Method and apparatus for monitoring operation of a vehicle

• US 10,140,789 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2016
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trak (Global Solutions) Limited
• Original Assignee: Trak (Global Solutions) Limited
• Inventors: Corrie, Nicholas Charles, Finch, Peter, Mahmoudzadeh, Kamran, Contrill, Alan William Clement
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaawat, Mussa A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kerrigan, Michael V
• Application Number:
  US15/288,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20180101999A1
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• 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

Abstract

A method and apparatus for monitoring operation of a vehicle 1 by a driver, in order to monitor driver behavior using a personal mobile electronic device 2. The electronic device detects wireless signals and determines if the identity of a device 3 transmitting the signal is known in order to identify if the driver is driving a vehicle to be monitored. Monitoring is then carried out only by the electronic device. Monitoring only takes place when a signal from a known transmitting device is detected avoiding unnecessarily recoding journeys and preserving battery life of the electronic device. A set-up mode is provided to enable a user to identify vehicles for monitoring.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring operation of a vehicle by a driver, in order to monitor driver behaviour, the method comprising:

a) detecting one or more wireless signals with a personal mobile electronic device located in the vehicle;

b) reading an identity of a respective transmitting device for a, or each, wireless signal detected;

c) determining if any read identity is stored in a memory of the electronic device or stored on a remote server in association with information identifying the electronic device or driver by accessing the remote server via a communications network; and

d) when a read identity is determined to be stored in the memory of the electronic device and/or the remote server, enabling operation of a positioning device to determine the position of the electronic device and/or activating a motion sensor of the electronic device thereby to detect movement of the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising storing data relating to movement of the electronic device in the memory of the electronic device and/or transmitting the data to a remote server, thereby to record details of a journey made by the vehicle when operation of the positioning device has been enabled and the positioning device has determined a position of the electronic device.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein, when the wireless signal of the transmitting device with an identity stored in the memory of the electronic device and/or server is no longer detected recording details of the journey is stopped.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein, following enabling operation of the positioning device and/or motion sensor, the method further comprises:

a) determining, using the positioning device and/or motion sensor, if the electronic device is moving; and

b) if the electronic device is moving, storing data relating to movement of the device in the memory of the electronic device and/or transmitting the data to a remote server, thereby to record details of a journey made by the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein step b) is performed only if movement of the electronic device at or above a threshold speed is detected.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein, when the wireless signal of the transmitting device with an identity stored in the memory of the electronic device and/or server is no longer detected and no further movement of the electronic device is detected recording details of the journey is stopped.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic device runs an operating system and the step of detecting wireless signals is performed by the operating system.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein a software application for monitoring operation of a vehicle is provided on the electronic device and the method comprises the electronic device starting the application on detection of a wireless signal, and the software application is arranged to cause the electronic device to determine if the identity of the transmitting device producing the detected signal is stored in the memory of the electronic device and/or on a remote server.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein, if the identity of the transmitting device is not stored in the memory of the electronic device and/or on the remote server, the electronic device closes the software application or places it into a dormant or background state.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the software application is only started when a pairing event takes place with a transmitting device.

11. The method of claim 1 comprising the initial steps of:

a) placing the electronic device in or near the vehicle to be monitored;

b) enabling a set-up mode on the electronic device;

c) searching for wireless signals using the electronic device;

d) displaying, on a display of the electronic device, the identity of a transmitting device transmitting the/or each detected signal; and

e) enabling a user to select a transmitting device known to be on, or otherwise associated with, the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11 comprising selecting a transmitting device which is installed on the vehicle for purposes other than monitoring driver behaviour.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the selected transmitting device forms part of an entertainment or communication system.

14. The method of claim 11 comprising storing the identity of the selected transmitting device in the memory of the electronic device and/or transmitting the identity to a remote server together with information identifying the electronic device and/or driver and/or vehicle.

15. The method of claim 1 comprising providing a self-contained wireless transmitting device which transmits a wireless signal conveying an identity of the device and placing the device on the vehicle.

28. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer software comprising instructions which, when executed by a mobile personal electronic device, perform the method of claim 1.

16. A personal mobile electronic device adapted for monitoring operation of a vehicle by a driver, in order to monitor driver behaviour, the device comprising:

a) an electronic signal detector arranged to detect wireless signals and read an identity of a transmitting device transmitted by the signal;

b) a memory;

c) a wireless communication system for communicating with a remote server via a communications network;

d) a positioning device and/or a motion sensor; and

e) a processor arranged to determine if an identity of a transmitting device read by the electronic signal detector is stored in the memory of the electronic device and/or stored on the remote server in association with information identifying the electronic device or driver by accessing the server via the communications network;

wherein

f) the processor is arranged to enable operation of the positioning device to determine the position of the electronic device and/or activate the motion sensor if the identity of a transmitting device read by the electronic signal detector is stored in the memory of the electronic device and/or stored on the remote server in association with information identifying the electronic device or driver, thereby to detect movement of the electronic device.

17. The personal mobile electronic device of claim 16 wherein the processor is arranged to store data relating to movement of the electronic device in the memory and/or to transmit the data to the remote server, thereby to record details of a journey made by the vehicle when operation of the positioning device has been enabled and the positioning device has determined a position of the electronic device.

18. The personal mobile electronic device of claim 17 wherein the processor is arranged so that if the wireless signal of the transmitting device with an identity stored in the memory of the electronic device and/or on the server is no longer detected recording details of the journey is stopped.

19. The personal mobile electronic device of claim 16 wherein the processor is arranged, following enabling operation of the positioning device and/or motion sensor, to:

a) determine, using the positioning device and/or motion sensor, if the electronic device is moving; and

b) if the electronic device is moving, to store data relating to movement of the device in the memory and/or transmit the data to a remote server, thereby to record details of a journey made by the vehicle.

20. The personal mobile electronic device of claim 19 wherein the processor is further arranged to perform step b) only if movement of the electronic device at or above a threshold speed is detected.

21. The personal mobile electronic device of claim 19 wherein the processor is arranged so that if the wireless signal of the transmitting device with an identity stored in the memory of the electronic device and/or server is no longer detected and no further movement of the electronic device is detected recording details of the journey is stopped.

22. The personal mobile electronic device of claim 16 wherein the processor runs an operating system and the operating system is arranged to cause the apparatus to detect wireless signals.

23. The personal mobile electronic device of claim 22 wherein a software application for monitoring operation of a vehicle is stored in the memory and the operating system is arranged to start the application when a wireless signal is detected, whereupon the software application causes the processor to determine if the identity of the transmitting device producing the detected signal is stored in the memory of the electronic device and/or on the remote server.

24. The personal mobile electronic device of claim 23 wherein, if the identity of the transmitting device is not stored in the memory of the electronic device and/or on the remote server, the software application is configured to close or enter into a dormant or background state.

25. The personal mobile electronic device of claim 23 wherein the operating system is configured to start the application, if the application is not already running, only when a pairing event takes place with a transmitting device.

26. The personal mobile electronic device of claim 16 comprising:

a) a display; and

b) a user input device; and

wherein

c) the processor is arranged to enable a user to enter a set up mode, and further arranged so that when the set up mode is entered it causes the wireless signal detector to detect wireless signals and to display on the display the identity of a transmitting device transmitting the/or each detected signal, and to enable a user to select, using the input device, a transmitting device known to be on, or otherwise associated with, the vehicle.

27. The personal mobile electronic device of claim 26 wherein the processor is configured to store the identity of a selected transmitting device in the memory and/or to cause the wireless communication system to transmitting the identity to the remote server, together with information identifying the electronic device and/or driver.