Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A process (400) according to one implementation of the present invention is initiated by receiving (402) a service zone definition for a boundary crossing. The boundary crossings application further receives (404) a monitoring request. For example, a vehicle rental company may enter the MIN/ESN of all mobile units associated with vehicles that are to be monitored, the timeframes during which the vehicles are to be monitored and the specific zones or boundaries with respect to which vehicle movement is to be monitored. Movements of the mobile unit or units of interest can then be monitored by receiving and storing (406) current location information, retrieving (408) prior location information for the mobile unit or units, and using (410) the current and prior location information to determine whether a service zone boundary has been crossed during the intervening time interval. Once a determination is made (412) as to whether a boundary crossing has occurred, the boundary crossing application may continue monitoring mobile unit location/movement and/or may generate (414) service information according to application parameters. The service information is then transmitted (416) according to application parameters. Such application parameters may specify the recipient, content and format of the service information.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim