Inventors:
Richard Bell - San Antonio TX, US
Craig Blaida - Boerne TX, US
Steven Lawrence - Dublin NH, US
International Classification:
G01C 21/00
Abstract:
A system is provided that is adapted to be operably connected to a vehicle for use in management of the vehicle. The system includes: a computer; a wireless communication module operably connected to the computer; an audio interface operably connected to the computer; a GPS receiver module operably connected to the computer; at least one vehicle condition sensor operably connected to the computer; and a local control interface operably connected to the computer. According to a first aspect of the invention, the system further includes an engine start/stop controller operably connected to the computer. According to a second aspect of the invention, the system further includes a subscriber identity module (“SIM”) operably connected to the computer. According to a third aspect of the invention, the system further includes a gyroscope module operably connected to the GPS receiver module. According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for controlling the engine idle time of a vehicle. The method includes the steps of: operatively connecting at least one temperature sensor to measure the temperature of at least one part of the vehicle; operatively connecting the at least one temperature sensor to a computer; operatively connecting an engine start/stop controller to the engine of the vehicle; operatively connecting the engine start/stop controller to the computer; using the computer to start the engine when the at least one temperature sensor reports a temperature that is outside of a settable temperature range; and using the computer to stop the engine when the at least one temperature sensor reports a temperature that is within a settable temperature range.