Method and apparatus for determining and storing excessive vehicle speed

• US 20070213896A1
• Filed: 03/08/2006
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Octo Advisory Inc.
• Original Assignee: Speed Demon Inc.
• Inventors: Fischer, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 8,731,770 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/35
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/122 Speed recorders
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/14 for permanent recording G01P1/125 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages

Abstract

The present invention is a data logger for collecting information about operation of vehicle for monitoring by a parent or supervisor. The data logger includes speed limits for highway and local streets. The data logger includes an algorithm estimating whether the vehicle is being operated on a highway or local street. An alert status is determined when the corresponding speed limit is exceeded. Alert information is recorded for later display and review by the parent or supervisor.

Claims

1. A data logger transported within a vehicle for storing information relating to operation of the vehicle, the data logger comprising:

a GPS receiver providing information relating to operation of the vehicle, including speed of the vehicle;

a memory for storing information relating to operation of the vehicle;

first speeding means receiving information from the GPS receiver and determining when speed of the vehicle exceeds a first limit;

second speeding means for receiving information from the GPS receiver and determining when speed of the vehicle exceeds a second limit for less than a predetermined period of time; and

first storing means for storing information relating to operation of the vehicle in the memory when the first speeding means determines that the speed of the vehicle exceeds the first limit; and

second storing means for storing information relating to operation of the vehicle in the memory when the second speeding means determines that the speed of the vehicle exceeds the second limit for less than a predetermined period of time.

2. The data logger according to claim 1, further comprising:

an LED; and

means for illuminating the LED when information is stored in the memory.

3. The data logger according to claim 1, wherein the first limit, second limit and predetermined period of time are stored in the memory.

4. The data logger according to claim 1, further comprising a receiver for receiving a signal setting the first limit.

5. The data logger according to claim 1, further comprising:

interference means for information from the GPS receiver and storing information relating to operation of the vehicle when the GPS receiver is not functioning properly.

6. A system for monitoring operation of a vehicle comprising:

a data logger transported within the vehicle for storing information relating to operation of the vehicle, the data logger including;

a GPS receiver providing information relating to operation of the vehicle, including speed of the vehicle;

a memory for storing information relating to operation of the vehicle;

first speeding means receiving information from the GPS receiver and determining when speed of the vehicle exceeds a first limit;

second speeding means for receiving information from the GPS receiver and determining when speed of the vehicle exceeds a second limit for less than a predetermined period of time; and

first storing means for storing information relating to operation of the vehicle in the memory when the first speeding means determines that the speed of the vehicle exceeds the first limit; and

second storing means for storing information relating to operation of the vehicle in the memory when the second speeding means determines that the speed of the vehicle exceeds the second limit for less than a predetermined period of time;

a computer system including;

a connector for connecting to the memory of the data logger to retrieve information relating to operation of the vehicle from the memory;

a computer memory storing at least one street map;

means for determining locations on the at least one street map corresponding to information relating to operation of the vehicle retrieved from the memory of the data logger; and

a display for displaying the at least one street map and the locations.

7. The system for monitoring operation of a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the computer system includes:

a first computer including the connector and the display;

a second computer including the computer memory and the means for determining locations; and

a communication system between the first computer and the second computer.

8. The system for monitoring operation of a vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the communication system includes a computer network.

9. A method for estimating whether a vehicle is exceeding the legal speed limit for a road when the vehicle is traveling on a first set of roads having a first legal speed limit and on a second set of roads having a second legal speed limit lower than the first legal speed limit, the method comprising the steps of:

determining the speed of the vehicle;

determining whether the speed of the vehicle exceeds the first legal speed limit;

determining whether the speed of the vehicle exceeds the second legal speed limit;

when the speed of the vehicle exceeds the second legal speed limit, determining a period of time during which the speed of the vehicle exceeds the second legal speed limit;

determining that the speed of the vehicle is exceeding the legal speed limit when one of the speed of the vehicle exceeds the first legal speed limit, and the period of time during which the speed of the vehicle exceeds the second legal speed limit is less than a predetermined time.