Vehicle Management System

• US 20120143401A1
• Filed: 01/20/2011
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PES School of Engineering
• Original Assignee: PES School of Engineering
• Inventors: Jayadevappa, Suryaprasad, Syed, Haseeb Arfath, Sridhar, Srinidhi
• Granted Patent: US 9,068,374 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 2003/005 Supports or holders associated with means for bike rental
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 3/00 Separate supports or holders for parking or storing cycles cycle supports used during maintenance B25H; building aspects E04H
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/22 Means for operating or controlling lock or fastening device accessories, i.e. other than the fastening members, e.g. switches, indicators E05B39/00 - E05B45/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0012 with rotary electromotors actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/004 the magnets acting directly on the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/026 the bolt moving rectilinearly
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00174 Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys mechanical locks with electric permutation E05B49/00; arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00

Abstract

A method and system for managing vehicles within a boundary is provided. Boundary units positioned at predetermined locations in a managing area define a boundary, within which multiple docking stations that secure the vehicles are positioned. Each docking station comprises a client component and a locking unit. The client component, in communication with a central server, allocates a vehicle to a user based on allocation criteria. The locking unit unlocks the allocated vehicle from a docking station. Each vehicle comprises a vehicle control unit, in communication with the boundary units, for determining proximity of the allocated vehicle to the defined boundary, and for restricting movement of the allocated vehicle when the allocated vehicle is in close proximity to the defined boundary. The central server, in communication with the boundary units, determines location of the allocated vehicle, when the allocated vehicle is in close proximity to and breaches the defined boundary.

Claims

1. A method for managing a plurality of vehicles within a boundary, comprising:

providing a vehicle management system comprising;

a plurality of boundary units positioned at predetermined locations in a managing area for defining a boundary;

a plurality of docking stations positioned at predetermined locations within said defined boundary for parking and securing said vehicles, wherein each of said docking stations comprises a client component and a locking unit;

a vehicle control unit electromechanically connected to each of said vehicles, wherein said vehicle control unit is in electronic communication with said boundary units and said client component in each of said docking stations; and

a central server in electronic communication with said boundary units, said docking stations, and said vehicle control unit in a networked environment for monitoring and managing said boundary units, said docking stations, and said vehicle control unit;

allocating one of said vehicles from one of said docking stations to a user by said client component in communication with said central server based on allocation criteria, for enabling said user to commute from said one of said docking stations to another one of said docking stations within said defined boundary;

unlocking said allocated one of said vehicles from said one of said docking stations by said locking unit of said one of said docking stations;

determining proximity of said allocated one of said vehicles to said defined boundary by said vehicle control unit in communication with said boundary units;

managing movement of said allocated one of said vehicles within said defined boundary, comprising one of;

restricting movement of said allocated one of said vehicles within said defined boundary by said vehicle control unit, when said allocated one of said vehicles is in close proximity to said defined boundary; and

locking said allocated one of said vehicles by said locking unit of one of said docking stations, when said user parks said allocated one of said vehicles at one of said docking stations.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said locking unit of each of said docking stations is slidably attached on a support structure in said each of said docking stations, wherein said locking unit contacts a securing component provided on said support structure for engaging and disengaging said allocated one of said vehicles from said one of said docking stations.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said locking unit identifies and unlocks said allocated one of said vehicles secured at said one of said docking stations by sliding along said support structure, scanning vehicle identifiers of said vehicles secured at said one of said docking stations, and matching said vehicle identifiers with a vehicle identifier of said allocated one of said vehicles communicated to said locking unit by said client component.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said locking unit, in communication with said securing component provided on said support structure, determines status of said vehicles at each of said docking stations based on arrival and said parking of said vehicles at said each of said docking stations and lock condition of said vehicles.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said allocation criteria for allocating said one of said vehicles from said one of said docking stations comprise charge level of each of said vehicles parked and secured at said one of said dockings stations and user authorization.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said vehicle control unit sends a warning signal to said user when said allocated one of said vehicles is in said close proximity to said defined boundary.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a user identifier to said user by said central server on registration of said user with said central server, wherein said client component of said one of said docking stations in communication with said central server authorizes said user using said user identifier, and wherein said central server associates said user identifier with a vehicle identifier of said allocated one of said vehicles.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said client component provides a communication interface for receiving identification information from said user for authorization of said user, in communication with said central server, for allocating said one of said vehicles to said user.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining location of said allocated one of said vehicles by said central server in communication with said boundary units, when said allocated one of said vehicles is in said close proximity to said defined boundary and said when said allocated one of said vehicles breaches said defined boundary.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said restriction of said movement of said allocated one of said vehicles within said defined boundary comprises controlling braking of said allocated one of said vehicles to bring said allocated one of said vehicles to a halt by said vehicle control unit.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said restriction of said movement of said allocated one of said vehicles within said defined boundary comprises controlling locking of wheels of said allocated one of said vehicles by said vehicle control unit.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising logging usage statistics of said allocated one of said vehicles by said central server in communication with each of said docking stations, said vehicle control unit, and said boundary units, wherein said central server generates billing information for said user based on said logged usage statistics.

13. A system for managing a plurality of vehicles within a boundary, comprising:

a plurality of boundary units positioned at predetermined locations in a managing area, wherein said boundary units define a boundary along a perimeter of said managing area;

a plurality of docking stations positioned at predetermined locations within said defined boundary for parking and securing said vehicles, wherein each of said docking stations comprises;

a client component comprising an allocation module that allocates one of said vehicles from one of said docking stations to a user, in communication with a central server, based on allocation criteria; and

a locking unit slidably attached on a support structure in each of said docking stations, wherein said locking unit contacts a securing component provided on said support structure for engaging and disengaging said allocated one of said vehicles from said one of said docking stations;

a vehicle control unit electromechanically connected to each of said vehicles, wherein said vehicle control unit is in electronic communication with said boundary units and said client component in each of said docking stations, wherein said vehicle control unit comprises;

a proximity determination module that determines proximity of said allocated one of said vehicles to said defined boundary, in communication with said boundary units; and

a disabling module that restricts movement of said allocated one of said vehicles within said defined boundary, when said allocated one of said vehicles is in close proximity to said defined boundary; and

said central server in electronic communication with said boundary units, said docking stations, and said vehicle control unit in a networked environment, wherein said central server monitors and manages said boundary units, said docking stations, and said vehicle control unit.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said vehicle control unit communicates with said boundary units to detect auxiliary movement of said allocated one of said vehicles after locking of said allocated one of said vehicles, based on change in proximity of said locked one of said vehicles from said determined proximity with respect to said defined boundary.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said vehicle control unit further comprises a speed monitoring and alerting module that sends a warning signal to said user when said allocated one of said vehicles is in said close proximity to said defined boundary, wherein said speed monitoring and alerting module sends a notification to said central server on detection of auxiliary movement of a locked one of said vehicles.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein said central server comprises a registration module that registers said user, said vehicles, said docking stations, and said boundary units, wherein identification information of said registered user, said registered vehicles, said registered docking stations, and said registered boundary units is stored in a database residing in said central server.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein each of said docking stations further comprises a charging unit for charging said vehicle control unit of each of said vehicles.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein said client component comprises an authorization module that authorizes said user, in communication with said central server, prior to said allocation of said one of said vehicles to said user, and wherein said central server comprises a verification module that verifies identification information received from said user via a communication interface provided by said client component, wherein said communication interface receives identification information from said user for said authorization of said user for allocating said one of said vehicles to said user.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein said allocation module determines charge level of each of said vehicles for selecting said one of said vehicles for said allocation to said user, wherein said allocation module determines position and a vehicle identifier of said selected one of said vehicles on said support structure of said one of said docking stations and communicates said determined position and said vehicle identifier to said locking unit.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said locking unit slides along said support structure, scans vehicle identifiers of said vehicles secured at said one of said docking stations, and matches said vehicle identifiers of said vehicles with said vehicle identifier communicated to said locking unit by said allocation module, and disengages said selected one of said vehicles from said securing component provided on said support structure.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein said locking unit comprises a first drive mechanism operably connected to a first opposing surface of a housing of said locking unit, wherein said first drive mechanism drives said locking unit to a position of said allocated one of said vehicles to enable unlocking of said allocated one of said vehicles.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein said securing component provided on said support structure of each of said docking stations comprises:

an elongate member with an outwardly protruding extension; and

a securing socket configured on a base plate rigidly attached to said elongate member, wherein said securing socket receives a protruding element extending from each of said vehicles for securing said each of said vehicles by said elongate member.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said locking unit comprises:

a pair of jaw members defined on a handle rigidly attached to a second opposing surface of said housing of said locking unit, wherein said pair of jaw members extends outwardly from said handle and defines a space for receiving said outwardly protruding extension of said elongate member of said securing component; and

a second drive mechanism engageably connected to said handle for moving said handle vertically in an upward direction and a downward direction, whereby said outwardly protruding extension of said elongate member of said securing component held within said space defined by said pair of jaw members of said moved handle is moved in said upward direction and said downward direction for disengaging and engaging said protruding element extending from each of said vehicles.

24. The system of claim 13, further comprising one or more inductive proximity sensors positioned on a housing of said locking unit, wherein said locking unit, in communication with said securing component provided on said support structure, monitors output of said inductive proximity sensors to determine and track status of said vehicles at each of said docking stations based on arrival and said parking of said vehicles at said each of said docking stations and lock condition of said vehicles.

25. The system of claim 13, further comprising a brake actuator on a disabling unit operably connected to each of said vehicles and said vehicle control unit, wherein said brake actuator is operably connected to wheels of said each of said vehicles, and wherein said disabling module of said vehicle control unit controls said brake actuator for braking said allocated one of said vehicles to bring said allocated one of said vehicles to a halt.

26. The system of claim 13, further comprising a lock actuator on a disabling unit operably connected to each of said vehicles and said vehicle control unit, wherein said lock actuator is operably connected to wheels of said each of said vehicles, and wherein said disabling module of said vehicle control unit controls said lock actuator for locking said wheels of said allocated one of said vehicles when said allocated one of said vehicles attempts to breach said defined boundary.

27. The system of claim 13, wherein each of said boundary units comprises a notification module that sends a notification to said central server when said allocated one of said vehicles breaches said defined boundary.

28. The system of claim 13, wherein said central server comprises a location determination module that communicates with said boundary units to determine location of said allocated one of said vehicles, when said allocated one of said vehicles is in said close proximity to said defined boundary and said when said allocated one of said vehicles breaches said defined boundary.

29. The system of claim 13, wherein said central server comprises a database that logs usage statistics of said allocated one of said vehicles, in communication with each of said docking stations, said vehicle control unit, and said boundary units, wherein said central server further comprises a billing module that generates billing information for said user based on said logged usage statistics and transmits said billing information to said user.

30. A computer program product comprising computer executable instructions embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, wherein said computer program product comprises:

a first computer program code for receiving identification information of a user, a plurality of docking stations, a plurality of vehicles parked and secured at each of said docking stations, and a plurality of boundary units for registering said users, said docking stations, said vehicles, and said boundary units;

a second computer program code for verifying said identification information received from said user for enabling allocation of one of said vehicles from one of said docking stations to said user;

a third computer program code for determining location of said allocated one of said vehicles, in communication with said boundary units, when said allocated one of said vehicles is in close proximity to a boundary defined by said boundary units and when said allocated one of said vehicles breaches said defined boundary;

a fourth computer program code for logging usage statistics of said allocated one of said vehicles in communication with each of said docking stations, said vehicle control unit, and said boundary units; and

a fifth computer program code for generating billing information for said user based on said logged usage statistics.