MODULAR MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 20100311017A1
• Filed: 06/05/2009
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Trapeze Software Inc.
• Original Assignee: Trapeze Software Inc.
• Inventors: SCHERKENBACH, Jamie, COIL, Jeff
• Application Number:
  US12/479,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20100311017A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/65
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/042 providing simulation in a real vehicle G09B9/052, G09B9/058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/052 characterised by provision for recording or measuring trainee's performance devices for psychotechnics, e.g. for vehicle drivers A61B5/16, A61B5/18

Abstract

The present invention relates to a modular monitoring system for a mobile vehicle, comprising: a) a core unit for controlling, receiving and integrating hardware modules and software modules; b) one or more hardware modules, each hardware module responsible for monitoring one or more operating parameters of said mobile vehicle; and c) one or more software modules, each software module responsible for monitoring one or more operating parameters of said mobile vehicles.

Claims

1. A modular monitoring system for a mobile vehicle, comprising:

a) a core unit for controlling, receiving and integrating hardware modules and software modules;

b) one or more hardware modules, each hardware module responsible for monitoring one or more operating parameters of said mobile vehicle; and

c) one or more software modules, each software module responsible for monitoring one or more operating parameters of said mobile vehicles.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said hardware modules include a video recording module, a fuel consumption monitoring module, an acceleration/vibration measurement module, a GPS locator module and at least one data storage module.

3. The system of claim 2, further including multiple data storage modules, with one of said multiple data storage modules allocated to said video recording module.

4. The system of claim 2, further including a data transmission module, which enables data from any hardware module to be sent to a database remote from said mobile vehicle.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said data transmission module is a wireless data transmission module.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said wireless data transmission module operates in real time during operation of said mobile vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein each hardware module is associated with one or more software modules.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein each software module is associated with one or more hardware modules.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said core unit is integrated into a dashboard unit of said vehicle.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said core unit is provided as a stand-alone unit within said vehicle.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said hardware modules and said software modules are individually and separately removable.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said hardware modules and said software modules are individually and separately upgradeable.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said core unit is a computer server incorporating all of the software modules.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the server further incorporates at least one hardware data storage module.

15. A method of monitoring and recording operational data for a mobile vehicle, comprising:

a) installing one or more hardware modules on said mobile vehicle, each said hardware module operative to collect one or more elements of said operational data;

b) installing one or more software modules on said mobile vehicle, each said software module operative to control one or more of said hardware modules;

c) recording the collected operational data for subsequent analysis.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said recording step is performed onboard said vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16, further including a step of transmitting said recorded data to a database remote from said vehicle.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said transmitting step is performed in real time during operation of said vehicle.

19. The method of claim 15, further including a step of displaying the collected operational data to a vehicle driver during operation of the vehicle.

20. A method of training a driver of a vehicle, comprising:

a) installing a set of hardware and software modules, including a video recording module, a fuel consumption monitoring module, an acceleration/vibration measurement module, a GPS locator module and at least one data storage module on the driver'"'"'s vehicle;

b) collecting data from the hardware and software modules for a route and a vehicle assigned to the driver; and

c) reviewing the collected data with the driver and assigning training to the driver based on the review.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the driver is a transit driver and the driver'"'"'s vehicle is a transit vehicle.

22. The method of claim 21, further including a step of comparing the collected data with comparison data collected from other drivers and adding the comparison data to the reviewing step.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the collected data for the other drivers is collected on the same vehicle as used in the collecting step for the driver.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the collected data for the other drivers is collected on the same route as used in the collecting step for the driver.