US009429659B1
`
`(12) United States Patent
`US 9,429,659 B1
`(10) Patent No.:
`Adelson
`(45) Date of Patent:
`*Aug. 30, 2016
`
`(54) MACHINE OR GROUP OF MACHINES FOR
`MONITORING LOCATION OF A VEHICLE
`OR FREIGHT CARRIED BY A VEHICLE
`
`(71)
`
`Applicant: MacroPoint LLC, Cleveland, OH (US)
`
`(72)
`
`Inventor: Bennett H. Adelson, Highland Heights,
`OH (US)
`
`(73)
`
`Assignee: MacroPoint LLP, Cleveland, OH (US)
`
`(*)
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis-
`claimer.
`
`(21)
`
`Appl. No.: 14/987,707
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Jan. 4, 2016
`
`(63)
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`Continuation of application No. 14/752,005, filed on
`Jun.
`26,
`2015, now abandoned, which is
`a
`continuation of application No. 14/661,774, filed on
`Mar. 18, 2015, now Pat. No. 9,087,313, which is a
`continuation of application No. 14/069,364, filed on
`Oct. 31, 2013, now Pat. No. 9,070,295, which is a
`continuation of application No. 13/613,321, filed on
`Sep. 13, 2012, now Pat. No. 8,604,943, which is a
`continuation of application No. 13/429,618, filed on
`Mar. 26, 2012, now Pat. No. 8,330,626.
`
`Int. Cl.
`G083 21/00
`G01S 19/46
`G01S 19/13
`US. Cl.
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`(2006.01)
`(2010.01)
`(2010.01)
`
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`CPC ..... G06Q 10/0833; G08G 1/20; G08G 1/205
`USPC ................................... 340/9887994; 348/116
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,208,756 A
`5,218,367 A
`5,774,876 A
`5,794,174 A
`5,880,958 A
`6,141,609 A
`6,202,024 B1
`6,339,745 B1
`
`5/1993 Song
`6/1993 Sheffer
`6/1998 Woolley
`8/1998 Janky
`3/1999 Helms
`10/2000 Herdeg
`3/2001 Yokoyama
`1/2002 Novik
`
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`MacroPoint, LLC. v. FourKites, Ina, 1:15-cv-1002 (ND. Ohio),
`FourKites’ Motion to Dismiss and Memorandum in Support with
`Exs. C, E, F, and G; Jul. 31, 2015.
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner 7 Mark Rushing
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm 7 Renner, Otto, Boisselle &
`Sklar, LLP
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A machine or group of machines for monitoring location of
`at least one of a vehicle or freight carried by the vehicle
`includes a server comprising a central processing unit, a
`memory, a clock, and a server communication transceiver
`that receives location information of a mobile device, the
`mobile device comprising a GPS receiver, a microprocessor
`and a wireless communication transceiver coupled to the
`GPS receiver,
`the mobile device comprising the GPS
`receiver programmed to receive data sent by a plurality of
`GPS satellites, calculate location information of the mobile
`device comprising the GPS receiver and transmit the loca-
`tion information.
`
`CPC ................ G01S 19/46 (2013.01); G01S 19/13
`(2013.01)
`
`30 Claims, 10 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`Communications
`Device
`
`m
`
`
`
`105
`
`
`
`V
`
`
`Communicaiions
`inlarface
`4
`
`
`
`
`m
`
`
`
`Receiving
`Party
`4
`
`fl
`
`
`Common
`Logic
`fl
`
`
`
`Ruiz Food Products, Inc.
`
`Exhibit 1001
`
`
`
`
`Requestmg
`Pany
`fl
`
`109
`
`
`>
`
`
`Location
`Iniormauan
`Provider
`fl
`
`Ruiz Food Products, Inc.
`Exhibit 1001
`
`

`

`US 9,429,659 B1
`
`Page 2
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
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`6,442,391 B1
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`7,366,522 B2
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`2005/0251330 A1
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`2012/0265433 A1
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`8/2002 Johansson et al.
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`1/2009 Hersh et a1.
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`3/2011 Berkobin et al.
`10/2012 Viola
`5/2013 Moir
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`MacroPoint, LLC. V. Fall/"Kites, Ina, 1:15-cv-1002 (ND. Ohio),
`MacroPoint’s Oppostion Memorandum to Motion to Dismiss Exs.
`1-8; Sep. 15, 2015.
`MacroPoint, LLC. V. Fall/"Kites, Ina, 1:15-cv-1002 (ND. Ohio),
`FourKites’ Reply Memorandum in support of its Motion to Dismiss
`with Exs. A-N; Sep. 29, 2015.
`MacroPoint, LLC. V. Fall/"Kites, Ina, 1:15-cv-1002 (ND. Ohio),
`MacroPoint’s Sur-Reply in Oppositon to Motion to Dismiss; Oct.
`12, 2015.
`MacroPoint, LLC. V. Fall/"Kites, Ina, 1:15-cv-1002 (ND. Ohio),
`FourKites’ Response to MacroPoints Sur-Reply in Oppostion to
`Motion to Dismiss; Oct. 13, 2015.
`MacroPoint, LLC. V. Fall/"Kites, Ina, 1:15-cv-1002 (ND. Ohio),
`Memorandum of Opinion and Order for Motion to Dismiss; Nov. 6,
`2015.
`Load Tracking, Proof of Delivery & Document Management Ser-
`vicesquollowit; 2007-2010.
`uShipiMobile Apps; undated.
`New Echo Global Logistics Mobile App Puts Supply Chain Vis-
`ibility at Your Fingertips; Jul. 20, 2011.
`FollowMee GPS TrackeriHow To; undated.
`MilesBug 2.14GPS Full Path Tracking with Map Display; Jun. 11,
`201 1.
`MoosTraxiiTune Preview; Aug. 17, 2010.
`Android Location Providersigps, network, passiveiTutorial;
`NAZMUL; Oct. 20, 2010.
`A Guide to Making Your Android’s Battery Last a Little Longer;
`Lars Aronsson; Aug. 11, 2010.
`uFollowit Announces Compatibility with MicroSoft Mobile 6
`Smartphone Software; Jul. 26, 2008.
`MycartracksiTrack your vehicle smarter; undated.
`TechnoCom Collaborates with Abaq.us
`to Enable Location
`Enhanced Mobile Device & Resource Management Services; Mar.
`15, 2011.
`Keeping the Miles; Jeff Taylor; Nov. 16, 2011.
`MacroPoint, LLC. V. Fall/"Kites, Ina, 1:15-cv-1002 (ND. Ohio),
`FourKites’
`Initial Invalidity and Unenforceability Contentions;
`Mark Deming; Oct. 19, 2015.
`MacroPoint, LLC. V. Salebug.com, LLC, 1:14-cv-00312-JG (ND.
`Ohio), Salebug.com’s Preliminary Invalidity and Unenforceability
`Contentions; Mark Varboncouer; Oct. 31, 2014.
`Tracking to Keep Trucking; Stephen Hurcom; Jun. 27, 2003.
`
`Location-enhanced Call Center and IVR Services: Technical
`Insights About Your Calling Customer’s Location; 2009.
`A Mobile Industry: Cell Phones Useful to Stay Connected with
`Drivers; Diana Britton; Oct. 2009.
`Providing Universal Location Services Using a Wireless E911
`Location Network; James M. Zagami, et al.; Apr. 1998.
`Enterprise Location Platformisample IVR Privacy Management
`Script; Apr. 16, 2010.
`Cross Country Automotive Services Introduces Automatic Location
`Spotting; Sep. 13, 2010.
`Products and ServicesiLoadMaster; undated.
`CTIA Best Practices and Guidelines for Location-Based Services,
`Version 2.0; Mar. 23, 2010.
`Privacy Management Demo Script; undated.
`AT&T Offers New Tracking Platform; Aaron Huff; Jan. 4, 2011.
`Fleet OwneriPay-as-you-go-tracking; Brian Straight; Jan. 6, 2011.
`FollowMee GPS Tracker Frequently Asked Questions; undated.
`TechnoCom Announces Its Ability to Locate Over 360 Million
`Mobile and Landline Phones Nationwide; Mar. 16, 2011.
`IVR Gives Callers Option to Receive Mobile Marketing Content;
`Raju Shanbhag; Jun. 14, 2011.
`Mobile Business App: Free uShip App on Android iPhone, WebOS
`Smartphones Give Truckers ‘Push’ on the Road; Sep. 22, 2010.
`How to find the location with GSM cells; Boris Landoni; Sep. 18,
`201 1.
`
`Abaq.us meets USPS certification for myGeoTracking; Jan. 17,
`2012.
`
`
`
`
`
`Abaq.us Announces USPS Certification for myGeoTracking Cloud-
`Based GPS Location Service; Jan. 17, 2012.
`\Ion-final Office Action of corresponding L .8. Appl. No.
`13/409,281, dated May 15, 2012.
`\Iotice of Allowance of corresponding U.S. Appl. No. 13/409,281,
`dated Jun. 28, 2012.
`\Ion-final Office Action of corresponding L .8. Appl. No.
`13/613,321, dated Jan. 31,2013.
`Final Office Action of corresponding U.S. Appl. \Io. 13/613,321,
`dated Jul. 1, 2013.
`\Iotice of Allowance of corresponding U.S. Appl. \Io. 13/613,321,
`dated Oct. 4, 2013.
`\Ion-final Office Action of corresponding U.S. Appl. No.
`14/069,364, dated Feb. 12, 2015.
`\Iotice of Allowance of corresponding U.S. Appl. \Io. 13/429,618,
`dated Mar. 26, 2012.
`\Iotice of Allowance of corresponding U.S. Appl. \Io. 14/661,774,
`dated May 27, 2015.
`Hurcom, Stephen; “Tracking to Keep Trucking”, www.mapinfo.
`com; Jun. 27, 2003.
`Britton, Diana; “A Mobile Industry: Cell Phones Useful to Stay
`Connected With Drivers”, www.truckinginfo.com; Oct. 2009.
`Non-final Office Action of corresponding U.S. Appl. No.
`14/752,0051, dated Dec. 3, 2015.
`Gaughan, Judge Patricia A.; Memorandum of Opinion and Order;
`MacroPoint, LLC V. FourKites, Ina; USDC No. Dist. of OH; Case
`No. 1:15-CV—1002; Nov. 6, 2015; 14 pages.
`Pribisich, Risto; Plaintiff MacroPoint, LLC’s Opposition to Defen-
`dant FourKites, Inc.’s Motion to Dismiss First Amended Complaint;
`Sep. 15, 2015; 38 pages.
`Zatkovich,
`Ivan; Declaration of Ivan Zatkovich in Support of
`MacroPoint, LLC’s Opposition Brief to FourKites, Inc.’s Motion to
`Dismiss First Amended Complaint (Exhibit 3); Sep. 15, 2015, 113
`pages.
`TechnoCom Corporation; Location-enhanced Call Center and IVR
`Services: Technical Insights About Your Calling Customer’s Loca-
`tion; TechnoCom Corporation, 2009; 7 pages.
`Android HaulCom Application Screen Shots and Description, Nov.
`30, 2011; 10 pages.
`FollowMee LLC; GPS Location Tracker for iPhone and iPadi
`Standard Edition, Released Oct. 10, 2010 Description of application
`and screen shots, 4 pages.
`
`Ruiz Food Products, Inc.
`
`Exhibit 1001
`
`Ruiz Food Products, Inc.
`Exhibit 1001
`
`

`

`US 9,429,659 B1
` Page 3
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`uFollowit Application for iOS released Oct. 12, 2009; Description
`.
`.
`of application and screen shots; 4 pages.
`Abaqus Blog; myGeoTracking: Asset Tracking & Monitoring Ser-
`Vice;
`https://Web.archive.org/web/20100819041357http://abaqus.
`typepad.com/ ; Feb. 25, 2010; 7 pages.
`
`Tech9 Computer Solutions; MoosTraX Application for iOS released
`Jul. 29, 2010; Description of application and screen shots; 2 pages.
`Izatt International; MileBugiMileage Log & Expense Tracker for
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`t'
`-
`-
`.
`ion of application and screen shots, 4 pages.
`
`Techno-Com Corporation; Enterprise Location Platform: Sample
`IVR Privacy Management SCTlPt; TechoCom COTPOTaUOH; APE 16,
`2010; 15 pages.
`
`Ruiz Food Products, Inc.
`
`Exhibit 1001
`
`Ruiz Food Products, Inc.
`Exhibit 1001
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 30, 2016
`
`Sheet 1 of 10
`
`US 9,429,659 B1
`
`
`Communications
`Device
`
`m
`
`
`
`Location
`
`Requesting
`Communications
`information
`Party
`Interface
`Provider
`
`E
`@
`
`
`Receiving
`Party
`
`fl
`
`Correlation
`Logic
`
`m
`
`
`fl
`
`Figure 1
`
`Ruiz Food Products, Inc.
`
`Exhibit 1001
`
`Ruiz Food Products, Inc.
`Exhibit 1001
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 30, 2016
`
`Sheet 2 of 10
`
`US 9,429,659 B1
`
`200
`
`/ 220
`
`230
`
`Active
`Driver
`210a
`
`Backup
`Driver
`210b
`
`Backup
`Device
`110b
`
`Total
`Capacity
`ft3 / lbs.
`
`Available
`Capacity
`ft3/lbs.
`
`105b
`
`GaryFisher
`
`(546)
`542—1235
`
`3,931
`42010
`
`2,531
`22,010
`
`41,700
`
`105d
`
`Colnago
`Cineili
`
`(563)
`543-5635
`
`Ross
`Raleigh
`
`(243)
`546-5435
`
`23783521"
`36,280
`
`2378331;
`36,280
`
`lOSf
`
`Emilio
`Bozzi
`
`(507)
`543-5475
`
`Murray
`Schwinn
`
`(548)
`243-5433
`
`3,268
`
`Figure 2
`
`Ruiz Food Products, Inc.
`
`Exhibit 1001
`
`Ruiz Food Products, Inc.
`Exhibit 1001
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 30, 2016
`
`Sheet 3 0f 10
`
`US 9,429,659 B1
`
`
`Communications
`Device
`
`
`
`m
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Communications
`interface
`
`fl
`
`Location
`information
`Provider
`
`fl
`
`Requesting
`Party
`@
`
`Receiving
`Party
`fl
`
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`
`Logic
`w
`
`Vaiidation
`
`Logic
`E
`
`Correlation
`
`Logic
`fl
`
`
`Figure 3
`
`Ruiz Food Products, Inc.
`
`Exhibit 1001
`
`Ruiz Food Products, Inc.
`Exhibit 1001
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 30, 2016
`
`Sheet 4 of 10
`
`US 9,429,659 B1
`
`400
`
`/
`
`RECEIVE A FIRST ELECTRONIC SIGNAL INCLUDING
`
`410
`
`DATA REPRESENTING A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
`REGARDING THE LOCATION OF THE VEHICLE
`
`CORRELATE THE VEHICLE TO A COMMUNICATIONS
`
`DEVICE BASED AT LEAST IN PART ON THE
`
`COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE BEING ASSOCIATED WITH
`
`A USER WHO IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VEHICLE
`
`TRANSMIT A SECOND ELECTRONIC SIGNAL TO A
`
`LOCATION INFORMATION PROVIDER
`
`CORRESPONDING TO A PARTY OR DEVICE OTHER
`
`THAN THE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE
`
`RECEIVE A THIRD ELECTRONIC SIGNAL FROM THE
`
`LOCATION INFORMATION PROVIDER INCLUDING
`
`DATA REPRESENTING THE LOCATION INFORMATION
`
`OF THE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE
`
`
`THE VEHICLE
`
`420
`
`430
`
`440
`
`450
`
`460
`
`CORRELATE 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 USER WHO IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VEHICLE
`
`TRANSMIT A FOURTH ELECTRONIC SIGNAL
`
`INCLUDING DATA REPRESENTING THE LOCATION OF
`
`END
`
`Figure 4
`
`Ruiz Food Products, Inc.
`
`Exhibit 1001
`
`Ruiz Food Products, Inc.
`Exhibit 1001
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 30, 2016
`
`Sheet 5 of 10
`
`US 9,429,659 B1
`
`500
`
`/
`
`
`
`TRANSMIT A REQUEST SIGNAL REQUESTING
`
`LOCATION INFORMATION OF A COMMUNICATIONS
`
`
`DEVICE
`
` RECEIVE A LOCATION SIGNAL INCLUDING DATA
`COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE
`
`
`INDICATING THE LOCATION INFORMATION OF THE
`
`510
`
`520
`
`
`
`530
`
`
`
`
`
` TRANSFORM THE LOCATION INFORMATION OF THE
`COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE INTO LOCATION
`
`INFORMATION REGARDING THE VEHICLE BASED AT
`LEAST IN PART ON THE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE
`
`BEING ASSOCIATED WITH THE USER OF THE
`COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE WHO IS ALSO
`ASSOCIATED WITH THE VEHICLE
`
`
`
`Figure 5
`
`Ruiz Food Products, Inc.
`
`Exhibit 1001
`
`Ruiz Food Products, Inc.
`Exhibit 1001
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 30, 2016
`
`Sheet 6 of 10
`
`US 9,429,659 B1
`
`600
`
`/
`
`PARTICIPATE IN A TELEPHONE CALL WITH A MOBILE
`DEVICE
`
`IDENTIFYTHE MOBILE DEVICE
`
`TRANSMIT TO THE MOBILE DEVICE AN AUTOMATED
`VOICE MESSAGE PROVIDING NOTICE
`
`RECEIVE FROM THE MOBILE DEVICE CONSENT
`
`610
`
`620
`
`630
`
`640
`
`END
`
`Figure 6
`
`Ruiz Food Products, Inc.
`
`Exhibit 1001
`
`Ruiz Food Products, Inc.
`Exhibit 1001
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 30, 2016
`
`Sheet 7 of 10
`
`US 9,429,659 B1
`
`700
`
`START
`
`PARTICIPATE IN A TELEPHONE CALL WITH A MOBILE
`DEVICE
`
`IDENTIFY THE MOBILE DEVICE
`
`TRANSMIT TO THE MOBILE DEVICE AN AUTOMATED
`VOICE MESSAGE INDICATING THAT CONSENT IS
`REVOCABLE VIA THE OPERATION OF THE MOBILE
`DEVICE
`
`
`
`RECEIVE FROM THE MOBILE DEVICE REVOCATION
`OF CONSENT
`
`710
`
`720
`
`730
`
`740
`
`END
`
`Figure 7
`
`Ruiz Food Products, Inc.
`
`Exhibit 1001
`
`Ruiz Food Products, Inc.
`Exhibit 1001
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 30, 2016
`
`Sheet 8 of 10
`
`US 9,429,659 B1
`
`800
`
`
`
`HLxJ
`
`Location Information Monitoring
`
`Start/End Telephone Monitoring Monitoring
`Monitoring Number
`Term
`Interval
`
`Location
`
`2 Code
`
`Reference
`Number
`
`Status
`
`8109 Partner
`
`555-555—
`5555
`
`844—484-
`4844
`
`333-333~
`3333
`
`543—543-
`5435
`
`2 hours
`
`15 mins.
`
`36 hours
`
`1 hour
`
`41.396915
`—81.662787
`
`31.497925
`-71.561777
`
`NAT
`
`F234 Monitoring
`
`2H22
`
`Hidden
`
`6 hours
`
`30 mins.
`
`JBH
`
`2H56
`
`Ready
`
`2 hours
`
`15 mins.
`
`21.396915
`41.662787
`
`JBH
`
`2634 Monitoring
`
`E 820
`
`i 830
`
`i 840
`
`850
`
`i 860
`
`ft]
`8108
`
`ft)
`810f
`
`A3
`
`Figure 8
`
`Ruiz Food Products, Inc.
`
`Exhibit 1001
`
`Ruiz Food Products, Inc.
`Exhibit 1001
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 30, 2016
`
`Sheet 9 of 10
`
`US 9,429,659 B1
`
`Programmer
`%
`
`Process
`fl
`
`
`
`Figure 9
`
`Ruiz Food Products, Inc.
`
`Exhibit 1001
`
`Ruiz Food Products, Inc.
`Exhibit 1001
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 30, 2016
`
`Sheet 10 of 10
`
`US 9,429,659 B1
`
`1014
`
`Process
`
`1002
`
`1004
`
`Processor
`
`Memory
`
`1008
`
`Validation
`Logic
`
` Computer
`
`
`
`
`
`Logic
`
`
`Bus
`
`Correlation
`
`1070
`
`Notification
`
`Logic
`
`1010
`
`i/O Ports
`
`
`
` Communications
`
`Interface
`
`1006
`
`Network
`Devices
`
`1020
`
`
`
`Figure 10
`
`Ruiz Food Products, Inc.
`
`Exhibit 1001
`
`Ruiz Food Products, Inc.
`Exhibit 1001
`
`

`

`US 9,429,659 B1
`
`1
`MACHINE OR GROUP OF MACHINES FOR
`MONITORING LOCATION OF A VEHICLE
`OR FREIGHT CARRIED BY A VEHICLE
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`The present disclosure relates to a machine or group of
`machines for monitoring location.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`Location information is becoming more important and
`prevalent.
`In one example application of the use of location infor-
`mation, carriers, shippers, freight hauling services providers,
`third-party logistics service providers and courier services
`providers as well as other logistics and freight service
`providers (freight hauling) benefit from monitoring the
`location of vehicles in their fleets or under contract. Moni-
`
`toring the location of vehicles helps improve efficiency
`because it allows for real-time or near real-time decision
`
`making when matching loads with vehicles. For example, by
`monitoring the location of fleet vehicles, a dispatcher may
`better understand which vehicle is the most appropriate
`(e.g., geographically closest, appropriate size, etc.) to send
`to a location for a load pickup. Conventional systems for
`monitoring vehicle location have relied on global position-
`ing systems (GPS) to provide the vehicle’s location. These
`systems require a GPS receiver to be installed in each
`vehicle. Moreover, some of these systems require the instal-
`lation of additional dedicated equipment in each vehicle.
`In addition, at least in part due to limitations of conven-
`tional systems for monitoring vehicle location, a common
`practice in the vehicle location monitoring services industry
`is to charge a user a standard flat monthly fee for monitoring
`services. This practice may represent a substantial cost to a
`user or organization that, for example, may wish to monitor
`a relatively small number of vehicles or a relatively small
`number of loads for a relatively short amount of time.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`Alternative methods for monitoring location of vehicles
`include radiolocation techniques including triangulation or
`multilateration methods that are capable of locating devices
`in a network. These methods involve the measurement of
`
`radio signals between a device and radio towers in the
`network. The technology, originally intended by telecom-
`munication companies to approximate the location of a
`mobile phone in case of emergencies, provides the location
`of a device in the network.
`
`The use of all of these location information technologies
`also raises privacy issues. A user’s privacy may be at risk if
`location information is misused or disclosed without the
`
`authorization or knowledge of the user. To address these
`privacy concerns, various governmental and business orga-
`nizations have developed rules and guidelines to protect user
`privacy. For example, the lntemational Association for the
`Wireless Telecommunications Industry (CTIA) has devel-
`oped Best Practices and Guidelines for Location-Based
`Services (the “CTlA Guidelines”), which are hereby incor-
`porated by reference.
`The Guidelines provide a framework based on two prin-
`ciples: user notice and consent. Users must receive “mean-
`ingful notice about how location information will be used,
`disclosed and protected so that users can make informed
`decisions .
`.
`. and .
`.
`. have control over their location
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`information.” Users must also “consent to the use or dis-
`
`closure of location information” and “have the right to
`revoke consent .
`.
`. at any time.”
`Although, electronic methods have been developed that
`make use of web browsers and SMS texting capabilities of
`mobile devices to provide notification and consent, some of
`these systems have proved inconvenient and may require
`advanced mobile devices or extensive user training.
`A computer implemented method for monitoring location
`of a vehicle includes receiving a first electronic signal
`including data representing a request for information regard-
`ing the location of the vehicle, correlating the vehicle to a
`communications device based at least in part on the com-
`munications device being associated with a user who is
`associated with the vehicle, and transmitting a second elec-
`tronic signal to a location information provider correspond-
`ing to a party or device other than the communications
`device. The second electronic signal includes data repre-
`senting a request for location information of the communi-
`cations device. The computer implemented method for
`monitoring location of a vehicle further includes receiving a
`third electronic signal from the location information pro-
`vider. The third electronic signal includes data representing
`the location information of the communications device. The
`
`computer implemented method for monitoring location of a
`vehicle further includes 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 user who is associated with the
`vehicle, and transmitting a fourth electronic signal including
`data representing the location of the vehicle.
`Another computer implemented method for monitoring
`location of a vehicle includes transmitting a request signal
`requesting location information of a communications
`device. The request signal is transmitted to a party other than
`the communications device and the communications device
`is associated with a user of the communications device who
`
`is associated with the vehicle. The computer implemented
`method for monitoring location of a vehicle further includes
`receiving a location signal
`including data indicating the
`location information of the communications device. The
`
`is received from a party other than the
`location signal
`communications device and the location information of the
`
`communications device is originally obtained using a
`method not requiring a global position system (GPS) satel-
`lite receiver to form part of the communications device. The
`computer implemented method for monitoring location of a
`vehicle further includes transforming the location informa-
`tion of the communications device into location information
`
`regarding the vehicle based at least in part on the commu-
`nications device being associated with the user of the
`communications device who is associated with the vehicle.
`
`A system for monitoring location of a vehicle includes a
`communications interface configured to communicate elec-
`tronic signals including: a first electronic signal including
`data representing a request for the location of the vehicle, the
`first electronic signal received from a requesting party, a
`second electronic signal
`including data representing a
`request
`for
`location information of a communications
`device, wherein the second electronic signal is transmitted to
`a location information provider corresponding to a party or
`device other than the communications device, wherein the
`communications device is associated with a user of the
`communications device who is associated with the vehicle,
`a third electronic signal
`including data representing the
`location information of the communications device, wherein
`the third electronic signal
`is received from the location
`
`Ruiz Food Products, Inc.
`
`Exhibit 1001
`
`Ruiz Food Products, Inc.
`Exhibit 1001
`
`

`

`US 9,429,659 B1
`
`3
`information provider corresponding to the party or device
`other than the communications device, and a fourth elec-
`tronic signal including data representing the location of the
`vehicle, the fourth electronic signal transmitted to a receiv-
`ing party. The system for monitoring location of a vehicle
`further includes a correlation logic configured to correlate
`the location information of the communications device to
`
`the location of the vehicle based at least in part on the
`communications device being associated with the user of the
`communications device who is associated with the vehicle.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in
`and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate various
`example systems, methods, and so on, that illustrate various
`example embodiments of aspects of the invention. It will be
`appreciated that the illustrated element boundaries (e.g.,
`boxes, groups of boxes, or other shapes) in the figures
`represent one example of the boundaries. One of ordinary
`skill in the art will appreciate that one element may be
`designed as multiple elements or that multiple elements may
`be designed as one element. An element shown as an internal
`component of another element may be implemented as an
`external component and vice versa. Furthermore, elements
`may not be drawn to scale.
`FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary system for monitoring the
`location of a vehicle.
`
`FIG. 2 illustrates a simplified exemplary chart illustrating
`how a correlation logic may correlate a vehicle to a com-
`munications device or the location of the vehicle to the
`location information of the communications device.
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`FIG. 3 illustrates the exemplary system for monitoring the
`location of a vehicle with additional details.
`
`35
`
`FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram for an exemplary method
`for monitoring location of a vehicle.
`FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram for an exemplary method
`for monitoring location of a vehicle.
`FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram for an exemplary method
`for receiving consent from a user to monitoring the location
`of a vehicle associated with the user.
`
`FIG. 7 illustrates a flow diagram for an exemplary method
`for receiving from a user a revocation of consent to moni-
`toring the location of a vehicle associated with the user.
`FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary user interface for use in
`conjunction with a system for monitoring the location of a
`vehicle.
`
`40
`
`45
`
`FIG. 9 illustrates an application programming interface
`(API) providing access to a system for monitoring the
`location of a vehicle.
`
`50
`
`FIG. 10 illustrates a computer where systems or methods
`for monitoring the location of a vehicle may be imple-
`mented.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`Some portions of the detailed descriptions that follow are
`presented in terms of algorithms and symbolic representa-
`tions of operations on data bits within a memory. These
`algorithmic descriptions and representations are the means
`used by those skilled in the art to convey the substance of
`their work to others. An algorithm is here, and generally,
`conceived to be a sequence of operations that produce a
`result. The operations may include physical manipulations
`of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, the
`physical quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic
`
`55
`
`60
`
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`
`signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, com-
`pared, and otherwise manipulated in a logic and the like.
`It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons
`of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values,
`elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like. It
`should be borne in mind, however, that these and similar
`terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical
`quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these
`quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise, it is appre-
`ciated that throughout the description, terms like processing,
`computing, calculating, determining, displaying, or the like,
`refer to actions and processes of a computer system, logic,
`processor, or similar electronic device that manipulates and
`transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quanti-
`ties.
`
`In the present disclosure, embodiments are described in
`the context of location of freight hauling vehicles. It will be
`appreciated, however, that the exemplary context of freight
`hauling vehicles is not the only operational environment in
`which aspects of the disclosed systems and methods may be
`used. Therefore, the techniques described in this disclosure
`may be applied to many types of apparatus, vehicles or
`devices whose location information may be of interest.
`FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary system 100 for monitoring
`the location of a vehicle 105, which has a communication
`device 110 within the vehicle 105. The system 100 includes
`a communications interface 120 that communicates with
`
`devices external to the system 100 via electronic signals. For
`example, the communications logic 120 is configured to
`communicate with a location information provider 150, a
`requesting party 160, and a receiving party 165.
`The location information provider 150 corresponds to a
`party or device other than the vehicle 105 and the device
`110. The location information provider 150 has access to
`location of the vehicle 105 or the device 110.
`In one
`
`the location information provider 150 is a
`embodiment,
`wireless service provider that provides wireless service in a
`network 155. In another embodiment, the location informa-
`tion provider 150 is a third party or device that receives the
`location information of the device 110 from the wireless
`
`service provider or from some other party or device. In yet
`another embodiment, the location information provider 150
`is a party other than a wireless service provider or a third
`party. For example, the party seeking to monitor the location
`of the vehicle 105,
`the requesting party 160, may have
`access to the location information of the device 110. In that
`
`the requesting party 160 may also be the location
`case,
`information provider 150. In another example, the party
`operating the system 100 may have access to the location
`information of the device 110.
`
`The requesting party 160 corresponds to a party or device
`interested in monitoring the location of the vehicle 105 or on
`allowing another party to monitor the location of the vehicle
`105. The receiving party 165 corresponds to a party or
`device who receives the location of the vehicle 105 from the
`
`system 100 to monitor the location of the vehicle 105. In an
`example involving freight hauling services providers or
`freight carriers, a carrier who is interested in monitoring the
`location of its own vehicles, vehicles under contract, or other
`vehicles requests the ability to monitor the location of the
`vehicle 105 for its own consumption. In this case, the carrier
`is both the requesting party 160 and the receiving party 165.
`In another example, the requesting party 160 may be a driver
`interested in sharing the location of his/her vehicle 105 with
`a carrier to allow the carrier to monitor the location of the
`
`vehicle 105. In this case, the driver is the requesting party
`160 and the carrier is the receiving party 165. In one
`
`Ruiz Food Products, Inc.
`
`Exhibit 1001
`
`Ruiz Food Products, Inc.
`Exhibit 1001
`
`

`

`US 9,429,659 B1
`
`5
`embodiment, multiple parties or devices may be interested
`in monitoring the location of the vehicle 105 or on allowing
`another party to monitor the location of the vehicle 105. In
`that case, the communications interface 120 is configured to
`communicate with multiple requesting parties and/or mul-
`tiple receiving parties.
`The system 100 further includes a correlation logic 170
`that correlates the vehicle 105 and the device 110. In one
`
`embodiment, the correlation logic 170 correlates the vehicle
`105 and the device 110 based at least in part on the vehicle
`105 being associated with at least one user who is also
`associated with the device 110. For example, the user may
`be associated with the vehicle 105 because the user is the
`
`designated driver of the vehicle 105 and the user may be
`associated with the communications device 110 because the
`
`user is under contract with a wireless service provider for the
`provider to provide wireless service to the communications
`device 110. In another example, the user is associated with
`the vehicle 105, with the device 110, or with both in a
`database or in the correlation logic 170. In another embodi-
`ment, the vehicle 105 is directly associated with the com-
`munications device 110 without a user being associated with
`the vehicle 105 or with the device 110.
`
`In an example of the operation of the system 100, the
`requesting party 160 transmits and the communications
`interface 120 receives data representing a request from the
`requesting party 160 for the ability to monitor the location
`of the vehicle 105. In response to the request from the
`requesting party 160, the correlation logic 170 correlates the
`vehicle 105 to the device 110. The communications interface
`
`120 transmits to the location information provider 150 data
`representing one or more requests for location information
`of the device 110. In response to a request for location
`information of the device 110,
`the location information
`provider 150 transmits and the communications interface
`120 receives data representing the location information of
`the device 110. The correlation logic 170 correlates the
`location information of the device 110 to the location of the
`vehicle 105.
`With the location of the vehicle 105 on hand, the com-
`munication interface 120 can transmit data representing the
`location of the vehicle 105 to the receiving party 165
`through computer communication. The location of the
`vehicle 105 may then be displayed in a user interface (not
`shown). In another embodiment, the communications inter-
`face 120 is configured to communicate the location to the
`receiving party 165 by exposing an application program-
`ming interface (API) through which the receiving party 165
`can access the location of the vehicle 105. The receiving
`party 165 can make use of the API to make the information
`available to i