Vehicle tracker, mileage-time monitor and calibrator

• US 6,353,796 B1
• Filed: 02/24/2000
• Issued: 03/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Cowl, David J., Janky, James M., Rodal, Eric B., Schipper, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Donnelly, Arthur D.
• Application Number:
  US09/513,265
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 701/207, 701/205, 701/210, 701/213, 701/216, 701/219, 701/29, 701/35, 340/568, 340/572, 340/825.54, 340/825.49, 340/342, 340/457
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/824 Travel path sensing; Track monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/16 GPS track data
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/202 using a remote, e.g. cordless, transmitter or receiver unit
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/02 by conversion into electric waveforms and subsequent integration, e.g. using tachometer generator G01C22/002, G01C22/004, G01C22/006 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/39 the satellite radio beacon positioning system transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] or GALILEO
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/47 the supplementary measurement being an inertial measurement, e.g. tightly coupled inertial
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/52 Determining velocity
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/002 for traffic control, mobile tracking, guidance, surveillance or anti-collision

Abstract

A system for monitoring location and speed of a vehicle, using a location determination system such as GPS, GLONASS or LORAN and an optional odometer or speedometer, for determining and recording the locations and times at which vehicle speed is less than a threshold speed for at least a threshold time (called a “vehicle arrest event”). Vehicle arrest event locations, times and time intervals are stored and/or printed to provide trip and mileage records and for efficiency monitoring. A vehicle odometer and/or speedometer can also be calibrated and/or corrected using this approach.

Claims

1. Apparatus for determination of the length of a path traveled by a vehicle at a sequence of selected times, the apparatus comprising:

a location determination (LD) unit, transported by a vehicle, that receives and processes LD signals to determine location coordinates of a present location L and speed v of the LD unit at one or more selected observation times and to determine a location at which a vehicle arrest event occurs, at which the LD unit speed v is no greater than a selected positive speed threshold for a continuous time interval of length Δ

t that is greater than a selected positive time interval length;

a distance measuring mechanism that measures a cumulative distance traveled by the vehicle from a selected earlier time to the present time; and

a printer, connected to the LD unit, that receives and prints out the location coordinates and the observation time for at least one of;

a time at which the vehicle arrest event begins, a time at which the vehicle arrest event ends, and the length of time consumed by the vehicle arrest event.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said selected earlier time is taken to be an earlier time at which said vehicle arrest event occurred.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said distance measuring mechanism comprises an odometer, connected to said vehicle, that measures a cumulative distance traveled by said vehicle.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said distance measuring mechanism comprises a microprocessor, connected to said LD unit, that receives said LD unit present location coordinates and observation times from said LD unit at a sequence of sample times t_i, estimates the distance Δ

d(t<sub>i−

1</sub>;

t_i) that said LD unit has moved in the time between two consecutive sample times, and accumulates the sum of the distances Δ

d(t<sub>i−

1</sub>;

t_i).

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising memory means, connected to said LD unit, for receiving and storing said location coordinates and said observation time for at least one of:

a time at which said vehicle arrest event begins, a time at which said vehicle arrest event ends, and the length of time consumed by said vehicle arrest event.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a display, connected to said LD unit, that receives and displays, in at least one of visually perceptible form and audibly perceptible form, said location coordinates and said observation time for at least one of:

a time at which said vehicle arrest event begins, a time at which said vehicle arrest event ends, and the length of time consumed by said vehicle arrest event.

7. Apparatus for determination of the length of a path traveled by a vehicle at a sequence of selected times, the apparatus comprising:

a location determination (LD) unit, transported by a vehicle, that receives and processes LD signals to determine location coordinates of a present location L and speed v of the LD unit at one or more selected observation times and to determine a location at which a vehicle arrest event occurs, at which the LD unit speed v is no greater than a selected positive speed threshold for a continuous time interval of length Δ

t that is greater than a selected positive time interval length;

a distance measuring mechanism that measures a cumulative distance traveled by the vehicle from a selected earlier time to the present time; and

a data entry mechanism, connected to said LD unit, for entering information that characterizes at least one vehicle arrest event,

wherein the data entry mechanism comprises at least one of;

a keyboard with at least one key that allows entry of the information that characterizes the vehicle arrest event;

a voice recorder and a voice-to-digital conversion device that converts a voice input signal to a digital signal that can be stored, which allow entry of the information that characterizes the vehicle arrest event; and

a signal receiver that receives and allows entry of said information that characterizes said vehicle arrest event.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said data entry mechanism allows entry of spatial location of an anticipated vehicle arrest event, and, when the anticipated vehicle arrest event occurs, said LD unit records or confirms that the anticipated vehicle arrest event has occurred.

9. Apparatus for determination of the length of a path traveled by a vehicle at a sequence of selected times, the apparatus comprising:

a location determination (LD) unit, transported by a vehicle, that receives and processes LD signals to determine location coordinates of a present location L and speed v of the LD unit at one or more selected observation times and to determine a location at which a vehicle arrest event occurs, at which the LD unit speed v is no greater than a selected positive speed threshold for a continuous time interval of length Δ

t that is greater than a selected positive time interval length; and

a distance measuring mechanism that measures a cumulative distance traveled by the vehicle from a selected earlier time to the present time;

wherein the LD unit comprises an LD signal antenna that receives the LD signals and an LD signal receiver/processor that receives and processes the LD signals from the LD signal antenna, and the LD antenna and the LD receiver/processor are both located on a handheld device that can be placed in or removed from the vehicle.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said LD antenna and said LD receiver/processor are both mounted on or in said vehicle.

11. Apparatus for determination of the length of a path traveled by a vehicle at a sequence of selected times, the apparatus comprising:

a location determination (LD) unit, transported by a vehicle, that receives and processes LD signals to determine location coordinates of a present location L and speed v of the LD unit at one or more selected observation times and to determine a location at which a vehicle arrest event occurs, at which the LD unit speed v is no greater than a selected positive speed threshold for a continuous time interval of length Δ

t that is greater than a selected positive time interval length; and

a distance measuring mechanism that measures a cumulative distance traveled by the vehicle from a selected earlier time to the present time;

wherein one of the LD antenna and the LD receiver/processor is mounted on or in the vehicle and the other of the LD antenna and the LD receiver/processor is located on a handheld device that can be placed in or removed from the vehicle.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a short range communications mechanism that allows said LD antenna to transmit LD signal information to said LD receiver/processor.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising an electronic cradle, mounted on or in said vehicle, that receives said handheld device and establishes an electronic connection between said LD antenna and said LD receiver/processor.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said electrical connection between said LD antenna and said LD receiver/processor comprises a signal bus.

15. A method for determination of the length of a path traveled by a vehicle at a sequence of selected times, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving and processing location determination (LD) signals at an LD unit, transported by a vehicle, and determining location coordinates of a present location L and speed v of the LD unit at one or more selected observation times, and determining a location at which an vehicle arrest event occurs, at which the LD unit speed v is no greater than a selected positive speed threshold for a continuous time interval of length Δ

t that is greater than a selected positive time interval length;

estimating and recording the distance traveled by the vehicle from a selected earlier time to the present time; and

receiving and printing out the location coordinates and the observation time for at least one of;

a time at which the vehicle arrest event begins, a time at which the vehicle arrest event ends, and the time consumed by the vehicle arrest event.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of choosing said selected earlier time to be an earlier time at which said vehicle arrest event occurred.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of estimating said distance traveled by said vehicle using an odometer, connected to said vehicle, that measures a cumulative distance traveled by said vehicle.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of estimating said distance traveled by said vehicle using a microprocessor to receive said location coordinates for said LD unit at a sequence of sample times t_i, estimate the distance Δ

d(t<sub>i−

1</sub>;

t_i) that said LD unit has moved in the time between two consecutive sample times, and accumulate the sum of the distances Δ

d(t<sub>i−

1</sub>;

t_i).

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

receiving and storing said location coordinates and said observation time for at least one of;

a time at which said vehicle arrest event begins, a time at which said vehicle arrest event ends, and the time consumed by said vehicle arrest event.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of:

receiving and displaying, in at least one of visually perceptible form and audibly perceptible form, said location coordinates and said observation time for at least one of;

a time at which said vehicle arrest event begins, a time at which said vehicle arrest event ends, and the time consumed by said vehicle arrest event.

21. A method for determination of the length of a path traveled by a vehicle at a sequence of selected times, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving and processing location determination (LD) signals at an LD unit, transported by a vehicle, and determining location coordinates of a present location L and speed v of the LD unit at one or more selected observation times, and determining a location at which an vehicle arrest event occurs, at which the LD unit speed v is no greater than a selected positive speed threshold for a continuous time interval of length Δ

t that is greater than a selected positive time interval length;

estimating and recording the distance traveled by the vehicle from a selected earlier time to the present time; and

entering information that characterizes said vehicle arrest event into a database carried by said vehicle, using at least one of;

a keyboard with at least one key that allows entry of said vehicle arrest information;

a voice recorder and a voice-to-digital conversion device, which convert a voice input signal to a digital signal that can be stored, which receive and convert said vehicle arrest information into digital signals; and

a signal receiver that receives and allows entry of said vehicle arrest information.

22. A method for determination of the length of a path traveled by a vehicle at a sequence of selected times, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving and processing location determination (LD) signals at an LD unit, transported by a vehicle, and determining location coordinates of a present location L and speed v of the LD unit at one or more selected observation times, and determining a location at which an vehicle arrest event occurs, at which the LD unit speed v is no greater than a selected positive speed threshold for a continuous time interval of length Δ

t that is greater than a selected positive time interval length;

wherein the LD unit includes an LD signal antenna that receives the LD signals and an LD signal receiver/processor that receives and processes the LD signals from the LD signal antenna;

estimating and recording the distance traveled by the vehicle from a selected earlier time to the present time; and

mounting one of the LD antenna and the LD receiver/processor on or in the vehicle and mounting the other of the LD antenna and the LD receiver/processor on a handheld device that can be placed in or removed from the vehicle, wherein the handheld device is received in an electronic cradle, mounted on or in the vehicle, that establishes an electronic connection between the LD antenna and the LD receiver/processor.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said step of entering said information comprises entering the spatial location of an anticipated vehicle arrest event into said database, and

further comprising the step of using said LD unit to subsequently confirm occurrence of the anticipated vehicle arrest event, when the anticipated vehicle arrest event occurs.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of locating said LD antenna and said LD receiver/processor on a handheld device that can be placed in or removed from said vehicle.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of mounting said LD antenna and said LD receiver/processor on or in said vehicle.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of transmitting LD signal information from said LD antenna to said LD receiver/processor using a short range communications mechanism.

27. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of establishing said electrical connection between said LD antenna and said LD receiver/processor using a signal bus.

28. Apparatus for calibration of at least one of a vehicle odometer and a vehicle speedometer, the apparatus comprising:

a location determination (LD) unit, transported by a vehicle, that receives and processes LD signals to determine location coordinates of present location L and speed v of the LD unit at one or more selected observation times; and

at least one of;

a distance measuring mechanism that receives signals from the vehicle and estimates and records distance traveled by the vehicle from a selected earlier time t₀ to the present time; and

a speed measuring mechanism that receives signals from the vehicle and estimates and records the present speed of the vehicle at a sequence of selected times t_i.