# US 2016/0258757 A1 · Method for tracking a path taken by a vehicle

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2016/0258757 A1
- Document ID: US20160258757A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/640,942
- Filed: 2015-03-06
- Published: 2016-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2015-03-06
- Assignees: Tallysman Wireless Inc.
- Applicants: Tallysman Wireless Inc.
- Inventors: John Benjamin HECKMAN; David Graham POWELL; Gyles PANTHER
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160258757A1

## CPC

- G01S 5/0027: {of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile}
- H04W 4/029: Location-based management or tracking services
- H04W 4/027: {using movement velocity, acceleration information}
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices relating to tracking a vehicle on its journey. At predetermined reporting time intervals, the vehicle's location is determined using GNSS and a current vector is calculated based on a current location and an immediately preceding location. The difference between the current vector and the immediately preceding vector is then determined and this difference is stored in the data packet. The data packet is transmitted to the base station using a two-way radio data link at select predetermined transmission time intervals. The data in the data packet is encoded to minimize the number of bits needed to store each data point.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for logging a track travelled by a vehicle, the method comprising:
a) determining an initial location for said vehicle;
b) storing said initial location in a data packet;
c) after a predetermined reporting time interval, determining a subsequent location for said vehicle;
d) determining an initial displacement vector for said vehicle based on said initial location and said subsequent location;
e) storing said initial displacement vector in a data packet;
f) at predetermined reporting time intervals, executing steps f1)-f4):
f1) determining a new location for said vehicle;
f2) determining a new displacement vector based on said new location and an immediately preceding location;
f3) determining a vector difference between said new vector and an immediately preceding vector; and
f4) storing said difference vector in said data packet.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1 further including a step of transmitting said data packet to a base station at select predetermined transmission time intervals.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A method according to claim 2 wherein said data packet is transmitted using radio signals.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1 wherein said initial location is determined by reference to a GNSS satellite.

### Claim 5

A method according to 1 wherein data is encoded prior to being saved in said data packet.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1 wherein coordinates for said current location and said immediately preceding location are determined using GNSS.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1 wherein displacement vectors are calculated as a vector difference between coordinates of said current location and said immediately preceding location.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1 wherein said initial displacement vector is determined by calculating a vector difference between coordinates of said initial location and said subsequent location.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1 further including a step of storing at least one scaling factor in said data packet, said at least one scaling factor being for scaling said displacement and difference vectors.

### Claim 10 (depends on 2)

A method according to claim 2 wherein said predetermined reporting time interval is shorter than said predetermined transmission time intervals.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1 wherein said predetermined reporting time interval is adjustable by said system.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1 further comprising acquiring position data detailing said vehicle's position at specific position time intervals, said position time intervals being shorter than said reporting time intervals.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

A method according to claim 12 wherein said system adjusts said predetermined reporting time interval based on said position data, an adjusted reporting time interval being stored in said data packet.

### Claim 14

A method for recreating a path taken by a vehicle on a journey, the method comprising:
a) retrieving a data packet compiled during said journey;
b) retrieving an initial location from said data packet;
c) retrieving an initial displacement vector from said data packet;
d) determining a current location based on said initial displacement vector and said initial location;
e) repeating steps e1)-e3):
e1) retrieving a difference vector from said data packet;
e2) determining a current displacement vector based on said difference vector and an immediately preceding displacement vector; and
e3) determining a new current location based on said current displacement vector, and an immediately preceding location.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

A method according to claim 14 wherein step e2) comprises adding said difference vector with said immediately preceding displacement vector to result in said current displacement vector.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

A method according to claim 14 further including a step of retrieving at least one scaling factor from said data packet and multiplying displacement and difference vectors by said at least one scaling factor.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

A method according to claim 14 further including a step of retrieving at least one time interval factor from said data packet and using said time interval factor for steps e1) to e3), said time interval factor being related to said reporting time interval.

### Claim 18

Computer readable media having encoded thereon computer readable instructions which, when executed by a data processing system, implements a method for logging a track travelled by a vehicle, the method comprising:
a) determining an initial location for said vehicle;
b) storing said initial location in a data packet;
c) after a predetermined reporting time interval, determining a subsequent location for said vehicle;
d) determining an initial displacement vector for said vehicle based on said initial location and said subsequent location;
e) storing said initial displacement vector in a data packet;
f) at predetermined reporting time intervals, executing steps f1)-f4):
f1) determining a new location for said vehicle;
f2) determining a new displacement vector based on said new location and an immediately preceding location;
f3) determining a vector difference between said new displacement vector and an immediately preceding displacement vector; and
f4) storing said difference vector in said data packet.

### Claim 19

Computer readable media having encoded thereon computer readable instructions which, when executed by a data processing system, implements a method for recreating a path taken by a vehicle on a journey, the method comprising:
a) retrieving a data packet compiled during said journey;
b) retrieving an initial location from said data packet;
c) retrieving an initial displacement vector from said data packet;
d) determining a current location based on said initial displacement vector and said initial location;
e) repeating steps e1)-e3):
e1) retrieving a difference vector from said data packet;
e2) determining a current displacement vector based on said difference vector and an immediately preceding displacement vector; and
e3) determining a new current location based on said current displacement vector and an immediately preceding location.