System and method to reduce processing load on backend servers in a vehicle miles traveled system

Abstract

A method and system utilizes a device in a vehicle to periodically determine a location of the vehicle and store, only locally at the device, the location data. The device first detects the vehicle being turned on and identifies the vehicle. After identifying the vehicle the device determines the present location of the vehicle and transmits the present location to a backend server. The server determines the applicable geofence definition including the location and transmits the geofence definition back to the device, whereupon the device commences periodic location fixes, storing each location locally at the device. While performing the location fixes, the device also monitors the present location relative to the geofence definition. If the vehicle is approaching a border or edge of a geofenced region, the device requests a new geofence definition from the server. When the vehicle is shut off, the device transmits the distance driven in each geofenced region to the server. Additionally, the device selects a subset of location fixes to create an auditable record of where the vehicle has travelled, and transmits the record to the server, and then deletes all locally stored location information.