Vehicle Speed Data Gathering and Reporting

• US 20120223842A1
• Filed: 03/02/2011
• Published: 09/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Schunder, Mark, Giuli, Thomas J., Rork, Joseph Paul, Alexander, Thomas Richard, Ross, Joseph N., Phillips, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,742,950 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/936
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P

Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes recognizing the initiation of a vehicle journey. The method further includes periodically storing vehicle speed data, GPS coordinate data and time data. This method also includes providing at least one option for reporting the stored speed data, GPS data and time data. The method additionally includes outputting the stored speed data, GPS data and time data for at least one portion of the vehicle journey, responsive to input requesting the reporting.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

recognizing, via a vehicle computing system (VCS), the initiation of a vehicle journey;

periodically storing, via the VCS, vehicle speed data, GPS coordinate data and time data;

providing, via the VCS, at least one option for reporting the stored speed data, GPS data and time data; and

responsive to input requesting the reporting, outputting the stored speed data, GPS data and time data, via the VCS, for at least one portion of the vehicle journey.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the recognizing further comprises determining that a vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined threshold.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the periodically storing further includes storing data at least each time a new maximum vehicle speed is achieved.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the periodically storing further comprises storing the data at predetermined time intervals.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the periodically storing further comprises storing the data at predetermined GPS coordinate intervals.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one option for reporting further includes an option to view speed data proximate to a specific intersection or portion of a route.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein selection of the option to view speed data proximate to a specific intersection or portion of a route results in output of data representing a plurality of speed data points, proximate to an input intersection or portion of a route.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one option for reporting further includes an option to view speed data proximate to a specific time or time range.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein selection of the option to view speed data proximate to a specific time or time range results in output of data representing a plurality of speed data points, proximate to an input time or time range.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one option for reporting further includes an option to view speed data over a certain speed limit.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein selection of the option to view speed data over a certain speed limit results in output of data representing a plurality of speed data points, where recorded speeds met or exceeded an input speed limit.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the outputting further comprises visually outputting information on a navigation display.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the outputting further comprises uploading information to a remote storage location.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one option for reporting further includes an option to view speed data for an entire route.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein selection of the option to view speed data over an entire route results in output of data representing a plurality of speed data points, representative of at least a plurality of speeds achieved over travel along the entire route.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the speed data points represent an average speed between successive data points.

17. A vehicle computing apparatus comprising:

recognizing programmed logic circuitry to recognize the initiation of a vehicle journey;

storing programmed logic circuitry to periodically store vehicle speed data, GPS coordinate data and time data;

providing programmed logic circuitry to provide at least one option for reporting the stored speed data, GPS data and time data; and

outputting programmed logic circuitry to output the stored speed data, GPS data and time data for at least one portion of the vehicle journey, responsive to input requesting the reporting.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising determining programmed logic circuitry to determine that a vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined threshold, thus signaling the initiation of a vehicle journey.

19. A computer readable storage medium, storing instructions that, when executed, causes a vehicle computing system (VCS) to perform the method comprising:

recognizing the initiation of a vehicle journey;

periodically storing vehicle speed data, GPS coordinate data and time data;

providing at least one option for reporting the stored speed data, GPS data and time data; and

responsive to input requesting the reporting, outputting the stored speed data, GPS data and time data for at least one portion of the vehicle journey.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the periodically storing further includes periodically storing additional vehicle data.