IP Library Granted Patent US 11,024,168
Granted Patent B1
US 11,024,168 · App. 16/101,498 · Granted Jun 1, 2021

Monitoring vehicle usage

Inventor: Jeremy B. Warren (Draper, UT)
Assignee: Vivint, Inc.
G08G1/096725B60W40/09G07C5/008G07C5/0808H04B17/318H04W4/80B60W2040/0809B60W2510/18B60W2520/10B60W2540/043B60W2540/30B60W2710/30B60W2720/10H04W84/12H04W88/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,024,168
App. No.
16/101,498
Granted
Jun 1, 2021
Kind
B1
Abstract

A method for monitoring vehicle usage is described. In one embodiment, the method includes detecting a vehicle event and detecting a query from a mobile device. The query includes a Wi-Fi probe request or Bluetooth inquiry. The method includes identifying a mobile device identifier from the query and associating the mobile device identifier with the vehicle event.

Claims (47)

1. A method for monitoring events within a vehicle, comprising:

detecting a query from a mobile device, the query comprising a Wi-Fi probe request or a Bluetooth inquiry;

identifying, at a first time, a mobile device identifier based on the query;

associating the mobile device identifier with vehicle data of the vehicle;

storing the association between the mobile device identifier and the vehicle data;

upon detecting the identified mobile device identifier at a second time after the first time, generating an alert notification based at least in part on the stored association; and

sending the generated alert notification to a device.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying a vehicle event comprising any combination of one or more selected from the group comprising: vehicle speed, vehicle acceleration, vehicle deceleration, vehicle braking, vehicle gravitational force (g-force), vehicle seat belt use, distance traveled, engine performance, vehicle occupancy, and vehicle location, wherein the vehicle data is based at least in part on the identified vehicle event.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the vehicle event is detected in conjunction with an on-board diagnostic (OBD) connector.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

identifying excessive behavior from the vehicle event, wherein the vehicle data is associated with the excessive behavior.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the excessive behavior comprises any combination of one or more selected from the group comprising: satisfying a speed threshold, satisfying an acceleration threshold, satisfying a deceleration threshold, satisfying a braking threshold, satisfying a g-force threshold, satisfying a revolutions per minute (RPM) threshold, and satisfying an audio system volume threshold.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle data comprises an identity of a vehicle occupant.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the identified device identifier further comprises:

determining whether the mobile device is within the vehicle, wherein determining whether the mobile device is within the vehicle comprises any combination of one or more selected from the group comprising: satisfying a quantity of queries threshold, satisfying a query timing threshold, and satisfying a signal strength threshold.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device identifier includes any combination of one or more selected from the group comprising: a device serial number, international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) number, mobile equipment identifier (MEID), cellular data number (CDN), integrated circuit card identifier (ICCID), Wi-Fi media access control (MAC) address, BLUETOOTH® MAC address, BLUETOOTH® global identifier, carrier information, mobile device model information, and a list of service set identifiers (SSIDs).

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein storing the association between the mobile device identifier and the vehicle data further comprises communicating the association between the mobile device identifier and vehicle data to a cloud data service via a cellular link.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein sending the generated alert notification further comprises:

sending the generated alert notification in real-time.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the generated alert notification comprises any combination of one or more selected from the group comprising: an identifier of a mobile device detected within the vehicle, an identity associated with the identifier of the mobile device, a vehicle event history report associated with the identifier of the mobile device, or an image captured by a camera on the vehicle.

12. A computing device configured for monitoring vehicle usage within a vehicle, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor, wherein the memory stores computer executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

detecting a query from a mobile device, the query comprising a Wi-Fi probe request or Bluetooth inquiry;

identifying, at a first time, a mobile device identifier based on the query;

associating the mobile device identifier with vehicle data for the vehicle;

storing the association between the mobile device identifier and vehicle data;

upon detecting the identified mobile device identifier at a second time after the first time, generating an alert notification based at least in part on the stored association; and

sending the generated alert notification to a device.

13. The computing device of claim 12 , wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

identifying a vehicle event comprising any combination of one or more selected from the group comprising: vehicle speed, vehicle acceleration, vehicle deceleration, vehicle braking, vehicle gravitational force (g-force), vehicle seat belt use, distance traveled, engine performance, vehicle occupancy, and vehicle location, wherein the vehicle data is based at least in part on the identified vehicle event.

14. The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

identifying excessive behavior from the vehicle event, wherein the vehicle data is associated with the excessive behavior.

15. The computing device of claim 14 , wherein the excessive behavior comprises any combination of one or more selected from the group comprising: satisfying a speed threshold, satisfying an acceleration threshold, satisfying a deceleration threshold, satisfying a braking threshold, satisfying a g-force threshold, satisfying a revolutions per minute (RPM) threshold, and satisfying an audio system volume threshold.

16. The computing device of claim 12 , wherein the vehicle data comprises an identity of a vehicle occupant.

17. The computing device of claim 12 , wherein the instructions executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

determining whether the mobile device is within the vehicle, wherein determining whether the mobile device is within the vehicle comprises any combination of one or more selected from the group comprising: satisfying a quantity of queries threshold, satisfying a query timing threshold, and satisfying a signal strength threshold.

18. The computing device of claim 12 , wherein storing the association between the mobile device identifier and the vehicle data further comprises communicating the association between the mobile device identifier and the vehicle data to a cloud data service via a cellular link.

19. The computing device of claim 12 , wherein the generated alert notification comprises any combination of one or more selected from the group comprising: an identifier of a mobile device detected within the vehicle, an identity associated with the identifier of the mobile device, a vehicle event history report associated with the identifier of the mobile device, an image captured by a camera on the vehicle, and the like.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer executable instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform the steps of:

detecting a query from a mobile device, the query comprising a Wi-Fi probe request or Bluetooth inquiry;

identifying, at a first time, a mobile device identifier based on the query;

associating the mobile device identifier with vehicle data of a vehicle;

storing the association between the mobile device identifier and the vehicle data;

upon detecting the identified mobile device identifier at a second time after the first time, generating an alert notification; and

sending the generated alert notification to a device.

Assignments (5)
AFTER-ACQUIRED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 27, 2025
From: VIVINT LLC; SMART HOME PROS, INC.; VIVINT AMIGO, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS PRIORITY COLLATERAL TRUSTEE
Reel/Frame 070349/0816 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 067456, FRAME 0729 Recorded Nov 11, 2024
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 069334/0165 →
RELEASE (REEL 057434 / FRAME 0591) Recorded Nov 1, 2024
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: VIVINT LLC (F/K/A VIVINT, INC.)
Reel/Frame 069289/0529 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT NO. 2 Recorded Jul 12, 2021
From: VIVINT, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 057434/0591 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 12, 2018
From: WARREN, JEREMY B.
To: VIVINT, INC.
Reel/Frame 046621/0663 →
Cited By (1)
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