Collecting and reporting information concerning mobile assets

Abstract

A mobile platform includes a GPS receiver system to collect position related information for storage in a database. Sensors further collect platform operational information for storage in the database. A control processor for the mobile platform collects the stored information for periodic transmission over a wireless communications link to a remote location for further processing and handling. The control processor is configured to periodically engage in data collection from the GPS receiver system and sensors at a first rate and remotely report any interim collected information over the wireless communications link at a second rate. Preferably, the first rate is greater than the second rate by integer multiple to most efficiently and economically utilize wireless communications resources. At the remote location, a central controller receives the mobile platform reported information for processing in accordance with tracking management applications. An interface to the central controller allows a user to control the information collection and reporting operations of the control processor (in the mobile platform) as well as the tracking management functions performed by the central controller.