or more memory devices including;

a GPS event database including GPS event data transmitted from a plurality of GPS devices, each GPS device being associated with a vehicle,

the transmitted GPS event data being stored in the one or more memory devices over a period of time; and

a communications interface to receive the GPS event data transmitted from the plurality of GPS devices; and

one or more processors, communicatively coupled to the one or more memory devices, to;

receive GPS event data transmitted from at least one GPS device of the plurality of GPS devices,

the GPS event data including location information for at least one vehicle, store the GPS event data in the GPS event database,

analyze the GPS event data to derive and record vehicle stops for the at least one vehicle,

identify at least one geofence associated with the vehicle stops for the at least one vehicle;

categorize a location type for the at least one geofence based on a location type identification criterion,

the location type identification criterion including at least one of;

information identifying a threshold coefficient of variation,

information identifying a minimum percentage of vehicle stops in the at least one geofence to a total vehicle stops for a geographic region or a fleet,

information identifying a minimum number of vehicle stops for a predetermined time period,

information identifying at least one of the vehicle stops in the at least one geofence is a last vehicle stop of a day for the at least one vehicle, or

information identifying a threshold number of vehicle stops per unique vehicle; and

provide, for a graphic user interface, a representation of the at least one geofence.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the graphic user interface includes a map showing the at least one geofence for a vehicle stop location area.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle stops are frequent stops.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the location type of the at least one geofence includes an office location type, a depot location type, or a home location type.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein

the location type identification criterion is used to identify whether the at least one geofence meets a preset criteria of a particular location type.

6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further to:

allow a user to upload at least one user-defined geofence.

7. The computer system of claim 6, wherein the one or more processors are further to:

compare the at least one geofence associated with the vehicle stops and the at least one user-defined geofence.

8. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the graphic user interface includes a map showing a plurality of geofences including both the at least one geofence associated with the vehicle stops and the at least one user-defined geofence.

9. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are further to:

identify an overlap between the at least one user-defined geofence and the at least one geofence associated with the vehicle stops.

10. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the one or more processors are further to:

correct the at least one user-defined geofence using the at least one geofence associated with the vehicle stops.

11. A method, comprising:

receiving, using one or more processors, GPS event data transmitted from at least one GPS device,

the at least one GPS device being associated with at least one vehicle,

the GPS event data including location information for the at least one vehicle,

storing, using the one or more processors, the GPS event data associated with a plurality of GPS devices in a GPS event database over a period of time,

each of the plurality of GPS devices being associated with a vehicle,

analyzing, using the one or more processors, the GPS event data to derive and record vehicle stops for the at least one vehicle,

identifying, using the one or more processors, at least one geofence associated with the vehicle stops for the at least one vehicle;

categorizing, using the one or more processors, a location type for the at least one geofence based on a location type identification criterion,

the location type identification criterion including at least one of;

information identifying a threshold coefficient of variation,

information identifying a minimum percentage of vehicle stops in the at least one geofence to a total vehicle stops for a geographic region or a fleet,

information identifying a minimum number of vehicle stops for a predetermined time period,

information identifying at least one of the vehicle stops in the at least one geofence is a last vehicle stop of a day for the at least one vehicle, or

information identifying a threshold number of vehicle stops per unique vehicle; and

providing, using the one or more processors, for a graphic user interface, a representation of the at least one geofence.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the graphic user interface includes a map showing the at least one geofence for a vehicle stop location area.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the vehicle stops are frequent stops.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the location type of the at least one geofence includes an office location type, a depot location type, or a home location type.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more processors are to:

allow a user to upload at least one user-defined geofence.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more processors are to:

compare the at least one geofence associated with the vehicle stops and the at least one user-defined geofence.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the graphic user interface includes a map showing a plurality of geofences including both the at least one geofence associated with the vehicle stops and the at least one user-defined geofence.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

identifying, using the one or more processors, an overlap between the at least one user-defined geofence and the at least one geofence associated with the vehicle stops.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

correcting, using the one or more processors, the at least one user-defined geofence using the at least one geofence associated with the vehicle stops.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, the instructions comprising:

one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

receive GPS event data transmitted from at least one GPS device of a plurality of GPS devices,

the GPS event data including location information for at least one vehicle, store the GPS event data in a GPS event database,

analyze the GPS event data to derive and record vehicle stops for the at least one vehicle,

identify at least one geofence associated with the vehicle stops for the at least one vehicle;

categorize a location type for the at least one geofence based on a location type identification criterion,

the location type identification criterion including at least one of;

information identifying a threshold coefficient of variation,

information identifying a minimum percentage of vehicle stops in the at least one geofence to a total vehicle stops for a geographic region or a fleet,

information identifying a minimum number of vehicle stops for a predetermined time period,

information identifying at least one of the vehicle stops in the at least one geofence is a last vehicle stop of a day for the at least one vehicle, or

information identifying a threshold number of vehicle stops per unique vehicle; and

provide, for a graphic user interface, a representation of the at least one geofence.