Problem: Alcohol Detection Systems (ADS) came to VMT as a startup company who engineered a breath alcohol ignition interlock device. This is a device that controls the ability to start a vehicle by analyzing a breath sample from the driver. There is a complex software component to the ignition interlock that captures events while starting the vehicle and testing the breath sample from the driver. States that convict people of driving under the influence (DUI) increasingly require the installation of an ignition interlock and reporting of the event information that is captured. ADS needed to develop software to manage the event information from installed interlocks and also provided inventory control and sales tracking for a nationwide distribution network.
Solution: VMT developed a custom Internet application in php to manage the drivers and collect the event data from the interlock devices. A complex ActiveX control interacts with the ignition interlock device and the php web application to update the driver records in a SQL database. Customized reports for each state are automatically generated by the application and emailed to individuals who require them. The application also allows ADS to manage a serialized inventory by location including the manufacturer, ADS warehouse, distributors, dealers and drivers. Dealers and distributors use the web site as well to maintain drivers, obtain inventory reports and purchase additional products online.