Toll history recording method and device

Abstract

A telematics device, which is unrelated to an electronic toll collection (ETC) system, includes a processor, a location mechanism and a wireless interface to an outside server. The telematics device periodically monitors the location of the vehicle using the location mechanism and automatically activates a tracking function when the most recent location corresponds to a first predetermined location. Upon activation of the tracking function, the telematics device periodically records the vehicle locations to create driving history data. The device also requests and toll gate information from the outside server based on the recorded driving history data. The telematics device automatically stops recording the driving history when the most recent vehicle location corresponds to a second predetermined location and generates a vehicle report based on the driving history data and the toll gate information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A telematics device for use in a vehicle, the telematics device, comprising:
 a processor;   a wireless interface coupled to the processor enabling wireless access to an outside server;   a location mechanism coupled to the processor;   a memory coupled to the processor; and   a program stored in the memory,   wherein the program, when executed by the processor, causes the telematics device to perform functions, including functions to:
 periodically obtain a location of the vehicle from the location mechanism to provide multiple obtained locations of the vehicle; 
 automatically activate a tracking function when a most recent one of the obtained locations corresponds to a first predetermined location; 
 upon activation of the tracking function:
 periodically record the obtained locations in the memory so as to create driving history data in the memory; 
 request, from the outside server, via the wireless interface, toll gate information based on the recorded driving history data; 
 obtain, from the outside server, via the wireless interface, the requested toll gate information; and 
 automatically stop recording the driving history when the most recent one of the obtained locations corresponds to a second predetermined location; and 
 
 generate a vehicle report based on the driving history data and the toll gate information, 
 wherein the telematics device is independent from any electronic toll collection systems or devices for toll gates for a vehicle. 
   
     
     
         2 . The telematics device of  claim 1 , wherein the location mechanism includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver integral with the telematics unit. 
     
     
         3 . The telematics device of  claim 1 , wherein the location mechanism includes program instructions of the program stored in the memory, the program instructions causing the processor to access the wireless interface to obtain location information from a serving base station. 
     
     
         4 . The telematics device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the toll gate information includes a name of the toll gate, and date and time when the vehicle passed through the toll gate, and the charge for the vehicle for passing through the toll gate.   
     
     
         5 . The telematics device of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle report is a reimbursement report based on the obtained toll gate information and the driving history and the functions further include functions to send the reimbursement report to a predetermined address via email or as a text message. 
     
     
         6 . The telematics device of  claim 5 , wherein the reimbursement report further includes a mileage reimbursement amount and the mileage reimbursement amount is calculated based on distance information included in the driving history data. 
     
     
         7 . The telematics device of  claim 1 , wherein the functions further include a function to automatically delete the driving history data at a predetermined time after automatically sending the driving history data to the computer system. 
     
     
         8 . The telematics device of  claim 1 , wherein the functions further include a function to automatically delete the driving history data at predetermined intervals. 
     
     
         9 . The telematics device of  claim 1 , wherein the functions further include a function to automatically delete the driving history data after a predetermined amount of driving history data has been stored. 
     
     
         10 . The telematics device of  claim 1 , wherein the functions further include user interface functions to receive the first and second predetermined locations and to record the first and second predetermined locations in the memory. 
     
     
         11 . The telematics device of  claim 10 , wherein the user interface functions further receive a vehicle type for the vehicle containing the telematics unit wherein the function to generate the vehicle report uses the vehicle type. 
     
     
         12 . A telematics device for use in a vehicle, the telematics device, comprising:
 a processor;   a wireless interface coupled to the processor enabling wireless access to an outside server;   a location mechanism coupled to the processor;   a memory coupled to the processor; and   a program stored in the memory,   wherein the program, when executed by the processor, causes the telematics device to perform functions, including functions to:
 periodically obtain a location of the vehicle from the location mechanism to provide multiple obtained locations of the vehicle; 
 automatically activate a tracking function when a most recent one of the obtained locations corresponds to a first predetermined location; 
 upon activation of the tracking function:
 periodically record the obtained locations in the memory so as to create driving history data in the memory; and 
 automatically stop recording the driving history when the most recent one of the obtained locations corresponds to a second predetermined location; 
 
 transmit the driving history to the outside server; and 
 receive a vehicle report from the outside server based on the driving history information and toll gate information determined by the outside server from the driving history information, 
 wherein the telematics device is independent from any electronic toll collection systems or devices for toll gates for a vehicle. 
   
     
     
         13 . The telematics device of  claim 12 , wherein the location mechanism includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver integral with the telematics unit. 
     
     
         14 . The telematics device of  claim 12 , wherein the location mechanism includes program instructions of the program stored in the memory, the program instructions causing the processor to access the wireless interface to obtain location information from a serving base station. 
     
     
         15 . The telematics device of  claim 12 , wherein the vehicle report is a reimbursement report based on the obtained toll gate information and the driving history and the functions further include functions to send the reimbursement report to a predetermined address via email or as a text message. 
     
     
         16 . The telematics device of  claim 15 , wherein the reimbursement report further includes a mileage reimbursement amount and the mileage reimbursement amount is calculated by the outside server based on distance information included in the driving history data. 
     
     
         17 . The telematics device of  claim 12 , wherein the functions further include a function to automatically delete the driving history data at a predetermined time after automatically sending the driving history data to the computer system. 
     
     
         18 . The telematics device of  claim 12 , wherein the functions further include user interface functions to receive the first and second predetermined locations and to record the first and second predetermined locations in the memory. 
     
     
         19 . The telematics device of  claim 18 , wherein the user interface functions further receive a vehicle type for the vehicle containing the telematics unit and to transmit the vehicle type to the outside server with the driving history data for calculation of tolls.