초록 ▼

A navigational system and a computer-based datalogger are used to store data on the distances traveled by and places visited by a monitored vehicle. The datalogger includes a clock and an on-board memory that can store time-stamped records of the latitude and longitude of places visited by the vehic

A navigational system and a computer-based datalogger are used to store data on the distances traveled by and places visited by a monitored vehicle. The datalogger includes a clock and an on-board memory that can store time-stamped records of the latitude and longitude of places visited by the vehicle. In some such systems the vehicle operator can assign a label or a location classification to selected places that he or she visits. Additionally, in some versions of the system an administrator can use a central computer located at the vehicle's home base to assign labels to locations where the vehicle is expected to make a stop. The central computer generates a map-like graphical output that displays a point corresponding to each of the places visited. This display may also show the time spent at each place visited during an operational period.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A method of measuring a distance traveled in a trip of a first type by a vehicle having a fixed base, the vehicle carrying monitoring equipment comprising a navigational receiver for receiving a location datum at each of a plurality of times and means of storing a plurality of loca

[ We claim:] [1.] A method of measuring a distance traveled in a trip of a first type by a vehicle having a fixed base, the vehicle carrying monitoring equipment comprising a navigational receiver for receiving a location datum at each of a plurality of times and means of storing a plurality of location records, each record comprising one of the location data and the time at which it was received, in a log file, the method comprising the steps of:(a) driving the vehicle away from the fixed base;(b) storing in the log file, responsive to respective manual inputs provided by an operator of the vehicle, a plurality of time-stamped waypoint records, each waypoint record indicative of a terminus of one of the trips of the first type;(c) returning the vehicle to the fixed base and communicating the records from the log file to a base computer;(d) calculating from the communicated log file records, by means of an algorithm carried out by the base computer, a sequence of locations visited at which the vehicle stopped for longer than a predetermined minimum interval and a corresponding sequence of trip distances between sequential ones of the locations visited;(e) labeling, as a trip of the first type, each trip extending between two sequential locations at which waypoint records were entered, or between one location at which a waypoint record was entered and the fixed base.