System and Method for Protecting Assets from Harm and for Reducing Insurance Risk

1 . A method for warning at least one pre-assigned contact person associated with a vehicle that the vehicle is within a geographical warning zone, the method comprising:

initiating and establishing a wireless communication link between a vehicle telematics system of the vehicle and a control system remote from the vehicle, the control system including:

a weather identification system;

a map database; and

a data processing system operable to communicate with the weather identification system and the map database though at least one communication link;

detecting a dangerous weather condition;

identifying a geographic area within which the dangerous weather condition is detected;

communicating the geographic area to the data processing system;

interfacing the geographic area with the map database to define a geographic warning zone;

locating the vehicle within the geographic warning zone; and

communicating a warning message to the at least one pre-assigned contact person associated with the vehicle regarding the vehicle being located within the geographic warning zone.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the data processing system includes:

telematics equipment operable to provide the vehicle telematics system with telematics services; and

a data center including at least one database server and at least one protocol gateway operable to exchange data with the at least one database server.

3 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the data center is at least one of:

remote from the telematics equipment and communicatively connected thereto through a wireless communication link; and

co-located with the telematics equipment and communicatively connected thereto.

4 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the located vehicle is a subscriber vehicle associated with a subscription plan provided by a telematics service provider.

5 . The method according to claim 2 , which further comprises carrying out the locating step by:

receiving location information from the vehicle telematics system of the vehicle; and

comparing the received location information with the geographic warning zone to determine a subset of vehicles located within the geographic warning zone.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , which further comprises, for the at least one pre-assigned contact person associated with the vehicle, gathering contact information including at least one of:

a telephone number;

an email address; and

a pager number.

7 . The method according to claim 6 , which further comprises carrying out the step of communicating a warning message utilizing the gathered contact information.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , which further comprises carrying out the step of communicating the warning message by:

providing at least one of an audible message and a video display message through the vehicle telematics system;

calling a telephone including at least one of a landline telephone and a mobile device;

sending a text message;

paging a device; and

sending an email.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , which further comprises at least one of:

receiving a responsive communication from the at least one pre-assigned contact person regarding receipt of the warning message and recording the communication attempt as successful; and

receiving no responsive communication from the at least one pre-assigned contact person and recording the communication attempt as unsuccessful.

10 . The method according to claim 9 , which further comprises, if the communication attempt is successful and if the at least one pre-assigned contact person is located inside the located vehicle, providing direction information of a safe location to the at least one pre-assigned contact person,

wherein the safe location is at least one of:

a pre-defined safe location within the geographic warning zone; and

a location outside the geographic warning zone.

11 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one communication link is at least one of a direct communication link and a wireless communication link.

12 . A system for warning at least one pre-assigned contact person associated with a vehicle that the vehicle is within a geographical warning zone, the system comprising:

a control system remote from the vehicle and communicatively connected to a vehicle telematics system of the vehicle, the control system including:

a data processing system;

a weather identification system operable to:

detect a dangerous weather condition;

identify a geographic area within which the dangerous weather condition is detected; and

communicate the geographic area to the data processing system; and

a map database,

the data processing system operable to:

receive and process data from the vehicle telematics system; and

communicate with the weather identification system and the map database though at least one communication link;

the control system further operable to:

interface with the map database to define a geographic warning zone based upon the geographic area communicated from the weather identification system;

locate a vehicle within the geographic warning zone; and

communicate a warning message to the at least one pre-assigned contact person associated with the vehicle regarding the vehicle being located within the geographic warning zone.

13 . The system according to claim 12 , wherein the data processing system includes:

telematics equipment operable to provide the vehicle telematics system with telematics services; and

a data center including at least one database server and at least one protocol gateway operable to exchange data with the at least one database server.

14 . The system according to claim 12 , wherein the data center is at least one of:

remote from the telematics equipment and communicatively connected thereto through a wireless communication link; and

co-located with the telematics equipment and communicatively connected thereto.

15 . The system according to claim 12 , wherein the located vehicle is a subscriber vehicle associated with a subscription plan provided by a telematics service provider.

16 . The system according to claim 15 , wherein the at least one database server is operable to store information associated with the subscriber vehicle, the information including contact information for the at least one pre-assigned contact person associated with the subscriber vehicle including at least one of:

a telephone number;

a email address; and

a pager number.

17 . The system according to claim 12 , wherein the control system is operable to communicate the warning message to the at least one pre-assigned contact person through at least one of:

the vehicle telematics system including at least one of a visible display message and an audible message;

a telephone call to at least one of a landline telephone and a mobile device;

a text message;

a page to a device; and

an email.

18 . The system according to claim 12 , wherein the control system is further operable to send information to the at least one pre-assigned contact person indicating a safe location,

wherein the safe location is at least one of:

a pre-defined safe location within the geographic warning zone; and

a location outside the geographic warning zone.

19 . The system according to claim 15 , wherein the vehicle telematics system interfaces with the telematics service provider through a wireless communication link established with at least one wireless network base station.

20 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one communication link is at least one of a direct communication link and a wireless communication link.