Telematics System, Methods and Apparatus for Two-way Data Communication Between Vehicles in a Fleet and a Fleet Management System

• US 20160093216A1
• Filed: 09/29/2014
• Published: 03/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avis Budget Car Rental LLC (Avis Budget Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Avis Budget Car Rental LLC (Avis Budget Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lee, Sang J., Ghalib, Syed Naveed
• Granted Patent: US 9,635,518 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/10 actuating a signalling device
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/2018 Central base unlocks or authorises unlocking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063114 Status monitoring or status determination for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/30 Transportation; Communications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/02 Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/202 Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/44 for communication between vehicles and infrastructures, e.g. vehicle-to-cloud [V2C] or vehicle-to-home [V2H]

Abstract

Programmable telematics systems, methods and apparatus for two-way transmission of data and information between fleet vehicles and a fleet management system. The systems and methods employ a programmable telematics communications unit (TCU) configured to connect to the OBD II port of a vehicle, enabling two-way transmission of data and information between a fleet management system and vehicles in the fleet. The TCU device includes cellular data connectivity enabling communication with the management system through existing cellular telephone networks. The programmable TCU may be toggled between multiple operating modes, wherein the TCU provides different functionality, such that a single vehicle may participate in multiple vehicle programs at different points in time, including separate vehicle rental and vehicle sharing programs.

Claims

1. A system for controlling the operational mode of vehicles in a vehicle fleet comprising:

a plurality of fleet vehicles, each including a telematics control unit, said telematics control unit including a processor to execute computer readable code embedded on a tangible, non-transitory computer readable storage medium, a connection to the OBD II port of the vehicle to enable the control unit to receive vehicle sensor data and actuate a plurality of vehicle devices, a connection to a vehicle access device, and a cellular modem enabling transmission of vehicle data and receipt of programming via cellular networks;

a fleet management system including a processor for receiving data from fleet vehicle telematics control units, associating each telematics unit and the data received therefrom with a specific fleet vehicle, and transmitting vehicle specific programming to the telematics control units;

an application module associated with the fleet management system enabling the selection of an operational mode for a fleet vehicle from a plurality of available operational vehicle modes, each mode associated with different telematics control unit programming, wherein selection of a vehicle operational mode causes the fleet management system to transmit programming associated with the selected operational mode from the management system to the telematics control unit of the selected fleet vehicle such that the vehicle and its telematics control unit may be operated in accordance with such operational mode.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the available operational modes include at least two of a vehicle rental program, a vehicle sharing program, a corporate fleet program and a municipal fleet program.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the available operational modes include a vehicle rental program and a vehicle sharing program.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein a fleet vehicle may be toggled from one operational mode to another by the fleet management system in response to user demand.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein a fleet vehicle is toggled from one operational mode to another in response to a command input to the vehicle via an access card or wireless device and transmitted to the management system by the vehicle telematics control unit.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the telematics control unit further includes one or more sensors or systems for generating data for transmission to the management system, said sensors or systems selected from the group consisting of an accelerometer, an incline measurement device, and a GPS system.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the telematics control unit further includes an RF modem and chipset for short range communications such that the telematics control unit can communicate with a mobile device.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the operational mode enables the telematics control unit to unlock a vehicle in response to an authorized Bluetooth command received via the RF modem of the telematics control unit.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle device actuations include one or more of door lock, door unlock, vehicle lights on, vehicle lights off, horn activation, alarm activation, starter disabled, and starter enabled.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the telematics control unit is connected to the access control device via a wired or wireless connection separate from the OBD II connection.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the access control device is a card reader and the telematics control unit actuates the vehicle doors locks.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the connection to the OBD II port is a wired connection and includes means for sensing whether the wire is connected to the said port.

13. A method for controlling the operational mode of individual vehicles in a vehicle fleet via a programmable telematics devices installed in each fleet vehicle, comprising the steps of:

providing cellular data communication between a telematics control unit installed in each fleet vehicle and a fleet management system, said telematics control unit including a processor, computer memory, a connection to the vehicle OBD II port, a connection to a vehicle access control device, and a modem and chipset for providing said cellular communication capability;

selecting an operational mode for the vehicle from a plurality of available vehicle modes, each mode being associated with different telematics control unit programming;

communicating the selected mode programming from the management system to the telematics control unit; and

operating the programmed telematics control unit to control vehicle access and systems, and to receive and communicate vehicle information and data to the fleet management system, in accordance with the mode programming.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of:

providing a signal to change the vehicle operational mode to an alternative mode;

transmitting programming associated with such alternative mode from the management system to the telematics control unit; and

operating the telematics control unit to control vehicle access and systems devices in accordance with the alternative mode programming.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein each vehicle operational mode is associated with a different vehicle program, such that different fleet vehicles may be operated in different vehicle programs simultaneously.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the operational modes are selected from the group consisting of a vehicle share program, a vehicle rental program, a corporate fleet program and a municipal fleet program.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the access device is a card reader positioned on the vehicle, and wherein when the vehicle operational mode is a vehicle share program, the telematics control unit is programmed to permit access to the vehicle via an access card operating in conjunction with the card reader.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein when the vehicle is not in use, the control unit commands the door locks into the open or locked position in accordance with the vehicle operational mode.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein when the vehicle is not in use, the control unit enables or disables the vehicle starter in accordance with the vehicle operational mode.

20. The method of claim 13 further comprising a GPS system within the telematics control unit, and wherein the telematics control unit determines whether and when to transmit vehicle location information obtained from the GPS unit accordance with the vehicle operational mode.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the vehicle is toggled from one vehicle operational mode to another by the management system.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the vehicle is toggled from one vehicle operational mode to another via a command executed via the access control device operating in communication with the telematics control unit.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the vehicle is toggled from one vehicle operational mode to another via a wireless signal received via an RF connection to the telematics control unit.

24. A method for installing a programmable telematics control device in a vehicle for use in communicating vehicle data to a fleet management system comprising the steps of:

installing the telematics control device in a vehicle, the telematics device including a processor, memory, cellular communications means, and a connection to the vehicle OBD II port;

supplying power to the telematics control device through the OBD II port connection;

transmitting identification information from the control device to a remote management system via the cellular communication means, said information including the vehicle VIN and the control unit IMEI;

associating with VIN and IMEI via the management system with a particular vehicle make and model and with programming necessary to operate the control device in the vehicle in which it is installed;

transmitting the associated programming from the management system to the control device via the cellular communication means, and loading it in the control device memory for execution by the control device processor;

operating at least a portion of the programming in the control device processor to determine whether installation is complete and that such programming operates properly; and

indicating that installation of the control device has been completed via an audible or visual signal.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising the steps of determining a mode for the vehicle and the control device, identifying programming necessary for operation of the device in that vehicle according to the selected mode, and transmitting such programming from the management system to the control device.