Repossession system 12 may include a receiver 14, a transmitter 16, and a controller 18. Receiver 14 and transmitter 16 may be electrically connected to controller 18. Receiver 14 and transmitter 16 may be capable of respectively receiving and transmitting signals from and to service center 20, which may be located remotely, through a wireless data communication link 30. Receiver 14 and transmitter 16 may include any communication device capable of receiving and transmitting signals.
Controller 18 may include any type of digital processing device, such as a microprocessor. The use of a microprocessor as controller 18 may provide versatility in programming and may include a relatively small size. Repossession system 12 may be made relatively small in size and hidden within machine 10, so that it may be difficult for a hostile party to disable or uninstall repossession system 12.
Control system 32 may include a transmitter 34 configured to transmit a signal to repossession system 12 in machine 10. Control system 32 may also include a receiver 36 configured to receive a signal from repossession system 12. Control system 32 may further include a controller 38 in communication with the receiver 36 and the transmitter 34.
Control system 32 in service center 20 may communicate with repossession system 12 to facilitate repossession of machine 10. Receiver 14 may be configured to receive a request signal from transmitter 34 of control system 32 at service center 20 through wireless data link 30, and controller 18 may process the request signal. In response, controller 18 may initiate transmitter 16 to transmit a response signal to receiver 36 of control system 32 at service center 20 via wireless data link 30. Controller 38 of the control system 32 may be configured to determine a location of the machine based on the response signal received by receiver 36.
Various methods for deriving such location information may be utilized. In one exemplary embodiment, the response signal from transmitter 16 may provide location information. In this respect, such signal may provide directional information which can be used to locate the emanating source, i.e., transmitter 16 in machine 10. In such an embodiment, receiver 36 may be located on a mobile device that can be used to track the signal from transmitter 16. Alternatively, service center 20 may, itself, be located on a mobile device that may directionally receive the response signal and eventually locate the source of the response signal.
In another embodiment, service center 20 may be in electronic communication with a plurality of service centers or an array of antennas. These service centers and/or array of antenna may be directionally sensitive and may enable triangulation techniques to locate machine 10.
In yet another embodiment, Global Positioning System (GPS) technology may be used to derive the location information of machine 10. Repossession system 12 may further be provided with a GPS signal receiver 22. GPS signal receiver 22 may be incorporated in receiver 14, and may be connected to controller 18. Upon the receipt of the transmit request signal by receiver 14, controller 18 may initiate GPS signal receiver 22, which may receive signals from satellites 24. As one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, the location information of machine 10 may be derived from the signals received by GPS signal receiver 22. Such location information may then be transmitted, as described above, to remote service center 20. It is contemplated that the location information may provide very precise information as to the location of machine 10, and therefore may facilitate repossession of machine 10.
In one embodiment, controller 18 may include a restriction system 26. Restriction system 26 may be configured to restrict the operation of machine 10 by only allowing the machine to move slowly (e.g., not operating in full power) or preventing the machine from being restarted once it has been turned off. The operation of machine 10 may be restricted by limiting power to at least one of a fuel system, a starter system, or an ignition system of machine 10. Shutting down machine 10 during operation may present safety issues, and therefore, restriction system 26 may be further configured to avoid disabling the machine when machine 10 is running for safety concerns.
Controller 18 or restriction system 26 may be further configured to allow machine 10 to be restarted upon receipt of a command signal from service center 20 or from the repossession agent. Alternatively, the repossession agent can be provided with a key or code that may allow the repossession agent to override restriction system 26 and relieve the restrictions on machine 10. Restricting operation of machine 10 may assist the repossession agent to repossess machine 10 because restricted machine 10 may only move in slow pace and may only have restricted functions.
Controller 38 may be configured to send a command signal to repossession system 12 of machine 10 to initiate restriction system 26 to restrict the operation of machine 10. Service center 20 may provide a repossession agent 40 the location of machine 10, then may restrict the operation of machine 10 to avoid machine 10 be removed or hidden by a default party. Service center 20 then may have repossession agent 40 repossess machine 10 at the location determined by service center 20. Controller 38 may be further configured to reenable machine 10. After repossession agent 40 repossesses machine 10, control system 32 may send a command signal to repossession system 12 to reenable machine 10. Repossession agent 40 may then deliver machine 10 to the nearest drop-off location.
In one embodiment, controller 38 may be configured to negotiate a repossession service rate from a repossession agent by offering the location of the machine and the nearest drop-off location determined based on the location of the machine. Controller 38 may be further configured to negotiate the repossession service rate from the repossession agent by offering to restrict the operation of the machine and relieve the restrictions on the machine. Alternatively, the negotiation may be performed by a person who may work for or be associated with the owner or the lending institution of the machine.
Repossession agent 40 may be provided with a transceiver device 50 (as shown in
In one embodiment, repossession agent 40 may be authorized to distribute reenabling software, codes or reenabling keys to sub-agents that repossession agent 40 may use to recover machines, so that repossession agent 40 can delegate the repossession task to one or more sub-agents. Repossession agent 40 may also use the location information and the restricting/relieving features in negotiation with the sub-agents.
In addition, service center 20 may use the capability of restricting the machine and relieving the restrictions on the machine as an authorization means for certifying repossession agents who may be authorized to recover the machine. For example, a repossession agent may have to provide certain information (e.g., a certificate) to be authorized to recover the machine before obtaining the transceiver device, or the software, codes, or keys for restricting the machine and/or relieving the restrictions on the machine. Since only the certified repossession agents are given the codes or keys for restricting the machine and/or relieving the restrictions on the machine, the service center can certify repossession agents by checking whether they have authorized codes or keys to restrict the machine and/or relieve the restrictions on the machine. The mechanism also can be used by a repossession agent to certify sub-agents.
The disclosed method and system may be applicable to repossessing any items (e.g., machines). For example, the disclosed system and method may be utilized by an owner to repossess machines that are in payment default or may be utilized by financial institutions or any other entities who may have a lien, title, or any other right or interest in or associated with possession of the machine. The disclosed system and method may also be utilized to locate and recover machines that have been stolen. Because a significant portion of the costs of recovering the machine are associated with the agent's efforts in locating the machine, the disclosed system and method may enable the owner or the loan company to negotiate a relatively low service rate from the repossession agent by providing location information of the machine. Furthermore, the disclosed system and method may provide a mechanism to restrict the operation of the machine to prevent the machine from being moved away from the detected location. Also, a mechanism may be provided to allow the service center or the repossession agent to relieve the restrictions on the machine. The arrangement may facilitate the repossession agent to retrieve the machine, and reduce repossessing cost, and therefore, may further assist the owner to negotiate a relatively low repossession service rate with the repossession agent.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the method of assisting a repossession agent repossessing a machine. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosed method of assisting a repossession agent repossessing a machine. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.