# US 2013/0278403 A1 · Automated geo-fence boundary configuration and activation

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- Number: US 2013/0278403 A1
- Document ID: US20130278403A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/918,579
- Filed: 2013-06-14
- Published: 2013-10-24
- Earliest claimed: 2008-12-12
- Assignees: Gordon*Howard Associates, Inc.
- Applicants: Gordon Howard Associates, Inc.
- Inventors: Gerald A. MORGAN; Stanley G. SCHWARZ
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130278403A1

## CPC

- B60R 25/10: actuating a signalling device
- B60R 25/04: operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
- B60R 25/102: a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
- B60R 25/33: of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
- G01S 5/0027: {of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile}
- G06Q 10/06: Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
- G06Q 10/08: Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
- G06Q 50/40: Business processes related to the transportation industry (shipping G06Q10/083)
- G08G 1/205: {Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental}
- H04W 4/021: Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
- H04W 4/022: {with dynamic range variability}
- G01S 19/42: Determining position
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93})
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
responsive to a trigger event, activating a geo-fence boundary for an asset, wherein activating the geo-fence boundary comprises:
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 geo-fence boundary; and
subsequent to activating the geo-fence boundary, monitoring asset location with respect to the geo-fence boundary.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the trigger event is selected from the group consisting of:
detection that the asset has not moved in a preselected period of time;
when the asset comprises a vehicle:
detection that a key has been removed from an ignition; and
detection that an engine has been turned off;
detection that the asset is in a particular location; and
determination that a preset time has been reached.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the trigger event comprises a user-specified condition in which a geo-fence should be activated.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein an administrator configuration comprises the trigger event.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2 further comprising:
detecting movement of the asset beyond the defined geo-fence boundary; and
responsive to detecting movement of the asset beyond the defined geo-fence boundary, issuing an alert.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5 wherein the issuing an alert further comprises issuing the alert based on a notification rule set for the asset.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2 further comprising deactivating the geo-fence boundary in response to a deactivation signal.

### Claim 8

A system comprising:
a processor;
a wireless network interface coupled to the processor;
a computer-readable storage medium coupled to the processor, the storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
responsive to a trigger event, activate a geo-fence boundary for an asset, wherein activating the geo-fence boundary comprises:
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 geo-fence boundary; and
subsequent to activating the geo-fence boundary, monitor asset location with respect to the geo-fence boundary.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8 wherein the trigger event is selected from the group consisting of:
detection that the asset has not moved in a preselected period of time;
when the asset comprises a vehicle:
detection that a key has been removed from an ignition; and detection that an engine has been turned off;
detection that the asset is in a particular location; and determination that a preset time has been reached.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8 wherein the trigger event comprises a user-specified condition in which a geo-fence should be activated.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8 wherein an administrator configuration comprises the trigger event.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9 wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
detect movement of the asset beyond the defined geo-fence boundary; and
responsive to detecting movement of the asset beyond the defined geo-fence boundary, issue an alert.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12 wherein the instructions causing the
processor to issue an alert comprise instructions causing the processor to issue the alert based on a notification rule set for the asset.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9 wherein the instructions further cause the processor to deactivate the geo-fence boundary in response to a deactivation signal.

### Claim at position 15

15-20. (canceled)