Automated geo-fence boundary configuration and activation

1. A method for configuring and activating a geo-fence boundary surrounding a vehicle, comprising:

receiving a signal to activate a geo-fence boundary for a vehicle;

responsive to the signal, automatically:

determining a current location of the vehicle;

defining a geo-fence boundary surrounding the vehicle based on the current location of the vehicle; and

activating the defined geo-fence boundary; and

subsequent to activating the defined geo-fence boundary, monitoring vehicle location with respect to the geo-fence boundary.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, responsive to detecting movement of the vehicle beyond the defined geo-fence boundary, issuing an alert.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein issuing an alert comprises:

retrieving an alert profile; and

performing at least one action according to the retrieved alert profile.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, responsive to the detecting movement of the vehicle beyond the defined geo-fence boundary, performing a pre-specified action.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

determining the current location of the vehicle comprises determining the current location by receiving signals from at least one GPS satellite; and

monitoring vehicle location with respect to the geo-fence boundary comprises monitoring vehicle location receiving signals from at least one GPS satellite.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving a signal to activate a geo-fence boundary for an vehicle comprises receiving, at a central location, a signal from an onboard device located at the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

prior to receiving a signal to activate a geo-fence boundary for an vehicle, detecting, at the onboard device, a wireless signal indicating proximity of a portable device carried by an operator of the vehicle;

and wherein receiving a signal from the onboard device to activate the geo-fence boundary comprises:

detecting, at the onboard device, loss of the wireless signal indicating proximity of the portable device; and

receiving a signal from the onboard device indicating detection of loss of the wireless signal.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein receiving a signal from the onboard device to activate the geo-fence boundary comprises:

detecting, at the onboard device, a wireless signal from a portable device carried by an operator of the vehicle, the wireless signal indicating the geo-fence boundary should be activated; and

transmitting a signal from the onboard device to the central location to activate the geo-fence boundary.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the wireless signal from the portable device comprises a signal to lock the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a signal to deactivate the geo-fence boundary; and

responsive to the received signal, deactivating the geo-fence boundary.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the signals comprises a message transmitted from a individual to a central location.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein defining a geo-fence boundary comprises:

determining at least one predetermined characteristic for the geo-fence boundary; and

defining a geo-fence boundary based on the at least one predetermined characteristic and on the current location of the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the predetermined characteristic is a radius, and wherein:

defining a geo-fence boundary comprises defining a geo-fence boundary substantially centered around the current location of the vehicle and having a radius specified by the predetermined characteristic.

14. A system for configuring and activating a geo-fence boundary surrounding an vehicle, comprising:

a wireless network interface, for receiving a signal to activate a geo-fence boundary for an vehicle;

a processor, coupled to the wireless network interface, for, responsive to the signal, automatically:

determining a current location of the vehicle;

defining a geo-fence boundary surrounding the vehicle based on the current location of the vehicle; and

activating the defined geo-fence boundary; and

a positioning monitoring device, coupled to the processor, for, subsequent to activating the defined geo-fence boundary, monitoring vehicle location with respect to the geo-fence boundary.

15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising, a message transmitter, coupled to the positioning monitoring device, for, responsive to detecting movement of the vehicle beyond the defined geo-fence boundary, issuing an alert.

16. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:

an onboard device, located at the vehicle, for:

detecting a wireless signal indicating proximity of a portable device carried by an operator of the vehicle;

detecting loss of the wireless signal indicating proximity of the portable device; and

responsive to detecting loss of the wireless signal indicating proximity of the portable device, transmitting to the wireless network interface a signal to activate the geo-fence boundary.

17. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:

an onboard device, located at the vehicle, for:

detecting a wireless signal from a portable device carried by an operator of the vehicle, the wireless signal indicating the geo-fence boundary should be activated;

responsive to detecting the wireless signal from the portable device, transmitting to the wireless network interface a signal to activate the geo-fence boundary.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein, responsive to the onboard device detecting a signal to deactivate the geo-fence boundary, the onboard device transmits to the wireless network interface a signal to deactivate the geo-fence boundary.

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein, responsive to the wireless network interface receiving a signal to deactivate the geo-fence boundary, the processor deactivates the geo-fence boundary.