Method and system for producing a performance metric based on vehicle at a plurality of different locations

Abstract

Vehicle data is collected during the operation of a vehicle and used to repeatedly find slope being traveled upon and using this slope, the mass of the vehicle at a plurality of different locations. Using this information, a ranking of a driver's performance is determined. Fleet operators can use these performance metrics as incentives, by linking driver pay with performance. Individual fleet operators can host their own website, where driver rankings in that fleet can be compared, or a website can be hosted by a third party, and multiple fleet operators participate. The third party can offset their costs for operating the website by charging participating fleet operators a fee, and/or by advertising revenue. In some embodiments, all driver performance data is displayed in an anonymous format, so that individual drivers cannot be identified unless the driver shares their user ID.

The invention in which an exclusive right is claimed is defined by the following: 
     
         1 . A method of reporting a performance of a driver of a fleet vehicle, comprising the steps of:
 (a) enabling a specific driver to be identified when said driver is operating the fleet vehicle;   (b) while said driver is operating the fleet vehicle, automatically collecting vehicle data that can be used to evaluate said driver's performance and to determine the mass of the vehicle;   (c) using a computing device to analyze the vehicle data and to determine the mass of the vehicle at a plurality of different locations during the operation of the vehicle;   (d) using a computing device to analyze the vehicle data and the vehicle mass data from the plurality of different locations to calculate a driver efficiency performance ranking based in part on vehicle mass at the plurality of different locations during the operation of the vehicle; and   (e) displaying the driver efficiency performance ranking, on a driver efficiency performance ranking website.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the steps of automatically collecting and analyzing vehicle data to determine the mass of the vehicle and using a computing device to analyze the vehicle data and to determine the mass of the vehicle at a plurality of different locations during the operation of the vehicle comprises the steps of:
 (a) collecting time indexed vehicle data, including:
 (i) position data; 
 (ii) speed data; 
 (iii) torque data; and 
 (iv) engine speed data; and 
   (b) determining a slope the vehicle is traveling over at specific points in time, corresponding to the plurality of specific locations, based on the vehicle position data at those points in time;   (c) determining a mass of the vehicle at the specific points in time, based on the slope the vehicle is traveling over at those points in time, the speed data at those points in time, the torque data at those points in time, and the engine speed data at those points in time.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the steps of automatically collecting and analyzing vehicle data to determine the mass of the vehicle and using a computing device to analyze the vehicle data and to determine the mass of the vehicle at a plurality of different locations during the operation of the vehicle comprises the steps of:
 (a) collecting time indexed vehicle data, including:
 (i) 3-D accelerometer data; 
 (ii) torque data; and 
 (iii) engine speed data; 
   (b) determining a slope the vehicle is traveling over at specific points in time, corresponding to the plurality of specific locations on the 3-D accelerometer data at those points in time; and   (c) determining a mass of the vehicle at a specific point in time, based on the slope the vehicle is traveling over at those points in time, an estimate of instantaneous speed at those points in time, the torque data at those point in time, and the engine speed data at those point in time.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of producing the performance ranking of the driver's operation of the fleet vehicle comprises the step of producing a cost per loaded mile performance metric. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of using a computing device to analyze the vehicle data and generate a driver efficiency performance ranking comprises the step of using a computing device that is part of the fleet vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of using a computing device to analyze the vehicle data and determine the mass of the fleet vehicle comprises the step of using a computing device that is remote from the fleet vehicle, and further comprising the step of conveying the vehicle data to the remote computing device using a cellular based data link during the operation of the fleet vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the website is operated by a 3 rd  party, and performance rankings for drivers from a plurality of different fleets can be reviewed on the website. 
     
     
         8 . A system for encouraging a driver to improve efficiency performance while operating a fleet vehicle, the system comprising:
 (a) a driver identification subsystem, to identify a specific driver when the driver is operating the fleet vehicle;   (b) a vehicle data collecting assembly; and   (c) a data processing assembly being configured to implement the functions of
 (i) while said driver is operating the fleet vehicle, repeatedly analyzing the vehicle data to determine the slope the fleet vehicle is travelling, and to determine the mass of the vehicle, at a plurality of different locations, from the slope that has been determined and other collected vehicle data and to analyze the vehicle data, together with the mass of the vehicle that has been determined, to generate a driver efficiency performance ranking corrected for vehicle mass relative to the other drivers operating similar fleet vehicles; and 
 (ii) displaying the driver efficiency performance ranking, corrected for vehicle mass, on a driver efficiency performance ranking website. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the vehicle data collecting assembly collects time indexed vehicle data, including:
 (a) position data;   (b) speed data;   (c) torque data; and   (d) engine speed data; and   (e) the data processing assembly performs the function of analyzing the vehicle data to determine the slope the vehicle is traveling over at specific points in time, corresponding to the plurality of specific locations, based on the vehicle position data at those points in time and to determine a mass of the vehicle at the specific points in time, based on the slope the vehicle is traveling over at those points in time, the speed data at those points in time, the torque data at those points in time, and the engine speed data at those points in time.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the vehicle data collecting assembly collects time indexed vehicle data, including:
 (a) 3-D accelerometer data   (b) torque data; and   (c) engine speed data; and   (d) the data processing assembly determines the slope the vehicle is traveling over at specific points in time, corresponding to the plurality of specific locations, based on the 3-D accelerometer data at those points in time and determines a mass of the vehicle at the specific points in time, based on the slope the vehicle is traveling over at those points in time, the speed data at those points in time, the torque data at those points in time, and the engine speed data at those points in time.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the function of repeatedly analyzing the vehicle data to produce the performance ranking of the driver's operation of the fleet vehicle includes the function of producing a cost per loaded mile performance metric. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the data processing assembly includes a computing device that is part of the fleet vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the data processing assembly includes a computing device that is remote from the vehicle and wherein the system further includes a cellular data link in the vehicle for sending the vehicle data to the computing device remote from the vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the website is operated by a 3 rd  party, and performance rankings for drivers from a plurality of different fleets can be reviewed on the website. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the website displays driver efficiency performance ranking for a plurality of campaigns. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the website displays tips for improving the driver's performance ranking. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the website displays information about a performance bonus for a particular campaign. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the website displays advertising from a 3 rd  party paying for a performance bonus for a particular campaign. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the website displays a graphical icon indicating the performance ranking of the driver, where a relatively greater number of graphical icons indicates a relatively better rating, wherein at least one such graphic icon comprises a fuel pump. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the website displays information about a performance bonus for a particular campaign.