Introduction

NTVLSS provides location-based solutions and services that track or monitor moving objects such as trucks, luxury bus, containers, ambulances, fire brigade units etc. VTrack, a Vehicle Tracking System (VTS), is an integrated hardware/software wireless solution designed to track and monitor mobile clients such as security vehicles, commercial trucks and field service vehicles. The VTrack enables for on-line / off-line tracking of vehicles and store, represent, display data of moving objects which is then transmitted to the vehicle tracking server via wireless networks. Vision’s VLSS provides near real-time services for tracking vehicle through desktop based and dynamic web based indexing for moving objects.

VTrack combines a number of well-developed technologies. Irrespective of the technology being used, VTrack consist of three subsystems: a) In-vehicle unit (IVU), b) Base station and c) Communication link. The IVU includes a suitable position sensor and an intelligent controller together with an appropriate interface to the communication link.

OVERVIEW OF VTrack

VTrack locates vehicles, displays their stationary or mobile position on detailed digital maps. The digital maps are well demarcated by the sate and district boundaries. The maps also display a full-fledged state and national highway network along with the location of 8000 major cities. In a typically VTrack system, vehicle position information, its speed and direction are stored on the vehicle for a time, which can be as short as a few seconds or as long as several minutes. Position information can then be relayed to the control centre in raw form or processed on-board the vehicle before its transmission.

WORKING PATTERN

The architecture of VTrack involves GSM integrated devices for identifying the location and messaging between the vehicle and the application. The GSM device over the moving vehicle calculates the location, speed, date and time information. The GSM is ideal for GPS position information. GPS information is typically about 60 characters in length, leaving room for other information such as the average speed can be transmitted as part of the same short message. The GSM again removes the cost of infrastructure and because here we use the existing cellular networks.

The information gets stored on the GSM device and in turn sent to the control centre through the SMS. The GSM receiver at control centre decodes this data through the decoder. The transmitted information is sent to a mapping engine that plots the route of the vehicle on a digital street map of the city. This data from the decoder is also stored in the database so that plotting can also be done on the click of a button for a particular vehicle at a convenient time.

SALIENT FEATURES

Activity History Recording with No Re-Occurring Monthly Fees

VTrack offers the most powerful passive history logging system available. Many competitors sell tracking systems that are little more than handheld GPS navigational devices, and typically do not record the information you really want. VTRACK is a sophisticated system that intelligently records the right information, the information that you really need.
The real difference is the ease of accessing the enormous amount of information that a VTrack passive system stores. Because data download does not use a cellular or satellite communications network, there are no re-occurring monthly fees as are associated with the VTrack Realtime Tracking System. Over a period of several years of use, this causes VTrack to have a lower overall cost of implementation compared to the other systems operating in the market.

Implementation is easy, too! About 80% of VTRACK users self-install.

Powerful History Reporting & Fleet Analysis Tools

Easy-to-use Vtrack’s ANALYZER REPORTING SOFTWARE (ARS), lets you quickly filter for the information you really need -- and ignore the rest. You can generate reports (by customer visits, driver activity, vehicle details, etc.) with exactly the information you need (stop location/duration, excessive speed reports, engine idle time) in mere moments with the VTRACK's user-friendly software. Verifying that your company vehicles are used according to company policies has never been easier! The system automatically archives speed, stop location/duration, vehicle track history, and discrete event reports (i.e. out of bounds areas). All of this information downloads into the touch key automatically. No driver or fleet manager intervention is necessary!

Vtrack’s ARS, built - in reporting module allows you to produce summary & detailed reports including –

• Excessive Speed Reports (with adjustable max speed parameter) and Speed Violation reports.
• Viewing trips :- Very detailed information can be reviewed in map overlay or report form, including addresses, stop locations and durations, total mileage, etc.
• Maintenance :- Effective implementation of preventive maintenance plans based on mileage or engine-on time obtained from the mileage logs.
• Speeding & Risk Management :- Detailed speed and risk management reports are available, including extremely detailed information in the moments before a crash.
• Vehicle Details management :- Details of the vehicle in transit can be obtained at a click of the mouse.
• Monitoring Auxiliary Events :- Reports on activation or deactivation of Sensor Events (3 sensors), Seat Belt Use, Monitors Aggressive Braking, Idle Time etc.
• Route Planning :- The Vtrack allows you to plan the optimal route for a vehicle and give the driver both maps and instructions in a report format. You can also replay the route travelled to ensure compliance.

Easy to Use Controls (EUC)

User-friendly controls for monitoring the activities of the vehicle tracked are a value addition to the already existing features of Vtrack. EUC controls include –

• Vehicle Location Request: Receive current location, speed and direction at a click of the mouse.
• Vehicle Location History Request :- Access historical location and event history just by selecting the date and time of the trip/journey.
• Door Unlock: Electronic device installed in the vehicle to unlock door(s), turn on lights, sound the horn or control any electrical device on board the vehicle and much more by just accessing controls from the remote station.
• Fastest Speed of the Day: The fastest speed of the current day (in excess of a preset speed threshold) is indicated to you.
• Vehicle Details: Details of the vehicle in transit can be obtained at a click of the mouse.
• Set SMS Polling interval: User can define the sms polling interval by setting the time frame as per the requirement.

Customisable Pop – Up Alerts (CPA)

CPA ensures that all the rules and regulation laid by the customer a re complied to too. Generating pop up alerts saves the laborious task of continuously monitoring the tracking events for any violation. Such alerts can be built as per the requirements of the client/customer. Some of the alerts that can be generated are as follows -

• Maximum speed Exceeded: Alert is sent when the maximum speed is exceeded for a period designated by the user, between one second and sixty minutes.
• Geographic Boundary: An alarm or pop up message to be sent when an entrance or departure is made from a fixed geographic area.
• Reminder Notifications: Notifications with respect to Maintenance, Lease and/or Licensing Engine
• On-board speeding driver alert buzzer: reminds driver of excessive speed.
• Fastest Speed of the Day: The fastest speed of the current day (in excess of a preset speed threshold) is indicated to you through an alert.

Thematic Features Support (TFS)

TFS is an inbuilt displaying control, which enables the user change the thematic features of the geographic data (Map) as per his/her requirements. This feature of Vtrack allows the user to interact with the display features of the map by adding or changing the attributes of the Map. With TFS the user can control the attributes as follows –