Method and apparatus for changing either driver behavior or vehicle behavior based on current vehicle location and zone definitions created by a remote user

A method for controlling vehicle behavior based on a location of the vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• (a) enabling a remote user to define a location and a vehicle behavior to impose at that location;
• (b) automatically collecting vehicle location data during operation of the vehicle;
• (c) automatically analyzing the current location of the vehicle to determine if the vehicle is within a predetermined distance from the location for which the vehicle behavior has been defined;
• and
• (d) when the vehicle is within the predetermined distance, automatically using a vehicle controller associated with the defined vehicle behavior to impose that behavior so long as the vehicle is within the predetermined distance of the location.

A method for requiring specific driver behavior based on a location of the vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• (a) enabling a remote user to define a location and a driver behavior to require at that location;
• (b) automatically collecting vehicle location data during operation of the vehicle;
• (c) automatically analyzing the current location of the vehicle to determine if the vehicle is within a predetermined distance from the location for which the driver behavior has been defined;
• and
• (d) when the vehicle is within the predetermined distance, automatically using a vehicle controller to present the required driver behavior for that location to a driver of the vehicle, using at least one of a display and an audible announcement.

A system for matching the programming of a vehicle controller that controls at least one performance characteristic of a vehicle to current vehicle location;

• the system comprising:
• (a) at least one vehicle controller controlling some aspect of vehicle operation;
• and
• (b) a vehicle position determining component;
• (c) a memory for storing location based vehicle behavior definitions;
• (d) at least one processor, the at least one processor being configured to implement the functions of
• (i) analyzing the vehicle location and the location based vehicle behavior definitions to determine if a change in vehicle behavior is needed;
• and
• (ii) if the analysis so indicates, automatically conveying the location based vehicle behavior definitions to the corresponding vehicle controller, to effect the change in vehicle behavior.

A system for matching a driver behavior to current vehicle location;

• the system comprising:
• (a) a display for communicating zone based driver behavior rules to the driver relating to some aspect of vehicle operation;
• and
• (b) a vehicle position determining component;
• (c) a memory for storing zone based driver behavior rules;
• (d) at least one processor, the at least one processor being configured to implement the functions of
• (i) analyzing the vehicle location and the zone based driver behavior rules to determine if a current vehicle location corresponds to the location defined in the zone based driver rules;
• and
• (ii) if the analysis so indicates, automatically conveying to the display the zone based driver behavior rules, thereby displaying the rules to the driver.