VEHICLE MANAGEMENT

• US 20120089271A1
• Filed: 04/08/2011
• Published: 04/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DSG Global, Inc.
• Original Assignee: DSG Tag Systems Incorporated (DSG Global, Inc.)
• Inventors: Silzer, Robert Sr., Singer, Clint, Kurland, Ariel, Bratvold, Kirk, Doaga, Alex
• Granted Patent: US 8,836,490 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0297 by controlling means in a control room
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/207 with respect to certain areas, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas with possible alerting when inside or outside boundaries

Abstract

A system for golf course vehicle management can include a tag device having a transceiver and a vehicle management process. The vehicle management process includes an application service for receiving the location of the tag device from the transceiver, at least one geographical zone, and a tracking module for comparing the location to the zone and generating an alert when the location is within the zone. Also included in the process is a control module for recognizing the alert. The control module can initiate an action, such as performance of a vehicle control action by a vehicle controller device.

Claims

1. A system for vehicle management, comprising:

a tag device having a transceiver;

a vehicle controller device;

a vehicle management process embodied on a computer-readable tangible medium, and comprising;

an application service for receiving a location of the tag device from the transceiver;

at least one geographical zone;

a tracking module configured for comparing the location to the geographical zone and generating an alert when the location is within the geographical zone; and

a control module for recognizing the alert and initiating a vehicle control action by the vehicle controller device.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a GPS receiver functionally connected to the tag device and configured for providing the location.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the GPS receiver is integrated into the tag device as a single package.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a motion sensor functionally connected to the tag device and configured for detecting motion of the tag device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the motion sensor is integrated into the tag device as a single package.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the tracking module is configured to validate location using one of GPS quality, simple motion, and qualified motion.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein GPS quality comprises at least one of horizontal dilution of precision, estimated horizontal precision error, and number of satellites.

8. The system of claim 1, further including a graphic user interface for displaying a map representation, the geographical zone, and the location.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle controller device is configured to perform a vehicle control action that limits operation of the vehicle.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle management process includes an alert hierarchy for arranging alerts based on one of location, motion, and time of day.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle management process includes an alert hierarchy for vehicle control actions based on one of location, motion, and time of day.

12. A vehicle management system, comprising:

a vehicle equipped with a tag device and a GPS receiver;

a vehicle management process embodied on a computer-readable tangible medium, and comprising;

an application service for receiving a location from the GPS receiver;

at least one geographical zone;

a graphic user interface for displaying the map representation, the geographical zone, and the location;

a tracking module for comparing the location to the geographical zone and generating an alert when the location is within the geographical zone; and

a control module for recognizing the alert and triggering an action.

13. The vehicle management system of claim 12, wherein the vehicle is further equipped with a motion sensor for detecting motion of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle management system of claim 12, wherein the vehicle is further equipped with a vehicle controller device configured to perform the action and wherein the action limits operation of the vehicle.

15. The vehicle management system of claim 12, wherein the application service, tracking module, and control module are decoupled and scalable so that tracking functions and control functions are performed substantially in real-time.

16. A method of managing vehicles, comprising:

equipping a vehicle with a tag device having a transceiver;

designating a zone in a geographical area in which the vehicle operates;

monitoring motion of the vehicle;

monitoring location of the vehicle; and

transmitting the location and motion via the tag device to a vehicle management process embodied on a server and comprising computer-executable instructions for;

comparing the location to the zone; and

generating an alert when the location is within the zone.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising displaying the location, the zone, and a map representation of the geographical area on a graphical user interface.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising validating the location using one of GPS quality, simple motion, and qualified motion.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein GPS quality comprises at least one of horizontal dilution of precision, estimated horizontal precision error, and number of satellites.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising selecting when to power the tag device from a battery installed in the vehicle based on at least one of time, motion, location, battery voltage, and a battery voltage trend.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the alert triggers performance of a vehicle control action by a vehicle controller device installed on the vehicle.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the vehicle control action is performed for less than a duration of the alert, while being capable of being resumed upon occurrence of a triggering event during the duration.

23. The method of claim 16, further comprising arranging a plurality of alerts and a plurality of vehicle control actions based on one of location, motion, time of day.