Land vehicle communications system and process for providing information and coordinating vehicle activities
First Claim
1. A process for an off board communication network for detecting and correcting a fault in a mobile vehicle having an engine engaged to a transmission engaged to a drive train for driving an axle with wheels, the vehicle having an internal communication backbone to which electronic controllers of the vehicle are electrically engaged, the electronic controllers monitoring certain vehicle components and the vehicle in contact with the off board communication network through communication means engaged to the internal communication network, comprising the steps of:
- receiving an indication of an abnormal condition in a monitored vehicle component from an electronic controller on the mobile vehicle through the vehicle internal communication network and the communication means;
comparing the indication of an abnormal condition with the vehicle component'"'"'s manufacturers'"'"' expected parameters in a data management system, and finding a significant difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters, performing the further steps of;
determining the most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters;
determining the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters;
searching a ground support network for potential vehicle service providers that have both the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters and an available service bay to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters;
querying the vehicle through the communication means and receiving the location of the vehicle back from the vehicle;
querying the data management system to determine and receiving a closest by time traveled potential vehicle service provider from the potential vehicle service providers to the vehicle;
querying the data management system for and receiving driving directions for the vehicle to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service; and
providing the driving directions for the vehicle through the communication means to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service to the vehicle;
comparing the indication of the abnormal condition with a specific history of the vehicle component stored in the data management system and finding a significant difference from the specific history of the vehicle component, performing the further steps of;
determining the most probable cause of the difference from the specific history of the vehicle component;
determining the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the specific history of the vehicle component;
searching a ground support network for potential vehicle service providers that have both the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the specific history of the vehicle component and an available service bay to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the specific history of the vehicle component;
querying the vehicle through the communication means and receiving the location of the vehicle back from the vehicle;
querying the data management system to determine and receiving a closest by time traveled potential vehicle service provider from the potential vehicle service providers to the vehicle;
querying the data management system for and receiving driving directions for the vehicle to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service; and
providing the driving directions for the vehicle through the communication means to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service to the vehicle; and
comparing the indication of an abnormal condition with the vehicle component'"'"'s manufacturers'"'"' expected parameters in a data management system, and comparing the indication of the abnormal condition with a specific history of the vehicle component stored in the data management system, and finding no significant difference from the specific history of the vehicle component, and finding no significant difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters, performing the further step of recording the indication of an abnormal condition in the data management system.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communication system architecture (SA) for a vehicle which may be integrated into the vehicle'"'"'s multiplexed electronic component communication system, and a process for communicating with the vehicle to provide information for and about the vehicle'"'"'s operational status and coordinating the vehicle'"'"'s activities. The communication system will include a multi-functional antenna system for the vehicle that will have the capability to receive AM/FM radio and television signals, and transmit and receive citizens band (CB) radio signals, satellite and microwave and cellular phone communications. The antenna may be installed as original equipment or as a back-fit part in the after-market. In either case the multi-functional antenna will be integrated with the vehicle'"'"'s multiplexed electronic component communication system. The process for communicating with the vehicle will involve a communication service for which the vehicle'"'"'s driver will enroll for and service will continue so long as maintenance fees are paid. The service will be capable of providing various levels of information transfer and coordination. The levels may include vehicle information such as (1) the need for servicing and location of the nearest service center with the necessary parts in stock, (2) routing, and (3) load brokering and coordination. The modular design of the system architecture (SA) will allow it to be employed with the vehicle platform that does not possess a full multiplexed electronic component communications system. The resulting vehicle, using an after-market application package, will be able to participate in some of the services.
-
Citations
103 Claims
-
1. A process for an off board communication network for detecting and correcting a fault in a mobile vehicle having an engine engaged to a transmission engaged to a drive train for driving an axle with wheels, the vehicle having an internal communication backbone to which electronic controllers of the vehicle are electrically engaged, the electronic controllers monitoring certain vehicle components and the vehicle in contact with the off board communication network through communication means engaged to the internal communication network, comprising the steps of:
-
receiving an indication of an abnormal condition in a monitored vehicle component from an electronic controller on the mobile vehicle through the vehicle internal communication network and the communication means;
comparing the indication of an abnormal condition with the vehicle component'"'"'s manufacturers'"'"' expected parameters in a data management system, and finding a significant difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters, performing the further steps of;
determining the most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters;
determining the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters;
searching a ground support network for potential vehicle service providers that have both the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters and an available service bay to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters;
querying the vehicle through the communication means and receiving the location of the vehicle back from the vehicle;
querying the data management system to determine and receiving a closest by time traveled potential vehicle service provider from the potential vehicle service providers to the vehicle;
querying the data management system for and receiving driving directions for the vehicle to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service; and
providing the driving directions for the vehicle through the communication means to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service to the vehicle;
comparing the indication of the abnormal condition with a specific history of the vehicle component stored in the data management system and finding a significant difference from the specific history of the vehicle component, performing the further steps of;
determining the most probable cause of the difference from the specific history of the vehicle component;
determining the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the specific history of the vehicle component;
searching a ground support network for potential vehicle service providers that have both the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the specific history of the vehicle component and an available service bay to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the specific history of the vehicle component;
querying the vehicle through the communication means and receiving the location of the vehicle back from the vehicle;
querying the data management system to determine and receiving a closest by time traveled potential vehicle service provider from the potential vehicle service providers to the vehicle;
querying the data management system for and receiving driving directions for the vehicle to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service; and
providing the driving directions for the vehicle through the communication means to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service to the vehicle; and
comparing the indication of an abnormal condition with the vehicle component'"'"'s manufacturers'"'"' expected parameters in a data management system, and comparing the indication of the abnormal condition with a specific history of the vehicle component stored in the data management system, and finding no significant difference from the specific history of the vehicle component, and finding no significant difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters, performing the further step of recording the indication of an abnormal condition in the data management system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23)
-
-
10. A process for an off board communication network for detecting and correcting a fault in a mobile vehicle having an engine engaged to a transmission engaged to a drive train for driving an axle with wheels, the vehicle having an internal communication backbone to which electronic controllers of the vehicle are electrically engaged, the electronic controllers monitoring certain vehicle components and the vehicle in contact with the off board communication network through communication means engaged to the internal communication network, comprising the steps of:
-
receiving an indication of an abnormal condition in a monitored vehicle component from the mobile vehicle through the vehicle internal communication network and the communication means;
comparing the indication of an abnormal condition with an expected condition stored in a data management system, and finding a significant difference from the expected condition, performing the further steps of;
determining the need for further action for the vehicle;
transmitting instructions for further action to the vehicle through the communication means;
comparing the indication of an abnormal condition with the expected condition stored in a data management system, and finding no significant difference from the expected condition, performing the further step of recording the indication of an abnormal condition in the data management system. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
-
25. A mobile vehicle for communicating with an off board communication network, comprised of:
-
an engine engaged to a transmission engaged to a drive train for driving an axle with wheels;
an internal communication backbone to which electronic controllers are electrically engaged;
said electronic controllers monitoring certain vehicle components;
a lead electronic controller programmed for monitoring said certain vehicle components through said electronic controllers;
said lead electronic controller programmed for communication with the off board communication network through communication means engaged to said internal communication backbone;
said lead electronic controller programmed for transmitting an indication of an abnormal condition in one of said monitored vehicle components to the off board communication network through the vehicle internal communication backbone and the communication means;
said lead electronic controller programmed for receiving instructions for action to address the abnormal condition from the off board network through the communication means; and
said lead electronic controller programmed for notifying a driver of the vehicle of driver actions of the received instructions from the off board network.
-
-
31. A process for a data management system component of an off board communication network, comprising the steps of:
-
storing a vehicle component'"'"'s manufacturers'"'"' expected parameters;
receiving a query from the off board network for the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters for the vehicle;
providing the off board network with the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters for the vehicle for the off board network'"'"'s comparison of an indication of an abnormal condition with the vehicle component'"'"'s manufacturers'"'"' expected parameters, and upon the off board network finding a significant difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters, performing the further steps of;
storing a listing of most probable causes of differences from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters;
receiving a query for and providing the off board network with listing of most probable causes of differences from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters for the off board network to compare to the abnormal condition for a match between a most probable cause and the abnormal condition;
storing independent listings of vehicle parts necessary to correct each of the most probable causes of differences from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters;
receiving a query for and providing the off board network independent listings of vehicle parts necessary to correct each of the most probable causes of differences from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters for the off board network to determine the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters;
receiving a query from the off board network to determine a closest by time traveled potential vehicle service provider from a listing of potential vehicle service providers that have both the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters and an available service bay to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters;
accessing a data base to determine driving times from potential vehicle service providers to the vehicle from the listing of potential vehicle service providers that have both the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters and an available service bay to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected, choosing a closest by time traveled potential vehicle service provider, providing the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service provider to the off board network;
receiving a query from the off board network for driving directions for the vehicle to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service;
accessing a data base to determine the driving directions for the vehicle through the communication means to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service to the vehicle; and
providing to the off board network the driving directions for the vehicle to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service to the vehicle;
storing a specific history of the vehicle component;
receiving a query from the off board network for the specific history of the vehicle component;
providing the off board network with the specific history of the vehicle component for the off board network'"'"'s comparison of an indication of an abnormal condition with the specific history of the vehicle component, and upon the off board network finding a significant difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters, performing the further steps of;
storing a listing of most probable causes of differences from the specific history of the vehicle component;
receiving a query for and providing the off board network with listing of most probable causes of differences from the specific history of the vehicle component for the off board network to compare to the abnormal condition for a match between a most probable cause and the abnormal condition;
storing independent listings of vehicle parts necessary to correct each of the most probable causes of differences from the specific history of the vehicle component;
receiving a query for and providing the off board network independent listings of vehicle parts necessary to correct each of the most probable causes of differences from the specific history of the vehicle component for the off board network to determine the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the specific history of the vehicle component;
receiving a query from the off board network to determine a closest by time traveled potential vehicle service provider from a listing of potential vehicle service providers that have both the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the specific history of the vehicle component and an available service bay to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the specific history of the vehicle component;
accessing a data base to determine driving times from potential vehicle service providers to the vehicle from the listing of potential vehicle service providers that have both the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the specific history of the vehicle component and an available service bay to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected, choosing a closest by time traveled potential vehicle service provider, providing the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service provider to the off board network;
receiving a query from the off board network for driving directions for the vehicle to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service;
accessing a data base to determine the driving directions for the vehicle through the communication means to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service to the vehicle; and
providing to the off board network the driving directions for the vehicle to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service to the vehicle; and
receiving and storing a history of the indication of an abnormal condition following the off board network'"'"'s comparison of the indication of the abnormal condition with the vehicle component'"'"'s manufacturers'"'"' expected parameters, and the off board network'"'"'s comparison of the indication of the abnormal condition with a specific history of the vehicle component, and the off normal network finding no significant difference from the specific history of the vehicle component, and finding no significant difference from the specific history of the vehicle component. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
-
-
34. A process for a vehicle load brokerage management system component of an off board communication network, comprising the steps of:
-
storing data on a network of mobile vehicles including locations, cargo carrying ability, availability to carry cargo, and operating area of the vehicles in the mobile vehicle network;
receiving a description of any cargo being transported by a vehicle with an abnormal condition, a current location of the cargo, and a final destination of the cargo from an off board communication network along with a query for a specific alternative vehicle from the network of mobile vehicles to transport the cargo;
comparing the cargo to be carried to the vehicles in the network of mobile vehicles to derive a listing of mobile vehicles capable of carrying the cargo;
comparing the listing of mobile vehicles capable of carrying the cargo to the vehicle availability data on the network of mobile vehicles and deriving a listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo;
determining a general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo;
comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo and determining which vehicle'"'"'s operating area encompasses the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo;
communicating with the vehicles whose operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an alternative vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from a vehicle whose operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating this the alternative vehicle to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the alternative vehicle to transport the cargo to the off board network.
-
-
35. A process for a vehicle load brokerage management system component of an off board communication network, comprising the steps of:
-
storing data on a network of mobile vehicles including locations, cargo carrying ability, availability to carry cargo, and operating area of the vehicles in the mobile vehicle network;
receiving a description of any cargo being transported by a vehicle with an indication of an abnormal condition, a current location of the cargo, and a final destination of the cargo from an off board communication network along with a query for a specific alternative vehicle from the network of mobile vehicles to transport the cargo;
comparing the cargo to be carried to the vehicles in the network of mobile vehicles to derive a listing of mobile vehicles capable of carrying the cargo;
comparing the listing of mobile vehicles capable of carrying the cargo to the vehicle availability data on the network of mobile vehicles and deriving a listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo;
determining a general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo;
comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicle'"'"'s operating area encompasses the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and finding individual vehicles whose operating area encompasses the general route, performing the additional steps of;
communicating with the vehicles whose operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an alternative vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from a vehicle whose operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating this the alternative vehicle to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the alternative vehicle to transport the cargo to the off board network;
comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicles'"'"' operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and finding a combination or combinations of vehicles whose operating areas encompass the general route, performing the additional steps of;
communicating with the vehicles whose combination of operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an alternative vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from the vehicles whose combination operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating these as the alternative vehicles to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the alternative vehicles to transport the cargo to the off board network; and
comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicle'"'"'s operating area encompasses the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and not finding a vehicle or a combination of vehicles whose operating areas encompass the general route or willing to accept a previous offer to carry the cargo, performing the additional steps of;
comparing operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo with the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and determining an alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo;
comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicle'"'"'s operating area encompasses the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and finding individual vehicles whose operating area encompasses the alternative route, performing the additional steps of;
communicating with the vehicles whose operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an alternative vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from a vehicle whose operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating this the alternative vehicle to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the alternative vehicle to transport the cargo to the off board network;
comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicles'"'"' operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and finding a combination or combinations of vehicles whose operating areas encompass the alternative route, performing the additional steps of;
communicating with the vehicles whose combination of operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an alternative vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from the vehicles whose combination operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating these as the alternative vehicles to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the alternative vehicles to transport the cargo to the off board network.
-
-
36. A process for a vehicle load brokerage management system component of an off board communication network, comprising the steps of:
-
storing data on a network of mobile vehicles including locations, cargo carrying ability, availability to carry cargo, and operating area of the vehicles in the mobile vehicle network;
receiving a description of any cargo needing to be transported by a vehicle, a current location of the cargo, and a final destination of the cargo from an off board communication network along with a query for a specific cargo carrying vehicle from the network of mobile vehicles to transport the cargo;
comparing the cargo to be carried to the vehicles in the network of mobile vehicles to derive a listing of mobile vehicles capable of carrying the cargo;
comparing the listing of mobile vehicles capable of carrying the cargo to the vehicle availability data on the network of mobile vehicles and deriving a listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo;
determining a general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo;
comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicle'"'"'s operating area encompasses the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and finding individual vehicles whose operating area encompasses the general route, performing the additional steps of;
communicating with the vehicles whose operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an specific cargo carrying vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from a vehicle whose operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating this the specific cargo carrying vehicle to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the specific cargo carrying vehicle to transport the cargo to the off board network;
comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicles'"'"' operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and finding a combination or combinations of vehicles whose operating areas encompass the general route, performing the additional steps of;
communicating with the vehicles whose combination of operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an specific cargo carrying vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from the vehicles whose combination operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating these as the specific cargo carrying vehicles to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the specific cargo carrying vehicles to transport the cargo to the off board network; and
comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicle'"'"'s operating area encompasses the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and not finding a vehicle or a combination of vehicles whose operating areas encompass the general route or willing to accept a previous offer to carry the cargo, performing the additional steps of;
comparing operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo with the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and determining an alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo;
comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicle'"'"'s operating area encompasses the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and finding individual vehicles whose operating area encompasses the alternative route, performing the additional steps of;
communicating with the vehicles whose operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an specific cargo carrying vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from a vehicle whose operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating this the specific cargo carrying vehicle to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the specific cargo carrying vehicle to transport the cargo to the off board network;
comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicles'"'"' operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and finding a combination or combinations of vehicles whose operating areas encompass the alternative route, performing the additional steps of;
communicating with the vehicles whose combination of operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an specific cargo carrying vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from the vehicles whose combination operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating these as the specific cargo carrying vehicles to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the specific cargo carrying vehicles to transport the cargo to the off board network.
-
-
37. A process for an off board communication network for detecting and correcting a fault in a mobile vehicle having an engine engaged to a transmission engaged to a drive train for driving an axle with wheels, the vehicle having an internal communication backbone to which electronic controllers of the vehicle are electrically engaged, the electronic controllers monitoring certain vehicle components and the vehicle in contact with the off board communication network through communication means engaged to the internal communication network, comprising the steps of:
-
receiving a query about an perceived condition of a vehicle from a driver of the mobile vehicle through the vehicle internal communication network and the communication means;
comparing the driver perceived condition with the vehicle component'"'"'s manufacturers'"'"' expected parameters in a data management system, and finding a significant difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters, performing the further steps of;
determining the most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters;
determining the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters;
searching a ground support network for potential vehicle service providers that have both the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters and an available service bay to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters;
querying the vehicle through the communication means and receiving the location of the vehicle back from the vehicle;
querying the data management system to determine and receiving a closest by time traveled potential vehicle service provider from the potential vehicle service providers to the vehicle;
querying the data management system for and receiving driving directions for the vehicle to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service; and
providing the driving directions for the vehicle through the communication means to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service to the vehicle;
comparing the perceived condition with a specific history of the vehicle component stored in the data management system and finding a significant difference from the specific history of the vehicle component, performing the further steps of;
determining the most probable cause of the difference from the specific history of the vehicle component;
determining the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the specific history of the vehicle component;
searching a ground support network for potential vehicle service providers that have both the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the specific history of the vehicle component and an available service bay to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the specific history of the vehicle component;
querying the vehicle through the communication means and receiving the location of the vehicle back from the vehicle;
querying the data management system to determine and receiving a closest by time traveled potential vehicle service provider from the potential vehicle service providers to the vehicle;
querying the data management system for and receiving driving directions for the vehicle to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service; and
providing the driving directions for the vehicle through the communication means to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service to the vehicle; and
comparing the perceived condition with the vehicle component'"'"'s manufacturers'"'"' expected parameters in a data management system, and comparing the perceived condition with a specific history of the vehicle component stored in the data management system, and finding no significant difference from the specific history of the vehicle component, and finding no significant difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters, performing the further step of recording the perceived condition in the data management system.
-
-
46. A process for an off board communication network for detecting and correcting a fault in a mobile vehicle having an engine engaged to a transmission engaged to a drive train for driving an axle with wheels, the vehicle having an internal communication backbone to which electronic controllers of the vehicle are electrically engaged, the electronic controllers monitoring certain vehicle components and the vehicle in contact with the off board communication network through communication means engaged to the internal communication network, comprising the steps of:
-
receiving a query about an perceived condition of a vehicle from a driver of the mobile vehicle through the vehicle internal communication network and the communication means;
comparing the driver perceived condition with an expected condition stored in a data management system, and finding a significant difference from the expected condition, performing the further steps of;
determining the need for further action for the vehicle;
transmitting instructions for further action to the vehicle through the communication means;
comparing the driver perceived condition with the expected condition stored in a data management system, and finding no significant difference from the expected condition, performing the further step of recording the driver perceived condition in the data management system.
-
-
53. A process for an off board communication network for directing the routing, and operation of a network of mobile vehicles, the vehicles of the network each having an internal communication backbone to which electronic controllers of the vehicles are electrically engaged, the electronic controllers monitoring certain external parameters, and the vehicles of the network in contact with the off board communication network through communication means engaged to the internal communication network of each network vehicle, comprising the steps of:
-
receiving an indication of an external condition in environments which may impact at least one of the network vehicles;
querying each of the network vehicles and receiving the location and current route of each of the network vehicles;
comparing the external condition in environments which may impact the transit along a current route of at least one of the network vehicles with the location and route of each of the network vehicles, and generating a listing of route impacted vehicles, and performing the following steps;
querying the data management system to determine and receiving an alternate route for each of the route impacted vehicles;
querying the data management system for and receiving driving directions for the route impacted vehicles to transit the specific alternate routes; and
providing the driving directions for the route impacted vehicles through the communication means to transit the specific alternate routes; and
comparing the external condition in environments which may impact the operation along a current route of at least one of the network vehicles with the location and route of each of the network vehicles, and generating a listing of operation impacted vehicles, and performing the following steps;
querying the data management system to determine and receiving alternate operation instructions for each of the operation impacted vehicles; and
providing the alternate operation instructions for the operation impacted vehicles through the communication means. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71)
-
-
72. A data management system for engagement to an off board communication network for directing the routing, and operation of a network of mobile vehicles, the vehicles of the network each having an internal communication backbone to which electronic controllers of the vehicles are electrically engaged, the electronic controllers monitoring certain external parameters, and the vehicles of the network in contact with the off board communication network through communication means engaged to the internal communication network of each network vehicle, comprising:
-
a computer useable medium having computer readable program means embodied in said medium for causing storage of network vehicle sensed conditions communicated through the communication means engaged to the internal communication network of the sensing network vehicles, the vehicle sensed conditions in environments which may impact at least one of the network vehicles;
computer readable program means for causing communication with, querying, and receiving weather information in environments which may impact at least one of the network vehicles from a weather service;
computer readable program means for causing communication with, querying, and receiving information on a civil disturbance in environments which may impact at least one of the network vehicles; and
computer readable program means for causing communication with, reception of, and response to queries on the vehicle sensed conditions, weather information, civil disturbances. - View Dependent Claims (73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 80, 81, 82, 83)
-
-
79. A mobile vehicle for communicating with an off board communication network, comprised of:
-
an engine engaged to a transmission engaged to a drive train for driving an axle with wheels;
an internal communication backbone to which electronic controllers are electrically engaged;
said electronic controllers monitoring certain vehicle components;
a lead electronic controller programmed for monitoring said certain vehicle components through said electronic controllers;
said lead electronic controller programmed for communication with the off board communication network through communication means engaged to said internal communication backbone;
said lead electronic controller programmed for transmitting an indication of an external condition through one of said monitored vehicle components to the off board communication network through the vehicle internal communication backbone and the communication means;
said lead electronic controller programmed for receiving instructions for action to address external conditions from the off board network through the communication means; and
said lead electronic controller programmed for notifying a driver of the vehicle of driver actions of the received instructions from the off board network.
-
-
84. A process for an off board communication network for tracking and directing routine and periodic maintenance on a mobile vehicle having an engine engaged to a transmission engaged to a drive train for driving an axle with wheels, the vehicle having an internal communication backbone to which electronic controllers of the vehicle are electrically engaged, the electronic controllers monitoring certain vehicle components and the vehicle in contact with the off board communication network through communication means engaged to the internal communication network, comprising the steps of:
-
storing a listing of routine and periodic maintenance activities required for the vehicle, the routine and periodic maintenance activities each maintenance activity having an initiating condition;
receiving an indication of an initiating condition for a routine and periodic maintenance activity for a vehicle component from an electronic controller on the mobile vehicle through the vehicle internal communication network and the communication means;
determining the parts necessary to implement the routine and periodic maintenance activity;
searching a ground support network for potential vehicle service providers that have both the parts necessary to implement the routine and periodic maintenance activity and an available service bay to implement the routine and periodic maintenance activity on the vehicle;
querying the vehicle through the communication means and receiving the location of the vehicle back from the vehicle;
querying the data management system to determine and receiving a closest by time traveled potential vehicle service provider from the potential vehicle service providers to the vehicle;
querying the data management system for and receiving driving directions for the vehicle to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service; and
providing the driving directions for the vehicle through the communication means to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service to the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (85, 86, 87)
-
-
88. A process for a vehicle load brokerage management system component of an off board communication network, comprising the steps of:
-
storing data on a network of mobile vehicles including locations, cargo carrying ability, and operating area of the vehicles in the mobile vehicle network;
receiving a request for a cargo carrying arrangement from a requesting vehicle in the mobile vehicle network;
storing descriptions of any cargo needing transport by a vehicle, a current location of the cargo, and a final destination of the cargo from an off board communication network along with a query for a specific cargo carrying vehicle from the network of mobile vehicles to transport the cargo;
comparing the cargo needing transport to the cargo carrying ability of the requesting vehicle;
deriving a listing of general routes between each cargo needing transport'"'"'s current location and each final destination;
comparing the listing of general routes for cargo needing transport to an operating area of requesting vehicle, a deriving a listing of potential cargo carrying arrangements for the requesting vehicle;
communicating the listing of potential cargo carrying arrangements for the requesting vehicle to the requesting vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from the requesting vehicle to carry a specific cargo needing transport from the listing of potential cargo carrying arrangements; and
communicating identifying information of the requesting vehicle to transport the cargo to the off board network. - View Dependent Claims (89)
-
-
90. A computer program product for an off board communication network for detecting and correcting a fault in a mobile vehicle having an engine engaged to a transmission engaged to a drive train for driving an axle with wheels, the vehicle having an internal communication backbone to which electronic controllers of the vehicle are electrically engaged, the electronic controllers monitoring certain vehicle components and the vehicle in contact with the off board communication network through communication means engaged to the internal communication network, said computer program product comprising:
-
a computer useable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for causing the off board network to receive an indication of an abnormal condition in a monitored vehicle component from an electronic controller on the mobile vehicle through the vehicle internal communication network and the communication means;
computer readable program code means for causing the off board network to compare the indication of an abnormal condition with the vehicle component'"'"'s manufacturers'"'"' expected parameters in a data management system, and the off board network finding a significant difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters, computer readable program code means for causing the off board network to perform the further steps of;
determining the most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters;
determining the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters;
searching a ground support network for potential vehicle service providers that have both the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters and an available service bay to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters;
querying the vehicle through the communication means and receiving the location of the vehicle back from the vehicle;
querying the data management system to determine and receiving a closest by time traveled potential vehicle service provider from the potential vehicle service providers to the vehicle;
querying the data management system for and receiving driving directions for the vehicle to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service; and
providing the driving directions for the vehicle through the communication means to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service to the vehicle;
computer readable program code means for causing the off board network to compare the indication of the abnormal condition with a specific history of the vehicle component stored in the data management system and the off board network finding a significant difference from the specific history of the vehicle component, computer readable program code means for causing the off board network to perform the further steps of;
determining the most probable cause of the difference from the specific history of the vehicle component;
determining the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the specific history of the vehicle component;
searching a ground support network for potential vehicle service providers that have both the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the specific history of the vehicle component and an available service bay to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the specific history of the vehicle component;
querying the vehicle through the communication means and receiving the location of the vehicle back from the vehicle;
querying the data management system to determine and receiving a closest by time traveled potential vehicle service provider from the potential vehicle service providers to the vehicle;
querying the data management system for and receiving driving directions for the vehicle to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service; and
providing the driving directions for the vehicle through the communication means to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service to the vehicle; and
computer readable program code means for causing the off board network to compare the indication of an abnormal condition with the vehicle component'"'"'s manufacturers'"'"' expected parameters in a data management system, and comparing the indication of the abnormal condition with a specific history of the vehicle component stored in the data management system, and the off board network finding no significant difference from the specific history of the vehicle component, and finding no significant difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters, computer readable program code means for causing the off board network to perform the further step of recording the indication of an abnormal condition in the data management system.
-
-
91. A computer program product for an off board communication network for detecting and correcting a fault in a mobile vehicle having an engine engaged to a transmission engaged to a drive train for driving an axle with wheels, the vehicle having an internal communication backbone to which electronic controllers of the vehicle are electrically engaged, the electronic controllers monitoring certain vehicle components and the vehicle in contact with the off board communication network through communication means engaged to the internal communication network, said computer program product comprising:
-
a computer useable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for causing the off board network to receive an indication of an abnormal condition in a monitored vehicle component from the mobile vehicle through the vehicle internal communication network and the communication means;
computer readable program code means for causing the off board network to compare the indication of an abnormal condition with an expected condition stored in a data management system, and the off board network finding a significant difference from the expected condition, computer readable program code means for causing the off board network to perform the further steps of;
determining the need for further action for the vehicle;
transmitting instructions for further action to the vehicle through the communication means;
computer readable program code means for causing the off board network to compare the indication of an abnormal condition with the expected condition stored in a data management system, and the off board network finding no significant difference from the expected condition, computer readable program code means for causing the off board network to perform the further step of recording the indication of an abnormal condition in the data management system.
-
-
92. A computer program product for a data management system component of an off board communication network, said computer program product comprising:
-
a computer useable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for causing the data management system to store a vehicle component'"'"'s manufacturers'"'"' expected parameters;
computer readable program code means for causing the data management system to receive a query from the off board network for the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters for the vehicle;
computer readable program code means for causing the data management system to provide the off board network with the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters for the vehicle for the off board network'"'"'s comparison of an indication of an abnormal condition with the vehicle component'"'"'s manufacturers'"'"' expected parameters, and upon the off board network finding a significant difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters, computer readable program code means for causing the data management system to perform the further steps of;
storing a listing of most probable causes of differences from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters;
receiving a query for and providing the off board network with listing of most probable causes of differences from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters for the off board network to compare to the abnormal condition for a match between a most probable cause and the abnormal condition;
storing independent listings of vehicle parts necessary to correct each of the most probable causes of differences from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters;
receiving a query for and providing the off board network independent listings of vehicle parts necessary to correct each of the most probable causes of differences from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters for the off board network to determine the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters;
receiving a query from the off board network to determine a closest by time traveled potential vehicle service provider from a listing of potential vehicle service providers that have both the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters and an available service bay to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters;
accessing a data base to determine driving times from potential vehicle service providers to the vehicle from the listing of potential vehicle service providers that have both the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters and an available service bay to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected, choosing a closest by time traveled potential vehicle service provider, providing the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service provider to the off board network;
receiving a query from the off board network for driving directions for the vehicle to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service;
accessing a data base to determine the driving directions for the vehicle through the communication means to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service to the vehicle; and
providing to the off board network the driving directions for the vehicle to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service to the vehicle;
computer readable program code means for causing the data management system to store a specific history of the vehicle component;
computer readable program code means for causing the data management system to receive a query from the off board network for the specific history of the vehicle component;
computer readable program code means for causing the data management system to provide the off board network with the specific history of the vehicle component for the off board network'"'"'s comparison of an indication of an abnormal condition with the specific history of the vehicle component, and upon the off board network finding a significant difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected parameters, computer readable program code means for causing the data management system to perform the further steps of;
storing a listing of most probable causes of differences from the specific history of the vehicle component;
receiving a query for and providing the off board network with listing of most probable causes of differences from the specific history of the vehicle component for the off board network to compare to the abnormal condition for a match between a most probable cause and the abnormal condition;
storing independent listings of vehicle parts necessary to correct each of the most probable causes of differences from the specific history of the vehicle component;
receiving a query for and providing the off board network independent listings of vehicle parts necessary to correct each of the most probable causes of differences from the specific history of the vehicle component for the off board network to determine the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the specific history of the vehicle component;
receiving a query from the off board network to determine a closest by time traveled potential vehicle service provider from a listing of potential vehicle service providers that have both the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the specific history of the vehicle component and an available service bay to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the specific history of the vehicle component;
accessing a data base to determine driving times from potential vehicle service providers to the vehicle from the listing of potential vehicle service providers that have both the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the specific history of the vehicle component and an available service bay to correct the most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer'"'"'s expected, choosing a closest by time traveled potential vehicle service provider, providing the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service provider to the off board network;
receiving a query from the off board network for driving directions for the vehicle to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service;
accessing a data base to determine the driving directions for the vehicle through the communication means to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service to the vehicle; and
providing to the off board network the driving directions for the vehicle to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service to the vehicle; and
computer readable program code means for causing the data management system to receive and store a history of the indication of an abnormal condition following the off board network'"'"'s comparison of the indication of the abnormal condition with the vehicle component'"'"'s manufacturers'"'"' expected parameters, and the off board network'"'"'s comparison of the indication of the abnormal condition with a specific history of the vehicle component, and the off normal network finding no significant difference from the specific history of the vehicle component, and finding no significant difference from the specific history of the vehicle component.
-
-
93. A computer program product for a vehicle load brokerage management system component of an off board communication network, said computer program product comprising:
-
a computer useable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for causing the brokerage management system to store data on a network of mobile vehicles including locations, cargo carrying ability, availability to carry cargo, and operating area of the vehicles in the mobile vehicle network;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to receive a description of any cargo being transported by a vehicle with an abnormal condition, a current location of the cargo, and a final destination of the cargo from an off board communication network along with a query for a specific alternative vehicle from the network of mobile vehicles to transport the cargo;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to compare the cargo to be carried to the vehicles in the network of mobile vehicles to derive a listing of mobile vehicles capable of carrying the cargo;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to compare the listing of mobile vehicles capable of carrying the cargo to the vehicle availability data on the network of mobile vehicles and deriving a listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to determine a general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to compare the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo and determining which vehicle'"'"'s operating area encompasses the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to communicate with the vehicles whose operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an alternative vehicle;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to receive an acceptance of the offer from a vehicle whose operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating this the alternative vehicle to transport the cargo; and
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to communicate identifying information of the alternative vehicle to transport the cargo to the off board network.
-
-
94. A computer program product for a vehicle load brokerage management system component of an off board communication network, said computer program product comprising:
-
a computer useable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for causing the brokerage management system to store data on a network of mobile vehicles including locations, cargo carrying ability, availability to carry cargo, and operating area of the vehicles in the mobile vehicle network;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to receive a description of any cargo being transported by a vehicle with an indication of an abnormal condition, a current location of the cargo, and a final destination of the cargo from an off board communication network along with a query for a specific alternative vehicle from the network of mobile vehicles to transport the cargo;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to compare the cargo to be carried to the vehicles in the network of mobile vehicles to derive a listing of mobile vehicles capable of carrying the cargo;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to compare the listing of mobile vehicles capable of carrying the cargo to the vehicle availability data on the network of mobile vehicles and the brokerage management system deriving a listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to determine a general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to compare the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicle'"'"'s operating area encompasses the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and the brokerage management system finding individual vehicles whose operating area encompasses the general route, computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to perform the additional steps of;
communicating with the vehicles whose operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an alternative vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from a vehicle whose operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating this the alternative vehicle to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the alternative vehicle to transport the cargo to the off board network;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to compare the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicles'"'"' operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and the brokerage management system finding a combination or combinations of vehicles whose operating areas encompass the general route, computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to perform the additional steps of;
communicating with the vehicles whose combination of operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an alternative vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from the vehicles whose combination operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating these as the alternative vehicles to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the alternative vehicles to transport the cargo to the off board network; and
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to compare the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicle'"'"'s operating area encompasses the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and the brokerage management system not finding a vehicle or a combination of vehicles whose operating areas encompass the general route, computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to perform the additional steps of;
comparing operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo with the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and determining an alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo;
comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicle'"'"'s operating area encompasses the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and the brokerage management system finding individual vehicles whose operating area encompasses the alternative route, computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to perform the additional steps of;
communicating with the vehicles whose operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an alternative vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from a vehicle whose operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating this the alternative vehicle to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the alternative vehicle to transport the cargo to the off board network; and
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to compare the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicles'"'"' operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and the brokerage management system finding a combination or combinations of vehicles whose operating areas encompass the alternative route, computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to perform the additional steps of;
communicating with the vehicles whose combination of operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an alternative vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from the vehicles whose combination operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating these as the alternative vehicles to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the alternative vehicles to transport the cargo to the off board network.
-
-
95. A computer program product for a vehicle load brokerage management system component of an off board communication network, said computer program product comprising:
-
a computer useable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for causing the brokerage management system to store data on a network of mobile vehicles including locations, cargo carrying ability, availability to carry cargo, and operating area of the vehicles in the mobile vehicle network;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to receive a description of any cargo needing to be transported by a vehicle, a current location of the cargo, and a final destination of the cargo from an off board communication network along with a query for a specific cargo carrying vehicle from the network of mobile vehicles to transport the cargo;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to compare the cargo to be carried to the vehicles in the network of mobile vehicles to derive a listing of mobile vehicles capable of carrying the cargo;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to compare the listing of mobile vehicles capable of carrying the cargo to the vehicle availability data on the network of mobile vehicles and to derive a listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to determine a general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to compare the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicle'"'"'s operating area encompasses the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and the brokerage management system finding individual vehicles whose operating area encompasses the general route, computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to perform the additional steps of;
communicating with the vehicles whose operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an specific cargo carrying vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from a vehicle whose operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating this the specific cargo carrying vehicle to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the specific cargo carrying vehicle to transport the cargo to the off board network;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to compare the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicles'"'"' operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and the brokerage management system finding a combination or combinations of vehicles whose operating areas encompass the general route, computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to perform the additional steps of;
communicating with the vehicles whose combination of operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as a specific cargo carrying vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from the vehicles whose combination operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating these as the specific cargo carrying vehicles to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the specific cargo carrying vehicles to transport the cargo to the off board network; and
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to compare the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicle'"'"'s operating area encompasses the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and the brokerage management system not finding a vehicle or a combination of vehicles whose operating areas encompass the general route, computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to perform the additional steps of;
comparing operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo with the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and determining an alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo;
comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicle'"'"'s operating area encompasses the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and finding individual vehicles whose operating area encompasses the alternative route, computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to perform the additional steps of;
communicating with the vehicles whose operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an specific cargo carrying vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from a vehicle whose operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating this the specific cargo carrying vehicle to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the specific cargo carrying vehicle to transport the cargo to the off board network;
comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicles'"'"' operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and finding a combination or combinations of vehicles whose operating areas encompass the alternative route, computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to perform the additional steps of;
communicating with the vehicles whose combination of operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an specific cargo carrying vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from the vehicles whose combination operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating these as the specific cargo carrying vehicles to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the specific cargo carrying vehicles to transport the cargo to the off board network.
-
-
96. A computer program product for an off board communication network for directing the routing, and operation of a network of mobile vehicles, the vehicles of the network each having an internal communication backbone to which electronic controllers of the vehicles are electrically engaged, the electronic controllers monitoring certain external parameters, and the vehicles of the network in contact with the off board communication network through communication means engaged to the internal communication network of each network vehicle, said computer program product comprising:
-
a computer useable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for causing the off board network to receive an indication of an external condition in environments which may impact at least one of the network vehicles;
computer readable program code means for causing the off board network to query each of the network vehicles and receiving the location and current route of each of the network vehicles;
computer readable program code means for causing the off board network to compare the external condition in environments which may impact the transit along a current route of at least one of the network vehicles with the location and route of each of the network vehicles, and the off board network generating a listing of route impacted vehicles, and computer readable program code means for causing the off board network to perform the following steps;
querying the data management system to determine and receiving an alternate route for each of the route impacted vehicles;
querying the data management system for and receiving driving directions for the route impacted vehicles to transit the specific alternate routes; and
providing the driving directions for the route impacted vehicles through the communication means to transit the specific alternate routes; and
computer readable program code means for causing the off board network to compare the external condition in environments which may impact the operation along a current route of at least one of the network vehicles with the location and route of each of the network vehicles, and the off board network generating a listing of operation impacted vehicles, and computer readable program code means for causing the off board network to perform the following steps;
querying the data management system to determine and receiving an alternate route for each of the operation impacted vehicles;
querying the data management system for and receiving driving directions for the operation impacted vehicles to transit the specific alternate routes; and
providing the driving directions for the operation impacted vehicles through the communication means to transit the specific alternate routes.
-
-
97. A computer program product for an off board communication network for tracking and directing routine and periodic maintenance on a mobile vehicle having an engine engaged to a transmission engaged to a drive train for driving an axle with wheels, the vehicle having an internal communication backbone to which electronic controllers of the vehicle are electrically engaged, the electronic controllers monitoring certain vehicle components and the vehicle in contact with the off board communication network through communication means engaged to the internal communication network, said computer program product comprising:
-
a computer useable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for causing the off board network to store a listing of routine and periodic maintenance activities required for the vehicle, the routine and periodic maintenance activities each maintenance activity having an initiating condition;
computer readable program code means for causing the off board network to receive an indication of an initiating condition for a routine and periodic maintenance activity for a vehicle component from an electronic controller on the mobile vehicle through the vehicle internal communication network and the communication means;
computer readable program code means for causing the off board network to determine the parts necessary to implement the routine and periodic maintenance activity;
computer readable program code means for causing the off board network to search a ground support network for potential vehicle service providers that have both the parts necessary to implement the routine and periodic maintenance activity and an available service bay to implement the routine and periodic maintenance activity on the vehicle;
computer readable program code means for causing the off board network to query the vehicle through the communication means and receiving the location of the vehicle back from the vehicle;
computer readable program code means for causing the off board network to query the data management system to determine and receiving a closest by time traveled potential vehicle service provider from the potential vehicle service providers to the vehicle;
computer readable program code means for causing the off board network to query the data management system for and receiving driving directions for the vehicle to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service; and
computer readable program code means for causing the off board network to provide the driving directions for the vehicle through the communication means to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service to the vehicle.
-
-
98. An off board communication network for coordinating operation of a network of mobile vehicles, comprising:
-
a data management system for querying, receiving, and storing information related to the vehicles and to external conditions that may impact the vehicles;
said data management system programmed to respond to queries using the stored information related to the vehicles and to external conditions that may impact the vehicles;
a ground support network for communication with vehicle parts and services suppliers;
a brokerage management system for coordinating cargo for transport by the vehicles;
a means of communication between a lead electronic control module on each vehicle, the data management system, the ground support network, and the brokerage management system. - View Dependent Claims (99, 100, 101, 102, 103)
-
Specification