Apparatus and method for optimally recording geographical position data

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for optimally recording or transmitting positional data and events of an object, said apparatus including input means to continuously provide positional data to a microprocessor and a memory device to store selected positional data wherein the microprocessor is programmed to compare new positional data from said input means to previously recorded log of positional data and creates a new log if the new positional data differs from the previously recorded log in accordance with pre-determined parameters.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . Apparatus for optimally recording or transmitting positional data and events of an object, said apparatus including input means to continuously provide positional data to a microprocessor and a memory device to store selected positional data wherein the microprocessor is programmed to compare new positional data from said input means to previously recorded log of positional data and creates a new log if the new positional data differs from the previously recorded log in accordance with pre-determined parameters. 
     
     
         2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said input means to continuously provide positional data includes a GPS antenna and GPS engine and the positional data provided to the microprocessor includes the exact time, position and speed of the object. 
     
     
         3 . A system for optimally recording or transmitting positional data and events of an object, said system having a processing unit on the object, said processing unit including input means to continuously provide positional data to a microprocessor and a memory device to store selected positional data wherein the microprocessor is programmed to compare new positional data from said input means to previously recorded log of positional data and creates a new log if the new positional data differs from the previously recorded log in accordance with pre-determined parameters and a base station programmed with software to extract, display, process and analyze the recorded data. 
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 3  wherein data is transmitted from the processing unit to the base station by extracting data from the memory device by downloading data from a portable memory device or directly from the processing unit via a wireless connection to the base station. 
     
     
         5 . A method for optimally recording or transmitting positional data and events of an object to optimize exactly when positional data is recorded or transmitted to minimize the memory requirements if the data is stored, or minimize time or cost if the data is transmitted and to ensure that any significant events are captured by continuously providing positional data to a microprocessor from input means, said microprocessor compares new positional data from said input means to previously recorded log of positional data and creates a new log if the new positional data differs from the previously recorded log in accordance with pre-determined parameters. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5  wherein said wherein said input means to continuously provide positional data includes a GPS antenna and GPS engine and the positional data provided to the microprocessor includes the exact time, position and speed of the object.