Vehicle monitor
DCFirst Claim
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1. A method for monitoring a vehicle during operation, the method comprising:
- polling the vehicle for vehicle data using a sensor unit provided to the vehicle;
calculating a vehicle statistic from the vehicle data using the sensor unit;
updating a memory of the sensor unit with the vehicle statistic;
repeating the polling, calculating and updating steps periodically during operation of the vehicle;
wirelessly requesting and receiving the vehicle statistic from the memory using a processor provided in a portable device;
displaying the vehicle statistic on a display provided in the portable device;
storing a count of the number of times the sensor unit has been connected to the vehicle;
requesting and receiving the count at a first time using the portable device;
requesting and receiving the count at a second time using the portable device;
comparing the count received at the first and second times using the portable device; and
displaying a tampering signal if the count received at the first time is not equal to the count received at the second time.
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Abstract
A system and method is disclosed for monitoring a motor vehicle. The system includes a sensor unit for collecting at least one vehicle statistic and a portable device for displaying the vehicle statistics. The portable device requests the vehicle statistics from the sensor unit at regular intervals or in response to a particular event and displays statistics on a built-in display screen. In one embodiment, the portable device may be attached to the keys used to operate the vehicle being monitored.
224 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring a vehicle during operation, the method comprising:
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polling the vehicle for vehicle data using a sensor unit provided to the vehicle; calculating a vehicle statistic from the vehicle data using the sensor unit; updating a memory of the sensor unit with the vehicle statistic; repeating the polling, calculating and updating steps periodically during operation of the vehicle; wirelessly requesting and receiving the vehicle statistic from the memory using a processor provided in a portable device; displaying the vehicle statistic on a display provided in the portable device; storing a count of the number of times the sensor unit has been connected to the vehicle; requesting and receiving the count at a first time using the portable device; requesting and receiving the count at a second time using the portable device; comparing the count received at the first and second times using the portable device; and displaying a tampering signal if the count received at the first time is not equal to the count received at the second time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for monitoring a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a sensor unit configured to collect a vehicle statistic; and a portable device comprising; a processor configured to request and receive the vehicle statistic from the sensor unit; a display configured to display the vehicle statistic; and a transceiver configured to wirelessly communicate with the sensor unit; wherein the processor is configured to store a count of the number of times the sensor unit has been connected to the vehicle, request and receive the count at a first time, request and receive the count at a second time, compare the count received at the first and second times; and
display a tampering signal if the count received at the first time is not equal to the count received at the second time.- View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for monitoring a vehicle during operation, the method comprising:
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polling the vehicle for vehicle data using a sensor unit provided to the vehicle; calculating a vehicle statistic from the vehicle data using the sensor unit; updating a memory of the sensor unit with the vehicle statistic; repeating the polling, calculating and updating steps periodically during operation of the vehicle; wirelessly requesting and receiving the vehicle statistic from the memory using a processor provided in a portable device; and displaying the vehicle statistic on a display provided in the portable device; and when a reset is performed, the method further comprises; resetting the vehicle statistics to zero on the display on the portable device; storing a reset number on the portable device; sending the reset number to the sensor unit; comparing the reset number to a prior reset number; and resetting the memory on the sensor unit if the reset number does not equal the prior reset number.
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20. A system for monitoring a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a sensor unit configured to collect a vehicle statistic a portable device comprising; a processor configured to request and receive the vehicle statistic from the sensor unit; a display configured to display the vehicle statistic; and a transceiver configured to wirelessly communicate with the sensor unit, wherein when a reset command is received at the portable device to reset the vehicle statistic, the processor is configured to reset the vehicle statistic to zero on the display on the portable device, store a reset number on the portable device, send the reset number to the sensor unit, compare the reset number to a prior reset number; and
reset the memory on the sensor unit if the reset number does not equal the prior reset number.
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Specification