Method and System for Monitoring a Vehicle

Abstract

A method for monitoring a vehicle includes detecting movement or activation of the vehicle, transmitting a signal indicating movement or activation of the vehicle, to a control center, transmitting any received operator identification information to the control center, and determining whether an operator identification was received within a time interval of the detected movement or activation of the vehicle.

1 . A method for monitoring a plurality of vehicles in custody of a business, the method comprising:
 identifying a location of each of the plurality of vehicles with respect to the location of the business;   identifying a location of a person involved with the business as the person moves with respect to the business;   associating the person with a particular vehicle of the plurality of vehicles based on the location of the person in relation to the vehicle location, wherein the association is for a limited time;   storing information related to the association of the person with the particular vehicle, wherein the related information includes the movement of the vehicle with respect to the business and the amount of time that the person is associated with the particular vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 transmitting location coordinates of the particular vehicle provided by a Global Positioning System receiver co-located with the particular vehicle.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 transmitting a beacon signal from the particular vehicle;   receiving the beacon signal at a plurality of different locations; and   determining a location of the particular vehicle based on the beacon signal received at the plurality of different locations.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein a control center performs the determining of the location of the particular vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 transmitting operational information regarding the particular vehicle to the control center, wherein the operational information includes one or more of specifications of the vehicle, fluid levels in subsystems of the vehicle, vehicle subsystem fault codes and/or status codes, battery level, speed(s) of the vehicle, and velocities of the vehicle.   
     
     
         6 . A system for monitoring a plurality of vehicles in custody of a business, the system comprising:
 a plurality of receiving antennas located about a business;   a control panel with a computer interface and a microprocessor;   a monitoring system adapted to be placed on a vehicle, wherein the monitoring system includes a transmitter for transmitting information related to the vehicle and an electronic reading device for reading electronic devices in the proximity of the vehicle.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of receiving antennas are placed at locations about the perimeter of a business. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of receiving antennas receive data transmitted by a particular vehicle, wherein the data includes information related to the status of the particular vehicle transmitting the data.