Data integrity verification device

• US 20050171650A1
• Filed: 01/28/2005
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Mechatronic Systems Inc. (Trak Global Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Intelligent Mechatronic Systems Inc. (Trak Global Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Bullock, David, Basir, Otman Adam
• Granted Patent: US 8,600,604 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0883 wherein the data carrier is removable

Abstract

This invention is a system and process for determining and verifying the voracity of data gathered for use in recording and tracking vehicle usage. The device operates to verify and detect events that may affect data integrity by sensing a condition indicative of faulty data acquisition or of corruption of data integrity. Data evidencing potential problems are encoded and included with normal data uploaded to a central server. The central server compares the encoded entries against criteria that have been determined to indicate potential data inconsistencies.

Claims

1. A method of verifying data integrity comprising the steps of:

a) sensing a condition indicative of faulty data acquisition integrity collected by a device;

b) storing data indicative of the sensed condition as an encoded entry;

c) forwarding the encoded entry with other acquired data to a central processor; and

d) evaluating the encoded entry against predetermined criteria.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, where step a) comprises sensing a power condition of the device and retrieving information indicative of movement responsive to an off power condition.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, comprising detecting movement with a vibration sensor.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, comprising indicating a possibility of data integrity fault responsive data indicative of movement occurring substantially concurrently with the off power condition.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, where step a) comprises sensing entry to unauthorized portions of a device.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, where step a) comprises sensing movement of a data acquisition device

7. The method as recited in claim 1, where the device is installed in a motor vehicle and collects data indicative of vehicle usage.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, where the device includes a back up power system for powering the device during an off power condition of the motor vehicle.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, where step a) comprises analyzing data gathered by the device for patterns indicative of faulty data acquisition.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, where step d) is performed at a location remote from the data acquisition device.

10. The method as recited in claim 10, where the pattern indicative of faulty data acquisition includes an identical repeating pattern of vehicle usage.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, where the pattern indicative of faulty data acquisition includes repeating patterns of vehicle usage for different vehicles.

12. The method as recited in claim 10, where the pattern indicative of faulty data acquisition includes detecting a mis-match between the device and a specific vehicle.

14. A device for acquiring data indicative of vehicle usage comprising:

a power module including a connection to an external power source, and an internal power source for powering said device independent of the external power source;

an first sensor for detecting motion of said device;

a memory device for storing data indicative of vehicle usage; and

a controller programmed to collect data from said first sensor responsive to the power module not receiving power from the external power source.

15. The device as recited in claim 15, where said controller encodes data for analysis by an authorized user and stores said encoded data in said memory device.

17. The device as recited in claim 15, where said first sensor comprises a vibration sensor disposed within said device and powered by said internal power source when the power module is not receiving power from the external power source.

18. The device as recited in claim 15 including a second sensor for indicating unauthorized access to a restricted portion of said device.

19. The device as recited in claim 15, including a physical indicator of unauthorized access to said device.

16. The device as recited in claim 16, where said encoded data is transmitted to a central server for analysis.