Patent ID: 6393346
Filing Date: 2002-05-21
Classification: G01C,G06Q,G07C,G08G

Abstract:
A method of monitoring a trip traveled by a vehicle having a base computer from a fixed base to a plurality of destinations, the vehicle carrying monitoring equipment that includes a navigational receiver for receiving location data identifying the location of the vehicle, and means for storing data, including the received location data and the time it was received, in a log file, the method comprising the steps of:(a) driving the vehicle away from the fixed base: (b) inputting a waypoint identifier representing a destination into the monitoring equipment; (c) storing the waypoint identifier, the location data received at the time the waypoint identifier was inputted, and the time the location data was received in the log file as a record; (d) starting a clock at the time location data is received; (e) storing the received location data and the time it was received in the log file as a record, after the clock has run for a predetermined time period without input of a waypoint identifier; (f) using the stored log records to calculate a sequence of destinations at which the vehicle stopped for longer than a predetermined minimum time interval and calculate the corresponding distances between the sequential destinations.