Patent Publication Number: US-2023138201-A1

Title: Automated and dynamic location identification and geofencing based on gps data

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/175,225, titled “AUTOMATED AND DYNAMIC LOCATION IDENTIFICATION AND GEOFENCING BASED ON GPS DATA,” filed Feb. 12, 2021, which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/976,832, titled “AUTOMATED AND DYNAMIC LOCATION IDENTIFICATION AND GEOFENCING BASED ON GPS DATA,” and filed Feb. 14, 2020, both of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to image processing, and more particularly to image processing for identifying locations of interest. 
     Until the 18 th  and 19 th  centuries, most houses and buildings were not numbered. Street naming and numbering began under the age of enlightenment. Numbering allowed people to efficiently receive mail, as the postal system evolved to reach widespread usage. Today, the same postal system of associating locations with unique street addresses of where the person(s) at that address may receive mail continues. This typically correlates to a mail box on the public street closest to a facility (e.g., home, business, or plot of land). 
     However, identifying a location based simply by the street address may not be ideal or precise for various logistics applications. For example, a location of interest (or “point-of-interest”) at a large retail store with significant footprint and multiple entry and exit points may vary for different users and applications. Customer parking, for instance, may be located at the front of the retail store, while the location for deliveries may be located at a completely different part of the facility. Yet, the “street address” for the retail store may not be close to either location if the store is situated in a large multistore complex far from the main street. 
     Thus, there is a need for improved location identification system that correlates the street address with locations of interest at a facility. 
     SUMMARY 
     An example implementation includes a method executable by a network-based control computer, comprising receiving, at the network-based control computer, global positioning system (GPS) data from a plurality of devices. The method further includes grouping the GPS data from the plurality of devices to generate GPS trajectory information for each group of the plurality of devices. Additionally, the method further includes calculating kernel density estimation based on the GPS trajectory information. Additionally, the method further includes determining an isoline on a virtual map for the each group of the plurality of devices based on the kernel density estimation. Additionally, the method further includes overlaying the isoline data on a geographic coordinate information of a physical structure. Additionally, the method further includes generating a virtual geofence around the physical structure based in part on overlaying the isoline data to the geographic coordinate information of the physical structure. Additionally, the method further includes storing, in a memory of the network-based control computer, geofence information for the facility based on the virtual geofence that is created around the physical structure. 
     Another example implementation includes an apparatus executable by a network-based control computer, comprising a memory and a processor in communication with the memory. The processor is configured to receive, at the network-based control computer, global positioning system (GPS) data from a plurality of devices. The processor is further configured to group the GPS data from the plurality of devices to generate GPS trajectory information for each group of the plurality of devices. Additionally, the processor further configured to calculate kernel density estimation based on the GPS trajectory information. Additionally, the processor further configured to determine an isoline on a virtual map for the each group of the plurality of devices based on the kernel density estimation. Additionally, the processor further configured to overlay the isoline data on a geographic coordinate information of a physical structure. Additionally, the processor further configured to generate a virtual geofence around the physical structure based in part on overlaying the isoline data to the geographic coordinate information of the physical structure. Additionally, the processor further configured to store, in a memory of the network-based control computer, geofence information for the facility based on the virtual geofence that is created around the physical structure. 
     Another example implementation includes an apparatus executable by a network-based control computer, comprising means for receiving, at the network-based control computer, global positioning system (GPS) data from a plurality of devices. The apparatus further includes means for grouping the GPS data from the plurality of devices to generate GPS trajectory information for each group of the plurality of devices. Additionally, the apparatus further includes means for calculating kernel density estimation based on the GPS trajectory information. Additionally, the apparatus further includes means for determining an isoline on a virtual map for the each group of the plurality of devices based on the kernel density estimation. Additionally, the apparatus further includes means for overlaying the isoline data on a geographic coordinate information of a physical structure. Additionally, the apparatus further includes means for generating a virtual geofence around the physical structure based in part on overlaying the isoline data to the geographic coordinate information of the physical structure. Additionally, the apparatus further includes means for storing, in a memory of the network-based control computer, geofence information for the facility based on the virtual geofence that is created around the physical structure. 
     Another example implementation includes a computer-readable medium computer-readable medium comprising stored instructions executable by a network-based control computer, executable by a processor to receive, at the network-based control computer, global positioning system (GPS) data from a plurality of devices. The instructions are further executable to group the GPS data from the plurality of devices to generate GPS trajectory information for each group of the plurality of devices. Additionally, the instructions are further executable to calculate kernel density estimation based on the GPS trajectory information. Additionally, the instructions are further executable to determine an isoline on a virtual map for the each group of the plurality of devices based on the kernel density estimation. Additionally, the instructions are further executable to overlay the isoline data on a geographic coordinate information of a physical structure. Additionally, the instructions are further executable to generate a virtual geofence around the physical structure based in part on overlaying the isoline data to the geographic coordinate information of the physical structure. Additionally, the instructions are further executable to store, in a memory of the network-based control computer, geofence information for the facility based on the virtual geofence that is created around the physical structure. 
     The above presents a simplified summary of one or more aspects of the present disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated aspects, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all aspects nor delineate the scope of any or all aspects. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects of the present disclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
     To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the one or more aspects of the present disclosure comprise the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative features of the one or more aspects of the present disclosure. These features are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of various aspects of the present disclosure may be employed, and this description is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosed aspects of the present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, provided to illustrate and not to limit the disclosed aspects, wherein like designations denote like elements, where a dashed line may indicate an optional element or action, and in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a functional block diagram of example elements of a system in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  are examples of data extraction and processing that associates GPS paths to building footprint based on clustering of vehicle path and nearest building in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  are examples image processing for facilitating identification of location of interest in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  4    is an example of conducting kernel density estimation for each group of GPS trajectories in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  5    is a flowchart of an example method for image processing for identification of location of interest in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG.  6    is a block diagram of an example network computer device in accordance with the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As noted above, identifying a location based simply by the street address may not be ideal or precise for various logistics applications. To this end, aspects of the present disclosure provide image processing techniques to analyze the geospatial image of a geographic area in order to identify locations of interest within the geospatial image for different applications. Specifically, techniques of the present disclosure may identify the geographic coordinate information associated with a street address of a physical structure and retrieve the geospatial image of the geographic area including the physical structure based on the geographic coordinate information. The image processor may then generate a virtual geofence around the physical structure that then allows a network computer to receive and analyze GPS information received from a plurality of devices located within the virtual geofence over a period of time in order to generate locations of interest information for different applications. 
     In another example, the technique may rely on GPS data from multiple trips to identify GPS trajectories and form a virtual boundary that can further be analyzed based on GPS information to generate locations of interest. For example, one or more techniques may include receiving, at the network-based control computer, global positioning system (GPS) data from a plurality of devices, grouping the GPS data from the plurality of devices to generate GPS trajectory information for each group of the plurality of devices, and calculating kernel density estimation based on the GPS trajectory information. The method may further include determining an isoline on a virtual map for the each group of the plurality of devices based on the kernel density estimation, overlaying the isoline data on a geographic coordinate information of a physical structure, and generating a virtual geofence around the physical structure based in part on overlaying the isoline data to the geographic coordinate information of the physical structure. Once the geofence information is established, the method may include storing, in a memory of the network-based control computer, geofence information for the facility based on the virtual geofence that is created around the physical structure. 
     Various aspects are now described in more detail with reference to the  FIGS.  1 - 6   . In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of one or more aspects. It may be evident, however, that such aspect(s) may be practiced without these specific details. Additionally, the term “component” as used herein may be one of the parts that make up a system, may be hardware, firmware, and/or software stored on a computer-readable medium, and may be divided into other components. 
     The following description provides examples of implementations of the described system based on the principles described herein, but it should be understood that these examples are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. For instance, changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements discussed without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Also, various examples may omit, substitute, or add various procedures or components as appropriate. For instance, the methods described may be performed in an order different from that described, and various steps may be added, omitted, or combined. Also, features described with respect to some examples may be combined with other features described in other examples. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , in an aspect, a system  100  includes one or more computer devices, modules, and/or components for controlling vehicles for platooning. As used herein, the terms “module(s),” or “components” may be one of the parts that make up a device, may be hardware or software or firmware, and may be divided into other modules and/or distributed across one or more processors. 
     In an aspect, system  100  can comprise a network-based control computer (NCC)  112 , such as at a network management center, configured to communicate with one or more vehicles  104  via a computer device  106  (e.g., ELD and/or mobile device, etc.) located on each tractor  104  or associated with each driver of each tractor  104 . In some systems, the computer device  106  may be more than one device, such as an ELD that may communicate with the mobile device (e.g., a smart phone or an in-cab telematics device). The system  100  may include one or more fleets of vehicles  104 . Typically, a fleet could include many tens, hundreds or thousands of vehicles. An example fleet is illustrated as having two vehicles  104 . Each computer device  106  may include ELD functionality configured to collect and transmit data associated with the driver to the NCC  112 . Also, in some implementations, each computer device  106  and/or its ELD functionality can be configured to perform calculations associated with one or more fleet vehicles using any of the collected data. In some examples, the collected data may include the driver or vehicle data, such as but not limited to one or more of a vehicle identification, a driver identification, the HOS information for the driver, a location of the vehicle  104 , and/or telematics information associated with the vehicle  104  and/or driver, which will be collectively referred to as “vehicle information  109 .” In some examples, telematics is an interdisciplinary field that encompasses telecommunications, vehicular technologies, for instance, road transportation, road safety, electrical engineering (sensors, instrumentation, wireless communications, etc.), and computer science (multimedia, Internet, etc.). To this end, the telematics technology may include transmitting, receiving and storing information (e.g., vehicle and/or driver information) using telecommunication devices to control remote objects such as control one or more applications and aspects of the vehicles (e.g., control the braking and engine of the vehicle). 
     In an example implementation, the one or more vehicles  104  may be equipped with the computer device  106  in the form of a mobile device in communication with a separate ELD, where the mobile device may function as an in-cab telematics device. In some instances, the mobile device may be a smart phone or tablet configured to receive and process signals and information. In some instances, the ELD may be in communication with the mobile device to allow the collected information to be displayed on the mobile device. To this end, the computer device  106  in the form of either the ELD or the mobile device may include a platooning module  107  to perform one or more functions of the present disclosure, including collecting and transmitting and receiving driver and/or vehicle data to and from a remote NCC  112  and/or configuring the vehicle to participate in a platooning convoy. 
     In some implementations, the computer device  106  may include a processor configured to execute one or more platooning modules  107  and establish communication with external devices, such as NCC  112 , via a communication network (e.g., a terrestrial or satellite-based wireless network). The computer device  106  may also include a memory configured to store computer-readable code that may define all or part of the platooning module  107  and also to store data associated with the module, other components, and/or computer device  106 . The computer device  106  may also include a user interface or display, a mobile application server, and a communications module (e.g., including the one or more transceivers, and one or more of terrestrial and Wi-Fi modems, one or more antennae, a GPS and/or satellite communications modem). 
     As an example only, each vehicle  104  may be in bi-directional communication via the computer device  106  with NCC  112  over at least one communication channel. In the example shown in  FIG.  1   , each vehicle  104  is in bi-directional communication with the NCC  112  over at least one of a satellite-based communication system  108  or a terrestrial-based system  110  (e.g., a wireless communication system using a communication protocol/technology such as, but not limited to, 5G or New Radio, GSM, CDMA, TDMA, WCDMA, EDGE, OFDM, GPRS, EV-DO, LTE, WiFi, Bluetooth), or, when the vehicle is stopped, via a wired connection  113  through the Internet. In some cases, data may be exchanged with the vehicles  104  using one or both of the satellite communication system  108  and the terrestrial-based communication system  110 . 
     In an aspect, many different types of data are collected and transferred from the vehicles  104  to the NCC  112 . Examples of such data include, but are not limited to, vehicle performance data, driver performance data, critical events, messaging and position data, location data, HOS data and many other types of data, which may be collectively referred to as vehicle data  109 . All of the information that is communicated to and from the vehicles  104  may be processed via the NCC  112 . The NCC  112  can be thought of as a data clearinghouse that receives all data that is transmitted to and received from the vehicles  104 . In an aspect, NCC  112  may include one or more back-end servers. Thus, in some aspects, the collected information may periodically (e.g., every x minutes, where x is a whole number, or once a day, or upon availability of a wired or wireless connection) be transmitted from the computer device  106  to the NCC  112  for analysis and record keeping. 
     In some cases, the system  100  also may include a data center  116 , which may be part of or in communication with NCC  112 . The data center  116  illustrates one possible implementation of a central repository for all of the data received from each of the vehicles  104 . As an example, as mentioned above many different types of data are transmitted from the computer devices  106  associated with each of the vehicles  104  to the NCC  112 . In the case where data center  116  is in communication with NCC  112 , the data may be transmitted via connection  111  to the data center  116 . The connection  111  may comprise any wired or wireless dedicated connection, a broadband connection, or any other communication channel configured to transport the data. Moreover, in an aspect, data center  116  may include one or more back-end servers analyzing the data transmitted from the one or more computer devices  106 . Additionally or alternatively, data may also be exchanged between the plurality of computer devices  106  using, for example, peer-to-peer (P2P) communication without the involvement of the NCC  112 . 
     In an aspect, the data center  116  may include a data warehouse  114  for receiving the data from the computer device  106  relating to the vehicle  104 . In an aspect, for example, data center  116  may include any number of application servers and data stores, where each may be associated with a separate fleet and/or driver management or performance data. In an aspect, each application server and data store may include a processor, memory including volatile and non-volatile memory, specially-programmed operational software, a communication bus, an input/output mechanism, and other operational systems. For example, an application server may be a services portal (SP) server that receives, for example, messaging and positioning (M/P) data from each of the vehicles  104 . Another application server, for example only, may include one or more servers related to safety and compliance, such as a quick deployment center (QDC) server that receives, for example, critical event (CE) data from each of the vehicles  104 . Further, for example, another application server may be vehicle and driver performance data related to HOS, fuel usage, and/or cost from each of the vehicles  104 . It should be understood that the above list of example servers is for illustrative purposes only, and data center  116  may include additional and/or different application servers. 
     In some examples, the NCC  112  may include an GPS processing component  120  for processing geospatial image of a geographic area that includes a physical structure at a specified geographic coordinates. In some examples, the geofencing component  125  may generate a virtual geofence around the physical structure by leveraging GPS data received from one or more devices that track the GPS trajectory (or vector). Specifically, a GPS processing component  120  may rely on GPS data from multiple trips to identify GPS trajectories and form a virtual boundary that can further e analyzed based on GPS information to generate locations of interest. For example, one or more techniques may include receiving, at the network-based control computer, global positioning system (GPS) data from a plurality of devices, grouping the GPS data from the plurality of devices to generate GPS trajectory information for each group of the plurality of devices, and calculating kernel density estimation based on the GPS trajectory information. The method may further include determining an isoline on a virtual map for the each group of the plurality of devices based on the kernel density estimation, overlaying the isoline data on a geographic coordinate information of a physical structure, and generating a virtual geofence around the physical structure based in part on overlaying the isoline data to the geographic coordinate information of the physical structure. Once the geofence information is established, the method may include storing, in a memory of the network-based control computer, geofence information for the facility based on the virtual geofence that is created around the physical structure. 
     Once the virtual geofence has been established, the location tracking component  130  may receive and analyze GPS information (e.g., GPS “pings”) received from a plurality of devices (e.g., computer devices  106  configured to provide location information such as GPS tracking devices or mobile phones, etc.) located within the virtual geofence over a period of time in order to generate locations of interest information for different applications by tracking the density of the GPS clusters. For instance, within the established virtual geofence, the location tracking component  130  may track the location of passenger vehicles or delivery trucks over time to determine the precise location around the physical structure where the devices tend to remain stationary for extended periods of time. Such information would then allow location tracking component  130  to differentiate location of interests for each application (e.g., for logistics applications the location of delivery parking as opposed to customer parking areas etc.). 
     In some aspect, the NCC  112  may further communicate with a terminal device  125 , which can be a user interface portal, a web-based interface, a personal computer (PC), a laptop, a personal data assistant (PDA), a smart phone, a dedicated terminal, a dumb terminal, or any other device over which a user  126 , such as a manager or operator responsible for monitoring a fleet of vehicles  104 , may communicate. 
     In an aspect, the NCC  112  and/or the data center  116  may include a processor  132  and a memory  134  to respectively execute and store instructions and data associated the operation of the data center  116 , such as to operate the GPS processing component  120  and the location tracking component  130 . Although shown as residing within the data center  116 , the analysis engine may reside elsewhere, and may be implemented as a distributed system in which the processor  132  and the memory  134  may include one or more processor and memories, and may be located in different places, such as at NCC  112  and/or one or more servers associated with NCC  112  or data center. 
       FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  are examples  200  and  250  of data extraction and processing that associates GPS pings  205  to building footprint based on clustering of vehicle path and nearest building in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, the network-based control computer may receive one or more GPS information (e.g., GPS pings  205  that are reflected in black dots in  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B ) from a plurality of devices that may be located around a physical structure  210  (e.g., building). 
     The network-based control computer may monitor and identify locations of the cluster of GPS “pings”  205  that are stationary at specified locations (e.g., measuring the density of GPS pings at a location over time) over a period of time (e.g., 24 hours, one week, month etc.). Based in part on the received GPS information, the computer device  106  may deduce the location of the GPS device emitting the pings and determine the GPS device may be located within a vehicle that is parked. As such, over time, network-based control computer may develop historical data and identify one or more locations of interest within the virtual geofence that are associated with the physical structure. More specifically, the network-based control computer may group the GPS data from the plurality of devices to generate GPS trajectory information for each group of the plurality of devices. 
       FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  are examples image processing  300  and  350  for facilitating identification of location of interest in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Once the network-based control computer has grouped the GPS data from the plurality of devices to generate GPS trajectory information  305  for each group of the plurality of devices, the network-based control computer may calculate kernel density estimation  310  based on the GPS trajectory information  305 . Kernel density estimation (KDE) is a non-parametric way to estimate the probability density function of a random variable such as the GPS pings. Kernel density estimation may allow for data smoothing where inferences about the GPS information that is grouped are made, based on a finite data sample. 
     Once the KDE  310  of the GPS pings is calculated, the network-based control computer may determine an isoline  315  as illustrated in  FIG.  3 B  on a virtual map for the each group of the plurality of devices. For purposes of the present disclosure, the term isoline may refer to isoline map that may present numerical data cartographically to recognize geographical patterns and relationships. Therefore, isolines  315  are lines drawn on maps connecting data points of the value associated with the GPS pings  205  that are grouped together to form the GPS trajectory. 
     In some aspects, the network-based control computer may then overlay the isoline data  315  on a geographic coordinate information of a physical structure as reflected in  FIG.  4    and generate a virtual geofence around the physical structure. Additionally, the method further includes storing, in a memory of the network-based control computer, geofence information for the facility based on the virtual geofence that is created around the physical structure. 
       FIG.  4    is an example of conducting kernel density estimation for each group of GPS trajectories in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, the NCC  112 , and more particularly the location tracking component  130 , utilizing the virtual geofence information that is generated for the one or more physical structures to then receive and process GPS information received from a plurality of devices located within the virtual geofence over a period of time in order to generate locations of interest information for different applications. 
     Specifically, as illustrated in  FIG.  4   , the location tracking component  130  may receive GPS “pings” from one or more devices (e.g., computer device  106 ) capable of transmitting or broadcasting location information to the NCC  112 . Over a period of time, the location tracking component  130  may monitor and identify locations of the cluster of GPS “pings” that are stationary at specified locations (e.g., measuring the density of GPS pings at a location over time), and thereby allow the location tracking component  130  to deduce that the computer device  106  that may be located within a vehicle that is parked. As such, over time, the location tracking component  130  may be able to develop historical data and identify one or more locations of interest within the virtual geofence that are associated with the physical structure. 
     The information generated by the location tracking component  130  based on the virtual geofence may be used in practical logistics applications including, for example, identifying a location of interest at the physical structure that is within the virtual geofence. The location of interest includes docking stations or parking spaces tailored to accommodate trucks or other vehicles and configuring a vehicle  104  to display the location of interest on a display screen located within the vehicle  104  (e.g., on the computer device  106 ). The system may also allow for generating a notice when a GPS data associated with a device (e.g., computer device  106 ) indicates that the device has either entered or exited the virtual geofence around the physical structure. The notice may include a message indicating that the device has arrived or departed the physical structure, and transmitting the notice to a remote computer identifying when the device has entered or exited the physical structure. 
     Additionally or alternatively, other practical applications may include detecting that a device (e.g., computer device  106 ), in route to the physical structure, is within a predetermined distance of the virtual geofence around the physical structure based on a GPS data associated with the device. The detection may trigger the computer device  106  or the NCC  112  to generate a notice indicating that the device will be arriving at the physical structure within a specified time period based on detecting that the device is within the predetermined distance of the virtual geofence. The computer device  106  or the NCC  112  may transmit the notice to a remote dispatcher prior to arrival at the physical structure. 
     Referring to  FIG.  5   , one example of a method  500  for data processing to identify locations of interest in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure may be performed by the NCC  112  discussed with reference to  FIG.  1   . In some examples, the method  500  may be performed by a processor (e.g., processor  132  with reference to  FIGS.  1  and  6   ), such as by executing instructions stored in the memory (e.g., memory  134  with reference to  FIGS.  1  and  6   ). It should be appreciated that the below identified operation of the method  500  is just one example to identify locations of interests. Indeed, the method  500  may be modified to change an order in which the steps are performed. 
     At block  505 , the method  500  may include receiving, at the network-based control computer, global positioning system (GPS) data from a plurality of devices. The geographic coordinates associated with the street address may include longitude and latitude coordinates of the physical structure. Additionally, the physical structure may be a warehouse, a shipping physical structure, or a physical location that includes access for trucks or large vehicles (e.g., semi-trucks, delivery trucks or vans etc.). Aspects of block  505  may be performed by the communications component  615  and the location tracking component  130  described with reference to  FIGS.  1  and  6   . 
     At block  510 , the method  500  may include grouping the GPS data from the plurality of devices to generate GPS trajectory information for each group of the plurality of devices. Aspects of block  510  may be performed by the GPS processing component  120  described with reference to  FIGS.  1  and  6   . 
     At block  515 , the method  500  may include calculating kernel density estimation based on the GPS trajectory information. In some examples, processing the geospatial image to extract the first boundary outline of the physical structure may comprise applying a computer vision function to the geospatial image to remove background noise from the geospatial image, and detecting boundary edges of the physical structure by analyzing the geospatial image absent the background noise. Thus, processing of the geospatial image may include determining the first boundary outline based on the boundary edges. Aspects of block  515  may be performed by the GPS processing component  120  described with reference to  FIGS.  1  and  6   . 
     At block  520 , the method  500  may include determining an isoline on a virtual map for the each group of the plurality of devices based on the kernel density estimation. Aspects of block  520  may be performed by the GPS processing component  120  and the geofencing component  125  described with reference to  FIGS.  1  and  6   . 
     At block  525 , the method  500  may include overlaying the isoline data on a geographic coordinate information of a physical structure. Aspects of block  525  may be performed by the geofencing component  125  described with reference to  FIGS.  1  and  6   . 
     At block  530 , the method  500  may include generating a virtual geofence around the physical structure based in part on overlaying the isoline data to the geographic coordinate information of the physical structure. Aspects of block  530  may be performed by the GPS processing component  120  and the geofencing component  125  described with reference to  FIGS.  1  and  6   . 
     At block  535 , the method  500  may include storing, in a memory of the network-based control computer, geofence information for the facility based on the virtual geofence that is created around the physical structure. In some examples, once the virtual geofence is stored, the method  500  may include identifying a location of interest at the physical structure that is within the virtual geofence. The location of interest may include docking stations or parking spaces tailored to accommodate trucks, and configuring a vehicle to display the location of interest on a display screen located within the vehicle. The method may also include generating a notice when a GPS data associated with a device indicates that the device has either entered or exited the virtual geofence around the physical structure. The notice may include a message indicating that the device has arrived or departed the physical structure, and transmitting the notice to a remote computer identifying when the device has entered or exited the physical structure. In some examples, the method may include identifying a location of interest at the physical structure that is within the virtual geofence based on accumulation of the GPS data from the plurality of devices over a first period of time, and configuring a GPS device to display the location of interest on a display screen. 
     Additionally or alternatively, the virtual geofence information may be used to detect when a device, in route to the physical structure, is within a predetermined distance of the virtual geofence around the physical structure based on a GPS data associated with the device. The method may include generating a notice indicating that the device will be arriving at the physical structure based on detecting that the device is within the predetermined distance of the virtual geofence, and transmitting the notice to a remote dispatcher prior to arrival at the physical structure. Aspects of block  530  may be performed by the GPS processing component  120 , the location tracking component  130 , and the processor  132  described with reference to  FIGS.  1  and  6   . 
     Referring to  FIG.  6   , in an example that should not be construed as limiting, the NCC  112 , may include additional components that operate in conjunction with the GPS processing component  120  and the location tracking component  130 , and may be implemented in specially programmed computer readable instructions or code, firmware, hardware, or some combination thereof. 
     In an aspect, for example, features described herein with respect to the functions of the GPS processing component  120  and the location tracking component  130  may be implemented in or executed using one or any combination of processor  132 , memory  134 , communications module  615 , and data store  114 . For example, GPS processing component  120  and the location tracking component  130  may be defined or otherwise programmed as one or more processor modules of processor  132 . Further, for example, GPS processing component  120  and the location tracking component  130  may be defined as a computer-readable medium (e.g., a non-transitory computer-readable medium) stored in memory  134  and/or data store  114  and executed by processor  132 . Moreover, for example, inputs and outputs relating to operations of GPS processing component  120  and the location tracking component  130  may be provided or supported by communications module  615 , which may provide a bus between the modules of NCC  112  or an interface for communication with external devices or modules. 
     Processor  132  can include a single or multiple set of processors or multi-core processors. Moreover, processor  132  can be implemented as an integrated processing system and/or a distributed processing system. Memory  134  may operate to allow storing and retrieval of data used herein and/or local versions of applications and/or software and/or instructions or code being executed by processor  132 , such as to perform the respective functions of platooning management module  120  described herein. Memory  134  can include any type of memory usable by a computer, such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), tapes, magnetic discs, optical discs, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, and any combination thereof. 
     Communications module  615  is operable to establish and maintain communications with one or more internal components/modules or external devices utilizing hardware, software, and services as described herein. Communications component  615  may carry communications between modules on NCC  112 , as well as between user and external devices, such as devices located across a communications network and/or devices serially or locally connected to NCC  112 . For example, communications component  615  may include one or more buses, and may further include transmit chain modules and receive chain modules associated with a transmitter and receiver, respectively, or a transceiver, operable for interfacing with external devices. 
     Additionally, data store  114 , which can be any suitable combination of hardware and/or software, which provides for mass storage of information, databases, and programs employed in connection with aspects described herein. For example, data store  114  may be a data repository for applications not currently being executed by processor  132 . 
     The NCC  112  may additionally include a user interface module  625  operable to receive inputs from a user, and further operable to generate outputs for presentation to the user. User interface module  625  may include one or more input devices, including but not limited to a keyboard, a number pad, a mouse, a touch-sensitive display, a navigation key, a function key, a microphone, a voice recognition module, any other mechanism capable of receiving an input from a user, or any combination thereof. Further, user interface module  625  may include one or more output devices, including but not limited to a display, a speaker, a haptic feedback mechanism, a printer, any other mechanism capable of presenting an output to a user, or any combination thereof. 
     The NCC  112  may also include an GPS processing component  120  for processing geospatial image of a geographic area that includes a physical structure at a specified geographic coordinates. In some examples, the geofencing component  125  may generate a virtual geofence around the physical structure by leveraging the GPS processing component  120 . Specifically, an GPS processing component  120  may receive geographic coordinate information associated with a street address of a physical structure and retrieve, from a database (e.g., data warehouse  114 ), a geospatial image of a geographic area including the physical structure based on the geographic coordinate information. Once the geospatial image of the geographic area has been retrieved, the GPS processing component  120  may apply computer vision function to the geospatial image to remove background noise (e.g., trees, streets, etc.) from the geospatial image and detect the boundary edges of the physical structure by analyzing the geospatial image absent the background noise. 
     Once the GPS processing component  120  identifies the boundary edges of the physical structure, the geofencing component  125  may extract a first boundary outline of the physical structure for virtual geofencing. Subsequently, the geofencing component  125  may calculate a second boundary outline offset outside of the first boundary line based on an offset value. The offset value may be variable or a fixed parameter. For example, the geofencing component  125  may determine a first set of latitude and longitude coordinates for a first plurality of geographic points of the first boundary outline, and identify a second set of latitude and longitude coordinates for a second plurality of geographic points by stepping out and away from each of the first set of latitude and longitude coordinates by a geographic distance defined by the offset value. Thus, the geofencing component  125  may determine the second boundary outline based on the second set of latitude and longitude coordinates. 
     In another example, the geofencing component  125  in collaboration with GPS processing component  120  may determine a first set of latitude and longitude coordinates for a first plurality of geographic points of the first boundary outline and convert the first set of latitude and longitude coordinates into a first set of pixel space coordinates for a first plurality of pixels of the first boundary outline. The geofencing component  125  and GPS processing component  120  may also identify a second set of pixel space coordinates for a second plurality of pixels by stepping out and away from each of the first set of pixel space coordinates by a pixel space distance defined by the offset value. Again, as noted above, the offset value may be variable (e.g., depending on location) or fixed offset value. The GPS processing component  120  may then convert the second set of pixel space coordinates into a second set of latitude and longitude coordinates for a second plurality of geographic points, and determine the second boundary outline based on the second set of latitude and longitude coordinates. 
     The second boundary outline may then be utilized by the geofencing component  125  as the basis for generating a virtual geofence around a physical structure (e.g., warehouse, a shipping physical structure, or a physical location that includes access for vehicles). Once the virtual geofence has been established, the location tracking component  130  may receive and analyze GPS information (e.g., GPS “pings”) received from a plurality of devices (e.g., computer devices  106  configured to provide location information such as GPS tracking devices or mobile phones, etc.) located within the virtual geofence over a period of time in order to generate locations of interest information for different applications by tracking the density of the GPS clusters. For instance, within the established virtual geofence, the location tracking component  130  may track the location of passenger vehicles or delivery trucks over time to determine the precise location around the physical structure where the devices tend to remain stationary for extended periods of time. Such information would then allow location tracking component  130  to differentiate location of interests for each application (e.g., for logistics applications the location of delivery parking as opposed to customer parking areas etc.). 
     In view of the disclosure above, one of ordinary skill in programming is able to write computer code or identify appropriate hardware and/or circuits to implement the disclosed invention without difficulty based on the flow charts and associated description in this specification, for example. Therefore, disclosure of a particular set of program code instructions or detailed hardware devices is not considered necessary for an adequate understanding of how to make and use the invention. The inventive functionality of the claimed computer implemented processes is explained in more detail in the above description and in conjunction with the  FIGS.  1 - 6    which may illustrate various process flows. 
     As used in this description, the terms “module,” “components,” “database,” “module,” “system,” and the like are intended to refer to a computer-related entity, either hardware, firmware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or software in execution. For example, a module may be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or a computer. By way of illustration, both an application running on a computing device and the computing device may be a module. One or more modules may reside within a process and/or thread of execution, and a module may be localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or more computers. In addition, these modules may execute from various computer readable media having various data structures stored thereon. The modules may communicate by way of local and/or remote processes such as in accordance with a signal having one or more data packets (e.g., data from one module interacting with another module in a local system, distributed system, and/or across a network such as the Internet with other systems by way of the signal). 
     In one or more exemplary aspects, the functions described may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on or transmitted as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media include both computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. A storage media may be any available media that may be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media may comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that may be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that may be accessed by a computer. 
     Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (“DSL”), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of medium. Disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (“CD”), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (“DVD”), floppy disk and blue-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media. 
     Although selected aspects have been illustrated and described in detail, it will be understood that various substitutions and alterations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined by the following claims.