Vehicle monitoring systems and methods

Abstract

An embodiment includes a lot management system. The lot management system includes a transmitter comprising a location determination module having a GPS data pathway to an RF transmission module and a receiver including an RF antenna and a receiver processor.

1 . A method for managing an automobile dealership comprising the steps of:
 a) providing an inventory comprising multiple vehicles;   b) providing a plurality of transmitters, each transmitter associated with a vehicle of the inventory, each transmitter comprising a vehicle information module and a location determination module, each transmitter adapted to collect vehicle information about the associated vehicle, wherein the collected vehicle information comprises at least a first and a second detail about the associated vehicle, the first and second details being selected from the group consisting of make, model, color, options installed, model year, body style, condition, cylinder type, mileage, stock number, VIN, battery voltage, fuel level, and vehicle location;   c) providing a receiver in electronic communication with the transmitters;   d) transmitting the collected vehicle information about the multiple vehicles to the receiver;   e) using the collected vehicle information received by the receiver to perform at least one of the following:
 i) identify and display the location of at least one of the multiple vehicles having a desired detail, and 
 ii) display aggregated data about multiple vehicles. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 determining which of the multiple vehicles have a running engine; and 
 for each of the vehicles having a running engine, using the vehicle information module to provide a third detail selected from the group consisting of alternator voltage, engine RPMs, vehicle speed, run time since engine start, and distance traveled. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, in step (e), when the engine of at least one vehicle is running, the transmitter associated with the at least one vehicle transmits vehicle location more frequently than when the engine of the vehicle is not running. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the item displayed in step e) comprises aggregated data received from multiple transmitters and the aggregated data that is displayed is selected from the group consisting of reports on which vehicles have low fuel, reports on which vehicles have low battery voltage, and reports on which transmitters have not reported for a pre-determined period of time. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the item displayed in step e) further comprises information about whether a vehicle has been outside a perimeter for a pre-determined period a time, information about whether a vehicle is outside a perimeter after a pre-determined time of day, information about whether the amount of fuel in the vehicle is below a pre-determined level, or information about whether the charge level of a vehicle battery is lower than a pre-determined voltage. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further including providing at least one handheld device in electronic communication with the receiver, wherein the location or aggregated data displayed in step e) is displayed on the at least one handheld device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising powering each transmitter from a vehicle battery from the vehicle associated with the transmitter. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising plugging each of the vehicle information modules into the OBD-II port of the associated vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the vehicle location is transmitted only when the transmitter is within a car lot.