Method, system and device for monitoring vehicle usage

• US 7,660,652 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2006
• Issued: 02/09/2010
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): To; Tuan C
• Application Number:
  US11/392,735
• Publication Number:
  US 20070179692A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,412 Days
• Field of Search: 701/35, 342/357.09, 342/357, 342/357.12, 455/552.1, 340/573.1, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 340/14.69
• 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 location interface, for receiving a location signal indicating a current location when operably connected to a GPS antenna;

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

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 in a vehicle history, when the pre-defined event condition occurs responsive to the sensed status and one of pre-determined sensor states, wherein the pre-determined sensor states include active, inactive, and don'"'"'t care; and

second recording the determined current location in the vehicle history;

a housing;

wherein the location interface, the sensor interface, and the processor are located in the housing, to form a portable unitary module to be removably mounted on the vehicle;

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

at least one relay switch for electrical connection to circuits in the vehicle, the relay switch being located in the housing to form part of the portable unitary module and configured for manual connection to one of the circuits of 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.

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

and wherein the first recording includes recording a time and the pre-defined event condition associated therewith as a timed event condition in the vehicle history.

3. The device of claim 1, the transceiver being configured for 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 pre-defined event conditions from the vehicle history over the transceiver.

4. The device of claim 1,

the transceiver being configured for 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 computer port interface, for transmitting communications when operably connected via a removable local connection 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.

6. The device of claim 1,

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.

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

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the memory serially stores records of the vehicle history.

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

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

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

a sensor interface, for being removably connected to sensors in the motorized vehicle and receiving sensor signals from sensors in the motorized vehicle indicating a sensed status of the vehicle, when electrically or electronically connected to the sensors, the sensor interface being configured to indicate occurrence of a pre-defined event condition responsive to a combination of the sensed status and one of pre-determined sensor states, wherein the pre- determined sensor states include active, inactive, and don'"'"'t care;

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

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 responsive to receipt of the pre-defined event condition from the sensor interface;

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

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

a housing;

wherein the location interface, the sensor interface, and the processor are located in the housing to form a portable unitary module to be removably mounted on the vehicle; and

at least one relay switch for electrical connection to circuits in the vehicle the relay switch being located in the housing to form part of the portable unitary module and configured for manual connection to one of the circuits of 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.

11. The device of claim 10, further comprising at least one timer using the one of the pre-determined sensor states as an input function;

wherein the pre-defined event condition is timed in connection with the at least one timer; and

the time and the event condition associated therewith are recorded as a timed event condition in the vehicle history.

12. The device of claim 10, further comprising a GPS antenna, operably connected to the location interface.

13. The device of claim 10, 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.

14. The device of claim 10, 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.

15. The device of claim 10, further comprising a timer, wherein the current location is recorded at pre-defined intervals of the timer.

16. 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 location interface, for receiving a location signal indicating a current location when operably connected to a GPS antenna;

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

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 in a vehicle history, when the pre-defined event condition occurs responsive to the sensed status and one of pre-determined sensor states; and

second recording the determined current location in the vehicle history;

a housing;

wherein the location interface, the sensor interface, and the processor are located in the housing, to form a portable unitary module to be removably mounted on the vehicle;

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

at least one relay switch for electrical connection to circuits in the vehicle, the relay switch being located in the housing to form part of the portable unitary module and configured for connection to one of the circuits of 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.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the sensor interface further includes at least one timer using the one of the pre-determined sensor states as an input function, and the sensor interface is configured to facilitate indicating occurrence of the pre-defined event condition responsive to a combination of the sensed status, the at least one timer, and the one of the pre- determined sensor states;

and wherein the first recording includes recording a time and the pre- defined event condition associated therewith as a timed event condition in the vehicle history.

18. The device of claim 16,

the transceiver being configured for 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 pre-defined event conditions from the vehicle history over the transceiver;

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.

19. The device of claim 16, further comprising

a computer port interface, for transmitting communications when operably connected via a removable local connection 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.

20. The device of claim 16,

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.