Vehicle tracker mileage-time monitor and calibrator
AssigneeTrimble Navigation Limited
InventorsJohn F. Schipper, Eric B. Rodal, James M. Janky, David J. Cowl
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for monitoring location and speed of a vehicle, using a location determination system such as GPS, GLONASS or LORAN and an optional odometer or speedometer, for determining and recording the locations and times at which vehicle speed is less than a threshold speed for at least a threshold time (called a "vehicle arrest event"). Vehicle arrest event locations, times and time intervals are stored and/or printed to provide trip and mileage records and for efficiency monitoring. A vehicle odometer and/or speedometer can also be calibrated and/or corrected using this approach.
Claims34
Apparatus for determination of the length of a path traveled by a vehicle at a sequence of selected times, the apparatus comprising:
- a location determination (LD) unit, transported by a vehicle, that receives and processes LD signals to determine location coordinates of a present location L and speed v of the LD unit at one or more selected observation times and to determine a location at which a vehicle arrest event occurs, at which the LD unit speed v is no greater than a selected positive speed threshold for a continuous time interval of length .DELTA.t that is greater than a selected positive time interval length;
- and
- a distance measuring mechanism that measures a cumulative distance traveled by the vehicle from a selected earlier time to the present time.
A method for determination of the length of a path traveled by a vehicle at a sequence of selected times, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving and processing location determination (LD) signals at an LD unit, transported by a vehicle, and determining location coordinates of a present location L and speed v of the LD unit at one or more selected observation times, and determining a location at which an vehicle arrest event occurs, at which the LD unit speed v is no greater than a selected positive speed threshold for a continuous time interval of length .DELTA.t that is greater than a selected positive time interval length;
- and
- estimating and recording the distance traveled by the vehicle from a selected earlier time to the present time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.