Patent ID: 8330626

Claim:
A computer implemented method for monitoring location of a vehicle, the method comprising: receiving a first electronic signal including data representing a request for information regarding the location of the vehicle; correlating the vehicle to a communications device based at least in part on the communications device being associated with the vehicle; receiving consent from a user of the communications device to obtaining location information of the communications device, wherein the receiving consent from the user of the communications device comprises: identifying the communications device; transmitting to the communications device a signal including data representing an automated message communicating to the user of the communications device at least one of: a notice including information indicating that consenting to obtaining of the location information of the communications device would result in the location information of the communications device being disclosed, and a location at which to find the notice; and receiving from the communications device a signal including data indicating consent for obtaining the location information of the communications device; transmitting a second electronic signal to a location information provider corresponding to a party or device other than the communications device, the second electronic signal including data representing a request for location information of the communications device; receiving a third electronic signal from the location information provider, the third electronic signal including data representing the location information of the communications device; correlating the location information of the communications device with the location of the vehicle based at least in part on the communications device being associated with the vehicle; and transmitting a fourth electronic signal including data representing the location of the vehicle.