Method, system and device for monitoring vehicle usage

• US 20070179692A1
• Filed: 03/30/2006
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signature Control Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Signature Control Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Brian, Schafer, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 7,660,652 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/006 Indicating maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable

Abstract

A vehicle tracking device (101), method and/or system are provided. The device (101) includes a location interface (117), for receiving a location signal indicating a current location when operably connected to a GPS antenna; a sensor interface (109), for receiving sensor signals from sensors in the vehicle indicating a sensed status of the vehicle, when electrically or electronically connected to the sensors; and a processor (105). The processor (105) is configured to facilitate receiving, from the location interface, indications of a current location; determining, responsive to the location signal, a determined current location of the vehicle (127); receiving, from the sensor interface, a sensed status of the vehicle (129); recording a pre-defined event condition, when the pre-defined event condition occurs (131) responsive to the sensed status, in a vehicle history; and recording the determined current location in the vehicle history (133).

Claims

1. A portable telemetry/tracking device suitable for use with a motorized vehicle, the motorized vehicle including sensors for sensing and indicating vehicle status, the device comprising:

(A) a location interface, for receiving a location signal indicating a current location when operably connected to a GPS antenna;

(B) a sensor interface, for receiving sensor signals from sensors in the vehicle indicating a sensed status of the vehicle, when electrically or electronically connected to the sensors; and

(C) a processor cooperatively operable with the location interface and the sensor interface, the processor being configured to facilitate first receiving, from the location interface, indications of a current location;

determining, responsive to the location signal, a determined current location of the vehicle;

second receiving, from the sensor interface, a sensed status of the vehicle;

first recording a pre-defined event condition, when the pre-defined event condition occurs responsive to the sensed status, in a vehicle history; and

second recording the determined current location in the vehicle history.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor interface further includes at least one timer, and the sensor interface is configured to facilitate indicating occurrence of a pre-defined event condition responsive to a combination of the sensed status, the at least one timer, and a pre-determined sensor state.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising

a transceiver, for receiving and transmitting communications when operably connected to a communication network;

wherein the processor is further configured to facilitate receiving, from the transceiver, a request for vehicle history, and responsive to the request for vehicle history, transmitting at least a portion of the vehicle history over the transceiver.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising

a transceiver, for receiving and transmitting communications when operably connected to a wireless communication network;

wherein the processor is further configured to facilitate receiving, from the transceiver, a request for current vehicle information; and

responsive to the request for current vehicle information, transmitting the determined current location and the sensed status over the transceiver.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising

a transceiver, for receiving communications when operably connected to a wireless communication network;

at least one relay switch for electrical connection to circuits in the vehicle;

wherein the processor is further configured to facilitate receiving, in accordance with the transceiver, a communication with an indication that the at least one relay switch is to be switched; and

responsive to the indication, switching the at least one relay switch.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising

a computer port interface, for transmitting communications when operably connected to a computer communication network;

wherein the processor is further configured to facilitate transmitting, over the computer port interface, communications to send the vehicle history.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising

a transceiver, for receiving communications when operably connected to a wireless communication network;

wherein the processor is further configured to facilitate transitioning the device to a low power mode after a pre-determined period of inactivity of the transceiver.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a housing;

wherein the location interface, the sensor interface, and the processor are located in the housing, whereby the device can be removed from the vehicle.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a non-volatile memory operably communicating with the processor, the vehicle history being stored in the non-volatile memory.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the second recording occurs at a pre-determined interval, and the pre-determined interval can be changed manually or semi-manually.

13. The medium of claim 10, wherein the locations of the respective vehicles are determined with respect to a game, and the relay to be switched indicates a desired pace of the respective vehicle in relation to the game.

11. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions for execution by a computer, providing a computer-implemented method for monitoring a plurality of motorized vehicles, the instructions for implementing the steps of:

(A) first communicating with a plurality of vehicle tracking devices, a respective vehicle tracking device being associated with a respective vehicle, and receiving a vehicle history of vehicle location and vehicle status associated with respective vehicles from the respective vehicle tracking devices;

(B) after receiving a vehicle history from at least one of the vehicle tracking devices, the at least one vehicle tracking device having a memory for storing the history, instructing the at least one vehicle tracking device to clear the history from the memory; and

(C) second communicating wirelessly with vehicle tracking devices to obtain respective current locations of the respective vehicles;

to obtain respective current states of a sensor or an alarm on the respective vehicles; and

to instruct a relay on the respective vehicles to be switched responsive to at least one of the current location of the respective vehicles and the current state.

12. The medium of claim 11, wherein the relay is associated with an alarm, further comprising determining at least one of the vehicles to which an alarm is to be notified responsive to the vehicle history.

14. A device for real time monitoring of a motorized vehicle, comprising:

(A) a location interface, for receipt of a location signal indicating a current location when operably connected to a GPS antenna;

(B) a sensor interface, for receiving sensor signals from sensors in the vehicle indicating a sensed status of the vehicle, when electrically or electronically connected to the sensors, configured to indicate occurrence of a pre-defined event condition responsive to a combination of the sensed status and a pre-determined sensor state;

(C) a transceiver, for receiving and transmitting communications when operably connected to a wireless communication network; and

(D) a processor, the processor being configured to facilitate receiving, in accordance with the location interface, an indication of a current location;

receiving, in accordance with the sensor interface, the pre-defined event condition;

recording the current location in a vehicle history;

recording the pre-defined event condition in the vehicle history;

receiving a request for vehicle information, and responsive to the request for vehicle information, transmitting the current location and the sensed status.

15. The device of claim 14, further comprising at least one timer, wherein the pre-defined event condition is timed in connection with the at least one timer, and the time and associated event condition are recorded in the vehicle history.

16. The device of claim 14, further comprising a GPS antenna, operably connected to the location interface.

17. The device of claim 14, further comprising a computer port interface, for transmitting communications when operably connected to a computer communication network;

wherein the processor is further configured to facilitate transmitting, over the computer port interface, communications to send the vehicle history.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to facilitate transitioning the device to a low power mode after a pre-determined period of inactivity of the transceiver.

19. The device of claim 14, further comprising at least one relay switch for electrical connection to circuits in the vehicle;

wherein the processor is further configured to facilitate receiving, in accordance with the transceiver, a communication with an indication that the at least one relay switch is to be switched; and

responsive to the indication, switching the at least one relay switch.

20. The device of claim 14, further comprising a timer, wherein the current location is recorded at pre-defined intervals of the timer.