U.S. patent application number 14/145914 was filed with the patent office on 2015-07-02 for creditor alert when a vehicle enters an impound lot.
The applicant listed for this patent is KYLE FJELSTAD, David M. Meyer. Invention is credited to KYLE FJELSTAD, David M. Meyer.
Application Number | 20150186991 14/145914 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53482314 |
Filed Date | 2015-07-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150186991 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Meyer; David M. ; et
al. |
July 2, 2015 |
CREDITOR ALERT WHEN A VEHICLE ENTERS AN IMPOUND LOT
Abstract
A method, a device and a system of creditor alert when a vehicle
enters an impound lot are disclosed. In one aspect, a vehicle
includes a vehicle having a tracking device to determine a present
geospatial location of the vehicle, a network, a tracking server to
periodically receive the present geospatial location of the vehicle
through the network, and an impound alerting server communicatively
coupled with a tracking server to determine whether the vehicle is
within a boundary of an impound lot, and to generate an alert to a
creditor device when the vehicle is within the boundary of the
impound lot beyond a threshold amount of time. A database may be
communicatively coupled with the impound alerting server. The
database may have stored within a set of records comprising address
information of a number of impound lot boundaries and/or associated
meta data.
Inventors: |
Meyer; David M.; (KNOXVILLE,
TN) ; FJELSTAD; KYLE; (TRABUCO CANYON, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Meyer; David M.
FJELSTAD; KYLE |
KNOXVILLE
TRABUCO CANYON |
TN
CA |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
53482314 |
Appl. No.: |
14/145914 |
Filed: |
December 31, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
705/35 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07C 5/0841 20130101;
G07C 5/008 20130101; G06Q 40/02 20130101; B60R 16/0231 20130101;
G01S 5/0027 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 40/02 20120101
G06Q040/02; G01S 5/02 20060101 G01S005/02 |
Claims
1. A system, comprising: a vehicle having a tracking device to
determine a present geospatial location of the vehicle; a network;
a tracking server to periodically receive the present geospatial
location of the vehicle through the network; and an impound
alerting server communicatively coupled with a tracking server to
determine whether the vehicle is within a boundary of an impound
lot, and to generate an alert to a creditor device when the vehicle
is within the boundary of the impound lot beyond a threshold amount
of time.
2. The system of claim 1 further comprising: a database
communicatively coupled with the impound alerting server having a
set of records comprising address information of a plurality of
impound lot boundaries and associated meta data, and wherein the
associated meta data include at least one of a lot name data, a lot
address data, a lot contact information data, a lot phone number
data, an hours of operation data, a towing fee data, a daily
incurring impound lot fee data, a total incurred impound lot fee
data, and a contact person data.
3. The system of claim 2: wherein the tracking server to associate
the impound alerting server and the vehicle with the creditor
device, and wherein the tracking server to verify a set of
geospatial coordinates associated with a current location of the
vehicle.
4. The system of claim 3: wherein the tracking server to compare
the current location of the vehicle with a set of geospatial
locations of surrounding impound lots that are geocoded through the
impound alerting server, and wherein the tracking server to create
a time stamp associated with an entry date and entry time of the
vehicle entering the impound lot.
5. The system of claim 4: wherein the impound alerting server to
determine a type of the impound lot, wherein the impound alerting
server to communicate the type of the impound lot to the creditor
device, and wherein the type of the impound lot is at least one of
a police lot, a tow lot, a public impound lot, and a private
lot.
6. The system of claim 5: wherein the impound alerting server to
communicate the associated meta data to the creditor device based
on the type of the impound lot.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein the creditor device to match a
loan payment status with an owner of the vehicle.
8. A method of a tracking server comprising: determining that a
tracking device is installed in the vehicle; associating the
tracking device with a creditor using a processor and a memory;
verifying a set of geospatial coordinates associated with a current
location of the vehicle; comparing the current location of the
vehicle with a set of geospatial locations of surrounding impound
lots; creating a time stamp associated with an entry date and an
entry time of the vehicle entering an impound lot based on a
geospatial location of the impound lot; and generating an alert
message communicable to the creditor associated with the vehicle
entering the impound lot.
9. The method of claim 8 further comprising: determining that the
tracking device is positioned in an internally inconspicuous
location in which the tracking device is not readily visible to an
occupant of the vehicle; determining that the tracking device is
coupled to a power source, such that the tracking device is
operable to determine a location of the vehicle and transmit
location information to the creditor; and disabling a motor of the
vehicle if motion is detected for at least one of a removal and a
disablement of the tracking device.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprising: generating a first
alert message if the tracking device is disabled in the vehicle;
communicating the first alert message to the creditor; generating a
second alert message if the vehicle enters the impound lot; and
communicate the second alert message to the creditor; generating a
disablement pushpin based on the first alert message; generating an
impound pushpin based on the second alert message; placing the
disablement pushpin and the impound pushpin in a map view of the
tracking server; and providing the creditor access to the map view
based on authenticated access credentials.
11. The method of claim 10 further comprising: verifying through a
network associated with the tracking server that the second alert
message associated with the vehicle entering the impound lot is
trusted; and permitting the creditor and the impound lot to
bi-directionally communicate through the tracking server to verify
that the vehicle is in the impound lot and to verify an event data
related to the vehicle entering the impound lot.
12. The method of claim 11 further comprising: reminding
automatically the creditor of at least one of the first alert
message and the second alert message after a predetermined
threshold number of days that the vehicle remains in the impound
lot; triggering a verification of a loan status of the vehicle; and
providing the event data comprising at least one of the vehicle
data, an impound lot data, and a government data associated with at
least one of the vehicle, a debtor, and a driver of the vehicle at
a time of impoundment.
13. The method of claim 12 further comprising: verifying to the
creditor at least one of the loan status comprising of a loan
balance, a loan payment due date, a most recent loan payment, a
loan payment history, a related loan by the vehicle loan debtor,
and related loan information; generating to the creditor at least
one of the vehicle data comprising of a year, a make, a model and a
color of the vehicle, an associated vehicle loan consumer name, the
vehicle loan consumer contact information; providing to the
creditor at least one of the impound lot data comprising of an
impound lot address data, a contact person data, a contact
information data, an hours of operation data, a towing fee data, a
daily incurring impound lot fee data, a total incurred impound lot
fee data; and automatically provide for the creditor at least one
of the government data comprising of a vehicle code violation, a
vehicle citation ticket number, a vehicle citation penalty, a
driver citation ticket number, a policy activity associated with
the driver, and the policy activity associated with the debtor.
14. The method of claim 13 further comprising: populating a
priority chart when multiple vehicles associated with the creditor
are in the impound lots based on at least one of the threshold
number of days that the vehicle is in the impound lot, a car
payment history, a vehicle value, a net equity in the vehicle, a
type of impound lot location, an impound lot fee associated with
the vehicle; and assigning a score within a predetermined scoring
system to each vehicle in the impound lot based on the vehicle
summary data; and generating a decision tree, wherein, the vehicle
loan creditor actions are recommended, based on the score of the
vehicle, to perform at least one of dialing to the vehicle loan
consumer through a one-button dialer containing the consumer's
telephone information to communicate with the consumer,
communicating with a person associated with the vehicle loan
consumer if the vehicle loan consumer cannot be reached,
dispatching a recovery agent to inspect the vehicle in the impound
lot to assess its condition, and retrieving the vehicle out of the
impound lot.
15. The method of claim 14 further comprising: geocoding a set of
impound lot addresses each associated with a vehicle owner in a
neighborhood surrounding the data processing system; prepopulating
the set of impound lot addresses each associated with the vehicle
owner; and generating a map view to simultaneously provide the
current locations of vehicles associated with the vehicle loan
creditor in relation to their surrounding impound lots.
16. A system, comprising: a vehicle having a tracking device to
determine a present geospatial location of the vehicle; a network;
a tracking server to periodically receive the present geospatial
location of the vehicle through the network; and an impound
alerting server communicatively coupled with a tracking server to
determine whether the vehicle is within a boundary of an impound
lot, and to generate an alert to a creditor device when the vehicle
is within the boundary of the impound lot beyond a threshold amount
of time, wherein the impound alerting server to communicate the
associated meta data to the creditor device based on the type of
the impound lot, and wherein the creditor device to match a loan
payment status with an owner of the vehicle.
17. The system of claim 16 further comprising: a database
communicatively coupled with the impound alerting server having a
set of records comprising address information of a plurality of
impound lot boundaries and associated meta data, and wherein the
associated meta data include at least one of a lot name data, a lot
address data, a lot contact information data, a lot phone number
data, an hours of operation data, a towing fee data, a daily
incurring impound lot fee data, a total incurred impound lot fee
data, and a contact person data.
18. The system of claim 17: wherein the tracking server to
associate the impound alerting server and the vehicle with the
creditor device, and wherein the tracking server to verify a set of
geospatial coordinates associated with a current location of the
vehicle.
19. The system of claim 18: wherein the tracking server to compare
the current location of the vehicle with a set of geospatial
locations of surrounding impound lots that are geocoded through the
impound alerting server, and wherein the tracking server to create
a time stamp associated with an entry date and entry time of the
vehicle entering the impound lot.
20. The system of claim 19: wherein the impound alerting server to
determine a type of the impound lot, wherein the impound alerting
server to communicate the type of the impound lot to the creditor
device, and wherein the type of the impound lot is at least one of
a police lot, a tow lot, a public impound lot, and a private lot.
Description
FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY
[0001] This disclosure relates generally to vehicular tracking and,
more particularly, to a method, a device and/or a system of
creditor alert when a vehicle enters an impound lot.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A creditor (e.g., a vehicle loan creditor) may extend credit
to purchasers of vehicles. The vehicles may be subject to a loan
obligation. For example, dealers, finance companies, and/or lenders
may provide non-traditional vehicle loans to credit-challenged
consumers. Conventional vehicle loans may be unavailable to these
consumers. These credit-challenged consumers, may have a higher
likelihood of their vehicles being towed to an impound lot when,
for example, they get arrested and/or leave their vehicles where
parking is prohibited.
[0003] The vehicle loan creditor may not receive notification that
its financed vehicle has been towed to an impound lot until at
least 30 days later, when its consumer has defaulted on the monthly
vehicle financing payment. By then, impound lot charges, along with
possible government fees and penalties, could have accrued to a
significant expense. The vehicle loan creditor may have to pay the
significant related fees before reclaiming the vehicle or be forced
to assign title of the vehicle to the impound lot if the fees
exceed the value of the vehicle.
SUMMARY
[0004] A method, a device and a system of creditor alert when a
vehicle enters an impound lot are disclosed. In one aspect, a
vehicle includes a vehicle having a tracking device to determine a
present geospatial location of the vehicle, a network, a tracking
server to periodically receive the present geospatial location of
the vehicle through the network, and an impound alerting server
communicatively coupled with a tracking server to determine whether
the vehicle is within a boundary of an impound lot, and to generate
an alert to a creditor device when the vehicle is within the
boundary of the impound lot beyond a threshold amount of time.
[0005] A database may be communicatively coupled with the impound
alerting server. The database may have stored within a set of
records comprising address information of a number of impound lot
boundaries and/or associated meta data. The associated meta data
may include a lot name data, a lot address data, a lot contact
information data, a lot phone number data, an hours of operation
data, a towing fee data, a daily incurring impound lot fee data, a
total incurred impound lot fee data, and/or a contact person
data.
[0006] The tracking server may associate the impound alerting
server and/or the vehicle with the creditor device. The tracking
server may verify a set of geospatial coordinates associated with a
current location of the vehicle. The tracking server may compare
the current location of the vehicle with a set of geospatial
locations of surrounding impound lots that are geocoded through the
impound alerting server. The tracking server may create a time
stamp associated with an entry date and/or entry time of the
vehicle entering the impound lot.
[0007] The impound alerting server may determine a type of the
impound lot. The impound alerting server may communicate the type
of the impound lot to the creditor device. The type of the impound
lot may be a police lot, a tow lot, a public impound lot, and/or a
private lot. The impound alerting server may communicate the
associated meta data to the creditor device based on the type of
the impound lot. The creditor device may match a loan payment
status with an owner of the vehicle.
[0008] In another aspect, a method of a tracking server includes
determining that a tracking device is installed in the vehicle,
associating the tracking device with a creditor using a processor
and/or a memory, verifying a set of geospatial coordinates
associated with a current location of the vehicle, comparing the
current location of the vehicle with a set of geospatial locations
of surrounding impound lots, creating a time stamp associated with
an entry date and/or an entry time of the vehicle entering an
impound lot based on a geospatial location of the impound lot, and
generating an alert message communicable to the creditor associated
with the vehicle entering the impound lot.
[0009] It may be determined that the tracking device is positioned
in an internally inconspicuous location in which the tracking
device is not readily visible to an occupant of the vehicle. In
addition, it may be determined that the tracking device is coupled
to a power source, such that the tracking device is operable to
determine a location of the vehicle and/or transmit location
information to the creditor. A motor of the vehicle may be disabled
if motion is detected for a removal and/or a disablement of the
tracking device. The method may generate a first alert message if
the tracking device is disabled in the vehicle. The method may
communicate the first alert message to the creditor. The method may
generate a second alert message if the vehicle enters the impound
lot. The method may communicate the second alert message to the
creditor. The method may generate a disablement pushpin based on
the first alert message. The method may generate an impound pushpin
based on the second alert message.
[0010] The method may place the disablement pushpin and/or the
impound pushpin in a map view of the tracking server. A creditor
may be provided access to the map view based on authenticated
access credentials. The method may verify through a network
associated with the tracking server that the second alert message
associated with the vehicle entering the impound lot is trusted.
The method may permit the creditor and/or the impound lot to
bi-directionally communicate through the tracking server to verify
that the vehicle is in the impound lot and/or to verify an event
data related to the vehicle entering the impound lot. The method
may automatically remind the creditor of the first alert message
and/or the second alert message after a predetermined threshold
number of days that the vehicle remains in the impound lot. The
method may trigger a verification of a loan status of the vehicle.
Further, the event data may be provided to the creditor including
any of the vehicle data, an impound lot data, and/or a government
data associated with the vehicle, a debtor, and/or a driver of the
vehicle at a time of impoundment.
[0011] The creditor may verify the loan status comprising of a loan
balance, a loan payment due date, a most recent loan payment, a
loan payment history, a related loan by the vehicle loan debtor,
and/or related loan information. The method may generate to the
creditor the vehicle data comprising of a year, a make, a model
and/or a color of the vehicle, an associated vehicle loan consumer
name, the vehicle loan consumer contact information. The method may
provide to the creditor the impound lot data comprising of an
impound lot address data, a contact person data, a contact
information data, an hours of operation data, a towing fee data, a
daily incurring impound lot fee data, a total incurred impound lot
fee data. In addition, the method may automatically provide for the
creditor the government data comprising of a vehicle code
violation, a vehicle citation ticket number, a vehicle citation
penalty, a driver citation ticket number, a policy activity
associated with the driver, and/or the policy activity associated
with the debtor.
[0012] A priority chart may be populated when multiple vehicles
associated with the creditor are in the impound lots based on the
threshold number of days that the vehicle is in the impound lot, a
car payment history, a vehicle value, a net equity in the vehicle,
a type of impound lot location, an impound lot fee associated with
the vehicle. A score may be assigned within a predetermined scoring
system to each vehicle in the impound lot based on the vehicle
summary data. In addition, a decision tree may be generated. The
vehicle loan creditor actions may be recommended (based on the
score of the vehicle) to perform dialing to the vehicle loan
consumer through a one-button dialer containing the consumer's
telephone information to communicate with the consumer,
communicating with a person associated with the vehicle loan
consumer if the vehicle loan consumer cannot be reached,
dispatching a recovery agent to inspect the vehicle in the impound
lot to assess its condition, and/or retrieving the vehicle out of
the impound lot.
[0013] A set of impound lot addresses each associated with a
vehicle owner may be geocoded in a neighborhood surrounding the
data processing system. The set of impound lot addresses each
associated with the vehicle owner may be prepopulated. A map view
may be generated to simultaneously provide the current locations of
vehicles associated with the vehicle loan creditor in relation to
their surrounding impound lots.
[0014] In yet another embodiment, a system includes a vehicle
having a tracking device to determine a present geospatial location
of the vehicle, a network, a tracking server to periodically
receive the present geospatial location of the vehicle through the
network, and an impound alerting server communicatively coupled
with a tracking server to determine whether the vehicle is within a
boundary of an impound lot, and/or to generate an alert to a
creditor device when the vehicle is within the boundary of the
impound lot beyond a threshold amount of time. In this embodiment,
the impound alerting server communicates the associated metadata to
the creditor device based on the type of the impound lot. The
creditor device matches a loan payment status with an owner of the
vehicle in this embodiment.
[0015] The methods, system, and/or apparatuses disclosed herein may
be implemented in any means for achieving various aspects, and may
be executed in a form of machine readable medium embodying a set of
instruction that, when executed by a machine, causes the machine to
perform any of the operations disclosed herein. Other features will
be apparent from the accompanying drawing and from the detailed
description that follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] Example embodiments are illustrated by way of example and
not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in
which like references indicate similar elements and in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a network view of an impound alerting server
communicatively coupled with a vehicle having a tracking device
that is subject to a loan obligation of a creditor, according to
one embodiment.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a set of modules that are communicatively coupled
to the impound alerting server of FIG. 1 (e.g., modules may be
internal to the impound alerting server), according to one
embodiment.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a process flow of generating an alert message to
the creditor associated with the vehicle of FIG. 1 entering an
impound lot, according to one embodiment.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a user interface view of an impounded car tracking
device associated with the creditor of FIG. 1, according to one
embodiment.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a critical path flow diagram of analyzing the
vehicle of FIG. 1 entering the impound lot, according to one
embodiment.
[0022] FIG. 6 is a map view of a set of impound lots in a
geospatial vicinity of a primary home address and a primary work
address of an owner of the vehicle of FIG. 1 that is subject to the
loan obligation, according to one embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] A method, a device and a system of creditor alert when a
vehicle enters an impound lot are disclosed. Example embodiments,
as described below, may be used to provide a method, a system
and/or a device for verifying a set of geospatial coordinates
associated with the location of the vehicle and creating a
timestamp associated with a vehicle entering an impound lot
broadcasted through the vehicle tracking server using a network to
automatically distribute an alert message to the vehicle loan
creditor associated with the vehicle of the vehicle entering the
impound lot.
[0024] Although the present embodiments have been described with
reference to specific example embodiments, it will be evident that
various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments
without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the various
embodiments.
[0025] FIG. 1 is a network view of an impound alerting server
communicatively coupled with a vehicle having a tracking device
that is subject to a loan obligation of a creditor, according to
one embodiment.
[0026] In one aspect, a vehicle 104 includes a vehicle 104 having a
tracking device 102 to determine a present geospatial location of
the vehicle 104, a network 103, a tracking server 100 to
periodically receive the present geospatial location of the vehicle
104 through the network 103, and an impound alerting server 101
communicatively coupled with a tracking server 100 to determine
whether the vehicle 104 is within a boundary 105 of an impound lot
106, and to generate an alert to a creditor 108 device (e.g., any
of the impounded car tracking devices 110A-N) when the vehicle 104
is within the boundary 105 of the impound lot 106 beyond a
threshold amount of time.
[0027] A database 114 may be communicatively coupled with the
impound alerting server 101. The database 114 may have stored
within a set of records comprising address information of a number
of impound lot 106 boundaries and/or associated metadata 115. The
associated metadata 115 may include a lot name data, a lot address
data, a lot contact information data, a lot phone number data, an
hours of operation data, a towing fee data, a daily incurring
impound lot 106 fee data, a total incurred impound lot 106 fee
data, and/or a contact person data.
[0028] The tracking server 100 may associate the impound alerting
server 101 and/or the vehicle 104 with the creditor 108 device
e.g., any of the impounded car tracking devices 110A-N). The
tracking server 100 may verify a set of geospatial coordinates
associated with a current location of the vehicle 104. The tracking
server 100 may compare the current location of the vehicle 104 with
a set of geospatial locations of surrounding impound lots (e.g.,
other impound lots in a geospatial vicinity of the impound lot 106)
that are geocoded through the impound alerting server 101. The
tracking server 100 may create a time stamp associated with an
entry date and/or entry time of the vehicle 104 entering the
impound lot 106.
[0029] The impound alerting server 101 may determine a type of the
impound lot 106. The impound alerting server 101 may communicate
the type of the impound lot 106 to the creditor 108 device. The
type of the impound lot 106 may be a police lot, a tow lot, a
public impound lot 106, and/or a private lot. The impound alerting
server 101 may communicate the associated metadata 115 to the
creditor 108 device based on the type of the impound lot 106. The
creditor 108 device may match a loan payment status with an owner
of the vehicle 104.
[0030] In another aspect, a method of a tracking server 100
includes determining that a tracking device 102 is installed in the
vehicle 104, associating the tracking device 102 with a creditor
108 using a processor 116 and/or a memory 118, verifying a set of
geospatial coordinates associated with a current location of the
vehicle 104, comparing the current location of the vehicle 104 with
a set of geospatial locations of surrounding impound lots (e.g.,
other impound lots in a geospatial vicinity of the impound lot
106), creating a time stamp associated with an entry date and/or an
entry time of the vehicle 104 entering an impound lot 106 based on
a geospatial location of the impound lot 106, and generating an
alert message communicable to the creditor 108 associated with the
vehicle 104 entering the impound lot 106.
[0031] It may be determined that the tracking device 102 is
positioned in an internally inconspicuous location in which the
tracking device 102 is not readily visible to an occupant of the
vehicle 104. In addition, it may be determined that the tracking
device 102 is coupled to a power source, such that the tracking
device 102 is operable to determine a location of the vehicle 104
and/or transmit location information to the creditor 108. A motor
of the vehicle 104 may be disabled if motion is detected for a
removal and/or a disablement of the tracking device 102. The method
may generate a first alert message 117 if the tracking device 102
is disabled in the vehicle 104. The method may communicate the
first alert message 117 to the creditor 108. The method may
generate a second alert message 119 if the vehicle 104 enters the
impound lot 106. The method may communicate the second alert
message 119 to the creditor 108. The method may generate a
disablement pushpin based on the first alert message 117. The
method may generate an impound pushpin based on the second alert
message 119.
[0032] The method may place the disablement pushpin and/or the
impound pushpin in a map view 121 of the tracking server 100. A
creditor 108 may be provided access to the map view 121 based on
authenticated access credentials. The method may verify through a
network 103 associated with the tracking server 100 that the second
alert message 119 associated with the vehicle 104 entering the
impound lot 106 is trusted. The method may permit the creditor 108
and/or the impound lot 106 to bi-directionally communicate through
the tracking server 100 to verify that the vehicle 104 is in the
impound lot 106 and/or to verify an event data related to the
vehicle 104 entering the impound lot 106. The method may
automatically remind the creditor 108 of the first alert message
117 and/or the second alert message 119 after a predetermined
threshold number of days that the vehicle 104 remains in the
impound lot 106. The method may trigger a verification of a loan
status of the vehicle 104. Further, the event data may be provided
to the creditor 108 including any of the vehicle 104 data, an
impound lot 106 data, and/or a government data associated with the
vehicle 104, a debtor, and/or a driver of the vehicle 104 at a time
of impoundment.
[0033] The creditor 108 may verify the loan status comprising of a
loan balance, a loan payment due date, a most recent loan payment,
a loan payment history, a related loan by the vehicle 104 loan
debtor, and/or related loan information. The method may generate to
the creditor 108 the vehicle 104 data comprising of a year, a make,
a model and/or a color of the vehicle 104, an associated vehicle
104 loan consumer name, the vehicle 104 loan consumer contact
information. The method may provide to the creditor 108 the impound
lot 106 data comprising of an impound lot 106 address data, a
contact person data, a contact information data, an hours of
operation data, a towing fee data, a daily incurring impound lot
106 fee data, a total incurred impound lot 106 fee data. In
addition, the method may automatically provide for the creditor 108
the government data comprising of a vehicle 104 code violation, a
vehicle 104 citation ticket number, a vehicle 104 citation penalty,
a driver citation ticket number, a policy activity associated with
the driver, and/or the policy activity associated with the
debtor.
[0034] A priority chart may be populated when multiple vehicles
associated with the creditor 108 are in the impound lot 106 based
on the threshold number of days that the vehicle 104 is in the
impound lot 106, a car payment history, a vehicle 104 value, a net
equity in the vehicle 104, a type of impound lot 106 location, an
impound lot 106 fee associated with the vehicle 104. A score may be
assigned within a predetermined scoring system to each vehicle 104
in the impound lot 106 based on the vehicle 104 summary data. In
addition, a decision tree may be generated. The vehicle 104 loan
creditor 108 actions may be recommended (based on the score of the
vehicle) to perform dialing to the vehicle 104 loan consumer
through a one-button dialer containing the consumer's telephone
information to communicate with the consumer, communicating with a
person associated with the vehicle 104 loan consumer if the vehicle
104 loan consumer cannot be reached, dispatching a recovery agent
to inspect the vehicle 104 in the impound lot 106 to assess its
condition, and/or retrieving the vehicle 104 out of the impound lot
106.
[0035] A set of impound lot 106 addresses each associated with a
vehicle 104 owner may be geocoded in a neighborhood surrounding the
data processing system. The set of impound lot 106 addresses each
associated with the vehicle 104 owner may be prepopulated. A map
view 121 may be generated to simultaneously provide the current
locations of vehicles associated with the vehicle 104 loan creditor
108 in relation to their surrounding impound lots (e.g., other
impound lots in a geospatial vicinity of the impound lot 106).
[0036] In yet another embodiment, a system includes a vehicle 104
having a tracking device 102 to determine a present geospatial
location of the vehicle 104, a network 103, a tracking server 100
to periodically receive the present geospatial location of the
vehicle 104 through the network 103, and an impound alerting server
101 communicatively coupled with a tracking server 100 to determine
whether the vehicle 104 is within a boundary 105 of an impound lot
106, and/or to generate an alert to a creditor 108 device when the
vehicle 104 is within the boundary 105 of the impound lot 106
beyond a threshold amount of time. In this embodiment, the impound
alerting server 101 communicates the associated metadata 115 to the
creditor 108 device based on the type of the impound lot 106. The
creditor 108 device matches a loan payment status with an owner of
the vehicle 104 in this embodiment.
[0037] FIG. 1 is a network view 150 of an impound alerting server
101 having a processor 116, a memory 118, and/or database 114. The
tracking server 100 may be communicatively coupled (e.g. through
network 103) with a tracking device 102 associated with vehicle 104
when the vehicle 104 enters an impound lot 106. Particularly, FIG.
1 illustrates a tracking server 100 according to one or more
embodiments. The embodiment of FIG. 1 describes a tracking server
100, a network 103, a tracking device 102, a vehicle 104, an
impound lot 106, a creditor 108 (e.g., a vehicle loan creditor), an
of the impounded car tracking devices 110 (e.g., including a tablet
device 110A, a mobile phone 110B, and a laptop 110N) (e.g. a
computer, a laptop computer, a tablet, a smartphone, etc.), a
cellular network 112, a database 114, a processor 116, and a memory
118.
[0038] The tracking device 102 may be physically associated with
the vehicle 104 (e.g. may be positioned in the vehicle 104 in an
internally inconspicuous location in which the tracking device 102
is not readily visible to a vehicle occupant). For example, the
position of the tracking device 102 may couple to the vehicle 104's
power source, allowing simultaneous access to location of the
vehicle and the ability to disable a vehicle motor if the tracking
device 102 is removed and/or disabled.
[0039] The tracking device 102 may then be associated with a
creditor 108 (e.g., a vehicle loan creditor) via the network 103
through the tracking server 100. The tracking device 102 may
transmit metadata 115 (e.g. geospatial coordinates and/or time
stamp, vehicle status, vehicle tracking device status, etc.)
through a network 103 to the tracking server 100. In one embodiment
the tracking device 102 may determine the vehicle 104 has entered
the impound lot 106 upon which the tracking device 102 may
automatically transmit metadata 115 to the tracking server 100
through the network 103.
[0040] The tracking server 100 may comprise a database 114, a
processor 116, and a memory 118, according to the embodiment of
FIG. 1. The tracking server 100 may be one or more server side data
processing systems (e.g. web servers operating in concert with each
other) that operate in a manner that may receive a set of vehicle
geospatial coordinates and/or a time stamp communicatively coupled
with the tracking device 102. The tracking server 100 may then
generate an automatic alert message (e.g. vehicle motor
disablement, vehicle tracking device removal, geospatial
coordinates and/or time stamp upon entering impound lot) and/or
broadcast the automatic alert message to the impounded car tracking
devices associated with the creditor 108 (e.g., a vehicle loan
creditor) and/or the impound lot data processing system through the
network 103. In one embodiment, the tracking server 100 may
generate an automatic alert message through the cellular network
112 to the impounded car tracking device 110A-N associated with the
creditor 108 (e.g., a vehicle loan creditor) and/or the impound lot
data processing system 120 (e.g., may be the impound car tracking
devices 110A-N).
[0041] The automatic alert message may be presented to the
impounded car tracking device 110A-N and/or impound lot data
processing system as an alert pushpin which may then be
automatically distributed to any devices (e.g. desktop computer,
laptop computer, table, smartphones, etc.) associated with the
creditor 108 (e.g., a vehicle loan creditor). The automatic alert
message may be verified through an internet protocol based network
associated with the impounded car tracking device 110A-N and/or
impound lot data processing system to determine its
trustworthiness.
[0042] FIG. 2 is a set of modules that are communicatively coupled
to the impound alerting server of FIG. 1 (e.g., modules may be
internal to the impound alerting server), according to one
embodiment. Particularly, FIG. 2 is a detailed view 250 of the
tracking server 100 comprising of a database 114, a memory 118,
and/or a processor 116. Particularly FIG. 2 illustrates a generate
alert message 202, a remind alert 204, a verify alert trusted 206,
a permit bi-directional communication 208, a trigger loan status
verification 210, a summarize vehicle data 212, a compare vehicle
location with impound lots 214, a create time stamp 216, a geocode
impound addresses 218, a prepopulate impound lot addresses 220, and
a generate map view 121.
[0043] In one embodiment the tracking server 100 may transmit a
generate alert message module 202 to impounded car tracking device
110A-N and/or impound lot data processing system upon receiving the
tracking device 102 metadata 115. The tracking server 100 may send
a remind alert module 204 to automatically remind the creditor 108
(e.g., a vehicle loan creditor) of the initial alert message after
a predetermined number of days. To verify trustworthiness the
generate alert message 202 and/or the remind alert module 204 may
go through verify alert trusted module 206 (e.g. an internet
protocol based network) before reaching the impounded car tracking
device 110A-N and/or impound lot data processing system via the
network 103.
[0044] The tracking server 100 may permit bi-directional
communication module 208 between the creditor 108 (e.g., a vehicle
loan creditor) and the impound lot 106 through the tracking server
100. Permit bi-directional communication module 208 may allow the
creditor 108 (e.g., a vehicle loan creditor) to communicate through
the tracking server 100 via the network 103 with the impound lot
106 to verify that the vehicle 104 is physically in the impound lot
106, and to verify vehicle metadata 115 (e.g. geospatial
coordinates and/or time stamp, vehicle status, vehicle tracking
device status, etc.). The tracking server 100 may trigger loan
status verification module 210 which generates the creditor 108
(e.g., a vehicle loan creditor) loan information. For example, loan
information may contain a loan balance, a loan payment due date, a
most recent loan payment, a loan payment history, a related loan by
the vehicle loan consumer, and/or related loan information. The
tracking server 100 may also generate summarize vehicle data module
212 to the creditor 108 (e.g., a vehicle loan creditor). Summarize
vehicle data module 212 may comprise of a year, a make, a model, a
color of the vehicle 104, an associated vehicle loan consumer name,
and/or a vehicle loan consumer contact info.
[0045] In another embodiment, the tracking server 100 may compare
vehicle location with impound lots module 214 possibly with vehicle
metadata 115 comprising of the geospatial coordinates of the
vehicle 104 and a set of pre-seeded geospatial coordinates
associated with a set of surrounding impound lots. This may allow
the creditor 108 (e.g., a vehicle loan creditor) to determine which
impound lot the vehicle 104 is located. The tracking server 100 may
also create time stamp module 216, which may comprise of an entry
date and/or entry time of the vehicle 104 entering the impound lot
106.
[0046] The tracking server 100 may geocode impound addresses module
218 into a set associated with a vehicle owner in a neighborhood
surrounding the data processing system (e.g. the impound lot data
processing system). The tracking server 100 may then prepopulate
impound lot addresses module 220, which may then be used to
generate map view 121, possibly comprising of data providing
current locations of vehicles associated with the creditor 108
(e.g., a vehicle loan creditor) in relation to the impound lot
106.
[0047] FIG. 3 is a process flow of generating an alert message to
the creditor associated with the vehicle of FIG. 1 entering an
impound lot, according to one embodiment. FIG. 3 is a process flow
350 to provide a method, a system and/or a device for verifying a
set of geospatial coordinates associated with the location of the
vehicle 104 and creating a time stamp 216 associated with the
vehicle 104 entering the impound lot 106 broadcasted through the
tracking server 100 using a network 103 to automatically distribute
an alert message 202 to the creditor 108 (e.g., a vehicle loan
creditor) associated with the vehicle 104 of the vehicle 104
entering the impound lot 106. The process flow 350 may start with
304: install tracking device 102 in an inconspicuous location in
the vehicle 104. Then in 306 the tracking device 102 may be
associated to the impounded car tracking device 110A-N (e.g.
communicatively coupled via the tracking server 100 and/or the
network 103; this may allow tracking device 102 metadata 115 to be
exchanged to the creditor 108 (e.g., a vehicle loan creditor).)
[0048] Next in 308 there may be comparison of a set of geospatial
coordinates associated with the location of the vehicle 104 with a
set of geospatial locations of surrounding the impound lot 106.
This comparison may help determine whether or not the vehicle 104
has entered the impound lot 106. In 310 creation of a time stamp
associated with a creation date and/or creation time of the vehicle
104 upon entering an impound lot 106 may then be generated through
a data processing system (e.g. impounded car tracking device 110A-N
and/or impound lot data processing system) based on a geospatial
location of the impound lot 106. Next in 312 upon entering the
impound lot 106 the tracking device 102 may generate an alert
message module 202 to the creditor 108 (e.g., a vehicle loan
creditor) associated with the vehicle 104. Lastly in FIG. 3 314
bi-directional communication 208 may allow verification through the
tracking server 100 to the impound lot data processing system that
the vehicle 104 is actually physically in the impound lot 106.
[0049] FIG. 4 is a user interface view of an impounded car tracking
device associated with the creditor of FIG. 1, according to one
embodiment. FIG. 4 is a user interface view 450 that explains how a
user (e.g. creditor 108 (e.g., a vehicle loan creditor)) may view
pertinent information on the desktop computer, laptop computer,
smartphone or tablet. Pertinent information may comprise of a list
of impounded vehicles 402, an assigned score 404, a vehicle summary
of FIG. 2 (e.g. vehicle data, vehicle loan status, impound lot
data, government data), a decision tree 408, a dismiss option 410,
a reminder in 5 days option 412, a priority option 414, and/or a
verify info option 418.
[0050] The assigned score 404 may be given to vehicles associated
with the creditor 108 (e.g., a vehicle loan creditor), and may be
used to determine a priority level of each vehicle. The priority
level may be based on the threshold number of days that the vehicle
104 is in the impound lot 106, a car payment history, a vehicle
value, a net equity in the vehicle, a type of impound lot location,
and/or an impound lot fee associated with the vehicle. The assigned
score 404 may be used by the creditor 108 (e.g., a vehicle loan
creditor) to help make a decision on the decision tree 408, which
may comprise of a dispatch recovery agent 420, a retrieve vehicle
422, and/or a dial to consumer 424. The dispatch recovery agent 420
may allow the creditor 108 (e.g., a vehicle loan creditor) to
communicate with a recovery agent to inspect the vehicle 104 in the
impound lot 106 to assess its condition, and may retrieve the
vehicle 104 out of the impound lot 106. The retrieve vehicle 422
may allow the creditor 108 (e.g., a vehicle loan creditor) to
communicate with a person associated with the vehicle loan consumer
if the vehicle loan consumer cannot be reached (e.g. a family
member, a friend). And the dial to consumer 424 may allow the
creditor 108 (e.g., a vehicle loan creditor) to dial the vehicle
loan consumer and directly communicate with that individual.
[0051] In one embodiment the dismiss 410 may allow the vehicle loan
creditor to dismiss the generate alert message 202 in FIG. 2 and/or
the remind alert module 204 also in FIG. 2, generated from the
tracking server 100 (FIG. 1). The reminder in 5 days 412 may allow
the vehicle loan creditor to delay actions for 5 days. Priority
option 414 may allow the vehicle loan creditor to adjust the
priority level of the vehicle 104. Verify info may allow the
creditor 108 (e.g., a vehicle loan creditor) to request
verification of the trustworthiness of the generate alert message
202 and/or the remind alert 204 (e.g. through an internet protocol
based network associated with the data processing system of the
creditor 108 (e.g., a vehicle loan creditor)).
[0052] FIG. 5 is a critical path flow diagram of analyzing the
vehicle of FIG. 1 entering the impound lot, according to one
embodiment. FIG. 5 is a critical path view 550 illustrating a flow
based on time and origin in which critical operations in
establishing alerts and metadata 115 between the tracking device
102, the creditor 108 (e.g., a vehicle loan creditor), the tracking
server 100, and/or the impound lot data processing system. The
critical path view 550 may comprise of a send alert message of the
vehicle entering impound lot 502, a distribute alert message 504, a
receive alert message of vehicle entering impound lot 506, a
reminder alert after threshold no. of days 508, a verification
request and notice of vehicle being in the impound lot 510, and/or
a receive summary data of impounded vehicle 512.
[0053] First the tracking device 102 may send alert message of the
vehicle entering impound lot 502 to the tracking server 100, which
may then distribute alert message 504 to the creditor 108 (e.g., a
vehicle loan creditor) and/or reminder alert after threshold no. of
days 508. The creditor 108 (e.g., a vehicle loan creditor) may then
receive alert message of vehicle entering impound lot 506, and may
request verification from the impound lot data processing system.
The impound lot data processing system may then receive
verification request and notice of vehicle being in the impound lot
510, and may then generate summarize vehicle data 212 to the
creditor 108 (e.g., a vehicle loan creditor). The creditor 108
(e.g., a vehicle loan creditor) may then receive summary data of
impounded vehicle 512.
[0054] It will be understood that the vehicle 104 may be impounded
by government agencies (e.g., municipalities) when (1) there are
unresolved parking violation(s) of a certain age, (2) above a total
fine threshold, and/or (3) during the violation of a parking
ordinance ("tow away zone"). The registrant of the vehicle may have
certain unresolved moving violation sin some jurisdictions, as part
of repossession of a vehicle by a lessor or lender. The process for
impoundment may include (A) an owner or operator may create the
legal basis for impoundment as above (failure to make payments,
illegal vehicle usage, etc.) (B) A grant of authority to impound
may be made either implicitly or explicitly (see below) (C) An
agency that has the legal authority to execute impoundment may
locate the vehicle. The agency may take possession of the vehicle
and tow to the impoundment lot 106. If the owner or operator of the
vehicle 104 does not clear the issue (payment, etc.), after a
certain defined period, the vehicle may be sold at auction. After
deducting the costs of the auction, the impoundment process, and
any other fees from the sale price, the remainder may be returned
the owner of the vehicle 104. In the various embodiments herein,
any of the processes above may be possible.
[0055] FIG. 6 is a map view of a set of impound lots in a
geospatial vicinity of a primary home address and a primary work
address of an owner of the vehicle of FIG. 1 that is subject to the
loan obligation, according to one embodiment. In FIG. 6, an impound
lot 600 is illustrated as being adjacent to a home address of a
vehicle loan consumer (e.g., debtor) 606. In addition, a different
impound lot (e.g., preseeded and geocoded) 602 is shown as being
adjacent to a work address of the vehicle loan consumer in 604.
[0056] An example embodiment will now be described. A creditor
`Joe's Lending Service` may provide a loan to Jack Donaldson, a
construction worker. Jack may purchase a used Honda Accord from
Sammy's Automotive Wonders in Santa Monica, Calif. Jack may use his
new Honda Accord to get to work every day at the Pier. However,
after a night of heavy drinking, Jack may be arrested. His Honda
Accord, left at the Old Dusty Bar on Main Street may be towed to an
impound lot nearby. Fortunately for Joe's Lending Service, they may
quickly realize that Jack's car has been towed because they may
subscribe to the Spireon Impound Lot notification service.
[0057] Not only did Jack's Honda Accord have tracking information
so that Joe's Lending Service could keep track of the
collateralized car sold to Jack through Spireon's tracking service,
they were able to quickly determine that Jack's car was now in a
police impound lot because of the various embodiments described
herein. Joe's Lending timely recovered the vehicle by paying for
just a single day of impounded time, rather than the additional
daily rate of $250 per day. Fortunately, Jack was able to get his
car back after coming out on bail the next week, and get to work at
the construction site on time by Monday morning in a sober state
when his girlfriend Janice was able to drive Jack to work in his
reacquired Honda Accord. As a result, Jack is able to continue
making his usual $250 a month payments to Joe's Lending Service,
and all parties benefit because Jack keeps his job and car, and
Joe's Lending gets a paying customer because of the technologies
described herein.
* * * * *