FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to vehicle telematics, and more specifically to a method and a system for impact detection in a stationary vehicle.

BACKGROUND

A telematics system may gather asset data using a telematics device. The telematics device may be integrated into or located onboard the asset. The asset may be a vehicle (“vehicular asset”) or some stationary equipment. The telematics device may collect the asset data from the asset through a data connection with the asset. In the case of a vehicular asset, the telematics device may gather the asset data through an onboard diagnostic port (OBD). The gathered asset data may include engine revolutions-per-minute (RPM), battery voltage, fuel level, tire pressure, oil temperature, or any other asset data available through the diagnostic port. Additionally, the telematics device may gather sensor data pertaining to the asset via sensors on the telematics device. For example, the telematics device may have temperature and pressure sensors, inertial measurement units (IMU), optical sensors, and the like. Furthermore, the telematics device may gather location data pertaining to the asset from a location module on the telematics device. When the telematics device is coupled to the asset, the gathered sensor data and location data pertain to the asset. The gathered asset data, sensor data and location data may be received and recorded by a technical infrastructure of the telematics system, such as a telematics server, and used in the provision of fleet management tools, for telematics services, or for further data analysis.

SUMMARY

In one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method in a telematics device. The method comprises entering, by a controller of the telematics device, into a sleep mode; performing at least one micro wakeup having a micro wakeup duration; determining at least one value from at least one sensor during the micro wakeup duration; and storing the at least one value. The method further comprises returning to the sleep mode; waking up from the sleep mode; and sending the at least one value over a network interface to a telematics server.

Entering into the sleep mode may comprise powering down a plurality of peripherals of the telematics device.

Entering into sleep mode may comprise running the controller of the telematics device at a slow clock frequency.

Performing the at least one micro wakeup may comprise powering up a limited plurality of peripherals in the telematics device.

Performing the at least one micro wakeup may comprise powering up the at least one sensor.

Waking up from the sleep mode may involve powering up all peripherals of the telematics device which were powered down during the sleep mode.

The at least one micro wakeup may comprise a plurality of micro wakeups. The at least one value may comprise a plurality of values. Storing the at least one value may comprise storing the plurality of values. Sending the at least one value may comprise sending the plurality of values.

The at least one sensor may comprise a three-axis accelerometer and the plurality of values may comprise a low-impact acceleration profile.

Storing the plurality of values may comprise determining that each value of the plurality of values is above an impact acceleration threshold.

The three-axis accelerometer comprises an x-axis accelerometer and a y-axis accelerometer.

Each value of the plurality of values may be derived from an x-axis accelerometer acceleration measurement and a y-axis accelerometer acceleration measurement.

In another aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a telematics device comprising a controller, a network interface coupled to the controller, and a memory coupled to the controller. The memory stores machine-executable programming instructions which when executed by the controller configure the telematics device to enter into a sleep mode, perform at least one micro wakeup having a micro wakeup duration, and determine at least one value from at least one sensor during the micro wakeup duration. The machine-executable programming instructions further configure the telematics device to store the at least one value, return to the sleep mode, wake up from the sleep mode, and send the at least one value over the network interface to a telematics server.

The machine-executable programming instructions which configure the telematics device to enter into the sleep mode may comprise machine-executable programming instructions which power down a plurality of peripherals of the telematics device.

The machine-executable programming instructions which configure the telematics device to enter into the sleep mode may comprise machine-executable programming instructions which run the controller of the telematics device at a slow clock frequency.

The machine-executable programming instructions which configure the telematics device to perform the at least one micro wakeup may comprise machine-executable programming instructions which power up a limited plurality of peripherals in the telematics device.

The machine-executable programming instructions which configure the telematics device to perform the at least one micro wakeup may comprise machine-executable programming instructions which power up the at least one sensor.

The machine-executable programming instructions which configure the telematics device to wake up from the sleep mode may comprise machine-executable programming instructions which power up all the peripherals of the telematics device which were powered down during the sleep mode.

The at least one micro wakeup may comprise a plurality of micro wakeups. The at least one value may comprise a plurality of values. The machine-executable programming instructions which configure the telematics device to store the at least one value may comprise machine-executable programming instructions which configure the telematics device to store the plurality of values. The machine-executable programming instructions which configure the telematics device to send the at least one value may comprise machine-executable programming instructions which configure the telematics device to send the plurality of values.

The at least one sensor may comprise a three-axis accelerometer and the plurality of values comprise a low-impact acceleration profile.

The machine-executable programming instructions which configure the telematics device to store the plurality of values may comprise machine-executable programming instructions which determine that each value of the plurality of values is above an impact acceleration threshold.

The three-axis accelerometer comprises an x-axis accelerometer and a y-axis accelerometer.

Each of the plurality of values may be derived from an x-axis accelerometer acceleration measurement and a y-axis accelerometer acceleration measurement.

