Monitoring vehicle positions
AssigneeMinorPlant Limited
InventorsChristopher G. Harrison, Jeffrey C. Morris
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A data monitoring apparatus uses a GPS receiver, micro controller, a plurality of sensors and actuators, a memory, a radio transmitter and a data communication antennae. The apparatus accumulates real-time data concerning position and time and other operational parameters of a geographically mobile object for example a vehicle for transmission to a monitoring station. Transmission channel utility may be improved through transmission of accumulated historical data to a separate monitoring station.
Claims42
A method of monitoring a geographically moveable object, said method comprising:
- substantially continuously receiving geographic position data at said geographically moveable object;
- recording a first set of data representing the absolute geographic position of said object at a first position;
- creating relative position data from a difference between the absolute position data of a given position and the position data of a different preceding recorded position;
- and
- recording a second set of position data representing a second position of said object relative to said first position.
Apparatus for monitoring a geographically moveable object, said apparatus comprising:
- means for substantially continuously receiving geographic position data at said geographically moveable object;
- means for recording a first set of data representing the absolute geographic position of said object at said first position;
- means for creating relative position data from a difference between an absolute position data of a given position and the position data of a different preceding recorded position;
- and
- means for recording a second set of position data representing a second position of said object relative to said first position.
A method of monitoring a geographically moving object, said method comprising:
- (a) generating n-bit digital data signals representing a sequence of absolute geographic positions of said object and recording at least one of said n-bit signals;
- (b) generating a series of m-bit digital data signals, each representing a relative object geographic position based on a calculated difference between one of said further n-bit digital data signals and an earlier generated n-bit digital data signal, m being an integer that is less than n;
- and
- (c) recording said m-bit digital data signals thereby reducing the amount of recorded data representing historical past geographical positions of said object.
Apparatus for monitoring a geographically moving object, said means comprising:
- (a) means for generating n-bit digital data signals representing a sequence of absolute geographic positions of said object and recording at least one of said n-bit signals;
- (b) means for generating a series of m-bit digital data signals, each representing a relative object geographic position based on a calculated difference between one of said n-bit digital data signals and an earlier generated n-bit digital data signal, m being an integer that is less than n;
- and
- (c) means for recording said m-bit digital data signals thereby reducing the amount of recorded data representing historical past geographical positions of said object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.