GB2345758A

GB2345758A - Journey logger

Info

Publication number: GB2345758A
Application number: GB0000355A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Sidney Hussey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-01-09
Filing date: 2000-01-10
Publication date: 2000-07-19
Anticipated expiration: 2020-01-10
Also published as: GB9900358D0; GB0000355D0; GB2345758B

Abstract

A journey logger having an interface for receiving position data from a GPS system, including speed data; an integrator for integrating the speed data to calculate the distance travelled; and a recording media interface, for recording periodic values of at least some of the position data and the periodic value of the count of distance onto a removable medium. The position data is received in NMEA and GPRMC sentences. A removable medium formatted for recordal of position and speed data by the journey logger, and apparatus for processing the data recorded on the media are also provided.

Description

Jowney Logg The present invention relates to journey logging.

It is known to use a GPS receiver to determine the position of a vehiclegenerally one of a fleet-and to transmit this position in real time to a control station, which is adapted to display the position and indeed predict an estimated time of arrival at a destination. Such a centralised system operating in real time is expensive, yet cost effective in certain fields, such as public transport.

In other fields, the expense is not warranted, yet an accurate log of journeys made would be useful.

The object of the present invention is to provide a journey logger, particularly one which is adapted to journey analysis subsequent to a journey, According to the invention there is provided a journey logger comprising: an interface for receiving position data, including speed data ; means for integrating the speed data to provide a count of distance travelled ; and a recording media interface, for recording periodic values of at least some of the position data and the periodic value of the count of distance onto a removable medium.

The position data is preferably received from a GPS (Global Positioning System), with the interface being adapted to receive the position data in sentences. In the preferred embodiment, the sentences are NMEA (National Marine Electronic Association) sentences and in particular GPRMC (Global Positioning Recommended Minimum Configuration) sentences. In addition the journey logger can receive, partially decode and store data from GPGGA (Global Positioning System-fix data) and GPGSA (Global Positioning System DOP and Active Satellites) sentences.

The integrator integrates the speed data, which can be provided at frequent intervals for instance every second, to provide the cumulative distance travelled over the ground by the journey logger and its carrying vehicle.

Preferably, the media interface will be adapted to record the data on the medium in a predetermined format.

The logger may record the position data and count of distance directly via the media interface at the end of each period, which will be less frequently than the integrator intervals. However, in addition to this facility, the logger preferably includes a position data store for subsequent downloading of the data onto the removable medium. Preferably this is a Smart card.

The journey logger may include a display for displaying instantaneous values of some of the position data.

Further it may include a keypad for inputting data to be associated with each journey or job being performed.

The journey logger may be adapted to prompt the user to insert the recording media if none is present at the beginning of a journey and/or to prompt for a keypad entry.

The journey logger may be adapted to co-operate with a Smart card having a pre-recorded journey logged on it and to output this data to show range and bearing to the next of a series of way points logged on the Smart card.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided removable medium formatted for recordal of the position and speed data by a journey logger in accordance with the invention.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for processing the data recorded on the media, the apparatus including a reading interface, a processor adapted to arrange the data in visually readable form and a printer and/or visual display unit for providing the data in visually readable form.

To help understanding of the invention, a specific embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a van equipped with a journey logger of the invention, Figure 2 is a block diagram of the journey logger of Figure 1 and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of a computer adapted to read and process journey data.

In Figure 1 there is shown a service van 1 of an undertaking providing the services of the driver of the van in repairing customers equipment at their premises.

The van is equipped with a GPS aerial unit 2 adapted to output GPRMC sentences in real time, every second. A journey logger 3 of the invention is installed in the van and connected to the aerial by a lead 4 to a GPS input 5 on the logger. The GPS aerial unit is permanently connected to the van's electrical supply by a non-switched lead 6.

The logger per se is permanently connected to the supply by a lead 7. The van's ignition switch 8 is used as an input to the logger unit, to enable the logger to choose a low power mode of operation when appropriate.

The GPS input 5 is connected to an interface 11 in the logger for receiving the GPRMC sentences and passing them to a processor 12. Each sentence is comprised of the following data in the formated in the manner shown: Time-GMT HH MM SS Status A (A = valid V = not valid data (No GPS fix)) Latitude-degs, mins DD MM. xxx N/S Longitude-degs, mins DDD MM. xxx E/W Speed-nautical mph SS. S Bearing-degs BBB/. B Date DD MM YY Magnetic variation-degs XXX. X Magnetic variation direction E/W A check sum for verification.

The magnetic variation data is not used in the journey logger.

A GPRMC sentence is passed to the processor every second, which integrates the speed to give a distance travelled in nautical miles-or any other suitable unit.

The distance is accumulated for one minute, or for a predetermined storage interval.

In an alternative configuration a predetermined minimum storage distance is also provided, so that there is a minimum distance which must be travelled between logged records. This can cause the data to be stored less frequently.

At the end of each minute, the accumulated distance, the current position data and other information is stored in the following 24 byte : Date 4 bytes, e. g. 05-01-1999 Time 2 bytes Latitude 4 bytes Longitude 5 bytes Speed I byte Bearing 2 bytes Distance 4 bytes Logger ID 1 bytes Job No 1 byte.

All this data varies with each record made every minute, assuming that the vehicle in which the logger is installed is moving, except the Logger ID, which remains constant and the Job No which is input with each new job.

In another configuration the date, time, latitude, longitude, speed, course, magnetic height, fix type, and satellites in use are stored, but not the distance. This can be calculated if required on download, from the information stored. Other data including the unit identifier, user, journey type, trip identifier fuel addition and odometer reading are recorded separately at the start of each journey.

A 128k RAM card is capable of storing up to 48 hours of recorded data at one minute intervals, including allowing for a reasonable number of stops, which consume extra memory due to the recording of the start/stop information.

In use, the GPS system is switched on permanently. However, when the ignition key of the vehicle is in the off position, no data logging is performed and it is preferred to save power by deactivating the aerial 2. At predetermined intervals the aerial 2 is activated for a short period to enable it to update its internal data, thus ensuring that the system responds quickly when the ignition is switched on.

Alternatively the entire data logger may be powered down after a predetermined period for ignition turn-off.

On starting of the vehicle, if no Smart card 13 is present in the Smart card interface 14, a buzzer 15 is sounded. If no card is inserted, the logger stores the data in a memory 16 replicating a Smart card, whereby the data can be down loaded to a subsequently inserted card. A different tone is sounded to prompt the driver to input via a keypad 17 the job number of his journey, which is about to be logged. This prompt will be sounded every time that the logger is activated with the ignition key.

The logger also has a display 18 for displaying a selection of the data from the current record, for instance: bearing, speed, data and time. Since the vehicle is equipped with the GPS receiver, it may also be equipped with a mapping computer fed via an auxiliary output 19, which is connected directly to the input 5.

A standard format is utilised for the cards, in which the initial addresses are utilised for passwords and verification of whether the card is blank or a new blank card being required. Storing data in the above format allows one record to be stored every minute for 16 hours, allowing more than adequate space for a full working day's operation. It should be noted that whereas the distance travelled each minute in the vector terms would not take account of corners ; since it is the integral of speed every second that makes up the distance travelled, it is in fact the actual distance travelled around the corners which is logged.

On return to base, the driver hands the card in with the other paperwork relating to his work. The recorded data is down loaded via a reader 31 connected to a computer 32 and stored in the computer's memory. Here it can be used for a variety of purposes. For instance the data can be sampled to monitor the performance of the driver. Again, the customer's invoice can be prepared in accordance with the time on site with the customer and length of journey to the customer, this information being directly derivable from the data.

The invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above described embodiment. For instance media other than Smart cards can be used.

Further other uses of Smart cards having journeys logged on them can be envisaged.

For instance, a tourist trip can be stored on a Smart card as a series of way points.

The logger can be adapted to co-operate with the GPS system to output the bearing and range to the next way point. Such an arrangement could be made portable for walkers.

Claims

CLAIMS : 1. A journey logger comprising: an interface for receiving position data, including speed data; means for integrating the speed data to provide a count of distance travelled ; and a recording media interface, for recording periodic values of at least some of the position data and the periodic value of the count of distance onto a removable medium.
2. A journey logger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the position data is received from a GPS (Global Positioning System), with the interface being adapted to receive the position data in sentences.
3. A journey logger as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sentences are NMEA (National Marine Electronic Association) sentences and in particular GPRMC (Global Positioning Recommended Minimum Configuration) sentences.
4. A journey logger as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the integrator integrates the speed data to provide the cumulative distance travelled over the ground by the journey logger.
5. A journey logger as claimed any preceding claim, wherein the media interface is adapted to record the data on the medium in a predetermined format.
6. A journey logger as claimed claim 1, claim 2, claim 3 or claim 5 as appendant to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the logger records the position data and count of distance directly via the media interface at the end of each period.
7. A journey logger as claimed in claim 6, wherein the logger includes a position data store for subsequent downloading of the data onto the removable medium.
8. A journey logger as claimed in claim 7, wherein the position data store is a Smart card.
9. A journey logger as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the journey logger includes a display for displaying instantaneous values of some of the position data.
10. A journey logger as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the journey logger further includes a keypad for inputting data to be associated with each journey or job being performed.
11. A journey logger as claimed in claim 10, wherein the journey logger is adapted to prompt the user to insert the recording media if none is present at the beginning of a journey and/or to prompt for a keypad entry.
12. A journey logger as claimed in claim 8, or any one of claim 9 to 11 as appendant to claim 8, wherein the journey logger may be adapted to co-operate with a Smart card having a pre-recorded journey logged on it and to output this data to show range and bearing to the next of a series of way points logged on the Smart card.
13. A removable medium formatted for recordal of the position and speed data by a journey logger as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12.
14. Apparatus for processing the data recorded on the media as claimed in claim 13, the apparatus including: * a reading interface; a processor adapted to arrange the data in visually readable form; and * a printer and/or visual display unit for providing the data in visually readable form.
15. A data logger substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figurel, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.