Abstract:
An on demand tracking system for a vehicle includes a mobile device configured to establish a connection with the vehicle using a unique identifier, in response to receiving geographic coordinates of the vehicle, to provide to a remote server data defining geographic boundaries encompassing the coordinates without explicitly identifying the coordinates to the remote server to request a map, to display the map, and to delete the coordinates.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for providing GPS-enabled on demand vehicle tracking. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    In various situations an owner of a vehicle may have the need to determine vehicle&#39;s location. Vehicle tracking is often implemented by installing an aftermarket locator device, e.g., a transponder, in the vehicle. The locator device periodically transmits its location to a server belonging to the locator device manufacturer or distributor. The server in turn makes the location information available to the owner. 
         [0003]    In other situations the vehicle owner may have the need to view a live video feed or a video feed snapshot from an interior of the vehicle. A video camera system may, for example, be implemented in the vehicle to determine whether a driver is in a drowsy state by monitoring the driver&#39;s head and body position. The video camera system may also be implemented in the vehicle to determine whether a primary driver, e.g., an adult or an experienced driver, or a secondary driver, e.g., a teenager or a novice driver, is operating the vehicle. The vehicle owner may desire to preserve privacy during a wireless network transmission of the interior vehicle video data. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    An on demand tracking system for a vehicle includes a mobile device configured to establish a connection with the vehicle using a unique identifier, in response to receiving geographic coordinates of the vehicle, to provide to a remote server data defining geographic boundaries encompassing the coordinates without explicitly identifying the coordinates to the remote server to request a map, to display the map, and to delete the coordinates. 
         [0005]    A method for tracking a vehicle includes establishing a connection with the vehicle using a unique identifier, in response to receiving geographic coordinates of the vehicle, providing to a remote server a request for a map, the request including data defining geographic boundaries encompassing the coordinates without explicitly identifying the coordinates to the remote server, displaying the map, and deleting the coordinates. 
         [0006]    A vehicle includes a vehicle modem configured to, in response to a request from a mobile device for a location of the vehicle, retrieve geographic coordinates describing the location and send to the mobile device a one-time response including the coordinates unless another request from the mobile device is received. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a GPS-enabled on demand vehicle tracking system; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating an algorithm for implementing vehicle tracking using a GPS-enabled on demand tracking system; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating an algorithm for displaying vehicle location in response to receiving vehicle location coordinates; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating an algorithm for establishing an initial connection between a mobile device and a vehicle modem; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating an algorithm for displaying a vehicle interior image in response to receiving a video feed snapshot. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
         [0013]    In  FIG. 1  a vehicle tracking system  100  is shown. The vehicle tracking system  100  includes a mobile device  102  and a vehicle  104  having a vehicle modem  106 . The vehicle modem  106  is a vehicle control module configured to communicate with a vehicle data bus (e.g., a CAN bus) that provides access to various other vehicle modules, such as an engine control module (ECM), a telematics/infotainment module, and a navigation module having a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver. In other scenarios the vehicle modem  106  may be configured to include an integrated GPS receiver, a radio transmitter, and other features. 
         [0014]    The vehicle modem  106  communicates with the mobile device  102  to transmit and receive telecommunications data. In one example, the vehicle modem  106  may be configured to communicate with the mobile device  102  over a digital network using any number of data communication protocols, e.g., GSM (2G), ITU IMT-2000 (3G), IMT-Advanced (4G), IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n (Wi-Fi), WiMax, ANT™, ZigBee®, Bluetooth®, Near Field Communications (NFC), and others. 
         [0015]    The vehicle modem  106  may have a unique identification code (hereinafter, a unique identifier) assigned to the vehicle  104  and associated with a vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle  104 . The mobile device  102  may use the unique identifier to establish a network connection with the vehicle  104 . For example, the mobile device  102  may use a cellular communication network to establish a connection with the vehicle modem. Of course, other types of communication networks and network connections are also contemplated. 
         [0016]    The vehicle modem  106  may transmit digital data accessible from the vehicle bus to the mobile device  102  in response to receiving a request from the mobile device  102 . For example, the vehicle modem  106  may transmit a vehicle location to the mobile device  102 . In another example, the vehicle modem  106  may transmit to the mobile device  102  digital data from an interior video camera feed, such as via a live video feed transmission or by sending a video feed snapshot. 
         [0017]    The mobile device  102  is configured to receive user input, e.g., a button press, a touch screen contact, a voice command, etc. For example, the mobile device  102  may receive a request for a vehicle location via an application software graphical user interface (GUI), e.g., mobile app. As described in reference to  FIG. 3 , the mobile device  102 , in response to receiving a request for a vehicle location, sends a request for a vehicle location to the vehicle modem  106 . In another example, as described in reference to  FIG. 5 , the mobile device  102 , in response to receiving a request for a vehicle feed snapshot, sends a request for the vehicle feed snapshot to the vehicle modem  106 . 
         [0018]    In reference to  FIG. 2 , a control strategy  108  for determining vehicle location is shown. The control strategy  108  may begin at block  110  where the vehicle modem  106  receives a coordinates request from the mobile device  102 . At block  112 , the vehicle modem  106  sends an authentication request to the mobile device  102 . For example, the vehicle modem  106  may send a 128-bit random number (RAND) and request a computed 32-bit response (SRES) based on the encryption of the random number with an authentication algorithm and an individual subscriber authentication key (Ki). Of course, other authentication methods are also contemplated. 
         [0019]    The vehicle modem  106 , at block  114 , determines whether the authentication has been confirmed. For example, the vehicle modem  106 , in response to receiving the computed 32-bit response, may compute its own 32-bit response (SRES) and compare the received response with its own response. If the authentication has not been confirmed, e.g., the received response does not match its own computed response, the vehicle modem  106 , at block  116 , sends an alert to the mobile device  102  indicating that the authentication request has not been confirmed and the control strategy  108  returns to block  110 . 
         [0020]    At block  118 , in response to the authentication being confirmed, e.g., the received 32-bit response matches its own computed 32-bit response, the vehicle modem  106  provides vehicle location coordinates. For example, the vehicle modem  106 , in response to receiving vehicle coordinates from the navigation module, may provide the vehicle coordinates for the mobile device  102 . In another example, the vehicle modem  106  may reference an integrated GPS receiver to determine the vehicle coordinates. At this point the control strategy  108  may end. In some embodiments the control strategy  108  described in  FIG. 2  may be repeated in response to receiving a vehicle coordinates request or another request or notification. 
         [0021]    In reference to  FIG. 3 , a control strategy  120  for displaying a vehicle location is shown. The control strategy  120  may begin at block  122  where the mobile device  102  receives a request for a vehicle location. For example, a vehicle owner may request the vehicle location of the vehicle  104  using a downloaded mobile app. 
         [0022]    At block  124 , in response to receiving a request for the vehicle location, the mobile device  102  sends a request for vehicle coordinates to the vehicle modem  106 . For example, the mobile device  102  may contact the vehicle modem  106  via a communication network using the previously stored unique identifier. In some scenarios, the mobile device  102  may be paired with the vehicle modem  106  prior to an initial vehicle location request. As described in reference to  FIG. 4 , the pairing may be achieved using any one of a variety of methods where the mobile device  102  receives and stores the unique identifier of the vehicle modem  106 . 
         [0023]    At block  126 , the mobile device  102  receives authentication request from the vehicle modem  106 . For example, the mobile device  102  may receive a 128-bit random number (RAND) and may compute a 32-bit signed response (SRES) based on the encryption of the random number with an authentication algorithm and an individual subscriber authentication key (Ki). The mobile device  102  determines at block  128  whether authentication was confirmed. If the authentication was not confirmed, the mobile device  102  displays an error at block  130  and the control strategy  120  returns to block  122 . 
         [0024]    In response to authentication being confirmed, the mobile device  102  receives vehicle location coordinates at block  132 . The mobile device  102 , at block  134 , requests a map of a location associated with the received vehicle location coordinates. For example, the mobile device  102  may request a local area map from Google™ Maps or another mapping service. 
         [0025]    In one example, the mobile device  102  may be configured to determine a privacy region near or about the vehicle location coordinates, such that the request to the mapping service for a local area map will contain the coordinates of the privacy region and will not contain the vehicle location coordinates. The mobile device  102  may, for example, determine the privacy region by selecting a geographic region, e.g., city, state, country, etc, containing the vehicle location coordinates. In another example, the mobile device  102  may determine the privacy region by modifying, e.g., using addition, subtraction, etc., latitude and longitude of the vehicle location coordinates by a varying number of degrees, minutes, and seconds. 
         [0026]    In one example, the mobile device  102  may receive the vehicle location coordinates of N40° 45′1.814″ and W73° 59′36.38″. The mobile device  102  may then determine the privacy region about the vehicle location coordinates prior to requesting an area map from the mapping service. For example, the privacy region may include latitude maximum, lat max , latitude minimum, lat min , longitude maximum, long max , and longitude minimum, long min , determined by adding and subtracting varying number of degrees, minutes, and seconds to the vehicle location coordinates. The mobile device  102  will then request the area map based on the lat max , long max , long min  of the privacy region. 
         [0027]    At block  136 , the mobile device  102  displays vehicle location coordinates on the provided area map. For example, the mobile device  102  may be configured to include a zoom feature such that a more exact location of the vehicle  104  may be viewed. The mobile device  102 , at block  138 , selectively deletes the vehicle location coordinates from memory. For example, the mobile device  102  may delete the vehicle location coordinates after a predetermined time, e.g., 10 minutes. In another example, the mobile device  102  may delete the vehicle location coordinates in response to a request from the user. At this point the control strategy  120  may end. In some embodiments the control strategy  120  described in  FIG. 3  may be repeated in response to receiving a request to determine vehicle location or another notification or request. 
         [0028]    In reference to  FIG. 4 , a control strategy  140  for pairing the mobile device  102  and the vehicle modem  106  is shown. The control strategy  140  may begin at block  142  where the mobile device  102  receives an initial connection request. For example, the mobile device  102  may receive the connection request following a mobile app download to the mobile device  102  by the vehicle owner. The mobile device  102 , at block  144 , requests that the VIN associated with the vehicle  104  be entered by the user. Of course, other methods of obtaining the VIN, such as scanning a VIN barcode, are also contemplated. 
         [0029]    At block  146 , the mobile device  102  requests the unique identifier of the vehicle modem  106 , in response to receiving the VIN. For example, the mobile device  102  may request a unique identifier associated with the VIN from a vehicle manufacturer server using a proprietary system access, such as MyLincoln Touch®. At block  148 , the mobile device  102  determines whether the unique identifier associated with the VIN has been obtained. If the unique identifier has not been obtained, the mobile device  102  displays an error, at block  150 , and the control strategy  140  returns to block  142 . 
         [0030]    At block  152 , the mobile device  102 , in response to determining that the unique identifier has been obtained, stores it in mobile device memory. At this point the control strategy  140  may end. In some embodiments the control strategy  140  described in  FIG. 4  may be repeated in response to receiving a request for an initial connection or another notification or request. In another example, the mobile device  102  may request the VIN and the unique identifier using a short-range network connection, such as Bluetooth. The mobile device  102  may, for example, connect to the vehicle  104  using a vehicle communications and entertainment system, e.g., Ford SYNC®, and request the VIN and the unique identifier from an on-vehicle controller via the vehicle data bus. 
         [0031]    In reference to  FIG. 5 , a control strategy  154  for displaying a vehicle interior image in response to receiving a video feed snapshot is shown. A control strategy for displaying a live video feed of the interior of the vehicle  104  may be implemented in a manner similar to the control strategy  154 . The control strategy  154  may begin at block  156  where the mobile device  102  receives a video feed snapshot request. For example, a vehicle owner may request an interior image of the vehicle  104  using a downloaded mobile app. 
         [0032]    At block  158 , in response to receiving a request for the interior image, the mobile device  102  sends a request for a video feed snapshot to the vehicle modem  106 . For example, the mobile device  102  may contact the vehicle modem  106  via a cellular communication network using a previously stored unique identifier. As discussed previously in reference to  FIG. 3 , the mobile device  102  may be paired with the vehicle modem  106  prior to an initial video feed snapshot request using any one of a variety of methods wherein the mobile device  102  receives and stores the unique identifier of the vehicle modem  106 . 
         [0033]    At blocks  160 - 164 , the mobile device  102  receives and responds to an authentication request from the vehicle modem  106 . Authentication methods similar to those described in reference to  FIG. 3  may be implemented, however, other methods may also be applied. The mobile device  102  receives the video feed snapshot, at block  166 , in response to the authentication being confirmed. At block  168 , the mobile device  102  displays the received video feed snapshot. 
         [0034]    The mobile device  102 , at block  170 , selectively deletes the video feed snapshot from memory. For example, the mobile device  102  may delete the video feed snapshot after a predetermined time, e.g., 10 minutes. In another example, the mobile device  102  may delete the video feed snapshot in response to a request from the user. At this point the control strategy  154  may end. In some embodiments the control strategy  154  described in  FIG. 5  may be repeated in response to receiving a request to display a vehicle interior image or another notification or request. 
         [0035]    While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.