gps trace tag user guide - wialon · gps trace tag is an application that is installed on mobile...

GPS Trace Tag 1.10User Guidedate: November 23, 2016

GPS Trace Tag 1.10 User Guide

Table of Contents

Overview 3Registration 4Start/Stop Service 5Settings 6Operation Mode 6

Server Connection 7

Unit Settings 8

Location Determination 8

Messages Settings 9

Notifications and State 11

Other 12

Advanced Settings 13

Localization 13

Messages 15Viewing Messages 15

Actions with Messages 16

Position and Routes 17

Sending Text Messages 17

Sending Images 19Send from Camera 19

Send from File 19

Sending Custom Parameters 20Alarm 20

Custom Status 20

Statistics and Status 22Current Status 22

Latest Data 23

Messages Sent/Lost 24

Map 25Menu 26About 26

Help 26

Quit 26

Widgets 27

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Overv iew

GPS Trace Tag is an application that is installed on mobile devices for determining and tracking their

geographical position.

GPS Trace Tag can be installed on Android based mobile devices, such as cell phones, laptops, netbooks,

etc. Location is tracked mainly using GPS, therefore a device should possess GPS receiver.

GPS Trace Tag is compatible with GPS and GLONASS tracking system GPS Trace. Positioning data is sent

from mobile device to the server of tracking system to be stored. Besides positioning data (coordinates,

course, speed. etc.) text messages, images, alarm messages, and custom statuses can also be sent to the

server.

Data received from a mobile device can be processed by a tracking system and presented in different forms

such as tracks of traveled routes on the map, notifications, etc. (depending on the tracking system used).

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http://gps-trace.com/?lang=en


Regis t ra t ion

As GPS Trace Tag is designed to work with the tracking system GPS Trace, registration in this system is

required to make full use of the application. GPS Trace Tag collects data and sends it to the tracking system.

Then in the tracking system you can request your tracks of movements for any period, adjust receiving

notifications about different kinds of activity and send messages and coordinates to the device.

When you first open GPS Trace Tag on your portable device, you are offered either to connect to the tracking

system or carry out a registration. Choose the first option if you already have an account on GPS Trace, enter

your login and password and press Connect.

If you are new to the system, press Registration. Enter desired login name, your e-mail address, password,

and press the Registration button. If everything is correct, an account will be created for you and connection

will be made automatically. However, remember your account details because you will need them to log in to

the tracking system.

You can also choose Skip and perform connection procedure later.

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Star t /S top Serv ice

The upper menu item shows service current status — stopped or started. It is also a switcher between these

two states. If at the moment the service is started, press to stop it, if stopped — press to start.

— start service;

— stop service.

Automatic start and stop is also possible, for example, after reboot, while recharging the battery, or by

schedule.

When the service is started, its further activity depends on program settings, GPS receiver availability,

connection to the Internet and server. If GPS receiver is on, the service starts generating messages with

location. Otherwise, the service waits for GPS availability. If there are messages in the clipboard or in the

black box and the Internet connection is established, the service connects to the server and sends

messages.

Attention!

Start and stop of the service may be restricted by administration privileges.

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Set t ings

Operation Mode 6

Server Connection 7

Unit Settings 8

Location Determination 8

Messages Settings 9

Notifications and State 11

Other 12

Advanced Settings 13

Localization 13

The Settings section allows you to configure different parameters of the program and service operation.

A t t e n t i o n !

Access to settings can be restricted by administration privileges.

Op e r a t i o n Mo d e

Op e r a t i o n M o d e

The service can work continuously or by timeout. In the first case (continuous work ), data is requested all

the time. If GPS receiver is not available, the service will wait for its availability and then try to determine

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location. In this mode, the battery is consumed rather actively. That is why this mode is recommended

only if you have possibility to recharge the battery at any time.

In the second case (by timeout), the service addresses to GPS receiver and tries to determine the current

position by timeout, for example, once in 20 minutes. The service analyzes up to three messages during

two minutes and generates a message if successful.

T i m e o u t

This parameter is meaningful only if the operation by timeout is chosen above. Timeout value should be no

less than 5 minutes.

W o r k i n R o am i n g

Depending on this checkbox state, the mobile device will send data when in roaming or not.

A u t o S t a r t u p

Mark this checkbox to automatically launch GPS Trace Tag after your mobile device has been rebooted.

W o r k W h i l e b e e n C h a r g e d

Automatically launch GPS Trace Tag service when the charger is connected and stop it when the charger

is disconnected.

W o r k b y S c h e d u l e

The service can be automatically started or stopped by a schedule. Moreover, the service can operate, for

example, only during the working hours of the day. You can indicate as many intervals for the service

operation as you want. Set start and stop time for each interval individually and specify days of the week if

necessary. All intervals appear below.

S c h e d u l e

This section contains intervals for scheduled starts/stops of the service, if such have been indicated.

Each interval is described by its beginning and termination time as well as the days of the week chosen for

the interval to be applied. Click on an interval to edit or remove it. To add more intervals, click the previous

option — Start/stop by schedule — and specify time and days.

S e r v e r C o n n e c t i o n

S e r v e r A d d r e s s

The service is compatible only with GPS tracking system GPS Trace. The server port is indicated

automatically and cannot be edited.

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R em a i n C o n n e c t e d

If the flag is chosen and there is an available Internet connection, the service stays permanently

connected to the server. This is mainly useful for receiving incoming messages from the server. If the

checkbox is disabled, the service connects to the server only when it needs to send new data.

U n i t S e t t i n g s

U n i t U n i q u e I D ( f r o m 8 s y m b o l s )

Unit unique ID is an identification code used to recognize your mobile device in the tracking system. It can

be the same as IMEI code of the mobile device or some other identifier.

U s e P a s s w o r d f o r U n i t

If it is required to use access password for the unit, enable this checkbox, and type the password below.

Moreover, the same password should be duplicated in the tracking system, in the unit properties dialog,

otherwise data will not be registered on server.

U n i t P a s s w o r d

Here you enter the access password for a unit. This setting is relevant if the previous option has been

enabled.

L o c a t i o n D e t e rm i n a t i o n

P o s i t i o n i n g S o u r c e

This option allows to choose the method for determining unit geographical position. It can be GPS

(default), wireless networks (such as Wi-Fi and cellular networks), or both. Note that the corresponding

options should be enabled in the settings of the mobile device itself.

F i l t r a t i o n o f M e s s a g e s

If you activate this option, parameters listed below will be applied to messages prepared for sending to the

server. This filtration can be applied only to the messages generated by GPS, because if wireless

technology is used, such data as speed, course, satellites count, etc. is unknown, and accuracy can

exceed 2000 meters.

The conditions of filtration are listed below. The logical OR operation is applied to them, so a new message

is generated if any of mentioned conditions is met. This is not applicable to the Max accuracy and Max

speed parameters as they are intended to exclude messages with improbably high values (potentially

invalid messages).

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M i n T i m e I n t e r v a l

Minimum time interval between messages sent to the server (in seconds). In other words, a new message

is generated when the indicated time since previous message has passed.

M i n D i s t a n c e

Minimum distance between messages (in meters or feet). In other words, a new message is generated if

the unit has traveled the indicated distance since the previous message.

C h a n g e i n C o u r s e

Indicate an angle on which a course will be changed (i.e., a motion direction) for new message sending (in

degrees).

C h a n g e i n S p e e d

Indicate a speed change (difference between the previous and current messages) which is sufficient for

sending a new message.

M a x A c c u r a c y

Maximum accuracy value (in meters). If exceeded, such message is considered invalid and will not be

sent to the server.

M a x S p e e d

Maximum speed value (in kilometers per hour). If exceeded, such message is considered invalid and will

not be sent to the server.

Me s s a g e s S e t t i n g s

U s e C u s t om M e s s a g e s

If this flag is enabled, message contents can be extended with advanced parameters which can be chosen

below.

P r o v i d e r N am e

This parameter is applied to positional messages. It allows to include information about the source of

location data. It will have the name ‘p’ in messages.

A c c u r a c y

If this option is chosen, positional messages will contain ‘a’ parameter with information about accuracy of

a detected location (in meters).

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B a t t e r y L e v e l

If this setting is chosen, then sent messages contain parameter 'b', the one that shows a device battery

charge level (percentage).

E n e r g y S u p p l y

If this option is chosen, then sent messages contain parameter 'cp' which shows whether the device is

plugged in to a power source. Depending on the parameter value you can indicate the way device is

connected:

0 — device is not plugged in to a power source.

1 — power source is an AC charger.

2 — power source is a USB port.

4 — power source is wireless.

N e w C u s t om S t a t u s

Here you can create a new custom status, for example, ‘free/busy’, ‘public/private’, ‘in office/traveling/with

client’ and many others. These statuses can be sent in messages.Here you can enter only a name for a

new status. The other parameters are configured below.

C u s t om S t a t u s e s

All created custom statuses are listed here. Choose one to view or edit its parameters:

Name: visible name.

Values: a custom status can obtain any number of values depending on what you configure here.

Adjust an intelligible text for each numeric value, for example, 0 — ‘Free’, 1 — ‘Busy’, 2 — ‘Away’.

Attention! When deleting values from the middle of the list, lower lines will be shifted up (that means

they change their numeric value).

Message format: numeric, textual or both values of a custom status can be sent in a message. If

you need to save traffic, choose only numeric value. Textual value comes in messages as ‘ptN’,

where N is the index automatically applied to the status. Numeric value comes as ‘pnN’.

Always send last: set this flag to receive the value of this custom status in each positional message

(similar to provider name, accuracy, and battery level). This option is available only if the option

‘Use custom messages’ is enabled.

Delete status: choose this item to delete custom status with its configuration.

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N o t i f i c a t i o n s a n d S t a t e

N o t i f i c a t i o n s

Depending on this checkbox state, information on the events happening in the background mode

will be displayed in the notification panel or not. These can be such events as a new incoming

message, connection troubles, and others (you choose them below). If there are any

notifications, a special sign appears in the notification panel (see the icon on the right).

P l a y S o u n d f o r E v e n t s

If the above mentioned flag is checked, then the availability of new events can be signaled by the program.

Receiving a notification can be signaled by a sound, vibration, screen illumination, or by a combination of

them depending on the mobile device settings.

T y p e s o f N o t i f i c a t i o n s

Here you select events to display notifications for. The list is the following:

Connection error (connection to the server can not be established);

ID or password failure (in case either unit ID or access password is invalid);

New message (in case of a new message received from the server);

Text message delivery report (a notification saying that your text message has been delivered suc-

cessfully);

Image delivery report (a notification saying that your message with an image has been delivered suc-

cessfully);

Automatic start/stop of the service (a notification in which you can find an information about the

date and time when the service GPS Trace Tag has been started or stopped automatically (by

schedule, after mobile device reboot, or due to the charging of the battery);

Delivery report for messages with custom parameters.

S h o w S e r v i c e S t a t u s

If this option is enabled, a special icon is displayed in the notification panel to indicate that GPS Trace Tag

is working at the moment. If you expand the panel, you will find the time of the latest generated

message. Besides, this notification serves as a shortcut to quickly load the application.

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O th e r

U s e S t o c k C am e r a A p p l i c a t i o n

If the checkbox is enabled, the stock camera application is used for making pictures to send. This works

with any kind of mobile devices, however the image will be of a small size.

If the checkbox is disabled, the internal camera application will be used to make pictures. This application

has minimum functionality, however the images will inherit settings from the camera of the mobile device.

This might not work with some kinds of mobile devices.

D e b u g M o d e

If the checkbox is enabled, log files are saved in the .GPS Tag folder. This mode is recommended when

you just start using the program. Then, when all necessary features have been tested, the debug mode

can be disabled. If you have encountered any bugs or crashes, it is advisable that you send log files to the

developers for further analysis.

I m a g e P a c k e t S i z e

This parameter is used when sending images. The value depends on the outgoing Internet connection

speed. For example, image packet size of 50 000 is good for speed of 512 kbps (upload).

U s e A dm i n P a s s w o r d

Choose the option if you would like to make configuration of GPS Trace Tag available only to those who

has administration privileges. Without entering a password, user will be unable to start/stop the service or

view/change settings.

A dm i n i s t r a t i o n P a s s w o r d

Enter administration password to be checked (only if the previous item is chosen).

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U s e U S M e t r i c s

Enable this checkbox to see all values of distance (in settings, statistics, on map, etc.) in miles and feet

(instead of kilometers and meters).

U s e D e v i c e T i m e

Enable this checkbox in order to use device time in messages instead of position time.

L o g o u t

This option can be used to log out of the GPS Trace tracking system (for example, to log in to the other

account). Option is not available without connection.

A d v a n c e d S e t t i n g s

If while being in Settings you press the MENU button, more options will be loaded in an additional window. On

the top, program name, version, and date of issue are displayed.

S e n d L o g F i l e s

This is to send log files to the developers by e-mail. E-mail address, message theme and text are filled in

automatically, and log files are attached to the letter. It works only if you have a mail client installed.

However, you can send log files manually — to [email protected].

R e s e t t o D e f a u l t

This option resets all settings to their default values.

L o c a l i z a t i o n

Most parameters for GPS Trace Tag localization are taken from your mobile device settings.

I n t e r f a c e L a n g u a g e

Default interface language is English. However, Russian version is available if you choose the

corresponding language in your device.

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mailto:[email protected]


D a t e a n d T i m e

Format of date and time is also defined in device settings. For instance, time can be presented either in 24-

hour format (e.g., 15:47) or in 12-hour format (3:47 PM correspondingly).

D i s t a n c e a n d S p e e d

By default, distances in GPS Trace Tag are displayed in kilometers/meters. However, you can switch to

miles/feet. To do this, enable US metrics checkbox in the application settings. In this case, speed will be

calculated in miles per hour (mph).

N um b e r s

Chosen interface language affects number formatting. For example, if the language is ‘English (United

States)’ thousands in numbers are divided by a comma and decimals by a point. Other variants of

formatting are provided with different languages.

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Messages

Viewing Messages 15

Actions with Messages 16

Position and Routes 17

Sending Text Messages 17

On the Messages page, you can see all incoming and outgoing messages as well as send a text message to

the server.

The number of unread messages is indicated in brackets (if there are any messages unread).

V i e w i n g Me s s a g e s

Messages are displayed in reverse chronological order (the latest message is always on top).

In the right corner, message date and time are indicated. If there is any text or image in the message, they are

displayed, too. If there are any coordinates available, the link Show on map is added.

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Special icons indicate message type and status: incoming / outgoing, delivered / not delivered.

I n c om i n g M e s s a g e s

— incoming message.

Messages can be sent to GPS Trace Tag from the tracking system with the help of appropriate

commands:

Send position. Coordinates can be sent with this command. Useful if it is necessary to indicate a

destination point (like new delivery address or something). Besides, coordinates can be accom-

panied by any textual information.

Send route. Any route can be send using this command. Note that starting point of the route is your

device's last location coordinates point.

Send message to driver. This command allows sending a plain text.

O u t g o i n g M e s s a g e s

— delivered outgoing message;

— undelivered outgoing message.

Outgoing message is a message manually sent by a mobile device user via program GPS Trace Tag. This

can be an image, text , alarm , or custom status . Outgoing data messages (location, speed, etc.)

automatically sent by program are not indicated here.

In the tracking system, messages can be observed through the Messages panel (data messages, sent

commands) .

A c t i o n s w i t h Me s s a g e s

Click on a message to perform an action over it. Choose one of available actions: show details, copy

contents, or remove message.

S h o w D e t a i l s

Typical details are message type (incoming / outgoing), time and date of sending a message, and

message contents (text/image/position). Depending on a message type and its contents, there can be

more details. For example, outgoing message has a delivery status (delivered/not delivered) and delivery

time (if delivered); file path is indicated for images; message length is calculated for plain text messages.

C o p y C o n t e n t s

Message contents can be copied to the clipboard and afterwards pasted into another message. Only text

and coordinates can be copied.

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R em o v e M e s s a g e

If you select Remove message option, the selected message is removed from the list. However, it still

remains in the tracking system.

It is possible to remove all messages at once. To do this, press the MENU button when being

on the Messages page. Then, a special button will appear in the place of text message input.

Press it to proceed. Then confirm your intentions or press Cancel to return to the messages

list without doing anything.

P o s i t i o n a n d R o u t e s

A message, either incoming or outgoing, can contain

coordinates (position). In this case, the option Show on map

is displayed underneath. If you press it, the map is displayed

with two markers on it. One indicates your current position,

and the other shows position mentioned in the message.

— current position;

— position from message.

Two markers are connected with a dash line. To see a

possible route to the destination point, press Calculate

Route button above. Routes are built along roads. Route

details like departure and destination addresses, route

distance and assumed time are given above. Round blue

markers are set in turning points — press those markers for

more instructions in tooltips. If you press the destination

point marker, message text is shown (if there is such).

Map section contains more information on manipulations with map.

S e n d i n g T e x t Me s s a g e s

You can send text messages from GPS Trace Tag to the server. Sent messages are displayed in a special

window in the tracking system, so that an operator (or other user who has access to this unit) could read this

message. They can also reply to the message from the interface of the tracking system. To send a text

message, type it in the input below the list of messages and press Send.

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Sending Images

Send from Camera 19

Send from File 19

Not only a text message but also an image can be sent to the server. It is also stored in the database and can

be used for different tracking purposes.

S e n d f r o m C ame r a

This option allows sending images captured with the camera of the mobile device. You can choose either

standard or special application for the camera.

S e n d f r o m F i l e

This option allows sending any image stored in the memory of the mobile device. When you choose this

option, image viewer or file manager are loaded, and there you can select an image for sending.

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Sending Cus tom Parameters

Alarm 20

Custom Status 20

Here you can send messages containing special parameters. This is either an alarm or a custom status such

as ‘busy/free’, etc. Values for such statuses are adjusted manually.

A l a rm

Alarm message (SOS) can be sent in the case of a critical situation. In the tracking system, data message

with alarm will contain the parameter ‘SOS=1’.

C u s t om S t a t u s

User can create any number of custom statuses, for example, ‘Status 1’ can obtain values ‘Free’, ‘Busy’,

‘Away’; ‘Status 2’ can obtain values ‘Private’, ‘Business’, and so on. To apply a status, choose it from the list

and set the appropriate value for it. The status which is active at the moment is highlighted in bold and

underlined on the list.

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Custom statuses appear in data messages in the tracking system with parameters ‘ptN’ (textual value of

custom status) and ‘pnN’ (numeric value of custom status).

Alarms and status messages are usually sent along with coordinates. If there is no access to fresh positional

data at the moment, then the last known coordinates are used. Sometimes it may mean that such position is

not up-to-date and maybe it does not refer to the actual location of an alarm or status at all. That is why

messages with custom statuses and alarms contain an additional parameter ‘rt’, which holds real time of

generated position (the UTC time of this fix, in milliseconds since January 1, 1970).

Sent parameters (both alarms and custom statuses) can be used in the tracking system to adjust

notifications (notification type should be ‘Message parameter control’).

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Stat is t ics and S tatus

Current Status 22

Latest Data 23

Messages Sent/Lost 24

This section provides latest data, current statuses, and different statistical information such as messages

sent/lost/queued/total.

C u r r e n t S t a t u s

GP S C o n n e c t i o n

Shows whether GPS receiver is on in the mobile device.

I n t e r n e t C o n n e c t i o n

Shows whether there is the Internet connection at the moment.

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S e r v i c e S t a t u s

Shows whether the service is started or stopped at the moment.

M e s s a g e s i n t h e B l a c k B o x

Shows the number of messages in the black box, i.e., the messages ready to be sent to the server.

T o t a l M e s s a g e s

Shows the total number of messages with position (coordinates) that have been generated by GPS or

wireless networks. Text messages and sent images are not included there. The success in sending

messages is neither taken into account.

C u s t om S t a t u s e s

They bear names and values given by the user.

L a t e s t D a t a

The latest data about unit location is displayed here. It is updated dynamically when a new data comes.

T i m e

Date (above, in the format dd.mm.yy) and time (below, in the format hh:mm:ss) of the message from

which the latest data is taken.

L a t i t u d e

Geographical latitude of the last position (in degrees).

L o n g i t u d e

Geographical longitude of the last position (in degrees).

A l t i t u d e

Elevation above sea level (in meters or feet).

C o u r s e

Course is a direction of movement. It can take on the values from 0 to 360 degrees, where 0° is a course

strictly northward, and then the value increases clockwise.

S p e e d

Speed of movement in kilometers per hour. It is calculated by GPS receiver mathematically considering

position in the previous message.

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N um b e r o f s a t e l l i t e s

Number of satellites locked in the last message.

A c c u r a c y

Measure of possible inaccuracy (in meters or feet). Knowing number of satellites and accuracy, you can

judge whether the data is reliable enough.

Me s s a g e s S e n t / L o s t

L o c a t i o n

Number of messages with position (coordinates) successfully sent to the server (before slash) and

messages that were not sent for some reason (after slash).

T e x t

Number of sent and lost text messages.

I m a g e s

Number of sent and lost images.

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Map

To see your current position on the map, choose the Map option on the main menu.

Google Street Maps are used to visualize your location. Current position is marked with a round blue icon with

an arrow inside. The arrow shows course of movement. A semitransparent blue circle around the icon shows

position accuracy.

Press the icon to read details in a tooltip: time, speed, altitude, and accuracy. Besides, speed is additionally

indicated in the right bottom corner.

Routes from the current point to a destination point can be calculated and shown on the map.

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Menu

About 26

Help 26

Quit 26

Being in the main menu, press the 'MENU' button to get access to three more options: 'About', 'Help', and

'Quit'.

A b o u t

Press it to see program attributes (name, version, and date of issue) as well as information about the

developer.

H e l p

Press it to download GPS Trace Tag user guide with a detailed description of all the functionality.

Qu i t

Press it to close the program. At that, the service can continue working in the background mode.

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Widget s

GPS Trace Tagis provided with special widgets that you can install on your mobile device.

A simple widget allows starting and stopping the service without opening the application

itself.

An advanced widget shows service state (started /

stopped), GPS and wireless network state (on / off), Internet availability, and

current custom status (you can reel if several are set). Blue icons indicate

that option is available, gray — inactive. On the top, last message time is

displayed. Information in the widget is refreshed every half an hour. However,

you can request the latest data on spot. For this, press the 'Refresh' button in

the top right-hand corner.

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