Intelligent vehicle fleet systems and methods

• US 20050222723A1
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Published: 10/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Corey, William Wayne, Estes, Jacquelynn
• Granted Patent: US 7,487,019 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/006 Indicating maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• 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

Abstract

Methods and systems for intelligent vehicle fleets are disclosed. An intelligent vehicle may function as a mobile office reducing the need for users to perform work functions in a brick-and-mortar building. Methods or systems consistent with the invention may manage vehicle fleets, or provide intelligent vehicle subsystems, or acquire address information using an intelligent vehicle. A method to manage vehicle fleets may include receiving at a remote computer communicated maintenance data from information collection devices installed in the intelligent vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for managing vehicle fleets, comprising:

receiving at least a portion of maintenance information acquired at at least one vehicle using at least one device associated with at least some of the at least one vehicle; and

monitoring the at least one vehicle based on at least the portion of the acquired maintenance information.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising analyzing at least the portion of the acquired maintenance information to manage replacement component inventory for the at least one vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising scheduling maintenance activities for the at least one vehicle based at least on the portion of the acquired maintenance information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the acquired maintenance information comprises at least one of a group consisting of a tire pressure, an engine information, a vehicle fluid information, and any other relevant maintenance information.

5. A method for managing vehicle fleet maintenance, comprising:

receiving at a remote computer automatically-transmitted, vehicle component status data from an intelligent vehicle, the automatically-transmitted vehicle component status data acquired by a plurality of devices installed on the intelligent vehicle; and

monitoring the intelligent vehicle based on at least a portion of the automatically-transmitted, vehicle component status data.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising analyzing at least the portion of the automatically-transmitted, vehicle component status data to manage replacement components inventory for the intelligent vehicle.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising scheduling maintenance activities for the intelligent vehicle based at least on the portion of the automatically transmitted, vehicle component status data.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising transmitting a plan for one or more maintenance activities scheduled for a vehicle to a user terminal in the vehicle for which the one or more maintenance activities have been scheduled.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the automatically transmitted, vehicle component status data comprises at least one from the following data:

a tire pressure, an engine information, and a vehicle fluid information.

10. An intelligent vehicle subsystem for a vehicle, comprising:

a device configured to scan information coded on items to be delivered;

a tag reader configured to read information contained in tags associated with containers for storing items to be delivered;

a global positioning sensor configured to determine a location of the vehicle; and

a user terminal configured to communicate with a remote computer at least one of the information coded on the item to be delivered, at least a portion of the information contained in tags associated with containers for storing items to be delivered, and a location of the vehicle.

11. The intelligent vehicle subsystem of claim 10, wherein the device is a handheld scanner.

12. The intelligent vehicle subsystem of claim 10 further comprising a maintenance module configured to acquire maintenance information concerning the status of at least one component of the vehicle.

13. The intelligent vehicle subsystem of claim 12, wherein the user terminal is further configured to automatically transmit to a remote computer maintenance information concerning the status of the at least one component of the vehicle.

14. The intelligent vehicle subsystem of claim 10, wherein the user terminal is further configured to communicate with a remote computer time and attendance information concerning at least one vehicle user.

15. An intelligent vehicle subsystem for a vehicle, comprising:

a mail scanner configured to scan information coded on mail pieces;

a tag reader configured to read information contained in tags associated with mail containers;

a global positioning sensor configured to determine a location of the vehicle; and

a user terminal configured to communicate with a remote computer at least one of the information coded on mail pieces, at least a portion of the information contained in tags associated with mail containers, and a location of the vehicle.

16. The intelligent vehicle subsystem of claim 15, wherein the mail scanner is a handheld scanner.

17. The intelligent vehicle subsystem of claim 15 further comprising a maintenance module configured to acquire maintenance information concerning at least one component of the vehicle.

18. The intelligent vehicle subsystem of claim 17, wherein the user terminal is further configured to communicate with a remote computer maintenance information concerning the at least one component of the vehicle.

19. The intelligent vehicle subsystem of claim 15, wherein the user terminal is further configured to communicate with a remote computer time and attendance information concerning at least one mail carrier.

20. A method for acquiring address information using a vehicle, comprising:

receiving address information corresponding to a location identifiable by location information; and

storing the address information corresponding to the location in at least one database.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein receiving address information comprises:

reading address information transmitted by an RFID tag associated with a mailbox; and

transmitting the address information to a user terminal in a vehicle.

22. A system of intelligent delivery vehicles, comprising:

one or more delivery vehicles;

a device configured to scan information coded on items to be delivered;

a tag reader configured to read information contained in tags associated with containers for storing items to be delivered;

a global positioning sensor configured to determine a location of the delivery vehicle;

at least one remote computer comprising a database to store communicated information; and

a user terminal configured to communicate with the at least one remote computer at least one of the information coded on the item to be delivered, at least a portion of the information contained in tags associated with containers for storing items to be delivered, and a location of the one or more delivery vehicles.

23. The system of claim 22 further comprising:

information collection devices installed in at least one delivery vehicle and configured to communicate vehicle component status data to the user terminal in the delivery vehicle in which they are installed; and

the remote computer comprises a maintenance information table in which to store vehicle component status data that may be communicated from the user terminal.