Automated geo-fence boundary configuration and activation

• US 8,217,772 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2012
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gordon Howard Associates Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gordon Howard Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Morgan, Gerald A., Schwarz, Stanley G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Toan N
• Application Number:
  US13/364,662
• Publication Number:
  US 20120126998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 159 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.19, 340/425.5, 340/426.22, 340/426.18, 340/426.2, 340/426.1, 340/426.36, 340/539.13, 340/5.72, 340/5.1, 340/5.2, 340/5.61, 701/201, 701/202, 701/207, 701/213
• US Class Current: 340/426.19
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/10 actuating a signalling device
• 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 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• 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 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/022 with dynamic range variability

Abstract

A geo-fence is defined and established automatically based on a current location of an asset along with some range or distance, avoiding the need for a user to manually specify a location by drawing a perimeter, specifying a point location, or by any other means. Once established, the geo-fence can be activated so as to notify the owner of the asset and/or some other entity of movement of the asset beyond the boundary specified by the geo-fence. In one embodiment, the geo-fence can be automatically activated upon certain conditions, or can be manually activated, or any combination thereof.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a signal that indicates operability of an onboard device coupled to a vehicle, the receiving at an operations center and the signal received periodically over a first period of time;

determining absence of receipt of the signal in a second period of time following the first period of time;

issuing an alert responsive to the determining, the alert indicative of at least one selected from the group consisting of;

a possible geo-fence boundary violation;

tampering with the onboard device; and

disablement of the onboard device.

2. The method of claim 1:

wherein prior to receiving the signal, the method further comprises establishing a geo-fence boundary for the vehicle; and

wherein receiving further comprises periodically receiving data indicative of position of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2:

wherein establishing the geo-fence boundary further comprises establishing the geo-fence boundary by the onboard device based on location of the vehicle; and

wherein receiving further comprises receiving data indicative of location of the vehicle relative to the geo-fence boundary.

4. The method of claim 2:

wherein establishing the geo-fence boundary further comprises establishing the geo-fence boundary at the operations center, the establishing based on location of the vehicle; and

wherein receiving further comprises receiving data indicative of location of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein establishing the geo-fence boundary further comprises determining the current location by receiving signals from at least one GPS satellite.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving further comprises receiving data indicative of position of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving further comprises receiving data indicative of position of the vehicle relative to a previously established geo-fence.

8. A system comprising:

a wireless network interface configured to receive a signal to activate a geo-fence boundary for a vehicle;

a processor coupled to the wireless network interface, the processor configured to;

receive a signal that indicates operability of an onboard device remotely located from the processor, the onboard device coupled to a vehicle and the signal received periodically over a first period of time;

determine absence of receipt of the signal in a second period of time distinct from and following the first period of time;

issue an alert responsive to the determination, the alert indicative of at least one selected from the group consisting of;

a possible geo-fence boundary violation;

tampering with the onboard device; and

disablement of the onboard device.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein when the processor receives, the processor is further configured to receive data indicative of position of the vehicle.

10. The system of claim 9:

wherein the processor is configured to receive an indication of a geo-fence boundary established by the onboard device; and

wherein when the processor receives the processor is configured to receive data indicative of location of the vehicle relative to the geo-fence boundary.

11. The system of claim 9:

wherein the processor is configured to establish a geo-fence boundary, the establishing based on location of the vehicle; and

wherein when the processor receives the processor is configured to receive receiving data indicative of location of the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the processor is configured to receive data indicative of location of the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the processor is configured to receive data indicative of location of the vehicle relative to a previously established geo-fence.

14. A method comprising:

receiving a signal indicative of activation of geo-fence monitoring;

determining location of an asset to create a determined location;

establishing a geo-fence boundary based on the determined location;

activate monitoring of the asset within the geo-fence boundary; and

thereafter

issuing an alert if unable to monitor asset location.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein issuing the alert further comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a possible geo-fence boundary violation;

tampering with an onboard device; and

disablement of an onboard device.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising, prior to issuing the alert:

receiving a signal that indicates operability of an onboard device coupled to the asset, the receiving at an operations center and the signal received periodically over a first period of time;

determining absence of receipt of the signal in a second period of time following the first period of time.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein receiving the signal further comprises periodically receiving data indicative of position of the asset.

18. The method of claim 17:

wherein establishing the geo-fence boundary further comprises establishing the geo-fence boundary by the onboard device based on location of the asset; and

wherein receiving further comprises receiving data indicative of location of the asset relative to the geo-fence boundary.

19. The method of claim 17:

wherein establishing the geo-fence boundary further comprises establishing the geo-fence boundary at the operations center, the establishing based on the determined location; and

wherein receiving further comprises receiving data indicative of location of the asset.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein establishing the geo-fence boundary further comprises determining the determined location by receiving signals from at least one GPS satellite.