SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VEHICLE MONITORING WITH PROCESSING INTERRUPTION TOLERANCE

• US 20120290166A1
• Filed: 05/13/2011
• Published: 11/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnitracs LLC (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Omnitracs LLC (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wallace, Charles L., Basin, Ernest, DeWall, Eric G., van Gool, Sjef, Somla, Rajendra K., Deninger, Daniel A., Woody, Douglas C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,589,019 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/00 Methods or arrangements for processing data by operating upon the order or content of the data handled logic circuits H03K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/00 Registering or indicating the working of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

Embodiments relate to systems and methods for vehicle monitoring with processing interruption tolerance. One or more vehicle sensors can transmit one or more data streams to a primary data processing system via a data channel. A secondary data buffer can be coupled to the data channel to continuously capture the set of data streams and/or subsets thereof. During normal operation, the set of data streams are processed by the primary data processing system. After a limited-duration fault occurs in the primary data processing system, it can recover by accessing the backup data in the secondary data buffer. The lost data can be retrieved from the secondary data buffer using timestamp information to process the data in its original time context and to ensure that no already-processed data is included. The set of data streams can be downsampled or decimated in the secondary data buffer to extend storage capacity.

Claims

1. A method of processing vehicle data, comprising:

receiving one or more data streams generated by a set of vehicle sensors in a primary data processing system, wherein data in the one or more data streams is associated with respective timestamps;

storing at least a selected subset of the one or more data streams and the timestamps in a secondary data processing system;

responding to a fault condition in the processing of the one or more data streams in the primary data processing system; and

recovering lost data in the one or more data streams caused by the fault condition based on the at least a selected subset of the one or more data streams and the timestamps stored in the secondary data processing system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the primary data processing system is configured to process the one or more data streams on an other than live basis.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a timestamp of a last-processed data element in the one or more data streams that was processed by the primary data processing system prior to the fault condition.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein recovering the lost data comprises—

comparing the timestamp of the last-processed data element to the timestamps associated with the at least a selected subset of the one or more data streams, and

restarting the processing of the at least a selected subset by the primary data processing system at a timestamp which next follows the timestamp of the last-processed data element.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein recovering the lost data comprises discarding at least a portion of the one or more data streams when the timestamp of the last-processed data element can not be determined.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein recovering the lost data comprises retrieving a set of saved state data of the primary data processing system to restore the primary data processing system to a state that existed at the time of the fault condition.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein recovering the lost data comprises discarding at least a portion of the one or more data streams when the set of saved state data of the primary data processing system can not be retrieved.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary data processing system is configured to overwrite previously stored data in the secondary data processing system upon reaching a storage capacity limit of the secondary data processing system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary data processing system comprises an electronic memory.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the electronic memory comprises a circular buffer.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected subset of the one or more data streams comprises a subset of the one or more data streams sampled at a different sampling rate than the one or more data streams received by the primary data processing system.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the different sampling rate comprises a reduced sampling rate.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected subset of the one or more data streams comprises a subset of the one or more data streams captured at a different bit resolution than the one or more data streams received by the primary data processing system.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the different bit resolution comprises a reduced bit resolution.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of vehicle sensors comprises at least one of a speed sensor, an odometer device, an ignition status sensor, a tachometer sensor, an acceleration sensor, a brake status sensor, a vehicle position sensor, a temperature sensor, or a wheel position sensor.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more data streams comprises at least one data stream derived from an odometer device, and wherein the primary data processing system is configured to accumulate an absolute mileage value over one or more resets of the odometer device.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the timestamps are generated by a time reference having a maximum time interval.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising—

determining that the time reference has been reset after reaching the maximum time interval, and

preserving a time order of the timestamps after the time reference has been reset.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising removing one or more portions of the stored data after a period of time, wherein the period of time is based on the maximum time interval.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the responding to the fault condition comprises initiating a restart process in the primary data processing system.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least a selected subset comprises the entire one or more data streams.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary data processing system comprises a vehicle input/output processor.

23. A system for processing vehicle data, comprising:

an interface to a set of vehicle sensors generating one or more data streams, the one or more data streams having an associated timestamps;

a secondary data processing system, communicating with the set of vehicle sensors via the interface, and being configured to store at least a selected subset of the one or more data streams and the timestamps; and

a primary data processing system, communicating with the set of vehicle sensors and with the secondary data processing system, and configured to—

receive the one or more data streams,

respond to a fault condition in the processing of the one or more data streams in the primary data processing system, and

recover lost data in the one or more data streams caused by the fault condition based on the at least a selected subset of the one or more data streams and the timestamps stored in the secondary data processing system.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the primary data processing system is configured to process the one or more data streams on an other than live basis.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the primary data processing system is further configured to determine a timestamp of a last-processed data element in the one or more data streams that was processed by the primary data processing system prior to the fault condition.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the primary data processing system is further configured to—

compare the timestamp of the last-processed data element to the timestamps of the at least a selected subset of the one or more data streams, and

restart the processing of the at least a selected subset by the primary data processing system at a timestamp which next follows the timestamp of the last-processed data element.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the primary data processing system is further configured to discard at least a portion of the one or more data streams when the timestamp of the last-processed data element can not be determined.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein the primary data processing system is further configured to retrieve a set of saved state data of the primary data processing system to restore the primary data processing system to a state that existed at the time of the fault condition.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the primary data processing system is further configured to discard at least a portion of the one or more data streams when the set of saved state data of the primary data processing system can not be retrieved.

30. The system of claim 23, wherein the secondary data processing system is configured to overwrite previously stored data in the secondary data processing system upon reaching a storage capacity limit of the secondary data processing system.

31. The system of claim 23, wherein the secondary data processing system comprises an electronic memory.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the electronic memory comprises a circular buffer.

33. The system of claim 23, wherein the selected subset of the one or more data streams comprises a subset of the one or more data streams sampled at a different sampling rate than the one or more data streams received by the primary data processing system.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the different sampling rate comprises a reduced sampling rate.

35. The system of claim 23, wherein the selected subset of the one or more data streams comprises a subset of the one or more data streams captured at a different bit resolution than the one or more data streams received by the primary data processing system.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the different bit resolution comprises a reduced bit resolution.

37. The system of claim 23, wherein the set of vehicle sensors comprises at least one of a speed sensor, an odometer device, an ignition status sensor, a tachometer sensor, an acceleration sensor, a brake status sensor, a vehicle position sensor, a temperature sensor, or a wheel position sensor.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the one or more data streams comprises at least one data stream derived from an odometer device, and wherein the primary data processing system is configured to accumulate an absolute mileage value over one or more resets of the odometer device.

39. The system of claim 23, wherein the timestamps are generated by a time reference having a maximum time interval.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the primary data processing system is further configured to—

determine that the time reference has been reset after reaching the maximum time interval, and

preserve a time order of the timestamps after the time reference has been reset.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein the secondary data processing system is further configured to remove one or more portions of the stored data after a period of time, wherein the period of time is based on the maximum time interval.

42. The system of claim 23, wherein the primary data processing system is further configured to respond to the fault condition by initiating a restart process in the primary data processing system.

43. The system of claim 23, wherein the at least a selected subset comprises the entire one or more data streams.

44. The system of claim 23, wherein the secondary data processing system comprises a vehicle input/output processor.

45. A system for processing vehicle data, comprising:

first means for providing an interface to a set of vehicle sensor means generating one or more data streams having an associated timestamps;

second means for providing a secondary data processing system, communicating with the set of vehicle sensor means via the interface, and being configured to store at least a selected subset of the one or more data streams and the timestamps; and

third means for providing a primary data processing system, communicating with the set of vehicle sensor means and with the second means for providing the secondary data processing system, and configured to—

receive the one or more data streams,

respond to a fault condition in the processing of the one or more data streams in the primary data processing system, and

recover lost data in the one or more data streams caused by the fault condition based on the at least a selected subset of the one or more data streams and the timestamps stored in the secondary data processing system.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the third means for providing a primary data processing system is configured to process the one or more data streams on an other than live basis.

47. The system of claim 45, wherein the third means for providing a primary data processing system is further configured to determine a timestamp of a last-processed data element in the one or more data streams that was processed by the third means for providing a primary data processing system prior to the fault condition.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the third means for providing a primary data processing system is further configured to—

compare the timestamp of the last-processed data element to the timestamps of the at least a selected subset of the one or more data streams, and

restart the processing of the at least a selected subset by the third means for providing a primary data processing system at a timestamp which next follows the timestamp of the last-processed data element.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the third means for providing a primary data processing system is further configured to discard at least a portion of the one or more data streams when the timestamp of the last-processed data element can not be determined.

50. The system of claim 45, wherein the third means for providing a primary data processing system is further configured to retrieve a set of saved state data of the third means for providing a primary data processing system to restore the third means for providing a primary data processing system to a state that existed at the time of the fault condition.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the third means for providing a primary data processing system is further configured to discard at least a portion of the one or more data streams when the set of saved state data of the third means for providing a primary data processing system can not be retrieved.

52. The system of claim 45, wherein the second means for providing a secondary data processing system is configured to overwrite previously stored data in the second means for providing secondary data processing system upon reaching a storage capacity limit of the second means for providing a secondary data processing system.

53. The system of claim 45, wherein the secondary data processing system comprises fourth means for providing an electronic memory.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the fourth means for providing an electronic memory comprises fifth means for providing a circular buffer.

55. The system of claim 45, wherein the selected subset of the one or more data streams comprises a subset of the one or more data streams sampled at a different sampling rate than the one or more data streams received by the third means for providing a primary data processing system.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein the different sampling rate comprises a reduced sampling rate.

57. The system of claim 45, wherein the selected subset of the one or more data streams comprises a subset of the one or more data streams captured at a different bit resolution than the one or more data streams received by the third means for providing a primary data processing system.

58. The system of claim 55, wherein the different bit resolution comprises a reduced bit resolution.

59. The system of claim 45, wherein the set of vehicle sensor means comprises at least one of a speed sensor means, an odometer device means, an ignition status sensor means, a tachometer sensor means, an acceleration sensor means, a brake status sensor means, a vehicle position sensor means, a temperature sensor means, or a wheel position sensor means.

60. The system of claim 59, wherein the one or more data streams comprises at least one data stream derived from an odometer device means, and wherein the third means for providing a primary data processing system is configured to accumulate an absolute mileage value over one or more resets of the odometer device means.

61. The system of claim 45, wherein the timestamps are generated by a time reference means having a maximum time interval.

62. The system of claim 61, wherein the third means for providing a primary data processing system is further configured to—

determine that the time reference means has been reset after reaching the maximum time interval, and

preserve a time order of the timestamps after the time reference means has been reset.

63. The system of claim 61, wherein the second means for providing a secondary data processing system is further configured to remove one or more portions of the stored data after a period of time, wherein the period of time is based on the maximum time interval.

64. The system of claim 45, wherein the third means for providing a primary data processing system is further configured to respond to the fault condition by initiating a restart process in the third means for providing a primary data processing system.

65. The system of claim 45, wherein the at least a selected subset comprises the entire one or more data streams.

66. The system of claim 45, wherein the second means for providing a secondary data processing system comprises fifth means for providing a vehicle input/output processor.

67. A computer program product, comprising:

computer-readable medium comprising;

at least one instruction for causing a computer to receive one or more data streams generated by a set of vehicle sensors in a primary data processing system, the one or more data streams having an associated timestamps;

at least one instruction for causing a computer to store at least a selected subset of the one or more data streams and the timestamps in a secondary data processing system;

at least one instruction for causing a computer to respond to a fault condition in the processing of the one or more data streams in the primary data processing system; and

at least one instruction for causing a computer to recover lost data in the one or more data streams caused by the fault condition based on the at least a selected subset of the one or more data streams and the timestamps stored in the secondary data processing system.

68. The computer program product of claim 67, wherein the primary data processing system is configured to process the one or more data streams on an other than live basis.

69. The computer program product of claim 67, further comprising at least one instruction for causing a computer to determine a timestamp of a last-processed data element in the one or more data streams that was processed by the primary data processing system prior to the fault condition.

70. The computer program product of claim 69, wherein the at least one instruction for causing a computer to recover the lost data comprises—

at least one instruction for causing a computer to compare the timestamp of the last-processed data element to the timestamps of the at least a selected subset of the one or more data streams, and

at least one instruction for causing a computer to restart the processing of the at least a selected subset by the primary data processing system at a timestamp which next follows the timestamp of the last-processed data element.

71. The computer program product of claim 70, wherein the at least one instruction for causing a computer to recover the lost data comprises at least one instruction for causing a computer to discard at least a portion of the one or more data streams when the timestamp of the last-processed data element can not be determined.

72. The computer program product of claim 67, wherein the at least one instruction for causing a computer to recovering the lost data comprises at least one instruction for causing a computer to retrieve a set of saved state data of the primary data processing system to restore the primary data processing system to a state that existed at the time of the fault condition.

73. The computer program product of claim 72, wherein the at least one instruction for causing a computer to recover the lost data comprises at least one instruction for causing a computer to discard at least a portion of the one or more data streams when the set of saved state data of the primary data processing system can not be retrieved.

74. The computer program product of claim 67, wherein the secondary data processing system is configured to overwrite previously stored data in the secondary data processing system upon reaching a storage capacity limit of the secondary data processing system.

75. The computer program product of claim 67, wherein the secondary data processing system comprises an electronic memory.

76. The computer program product of claim 75, wherein the electronic memory comprises a circular buffer.

77. The computer program product of claim 67, wherein the selected subset of the one or more data streams comprises a subset of the one or more data streams sampled at a different sampling rate than the one or more data streams received by the primary data processing system.

78. The computer program product of claim 77, wherein the different sampling rate comprises a reduced sampling rate.

79. The computer program product of claim 67, wherein the selected subset of the one or more data streams comprises a subset of the one or more data streams captured at a different bit resolution than the one or more data streams received by the primary data processing system.

80. The computer program product of claim 79, wherein the different bit resolution comprises a reduced bit resolution.

81. The computer program product of claim 67, wherein the set of vehicle sensors comprises at least one of a speed sensor, an odometer device, an ignition status sensor, a tachometer sensor, an acceleration sensor, a brake status sensor, a vehicle position sensor, a temperature sensor, or a wheel position sensor.

82. The computer program product of claim 81, wherein the one or more data streams comprises at least one data stream derived from an odometer device, and wherein the primary data processing system is configured to accumulate an absolute mileage value over one or more resets of the odometer device.

83. The computer program product of claim 67, wherein the timestamps are generated by a time reference having a maximum time interval.

84. The computer program product of claim 83, further comprising—

at least one instruction for causing a computer to determine that the time reference has been reset after reaching the maximum time interval, and

at least one instruction for causing a computer to preserve a time order of the timestamps after the time reference has been reset.

85. The computer program product of claim 83, further comprising at least one instruction for causing a computer to remove one or more portions of the stored data after a period of time, wherein the period of time is based on the maximum time interval.

86. The computer program product of claim 67, wherein the at least one instruction for causing a computer to respond to the fault condition comprises at least one instruction for causing a computer to initiate a restart process in the primary data processing system.

87. The computer program product of claim 67, wherein the at least a selected subset comprises the entire one or more data streams.

88. The computer program product of claim 67, wherein the secondary data processing system comprises a vehicle input/output processor.