Tracking control and logistics system and method

• US 6,611,686 B1
• Filed: 05/24/1999
• Issued: 08/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joseph Smith
• Original Assignee: Elite Logistics Services Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Joseph D., Nguyen, Thien K., Higgs, Austin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, SHEILA B
• Application Number:
  US09/317,388
• Time in Patent Office: 1,555 Days
• Field of Search: 455/440, 455/441, 455/456, 455/457, 455/458, 455/459, 455/31.3, 340/573, 340/5.5, 340/539, 340/693.5, 340/825.49, 340/38, 340/988, 340/933, 340/989
• US Class Current: 340/990
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed for monitoring, tracking, and logistics purposes that preferably includes a monitoring unit wherein data is processed using a microcontroller. The monitoring unit includes an interface with the target or asset to be tracked such that electrical signals may be sent between the target and monitoring unit to denote events from the target, e.g., air bag deployment and for activating features of the target, e.g., an alarm. The interface may be unique for each monitoring unit because unique information relating to each interface is stored in the system database, e.g., data may be related to a temperature in one unit and to a movement sensor indication in another. Therefore, the system may respond appropriately to signals having unique meanings from each different monitoring unit. A pager unit with a pager modem is controlled by the microcontroller to thereby encode the signals for transmission. A pager transmitter/receiver network is used for sending and receiving messages from the monitoring unit. The pager transmitter/receiver network is in communication with a server and the database. The server may be accessed by multiple clients over the Internet or other lines of communication so that the clients at numerous different remote locations may activate controls on their respective one or more remote targets/assets, find the locations thereof, and receive cumulative status reports.

Claims

1. A monitoring device for monitoring a target, comprising:

a microcontroller programmed for operating said monitoring device, said microcontroller having no port that allows access for reading programing of said microcontroller;

a wireless transceiver operable for communicating with a wireless network;

a modem for interfacing with said wireless transceiver for communicating over said wireless network;

a global positioning sensor;

an interface between said monitoring device and said target for communicating signals relating to said target;

one or more inputs to said monitoring device from said target; and

one or more outputs from said monitoring device to said target, said one or more inputs and said one or more outputs being individually selectable from a plurality of inputs to said target and a plurality of outputs from said monitoring device during installation of said monitoring device to said target such that each of said one or more inputs and each of said one or more outputs are identified as to their nature and stored in a database for each of a plurality of monitoring devices.

2. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein said target is a vehicle and said interface communicates electrical signals relating to one or more elements of said vehicle.

3. A method for monitoring a plurality of targets, said plurality of targets having at least first and second variables to be monitored and having at least first and second items to be controlled, said first and second variables being selectively different for different of said plurality of targets, said first and second items to be controlled being selectively different for different of said plurality of targets, said method comprising:

attaching a transceiver with an antenna to each of said plurality of targets;

providing a configurable electrical interface with a plurality of ports for each of said plurality of targets for interfacing between said transceiver and said first and second variables to be monitored and said first and second items to be controlled;

entering definition data into a database to define said first and second variables whereby said definition data selectively varies between said plurality of targets, said definition data comprises a configuration of said plurality of ports which are selectively electrically connected with respect to said first and second variables to be monitored and said first and second items to be controlled, said definition for said configuration of said plurality of ports being selectively variable between said plurality of targets;

receiving data through a wireless network from said transceiver, interpreting said received data based on said definition data in said database;

connecting to said database through an Internet connection with a personal computer to receive said interpreted data; and

sending control information from said personal computer through said Internet connection for transmission through said wireless network for selectively operating said first and second items to be controlled.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

entering definition data into a database to define said first and second items to be controlled whereby said definition data varies between said plurality of targets.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

transmitting a message from a pager network to said transceiver,

receiving said message through said modem, and

executing a command responsive to said message wherein;

said control information is interpreted by said definition data in said database prior to wireless transmission.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein:

said definition data includes the meaning of said first and second items to be controlled, which meaning selectively varies between said plurality of targets.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein:

said plurality of targets comprise a plurality of vehicles and said first and second variables comprise variables related to vehicles which are selectively different for said plurality of vehicles.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

remotely operating said module for enforcing a loan related to said vehicle.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

remotely operating said module for determining that said vehicle stays within a selectable region.

10. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining a global position,

encoding a message to a modem to form a global position message based on said global position, and

transmitting said global position message through said transceiver using said antenna.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving said global position message through a wireless network, and

saving said global position message in said database.

12. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

providing for remote access to said database through said Internet connection by each of a plurality of different subscribers, each said subscriber being able to communicate only with targets for which each respective subscriber is authorized but not for other of said plurality of targets.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein:

said definition data includes the meaning of said first and second variables, which meaning selectively varies between said plurality of targets.

14. The method of claim 3, wherein:

said target is a structure affixed to the Earth so as to be non-movable.

15. A monitoring system for monitoring a plurality of targets on behalf of a plurality of clients, each of said clients being associated with one or more of said plurality of targets, comprising:

a computer network server operable for communicating with a plurality of client computers through an Internet connection;

a database operable for storing information relating to each of said plurality of targets;

a wireless network system, said computer network server being in communication with said wireless network system; and

a plurality of wireless communication units for said plurality of targets, each of said plurality of wireless communication units being operable for communication with said wireless network, each of said plurality of wireless communication units including a global position sensor to provide location information for each of said plurality of targets, said computer network server permitting each of said plurality of client computers to selectively communicate only with said one or more of said plurality of targets with which said client is associated such that each of said plurality of client computers is operable for sending a message to request said location information relating to said one or more of said plurality of targets with which said client is associated.

16. The monitoring system of claim 15, wherein:

each of said targets has one or more electrically controllable elements controllable by said respective client computers through said computer network server and said wireless network.

17. The monitoring system of claim 16, further comprising:

said plurality of client computers being operable for producing a map showing thereon a geographic picture of one or more of said plurality of targets.

18. The monitoring system of claim 16, wherein:

said plurality of said targets comprise a plurality of automobiles wherein each automobile has one or more variables for monitoring by a respective of said client computers and one or more electrically controllable elements to be controlled by said respective of said client computers.

19. The monitoring system of claim 18, further comprising:

said database being operable for storing information for each of said plurality of targets that includes definitions of inputs and outputs related to said one or more variables and said one or more electrically controllable elements for a respective interface between each of said plurality of vehicles for each corresponding wireless communication unit, said definitions of said inputs and outputs being selectively variable from vehicle to vehicle.

20. The monitoring system of claim 15, wherein:

said database comprising a list of ingoing and outgoing messages.

21. The monitoring system of claim 15, further comprising:

said plurality of wireless communication units including a modem for encoding said location information.

22. The monitoring system of claim 15, further comprising:

at least a portion of said plurality of targets being a plurality of transport vessels,

a wireless network system for communicating with said plurality of transport vessels, and

said database being operable for storing vessel location information.

23. The monitoring system of claim 15, further comprising:

a two-way pager operable for contacting one or more of said plurality of wireless communication units through said wireless network.

24. The monitoring system of claim 15, further comprising:

a microcontroller for operating said wireless communication unit, said microcontroller having a memory for programming said microcontroller for operating said wireless unit, said microcontroller comprising a computer and said memory within a single integrated circuit.

25. The monitoring system of claim 24, wherein said microcontroller has no port that allows access for reading programming of said memory.

26. The monitoring system of claim 24, further comprising:

said plurality of client computers are each operable for communicating with said computer network server relating to said electrical signals for said one or more of said plurality of targets with which said client is associated.

27. The monitoring system of claim 26, further comprising:

at least a portion of said plurality of targets are vehicles,

each vehicle having an electrical system connected to said target interface,

said plurality of client computers being operable for sending an electrical signal to said electrical system of said vehicle through said target interface for said one or more of said plurality of targets with which said client is associated.

28. The monitoring system of claim 26, further comprising:

at least a portion of said plurality of targets are vehicles,

each vehicle having an electrical system connected to said target interface,

said plurality of client computers being operable for detecting an electrical signal from said vehicle through said target interface, said wireless network system, and said computer network server in accordance with a description for each said target interface stored within said database.

29. A monitoring system operable for monitoring a plurality of targets on behalf of a plurality of users, each of said users being associated with one or more of said plurality of targets, comprising:

a computer network server operable for communicating with a plurality of client computers;

a database operable for storing information relating to each of said plurality of targets;

a plurality of wireless communication units, a respective of said plurality of wireless communication units associated with said plurality of targets, each of said plurality of wireless communication units including a position sensor to provide location information for each of said plurality of targets;

a wireless network system operable for communicating wirelessly with a plurality of wireless communication units, said computer network server being in communication with said wireless network system, each of said plurality of wireless communication units being operable for communication with said wireless network, each wireless communication unit comprising a transceiver for two-way communication with said wireless network system related to a plurality of control inputs and said plurality of status outputs of said target, each of said plurality of client computers being operable for requesting said computer network server to provide location information relating to said one or more of said plurality of targets with which said client is associated, said computer network server preventing communication with said plurality of targets with which said client is not associated.

30. The monitoring system of claim 29, wherein:

said computer network server is operable for communicating with said plurality of client computers through an Internet connection.

31. The monitoring system of claim 29, further comprising:

said plurality of client computers being operable for producing a map showing thereon a geographic picture of one or more of said plurality of targets.

32. The monitoring system of claim 29, wherein said plurality of targets comprise a plurality of vehicles and said plurality of status outputs relate to a status for each vehicle, said status outputs being selectively different for each vehicle.

33. The monitoring system of claim 32, wherein said plurality of targets comprise a plurality of vehicles and said plurality of control inputs relate to electrically controllable features for each vehicle, said control inputs being selectively different for each vehicle.

34. The monitoring system of claim 33, wherein said plurality of wireless communication units further comprise:

transmitter and receiver electronics for two-way communication with said wireless network system related to said plurality of inputs and said plurality of outputs and said location information.

35. The monitoring system of claim 34, wherein said plurality of wireless communication units further comprise:

programmable electronics related to said plurality of said control inputs and said plurality of status outputs such that each wireless communication unit is operable for adaptation to selection for each vehicle of said plurality of control inputs and said plurality of status outputs.

36. The monitoring system of claim 35, wherein:

a plurality of said vehicles comprises a door lock as a control input such that each of said plurality of client computers is operable for selectively controlling said door lock of said plurality of vehicles with which said client is associated.

37. The monitoring system of claim 34, further comprising:

said database being operable for storing information for each of said plurality of targets that includes definitions of control inputs and status outputs for a respective interface between each of said plurality of targets and each corresponding wireless communication unit.

38. The monitoring system of claim 34, further comprising:

said database being operable for containing a list of ingoing and outgoing messages.

39. The monitoring system of claim 29, further comprising:

said plurality of wireless communication units including a modem for encoding said location information.

40. The monitoring system of claim 29, further comprising:

at least a portion of said plurality of targets being a plurality of transport vessels, said database being operable for storing vessel location information.

41. The monitoring system of claim 40, further comprising:

a target interface for each of said plurality of wireless communication units for communicating electrical signals to said wireless communication unit related to said plurality of transport vehicles.

42. The monitoring system of claim 29, further comprising:

said plurality of client computers are each operable for communicating with said computer network server relating to said electrical signals for said one or more of said plurality of transport vehicles with which said client is associated.

43. The monitoring system of claim 29, further comprising:

a microcontroller for operating said wireless communication unit.

44. The monitoring system of claim 29, further comprising:

at least a portion of said plurality of targets are vehicles,

each vehicle having an electrical system connected to said target interface,

said plurality of client computers being operable for sending an electrical signal to said electrical system of said vehicle through said target interface for said one or more of said plurality of targets with which said client is associated.

45. The monitoring system of claim 29, further comprising:

at least a portion of said plurality of targets are vehicles,

each vehicle having an electrical system connected to said target interface,

said plurality of client computers being operable for detecting an electrical signal from said vehicle through said target interface, said wireless network system, and said computer network server in accordance with a description for each said target interface stored within said database.