Abstract: A method is provided for operating a wireless communication device located in a vehicle to transmit data indicative of trips made by the vehicle to a remote device via a wireless transmitter. An engine ‘on’ state of the vehicle is determined, and a corresponding first time is stored. A first time window of a first non-zero duration is defined beginning prior to the first time and ending at the first time, and a second time window of a second duration is defined beginning at the first time and ending at a second time. First user input is enabled only during the first and second time windows, via an input device operatively connected to the wireless communication device. A current trip is selectively characterized based on the first user input, or omission thereof, as being of a first or second type. A message is generated, indicating the current type of trip.

Abstract: A method of determining a coasting area is disclosed, together with methods of providing coasting information to a vehicle driver; coasting being when the vehicle is allowed to decelerate or to roll without being under power. In embodiments, the coasting area is determined by: determining an end point location of a coasting area based upon a location in map data of an expected decrease in speed of a vehicle traversing a road network represented by the map data; determining a start point location of the coasting area based on at least one attribute associated with the map data proximal to the end point location; and generating coasting information indicative of the coasting area having the start point and end point locations.