Monitoring vehicle positions

Abstract

A data monitoring apparatus comprises a GPS receiver ( 400 ), micro controller ( 403 ), a plurality of sensors and actuators ( 407 ), a memory ( 402 ), a radio transmitter ( 405 ) and a data communication antennae ( 406 ). 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.

1 . A method of monitoring a geographically moveable object, ( 200 ) comprising the steps of 
 substantially continuously receiving geographic position data at said geographically moveable object; and    recording a first set of data representing the absolute geographic position of said object at a first position, characterised by    creating relative position data from the difference between the absolute position data of a given position and the position data of a preceding recorded position; and    recording a second set of position data representing said second position of said object relative to said first position.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to    claim 1   , further comprising the step of recording subsequent sets of relative position data representing subsequent positions of said object relative to a preceding recorded position.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to any    claim 1   , in which said absolute position data comprises two n-bit words and said relative position data comprises a one n-bit word.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to    claim 3    in which n=22.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to    claim 1   , further comprising the step of recording corresponding time and data data associated with said position data.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to    claim 1   , wherein said position data is recorded at intervals ranging from 30 seconds to 30 minutes.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to    claim 1   , wherein said position data is stored at intervals ranging from 2 minutes to 10 minutes.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to    claim 1   , wherein the movable object is a vehicle and recording of said data is initiated by the vehicle ignition being activated.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to    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.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to    claim 1   , in which further data is recorded in response to operational events of said movable object, said data representing said operational event.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to    claim 10   , in which position data is recorded in association the operational event data, said position data representing the geographical position at which said event occurred.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to    claim 1   , further comprising the step of transmitting said recorded data to a base station to provide a history of the movement of said object at said base station.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to    claim 12   , wherein said recorded positional data is transmitted in response to a periodic or an aperiodic signal.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to    claim 12   , in which said step of transmitting said position data is activated in response to a signal generated in response to an operation of said moveable object.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to    claim 13   , wherein said step of transmitting is activated in response to a received interrogation signal.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to    claim 13   , wherein said transmission of data from said geographically moveable object commences in response to a received geographical position data.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to    claim 13   , in which the transmitting of said recorded data is performed at predetermined time intervals.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to    claim 13   , wherein the transmitting of recorded data is performed over an open radio channel.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to    claim 13   , wherein the transmitting position data comprises transmission over a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) channel.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to    claim 1   , in which said geographic position data is data created by a Geographic Positioning System (GPS).  
     
     
         21 . Apparatus for monitoring a geographically moveable object ( 200 ), comprising 
 means ( 400 ) for substantially continuously receiving geographic position data at said geographically moveable object; and    means ( 403 ,  402 ) for recording a first set of data representing the absolute geographic position of said object at said first position, characterised by 
 means ( 403 ) for creating relative position data from the difference between an absolute position data of a given position and the position data of a preceding recorded position; and  
 means ( 402 ) for recording a second set of position data representing a second position of said object relative to said first position.  
   
     
     
         22 . Apparatus according to    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.  
     
     
         23 . Apparatus according to    claim 21   , in which said absolute position data comprises two n-bit words and said relative position data comprises a one n-bit word.  
     
     
         24 . Apparatus according to    claim 23   , in which a number n of said n-bit words is equal to a value of twenty-two.  
     
     
         25 . Apparatus according to    claim 21   , further comprising means for recording a corresponding time/date data associated with said position data.  
     
     
         26 . Apparatus according to    claim 21   , arranged to record said position data of intervals ranging from 30 seconds to 30 minutes.  
     
     
         27 . Apparatus according to    claim 21   , arranged to record said position data at intervals ranging from 2 minutes to 10 minutes.  
     
     
         28 . Apparatus according to    claim 21   , wherein the movable abject is a vehicle and the recording of said data is initiated by the vehicle ignition being activated.  
     
     
         29 . Apparatus according to    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.  
     
     
         30 . Apparatus according to    claim 21   , in which further data is recorded in response to operational events of said movable object, said data representing said operational event.  
     
     
         31 . Apparatus according to    claim 30   , in which position data is recorded in association the operational event data, said position data representing the geographical position at which said event occurred.  
     
     
         32 . Apparatus according to    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.  
     
     
         33 . Apparatus according to    claim 32   , wherein said transmitting means is operable to transmit recorded positional data in response to a periodic or an aperiodic signal.  
     
     
         34 . Apparatus according to    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.  
     
     
         35 . Apparatus according to    claim 32   , wherein said transmitting means is operable to transmit said data in response to a received interrogation signal.  
     
     
         36 . Apparatus according to    claim 32   , wherein said transmitting means is operable to transmit said data in response to a received geographical position data.  
     
     
         37 . Apparatus according to    claim 32   , in which the transmitting means transmits said data at predetermined time intervals.  
     
     
         38 . Apparatus according to    claim 32   , wherein the transmitting means utilises an open radio channel to transmit said data.  
     
     
         39 . Apparatus according to    claim 32   , wherein the transmitting means utilises a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) channel to transmit said data.  
     
     
         40 . Apparatus according to    claim 32   , in which said geographic position data is data created by a Geographic Positioning System (GPS).