Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining an operational state of a motor are described. The apparatus includes a sensor or detecting vibration and a processor coupled to the sensor. The processor converts sensed vibration signals into the frequency domain to produce a vibration characteristic, and determines a current operational state of the motor based on the vibration characteristic, wherein the current operation state is determined from at least two different operational states including at least one idle state and at least one working state.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program for determining the orientation of an apparatus relative to a vehicle in which the apparatus is installed is disclosed. Acceleration data of the apparatus along three mutually orthogonal axes at a first time interval is recorded (100). Speed and heading data of the apparatus at a second time interval is recorded (100). A first vector which corresponds to the direction of gravity is determined (102) using the acceleration data. One or more periods of acceleration in a substantially straight line are identified (104) using the speed and heading data. Acceleration data corresponding to the identified one or more periods of acceleration in a substantially straight line is selected (106). A second vector which is orthogonal to the first vector and which corresponds to a forward direction of the vehicle is determined (110) using the selected acceleration data.