Event-Based GPS Tracking for Fleet Data Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle fleet operators face challenges in efficiently collecting and analyzing data from vehicles operating on predefined routes, both on and off road, to identify performance issues and accurately calculate fuel taxes, while balancing data collection to avoid excessive bandwidth usage.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using a combination of GSM and GPS devices to collect and transmit vehicle position data based on predefined events, such as changes in fuel use, temperature, or throttle position, allowing for targeted data collection and transmission, enabling value-added analytics without wasting bandwidth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If GPS data is collected at predetermined intervals or based on speed/heading changes, then sufficient data is collected for analytics, but excessive data is transmitted wasting bandwidth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the triggering parameter for data collection from position-based (time intervals, speed, heading) to event-based (engine RPM, fuel consumption, temperature, throttle position). This allows data to be collected only when meaningful operational events occur, reducing unnecessary transmissions while maintaining analytical value
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the vehicle's own operational data (from sensors already present for engine management) to trigger GPS data collection. The vehicle's operational state itself determines when positioning data should be recorded, eliminating the need for external scheduling or continuous monitoring
2Measurement precision
If data is collected from multiple sensors to enable value-added analytics, then analytical accuracy improves, but data transmission costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the specific sensor data points that are triggered by operational events (fuel consumption, engine RPM, temperature, throttle position) rather than continuously transmitting all available sensor data. This selective extraction reduces data volume while maintaining the precision needed for fuel efficiency and performance analytics
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-identifies which sensor parameters are relevant for analytics (fuel injectors, temperature sensors, throttle position) and configures the collection system in advance to monitor only these specific parameters for triggering data transmission, rather than collecting and transmitting all sensor data
3Measurement precision
If GPS data is continuously collected to track vehicle position accurately, then position tracking precision improves, but bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous GPS data collection, the system implements periodic collection triggered by operational events. GPS position is recorded at specific intervals defined by operational milestones (e.g., when fuel consumption changes, when engine RPM shifts), providing sufficient tracking accuracy while dramatically reducing transmission frequency and bandwidth consumption
Data Source
AI summary
System and method for enabling predefined events to be used to trigger the collection of vehicle position data. A combination GSM device and GPS device is used to collect vehicle position data and to convey that position data to a remote computing device for review and/or analysis. There is a tradeoff between collecting too much data (cell phone bill is too high) and collecting too little data (value added analytics cannot be achieved without sufficient data). The concepts disclosed herein relate to method and apparatus to enable the data collection/transmission paradigm of such a GSM/GPS to be varied (or triggered) based on the detection of one or more predefined events. This enables data which can contribute to value added analytics to be acquired, without wasting airtime on unimportant data.