IP Library Granted Patent US 8,670,933
Granted Patent B2
US 8,670,933 · App. 13/052,287 · Granted Mar 11, 2014

Geofence-based triggers for automated data collection

Inventors: Christopher T. Schenken (Alpharetta, GA); Mark J. Davidson (Alpharetta, GA)
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,670,933
App. No.
13/052,287
Granted
Mar 11, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for automated data collection using geofence-based triggers. In one embodiment, the location of a vehicle can be monitored by a variety of computing entities. By using the vehicle's location, it can be determined when the vehicle enters and/or exits defined geofences. After a determination that a vehicle has entered or exited a defined geofence, one or more events can be automatically triggered/initiated.

Claims (56)

1. A method for the automated collection of data comprising:

electronically receiving information defining a geofence around a geographic area;

electronically collecting data associated with a vehicle while the vehicle is operated outside the geofenced area, wherein the data collected is selected from the group consisting of (a) image data collected via one or more imaging devices disposed on the vehicle and (b) telematics data collected via one or more data collection devices disposed on the vehicle;

determining the location of the vehicle;

determining whether the vehicle has entered the geofenced area; and

after determining the vehicle has entered the geofenced area, automatically stopping the collection of the data while the vehicle is operated within the geofenced area.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining the location of the vehicle;

determining whether the vehicle has exited the geofenced area; and

after determining the vehicle has exited the geofenced area, automatically starting the collection of the data while the vehicle is operated outside the geofenced area.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data collected comprises image data collected via one or more imaging devices disposed on the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising transmitting at least a portion of the image data from the one or more imaging devices to a computing entity.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data collected comprises telematics data collected via one or more data collection devices disposed on the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising transmitting at least a portion of the telematics data from the one or more data collection devices disposed on the vehicle to a computing entity.

7. A method for the automated collection of data comprising:

electronically receiving information defining a geofence around a geographic area;

electronically collecting data associated with a vehicle while the vehicle is operated within the geofenced area, wherein the data collected is selected from the group consisting of (a) image data collected via one or more imaging devices disposed on the vehicle and (b) telematics data collected via one or more data collection devices disposed on the vehicle;

determining the location of the vehicle;

determining whether the vehicle has exited the geofenced area; and

after determining the vehicle has exited the geofenced area, automatically stopping the collection of the data while the vehicle is operated outside the geofenced area.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

determining the location of the vehicle;

determining whether the vehicle has entered the geofenced area; and

after determining the vehicle has entered the geofenced area, automatically starting the collection of the data while the vehicle is operated within the geofenced area.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the data collected comprises image data collected via one or more imaging devices disposed on the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising transmitting at least a portion of the image data from the one or more imaging devices to a computing entity.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the data collected comprises telematics data collected via one or more data collection devices disposed on the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising transmitting at least a portion of the telematics data from the one or more data collection devices disposed on the vehicle to a computing entity.

13. A system comprising one or more imaging devices and one or more data collection devices, the system configured to:

receive information defining a geofence around a geographic area;

collect data associated with a vehicle while the vehicle is operated outside the geofenced area, wherein the data collected is selected from the group consisting of (a) image data collected via one or more imaging devices disposed on the vehicle and (b) telematics data collected via one or more data collection devices disposed on the vehicle;

determine the location of the vehicle;

determine whether the vehicle has entered the geofenced area; and

after determining the vehicle has entered the geofenced area, automatically stop the collection of the data while the vehicle is operated within the geofenced area.

14. The system of claim 13 further configured to:

determine the location of the vehicle;

determine whether the vehicle has exited the geofenced area; and

after determining the vehicle has exited the geofenced area, automatically start the collection of the data while the vehicle is operated outside the geofenced area.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the data collected comprises image data collected via the one or more imaging devices disposed on the vehicle.

16. The system of claim 15 further configured to transmit at least a portion of the image data from the one or more imaging devices to a computing entity.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the data collected comprises telematics data collected via the one or more data collection devices disposed on the vehicle.

18. The system of claim 17 further configured to transmit at least a portion of the telematics data from the one or more data collection devices disposed on the vehicle to a computing entity.

19. A system comprising one or more imaging devices and one or more data collection devices, the system configured to:

receive information defining a geofence around a geographic area;

collect data associated with a vehicle while the vehicle is operated within the geofenced area, wherein the data collected is selected from the group consisting of (a) image data collected via one or more imaging devices disposed on the vehicle and (b) telematics data collected via one or more data collection devices disposed on the vehicle;

determine the location of the vehicle;

determine whether the vehicle has exited the geofenced area; and

after determining the vehicle has exited the geofenced area, automatically stop the collection of the data while the vehicle is operated outside the geofenced area.

20. The system of claim 19 further configured to:

determine the location of the vehicle;

determine whether the vehicle has entered the geofenced area; and

after determining the vehicle has entered the geofenced area, automatically start the collection of the data while the vehicle is operated within the geofenced area.

21. The system of claim 19 , wherein the data collected comprises image data collected via the one or more imaging devices disposed on the vehicle.

22. The system of claim 21 further configured to transmit at least a portion of the image data from the one or more imaging devices to a computing entity.

23. The system of claim 19 , wherein the data collected comprises telematics data collected via the one or more data collection devices disposed on the vehicle.

24. The system of claim 23 further configured to transmit at least a portion of the telematics data from the one or more data collection devices disposed on the vehicle to a computing entity.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2012
From: DAVIDSON, MARK J.
To: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 027854/0581 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 21, 2011
From: SCHENKEN, CHRISTOPHER T.
To: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 025988/0264 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61316664 · Mar 23, 2010
Related Publication 20110238300A1 · Sep 29, 2011