System for remote monitoring of a vehicle and method of determining vehicle mileage, jurisdiction crossing and fuel consumption

• US 20030163249A1
• Filed: 02/26/2002
• Published: 08/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NNT, Inc.
• Original Assignee: NNT, Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Andrew, Chang, Sam, Kapolka, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 6,714,857 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/123
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

A monitoring system that determines vehicle position and fuel consumption in a jurisdiction, and jurisdiction crossings. The system includes a vehicle having a fuel reservoir from which fuel is consumed as an energy source. The system also includes a positioning system for generating the present position information of the vehicle. The information includes latitude and longitude data points. Additionally, the system includes a fuel monitoring device in the fuel reservoir, whereby the fuel monitoring means generates information including the present level of fuel in the fuel reservoir. Also, a data collection device for collecting the present position information and the present level of fuel information. Finally, the system includes a processor located at a remote site from the vehicle, the processor receives data from the collecting device. The processor determines when the vehicle crosses a jurisdiction border and computes the fuel consumption in the jurisdiction, the fuel consumption data can then be later used to compute the fuel tax.

Claims

1. An electronic monitoring system that determines vehicle position, fuel consumption in a jurisdiction, and jurisdiction crossings, said system comprising:

a vehicle having a fuel reservoir from which fuel is consumed as an energy source;

a positioning system for generating present position information including latitude and longitude information of said vehicle;

a fuel monitoring means in said fuel reservoir, whereby said fuel monitoring means generates information including the present level of fuel in said fuel reservoir;

a data collection device for collecting said present position information and said present level of fuel information; and

a processor located remote from said vehicle, said processor receives data from said collecting device wherein said processor determines when said vehicle crosses a jurisdiction border and computes said fuel consumption in said jurisdiction.

2. The system claimed in claim 1, wherein said positioning system is a global positioning system receiver.

3. The system claimed in claim 1, wherein said positioning system is a LORAN receiver.

4. The processor claimed in claim 1, wherein said processor receives said data from said collecting device through a wireless network.

5. The fuel monitoring means claimed in claim 1, wherein fuel monitoring means is parameter identification information.

6. The system claimed in claim 1, wherein said positioning device further generates present bearing data of said vehicle.

7. The system claimed in claim 1, wherein said collecting device further collects said bearing data.

8. An electronic monitoring system that determines a jurisdictional crossing from a remote location, said system comprising:

a vehicle;

a positioning system for generating present position information including latitude and longitude information of said vehicle;

a data collection device for collecting said present position information; and

a processor located remote from said vehicle, said processor receives data from said collecting device wherein said processor determines when said vehicle crosses a jurisdiction border.

9. The system claimed in claim 8, wherein said positioning system is a global positioning system receiver.

10. The system claimed in claim 9, wherein said positioning system is a LORAN receiver.

11. The system claimed in claim 10, wherein said processor receives said data from said collecting device through a wireless network.

12. The system claimed in claim 11, wherein said positioning device further generates present bearing data of said vehicle.

13. The system claimed in claim 12, wherein said collecting device further collects said bearing data.