G. P. S. management system

Abstract

A management system using Global Positioning System receivers for tracking remote units from a central office and quickly and conveniently determining if those remote units have varied from a set of predetermined parameters of operation. The system also includes provisions that allows information to be sent from the remote units to the central office and vice versa. The system also has safety features that promote the rapid dispatch of law enforcement personnel when requests for emergency assistance have been made from the remote units.

1 - 21 . (canceled)  
     
     
         22 . A method for monitoring a vehicle comprising: 
 receiving Global Positioning System data at a remote unit of the vehicle;    using the Global Positioning System data to generate an actual value for a predetermined parameter;    comparing the actual value to a plurality of acceptable values for the predetermined parameter; and    noting an exception if the actual value does not equal one of the plurality of acceptable values for the predetermined parameter.    
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the predetermined parameter is speed and the actual value is an actual speed of the remote unit.  
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the predetermined parameter is stationary time and the actual value is an actual duration of remote unit stationary time.  
     
     
         25 . A method for monitoring a vehicle with a remote Global Positioning System receiver, comprising: 
 receiving Global Positioning System data to determine an actual speed for the vehicle;    comparing the actual speed to a predetermined upper speed limit; and    noting an exception if the actual speed is greater than the predetermined upper speed limit.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein an exception is noted if the actual speed equals the predetermined upper speed limit.  
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the Global Positioning System data is used to determine an actual duration of remote unit stationary time and the actual duration of remote unit stationary time is compared to a predetermined stationary time threshold, and if the actual duration of remote unit stationary time is greater than the predetermined stationary time threshold, noting an exception.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising noting an exception if the actual duration of remote unit stationary time equals the predetermined stationary time.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising generating at least one report.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising noting if the actual speed is greater than the predetermined upper speed limit by generating a report that includes information related to instances where the actual speed is greater than the predetermined upper speed limit.