Vehicle supervision and monitoring

• US 6,556,905 B1
• Filed: 08/31/2000
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toronto-Dominion Bank
• Original Assignee: John Mittelsteadt, Lisa M. Mittelsteadt, Robert J. Crawford
• Inventors: Mittelsteadt, Lisa M., Mittelsteadt, John, Crawford, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US09/654,026
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 701/35, 701/24, 701/30, 701/31, 701/32, 701/33, 701/43, 701/213, 701/91, 701/96, 340/439, 340/438, 340/576, 340/905, 340/441
• US Class Current: 701/35
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0875 using magnetic data carriers
• 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

Vehicle monitoring arrangement tracks and records vehicle operation for post vehicle use supervision. In one specific embodiment, a record of vehicle-operation data contains periodic recordings of speed and direction of a vehicle while it was being driven, as such data is provided by a conventional electronic compass and the vehicle'"'"'s electronic speed indicating signal. A processor performs calculations using speed and directional data to calculate acceleration and rate of directional change. Vehicle operation data from the recording devices and the calculations performed is compared to stored reference data to determine if the vehicle was abused or driven in an unsafe manner by the operator. The data is output to a display showing vehicle operating data and instances where the vehicle was abused or driven in an unsafe manner.

Claims

1. A method for recording and subsequent monitoring of an operation of a vehicle comprising:

providing vehicle-operation data, including vehicle speed and direction parameters, obtained in real time as the vehicle is moving;

recording the vehicle-operation data;

processing vehicle-operation data and determining unacceptable vehicle operation and providing therefrom displayable data that is a function of said parameters; and

outputting the displayable data for vehicle operation analysis.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating vehicle-operation data includes data regarding at least one of:

vehicle speed, vehicle direction, engine speed, vehicle location, and distance traveled by vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein recording vehicle-operation data includes periodic sampling and storage of the time aligned vehicle-operation data and the time at which it was generated.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein processing vehicle-operation data includes calculating values for acceleration and rate of directional change.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein processing vehicle-operation data includes comparing vehicle-operation data and calculations made therefrom to reference vehicle-operation data parameters.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein reference vehicle-operation parameters include maximum acceptable threshold values.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein maximum acceptable threshold values are based on default setting.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein maximum acceptable threshold values are input by the vehicle supervisor.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein maximum acceptable threshold values are based on legal speed limits.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein legal speed limits are known based on the output regarding vehicle location and the legal speed limit at that location ascertained from a GPS system.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein outputting vehicle-operation data includes displaying the displayable data to the vehicle supervisor on an onboard display.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein outputting vehicle-operation data includes indicating incidents where maximum threshold parameters were exceeded.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein recording and subsequent monitoring of an operation of a vehicle is done remotely by communicating with the vehicle monitor.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein:

outputting further includes sending for display;

driver name, and date and time of threshold alarm data, and further including processing the vehicle-operation data as a function of programmable settings including at least two of the following;

an access code, types of thresholds, threshold levels, speed limits for vehicle turns, acceleration rate limit, deceleration rate limit, hours for which driving is prohibited, whether to activate remote communication access, designated regions of prohibited travel, maximum distance settings, whether activated thresholds, if any, should be communicated to certain drivers in response to programmed thresholds being exceeded, and how the recorded data should be processed.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the data collection arrangement further includes a RF-independent, vehicle-mounted direction sensor.

16. A method for recording and subsequent monitoring of an operation of a vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein providing vehicle-operation data includes using a RF-independent, vehicle-mounted direction sensor to provide the direction parameters.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the RF-independent, vehicle-mounted direction sensor is an electronic compass having an electrical-signal output that provides direction information.

18. A vehicle monitoring arrangement for recording and subsequent monitoring of an operation of a vehicle comprising:

means for collecting vehicle-operation data, including vehicle speed and direction parameters obtained in real time as the vehicle is moving;

means for recording the vehicle-operation data;

means for processing vehicle-operation data and determining unacceptable vehicle operation and providing therefrom displayable data that is a function of both the recorded vehicle speed and the directional parameters; and

means for outputting the displayable data for vehicle operation analysis.

19. A vehicle monitoring arrangement for recording and subsequent monitoring of an operation of a vehicle, according to claim 18, wherein the means for collecting vehicle-operation data includes a RF-independent, vehicle-mounted direction sensor.

20. A system for recording and subsequent monitoring of an operation of a vehicle comprising:

a data collection arrangement adapted to collect vehicle-operation data, including vehicle speed and direction parameters obtained in real time as the vehicle is moving;

a recording arrangement adapted to record the vehicle-operation data;

a processing arrangement adapted to process vehicle-operation data and determining vehicle operation and providing therefrom displayable data that is a function of both the recorded vehicle speed and the directional parameters; and

an outputting arrangement adapted to output the displayable data for vehicle operation analysis.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising a recording arrangement adapted to periodically sample vehicle-operation data from the arrangement and store the data along with the time at which it was generated.

22. The system of claim 20, further comprising a processing arrangement including a CPU adapted to retrieve the recorded vehicle-operation data and to process said data to determine displayable data that is a function of both the recorded vehicle speed and the directional parameters.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising a CPU adapted to calculate vehicle acceleration and vehicle rate of directional change.

24. The system of claim 22, further comprising a CPU adapted to compare recorded vehicle operation data and calculations made therefrom to reference vehicle operation data parameters including maximum acceptable threshold values.

25. A system for recording and subsequent monitoring of an operation of a vehicle, according to claim 20, wherein the data collection arrangement further includes a RF-independent, vehicle-mounted direction sensor.