Method and system for remotely monitoring the operations of a vehicle

• US 7,880,599 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2007
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sierra Wireless America Incorporated (Sierra Wireless Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Numerex Corporation (Sierra Wireless Incorporated)
• Inventors: Jansson, Edward R., Murray, Tomás
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Phung
• Application Number:
  US12/002,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20080197992A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 340/441, 340/426.1, 340/426.11, 340/426.19, 340/539.13, 340/998, 340/426.13, 701/3, 701/213
• US Class Current: 340/441
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/304 Boats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/302 using recording means, e.g. black box
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/403 Power supply in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0251 using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A telemetry system coupled to a vehicle can communicate with a remote site using the overhead control channels of a wireless network, such as a cellular mobile radiotelephone network. The telemetry system can monitor or control aspects of the vehicle'"'"'s operations based on remote user input. The telemetry system can monitor a driver'"'"'s driving practices and report incidences that meet preset criteria, such as violating a speed limit for a selected amount of time or a crossing of a geographical boundary.

Claims

1. A method for remotely monitoring operations of a vehicle comprising:

receiving a speed measurement of the vehicle;

comparing the speed measurement to a first threshold;

measuring a time that the speed measurement exceeds the first threshold;

comparing the measured time to a second threshold;

sending a notification over a wireless network if the measured time exceeds the second threshold; and

sending additional notifications until the speed measurement reduces to an amount that is a percentage below the first threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification comprises a position of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification comprises the speed measurement.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

entering the first threshold into a graphical user interface; and

transmitting the entered first threshold to the vehicle via the wireless network, wherein the comparing step comprises comparing the speed measurement to the transmitted first threshold.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step comprises receiving the speed measurement from a global positioning sensor at the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification is sent over a control channel of the wireless network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step comprises receiving the speed measurement from a speedometer.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising ceasing sending the additional notifications when the speed measurement reduces below the amount.

9. A process for monitoring a vehicle, the process comprising:

receiving a speed threshold value at a vehicle telemetry system;

monitoring the speed of the vehicle using a microprocessor located at the vehicle;

determining that the speed of the vehicle exceeds the speed threshold value;

sending a message indicating that the speed of the vehicle exceeds the speed threshold value, wherein the message is sent over a control channel of a wireless network; and

sending additional messages until the speed of the vehicle reduces to an amount that is a percentage below the speed threshold value.

10. The process of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring the length of time the speed of the vehicle exceeds the speed threshold value;

comparing the length of time to a pre-set time limit; and

sending the message and the additional messages only when the length of time exceeds the pre-set time limit.

11. The process of claim 9, wherein the message and the additional messages are received by a data processing system and displayed using a web-based GUI.

12. The method process of claim 9, wherein the message further comprises a longitude, a latitude, and a speed for the vehicle.

13. The process of claim 9, wherein the indication that the speed of the vehicle exceeds the speed threshold value comprises a flag contained within the message.

14. The process of claim 9, further comprising receiving the speed of the vehicle from one of a global positioning sensor located at the vehicle and a speedometer located at the vehicle.

15. A method for monitoring a vehicle, the method comprising:

monitoring speed of the vehicle using a processor located at the vehicle;

determining whether the speed of the vehicle exceeds a speed threshold value;

in response to a determination that the speed of the vehicle exceeds the speed threshold value, sending a message indicating that the speed of the vehicle exceeds the speed threshold value; and

sending additional messages until the speed of the vehicle reduces to a predetermined value that is below the speed threshold value,

wherein each message transmits over a wireless network.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

monitoring a length of time the speed of the vehicle exceeds the speed threshold value;

comparing the length of time to a pre-set time limit; and

sending the additional messages only when the length of time exceeds the pre-set time limit.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the message and the additional messages are received by a data processing system and displayed using a web-based GUI.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the message further comprises at least one of a longitude, a latitude, a heading, and a speed for the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the message further comprises a position of the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein monitoring the speed comprises receiving a speed measurement from a global positioning sensor located at the vehicle.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein each message is sent over a control channel of the wireless network.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising ceasing sending the additional messages when the speed of the vehicle reduces below the predetermined value.