SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING A SPEED LIMIT VIOLATION

• US 20100271196A1
• Filed: 04/23/2009
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnitracs LLC (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Lachmayr, Stephen, Schmitt, Daniel P., Hasegawa, Arlene
• Granted Patent: US 9,536,426 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/466
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P

Abstract

Systems and methods to determine a speed limit violation by a vehicle. A locator device coupled to the vehicle receives GPS location coordinates from a satellite. The systems and methods determine the speed of the vehicle using the received coordinates or the functions of an engine control module. The speed limit of the segment of roadway on which the vehicle is traveling is identified based on the coordinates, and the vehicle speed is compared to the speed limit to determine whether the vehicle is violating the speed limit for the segment of roadway. The systems and methods alert any interested parties, such as the vehicle driver or a fleet manager, of the speed limit violation.

Claims

1. A method of determining a speed limit violation by a vehicle, comprising:

receiving location coordinates of the vehicle from a locator device coupled to the vehicle;

determining a speed of the vehicle based on the location coordinates or measurements from an engine control module;

based on the location coordinates, identifying a speed limit of a roadway on which the vehicle is traveling; and

comparing the speed of the vehicle to the speed limit of the roadway.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing an alert of the speed limit violation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the locator device is a GPS receiver.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying an alert parameter; and

determining a triggering of the alert parameter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the location coordinates are received over one of a cellular network, a wireless network or a satellite network.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the alert is provided over one of a cellular network, a satellite network, a personal area network, a local area network, a metropolitan area network, a wide area network, the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, a virtual private network, a peer-to-peer network, and a wireless self-configuring network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the speed limit of the roadway is stored in memory.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing an alert upon the vehicle entering a segment of roadway having a speed limit different from a speed limit of a segment of roadway on which the vehicle previously traveled.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying a speed limit of a roadway includes identifying a speed limit of the roadway for the vehicle type.

10. A system for determining a speed limit violation by a vehicle, comprising:

a server being configured to—

receive location coordinates of the vehicle from a locator device coupled to the vehicle;

determine a speed of the vehicle based on the location coordinates or measurements from an engine control module;

based on the location coordinates, identify a speed limit of a roadway on which the vehicle is traveling; and

compare the speed of the vehicle to the speed limit of the roadway.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the server is further configured to provide an alert of the speed limit violation.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the server is further configured to provide an alert upon the vehicle entering a segment of roadway having a speed limit different from a speed limit of a segment of roadway on which the vehicle previously traveled.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the server is further configured to—

identify an alert parameter; and

determine a triggering of the alert parameter.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the location coordinates are received over one of a cellular network, a wireless network or a satellite network.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the alert is provided over one of a cellular network, a satellite network, a personal area network, a local area network, a metropolitan area network, a wide area network, the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, a virtual private network, a peer-to-peer network, and a wireless self-configuring network.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the server is further configured to identify a speed limit of the roadway for the vehicle type.

17. A system for determining a speed limit violation by a vehicle, comprising:

means for providing data to a mobile devices the means for providing being configured to—

receive location coordinates of the vehicle from a locator device coupled to the vehicle;

determine a speed of the vehicle based on the location coordinates or measurements from an engine control module;

based on the location coordinates, identify a speed limit of a roadway on which the vehicle is traveling; and

compare the speed of the vehicle to the speed limit of the roadway.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for providing is further configured to provide an alert of the speed limit violation.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for providing data is further configured to provide an alert upon the vehicle entering a segment of roadway having a speed limit different from a speed limit of a segment of roadway on which the vehicle previously traveled.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for providing is further configured to—

identify an alert parameter; and

determine a triggering of the alert parameter.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the location coordinates are received over one of a cellular network, a wireless network or a satellite network.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the alert is provided over one of a cellular network, a satellite network, a personal area network, a local area network, a metropolitan area network, a wide area network, the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, a virtual private network, a peer-to-peer network, and a wireless self-configuring network.

23. The system of claim 17 wherein the means for providing is further configured to identify a speed limit of the roadway for the vehicle type.

24. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

at least one instruction for causing a computer to receive location coordinates of a vehicle from a locator device coupled to the vehicle;

at least one instruction for causing a computer to determine a speed of the vehicle based on the location coordinates or measurements from an engine control module;

at least one instruction for causing a computer to, based on the location coordinates, identify a speed limit of a roadway on which the vehicle is traveling; and

at least one instruction for causing a computer to compare the speed of the vehicle to the speed limit of the roadway.

25. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises at least one instruction for causing a computer to provide an alert of the speed limit violation.

26. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises at least one instruction for causing a computer to provide an alert upon the vehicle entering a segment of roadway having a speed limit different from a speed limit of a segment of roadway on which the vehicle previously traveled.

27. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises at least one instruction for causing a computer to identify an alert parameter;

and at least one instruction for causing a computer to determine a triggering of the alert parameter.

28. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein the location coordinates are received over one of a cellular network, a wireless network or a satellite network.

29. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein the alert is provided over one of a cellular network, a satellite network, a personal area network, a local area network, a metropolitan area network, a wide area network, the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, a virtual private network, a peer-to-peer network, and a wireless self-configuring network.

30. The computer program product of claim 24 wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises at least one instruction for causing a computer to identify a speed limit of the roadway for the vehicle type.

31. A method of determining a speed limit violation by a vehicle coupled to a locator device, comprising:

receiving location coordinates of the vehicle from at least one GPS satellite;

determining a speed of the vehicle based on the location coordinates or measurements from an engine control module;

based on the location coordinates, identifying a speed limit of a roadway on which the vehicle is traveling; and

comparing the speed of the vehicle to the speed limit of the roadway.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

providing an alert of the speed limit violation.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

providing the location coordinates of the vehicle to a receiver over one of a cellular, wireless network or satellite network.

34. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

identifying an alert parameter; and

determining a triggering of the alert parameter.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the alert is provided over one of a cellular network, a satellite network, a personal area network, a local area network, a metropolitan area network, a wide area network, the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, a virtual private network, a peer-to-peer network, and a wireless self-configuring network.

36. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

providing an alert upon the vehicle entering a segment of roadway having a speed limit different from a speed limit of a segment of roadway on which the vehicle previously traveled.

37. The method of claim 31, wherein the speed limit of the roadway is stored in memory.

38. The method of claim 31 wherein identifying a speed limit of a roadway includes identifying a speed limit of the roadway for the vehicle type.

39. A locator device, comprising:

a wireless interface; and

a processor, communicating with the wireless interface, the processor being configured to—

receive location coordinates of a vehicle coupled to the locator device from at least one GPS satellite;

determine a speed of the vehicle based on the location coordinates or measurements from an engine control module;

based on the location coordinates identify a speed limit of a roadway on which the vehicle is traveling; and

compare the speed of the vehicle to the speed limit of the roadway.

40. The locator device of claim 39, wherein the processor is further configured to provide an alert of the speed limit violation.

41. The locator device of claim 39, wherein the processor is further configured to provide the location coordinates of the vehicle to a receiver over one of a cellular or wireless network.

42. The locator device of claim 39, wherein the processor is further configured to—

identify an alert parameter; and

determine a triggering of the alert parameter.

43. The locator device of claim 40, wherein the alert is provided over one of a cellular network, a satellite network, a personal area network, a local area network, a metropolitan area network, a wide area network, the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, a virtual private network, a peer-to-peer network, and a wireless self-configuring network.

44. The locator device of claim 39, wherein the processor is further configured to provide an alert upon the vehicle entering a segment of roadway having a speed limit different from a speed limit of a segment of roadway on which the vehicle previously traveled.

45. The locator device of claim 39, wherein the speed limit of the roadway is stored in memory.

46. The locator device of claim 39 wherein the processor is further configured to identify a speed limit of the roadway for the vehicle type.

47. A system for determining a speed limit violation by a vehicle coupled to a locator device, comprising:

means for providing a wireless interface to the locator device; and

means for providing data to the locator device, communicating with means for providing a wireless interface, the means for providing data being configured to—

receive location coordinates of the vehicle from at least one GPS satellite;

determine a speed of the vehicle based on the location coordinates or measurements from an engine control module;

based on the location coordinates, identify a speed limit of a roadway on which the vehicle is traveling; and

compare the speed of the vehicle to the speed limit of the roadway.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the means for providing data is further configured to provide an alert of the speed limit violation.

49. The system of claim 47, wherein the means for providing data is further configured to provide the location coordinates of the vehicle to a receiver over one of a cellular or wireless network.

50. The system of claim 47, wherein the means for providing data is further configured to—

identify an alert parameter; and

determine a triggering of the alert parameter.

51. The system of claim 48, wherein the alert is provided over one of a cellular network, a satellite network, a personal area network, a local area network, a metropolitan area network, a wide area network, the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, a virtual private network, a peer-to-peer network, and a wireless self-configuring network.

52. The system of claim 47, wherein the means for providing data is further configured to provide an alert upon the vehicle entering a segment of roadway having a speed limit different from a speed limit of a segment of roadway on which the vehicle previously traveled.

53. The system of claim 47 wherein the means for providing data is further configured to identify a speed limit of the roadway for the vehicle type.

54. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

at least one instruction for causing a computer to receive location coordinates of a vehicle coupled to a locator device from at least one GPS satellite;

at least one instruction for causing a computer to determine a speed of the vehicle based on the location coordinates or measurements from an engine control module;

at least one instruction for causing a computer to, based on the location coordinates, identify a speed limit of a roadway on which the vehicle is traveling; and

at least one instruction for causing a computer to compare the speed of the vehicle to the speed limit of the roadway.

55. The computer program product of claim 54, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises at least one instruction for causing a computer to provide an alert of the speed limit violation.

56. The computer program product of claim 54, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises at least one instruction for causing a computer to provide the location coordinates of the vehicle to a receiver over one of a cellular or wireless network.

57. The computer program product of claim 54, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises at least one instruction for causing a computer to—

identify an alert parameters; and

determine a triggering of the alert parameter.

58. The computer program product of claim 55, wherein the alert is provided over one of a cellular network, a satellite network, a personal area network, a local area network, a metropolitan area network, a wide area network, the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, a virtual private network, a peer-to-peer network, and a wireless self-configuring network.

59. The computer program product of claim 54 wherein the computer readable medium further comprises at least one instruction for causing a computer to identify a speed limit of the roadway for the vehicle type.