Internet-based method for determining a vehicle's fuel efficiency

US6988033B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• THE REYNOLDS AND REYNOLDS COMPANY

Inventors

• Larkin Hill Lowrey · Village of La Jolla, US
• Bruce D. Lightner · Village of La Jolla, US
• Matthew Banet · Del Mar, US
• Diego Borrego · San Diego, US
• Chuck Myers · Village of La Jolla, US
• Jim Scot Cowart · Franklin, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 6, 2003
• Grant date: Jan 17, 2006
• Expiry date: Jun 6, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G08G1/20
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The invention provides a method and device for characterizing a vehicle's fuel efficiency and amount of fuel consumed. The method features the steps of: 1) generating a data set from the vehicle that includes vehicle speed, odometer calculation, engine speed, load, mass air flow; 2) transferring the data set to a wireless appliance that includes i) a microprocessor, and ii) a wireless transmitter in electrical contact with the microprocessor; 3) transmitting a data packet comprising the data set or a version thereof with the wireless transmitter over an airlink to a host computer system; and 4) analyzing the data set with the host computer system to determine a status of the vehicle's fuel efficiency.