System and method for fleet tracking

• US 6,339,745 B1
• Filed: 10/12/1999
• Issued: 01/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Integrated System Research Corporation
• Original Assignee: Integrated System Research Corporation
• Inventors: Novik, Yekutiel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Issing, Gregory C.
• Application Number:
  US09/417,163
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 701/208, 701/213, 701/117, 342/357.1, 342/386, 342/357.07, 340/990, 340/992, 340/991, 340/993
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/123 indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, tramstransmission of navigation instructions to vehicles G08G1/0968

Abstract

The present invention is for a system for tracking and graphically displaying the positions of vehicles in a fleet, and interacting with the vehicles from a base station. The vehicles in the fleet are equipped with a G.P.S. receiver and communicate the G.P.S. information to a base station. A receiver at the base station receives the information. A computer system connected to the receiver then uses this information to display the position of the vehicle using mapping and tracking software. The system also includes update software which updates text data in a database, updates the graphical representation of the vehicle, and bidirectionally and dynamically links and integrates the text data with the graphical representation of a vehicle. The text data in the database includes information relating to the vehicle, the driver, the schedule of the fleet as well as information relating to the fleet. A user is able to select a vehicle using a selector, the update software can provide information relating to text data. If the user selects information relating to a vehicle or driver using the selector, the update software provides the graphical representation of the selected vehicle or driver. The system also has several features allowing a dispatcher to cooperate with the driver in delivery and vehicle operation.

Claims

1. A system for tracking and graphically displaying the positions of vehicles in a fleet comprising:

at least one vehicle comprising;

a G.P.S. receiver for receiving G.P.S. data; and

a communicator coupled to the G.P.S. receiver for communicating the G.P.S. data to a base station;

the base station comprising;

a base station receiver for receiving the G.P.S. data from the communicator;

a computer system coupled to the base station receiver, wherein the computer system comprises;

a database comprising text data relating to the at least one vehicle and a graphical representation of the at least one vehicle;

mapping and tracking software for tracking and displaying the position of the at least one vehicle on a map;

updating software for interacting with the mapping and tracking software wherein the updating software further comprises instructions for updating the text data in the database when the base station receiver receives G.P.S. data, updating the graphical representation of the at least one vehicle when the base station receiver receives G.P.S. data, linking the text data and the graphical representation of the at least one vehicle, and interactive communication by a user at the base station with the at least one vehicle;

a display for receiving instruction from the mapping and tracking software and for displaying the text data and graphical representation of the at least one vehicle;

a selector interacting with the mapping and tracking software, wherein the updating software further comprises instructions for displaying text data from the database when the graphical representation of the at least one vehicle is selected using the selector and further comprises instructions for displaying the graphical representation of the at least one vehicle when the text data is selected using the selector; and

wherein the updating software further contains instructions for identifying preselected words for detection when transmitted in a message of communicated data and for downloading the communicated data associated with the preselected words into separate report databases.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the updating software contains instructions to compare a vehicle'"'"'s actual location with a vehicle'"'"'s actual destination.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the database further comprises a vehicle information file and a driver information file.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the vehicle information file further comprises vehicle identification, make of the vehicle, model of the vehicle, year vehicle was manufactured, the state where the vehicle is registered, type of vehicle, color of vehicle, telephone number at which the vehicle can be reached, a time stamp indicating when the vehicle was assigned to a driver, and a link to the driver information file for providing driver information for the driver of the selected vehicle.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the driver information file further comprises driver identification, driver name, sex of the driver, date of birth for the driver, position of the driver within the company, driver license number, address of the driver, telephone number at which the driver can be reached, and a link to the vehicle information file for providing the vehicle information of the vehicle being driven by the driver.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the database further comprises a schedule file.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the schedule file further comprises the status and itinerary of the at least one vehicle in the fleet.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the database further comprises a map file having at least one map.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one map is selected from the group consisting of:

raster scanned maps, aerial photographs, and digital maps.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the communicator is a transceiver for transmitting and receiving messages.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the transceiver communicates using a communication means which is selected from the group consisting of:

radio, cellular, digital radio, satellite, and the Internet.

12. The system of claim 2, wherein the updating software comprises instructions for determining and recording a vehicle'"'"'s speed and route based upon the received G.P.S. data.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the updating software further comprises instructions for outputting insurance information relating to the vehicle speed, routes, vehicle information, and driver information.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the updating software further comprises instructions to designate an alert zone, wherein the alert zone is an area designated on at least one map.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the alert zone is a prohibited zone designated on at least one map.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein an alarm is triggered when a vehicle enters the prohibited zone.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the alert zone is a permitted zone designated on at least one map.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein an alarm is triggered when a vehicle exits the permitted zone.

19. The system of claim 3, wherein the updating software contains instructions for generating a vehicle maintenance report from the vehicle information file.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the updating software further comprises instructions for generating an alarm when a vehicle speeds or comes to a stop.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the updating software further comprises instructions for locating a vehicle closest to an event indicated on the map.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the updating software further comprises instructions for detecting a transmission error in a sent message and display said message in reverse highlighted text.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the updating software further comprises instructions for comparing a planned vehicle route and a route actually followed.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the updating software further comprises instructions for allowing a user at the base station to remotely control at least one function on the vehicle.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises peripheral hardware connected to the communicator for interaction with the base station.

80. The system in claims 1, 26, 44, or 61, wherein the updating software further comprises instructions for displaying text and graphical data in a report generated in a previously selected software platform.

26. A system for tracking and graphically displaying the positions of vehicles in a fleet comprising:

at least one vehicle comprising;

a G.P.S. receiver for receiving G.P.S. data;

a vehicle transceiver for transmitting the G.P.S. data and for receiving transmissions from a base station; and

a vehicle computer system coupled to the G.P.S. receiver and the vehicle transceiver, wherein the computer system comprises;

vehicle mapping and tracking software for tracking and displaying the position of the at least one vehicle on a map; and

vehicle updating software for interacting with the vehicle mapping and tracking software and providing text data relating to the vehicle, graphically representing the at least one vehicle, and linking the text data and the graphical representation of the at least one vehicle; and

a vehicle display interacting with the vehicle mapping and tracking software for displaying the text data and graphical representations of the at least one vehicle; and

the base station comprising;

a base station transceiver for receiving the G.P.S. data from the at least one vehicle and for transmitting the text data and the graphical representation of the at least one vehicle;

a base station computer system coupled to the transceiver, wherein the base station computer system comprises;

a database comprising text data relating to the at least one vehicle and graphical representation of the at least one vehicle;

base station mapping and tracking software for tracking and displaying the position of the at least one vehicle on a map;

base station updating software for interacting with the base station mapping and tracking software wherein the base station text software comprises instructions for updating the text data in the database when the transceiver receives the G.P.S. data, updating the graphical representation of the at least one vehicle when the transceiver receives the G.P.S. data, linking the text data and the graphical representation of the at least one vehicle, and interactively communicating with the at least one vehicle;

a base station interacting with the base station mapping and tracking software and for displaying the text data and graphically representing the at least one vehicle; and

a selector interacting with the base station mapping and tracking software for selecting a vehicle in the fleet;

wherein the base station transceiver transmits the text data and graphical representation of the at least one vehicle to the vehicle transceiver, wherein the vehicle software and the base station updating software each display text data from the database when the graphical representation of the at least one vehicle is selected using the selector and the updating software displays a graphical representation of the at least one vehicle when text data is selected using the selector; and

wherein the updating software further contains instructions for identifying preselected words for detection when transmitted in a message of communicated data and for downloading the communicated data associated with the preselected words into separate report databases.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the database further comprises a vehicle information file and a driver information file.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the vehicle information file further comprises vehicle identification, make of the vehicle, model of the vehicle, year vehicle was manufactured, the state where the vehicle is registered, type of vehicle, color of vehicle, telephone number at which the vehicle could be reached, a time stamp indicating when the vehicle was assigned to a driver, and a link to the driver information file for providing driver information for the driver of the selected vehicle.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the updating software further comprises instructions for generating an alarm when a vehicle speeds or comes to a stop.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the driver information file further comprises driver identification, driver name, sex of the driver, date of birth for the driver, position of the driver within the company, driver license number, address of the driver, telephone number at which the driver could be reached, and a link to the vehicle information file for providing the vehicle information of the vehicle being driven by the driver.

31. The system of claim 27 wherein the updating software contains instructions to compare a specific vehicle'"'"'s actual location with a specific vehicle'"'"'s actual destination.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein the updating software contains instructions for preparing a vehicle maintenance report from the text data in the vehicle information file.

33. The system of claim 26, wherein the database further comprises a schedule file.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein the schedule file further comprises the status and itinerary of the at least one vehicle in the fleet.

35. The system of claim 26, wherein the database further comprises a map file having at least one map.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the at least one map is selected from the group consisting of:

raster scanned maps, aerial photographs, and digital maps.

37. The system of claim 26, wherein the base station transceiver and the vehicle transceiver each is selected from the group consisting of:

radio, cellular, digital radio, satellite, and the Internet.

38. The system of claim 26, wherein the updating software further comprises instructions for locating a vehicle closest to an event indicated on the map.

39. The system of claim 26, wherein the updating software further comprises instructions for detecting a transmission error in a sent message and display said message in reverse highlighted text.

40. The system of claim 26, wherein the updating software further comprises instructions for displaying text and graphical data in a report generated in a previously selected software platform.

41. The system of claim 26, wherein the updating software further comprises instructions for comparing a planned vehicle route and a route actually followed.

42. The system of claim 26, wherein the updating software further comprises instructions for allowing a user at the base station to remotely control at least one function on the vehicle.

43. The system of claim 26, wherein the system comprises peripheral hardware connected to the communicator for interaction with the base station.

44. A system for tracking and graphically representing the positions of at least one vehicle in a fleet wherein text data relating to the at least one vehicle is bi-directionally linked and dynamically integrated with a graphical representation of the at least one vehicle, comprising:

said at least one vehicle comprising;

a G.P.S. receiver for receiving G.P.S. data; and

a data collector coupled to the G.P.S. receiver for collecting the G.P.S. data;

a base station comprising;

a recorder for playing the collected G.P.S. data;

a computer system coupled to the recorder comprising;

a database comprising the text data relating to the at least one vehicle and the graphical representation of the at least one vehicle;

mapping and tracking software for tracking and mapping the position of at least one vehicle on a map;

update software for interacting with the mapping and tracking software, wherein the updating software comprises instructions for updating the text data in the database when the G.P.S. receiver receives G.P.S. data and for updating the graphical representation of the vehicle when the G.P.S. receiver receives G.P.S. data, and interactively communicating with the at least one vehicle;

a display interacting with the mapping and tracking software and for displaying the text data and graphical representation of the at least one vehicle;

a selector interacting with the mapping and tracking software, wherein the update software further comprises instructions for displaying text data from the database when the graphical representation of the at least one vehicle is selected using the selector and the update software displays a graphical representation of a vehicle when text data is selected using the selector;

a communication means to communicate the GPS data from said at least one vehicle to said computer system; and

wherein the updating software further contains instructions for identifying preselected words for detection when transmitted in a message of communicated data and for downloading the communicated data associated with the preselected words into separate report databases.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the database further comprises a vehicle information file and a driver information file.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the vehicle information file further comprises vehicle identification, make of the vehicle, model of the vehicle, year vehicle was manufactured, the state where the vehicle is registered, type of vehicle, color of vehicle, telephone number at which the vehicle could be reached, a time stamp indicating when the vehicle was assigned to a driver, and a link to the driver information file for providing driver information of the vehicle being driven by the driver.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the updating software further comprises instructions for generating an alarm when a vehicle speeds or comes to a stop.

48. The system of claim 45, wherein the driver information file further comprises driver identification, driver name, sex of the driver, date of birth for the driver, position of the driver within the company, driver license number, address of the driver, telephone number at which the driver could be reached, and a link to the vehicle information file for providing the vehicle information of the vehicle being driven by the driver.

49. The system of claim 45, wherein the updating software contains instructions for preparing a vehicle maintenance report from the text data in the vehicle information file.

50. The system of claim 44, wherein the database further comprises a schedule file.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the schedule file further comprises the status and itinerary of at least one vehicle in the fleet.

52. The system of claim 44, wherein the database further comprises a map file having at least one map.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the at least one map is selected from the group consisting of:

raster scanned maps, aerial photographs, and digital maps.

54. The system of claim 44 wherein the updating software contains instructions for comparing a vehicle'"'"'s actual location with a vehicle'"'"'s actual destination.

55. The system of claim 44, wherein the updating software further comprises instructions for locating a vehicle closest to an event indicated on the map.

56. The system of claim 44, wherein the updating software further comprises instructions for detecting a transmission error in a sent message and display said message in reverse highlighted text.

57. The system of claim 44, wherein the updating software further comprises instructions for displaying text and graphical data in a report generated in a previously selected software platform.

58. The system of claim 44, wherein the updating software further comprises instructions for comparing a planned vehicle route and a route actually followed.

59. The system of claim 44, wherein the updating software further comprises instructions for allowing a user at the base station to remotely control at least one function on the vehicle.

60. The system of claim 44, wherein the system comprises peripheral hardware connected to the communicator for interaction with the base station.

61. A system for tracking and graphically displaying the positions of vehicles in a fleet comprising a computer system which further comprises:

a database comprising text data relating to a vehicle and graphical representation of the vehicle;

mapping and tracking software for tracking and displaying the position of the at least one vehicle over a map;

update software for interacting with the mapping and tracking software wherein the update software comprises instructions for updating the text data in the database when G.P.S. data relating to the position of a vehicle in the fleet is received, updating the graphical representation of the vehicle in the fleet when the G.P.S. data is received from the vehicles in the fleet, linking the text data and the graphical representation of the vehicle, and interactively communicating with the at least one vehicle;

a display interacting with the mapping and tracking software and for displaying the text data and graphical representation of the vehicle;

a selector for interacting with the mapping and tracking software, wherein the mapping and tracking software further comprises instructions for displaying text data from the database when the graphical representation of a vehicle in the fleet is selected using the selector, and the mapping and tracking software further comprises instructions for displaying the a graphical representation of a vehicle in the fleet when the text data is selected using the selector; and

wherein the updating software further contains instructions for identifying preselected words for detection when transmitted in a message of communicated data and for downloading the communicated data associated with the preselected words into separate report databases.

62. The system of claim 61, wherein the database further comprises a vehicle information file and a driver information file.

63. The system of claim 62, wherein the vehicle information file further comprises vehicle identification, make of the vehicle, model of the vehicle, year vehicle was manufactured, the state where the vehicle is registered, type of vehicle, color of vehicle, telephone number at which the vehicle could be reached, a time stamp indicating when the vehicle was assigned to a driver, and a link to the driver information file for providing driver information for the driver of the selected vehicle.

64. The system of claim 63, wherein the driver information file further comprises driver identification, driver name, sex of the driver, date of birth for the driver, position of the driver within company, driver license number, address of the driver, telephone number at which the driver could be reached, and a link to the vehicle information file for providing the vehicle information of the vehicle being driven by the driver.

65. The system of claim 62, wherein the updating software contains instructions for preparing a vehicle maintenance report from the text data in the vehicle information file.

66. The system of claim 63 wherein the updating software further comprises instructions for generating an alarm when a vehicle speeds or comes to a stop.

67. The system of claim 61, wherein the database further comprises a schedule file.

68. The system of claim 67, wherein the schedule file further comprises the status and itinerary of the vehicles in the fleet.

69. The system of claim 61, wherein the database further comprises a map rile having at least one map.

70. The system of claim 69, wherein the at least one map is selected from the group consisting of:

raster scanned maps, aerial photographs, and digital maps.

71. The system of claim 61, wherein the update software comprises instructions for determining and recording a vehicle'"'"'s speed and route based on the G.P.S. data.

72. The system of claim 71, wherein the update software comprises instructions for outputting insurance information relating to the vehicle speed, routes, vehicle information, and driver information.

73. The system of claim 61 wherein the updating software contains instructions to compare a vehicle'"'"'s actual location with a vehicle'"'"'s actual destination.

74. The system of claim 61, wherein the updating software further comprises instructions for locating a vehicle closest to an event indicated on the map.

75. The system of claim 61, wherein the updating software further comprises instructions for detecting a transmission error in a sent message and display said message in reverse highlighted text.

76. The system of claim 61, wherein the updating software further comprises instructions for displaying text and graphical data in a report generated in a previously selected software platform.

77. The system of claim 61, wherein the updating software further comprises instructions for comparing a planned vehicle route and a route actually followed.

78. The system of claim 61, wherein the updating software further comprises instructions for allowing a user at the base station to remotely control at least one function on the vehicle.

79. The system of claim 61, wherein the system comprises peripheral hardware connected to the communication for interaction with the base station.

81. A method for dynamically linking and displaying text data and graphical representations of vehicles in a fleet comprising:

receiving G.P.S. data using a G.P.S. receiver on a vehicle in a fleet;

transmitting the G.P.S. data using a communicator to a base station receiver at a base station;

receiving the G.P.S. data at the base station using the base station receiver;

storing the G.P.S. data in a G.P.S. data file on a computer system;

storing driver information in a database on the computer system;

storing vehicle information including a vehicle position from the G.P.S. data in a database on the computer system;

updating the vehicle position as the G.P.S. data is received;

dynamically linking the driver information and vehicle information;

displaying a graphical representation of the vehicle position on a map;

linking the vehicle information including the vehicle position with the driver information;

displaying the driver information and vehicle information as text data upon a user selection on the graphical representation of the vehicle;

updating the vehicle representation in a database using software on the computer system;

linking the text data and the vehicle representation using software on the computer system;

linking the linked text data and vehicle representation using software on the computer system with mapping and tracking software using the software on the computer system;

overlaying the graphical representation of a vehicle over a map;

displaying the text data and graphical representation of a vehicle;

linking interactive communications between a vehicle and a user at the base station, further comprising displaying the text data from the database using software on the computer system when the graphical representation of a vehicle is selected using a selector and displaying the graphical representation of the vehicle using software on the computer system when the text data is selected using the selector; and

further comprising using software on the computer system to identify preselected words for detection when transmitted in a message of communicated data and to download the communicated data associated with the preselected words into separate report databases.

82. The method of claim 81, further comprising displaying text and graphical data in a report generated in a previously selected software platform.