Method and apparatus for vehicle tracking

• US 8,681,023 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2011
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Giuli, Thomas J., Ross, Joseph N., Schunder, Mark, Alexander, Thomas Richard, Rork, Joseph Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US13/038,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20120223844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 340/993, 340/994, 340/502, 340/504, 340/995.13, 701/465
• US Class Current: 340/993
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/123 indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, tramstransmission of navigation instructions to vehicles G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/16 Anti-collision systems road vehicle drive control systems for predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision otherwise than by control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/08
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

A computer-implemented tracking method includes receiving a tracking request at a vehicle associated computing system (VACS). The method also includes authenticating the tracking request and determining a vehicle location via a GPS in communication with the VACS. The method further includes transmitting the vehicle location from the VACS to a tracking request associated computing system (TRACS). The method also includes monitoring the vehicle for at least one delay-event. The method additionally includes transmitting data corresponding to the delay event to the TRACS, contingent on the occurrence of at least one delay-event.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method:

receiving a tracking request at a vehicle computing system (VCS);

notifying a vehicle occupant of the tracking request;

receiving approval from the vehicle occupant to respond to the request;

determining a vehicle location;

transmitting the vehicle location from the VCS to a tracking request associated computing system (TRACS);

monitoring the vehicle for a delay-event; and

contingent on the occurrence of a delay-event, transmitting data corresponding to the delay event to the TRACS.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving a tracking request further comprises:

determining that a request has been previously approved; and

automatically approving the request using the VACS, contingent on the determination that the request has been previously approved.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the VACS is a vehicle computing system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the VACS is contained in a wireless device in communication with a vehicle computing system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the delay-event includes a vehicle PRNDL being shifted into a Park state.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the data includes GPS coordinates of the vehicle when the delay-event occurs.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the data includes identification of a known location corresponding to the GPS coordinates of the vehicle when the delay-event occurs.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the data includes at least one photograph taken from a vehicle camera system in communication with the VACS.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the data includes at least one video footage transmission, the video footage being obtained through a vehicle camera system in communication with the VACS.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein delay-event includes the detection of a vehicle accident through one or more vehicle sensors in communication with the VACS.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the authenticating further comprises:

receiving an authentication code at the VACS; and

verifying the authentication code using the VACS.

12. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause a vehicle associated computing system (VACS) to execute a method comprising:

receiving a tracking request at the VACS;

notifying a vehicle occupant of the tracking request;

receiving approval from the vehicle occupant to respond to the request;

determining a vehicle location via a GPS in communication with the VACS;

transmitting the vehicle location to a tracking request associated remote source (TRACS);

monitoring the vehicle for at least one delay-event; and

contingent on the occurrence of at least one delay-event, transmitting data corresponding to the delay event to the TRACS.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the VACS is a vehicle computing system.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the VACS is a wireless device in communication with a vehicle computing system.