US6285953B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Monitoring vehicle positions
Assignee: MINORPLANT Ltd
•
Filing: 1997-09-16
•
Granted: 2001-09-04
•
Expires: 2017-09-16
Abstract
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.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher G. Harrison
- 👤 Jeffrey C. Morris
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:40
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/20; G01; G01C; G01C21/00; G01C21/26; G07; G07C; G07C5/00; G07C5/008; G08G1/123; G08G1/127
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
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.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
86 words
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.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 1 , further comprising recording subsequent sets of relative position data representing subsequent positions of said object relative to an earlier recorded position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 1 , in which said absolute position data comprises two n-bit words and said relative position data comprises a one n-bit word.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
9 words
A method as in claim 3 in which n=22.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 1 , further comprising recording corresponding time and date data associated with said position data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein said position data is recorded at intervals ranging from 30 seconds to 30 minutes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein said position data is stored at intervals ranging from 2 minutes to 10 minutes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein the movable object is a vehicle and recording of said data is initiated by the vehicle ignition being activated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 1 , in which a further set of data representing the absolute geographic position of said object is recorded in response to the movement of the vehicle ceasing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as in claim 1 , in which further data is recorded in response to operational events of said movable objects, said data representing at least one of said operational events.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 10 , in which position data is recorded in association said at least one of said operational events data, said position data representing the geographical position at which said event occurred.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as in claim 1 , further comprising transmitting said recorded data to a base station to provide a history of the movement of said object at said base station.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 12 , wherein said recorded positional data is transmitted in response to a periodic or an aperiodic signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as in claim 12 , in which said transmitting of said position data is activated in response to a signal generated in response to an operation of said moveable object.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as in claim 13 , wherein said transmitting is activated in response to a received interrogation signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 13 , wherein said transmission of data from said geographically moveable object commences in response to a received geographical position data.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 13 , in which the transmitting of said recorded data is performed at predetermined time intervals.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 13 , wherein the transmitting of recorded data is performed over an open radio channel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 13 , wherein the transmitting of position data comprises transmission over a mobile telephone communications channel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 1 , in which said geographic position data is data created by a Geographic Positioning System (GPS).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
93 words
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.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
93 words
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.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as in claim 21 , further comprising means for recording subsequent sets of relative position data representing subsequent positions of said object relative to the immediately preceding recorded position.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as in claim 21 , in which said absolute position data comprises two n-bit words and said relative position data comprises a one n-bit word.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as in claim 23 , in which a number n of said n-bit words is equal to a value of twenty-two.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as in claim 21 , further comprising means for recording a corresponding time/date data associated with said position data.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as in claim 21 , arranged to record said position data of intervals ranging from 30 seconds to 30 minutes.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as in claim 21 , arranged to record said position data at intervals ranging from 2 minutes to 10 minutes.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as in claim 21 , wherein the movable object is a vehicle and the recording of said data is initiated by the vehicle ignition being activated.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as in claim 21 , arranged to record a further set of data, representing the absolute geographic position of said object, in response to the movement of the vehicle ceasing.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as in claim 21 , in which further data is recorded in response to operational events of said movable object, said data representing at least one of said operational events.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as in claim 30 , in which position data is recorded in association said at least one of said operational events data, said position data representing the geographical position at which said event occurred.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as in claim 21 , further comprising means for transmitting said recorded data to a base station to provide a history of the movement of said object at said base station.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as in claim 32 , wherein said transmitting means is operable to transmit recorded positional data in response to a periodic or an aperiodic signal.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as in claim 32 , in which said transmitting means is operable to transmit said position data in response to a signal generated as a result of an operation of said moveable object.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as in claim 32 , wherein said transmitting means is operable to transmit said data in response to a received interrogation signal.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as in claim 32 , wherein said transmitting means is operable to transmit said data in response to a received geographical position data.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as in claim 32 , in which the transmitting means transmits said data at predetermined time intervals.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as in claim 32 , wherein the transmitting means utilizes an open radio channel to transmit said data.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as in claim 32 , wherein the transmitting means utilizes a mobile telephone communications channel to transmit said data.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as in claim 32 , in which said geographic position data is data created by a Geographic Positioning System (GPS).
Claim 43
Independent Claim
106 words
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.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
106 words
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.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
110 words
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.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
110 words
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.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-09-03 | 2005-03-05 | 2005-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-09-03 | 2009-03-05 | 2009-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-09-03 | 2013-03-05 | 2013-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |