GEOFENCED BASED BACK-UP LIMITS

• US 20130154817A1
• Filed: 02/12/2013
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: OLSEN, JOHN A. III, DAVIDSON, MARK J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,719,183 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06398 Performance of employee with respect to a job function
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/056 with provision for distinguishing direction of travel

Abstract

A computer system that is configured to: (A) define a geofence surrounding a geographic area; (B) gather information associated with the geofenced area; and (C) assign one or more parameters to the geofenced area based on the information gathered, wherein at least one of the assigned parameters is used to monitor the performance of a delivery vehicle driver while the delivery vehicle driver is operating a delivery vehicle within the geofenced area. In particular embodiments, the parameters include a backup limit defining a number of times a delivery vehicle operating within the geofenced area is permitted to back up while operating the delivery vehicle within the geofenced area (e.g., during a particular delivery cycle). In other embodiments, the parameters include a maximum speed limit for the geofenced area. The system may be adapted to automatically generate an alert in response to the delivery vehicle operating outside of the defined parameters.

Claims

1. A system comprising one or more processors and one or more memory storage areas, the system configured to:

associate a back-up limit with a geofenced area, the back-up limit indicating the number of times a vehicle is permitted to back up while operating within the geofenced area;

receive data collected in association with a vehicle, the data collected during operation of the vehicle within the geofenced area; and

determine, based at least in part on the data collected, whether the back-up limit has at least been reached in the geofenced area.

2. The system of claim 1 further configured to, after a determination that the back-up limit has at least been reached in the geofenced area, generate an alert indicating that the back-up limit has at least been reached.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the back-up limit corresponds to a zoning classification for the geofenced area.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the zoning classification is selected from the group consisting of a commercial zoning classification and a residential zoning classification

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the data collected comprises at least one of time data, geographic position data, speed data, distance data, or ignition data.

6. A method comprising:

associating, by one or more processors, a back-up limit with a geofenced area, the back-up limit indicating the number of times a vehicle is permitted to back up while operating within the geofenced area;

receiving, by the one or more processors, data collected in association with a vehicle, the data collected during operation of the vehicle within the geofenced area; and

determining, by the one or more processors, based at least in part on the data collected, whether the back-up limit has at least been reached in the geofenced area.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising, after a determination that the back-up limit has at least been reached in the geofenced area, generating an alert indicating that the back-up limit has at least been reached.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the back-up limit corresponds to a zoning classification for the geofenced area.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the zoning classification is selected from the group consisting of a commercial zoning classification and a residential zoning classification

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the data collected comprises at least one of time data, geographic position data, speed data, distance data, or ignition data.

11. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

an executable portion configured to associate a back-up limit with a geofenced area, the back-up limit indicating the number of times a vehicle is permitted to back up while operating within the geofenced area;

an executable portion configured to receive data collected in association with a vehicle, the data collected during operation of the vehicle within the geofenced area; and

an executable portion configured to determine, based at least in part on the data collected, whether the back-up limit has at least been reached in the geofenced area.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 further comprising an executable portion configured to, after a determination that the back-up limit has at least been reached in the geofenced area, generate an alert indicating that the back-up limit has at least been reached.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the back-up limit corresponds to a zoning classification for the geofenced area.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the zoning classification is selected from the group consisting of a commercial zoning classification and a residential zoning classification.

15. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the data collected comprises at least one of time data, geographic position data, speed data, distance data, or ignition data.