Abstract: A method of estimating the fuel consumption of a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of estimating an overall power of said vehicle, by estimating a rolling power component, an aerodynamic resistance component and an acceleration component, using at least one parameter obtained from an on board diagnostic system of the vehicle; determining the type of fuel used by the vehicle; and estimating said fuel consumption by summing said components of said overall power and dividing by the energy value of said fuel type and by a predetermined engine efficiency value.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems and methods are implemented for characterizing one or more driver inputs. As may be relevant to one or more embodiments herein, particular aspects are directed to determining a driver input characteristic and using the determined input characteristic to assess a risk metric to the driver. In some implementations, the driver input characteristic is determined based upon a prediction of one or more of actual fuel used and torque. In some implementations, the prediction is determined in real-time and may be transmitted to a remote terminal for storage and/or analysis. The data for the prediction is obtained from a vehicle diagnostic system, and is used to determine (e.g., predict and/or infer) information as presented by other vehicle systems to the vehicle diagnostic system, without necessarily communicating directly with the respective other vehicle systems. In various implementations, the driver risk characteristic is used for assessing an insurance-based risk metric.

Abstract: The present invention provides an onboard system for determining vehicle emissions. The emissions are determined in real-time and may be transmitted to a remote terminal for storage and/or analysis. Data is supplied solely to an emissions unit from a vehicle diagnostic system: the vehicle diagnostic system receives vehicle data from vehicle systems and sub-systems.

Abstract: A method of estimating the fuel consumption of a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of estimating an overall power of said vehicle, by estimating a rolling power component, an aerodynamic resistance component and an acceleration component, using at least one parameter obtained from an on board diagnostic system of the vehicle; determining the type of fuel used by the vehicle; and estimating said fuel consumption by summing said components of said overall power and dividing by the energy value of said fuel type and by a predetermined engine efficiency value.

Abstract: An onboard system for determining vehicle emissions. The emissions are determined in real-time and may be transmitted to a remote terminal for storage and/or analysis. Data is supplied solely to an emissions unit from a vehicle diagnostic system; the vehicle diagnostic system receives vehicle data from vehicle systems and sub-systems.

Abstract: A method and device for creating an accurate simulation or model of the performance of a vehicle or an internal combustion engine in accordance with the invention comprises accessing the engine on-board diagnostic port (OBD), reading data from the desired industry standard parameter indicators (PID), using these data to produce a basic simulation of the engine operating characteristics, accessing and reading non-industry standard PIDs and using the output from the basic simulation in order to identify the non-industry standard PIDs with a high degree of certainty.

Abstract: The invention provides a calibration tool for a vehicle monitoring device, the tool having a processor with a clock or access to a time signal and arranged for connection to and to receive and process signals from a vehicle on-board diagnostics unit (OBD), the processor having or connected to means for storing data relating to the vehicle and its engine and codes relating to signals from the available OBD outputs and inputs, the processor being programmed to calculate and store certain coefficients derived over the vehicle's operating range and to populate an array with the said coefficients so that the processor can look up the corresponding co-efficient from the array to calculate the desired value or output. The invention extends to a method of calibrating a calibration tool or a vehicle-monitoring device mounted in a vehicle provided with such a calibration tool.

Abstract: A method and device for creating an accurate simulation or model of the performance of a vehicle or an internal combustion engine in accordance with the invention comprises accessing the engine on-board diagnostic port (OBD), reading data from the desired industry standard parameter indicators (PID), using these data to produce a basic simulation of the engine operating characteristics, accessing and reading non-industry standard PIDs and using the output from the basic simulation in order to identify the non-industry standard PIDs with a high degree of certainty.

Abstract: The invention provides a calibration tool for a vehicle monitoring device, the tool having a processor with a clock or access to a time signal and arranged for connection to and to receive and process signals from a vehicle on-board diagnostics unit (OBD), the processor having or connected to means for storing data relating to the vehicle and its engine and codes relating to signals from the available OBD outputs and inputs, the processor being programmed to calculate and store certain coefficients derived over the vehicle's operating range and to populate an array with the said coefficients so that the processor can look up the corresponding co-efficient from the array to calculate the desired value or output. The invention extends to a method of calibrating a calibration tool or a vehicle-monitoring device mounted in a vehicle provided with such a calibration tool.

Abstract: The present invention provides an onboard system for determining vehicle emissions. The emissions are determined in real-time and may be transmitted to a remote terminal for storage and/or analysis. Date is supplied solely to an emissions unit from a vehicle diagnostic system: the vehicle diagnostic system receives vehicle data from vehicle systems and sub-systems.