GB2511099A

GB2511099A - Power saving vehicle tracking

Info

Publication number: GB2511099A
Application number: GB1303213.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Downing
Original assignee: Scorpion Automotive Ltd
Current assignee: Scorpion Automotive Ltd
Priority date: 2013-02-22
Filing date: 2013-02-22
Publication date: 2014-08-27
Also published as: GB201303213D0

Abstract

A vehicle tracking device mounted on a vehicle is configured to have a normal operating mode and an energy saving operating mode, wherein the device further comprises a detection module for detecting, in the energy saving mode of the device, at least one of a linear acceleration and an angular acceleration corresponding to a physical displacement of the device, and wherein the detection module is configured to provide an operating mode instruction to the device, responsive to the detecting, wherein the instruction is adapted to trigger the device to operate in the normal mode if the detected linear acceleration or the angular acceleration of the device is greater than a threshold of at least one of 0.3 ms-2 and 0. 3 ms -2. An information collector, such as a global positioning system or GPS system may be used to collect position information for the device.

Description

Power saving vehicle tracking The invention relates to an improved vehicle tracking system.

Fig. 1 schematically shows a known vehicle tracking system, which usually combines an electronic device 2 mounted in a vehicle 20 and a central apparatus 4 (usually a server), in order to enable a user (such as the owner of the vehicle or a provider of the vehicle tracking service) to track the vehicle 20.

The device 2 is adapted to collect data, notably GPS location, at regular intervals and to transmit in real-time or at regular intervals the collected data to the apparatus 4 via a communication network 6, usually a cellular or satellite network.

The apparatus 4 is adapted to receive the collected data trom the device 2, and serve them on demand to the user on a user terminal 40, which may comprise a computer terminal and/or a handheld terminal such as a smartphone. The vehicle location can thus be viewed on the user terminal 40, such as on electronic maps, for example via the Internet or specialized software.

The known tracking systems may supply a provider of the tracking service, and subsequently the Police who can thus track and locate the stolen vehicle 20, with location accuracy of less than 100 metres, depending on local terrain. It is appreciated that the vehicle tracking systems are thus desirable for vehicle theft prevention and retrieval.

The device 2 may be self-powered with a battery or wired into the vehicle power system (battery), and the device is therefore usually configured to have a normal operating mode and an energy saving operating mode. The device therefore usually comprises a module for detecting physical displacement of the device, and configured to provide an operating mode instruction to the device, responsive to the detecting. The instruction is adapted to trigger the device to operate in the normal mode if the module detects physical displacement. However one of the drawbacks of the known devices is that there are numerous false alarms in a number of applications of the device, such as when the vehicle is subject to vibration.

However the inventors have discovered that, surprisingly, it is possible to efficiently track vehicles, whilst avoiding false alarms and thus saving power (which thus reduces the contribution to global CO2 production).

Aspects and preferred examples of the present invention are set out in the appended claims.

In one aspect, there is provided a vehicle tracking device configured to be mounted on a vehicle, wherein the device is configured to have a normal operating mode and an energy saving operating mode, wherein the device further comprises a detection module for detecting, in the energy saving mode of the device, at least one of a linear acceleration and an angular acceleration corresponding to a physical displacement of the device, and wherein the detection module is configured to provide an operating mode instruction to the device, responsive to the detecting, wherein the instruction is adapted to trigger the device to operate in the normal mode if the detected linear acceleration or the angular acceleration of the device is greater than a threshold of at least one of O.3m.s2 and O.30.s2.

The device may comprise an information collector configured to collect position information indicating the position of the device; and/or a transmitter configured to transmit the position information to a remote apparatus using a communication network, and wherein the information collector and/or the transmitter may be configured to operate in an energy saving operating mode when the device operates in the energy saving operating mode; and in a normal operating mode when the device operates in the normal operating mode.

The device may comprise a controller of the device configured to control the detection module when the device operates in both the energy saving operating mode and the normal operating mode, wherein the controller may be configured to operate in a specific energy saving mode when controlling the detection module when the device operates in the energy saving operating mode; and control the information collector and/or the transmitter in the normal operating mode of the device.

The information collector may further be configured to validate the trigger responsive to the collection of the position information once operating in the normal operating mode. The information collector may be configured to collect satellite position information, preferably global positioning system, GPS, position information.

The detection module may comprise an accelerometer and/or a gyrometer. The device may comprise a rechargeable battery.

In another aspect, there is provided a method of tracking a vehicle, comprising: detecting, in an energy saving mode of a device configured to be mounted on a vehicle and to have a normal operating mode and an energy saving operating mode, at least one of a linear acceleration and an angular acceleration corresponding to a physical displacement of the device; providing an operating mode instruction to the device, responsive to the detecting, wherein the instruction is adapted to trigger, responsive to the detecting, the device to operate in the normal mode if the detected linear acceleration or the angular acceleration of the device is greater than a threshold of at least one of O.3m.s2 and 0.30.s2.

The method may comprise collecting position information indicating the position of the device when the device operates in the normal operating mode; and/or transmitting the position information to a remote apparatus using a communication network when the device operates in the normal operating mode. The method may comprise controlling the detection when the device operates in both the energy saving operating mode and the normal operating mode, wherein controlling is performed in a specific energy saving mode when the device operates in the energy saving operating mode; and controlling the collecting of the position information indicating the position of the device andlor the transmitting of the position information to the remote apparatus when the device operates in the normal operating mode. The method may comprise validating the trigger responsive to the collecting of the position information once operating in the normal operating mode.

Collecting the information may comprise collecting satellite position information, preferably global positioning system, GPS, position information.

In another aspect it is provided a computer program, a computer program product or a computer readable medium comprising instructions for carrying out a method according to aspects of the invention.

The inventors have therefore invented an improved tracking device, having several advantages above the prior art. One example of advantages is that the invention provides an improved power saving device, because the device may only trigger the device to operate in the normal mode if the trigger is validated. Another advantage is that the GPS functionality, which is battery consumption intensive, will only be switched on if an important enough physical displacement is detected. In the energy saving operating mode, the controller of the device operates at a specific energy saving operating mode, i.e. sufficient to enable control of the detection module but insufficient to control the GPS functionality, thereby saving energy.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1, already discussed, schematically shows a known tracking system; Figure 2 schematically shows an example tracking system according to the invention; and Figures 3A, 3B and 3C show a flow diagram of a method performed on a system of Figure 2.

With reference to the drawings in general, it will be appreciated that similar features or elements bear identical reference signs. It will also be appreciated that the Figures are not to scale and that for example relative dimensions may have been altered in the interest of clarity in the drawings. Also any functional block diagrams are intended simply to show the functionality that exists within the device and should not be taken to imply that each block shown in the functional block diagram is necessarily a discrete or separate entity. The functionality provided by a block may be discrete or may be dispersed throughout the device or throughout a part of the device. In addition, the functionality may incorporate, where appropriate, hardware elements, software elements or firmware elements or any combination of these.

With reference to the Figures, it will be appreciated that according to an example embodiment of the present invention, a device 2, which is hidden within a vehicle 20, such as a caravan, a car, a bus, a trailer, or a truck, includes a sensing unit 21.

The device 2 usually also comprises a radio frequency identification (REID) module 22, an information collector 23, a transmitter 24 configured to transmit position information to a remote apparatus 4 using a communication network 6, a controller 26 and a memory 27.

The sensing unit 21 is configured to detect an external or internal status of the vehicle 20, for example by means of information input from at least one sensor hidden within the vehicle 20 (such as an impact sensor and/or a door open sensor). The device also comprises a detection module 28 for detecting a physical displacement of the device 2. The detection module 28 is configured to detect a physical displacement of the device such as at least one of a linear acceleration and an angular acceleration corresponding to a physical displacement of the device 2, and preferably comprises an accelerometer and/or a gyrometer. However the physical displacement detected by the module 28 excludes vibration of the device, i.e. sustained oscillating change in location and/or orientation, such as vibration caused by the operation of an engine of the vehicle. This enables avoiding false alarms detected by the sensing unit 21 as explained in further detail below.

The RFID module 22 may be configured to act as a receiver or a transmitter of radio-frequency electromagnetic fields, in order to act as an RFID tag or an RFID reader for the vehicle 20.

The information collector 23 is configured, in a normal operating mode, to collect position information, for example periodically receive position information obtained by a position receiver interface 230 of the device 2.

The controller 26 is typically implemented with a microprocessor or some form of programmable controller.

The device is configured to have a normal operating mode and an energy saving operating mode.

In Si the device 2 operates in an energy saving mode. The detection module 28 is however configured to be operable during the energy saving operating mode of the device 2. The controller 26 of the device is configured to operate in a specific energy saving mode (e.g. the microprocessor operates with a lower frequency than in a normal operating mode) insufficient for controlling the module 22 or the collector 23 or the transmitter 24, thus saving energy, however sufficient for enabling controlling of the detection module 28 when the device operates in the energy saving operating mode.

When the device operates in the energy saving operating mode, the information collector 23 and the transmitter 24 are configured to operate in an energy saving operating mode, thereby saving energy.

The module 28 determines in 52 information on whether or not the detected physical displacement of the device, excluding vibration of the device, is greater than a threshold.

In embodiments, the detection module 28 is configured to detect, in the energy saving mode of the device, if the linear acceleration or the angular acceleration of the device is: greater than a threshold of at least one of O.3m.s2 and O.30.s2, or greater than a threshold of at least one of O.4m.s2 and O.40.s2, or greater than a threshold of at least one of O.5m.s2 and O.50.s2, or greater than a threshold of at least one of 1 m.s2 and 1 o-2 If the detected physical displacement of the device corresponds to vibration and/or is inferior to the threshold in 52 (i.e. the linear acceleration or the angular acceleration of the device is lower than a threshold), Si is performed again.

When the detected physical displacement of the device, as detected by the module 28 is determined in S2 as not being vibration and is superior to the threshold (i.e. the linear acceleration or the angular acceleration of the device is greater than a threshold), i.e. for example the module 28 determines a potential illegal movement, in 53 the detection module 28 provides an operating mode instruction to the device, responsive to the detecting. The instruction may be provided via e.g. the sensing unit 21 connected to the module 28, and the controller 26 which collects data from the unit 21. The instruction is adapted to trigger the device to operate in the normal mode.

In embodiments, in the normal operating mode of the device, the module 22, the collector 23 and the transmitter 24 are operating in a normal operating mode, and the controller 26 also collects data from the module 22 and/or the collector 23 in S4.

The controller 26 determines in 35 information on whether or not the detected status of the vehicle 20 deviates from a predetermined normal status, for example an abnormal status and/or illegal movement. The determination may be derived from: the unit 21 may detect the generation of an impact or a movement in excess of a reference value (e.g. from the module 28) and/or a door being opened without using a key or a remote control; and/or the module 22 may detect a case where an ID of the REID is not matched with a REID tag and/or reader of the owner of the vehicle; and/or the collector 23 may detect an unauthoiized position of the vehicle and/or that the vehicle exits and/or enters a predetermined GFS geofence, i.e., as known by those skilled in the art, a virtual perimeter of a physical geographic area which may be dynamically generated, e.g. as a radius around a point location or a custom-digitized drawn zone around an area.

The device is thus further configured to validate the trigger of the module 28 responsive to the collection of the position information.

If the status is determined as not abnoimal in S5, S4 is performed again.

When the status of the vehicle 20, as detected by the sensing unit 21 (e.g. via the module 28) and/or the module 22 and/or the collector 23, is determined in S5 as deviating from a piedetermined noimal status by the contioller 26, i.e. for example the contioller 26 determines an abnormal status and/or illegal movement, in S6 the information collector 23 periodically receives position information obtained by the position receiver interface 230 of the device 2.

In S7 the transmitter 24 transmits the position information, periodically received from the information collector 23, to a central apparatus 4, preferably operated by a provider of a vehicle tracking service. The transmission is pieferably peiformed using a communication network 6, such as preferably a Global System Mobile Communications (GSM) using a communication interface 240 of the device 2, but other networks may be used, such as satellite networks.

In embodiments, the transmitter 24 is adapted to: transmit the position information in real time, when the communication network 6 is available or in range of the interface 240, and to store the position information to a memory, usually the memory 27 internal to the device 2, when the network 6 is not available or not in range of the interface 240, and to transmit the stored position information to the apparatus 4 later, when the communication network 6 becomes available again.

In embodiments, in S7 the transmitter 24 further transmits a notification, such as an alarm message, e.g. a SMS message an/or an e-mail, indicating to the apparatus 4 a possible theft of the vehicle 20, without the transmission of the notification appearing on any device of the vehicle 20.

In embodiments the transmitter 24 may further transmit data including at least one of the following: locating technology parameters, such as number of GPS satellites in view, etc., and/or vehicle parameters, such as speed, heading direction, fuel amount, engine temperature and/or RPM, altitude, tire pressure, battery status, etc., and/or a trigger event, such as key on/off, head/tail lights on/off, door open/closed. etc. The apparatus 4 preferably comprises one or more servers, in a single location or several locations, and the one or more servers are connected to access points, such as wireless access points 41. The apparatus 4 stores the parameters for the operation of the tracking service, and also stores user profiles (containing the user name), created by the users when registering, as explained in greater detail below.

In S8 the apparatus 4 receives the transmifted information and notification, and securely stores them. As it will be appreciated in greater detail below, the apparatus 4 is configured to serve the information, and sometimes notification, on demand to at least one user (such as the provider and/or the owner of the vehicle and/or the Police) on a user terminal 40, which may comprise a computer terminal and/or a handheld terminal such as a smartphone.

As known by the person skilled in the art, the user terminal 40 typically comprises at least a processor, a memory, a display 42 and telecommunications means comprising a radio frequency signal receiver 401 (including access to cellular and/or communications network such as the Internet), such that the vehicle location can thus be viewed on the display 42, such as on electronic maps, for example via the Internet or specialized software.

In S9 the apparatus 4 contacts the owner of the vehicle 20, for example via a phone call and/or a SMS message and/or an email on the terminal 40, and provides vehicle movement details, and determines whether the possible theft is confirmed or not by the user.

If the theft is not confirmed in S9, S4 is performed again.

If the theft is confirmed in S9, in SlO the apparatus 4 continues to receive at least the position information from the transmitter 24, and starts a tracking and recovery procedure, in line with current Police legislation and procedures.

In Sil the apparatus 4 obtains a crime reference number from the Police.

In S12 the apparatus 4 liaises preferably with the Police (and/or the owner of the vehicle) by sending the data transmitted by the transmitter 24 and stored on the apparatus 4 to the terminal 40, such as a smartphone, used by the Police or the owner, in order to enable to track and to recover the vehicle 20.

It is appreciated that the position information, preferably the GPS location information, transmitted by the transmitter 24 enables location of the vehicle 20.

In S13 the terminal 40 locates and approaches the stolen vehicle 20.

In 514 the vehicle is recovered.

The module 400 may incorporate hardware elements in a more specifically dedicated terminal 40, such as a terminal 40 used by the Police, but preferably comprises mainly software elements or firmware elements or any combination of these, for example for a general purpose terminal 40 such as a smartphone used e.g. by the owner of the vehicle 20.

Modifications and Variations Detailed embodiments have been described above. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, a number of modifications and alternatives can be made to the above embodiments whilst still benefiting from the inventions embodied therein, and will not be described in further detail here.

It should also be appreciated that Figure 2 shows functional block diagrams and that in practice the individual blocks shown in Figure 2 may exist as discrete elements or their functionality may be distributed in different combinations or not individually discernable. -10-

In the embodiments described above, the device includes circuitry. Typically this circuitry will be formed by dedicated hardware circuits. However, in some embodiments, part of the circuitry may be implemented as software run by the corresponding controller. It should be appreciated that the functionalities may also be provided, where appropriate, by firmware and/or software and/or hardware or any combination thereof. A software implementation may however be preferred to facilitate the updating of the functionality of an element.

Where software are provided, they may be provided, as appropriate, in compiled or un-compiled form and may be supplied, as the case may be, as a signal over a computer or telecommunications network, or on a computer storage medium such as for instance a disc, an optical disc or a CD ROM.

In embodiments GLONASS, Radio Frequency or cellular technology (such as GSM) may be also used for locating the device 2, instead of or in complement to using GPS, and the data transmitted to the apparatus may also further include GSM and/or GSM area code/cell code.

The device 2 may be self-powered with a rechargeable battery or wired into the vehicle power system (battery).

In embodiments, the position receiver interface and/or the communication interface may be at least partially merged.

It is to be understood that any feature described in relation to any one embodiment may be used alone, or in combination with other features described in relation to any other embodiment.

Although the invention was described in relation to stolen vehicle recovery such as a caravan, it is understood that the invention may be implemented in other applications, such as for fleet management, e.g. urban public transit or commercial trucks.

In embodiments, the invention may also be used, separately or in combination with other tracking devices, on a boat.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A vehicle tracking device (2) configured to be mounted on a vehicle (20), wherein the device is configured to have a normal operating mode and an energy saving operating mode, wherein the device further comprises a detection module (28) for detecting, in the energy saving mode of the device, at least one of a linear acceleration and an angular acceleration corresponding to a physical displacement of the device (2), and wherein the detection module (28) is configured to provide an operating mode instruction to the device, responsive to the detecting, wherein the instruction is adapted to trigger the device to operate in the normal mode if the detected linear acceleration or the angular acceleration of the device is greater than a threshold of at least one of 0.3m.s2 and 0.3°.s2.
2. The device according to claim 1, comprising: an information collector (23) configured to collect position information indicating the position of the device (2); and/or a transmitter (24) configured to transmit the position information to a remote apparatus (4) using a communication network (6), and wherein the information collector (23) and/or the transmitter (24) are configured to operate: in an energy saving operating mode when the device operates in the energy saving operating mode; and in a normal operating mode when the device operates in the normal operating mode.
3. The device according to claim 2, comprising: a controller (26) of the device configured to: control the detection module (28) when the device operates in both the energy saving operating mode and the normal operating mode, wherein the controller is -12-configured to operate in a specific energy saving mode when controlling the detection module (28) when the device operates in the energy saving operating mode; and control the information collector (23) and/or the transmitter (24) in the normal operating mode of the device.
4. The device according to any one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the information collector (23) is further configured to validate the trigger responsive to the collection of the position information once operating in the normal operating mode.
5. The device (2) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the information collector (23) is configured to collect satellite position information, preferably global positioning system, GPS, position information.
6. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the detection module (28) comprises an accelerometer and/or a gyrometer.
7. The device (2) of any one of claims ito 6, comprising a rechargeable battery (29).
8. A method of tracking a vehicle (20), comprising: detecting, in an energy saving mode of a device (2) configured to be mounted on a vehicle (20) and to have a normal operating mode and an energy saving operating mode, at least one of a linear acceleration and an angular acceleration corresponding to a physical displacement of the device (2); providing an operating mode instruction to the device, responsive to the detecting, wherein the instruction is adapted to trigger, responsive to the detecting, the device to operate in the normal mode if the detected linear acceleration or the angular acceleration of the device is greater than a threshold of at least one of 0.3m.s2 and 0.30.s2.
9. The method according to claim 8, comprising: collecting position information indicating the position of the device (2) when the device operates in the normal operating mode; and/or transmitting the position intormation to a remote apparatus (4) using a communication network (6) when the device operates in the normal operating mode. -13-
10. The method according to claim 9, comprising: controlling the detection when the device operates in both the energy saving operating mode and the normal operating mode, wherein controlling is performed in a specific energy saving mode when the device operates in the energy saving operating mode; and controlling the collecting of the position information indicating the position of the device (2) and/or the transmitting of the position information to the remote apparatus (4) when the device operates in the normal operating mode.
11. The method according to any one of claims 9 or 10, comprising: validating the trigger responsive to the collecting of the position information once operating in the normal operating mode.
12. The method (2) according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein collecting the information (23) comprises collecting satellite position information, preferably global positioning system, GPS, position information.
13. A computer program, computer program product or computer readable medium comprising instructions for carrying out a method according to any one of claims 8 to 12.