Event based gps tracking

Abstract

System and method for enabling predefined events to be used to trigger the collection of vehicle position data. A combination GSM device and GPS device is used to collect vehicle position data and to convey that position data to a remote computing device for review and/or analysis. There is a tradeoff between collecting too much data (cell phone bill is too high) and collecting too little data (value added analytics cannot be achieved without sufficient data). The concepts disclosed herein relate to method and apparatus to enable the data collection/transmission paradigm of such a GSM/GPS to be varied (or triggered) based on the detection of one or more predefined events. This enables data which can contribute to value added analytics to be acquired, without wasting airtime on unimportant data.

The invention in which an exclusive right is claimed is defined by the following: 
     
         1 . A method for generating non-position parameter encoded position data from a vehicle equipped with a geographical position system, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) collecting geographical position data from the vehicle during vehicle operation according to a defined logging paradigm, the geographical position data being time indexed;   (b) determining if a predefined parameter is present during vehicle operation, the predetermined parameter comprising a parameter other than time, speed, direction, and distance;   (c) in response to detecting the predefined parameter during vehicle operation, modifying the defined logging paradigm to collect additional geographical position data at the time the predefined parameter is detected, and   (d) collecting data corresponding to the predefined parameter detected.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of combining the parameter data and the geographical position data together at the vehicle to produce parameter encoded position data. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of conveying the parameter encoded position data to a remote computing device that is physically spaced apart from the vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predefined parameter comprises at least one of the following:
 (a) an increase in an amount of fuel consumed by the vehicle;   (b) a decrease in an amount of fuel consumed by the vehicle;   (c) a change in a status of a cruise control component;   (d) a change in a status of an accessory component associated with a parasitic load; and   (e) a change in throttle position.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predefined parameter comprises at least one of the following:
 (a) any change in engine RPM;   (b) a change in engine RPM over a predetermined magnitude;   (c) any change in engine load   (d) a change in engine load over a predetermined magnitude;   (e) any change in oil temperature;   (f) a change in oil temperature over a predetermined magnitude;   (g) any change in coolant temperature; and   (h) a change in coolant temperature over a predetermined magnitude.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predefined parameter comprises at least one of the following:
 (a) any change in brake temperature; and   (b) a change in brake temperature over a predetermined magnitude.   
     
     
         7 . A geographical position system for use in a vehicle, the geographical position system comprising:
 (a) a positioning sensing component for collecting geographical position data from the vehicle during vehicle operation, the geographical position data being time indexed;   (b) a first data port for receiving non-position related parameter data from the vehicle during operation of the vehicle, the non-position related parameter data being time indexed to correlate the non-position related parameter data to a specific point in time, the non-position related parameter comprising at least one of fuel use, engine RPM, engine load, temperature, cruise control status, and accessory device status;   (c) a processor for implementing the functions of:
 (i) triggering the logging of geographical position data according to a predefined paradigm; and 
 (ii) triggering the logging of non-position related parameter data and position and geographical position data based on the detection of an event associated the non-position related parameter data; and 
   (d) a data link for conveying the non-position related parameter data and the geographical position data to a remote computing device.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the data link comprises a wireless data link. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured to combine the parameter data and the geographical position data together at the vehicle to produce parameter encoded position data. 
     
     
         10 . A method for generating and using event encoded position data from a vehicle equipped with a geographical position system to determine at least one event based operational characteristic of the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) collecting geographical position data from the vehicle during vehicle operation;   (b) collecting non-position related parameter data from the vehicle during operation of the vehicle based on the detection of a predefined event, the non-position related parameter data being time indexed to correlate the non-position related parameter data to a specific point in time, the non-position related parameter comprising at least one of fuel use, engine RPM, engine load, temperature, cruise control status, and accessory device status;   (c) conveying the geographical position data and the non-position related parameter a remote computing device, such data collectively comprising event encoded position data; and   (d) analyzing the event encoded position data to determine at least one operating characteristic of the vehicle.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of analyzing the event encoded position data to determine at least one operating characteristic of the vehicle comprises the step of displaying a route traversed by a vehicle with fuel use overlaid on the route, the fuel use being determined by fuel use included in the event encoded position data. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of analyzing the event encoded position data to determine at least one operating characteristic of the vehicle comprises the step of displaying a route traversed by a vehicle with cruise control use overlaid on the route, the cruise control use being determined by cruise control status included in the event encoded position data. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of analyzing the event encoded position data to determine at least one operating characteristic of the vehicle comprises the step of displaying a route traversed by a vehicle with engine RPM data overlaid on the route, the engine RMP data having been included in the event encoded position data. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of analyzing the event encoded position data to determine at least one operating characteristic of the vehicle comprises the step of displaying a route traversed by a vehicle with engine load data overlaid on the route, the engine load data having been included in the event encoded position data. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of analyzing the event encoded position data to determine at least one operating characteristic of the vehicle comprises the step of displaying a route traversed by a vehicle with accessory device use overlaid on the route, the accessory device use being determined by accessory device status included in the event encoded position data. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of analyzing the event encoded position data to determine at least one operating characteristic of the vehicle comprises the step of displaying a route traversed by a vehicle with throttle position data overlaid on the route, the throttle position data having been included in the event encoded position data. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of analyzing the event encoded position data to determine at least one operating characteristic of the vehicle comprises the step of displaying a route traversed by a vehicle with vehicle temperature data overlaid on the route, the temperature data having been included in the event encoded position data. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of analyzing the event encoded position data to determine at least one operating characteristic of the vehicle comprises the step of displaying a route traversed by a vehicle with transmission gear selection position data overlaid on the route, the transmission gear selection data having been included in the event encoded position data. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of analyzing the event encoded position data to determine at least one operating characteristic of the vehicle comprises the step of enabling a user to define a geofence, such that only event encoded position data falling within the confines of the geofence are included within the analysis. 
     
     
         20 . A method for generating non-position parameter encoded position data from a vehicle equipped with a geographical position system, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) collecting geographical position data from the vehicle during vehicle operation according to a defined logging paradigm, the geographical position data being time indexed;   (b) determining if a predefined parameter is present during vehicle operation, wherein the predefined parameter comprises at least one of the following:
 (i) an increase in an amount of fuel consumed by the vehicle; 
 (ii) a decrease in an amount of fuel consumed by the vehicle; 
 (iii) a change in a status of a cruise control component; 
 (iv) a change in a status of an accessory component associated with a parasitic load; and 
 (v) a change in throttle position 
   (c) in response to detecting the predefined parameter during vehicle operation, modifying the defined logging paradigm to collect additional geographical position data at the time the predefined parameter is detected, and   (d) collecting data corresponding to the predefined parameter detected.   
     
     
         21 . A non-transitory memory medium having machine instructions stored thereon for carrying out the steps of  claim 20 . 
     
     
         22 . A method for generating non-position parameter encoded position data from a vehicle equipped with a geographical position system, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) collecting geographical position data from the vehicle during vehicle operation according to a defined logging paradigm, the geographical position data being time indexed;   (b) determining if a predefined parameter is present during vehicle operation, wherein the predefined parameter comprises at least one of the following:
 (i) any change in engine RPM; 
 (ii) a change in engine RPM over a predetermined magnitude; 
 (iii) any change in engine load; 
 (iv) a change in engine load over a predetermined magnitude; 
 (v) any change in oil temperature; 
 (vi) a change in oil temperature over a predetermined magnitude; 
 (vii) any change in coolant temperature; and 
 (viii) a change in coolant temperature over a predetermined magnitude; 
   (c) in response to detecting the predefined parameter during vehicle operation, modifying the defined logging paradigm to collect additional geographical position data at the time the predefined parameter is detected, and   (d) collecting data corresponding to the predefined parameter detected.   
     
     
         23 . A non-transitory memory medium having machine instructions stored thereon for carrying out the steps of  claim 22 . 
     
     
         24 . A non-transitory memory medium having machine instructions stored thereon for carrying out the steps of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         25 . The non-transitory memory medium of  claim 24 , which further includes machine instructions stored thereon for carrying out the steps of  claim 4 . 
     
     
         26 . The non-transitory memory medium of  claim 24 , which further includes machine instructions stored thereon for carrying out the steps of  claim 5 . 
     
     
         27 . The non-transitory memory medium of  claim 24 , which further includes machine instructions stored thereon for carrying out the steps of  claim 6 . 
     
     
         28 . A method for generating non-position parameter encoded position data from a vehicle equipped with a geographical position system, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) collecting geographical position data from the vehicle during vehicle operation according to a defined logging paradigm, the geographical position data being time indexed;   (b) determining if a predefined parameter is present during vehicle operation, wherein the predefined parameter comprises at least one of the following:
 (i) any change in brake temperature; and 
 (ii) a change in brake temperature over a predetermined magnitude; 
   (c) in response to detecting the predefined parameter during vehicle operation, modifying the defined logging paradigm to collect additional geographical position data at the time the predefined parameter is detected, and   (d) collecting data corresponding to the predefined parameter detected.   
     
     
         29 . A non-transitory memory medium having machine instructions stored thereon for carrying out the steps of  claim 28 .