Abstract: System and method for remotely activating a vehicle function, comprising receiving an incoming message including an identification code; identifying one or more vehicles using the identification code; and sending a command to one or more of the vehicles. The incoming message may be associated with a telephone call, and the identification code may be caller identification information from the telephone call. The incoming message may be a packet-based message, and the identification code may be an identification of a sender of the message, such as an origination address. The identification code may be uniquely associated with one vehicle or multiple vehicles on a single user account. The command may be a command to lock or unlock one or more of the vehicles, or a command to start one or more of the vehicles.

Abstract: System and method for monitoring a vehicle comprising an accelerometer unit capable of monitoring vehicle accelerations, a processor adapted to receive inputs from the accelerometer unit and to compare the vehicle accelerations to predetermined parameters, wherein an attack on the vehicle is identified when one or more vehicle accelerations exceed an attack threshold, and one or more transmitter units adapted to continuously transmit messages upon occurrence of an attack, wherein the messages comprise a vehicle location.

Abstract: System and method for providing a website, portal and/or user interface adding, reviewing and editing street mapping data and speed-by-street information. The website, portal and/or user interface allows users to add, review and editing all or selected matters of safety data and street information in a street mapping database. The website, portal and/or user interface also allows the user to select any geographical area and/or any group of vehicles and adjust the system response for any reason, such as weather, traffic, road conditions, etc. The present invention also provides a website, portal and/or user interface that allows a user to register their vehicle and/or vehicle monitoring system hardware so that driver profile information and performance data may be stored on the site and viewed by insurance companies. The insurance companies may bid on drivers they wanted to insure.

Abstract: System and method for monitoring and mentoring driver behavior and vehicle operation and for categorizing or grading a driver's performance. The driver's classification or grade is used to determine or adjust insurance rates, premiums or coverages for the driver. The driver may receive discounted insurance rates for using monitoring and/or mentoring equipment in the vehicle. Insurance companies may use the driver classifications or grades to bid for coverage of groups of drivers having similar classifications or grades.

Abstract: System and method for tracking assets comprises determining if an asset is inside a geofence area, using a first set of asset monitoring parameters to monitor operation of the asset, if the asset is inside the geofence area, and using a second set of asset monitoring parameters to monitor operation of the asset, if the asset is outside the geofence area. The invention further comprises a system and method for providing one or more competitors with an asset tracking device, wherein the asset tracking device allows each competitor's location to be monitored, defining one or more geofence areas on a racetrack, and detecting when the competitors enter a designated geofence area.

Abstract: System and method for providing feedback to drivers. The system monitors selected vehicle parameters while a vehicle is being driven, and detects one or more vehicle operation violations by comparing the selected vehicle parameters to predetermined thresholds. A mentoring message is provided to the driver if the threshold is exceeded. If a vehicle operation violation has not been corrected within a preselected time period, then a violation report may be sent to a third party or a central server and/or a different mentoring message may be provided to the driver. Vehicle parameter data may be monitored from an on-board vehicle diagnostic system. The mentoring message may be an audible warning, such as a spoken message, or a visual warning, such as a text message. The selected vehicle parameters may be a vehicle speed, a vehicle acceleration, or a vehicle seatbelt use.

Abstract: System and method for capturing video data, comprising buffering video data captured from a video recording device in a vehicle, detecting a triggering event, saving a portion of the video data occurring within a specified period of time near the event, and naming a saved portion of video data with a label associated with the triggering event.

Abstract: System and method for collecting and using vehicle data. Crash data is received from a plurality of vehicle monitoring devices and added to a crash data database. The database is updated with additional information gathered from specific crashes. The crash data is correlated based upon a vehicle type parameter. Crash data parameters associated with one or more injury severity thresholds are identified. Alternatively, crash data parameters associated with one or more vehicle damage severity thresholds are identified. Injury and property damage estimates for subsequent crashes are made based upon the information collected in the crash database.

Abstract: System and method for registering a vehicle monitoring device with a central monitoring system, comprising determining a monitoring device identifier, determining a vehicle identifier from an on-board diagnostic system, establishing a communication link between the vehicle monitoring device and the central monitoring system, and sending the monitoring device identifier and vehicle identifier to the central monitoring system from the vehicle monitoring device.

Abstract: System and method for remotely deactivating a vehicle, comprising monitoring operations of the vehicle using an on-board monitoring system, detecting when one or more of the operations meet one or more preset criteria, and disabling the vehicle via the on-board monitoring system.

Abstract: System and method for monitoring the operation of a vehicle, comprising a housing having an accelerometer unit, and a global positioning system (GPS) unit, wherein the housing is adapted to be mounted in a window of the vehicle, and wherein the system is adapted to be powered by an on-board diagnostic system of the vehicle.

Abstract: System and method for evaluating driver performance, comprising detecting operations of a vehicle using an on-board vehicle monitoring system, comparing the operations to predetermined criteria, identifying violations of the predetermined criteria, tracking violations that occur during an evaluation period, and, at the end of the evaluation period, calculating a grade associated with operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: System and method for identifying speeding violations, comprising determining a current speed and a current location of a vehicle, determining a posted speed limit for the current location from a speed-by-street database, comparing the current speed of the vehicle to the posted speed limit, and evaluating whether the current speed exceeds the posted speed limit. Errors are identified in the speed-by-street database by storing a plurality of speeding violation records, wherein the speeding violation records each include a speeding event location; analyzing the speeding violation records to identify one or more speeding event locations having multiple speeding violations; comparing a posted speed limit at the one or more speeding event locations having multiple speeding violations to corresponding speed limit data in the speed-by-street database; and identifying one or more speed limit entries in the speed-by-street database that do not match the posted speed limit.