Apparatus and method for optimally recording geographical position data

• US 8,670,928 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2011
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GeoTab Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GeoTab Incorporated
• Inventors: Cawse, Neil Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOUIE, WAE LENNY
• Application Number:
  US13/241,202
• Publication Number:
  US 20120010810A1
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 701/301, 701/35, 701/29, 701/207, 701/200, 701/117, 701/103, 340/439, 340/425.5, 340/426.16, 340/540
• US Class Current: 701/412
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/52 Determining velocity
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• 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: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for optimally recording or transmitting positional data and events of an object, said apparatus including input means to continuously provide positional data to a microprocessor and a memory device to store selected positional data wherein the microprocessor is programmed to compares new positional data from said input means to previously recorded log of positional data and creates a new log if the new positional data differs from the previously recorded log in accordance with pre-determined parameters.

Claims

1. A fleet asset management system comprising an apparatus including a memory device in which is stored a record of selected positional data about one or more fleet vehicles, wherein the apparatus operates to create said record by:

a) receiving new position data from the one or more vehicles, respectively;

b) determining change between the new position and the position last recorded by the apparatus, respectively, for the one or more vehicles;

c) determining in each respective case, the elapsed time between when the respective vehicle was at the new position and when the respective vehicle was at the position last recorded by the apparatus;

d) selecting the new data received in step a) for logging in step e) when said change in position in relation to said elapsed time exceeds predetermined parameters;

e) logging, for respective vehicles, data selected in step d) in said memory device; and

f) repeating steps a) through e);

thereby creating said record of selected positional data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the positional data is received from a global positioning system (GPS) receiver located in or around the vehicle.

3. system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined parameters cause the apparatus to record the new positional data and time if there is a change in speed and/or heading of the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined parameters cause the apparatus to record the new positional data and time if the data indicate harsh braking, excessive speed, or a change in heading, at high or low speed, of the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is adapted to be located at a base station and receive positional data wirelessly transmitted from a position locating device situated in or around the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein respective ones of said one or more vehicles includes an on-board one of said apparatus including a memory device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the memory device is a separate portable recording device.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the on-board apparatus is adapted to transmit positional data and time selected for recording because the difference in positional data and/or elapsed time exceeds said pre-determined parameters.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising a base station programmed to analyze the recorded data.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the system is adapted to display trip data on a map.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the system is adapted to produce activity reports that include a list of trips and speed profiles of the object.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the system is adapted to produce activity reports identifying individual drivers or vehicles.

13. A fleet asset management system including an apparatus comprising a microprocessor that is programmed to selectively cause positional data for respective ones of one or more managed vehicles to be recorded by repeatedly:

a) receiving new positional data from a global positioning system (GPS) receiver located in or around said managed vehicle;

b) determining change in position between the new positional data and previous positional data about the managed vehicle last recorded by the apparatus;

c) determining elapsed time between when the new positional data were obtained and when said last recorded positional data were obtained;

d) determining change of the managed vehicle'"'"'s position as a function of the elapsed time; and

e) in the event that a change of the vehicle'"'"'s position in relation to the elapsed time exceeds pre-determined parameters, causing such data to be recorded.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the predetermined parameters cause the apparatus to record the new positional data and time if there is a change in speed and/or heading of the vehicle.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the predetermined parameters cause the apparatus to record the new positional data and time if the data indicate harsh braking, excessive speed, or a change in heading, at high or low speed, of the vehicle.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is adapted to be located at a base station and receive positional data wirelessly transmitted from a GPS receiver located in or around the managed vehicle.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is disposed in respective ones of the managed one or more vehicles.

18. A system for processing information about a vehicle, comprising the apparatus of claim 13, and a base station programmed to analyze the recorded data and provide the user with a display or report of the analyzed data.

19. The system of claim 13, including a base station programmed to analyze the recorded data and provide the user with a display or report of the analyzed data.

20. A fleet asset management system including an apparatus for autonomously recording vehicular data for one or more managed fleet vehicles, including vehicular position/time data, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a memory device for selectively logging a plurality of vehicular data points; and

,

(b) a microprocessor that operates to compare a last logged vehicular position/time data point with subsequently received vehicular position/time data to calculate positional change over a corresponding intervening interval of elapsed time between said last logged data point and said subsequently received vehicular position/time data, wherein said memory device selectively logs vehicular data whenever said positional change in relation to said elapsed time exceeds predetermined parameters.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the predetermined parameters cause the apparatus to record the new positional data and time if there is a change in speed and/or heading of the vehicle.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the predetermined parameters cause the apparatus to record the new positional data and time if the data indicate harsh braking, excessive speed, or a change in heading, at high or low speed, of the vehicle.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the apparatus is adapted to be located at a base station and receive positional data wirelessly transmitted from a GPS receiver located in or around the managed vehicle.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the apparatus is disposed in respective ones of the managed one or more vehicles.