Database method and system for conducting integrated dispatching

• US 20020188702A1
• Filed: 10/17/2001
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telematics Corporation (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mobile Information Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Short, Charles F. III, Prabhakaran, Sanjiv
• Granted Patent: US 7,085,775 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/25 Integrating or interfacing systems involving database management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/162 involving adaptations of sockets based mechanisms secure socket layer H04L63/168
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A technique for integrating a pre-existing business system with a fleet management system. The pre-existing business system includes, for example, an accounting system, a warehousing system, a dock management system, a yard management system. These fleet management system uses, for example, a combination of a raster map and vector data to provide an easy-to-read display for managing objects or articles, e.g., vehicle, container. The method uses a host gateway to provide a TCP/IP or like interface between the various systems.

Claims

1. A method for integrating a fleet management system onto legacy systems, said method comprising:

providing a fleet management system on a first platform;

providing a legacy system on a second platform;

providing a database; and

integrating said fleet management system comprising raster data and vector data to said legacy system using said database and a host gateway, said raster data and said vector data being used to display a digital map.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said host gateway comprises an MIS gateway.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of integrating provides a TCP/IP interface between said fleet management system and said legacy system.

4. A system for fleet management, said system comprising:

a legacy system, said legacy system being selected from a yard management system, a dock management system, a warehouse management system;

a fleet management system comprising raster data and vector data to display a digital map;

a database; and

a gateway coupling said legacy system to said database and said fleet management system.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said gateway comprises said database.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein said gateway coupling said legacy system and said fleet management system comprises a TCP/IP interface.

7. A method for tracking at least one of a plurality of products, comprising:

receiving arrival information about at least one of a plurality of vehicles transporting said at least one of a plurality of products at a distribution point;

receiving unloading information about said at least one of a plurality of products from said at least one of a plurality of vehicles transporting said at least one of a plurality of products, said unloading information being generated at said distribution point;

receiving storage information about said at least one of a plurality of products, said storage information resulting from storing said at least one of a plurality of products at said distribution point;

incorporating said arrival information, unloading information and storage information into a database to provide routing information for said at least one of a plurality of vehicles transporting said at least one of a plurality of products.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising receiving loading information about said at least one of a plurality products being loaded onto said at least one of a plurality of vehicles transporting said at least one of a plurality of products at said distribution point.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising receiving departure information about said at least one of a plurality of vehicles transporting said at least one of a plurality of products from said distribution point.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said arrival information about said at least one of a plurality of vehicles transporting said at least one of a plurality of products is received from a yard management system.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein said unloading information about said at least one of a plurality of products is received from a dock management system.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein said storage information about said at least one of a plurality of products is received from a warehouse management system.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein said routing information about said at least one of a plurality of vehicles transporting said at least one of a plurality of products comprises a fleet management system.

14. The method of claim 7 wherein said arrival information, loading information and storage information are received by a host gateway.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said host gateway receives said arrival information, loading information and storage information through a TCP/IP socket.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said host gateway comprises a plurality of tools.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said step of integrating provides a TCP/IP interface between said fleet management system and said business management system.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said fleet management system is coupled to said legacy business management system using a plurality of messages.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein said messages are transmitted using the TCP/IP protocol.

16. A method for integrating a fleet management system onto business systems, said method comprising:

providing a fleet management system on a first platform, said fleet management system comprising raster data and vector data, said raster data and said vector data being used to display a digital map;

providing a business management system on a second platform;

providing at least one of a plurality of interfaces, said interface capable of adapting said fleet management system on said first platform to said business management system on said second platform;

providing a database;

providing a host gateway for routing messages from said fleet management system to said business management system through said at least one of a plurality of interfaces; and

integrating said fleet management system to said business management system using said host gateway and said database and said at least one of said plurality of interfaces.

19. A method for tracking a plurality of product location information, comprising:

providing an interface to at least one legacy business management system, said legacy business management system being selected from a yard management system, a dock management system, a warehouse management system;

providing a fleet management system;

providing a database;

coupling said legacy business management system to said fleet management system and said database through said interfaces, wherein said at least one interface is operable to translate information to said legacy business management system from said fleet management system and to translate information to said fleet management system from said legacy business management system.

22. A method for tracking at least one of a plurality of products, comprising:

receiving arrival information about at least one of a plurality of vehicles transporting said at least one of a plurality of products at a distribution point, wherein said arrival information about said at least one of a plurality of vehicles transporting said at least one of a plurality of products is received from a yard management system;

receiving unloading information about said at least one of a plurality of products from said at least one of a plurality of vehicles transporting said at least one of a plurality of products, said unloading information being generated at said distribution point, wherein said unloading information about said at least one of a plurality of products is received from a dock management system;

receiving storage information about said at least one of a plurality of products, said storage information resulting from storing said at least one of a plurality of products at said distribution point, wherein said storage information about said at least one of a plurlity of products is received from a warehouse management system;

receiving loading information about said at least one of a plurality products being loaded onto said at least one of a plurality of vehicles transporting said at least one of a plurality of products at said distribution point, wherein said loading information about said at least one of a plurality of products is received from a dock management system;

receiving departure information about said at least one of a plurality of vehicles transporting said at least one of a plurality of products from said distribution point, wherein said departure information about said at least one of a plurality of vehicles transporting said at least one of a plurality of products is received from a yard management system; and

incorporating said arrival information, loading information, storage information, unloading information and departure information into a database to provide routing information for said at least one of a plurality of vehicles transporting said at least one of a plurality of products wherein said routing information about said at least one of a plurality of vehicles transporting said at least one of a plurality of products comprises a fleet management system, wherein said arrival information, loading information and storage information are received by a host gateway through a TCP/IP socket.