STARTER-INTERRUPT DEVICE INCORPORATING GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM FUNCTIONALITY

Abstract

An onboard starter-interrupt device incorporates Global Positioning System (GPS) functionality in addition to payment schedule enforcement functions. In response to certain events, and/or on a periodic basis, the onboard device transmits vehicle location data to an operations center. In one aspect, a “geo-fence”, or virtual boundary, can be defined; if the vehicle is driven outside the geo-fence, the location information is transmitted to the operations center and/or other action is taken. In response to receiving vehicle location data, the operations center can send a message to cause the onboard device to disable the vehicle, or to present a warning to the vehicle owner, or to notify a third party of the event and/or vehicle location, or any combination thereof.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an overall architecture for an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram depicting an example of a method of practicing the present invention, where a geo-fence violation causes a vehicle to be disabled.

FIG. 3 depicts an example of a user interface screen for setting up customer information and payment schedule according to one embodiment.

FIG. 4 depicts an example of a user interface screen for viewing GPS information, customer information, and payment history, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5 depicts an example of a user interface screen for specifying warning periods, shutdown periods, payment information, and the like, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 6 depicts an example of a user interface screen for displaying a map showing a location of a vehicle, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 7 depicts an example of a user interface screen for displaying a hybrid map/satellite image showing a location of a vehicle, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram depicting an example of a method of practicing the present invention, where a geo-fence is imposed in response to a non-payment event.

FIG. 9 depicts a software architecture for an onboard device according to one embodiment.

FIG. 10 depicts an example of a user interface screen for showing scheduled interval reporting for a consumer's vehicle.

FIG. 11 depicts a hardware architecture for an onboard device according to one embodiment.

Claims

1. A method of enforcing a payment schedules for a vehicle purchase, comprising: receiving information regarding payments made by a vehicle purchaser;responsive to a nonpayment event, transmitting a message to a disabling device onboard the vehicle and defining a permitted geographic region of operation for the vehicle;receiving GPS information regarding vehicle location; andresponsive to the GPS information indicating violation of the permitted geographic region of operation, transmitting a message to the disabling device to disable the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: responsive to the GPS information indicating violation of the permitted geographic region of operation, transmitting a message to an external agent.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: responsive to the GPS information indicating violation of the permitted geographic region of operation, transmitting a message to the disabling device to issue an alert to the vehicle purchaser.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: displaying vehicle location information.

5. A system for enforcing a payment schedules for a vehicle purchase, comprising: event logic, for receiving information indicating a nonpayment event;a wireless transmission interface, coupled to the event logic, for: responsive to a nonpayment event, transmitting a message to a disabling device onboard the vehicle and defining a permitted geographic region of operation for the vehicle;receiving GPS information regarding vehicle location; andresponsive to the GPS information indicating violation of the permitted geographic region of operation, transmitting a message to the disabling device to disable the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising: a display, coupled to the wireless transmission interface, for displaying vehicle location information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein: receiving information regarding payments comprises receiving the information at an operations center located remotely with respect to the vehicle; andreceiving GPS information regarding vehicle location comprises receiving GPS information at the operations center.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: displaying vehicle location information at the operations center.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the external agent comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: a repossession agent;a credit issuer;a credit reporting agency;a lender;a roadside assistance provider; anda seller of the product.

10. A method of enforcing a payment schedule for an item purchase, comprising: receiving information regarding payments made by an item purchaser;receiving GPS information regarding item location; andresponsive to a nonpayment event: transmitting a message to a disabling device onboard the item, to disable the item; andoutputting an indication of the item location.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: responsive to the nonpayment event, transmitting a message including item location to an external agent.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the external agent comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: a repossession agent;a credit issuer;a credit reporting agency;a lender;a roadside assistance provider; anda seller of the product.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the item comprises a vehicle.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising: responsive to a nonpayment event:transmitting a message to a device onboard the item, to specify a permitted geographic region of operation.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein: receiving information regarding payments comprises receiving the information at an operations center located remotely with respect to the vehicle;receiving GPS information regarding vehicle location comprises receiving GPS information at the operations center; andoutputting an indication of the item location comprises outputting the indication of the item location at the operations center.

16. A method of enforcing a payment schedule for an item purchase, comprising: receiving information regarding payments made by an item purchaser;receiving GPS information regarding item location; andresponsive to a nonpayment event: transmitting a message to a disabling device onboard the item, to issue an alert to the item purchaser, and to specify a permitted geographic region of operation;responsive to at least one of continued nonpayment and violation of the permitted geographic region of operation: transmitting a message to the disabling device to disable the item; andoutputting an indication of the item location.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein: receiving information regarding payments comprises receiving the information at an operations center located remotely with respect to the vehicle;receiving GPS information regarding vehicle location comprises receiving GPS information at the operations center; andoutputting an indication of the item location comprises outputting the indication of the item location at the operations center.

18. A method of enforcing a permitted geographic region of operation for a vehicle, comprising: defining a permitted geographic region of operation for the vehicle;receiving GPS information regarding vehicle location; andresponsive to the GPS information indicating violation of the permitted geographic region, transmitting a message to an onboard disabling device to perform at least one of: outputting an alert; anddisabling the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein: receiving GPS information regarding vehicle location comprises receiving GPS information at an operations center located remotely with respect to the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising: responsive to the GPS information indicating violation of the permitted geographic region, transmitting a message to an external agent.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the external agent comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: a repossession agent;a credit issuer;a credit reporting agency;a lender;a roadside assistance provider; anda seller of the product.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein: transmitting a message to an external agent comprises transmitting vehicle location information to the external agent.

23. A method of enforcing a permitted geographic region of operation for a vehicle, comprising: defining a permitted geographic region of operation for the vehicle;transmitting a representation of the permitted geographic region to an onboard disabling device;at the onboard disabling device: monitoring vehicle location; anddisabling the vehicle responsive to violation of the permitted geographic region.

24. A method of enforcing a permitted geographic region of operation for a vehicle, comprising: defining a permitted geographic region of operation for the vehicle;transmitting a representation of the permitted geographic region to an onboard disabling device;transmitting instructions to the onboard disabling device, the instructions specifying action to be taken responsive to violation of the permitted geographic region;at the onboard disabling device: monitoring vehicle location; andresponsive to violation of the permitted geographic region,performing the specified action.

25. A method of enforcing a permitted geographic region of operation for a vehicle, comprising: defining a permitted geographic region of operation for the vehicle;at an operations center, transmitting a representation of the permitted geographic region to an onboard disabling device;at the operations center, transmitting instructions to the onboard disabling device, the instructions specifying action to be taken responsive to violation of the permitted geographic region;at the onboard disabling device: monitoring vehicle location; andresponsive to violation of the permitted geographic region: attempting to contact the operations center; andresponsive to an inability to contact the operations center,performing the specified action.

26. A method for remotely disabling a product in response to an event, comprising: at an operations center remotely located with respect to the product: establishing a permitted geographic region for operation of the product;monitoring location of the product;detecting violation of the permitted geographic region; andresponsive to detection of the violation, transmitting a message to a device coupled to the product in order to disable the product.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein disabling the product comprises preventing the product from operating.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the product comprises a vehicle.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the product comprises one selected from the group consisting of: an appliance;a computing device;a telecommunication device;a handheld computer; anda personal digital assistant.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the transmitted message causes the device to output a warning concerning disablement.

31. The method of claim 26, further comprising, responsive to detection of the trigger event, transmitting a message to an external agent.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the external agent comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: a repossession agent;a credit issuer;a credit reporting agency;a lender;a roadside assistance provider; anda seller of the product.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the message to the external agent comprises the location information of the product.

34. The method of claim 26, wherein the message instructs the device to disable the product at a specified time in the event no additional messages are received by the device.

35. The method of claim 26, further comprising outputting by the device an alert to indicate disablement of the product.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the alert comprises one selected from the group consisting of a visual alert, an auditory alert, and a voice alert.

37. The method of claim 26, further comprising: responsive to detection of a trigger event, transmitting a message to a device coupled to the product in order to re-enable the product.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the trigger event represents user entry of payment information.

39. A method for remotely disabling a product in response to an event, comprising: receiving, at a device coupled to the product, a message from an operations center, the message comprising a permitted geographic region for operation of the product;monitoring geographic location of the product; andresponsive to detection of a violation of the permitted geographic region, disabling the product.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the product comprises a vehicle.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the product comprises one selected from the group consisting of: an appliance;a computing device;a telecommunication device;a handheld computer; anda personal digital assistant.

42. The method of claim 39, further comprising, prior to disabling the product, outputting a warning concerning impending disablement.

43. The method of claim 39, further comprising, responsive to detection of a violation of the permitted geographic region, transmitting location information to the operations center.

44. The method of claim 39, further comprising: receiving a second message from the operations center; andresponsive to receiving the second message, re-enabling the product.

45. The method of claim 39, further comprising: receiving payment information; andtransmitting payment information to the operations center.

46. A computer program product for enforcing a payment schedule for a vehicle purchase, comprising: a computer-readable medium; andcomputer program code, encoded on the medium, for: receiving information regarding payments made by a vehicle purchaser;responsive to a nonpayment event, transmitting a message to a disabling device onboard the vehicle and defining a permitted geographic region of operation for the vehicle;receiving GPS information regarding vehicle location; andresponsive to the GPS information indicating violation of the permitted geographic region of operation, transmitting a message to the disabling device to disable the vehicle.

47. A system for enforcing a payment schedule for a vehicle purchase, comprising: a GPS receiver for determining vehicle location;a wireless transmitter for selectively transmitting vehicle location information;a disabling device located onboard the vehicle;at an operations center located remotely with respect to the vehicle, event logic, for receiving information indicating a nonpayment event;at the operations center, a geo-fence module for, responsive to a nonpayment event, defining a permitted geographic region of operation for the vehicle;at the operations center, a wireless communication device for: responsive to a nonpayment event, transmitting a message requesting vehicle location, and for receiving vehicle location information; andresponsive to the GPS information indicating violation of the permitted geographic region of operation, transmitting a message to the disabling device to disable the vehicle.