REMOTE MONITORING AND CONTROL OF A MOTORIZED VEHICLE

• US 20070185627A1
• Filed: 04/17/2007
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael Mavreas
• Original Assignee: Michael Mavreas
• Inventors: MAVREAS, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/736,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20070185627A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 to a central station ; Indicators in a central station
• 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

A communications and control hub for remote monitoring and control of a motorized vehicle, comprising an onboard diagnostics port connector for connection to an onboard diagnostic port of the motorized vehicle, the onboard diagnostic port of the motorized vehicle presenting an external interface of a configuration suitable for connection to certain diagnostic equipment, the onboard diagnostic port of the motorized vehicle serving as an interface with a vehicle processor network of the motorized vehicle, such that all system-effected vehicle monitoring and control functions that are accessible from the vehicle processor network, are effected through the onboard diagnostic port. The hub also comprises an auxiliary onboard diagnostic port connector connected to the onboard diagnostics port connector for providing diagnostic equipment with access to the vehicle processor network, the auxiliary onboard diagnostic port connector presenting an external interface of the same configuration as the external interface presented by the onboard diagnostic port of the motorized vehicle.

Claims

1. A communications and control hub for remote monitoring and control of a motorized vehicle, comprising:

an onboard diagnostics port connector for connection to an onboard diagnostic port of the motorized vehicle, the onboard diagnostic port of the motorized vehicle presenting an external interface of a configuration suitable for connection to certain diagnostic equipment, the onboard diagnostic port of the motorized vehicle serving as an interface with a vehicle processor network of the motorized vehicle, such that all system-effected vehicle monitoring and control functions that are accessible from the vehicle processor network, are effected through the onboard diagnostic port; and

an auxiliary onboard diagnostic port connector connected to the onboard diagnostics port connector for providing diagnostic equipment with access to the vehicle processor network, the auxiliary onboard diagnostic port connector presenting an external interface of the same configuration as the external interface presented by the onboard diagnostic port of the motorized vehicle.

2. A communications and control hub as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communications and control hub supports wireless communications with a system for managing a fleet of vehicles, to provide the system with on-demand access to the vehicle processor network.

3. A communications and control hub as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a processor that receives data signals from the vehicle processor network and sends command signals to the vehicle processor network.

4. A communications and control hub as claimed in claim 3, further comprising an interface through which the communications and control hub exchanges messages with the system for managing the fleet of vehicles using one of a cellular network and satellite communications.

5. A communications and control hub as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a global positioning system (GPS) port that receives vehicle location information from a GPS sensor, and wherein the processor is further adapted to forward the location information to the system for managing the fleet of vehicles.

6. A communications and control hub as claimed in claim 3, further comprising at least one communications port for connecting to at least one of a sensor, an actuator, and a system of sensors and actuators for one or more devices connected to, or carried in the motorized vehicle, the one or more devices being external to the vehicle processor network.

7. A communications and control hub as claimed in claim 3, further comprising at least one sensor or actuator that provides access to a function related to at least one of:

a condition of an operator of the motorized vehicle;

a condition of a person or object carried in, or connected to, the motorized vehicle; and

a condition of an environment, system, device or entity within or surrounding the motorized vehicle that is not accessible from the vehicle processor network.

8. A method for remotely monitoring and controlling a motorized vehicle, comprising a step of using a communications and control hub as defined in claim 1 to monitor vehicle functions and control states of a plurality of devices connected to a vehicle processor network of the motorized vehicle.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a step of exchanging messages via wireless communications with at least one fleet management server, wherein the messages comprise:

requests for state information received from one or more of the devices;

directives to control one or more of the devices in a prescribed manner; and

responses to requests and directives.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the step of exchanging messages further comprises a step of sending one of a software program and an update for a software program, for performing monitoring and control operations from the at least one fleet management server to the communications and control hub.

11. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the communications and control hub is further connected to a global positioning system (GPS) sensor, and the method further includes steps of:

sending request messages for location information from the at least one fleet management server; and

receiving replies from the communications and control hub that include the requested location information.

12. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the communications and control hub is further connected to a global positioning system (GPS) sensor, and the method further includes steps of:

sending request messages for location information from a dispatch control server; and

receiving replies from the communications and control hub that include the requested location information.

13. A method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising steps of:

using a login module connected to the communications and control hub to authenticate an operator of the vehicle; and

activating an ignition of the vehicle by sending an appropriate command signal to a powertrain processor of the motorized vehicle via a vehicle data communications bus if the operator is authenticated.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the step of using a login module further comprises steps of:

deactivating an ignition system of the motorized vehicle each time an indication is received that an operator of the vehicle may have changed;

acquiring an enable signal from the login module; and

activating the ignition system when the enable signal is received.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the login module performs steps of:

acquiring a scan of a biometric feature of the operator of the motorized vehicle; and

comparing the scan with stored information using a predetermined comparison algorithm to determine whether the enable signal should be sent.

17. A method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a step of:

consulting an operator information database to match a skill set of an operator of each motorized vehicle in the fleet with a job to be performed at the job site; and

dispatching the operator of the selected motorized vehicle to the job site based on the location information and the operator information.

16. A method for remotely monitoring and controlling a motorized vehicle, comprising steps of:

using a communications and control hub connected to an onboard diagnostic port of the motorized vehicle via an onboard diagnostics port connector, the onboard diagnostics port connector including an auxiliary onboard diagnostics port connector for providing diagnostic equipment with access to a vehicle processor network of the motorized vehicle, the communications and control hub being further connected to a global positioning system (GPS) sensor;

using the control hub to monitor vehicle functions and control states of a plurality of devices connected to the vehicle processor network of the motorized vehicle;

sending request messages for location information from a dispatch control server;

receiving replies from the communications and control hub that include the requested location information; and

using the location information to select one motorized vehicle from a fleet of motorized vehicles and dispatching an operator of the selected motorized vehicle to a job site.

18. A method for remotely monitoring and controlling a motorized vehicle, comprising steps of:

using a communications and control hub connected to an onboard diagnostic port of the motorized vehicle to monitor vehicle functions and control states of a plurality of devices connected to a vehicle processor network of the motorized vehicle;

sending request messages for location information from a dispatch control server;

receiving replies from the communications and control hub that include the requested information gathered using a global positioning system (GPS) sensor;

using the information to select at least one motorized vehicle from a fleet of motorized vehicles to dispatch to a job site;

consulting an operator information database to match a skill set of an operator of each motorized vehicle in the fleet with a job to be performed at the job site; and

dispatching the operator of the at least one motorized vehicle to the job site based on the location information and the operator information.