Method and apparatus for adaptive vehicle route-related data gathering

Abstract

A system includes a processor configured to receive a track-creation request. The processor is also configured to initiate track recording, responsive to the request and record GPS points corresponding to vehicle movement. Further, the processor is configured to receive a track-completion instruction and store the recorded GPS points, and a line connecting the points, as representing a recorded track.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a processor configured to:   receive a race start request;   track vehicle performance data including at least stopping events and speeds, responsive to the request;   determine, responsive to a vehicle reaching a predetermined speed based on the tracking, a race-start point as a point where the vehicle was last fully stopped; and   record vehicle speed and time-traveled from the race-start point to a predetermined distance from the race-start.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to extrapolate a final time-traveled based on a vehicle data from a data point immediately before the predetermined distance and immediately after the predetermined distance, responsive to a lack of data recorded at the exact predetermined distance. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the extrapolation is based at least in part on an acceleration curve determined for the vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to track time taken to reach speed intervals, from a speed of  0  at the determined race start-point until one or more predetermined top speeds defining the intervals. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the extrapolation is based at least in part on an acceleration curve determined for the vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to extrapolate the time taken to reach a given speed interval of the intervals based on timing data recorded at a last-speed recorded before passing the top speed and at a first-speed recorded after passing the top speed, when timing data at the exact top speed is not available. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the extrapolation is based at least in part on an acceleration curve determined for the vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to track and log vehicle performance data from at least a time of receiving the request until the predetermined distance is reached from the determined race-start point. 
     
     
         9 . A method comprising:
 receiving a race start request;   tracking vehicle performance data including at least stopping events and speeds, responsive to the request;   determining, responsive to a vehicle reaching a predetermined speed based on the tracking, a race-start point as a point where the vehicle was last fully stopped; and   recording vehicle speed and time-traveled from the race-start point to a predetermined distance from the race-start.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising extrapolating a final time-traveled based on a vehicle data from a data point immediately before the predetermined distance and immediately after the predetermined distance, responsive to a lack of data recorded at the exact predetermined distance. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the extrapolation is based at least in part on an acceleration curve determined for the vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising tracking time taken to reach speed intervals, from a speed of 0 at the determined race start-point until one or more predetermined top speeds defining the intervals. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the extrapolation is based at least in part on an acceleration curve determined for the vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising extrapolating the time taken to reach a given speed interval of the intervals based on timing data recorded at a last-speed recorded before passing the top speed and at a first-speed recorded after passing the top speed, when timing data at the exact top speed is not available. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the extrapolation is based at least in part on an acceleration curve determined for the vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further including tracking and logging vehicle performance data from at least a time of receiving the request until the predetermined distance is reached from the determined race-start point. 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, enable the processor to perform the method comprising:
 receiving a race start request;   tracking vehicle performance data including at least stopping events and speeds, responsive to the request;   determining, responsive to a vehicle reaching a predetermined speed based on the tracking, a race-start point as a point where the vehicle was last fully stopped; and   recording vehicle speed and time-traveled from the race-start point to a predetermined distance from the race-start.   
     
     
         18 . The storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the method further includes extrapolating a final time-traveled based on a vehicle data from a data point immediately before the predetermined distance and immediately after the predetermined distance, responsive to a lack of data recorded at the exact predetermined distance. 
     
     
         19 . The storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the method further includes tracking time taken to reach speed intervals, from a speed of 0 at the determined race start-point until one or more predetermined top speeds defining the intervals. 
     
     
         20 . The storage medium of  claim 19 , the method further comprising extrapolating the time taken to reach a given speed interval of the intervals based on timing data recorded at a last-speed recorded before passing the top speed and at a first-speed recorded after passing the top speed, when timing data at the exact top speed is not available.