Mobile device, method and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for monitoring a vehicle path

• US 9,196,143 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2013
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Institute For Information Industry
• Original Assignee: Institute For Information Industry
• Inventors: Lin, Jyun-Naih
• Primary Examiner(s): Badii, Behrang
• Assistant Examiner(s): TESTARDI, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US14/048,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20150057924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 701/484
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3655 Timing of guidance instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3661 Guidance output on an external device, e.g. car radio
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3688 Systems comprising multiple parts or multiple output devices (not client-server), e.g. detachable faceplates, key fobs or multiple output screens
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• 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: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/00 Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/133 within the vehicle ; Indicators inside the vehicles or at stops
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/207 with respect to certain areas, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas with possible alerting when inside or outside boundaries

Abstract

The invention discloses a mobile device for monitoring a vehicle path. The mobile device includes a setting module, a satellite-positioning module, a determination module, and an alarm module. The setting module is configured to set a preset route from a starting point to a destination. The satellite-positioning module is configured to receive a satellite-positioning signal. When the mobile device is located in a vehicle, the determination module is configured to determine whether the vehicle is driving along the preset route based on the satellite-positioning signal. When the vehicle deviates from the preset route for a default alarming time, the alarm module is configured to perform an alarm action.

Claims

1. A mobile device for monitoring a vehicle path, comprising:

a setting module being configured to set a preset route from a starting point to a destination, the preset route comprising at least one preset point;

a satellite-positioning module being configured to receive a satellite-positioning signal;

a determination module being configured to determine whether a vehicle is being driven along the preset route based on the satellite-positioning signal when the mobile device is located in the vehicle; and

an alarm module being configured to performing an alarm action when the vehicle deviates from the preset route for a default alarming time,

wherein the determination module determines the preset point is the destination, when a distance between the vehicle and the preset point is shortened and is within an allowable distance error range.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless transmission module being configured to transmit and synchronize the preset route in the setting module to a navigation device in the vehicle to allow the navigation device to display the preset route.

3. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein when the alarm module performs the alarm action, the wireless transmission module transmits an alarming signal to the navigation device synchronously so that the navigation device issues an alert.

4. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the setting module is configured to set communication information of a back-end system, and the mobile device further comprises:

a wireless transceiver module being configured to notify the back-end system based on the communication information when the vehicle deviates from the preset route for a default reporting time, the default reporting time being greater than or equal to the default alarming time.

5. The mobile device of claim 4, wherein when the vehicle does not shorten its distance from the preset point within the default reporting time, the wireless transceiver module notifies the back-end system based on the communication information, the default reporting time is greater than or equal to the default alarming time.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, further comprising:

a path-recording module being configured to record a path travelled by the vehicle.

7. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein if the vehicle does not shorten its distance from the preset point within the default alarming time, the alarm module performs the alarm action.

8. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the determination module determines whether the vehicle shortens its distance from a next preset point along the preset route if the preset point is not the destination point.

9. A method for monitoring a vehicle path adapted for a mobile device, comprising:

(a) setting a preset route from a starting point to a destination, the preset route comprising at least one preset point;

(b) receiving a satellite-positioning signal using a satellite-positioning module;

(c) determining whether a vehicle is being driven along the preset route based on the satellite-positioning signal when the mobile device is located in the vehicle; and

(d) performing an alarm action when the vehicle deviates from the preset route for a default alarming time,

wherein a determination module determines the preset point is the destination, when a distance between the vehicle and the preset point is shortened and is within an allowable distance error range.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

transmitting and synchronizing the preset route to a navigation device in the vehicle to allow the navigation device to display the preset route.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

transmitting an alarming signal to the navigation device synchronously when the alarm action being performed so that the navigation device issues an alert.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

setting communication information of a back-end system, and

notifying the back-end system based on the communication information when the vehicle deviates from the preset route for a default reporting time, the default reporting time being greater than or equal to the default alarming time.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

notifying the back-end system based on the communication information when the vehicle is not shortening its distance from the preset point within the default reporting time, the default reporting time being greater than or equal to the default alarming time.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

recording a path travelled by the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein step (d) comprises:

performing the alarm action if the vehicle is not shortening its distance from the preset point within the default alarming time.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein step (c) further comprises:

determining whether the vehicle shortens its distance from a next preset point along the preset route if the preset point not being the destination point.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for performing a method for monitoring a vehicle path, the method being adapted for a mobile device, the method comprising:

setting a preset route from a starting point to a destination, the preset route comprising at least one preset point;

receiving a satellite-positioning signal using a satellite-positioning module;

determining whether a vehicle is being driven along the preset route based on the satellite-positioning signal when the mobile device is located in the vehicle;

performing an alarm action when the vehicle deviates from the preset route for a default alarming time, and

determining that the preset point is the destination when a distance between the vehicle and the preset point is shortened and is within an allowable distance error range.