SYSTEM FOR COMMUNICATING BETWEEN A TRAILER TRACKING DEVICE, A TRUCK TRACKING DEVICE, AND A CENTRAL MONITORING STATION

• US 20130147617A1
• Filed: 11/29/2012
• Published: 06/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spireon Incorporated (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Spireon Incorporated (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Boling, Brian M., Peachey, Ezra T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,760,274 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/431
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• 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

When a cargo trailer is coupled to a truck, a trailer tracking device on the trailer acquires an identifier of a truck tracking device attached to the truck. The trailer tracking device then transmits a message to a central server indicating that the trailer is coupled to the truck, which message includes the identifiers of the two tracking devices. The central server associates the identifiers of the two tracking devices in a database. When the trailer is decoupled from the truck, the trailer tracking device transmits a message to the central server indicating that the trailer is decoupled. The trailer tracking device then goes into a sleep mode until the trailer is again coupled to a truck, a predetermined time interval expires, a motion sensor indicates trailer movement, location coordinates indicate a geofence violation, or a low battery voltage condition occurs. Upon any of these events, the trailer tracking device wakes up and transmits to the central server a message indicating which situation caused the transmission and including the location coordinates of the trailer.

Claims

1. A method for communicating information between a trailer tracking device attached to a cargo trailer, one or more truck tracking devices attached to one or more trucks that are operable to haul the cargo trailer, a server computer of a service provider, and a customer device, the method comprising:

(a) at least some components of the trailer tracking device operating in a low-power mode to minimize power consumption when the cargo trailer is not coupled to any of the one or more trucks;

(b) detecting that the cargo trailer has become coupled to one of the one or more trucks;

(c) caused by the occurrence of step (b);

(c1) the trailer tracking device accessing a unique identifier of a truck tracking device attached to the truck to which the cargo trailer is coupled;

or

(c2) the truck tracking device accessing a unique identifier of the trailer tracking device;

(d) one or both of the trailer tracking device and the truck tracking device wirelessly transmitting a first data message containing at least the unique identifier of the truck tracking device and the unique identifier of the trailer tracking device;

(e) receiving at the server computer at least the unique identifier of the truck tracking device and the unique identifier of the trailer tracking device contained in the first data message; and

(f) associating the unique identifier of the truck tracking device with the unique identifier of the trailer tracking device in a database accessible to the server computer.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the server computer providing information to the customer device indicating that the cargo trailer has been coupled to the truck to which the truck tracking device is attached.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the server computer providing the information to the customer device via one or more of a webpage, an email message, a text message, and an instant message.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) comprises accessing the unique identifier using wired or wireless communication means.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises transmitting the first data message including location coordinates of the trailer tracking device and information indicating that the cargo trailer has changed from a decoupled state to a coupled state.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(g) after step (d), detecting that the cargo trailer has become decoupled from the truck;

(h) caused by the occurrence of step (g), one or both of the trailer tracking device and the truck tracking device transmitting a second data message containing at least the unique identifier of the trailer tracking device and information indicating that the cargo trailer has become decoupled from the truck;

(i) after step (h), at least some components of the trailer tracking device going into a low-power mode;

(j) receiving at the server computer the unique identifier of the trailer tracking device and the information indicating that the cargo trailer has become decoupled from the truck;

(k) disassociating the unique identifier of the truck tracking device from the unique identifier of the trailer tracking device in the database; and

(l) the server computer sending information to the customer device indicating that the cargo trailer has become decoupled from the truck.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein components of the trailer tracking device that go into a low-power mode in step (i) include a GPS module and one or more wireless communication interfaces.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(g) after step (d), detecting that the cargo trailer has become decoupled from the truck;

(h) caused by the occurrence of step (g), at least some components of the trailer tracking device going into a low-power mode;

(i) at least some components of the trailer tracking device periodically coming out of the low-power mode to determine location coordinates of the trailer tracking device;

(j) at least some components of the trailer tracking device periodically coming out of the low-power mode to transmit a third data message containing at least the unique identifier of the trailer tracking device and the location coordinates of the trailer tracking device; and

(k) receiving at the server computer at least the unique identifier of the trailer tracking device and the location coordinates of the trailer tracking device contained in the third data message.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

(l) determining that the cargo trailer has gone outside a predetermined boundary based on the location coordinates of the trailer tracking device;

(m) the server computer providing information to the customer device indicating that the cargo trailer has gone outside the predetermined boundary.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the determining of step (l) is performed by the trailer tracking device, and the third data message transmitted from the trailer tracking device includes information indicating that the cargo trailer has gone outside the predetermined boundary.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the determining of step (l) is performed by the server computer.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(g) after step (d), detecting that the cargo trailer has become decoupled from the truck;

(h) caused by the occurrence of step (g), at least some components of the trailer tracking device going into a low-power mode;

(i) the trailer tracking device sensing motion of the cargo trailer;

(j) caused by the occurrence of step (i), at least some components of the trailer tracking device coming out of the low-power mode to determine location coordinates of the trailer tracking device and transmit a fourth data message containing at least the unique identifier of the trailer tracking device, the location coordinates of the trailer tracking device, and information indicating the motion of the cargo trailer was sensed; and

(k) receiving at the server computer at least the unique identifier of the trailer tracking device, the location coordinates of the trailer tracking device contained in the fourth data message, and the information indicating the motion of the cargo trailer was sensed.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

(l) determining that the cargo trailer has gone outside a predetermined boundary based on the location coordinates of the trailer tracking device;

(m) the server computer providing information to the customer device indicating that the cargo trailer has gone outside the predetermined boundary.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the determining of step (l) is performed by the trailer tracking device, and the fourth data message transmitted from the trailer tracking device includes information indicating that the cargo trailer has gone outside the predetermined boundary.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the determining of step (l) is performed by the server computer.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(g) after step (d), detecting that the cargo trailer has become decoupled from the truck;

(h) caused by the occurrence of step (g), at least some components of the trailer tracking device going into a low-power mode;

(i) determining that a voltage level of a battery providing power to the trailer tracking device has dropped below a threshold level;

(j) caused by the occurrence of step (i), at least some components of the trailer tracking device coming out of the low-power mode to determine location coordinates of the trailer tracking device;

(k) caused by the occurrence of step (i), at least some components of the trailer tracking device coming out of the low-power mode to transmit a fifth data message containing at least the unique identifier of the trailer tracking device, the location coordinates of the trailer tracking device, and information indicating a low voltage level of the battery; and

(l) receiving at the server computer at least the unique identifier of the trailer tracking device, the location coordinates of the trailer tracking device contained in the fifth data message, and the information indicating a low voltage level of the battery.

17. A method for communicating information between a trailer tracking device attached to a cargo trailer, one or more truck tracking devices attached to one or more trucks that are operable to haul the cargo trailer, a server computer of a service provider, and a customer device, the method comprising:

(a) at least some components of the trailer tracking device operating in a low-power mode to minimize power consumption when the cargo trailer is not coupled to any of the one or more trucks;

(b) detecting that the cargo trailer has become coupled to one of the one or more trucks;

(c) caused by the occurrence of step (b);

(c1) the trailer tracking device accessing a unique identifier of a truck tracking device attached to the truck to which the cargo trailer is coupled;

or

(c2) the truck tracking device accessing a unique identifier of the trailer tracking device;

(d) one or both of the trailer tracking device and the truck tracking device wirelessly transmitting a first data message containing at least the unique identifier of the truck tracking device, the unique identifier of the trailer tracking device, location coordinates of the trailer tracking device, and information indicating that the cargo trailer has changed from a decoupled state to a coupled state;

(e) receiving at the server computer at least the unique identifier of the truck tracking device and the unique identifier of the trailer tracking device contained in the first data message;

(f) associating the unique identifier of the truck tracking device with the unique identifier of the trailer tracking device in a database accessible to the server computer;

(g) the server computer providing information to the customer device indicating that the cargo trailer has been coupled to the truck to which the truck tracking device is attached, the information provided to the customer device via one or more of a webpage, an email message, a text message, and an instant message;

(h) after step (d), detecting that the cargo trailer has become decoupled from the truck;

(i) caused by the occurrence of step (h), one or both of the trailer tracking device and the truck tracking device transmitting a second data message containing at least the unique identifier of the trailer tracking device and information indicating that the cargo trailer has become decoupled from the truck;

(j) after step (i), at least some components of the trailer tracking device going into a low-power mode;

(k) receiving at the server computer the unique identifier of the trailer tracking device and the information indicating that the cargo trailer has become decoupled from the truck;

(l) disassociating the unique identifier of the truck tracking device from the unique identifier of the trailer tracking device in the database; and

(m) the server computer sending information to the customer device indicating that the cargo trailer has become decoupled from the truck.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

(n) after step (j), at least some components of the trailer tracking device periodically coming out of the low-power mode to determine location coordinates of the trailer tracking device;

(o) after step (j), at least some components of the trailer tracking device periodically coming out of the low-power mode to transmit a third data message containing at least the unique identifier of the trailer tracking device and the location coordinates of the trailer tracking device; and

(p) receiving at the server computer at least the unique identifier of the trailer tracking device and the location coordinates of the trailer tracking device contained in the third data message.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

(n) after step (j), the trailer tracking device sensing motion of the cargo trailer;

(o) caused by the occurrence of step (n), at least some components of the trailer tracking device coming out of the low-power mode to determine location coordinates of the trailer tracking device and transmit a fourth data message containing at least the unique identifier of the trailer tracking device, the location coordinates of the trailer tracking device, and information indicating the motion of the cargo trailer was sensed; and

(p) receiving at the server computer at least the unique identifier of the trailer tracking device, the location coordinates of the trailer tracking device contained in the fourth data message, and the information indicating the motion of the cargo trailer was sensed.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

(n) after step (j), determining that a voltage level of a battery providing power to the trailer tracking device has dropped below a threshold level;

(o) caused by the occurrence of step (n), at least some components of the trailer tracking device coming out of the low-power mode to determine location coordinates of the trailer tracking device;

(p) caused by the occurrence of step (n), at least some components of the trailer tracking device coming out of the low-power mode to transmit a fifth data message containing at least the unique identifier of the trailer tracking device, the location coordinates of the trailer tracking device, and information indicating a low voltage level of the battery; and

(q) receiving at the server computer at least the unique identifier of the trailer tracking device, the location coordinates of the trailer tracking device contained in the fifth data message, and the information indicating a low voltage level of the battery.