Methods and systems related to asset identification triggered geofencing

Abstract

Asset Identification Trigged Geo-fencing. At least some of the example embodiments are methods including: coupling a tracking device to a vehicle being part of a dealer inventory, the vehicle having an identification number; associating the identification number with the tracking device; creating a geo-fence boundary containing a location of the vehicle; and sending a first message to a lien-holder indicating the vehicle has crossed the geo-fence boundary.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 coupling a tracking device to a vehicle being part of a dealer inventory, the vehicle having an identification number;   associating the identification number with the tracking device;   creating a geo-fence boundary containing a location of the vehicle; and   sending a first message to a lien-holder indicating the vehicle has crossed the geo-fence boundary.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein creating the geo-fence boundary further comprises creating by at least one method selected from the group consisting of: creating responsive to the association of the identification number; and creating the geo-fence responsive to a command from a lien-holder on the vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein sending the first message further comprises sending the first message indicating the vehicle has crossed the geo-fence boundary and not returned within a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the predetermined period of time is a time window for a test drive of the vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, after creating the geo-fence boundary but prior to sending the first message:
 receiving a message indicating the vehicle is to be taken for a test drive; and 
 expanding the geo-fence boundary responsive to the message. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein sending further comprises:
 sending the first message from the tracking device to an operations center remotely located from the tracking device; and then 
 sending a second message from the operation center to the lien-holder. 
 
     
     
         7 . A method comprising:
 coupling a tracking device to a vehicle, the vehicle having an identification number;   associating the identification number with the tracking device;   creating a geo-fence boundary containing a location of the vehicle; and   sending a first message from the tracking device indicating that the vehicle has traveled outside the geo-fence boundary.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein creating the geo-fence boundary further comprises creating by at least one method selected from the group consisting of: creating responsive to the association of the identification number; and creating the geo-fence responsive to a command from a lien-holder on the vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein associating the identification number with the tracking device further comprises:
 coupling the tracking device to a computer system of the vehicle; and 
 reading the identification number by the tracking device from the computer system of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein associating the identification number with the tracking device further comprises providing the identification number to the tracking device by way of a portable computing device communicatively coupled to the tracking device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein sending the first message further comprises sending the message to an operations center. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising sending a second message from the operations center to a lien-holder of the vehicle that the vehicle has traveled outside the geo-fence boundary. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7  wherein sending the first message further comprises sending the first message from the tracking device to the lien-holder. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7  wherein associating the identification number with the tracking device further comprises associating a manufacturer assigned vehicle identification number with the tracking device.