Automated snow removal tracking system

• US 20070277403A1
• Filed: 06/05/2006
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Stephen David Summer
• Original Assignee: Stephen David Summer
• Inventors: Summer, Stephen David
• Application Number:
  US11/446,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20070277403A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 37/234
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 5/00 Removing snow or ice from roads or like surfaces; Grading or roughening snow or ice by applying de-icing agents E01H10/00; obstruction removers on vehicles B60R19/00; sand, gravel or salt spreaders E01C19/20
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a tracking system for a snow removal remote unit and crew. The tracking system of the invention is configured to interface with a GPS system to determine the location of a remote unit, and more particularly, to determine if the remote unit is operating at a removal location. If the removal unit is operating at a removal location, the tracking system of the invention is configured to track the time expended at the removal location conducting removal operations. Once the removal operations are completed at the removal location, the tracking system of the invention is configured to transmit the tracking data to a base location where the information may be used for accounting, billing, invoicing, and/or scheduling operations via transmission or interfacing of the data to other software processes configured to conduct these processes.

Claims

1. An automated snow removal tracking system, comprising:

a GPS receiver positioned on a snow removal unit;

a microprocessor unit positioned on the snow removal unit and being in communication with the GPS receiver; and

a data transmission and receiver unit positioned on the snow removal unit and being in communication with the microprocessor unit,

wherein the microprocessor unit is configured to conduct the following steps;

receiving GPS position representative data from the GPS receiver;

determining if the snow removal unit is located at a removal location;

recording working or billing time information when the snow removal unit is located at the removal location; and

transmitting the working or billing time information to a base location through the data transmission and receiver unit.

2. The snow removal tracking system of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor unit comprises a handheld computer.

3. The snow removal tracking system of claim 1, wherein the data transmission and receiver unit comprise at least one of a cellular communication device and a radio communication device.

4. The snow removal tracking system of claim 2, wherein the handheld computer further comprises a memory device configured to contain a software program that controls the operation of the tracking system.

5. The snow removal tracking system of claim 1, wherein determining if the snow removal unit is located at a removal location comprises:

determining a current location from GPS position representative data; and

comparing the current location to a database of predetermined removal locations to determine if the current location is within a predetermined removal location.

8. The snow removal tracking system of claim 1, further comprising generating at least one of billing, accounting, invoicing, and scheduling information at the base location from the working or billing time information received.

6. The snow removal tracking system of claim 6, wherein the predetermined removal location is defined by a geo fence.

7. The snow removal tracking system of claim 6, wherein the geo fence comprises a plurality of predetermined location points that define a geographical boundary around the removal location.

9. A method for tracking a snow removal unit, comprising:

defining a geographical fence around a removal location;

determining a current location of a removal unit through GPS location determination;

comparing the determined current location to the defined geographical fence to determine if the removal unit is within the geographical fence;

starting a working time when the removal unit is determined to be within the geographical fence;

stopping the working time when the removal unit is determined to be outside of the geographical fence; and

transmitting data representative of the working time to a base location from the removal unit.

10. The method for tracking the snow removal unit of claim 9, wherein defining a geographical fence around a removal location comprises surveying the removal location and determining coordinates that represent a boundary of the removal location.

11. The method for tracking the snow removal unit of claim 9, wherein determining a current location of a removal unit comprises receiving a GPS location representation signal from a GPS satellite and determining the current location from the GPS representation signal through GPS location processing.

12. The method for tracking the snow removal unit of claim 9, wherein starting and stopping the working time further comprises tracking the working time of the removal unit.

13. The method for tracking the snow removal unit of claim 12, wherein tracking the working time of the removal unit further comprises determining if the removal unit is working during the entire time the removal unit is within the geographical fence and stopping the working time when the removal unit is within the geographical fence but not working.

14. The method for tracking the snow removal unit of claim 9, wherein transmitting data representative of the working time to a base location comprises transmitting the data via at least one of a cellular and a radio signal.

15. The method for tracking the snow removal unit of claim 9, wherein transmitting data representative of the working time to a base location comprises hard wire connecting the removal unit to the base location.

16. The method for tracking the snow removal unit of claim 14, further comprising using the data representative of the working time to generate at least one of invoices, accounting reports, and scheduling information.

17. The method for tracking the snow removal unit of claim 9, further comprising directing the removal unit to a new removal location when the removal unit leaves the geographical fence and transmits the working time data to the base location.

18. The method for tracking the snow removal unit of claim 9, further comprising tracking the usage of individual snow removal implements.

19. The method for tracking the snow removal unit of claim 18, further comprising transmitting data representative of the usage of the individual implements to at least one of the removal unit and the base location.

20. An automated method for tracking the working time of a snow removal unit, comprising:

using a GPS location device to determine when a removal unit is located on a removal property;

tracking a time period the removal unit spends at the removal property;

transmitting the time period spent at the removal property to a base location via a cellular signal;

generating a billing invoice for the removal property at the base location; and

transmitting a new property location needing removal services to the removal unit via a cellular signal.