Method and apparatus for vehicle tracking

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9057614-B2
Application number	US-201314065637-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2013
Priority date	Mar 2, 2011
Publication date	Jun 16, 2015
Grant date	Jun 16, 2015

Abstract

A computer-implemented tracking method includes receiving a tracking request at a vehicle associated computing system (VACS). The method also includes authenticating the tracking request and determining a vehicle location via a GPS in communication with the VACS. The method further includes transmitting the vehicle location from the VACS to a tracking request associated computing system (TRACS). The method also includes monitoring the vehicle for at least one delay-event. The method additionally includes transmitting data corresponding to the delay event to the TRACS, contingent on the occurrence of at least one delay-event.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
receiving, at a tracking request associated computing system (TRACS), data associated with a vehicle-delay event, including at least vehicle coordinates;
determining, using the TRACS, if a location-type can be correlated with the vehicle coordinates;
estimating a delay associated with the location-type, using the TRACS;
adjusting an estimated arrival time based on the estimated delay; and
conveying the estimated arrival time from the TRACS to a requesting party.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
asking the requesting party to identify a delay associated with the location-type; and
using the identified delay as the estimated delay.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, at the TRACS, at least one photograph or video clip from at least one vehicle camera;
conveying the at least one photograph or video clip to the requesting party;
asking the requesting party to identify a delay associated with the conveyed at least one photograph or video clip; and
using the identified delay as the estimated delay.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining if the vehicle has resumed travel;
contingent on determining the vehicle has resumed travel, adjusting an estimated arrival time; and
conveying the adjusted estimated arrival time from the TRACS to a requesting party.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining if the estimated delay has elapsed and the vehicle has not resumed travel;
contingent on determining the estimated delay has elapsed and the vehicle has not resumed travel, adjusting the estimated delay;
adjusting an estimated arrival time based at least in part on the adjusted estimated delay to obtain an extended arrival time; and
conveying the extended arrival time from the TRACS to a requesting party.

6. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:
receiving, at a tracking request associated computing system (TRACS), data associated with a vehicle-delay event, including at least vehicle coordinates;
determining, using the TRACS, if a location-type can be correlated with the vehicle coordinates;
estimating a delay associated with the location-type, using the TRACS;
adjusting an estimated arrival time based on the estimated delay; and
conveying the estimated arrival time from the TRACS to a requesting party.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
asking the requesting party to identify a delay associated with the location-type; and
using the identified delay as the estimated delay.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
receiving, at the TRACS, at least one photograph or video clip from at least one vehicle camera;
conveying the at least one photograph or video clip to the requesting party;
asking the requesting party to identify a delay associated with the conveyed at least one photograph or video clip; and
using the identified delay as the estimated delay.

9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
determining if the vehicle has resumed travel;
contingent on determining the vehicle has resumed travel, adjusting an estimated arrival time; and
conveying the adjusted estimated arrival time from the TRACS to a requesting party.

10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
determining if the estimated delay has elapsed and the vehicle has not resumed travel;
contingent on determining the estimated delay has elapsed and the vehicle has not resumed travel, adjusting the estimated delay;
adjusting an estimated arrival time based at least in part on the adjusted estimated delay to obtain an extended arrival time; and
conveying the extended arrival time from the TRACS to a requesting party.

11. A computer-implemented method comprising:
receiving, at a tracking request associated computing system (TRACS), data associated with a vehicle-delay event, including at least vehicle coordinates;
determining, using the TRACS, if a location-type can be correlated with the vehicle coordinates;
estimating a delay associated with the location-type, using the TRACS;
adjusting an estimated arrival time based on the estimated delay; and
conveying the estimated arrival time from the TRACS to a requesting party.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising: asking the requesting party to identify a delay associated with the location-type; and
using the identified delay as the estimated delay.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
receiving, at the TRACS, at least one photograph or video clip from at least one vehicle camera;
conveying the at least one photograph or video clip to the requesting party;
asking the requesting party to identify a delay associated with the conveyed at least one photograph or video clip; and
using the identified delay as the estimated delay.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
determining if the vehicle has resumed travel;
contingent on determining the vehicle has resumed travel, adjusting an estimated arrival time; and
conveying the adjusted estimated arrival time from the TRACS to a requesting party.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
determining if the estimated delay has elapsed and the vehicle has not resumed travel;
contingent on determining the estimated delay has elapsed and the vehicle has not resumed travel, adjusting the estimated delay;
adjusting an estimated arrival time based at least in part on the adjusted estimated delay to obtain an extended arrival time; and
conveying the extended arrival time from the TRACS to a requesting party.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Giuli Thomas J
• Ross Joseph N
• Schunder Mark
• Alexander Thomas Richard
• Rork Joseph Paul

Classifications

• G08G1/123

  indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; {Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, trams}(transmission of navigation instructions to vehicles G08G1/0968) · CPC title

• G08G1/16

  Anti-collision systems (road vehicle drive control systems for predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision otherwise than by control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/08) · CPC title

• G01C21/26

  specially adapted for navigation in a road network · CPC title

• G08G1/205 Primary

  Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental · CPC title

• G01C21/00 Primary

  Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C19/00 (measuring distance traversed on the ground by a vehicle G01C22/00; control of position, course, altitude or attitude of vehicles G05D1/00; traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968) · CPC title