Land vehicle communications system and process for providing information and coordinating vehicle activities
First Claim
1. A process for a vehicle load brokerage management system component of an off board communication network, comprising the steps of:
- storing data on a network of mobile vehicles including locations, cargo carrying ability, availability to carry cargo, and operating area of the vehicles in the mobile vehicle network;
receiving a description of any cargo being transported by a vehicle with an abnormal condition, a current location of the cargo, and a final destination of the cargo from an off board communication network along with a query for a specific alternative vehicle from the network of mobile vehicles to transport the cargo;
comparing the cargo to be carried to the vehicles in the network of mobile vehicles to derive a listing of mobile vehicles capable of carrying the cargo;
comparing the listing of mobile vehicles capable of carrying the cargo to the vehicle availability data on the network of mobile vehicles and deriving a listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo;
determining a general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo;
comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo and determining which vehicle'"'"'s operating area encompasses the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo;
communicating with the vehicles whose operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an alternative vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from a vehicle whose operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating this the alternative vehicle to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the alternative vehicle to transport the cargo to the off board network.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communication system architecture (SA) for a vehicle which may be integrated into the vehicle'"'"'s multiplexed electronic component communication system, and a process for communicating with the vehicle to provide information for and about the vehicle'"'"'s operational status and coordinating the vehicle'"'"'s activities. The communication system will include a multi-functional antenna system for the vehicle that will have the capability to receive AM/FM radio and television signals, and transmit and receive citizens band (CB) radio signals, satellite and microwave and cellular phone communications. The antenna may be installed as original equipment or as a back-fit part in the after-market. In either case the multi-functional antenna will be integrated with the vehicle'"'"'s multiplexed electronic component communication system. The process for communicating with the vehicle will involve a communication service for which the vehicle'"'"'s driver will enroll for and service will continue so long as maintenance fees are paid. The service will be capable of providing various levels of information transfer and coordination. The levels may include vehicle information such as (1) the need for servicing and location of the nearest service center with the necessary parts in stock, (2) routing, and (3) load brokering and coordination. The modular design of the system architecture (SA) will allow it to be employed with the vehicle platform that does not possess a full multiplexed electronic component communications system. The resulting vehicle, using an after-market application package, will be able to participate in some of the services.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A process for a vehicle load brokerage management system component of an off board communication network, comprising the steps of:
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storing data on a network of mobile vehicles including locations, cargo carrying ability, availability to carry cargo, and operating area of the vehicles in the mobile vehicle network;
receiving a description of any cargo being transported by a vehicle with an abnormal condition, a current location of the cargo, and a final destination of the cargo from an off board communication network along with a query for a specific alternative vehicle from the network of mobile vehicles to transport the cargo;
comparing the cargo to be carried to the vehicles in the network of mobile vehicles to derive a listing of mobile vehicles capable of carrying the cargo;
comparing the listing of mobile vehicles capable of carrying the cargo to the vehicle availability data on the network of mobile vehicles and deriving a listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo;
determining a general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo;
comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo and determining which vehicle'"'"'s operating area encompasses the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo;
communicating with the vehicles whose operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an alternative vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from a vehicle whose operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating this the alternative vehicle to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the alternative vehicle to transport the cargo to the off board network.
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2. A process for a vehicle load brokerage management system component of an off board communication network, comprising the steps of:
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storing data on a network of mobile vehicles including locations, cargo carrying ability, availability to carry cargo, and operating area of the vehicles in the mobile vehicle network;
receiving a description of any cargo being transported by a vehicle with an indication of an abnormal condition, a current location of the cargo, and a final destination of the cargo from an off board communication network along with a query for a specific alternative vehicle from the network of mobile vehicles to transport the cargo;
comparing the cargo to be carried to the vehicles in the network of mobile vehicles to derive a listing of mobile vehicles capable of carrying the cargo;
comparing the listing of mobile vehicles capable of carrying the cargo to the vehicle availability data on the network of mobile vehicles and deriving a listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo;
determining a general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo;
comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicle'"'"'s operating area encompasses the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and finding individual vehicles whose operating area encompasses the general route, performing the additional steps of;
communicating with the vehicles whose operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an alternative vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from a vehicle whose operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating this the alternative vehicle to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the alternative vehicle to transport the cargo to the off board network;
comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicles'"'"' operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and finding a combination or combinations of vehicles whose operating areas encompass the general route, performing the additional steps of;
communicating with the vehicles whose combination of operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an alternative vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from the vehicles whose combination operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating these as the alternative vehicles to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the alternative vehicles to transport the cargo to the off board network; and
comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicle'"'"'s operating area encompasses the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and not finding a vehicle or a combination of vehicles whose operating areas encompass the general route or willing to accept a previous offer to carry the cargo, performing the additional steps of;
comparing operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo with the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and determining an alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo;
comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicle'"'"'s operating area encompasses the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and finding individual vehicles whose operating area encompasses the alternative route, performing the additional steps of;
communicating with the vehicles whose operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an alternative vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from a vehicle whose operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating this the alternative vehicle to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the alternative vehicle to transport the cargo to the off board network;
comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicles'"'"' operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and finding a combination or combinations of vehicles whose operating areas encompass the alternative route, performing the additional steps of;
communicating with the vehicles whose combination of operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an alternative vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from the vehicles whose combination operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating these as the alternative vehicles to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the alternative vehicles to transport the cargo to the off board network.
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3. A process for a vehicle load brokerage management system component of an off board communication network, comprising the steps of:
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storing data on a network of mobile vehicles including locations, cargo carrying ability, availability to carry cargo, and operating area of the vehicles in the mobile vehicle network;
receiving a description of any cargo needing to be transported by a vehicle, a current location of the cargo, and a final destination of the cargo from an off board communication network along with a query for a specific cargo carrying vehicle from the network of mobile vehicles to transport the cargo;
comparing the cargo to be carried to the vehicles in the network of mobile vehicles to derive a listing of mobile vehicles capable of carrying the cargo;
comparing the listing of mobile vehicles capable of carrying the cargo to the vehicle availability data on the network of mobile vehicles and deriving a listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo;
determining a general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo;
comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicle'"'"'s operating area encompasses the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and finding individual vehicles whose operating area encompasses the general route, performing the additional steps of;
communicating with the vehicles whose operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an specific cargo carrying vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from a vehicle whose operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating this the specific cargo carrying vehicle to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the specific cargo carrying vehicle to transport the cargo to the off board network;
comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicles'"'"' operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and finding a combination or combinations of vehicles whose operating areas encompass the general route, performing the additional steps of;
communicating with the vehicles whose combination of operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an specific cargo carrying vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from the vehicles whose combination operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating these as the specific cargo carrying vehicles to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the specific cargo carrying vehicles to transport the cargo to the off board network; and
comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicle'"'"'s operating area encompasses the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and not finding a vehicle or a combination of vehicles whose operating areas encompass the general route or willing to accept a previous offer to carry the cargo, performing the additional steps of;
comparing operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo with the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and determining an alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo;
comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicle'"'"'s operating area encompasses the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and finding individual vehicles whose operating area encompasses the alternative route, performing the additional steps of;
communicating with the vehicles whose operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an specific cargo carrying vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from a vehicle whose operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating this the specific cargo carrying vehicle to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the specific cargo carrying vehicle to transport the cargo to the off board network;
comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicles'"'"' operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and finding a combination or combinations of vehicles whose operating areas encompass the alternative route, performing the additional steps of;
communicating with the vehicles whose combination of operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an specific cargo carrying vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from the vehicles whose combination operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating these as the specific cargo carrying vehicles to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the specific cargo carrying vehicles to transport the cargo to the off board network.
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4. A computer program product for a vehicle load brokerage management system component of an off board communication network, said computer program product comprising:
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a computer useable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for causing the brokerage management system to store data on a network of mobile vehicles including locations, cargo carrying ability, availability to carry cargo, and operating area of the vehicles in the mobile vehicle network;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to receive a description of any cargo being transported by a vehicle with an abnormal condition, a current location of the cargo, and a final destination of the cargo from an off board communication network along with a query for a specific alternative vehicle from the network of mobile vehicles to transport the cargo;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to compare the cargo to be carried to the vehicles in the network of mobile vehicles to derive a listing of mobile vehicles capable of carrying the cargo;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to compare the listing of mobile vehicles capable of carrying the cargo to the vehicle availability data on the network of mobile vehicles and deriving a listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to determine a general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to compare the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo and determining which vehicle'"'"'s operating area encompasses the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to communicate with the vehicles whose operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an alternative vehicle;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to receive an acceptance of the offer from a vehicle whose operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating this the alternative vehicle to transport the cargo; and
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to communicate identifying information of the alternative vehicle to transport the cargo to the off board network.
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5. A computer program product for a vehicle load brokerage management system component of an off board communication network, said computer program product comprising:
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a computer useable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for causing the brokerage management system to store data on a network of mobile vehicles including locations, cargo carrying ability, availability to carry cargo, and operating area of the vehicles in the mobile vehicle network;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to receive a description of any cargo being transported by a vehicle with an indication of an abnormal condition, a current location of the cargo, and a final destination of the cargo from an off board communication network along with a query for a specific alternative vehicle from the network of mobile vehicles to transport the cargo;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to compare the cargo to be carried to the vehicles in the network of mobile vehicles to derive a listing of mobile vehicles capable of carrying the cargo;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to compare the listing of mobile vehicles capable of carrying the cargo to the vehicle availability data on the network of mobile vehicles and the brokerage management system deriving a listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to determine a general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to compare the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicle'"'"'s operating area encompasses the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and the brokerage management system finding individual vehicles whose operating area encompasses the general route, computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to perform the additional steps of;
communicating with the vehicles whose operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an alternative vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from a vehicle whose operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating this the alternative vehicle to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the alternative vehicle to transport the cargo to the off board network;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to compare the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicles'"'"' operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and the brokerage management system finding a combination or combinations of vehicles whose operating areas encompass the general route, computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to perform the additional steps of;
communicating with the vehicles whose combination of operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an alternative vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from the vehicles whose combination operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating these as the alternative vehicles to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the alternative vehicles to transport the cargo to the off board network; and
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to compare the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicle'"'"'s operating area encompasses the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and the brokerage management system not finding a vehicle or a combination of vehicles whose operating areas encompass the general route, computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to perform the additional steps of;
comparing operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo with the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and determining an alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo;
comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicle'"'"'s operating area encompasses the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and the brokerage management system finding individual vehicles whose operating area encompasses the alternative route, computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to perform the additional steps of;
communicating with the vehicles whose operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an alternative vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from a vehicle whose operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating this the alternative vehicle to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the alternative vehicle to transport the cargo to the off board network; and
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to compare the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicles'"'"' operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and the brokerage management system finding a combination or combinations of vehicles whose operating areas encompass the alternative route, computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to perform the additional steps of;
communicating with the vehicles whose combination of operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an alternative vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from the vehicles whose combination operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating these as the alternative vehicles to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the alternative vehicles to transport the cargo to the off board network.
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6. A computer program product for a vehicle load brokerage management system component of an off board communication network, said computer program product comprising:
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a computer useable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for causing the brokerage management system to store data on a network of mobile vehicles including locations, cargo carrying ability, availability to carry cargo, and operating area of the vehicles in the mobile vehicle network;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to receive a description of any cargo needing to be transported by a vehicle, a current location of the cargo, and a final destination of the cargo from an off board communication network along with a query for a specific cargo carrying vehicle from the network of mobile vehicles to transport the cargo;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to compare the cargo to be carried to the vehicles in the network of mobile vehicles to derive a listing of mobile vehicles capable of carrying the cargo;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to compare the listing of mobile vehicles capable of carrying the cargo to the vehicle availability data on the network of mobile vehicles and to derive a listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to determine a general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to compare the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicle'"'"'s operating area encompasses the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and the brokerage management system finding individual vehicles whose operating area encompasses the general route, computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to perform the additional steps of;
communicating with the vehicles whose operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an specific cargo carrying vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from a vehicle whose operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating this the specific cargo carrying vehicle to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the specific cargo carrying vehicle to transport the cargo to the off board network;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to compare the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicles'"'"' operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and the brokerage management system finding a combination or combinations of vehicles whose operating areas encompass the general route, computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to perform the additional steps of;
communicating with the vehicles whose combination of operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as a specific cargo carrying vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from the vehicles whose combination operating areas encompass the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating these as the specific cargo carrying vehicles to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the specific cargo carrying vehicles to transport the cargo to the off board network; and
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to compare the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicle'"'"'s operating area encompasses the general route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and the brokerage management system not finding a vehicle or a combination of vehicles whose operating areas encompass the general route, computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to perform the additional steps of;
comparing operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo with the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and determining an alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo;
comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicle'"'"'s operating area encompasses the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and finding individual vehicles whose operating area encompasses the alternative route, computer readable program code means'"'"' for causing the brokerage management system to perform the additional steps of;
communicating with the vehicles whose operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an specific cargo carrying vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from a vehicle whose operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating this the specific cargo carrying vehicle to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the specific cargo carrying vehicle to transport the cargo to the off board network;
comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicles'"'"' operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and finding a combination or combinations of vehicles whose operating areas encompass the alternative route, computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage management system to perform the additional steps of;
communicating with the vehicles whose combination of operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an specific cargo carrying vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from the vehicles whose combination operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating these as the specific cargo carrying vehicles to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the specific cargo carrying vehicles to transport the cargo to the off board network.
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Specification