Vehicle monitoring system
First Claim
1. A method of managing a fleet of vehicles, comprising the steps of:
- obtaining data concerning vehicle condition;
recording at least some of the data in a data storage means on a vehicle;
formatting the data into a predetermined format;
transmitting the data by radio from at least some of the vehicles to a base station; and
using the data to determine what should be done with at least one of the vehicles.
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Accused Products
Abstract
To manage a fleet of vehicles efficiently, data is obtained concerning vehicle condition; some of this data is recorded in a data packet format on a vehicle and transmitted by radio from the vehicles to a base station, and under some circumstances, transmitted by the internet to a central data station where it is used to determine what should be done with the vehicles, such as for example to determine if the battery of a vehicle must be charged. The data may be transmitted from one vehicle to another vehicle before reaching the base station or the central data station. The data packets can indicate the vehicle to which the data applies, if the battery needs to be charged or replaced and can establish a priority schedule for the charging or replacement of the battery.
36 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method of managing a fleet of vehicles, comprising the steps of:
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obtaining data concerning vehicle condition;
recording at least some of the data in a data storage means on a vehicle;
formatting the data into a predetermined format;
transmitting the data by radio from at least some of the vehicles to a base station; and
using the data to determine what should be done with at least one of the vehicles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A battery maintenance system, comprising:
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means for obtaining data concerning vehicle condition;
means for recording at least some of the data in a data storage means on a vehicle;
means for formatting the data into a predetermined format;
means for transmitting the data by radio from at least some of the vehicles to a base station, whereby the data may be used to determine the time for maintenance operation; and
means for using the data to determine the time for the maintenance operation. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A battery operated vehicle, comprising:
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means for moving the vehicle under the power of a battery;
a radio communication circuit mounted on the vehicle;
a data storage circuit mounted on the vehicle in electrical communication with the radio communication circuit; and
a programmable circucit mounted on the vehicle and in communication with the radio communication circuit and the data storage circuit for controlling the radio communication circuit and the data storage circuit wherein data words stored in the data storage circuit containing the data related to the operation of the vehicle are formatted by said programmable circuit to identify the vehicle and are transmitted by radio. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A base station adapted to obtain data from a plurality of vehicles in a facility, comprising:
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at least one radio transmission circuit;
at least one data storage circuit adapted to store data words having a vehicle identification within the data words and information concerning the condition of at least one component of the vehicle; and
at least one programmable circuit for controlling the data storage circuit and the radio transmission circuit;
whereby the base station may obtain data about at least one vehicle for use in managing the vehicles. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A battery maintenance system, comprising:
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means for obtaining data concerning battery condition;
a data collecting and transmitting means near the battery;
means for recording at least some of the data in a data storage means associated with the data collecting and transmitting means;
means for formatting the data into a predetermined format;
means for transmitting the data by radio from at least one battery to a base station, whereby the data may be used to determine the time for maintenance operation; and
means for using the data to determine the time for the maintenance operation. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification