Method and system for providing location information of a vehicle to a user device

摘要

A user device application transmits the device's location and unique identifier with a message requesting location information that corresponds to a vehicle associated with the user device's unique identifier. The application sends the request message over a communication network to a central computer. The central computer obtains location information corresponding to the vehicle from a device proximate the vehicle. The central computer compares the locations of the user device and telematics device and generates a location differential value corresponding to the distance between them. If the differential value meets predetermined criteria, the central computer causes an action, for example forwarding the location information corresponding to the vehicle to the requesting user device. Or, the central computer sends the requesting device a request denied message. The central computer may also deny the request when the vehicle is moving, or if the user device has requested the vehicle's location too frequently.

主权项

1. A method for providing the location of a particular vehicle to a user device that is remote from the particular vehicle, comprising:
receiving a location request message that specifically requests the location of a particular vehicle, wherein the particular vehicle has a unique vehicle identifier associated with it, and wherein the location request message refers to the particular vehicle associated with the unique vehicle identifier; obtaining location information of the particular vehicle; obtaining location information of the user device; evaluating the location information corresponding to the particular vehicle and the location information corresponding to the user device to generate a location differential value; comparing the location differential value to at least a predetermined criterion; generating a result of the comparison; causing an action based on the result of the comparison; wherein the location information of particular vehicle and the location information of the user device are location coordinates; and wherein the step of causing an action includes causing the user device to produce a location request denial message and includes causing the user device to display a visible message that the request has been denied if the location differential value exceeds the predetermined criteria, wherein the predetermined criteria is a distance limit.