System and method for reporting a status of an asset

1. A reporting method in a mobile terminal system on a transport vehicle, comprising:

a. during a time period that starts after a detected transition from a first operational condition to a second operational condition of the transport vehicle, tracking further transitions between said first operational condition and said second operational condition;

b. determining an amount of time in said time period that the transport vehicle remained in said second operational condition;

c. transmitting a status report to a site remote from the transport vehicle if said determined amount of time is greater than a threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first operational condition is a motion condition and said second operational condition is a no-motion condition.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first operational condition is a no-motion condition and said second operational condition is a motion condition.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said transmitting comprises transmitting a status report that include time and position information.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said position information is code phase measurement information taken at a time of said detected transition.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein said time information is a time of said detected transition.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said time period and said predefined portion are configurable parameters.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising receiving a configurable parameter at the transport vehicle location via satellite.

9. A reporting method in a mobile terminal affixed to a transport vehicle, comprising:

a. detecting a change from a first operational condition to a second operational condition of the transport vehicle;

b. after a time period has elapsed after said detected change, determining whether the transport vehicle remained in said second operational condition for greater than a predefined percentage of said time period; and

c. reporting a change in status to a remote location if it is determined that the transport vehicle remained in said second operational condition for greater than a predefined percentage of said time period.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said first operational condition is a motion condition and said second operational condition is a no-motion condition.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein said first operational condition is a no-motion condition and said second operational condition is a motion condition.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein said detecting is based on an analysis of vibration sensor data.

13. A position reporting method in a mobile terminal system, comprising:

a. recording time and position information upon detection of a change from a first operational condition to a second operational condition of the transport vehicle; and

b. reporting said time and said position information to a site remote from the transport vehicle if it is determined that the transport vehicle remained in said second operational condition for greater than a percentage of a predefined time period that commences after said detection of said change.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said first operational condition is a motion condition and said second operational condition is a no-motion condition.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said mobile terminal system ceases all reports as long as the transport vehicle continues in a no-motion state.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein said first operational condition is a no-motion condition and said second operational condition is a motion condition.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein said mobile terminal system reports time and position information periodically if it is determined that the transport vehicle is in a motion state.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein said position information is code phase measurement information.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein said predefined time period is a configurable parameter.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising receiving a configurable parameter at the transport vehicle location via satellite.