Automated geo-fence boundary configuration and activation
A geo-fence is defined and established automatically based on a current location of an asset along with some range or distance, avoiding the need for a user to manually specify a location by drawing a perimeter, specifying a point location, or by any other means. Once established, the geo-fence can be activated so as to notify the owner of the asset and/or some other entity of movement of the asset beyond the boundary specified by the geo-fence. In one embodiment, the geo-fence can be automatically activated upon certain conditions, or can be manually activated, or any combination thereof.
1. A method for configuring and activating a geo-fence boundary surrounding an asset, comprising:
receiving a signal to activate a geo-fence boundary for an asset;
responsive to the signal, automatically:
determining a current location of the asset;
defining a geo-fence boundary surrounding the asset based on the current location of the asset; and
activating the defined geo-fence boundary; and
subsequent to activating the defined geo-fence boundary, monitoring asset location with respect to the geo-fence boundary.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, responsive to detecting movement of the asset beyond the defined geo-fence boundary, issuing an alert.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein issuing an alert comprises notifying at least one selected from the group consisting of:
an owner of the asset;
a user of the asset;
an external agent; and
an administrator.
4. 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.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, responsive to the detecting movement of the asset beyond the defined geo-fence boundary, performing a pre-specified action.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein performing a pre-specified action comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:
issuing an alert;
causing an auditory alarm to sound at the asset location; and
disabling the asset to prevent movement.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the asset comprises a vehicle.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
determining the current location of the asset comprises determining the current location by communication with at least one GPS satellite; and
monitoring asset location with respect to the geo-fence boundary comprises monitoring asset location by communication with at least one GPS satellite.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving a signal to activate a geo-fence boundary for an asset comprises receiving, at a central location, a signal from an onboard device located at the asset.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein receiving a signal from an onboard device located at the asset comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:
receiving a signal over a wireless communications network; and
receiving a signal over a cellular telephone network.
11. 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.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the signals comprises a message transmitted from an individual to a central location.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the message comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:
a telephone call;
an email message
an SMS message
an instant message;
an HTTP request;
a communication effected over the Internet; and
a request submitted at a website.
14. A method for configuring and activating a geo-fence boundary surrounding an asset, comprising:
detecting, at an onboard device located at the asset, a wireless signal indicating proximity of a portable device carried by an operator of the asset; and then
receiving, at a central location, a signal from the onboard device to activate a geo-fence boundary for the asset, wherein receiving the signal 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;
responsive to the signal, automatically:
determining a current location of the asset;
defining a geo-fence boundary surrounding the asset based on the current location of the asset; and
activating the defined geo-fence boundary; and
subsequent to activating the defined geo-fence boundary, monitoring asset location with respect to the geo-fence boundary.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the portable device comprises a key fob.
16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
receiving a signal to deactivate the geo-fence boundary; and
responsive to the received signal, deactivating the geo-fence boundary.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein receiving a signal to deactivate the geo-fence boundary comprises:
receiving a signal from the onboard device indicating re-establishment of the wireless signal responsive to proximity of the portable device.
18. A method for configuring and activating a qeo-fence boundary surrounding an asset, comprising:
detecting, at an onboard device located at the asset, a wireless signal from a portable device carried by an operator of the asset, the wireless signal indicating the geo-fence boundary should be activated;
transmitting a signal from the onboard device to a central location to activate the geo-fence boundary;
receiving, at the central location, the signal from the onboard device to activate a geo-fence boundary for the asset;
responsive to the signal, automatically:
determining a current location of the asset;
defining a geo-fence boundary surrounding the asset based on the current location of the asset; and
activating the defined geo-fence boundary; and
subsequent to activating the defined geo-fence boundary, monitoring asset location with respect to the geo-fence boundary.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the portable device comprises a key fob.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the wireless signal from the portable device comprises a signal to lock the asset.
21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising:
receiving a signal to deactivate the geo-fence boundary; and
responsive to the received signal, deactivating the geo-fence boundary.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein receiving a signal to deactivate the geo-fence boundary comprises:
detecting, at the onboard device, a wireless signal from a portable device carried by an operator of the asset, the wireless signal indicating the geo-fence boundary should be deactivated; and
transmitting a signal from the onboard device to the central location to deactivate the geo-fence boundary.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the wireless signal from the portable device comprises a signal to unlock the asset.
24. A method for configuring and activating a geo-fence boundary surrounding an asset, comprising:
receiving a signal to activate a geo-fence boundary for an asset;
responsive to the signal, automatically:
determining a current location of the asset;
defining a geo-fence boundary surrounding the asset based on the current location of the asset, the defining by
determining at least one predetermined characteristic for the geo-fence boundary; and
defining the geo-fence boundary based on the at least one predetermined characteristic and on the current location of the asset; and
activating the defined geo-fence boundary; and
subsequent to activating the defined geo-fence boundary, monitoring asset location with respect to the geo-fence boundary.
25. The method of claim 24 , 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 asset and having a radius specified by the predetermined characteristic.
26. A system for configuring and activating a geo-fence boundary surrounding an asset, comprising:
a wireless network interface, for receiving a signal to activate a geo-fence boundary for an asset;
a processor, coupled to the wireless network interface, for, responsive to the signal, automatically:
determining a current location of the asset;
defining a geo-fence boundary surrounding the asset based on the current location of the asset; 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 asset location with respect to the geo-fence boundary.
27. The system of claim 26 , further comprising, a message transmitter, coupled to the positioning monitoring device, for, responsive to detecting movement of the asset beyond the defined geo-fence boundary, issuing an alert.
28. The system of claim 26 , wherein the asset comprises a vehicle.
29. A system for configuring and activating a geo-fence boundary surrounding an asset, comprising:
a wireless network interface, for receiving a signal to activate a geo-fence boundary for an asset;
a processor, coupled to the wireless network interface, for, responsive to the signal, automatically:
determining a current location of the asset;
defining a geo-fence boundary surrounding the asset based on the current location of the asset; 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 asset location with respect to the geo-fence boundary;
an onboard device, located at the asset, for:
detecting a wireless signal indicating proximity of a portable device carried by an operator of the asset;
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.
30. The system of claim 29 , wherein the portable device comprises a key fob.
31. The system of claim 29 , wherein, responsive to the onboard device detecting re-establishment of the wireless signal indicating proximity of the portable device, the onboard device transmits to the wireless network interface a signal to deactivate the geo-fence boundary.
32. A system for configuring and activating a geo-fence boundary surrounding an asset, comprising:
a wireless network interface, for receiving a signal to activate a geo-fence boundary for an asset;
a processor, coupled to the wireless network interface, for, responsive to the signal, automatically:
determining a current location of the asset;
defining a geo-fence boundary surrounding the asset based on the current location of the asset; 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 asset location with respect to the geo-fence boundary:
an onboard device, located at the asset, for:
detecting a wireless signal from a portable device carried by an operator of the asset, 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.
33. The system of claim 32 , wherein the portable device comprises a key fob.
34. The system of claim 32 , 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.
35. The system of system claim 34 , wherein, responsive to the wireless network interface receiving a signal to deactivate the geo-fence boundary, the processor deactivates the geo-fence boundary.
36. The system of claim 35 , wherein the signal comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:
a telephone call;
an email message
an SMS message
an instant message;
an HTTP request;
a communication effected over the Internet; and
a request submitted at a website.
37. A method comprising:
receiving a signal that indicates activation of a geo-fence boundary associated with a parked vehicle;
responsive to the signal that indicates activation
determining a current location of the parked vehicle;
defining a geo-fence boundary surrounding the parked based on the current location of the parked vehicle; and
activating the defined geo-fence boundary; and then
monitoring asset location with respect to the geo-fence boundary.
38. The method of claim 37 wherein defining the geo-fence boundary further comprises defining a predetermined shape around the current location of the parked vehicle.
39. The method of claim 37 wherein defining the geo-fence boundary further comprises defining a geo-fence with a predetermined radius around the current location of the parked vehicle.
40. The method of claim 37 wherein receiving a signal that indicates activation further comprises detecting, at an onboard device located at the parked vehicle, loss of a wireless signal from a portable device carried by an operator of the vehicle.
41. The method of claim 37 wherein receiving a signal that indicates activation further comprises detecting, at an onboard device located at the parked vehicle, a wireless signal from a portable device carried by an operator of the vehicle, the wireless signal from the portable device indicates activation of the geo-fence.