Predictive geofence crossing

1. A predictive geofence alert apparatus comprising:

an input device that receives first data of a first object;

a database that stores the first data; and

a controller coupled to the input device and the database, based on the first data, the controller predicting a future position of the first object or a time-to-crossing of the first object to a first geofence using dead reckoning and a characteristic of the medium traversed by the first object, and generating an alert if the future position of the first object crosses the first geofence or the time-to-crossing is less than a set time.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein based on the first data, the controller generates a second geofence for the first object, the controller generating the alert if the second geofence is predicted to cross the first geofence or if the second geofence is predicted to cross the first geofence in less than the set time.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the input device receives second data and the database stores the second data, and based on the second data, the controller generates a new first geofence, the controller generating the alert if the second geofence is predicted to cross the new first geofence or the second geofence is predicted to cross the new first geofence in less than the set time.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein a crossing between the first and second geofences is determined based on one or more of:

a centroid of the first geofence and/or a centroid of the second geofence, and

points on the first and/or second geofences.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first geofence is a position of a second object, the controller generating the alert that includes a time-to-crossing of the first object to the position of the second object.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first geofence is in motion, the controller predicting a distance between the first object and the first geofence based on a distance-horizon and/or predicting a time-to-crossing when the first object crosses the first geofence.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the distance-horizon and/or the set time of the time-horizon have different values based on the future position of the first object and a direction of motion of the first geofence.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller generates the alert based on one or more of:

a list of one or more parties to be contacted,

a logical formula, an inference engine and/or an artificial neural network directing one or more parties to be contacted based on circumstances associated with the first object and the first geofence.

9. A method for generating a predictive geofence alert comprising:

receiving first data of a first device;

storing the first data in a database;

predicting a future position of the first object or a time-to-crossing of the first object to a first geofence based on dead reckoning and a characteristic of a medium traversed by the first object; and

generating an alert if the future position of the first object crosses the first geofence or the time-to-crossing of the first geofence is less than a set time.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

generating a second geofence for the first object; and

generating the alert if the second geofence is predicted to cross the first geofence or if the second geofence is predicted to cross the first geofence in less than the set time.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

receiving second data;

storing second data in the database;

generating a new first geofence based on the second data;

generating the alert if the second geofence is predicted to cross the new first geofence or the second geofence is predicted to cross the new first geofence in less than the set time.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

generating a centroid for the first geofence;

generating a centroid for the second geofence; and

determining a crossing between the first and second geofences based on one or more of the first and second centroids and/or points on the first and second geofences.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the first geofence is a position of a second object, the method further comprising generating an alert that includes a time-to-crossing for the first object to the position of the second object.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the first geofence is moving, the method further comprising one or more of predicting a distance between the first object and the first geofence, and predicting a time-to-crossing when the first object is predicted to cross the first geofence.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the distance-horizon and/or the set time of the time-horizon have different values based on the future position of the first object and a direction of motion of the first geofence.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the generating the alert comprises one or more of:

transmitting an alert to a list of one or more parties to be contacted, and

transmitting an alert to one or more parties to be contacted as directed by a logical formula, an inference engine and/or an artificial neural network based on circumstances associated with the first object and the first geofence.

17. A predictive geofence alert system comprising:

a client that identifies a target and a geofence task to be performed;

an alert monitor that receives an alert of a geofence crossing; and

the predictive geofence alert apparatus of claim 1 .