System for providing dynamic group and service assignments

• US 20060223525A1
• Filed: 04/01/2005
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnitracs LLC (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Omnitracs LLC (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: McCloskey, Robert D., Sims, Loyle H. III, Ram, Satish N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,706,095 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/425
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management

Abstract

System for providing dynamic group and service assignments. In one embodiment, a method is provided for dynamically assigning regional groups and service providers to provide services for equipment. The method includes determining that the equipment has moved into a selected regional group, and assigning the equipment to the selected regional group. The method also includes selecting a service provider associated with the selected regional group, and assigning the service provider to provide services for the equipment.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically assigning regional groups and service providers to provide services for equipment, the method comprising:

determining that the equipment has moved into a selected regional group;

assigning the equipment to the selected regional group;

selecting a service provider associated with the selected regional group; and

assigning the service provider to provide services for the equipment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining comprises receiving a position indicator in a transmission from the equipment, wherein the position indicator indicates that the equipment has moved into the selected regional group.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of assigning the equipment comprises updating information in a database.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting comprises selecting the service provider from a database that relates one or more service providers to the selected regional group.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of assigning the service provider comprises transmitting assignment information to the service provider via a data network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of assigning the equipment comprises updating regional group un-assignment information in a database.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of assigning the service provider comprises transmitting un-assignment information to a prior service provider via a data network.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising defining one or more regional groups wherein each of the one or more regional groups is associated with one or more service providers.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising notifying a third party about the selected regional group and the service provider.

10. Apparatus for dynamically assigning regional groups and service providers to provide services for equipment, the apparatus comprising:

transceiver logic that operates to determine that the equipment has moved into a selected regional group;

database logic that operates to select a service provider associated with the selected regional group; and

processing logic that operates to assign the equipment to the selected regional group, and assign the service provider to provide services for the equipment.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the transceiver logic further comprises logic that operates to receive a position indicator in a transmission from the equipment, wherein the position indicator indicates that the equipment has moved into the selected regional group.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processing logic operates to assign the equipment by updating information in a database.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the database logic further comprises logic to select the service provider from a database that relates one or more service providers to the selected regional group.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processing logic operates to assign the service provider by transmitting assignment information to the service provider via a data network.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processing logic operates to update regional group un-assignment information in a database.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processing logic operates to transmit un-assignment information to a prior service provider via a data network.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processing logic further comprises logic that operates to define one or more regional groups wherein each of the one or more regional groups is associated with one or more service providers.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processing logic further comprises logic that operates to notify a third party about the selected regional group and the service provider.

19. Apparatus for dynamically assigning regional groups and service providers to provide services for equipment, the apparatus comprising:

means for determining that the equipment has moved into a selected regional group;

means for assigning the equipment to the selected regional group;

means for selecting a service provider associated with the selected regional group; and

means for assigning the service provider to provide services for the equipment.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the means for determining comprises means for receiving a position indicator in a transmission from the equipment, wherein the position indicator indicates that the equipment has moved into the selected regional group.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the means for assigning the equipment comprises means for updating information in a database.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the means for selecting comprises means for selecting the service provider from a database that relates one or more service providers to the selected regional group.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the means for assigning the service provider comprises means for transmitting assignment information to the service provider via a data network.

24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the means for assigning the equipment comprises means for updating regional group un-assignment information in a database.

25. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the means for assigning the service provider comprises means for transmitting un-assignment information to a prior service provider via a data network.

26. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising means for defining one or more regional groups wherein each of the one or more regional groups is associated with one or more service providers.

27. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising means for notifying a third party about the selected regional group and the service provider.

28. A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform a method for dynamically assigning regional groups and service providers to provide services for equipment, said method comprising operations of:

determining that the equipment has moved into a selected regional group;

assigning the equipment to the selected regional group;

selecting a service provider associated with the selected regional group; and

assigning the service provider to provide services for the equipment.

29. The signal-bearing medium of claim 28, wherein the step of determining comprises receiving a position indicator in a transmission from the equipment, wherein the position indicator indicates that the equipment has moved into the selected regional group.

30. The signal-bearing medium of claim 28, wherein the step of assigning the equipment comprises updating information in a database.

31. The signal-bearing medium of claim 28, wherein the step of selecting comprises selecting the service provider from a database that relates one or more service providers to the selected regional group.

32. The signal-bearing medium of claim 28, wherein the step of assigning the service provider comprises transmitting assignment information to the service provider via a data network.

33. The signal-bearing medium of claim 28, wherein the step of assigning the equipment comprises updating regional group un-assignment information in a database.

34. The signal-bearing medium of claim 28, wherein the step of assigning the service provider comprises transmitting un-assignment information to a prior service provider via a data network.

35. The signal-bearing medium of claim 28, further comprising defining one or more regional groups wherein each of the one or more regional groups is associated with one or more service providers.

36. The signal-bearing medium of claim 28, further comprising notifying a third party about the selected regional group and the service provider.