Abstract: A vehicle monitoring system prevents vehicle theft and unauthorized tampering by alerting the vehicle's owner of unexpected events. Alerts are provided to the owner within seconds of the occurrence while the owner is away from the vehicle. The vehicle monitoring can be set to automatically start whenever the vehicle is parked and the owner moves away to a specific distance. This allows the owner to set monitoring preferences once, after which the system automatically handles monitoring according to those preferences for future vehicle activities. The monitoring and alerting may be automatically disarmed when the vehicle owner again comes within the predetermined proximity of the vehicle. The monitoring may also be disarmed manually, such as when the owner lends the vehicle to another and does not need to track it. It also may be manually disarmed if the owner left his/her phone in a location far from the vehicle.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention relate generally to telemetry methods and systems and more particularly, to telemetry network connectivity systems, devices and methods. In some embodiments, an inventory management system may be configured to provide machine-to-machine network connectivity. The inventory management system may be used in conjunction with a location device configured to transmit a vehicle identification number (VIN) and a device identifier of the location device. In some embodiments, the inventory management system may be configured to: (1) track whether the location device is located within a predetermined perimeter; (2) provide current inventory and ownership status associated the location device; and/or (3) place the location device in a sleep and/or passive state with periodic check-ins.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and/or a system of insurance rate optimization through driver behavior which includes a computer server of the driver monitoring environment to determine if a newly insured driver operating a private vehicle is adhering to a set of parameters set by an entity i.e. a driving school, an insurance provider and/or a family member of the newly insured driver. The system assigns a credit to the newly insured driver when it adheres to the set of parameters. The newly insured driver is monitored by the entity. A metadata is generated which includes a behavioral trait of the newly insured driver and an insurance rate is set through the insurance provider based on an adherence to the set of parameters set by the entity.

Abstract: A cargo sensor system uses reflective patterns on the back door of a cargo trailer that are easily recognized by a camera mounted in the nose of the trailer. Preferred embodiments rely on the assumption that if cargo has been loaded into a trailer, that cargo will be present on the floor of the trailer, no matter whether the trailer was loaded from front to back, or from back to front. Looking across the floor at a relatively low height toward the door having the reflective pattern at a low height, any cargo on the floor will interrupt the camera's vision of the pattern, by which it can be inferred that there is cargo on the floor of the trailer.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention relate generally to telemetry methods and systems and more particularly, to telemetry network connectivity systems, devices and methods. In some embodiments, an inventory management system may be configured to provide machine-to-machine network connectivity. The inventory management system may be used in conjunction with a location device configured to transmit a vehicle identification number (VIN) and a device identifier of the location device. In some embodiments, the inventory management system may be configured to: (1) track whether the location device is located within a predetermined perimeter; (2) provide current inventory and ownership status associated the location device; and/or (3) place the location device in a sleep and/or passive state with periodic check-ins.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system related to veracity determination through comparison of a geospatial location data of a vehicle with a provided data are disclosed. In one aspect, the method of a veracity server associates a provided data of an individual with a vehicle using a processor, determines the geospatial location of a vehicle, correlates a relevance of the geospatial location of the vehicle with the provided data, and determines the veracity of the provided data based on the relevance of the geospatial location of the vehicle to the provided data. The method may also comprise the usage of a geospatial circuit in the vehicle in order to transmit geospatial coordinates as well as a plurality of relevant locational information of the vehicle to the veracity server in order to make a correct veracity determination of the provided data.

Abstract: A method and system related to container identification through an electrical receptacle and plug associated with the container of an intermodal freight transport system is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method includes coupling an electrical power plug of a container and an electrical power receptacle of a transport vehicle. Also, the method includes activating a tracking device of the container through a switch and actuator coupling. Further, the method includes verifying an identity of the container upon coupling the electrical power plug to the electrical power receptacle through an identification tag of the container and an electronic reader. Furthermore, the method may include conserving battery power through deactivating the tracking device of the container when the electrical power plug is de-coupled to the electrical power receptacle. The method may also include delivering an alert message to a driver when an incorrect container is identified.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method, a device and/or a system of utilizing a camera array system to detect a load status of a semi-trailer truck. A sensor array is affixed to a surface of a trailer of the semi-trailer truck to automatically determine whether a cargo area of the semi-trailer truck is occupied. A set of cameras of the sensor array have each camera embedded in individual recesses of the sensor array. The cargo area is illuminated using at least one light source of the sensor array. A memory and a processor associated with the sensor array are configured to store one baseline image of the cargo area of the trailer in an empty state. The processor is configured to detect a triggering event. The processor determines a cargo status based upon a difference between the current image and the baseline image, and sends the cargo status to a dispatcher.

Abstract: A server abstracted messaging system interfaces to networking services such as SMS, UDP and IP, using internally implemented protocols or third-party tools. All connections, disconnections, errors or intricacies in service decoding are abstracted by the messaging system. To interface to an LBS device, the messaging system uses a special language to communicate with that device, leaving the actual translation of the command to the device until the very end, thereby abstracting the communication to the device by any application. All new commands for the LBS device are implemented in the abstracted language.

Abstract: A method and system related to container identification through an electrical receptacle and plug associated with the container of an intermodal freight transport system is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method includes coupling an electrical power plug of a container and an electrical power receptacle of a transport vehicle. Also, the method includes activating a tracking device of the container through a switch and actuator coupling. Further, the method includes verifying an identity of the container upon coupling the electrical power plug to the electrical power receptacle through an identification tag of the container and an electronic reader. Furthermore, the method may include conserving battery power through deactivating the tracking device of the container when the electrical power plug is de-coupled to the electrical power receptacle. The method may also include delivering an alert message to a driver when an incorrect container is identified.

Abstract: An asset tracking device includes a mounting bracket and a housing attached to the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket includes a magnetic portion, first apertures that receive first fasteners for attaching the mounting bracket to the asset, and second apertures that receive second fasteners. Third apertures in the housing, aligned with the second apertures in the mounting bracket, receive the second fasteners for attaching the housing to the mounting bracket. When the housing is attached to the mounting bracket, the housing makes the fasteners in the mounting bracket inaccessible so that the mounting bracket cannot be removed from the asset. When the housing is removed from the mounting bracket, a magnetic switch changes state and triggers a controller to generate a tamper alert with location information indicating the location of the tracking device. A wireless transmitter wirelessly transmits the tamper alert and location information to a central monitoring station.

Abstract: A battery monitoring device attached to a vehicle battery includes a battery voltage sensor, motion sensor, location determination module, memory device, wireless modem, and controller. The battery voltage sensor senses the voltage level of the vehicle battery, the motion sensor senses movement of the battery monitoring device, and the location determination module determines the location of the battery monitoring device. The memory device stores a unique identification number associated with the battery monitoring device. Upon detection of an event as indicated by the battery voltage signal or the motion signal or the location information, the wireless modem transmits an alert message that includes the unique identification number and information regarding the event. The components of the device may be encapsulated in a potting compound within a cavity on the battery housing, or they may be enclosed in a housing that is separable from the battery housing.

Abstract: A method and system of switch and actuator coupling in a chassis of a container associated with an intermodal freight transport system is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method of a tracking system involves coupling a first switch of a chassis to a second actuator of a container and coupling a first actuator of the chassis to a second switch of the container when the container is placed on the chassis, and signaling a wake event to a container tracking device when the first switch and the first actuator of the chassis is coupled with the second actuator and the second switch of the container. The method may also include communicating at least one of a location data and a container identification number of the container through at least one of the container tracking device and a chassis tracking device, through a network, to an administrative server.

Abstract: A server abstracted messaging system interfaces to networking services such as SMS, UDP and IP, using internally implemented protocols or third-party tools. All connections, disconnections, errors or intricacies in service decoding are abstracted by the messaging system. To interface to an LBS device, the messaging system uses a special language to communicate with that device, leaving the actual translation of the command to the device until the very end, thereby abstracting the communication to the device by any application. All new commands for the LBS device are implemented in the abstracted language.

Abstract: When a cargo trailer is coupled to a truck, a trailer tracking device on the trailer acquires an identifier of a truck tracking device attached to the truck. The trailer tracking device then transmits a message to a central server indicating that the trailer is coupled to the truck, which message includes the identifiers of the two tracking devices. The central server associates the identifiers of the two tracking devices in a database. When the trailer is decoupled from the truck, the trailer tracking device transmits a message to the central server indicating that the trailer is decoupled. The trailer tracking device then goes into a sleep mode until the trailer is again coupled to a truck, a predetermined time interval expires, a motion sensor indicates trailer movement, location coordinates indicate a geofence violation, or a low battery voltage condition occurs.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system related to an application of a value data to a profile of a vehicle based on a location of the vehicle is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method of an administrative server includes processing a location data of a vehicle having an onboard location device, matching the location data to a value data based on a location lookup table, and applying the value data to a profile of the vehicle. The method may include applying a credit and/or a debit, based on the value data, to an account (e.g., a financial account, a non-financial account) of a user associated with the vehicle according to a predetermined policy of an administrator. The method may also include modifying the value data to a modified value data depending on a meta-data such as a time of day, a date, and/or a vehicle type/model.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a tracking server, geospatial location data of a vehicle at various points in time from a transmitter installed in the vehicle. The vehicle is associated with a borrower in a loan agreement or a lease agreement with a lending institution. The method also includes permitting a financial entity server associated with the lending institution access to the geospatial location data at the tracking server upon the vehicle exceeding one or more threshold parameter(s) related to the geospatial location data stored thereat and/or the borrower exceeding a threshold parameter related to the loan agreement or the lease agreement stored at the financial entity server.