Vehicle tracking, communication and fleet management system
First Claim
1. A system for automated reporting of status of a ready mix concrete or other slurry material mixer truck, including status of events related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems or cargo of the truck, to a remote location for system users including dispatchers and managers using a wireless network, the remote location including a dispatch software application for issuing dispatch instructions that identify destination site coordinates over the wireless network to said truck, the automated reporting system comprising, on board the truck:
- a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems, or cargo of the truck, said parameters indicative of various selected ones of said events, computer apparatus for automatically receiving inputs from selected ones of said sensor parameter measurements, and for transmitting data denoting the status of events of interest derived from the selected inputs to the remote location over the wireless network, and navigation apparatus for automatically detecting the current geographic location of the truck and providing additional inputs representative thereof to said computer apparatus, wherein computer apparatus logic in conjunction with said navigation apparatus additional inputs and at least some of said sensor parameter measurement inputs automatically detect each of the events in the sequence of events of truck (i) arrival at its designated concrete or other slurry material plant site, (ii) loading at the plant site, (ill) departure from the plant site, (iv) arrival at its designated job site, (v) begin pour at the job site, (vi) end pour at the job site, (vii) undergoing a wash at the job site, and (viii) departure from the job site.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle fleet management information system identifies location and direction of movement of each vehicle in a fleet in real-time, and automatically reports such information, as well as status of predetermined events in which the vehicle is engaged, directly to the fleet manager. Each fleet vehicle has an assigned time slot to transmit its reporting information over a communications network without interfering with transmissions from other vehicles in their own respective time slots. A timing control phase lock loop (PLL) provides precise time synchronization for timing corrections from a global positioning system (GPS) based time reference. A dual band full-duplex interface of the network has TDMA on one-half and broadcast on the other half. Microprocessor time processing units in components of the network perform precise clock synchronization. Space diversity performed on received vehicle transmitted messages avoids data corruption. Different vehicles have different periodic transmission intervals, by dynamically allocating the slots for various update rates. Auxiliary reporting slots enable prompt reporting of important data by the respective vehicle transmitters independent of the slower periodic transmission intervals.
895 Citations
62 Claims
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1. A system for automated reporting of status of a ready mix concrete or other slurry material mixer truck, including status of events related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems or cargo of the truck, to a remote location for system users including dispatchers and managers using a wireless network, the remote location including a dispatch software application for issuing dispatch instructions that identify destination site coordinates over the wireless network to said truck, the automated reporting system comprising, on board the truck:
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a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems, or cargo of the truck, said parameters indicative of various selected ones of said events, computer apparatus for automatically receiving inputs from selected ones of said sensor parameter measurements, and for transmitting data denoting the status of events of interest derived from the selected inputs to the remote location over the wireless network, and navigation apparatus for automatically detecting the current geographic location of the truck and providing additional inputs representative thereof to said computer apparatus, wherein computer apparatus logic in conjunction with said navigation apparatus additional inputs and at least some of said sensor parameter measurement inputs automatically detect each of the events in the sequence of events of truck (i) arrival at its designated concrete or other slurry material plant site, (ii) loading at the plant site, (ill) departure from the plant site, (iv) arrival at its designated job site, (v) begin pour at the job site, (vi) end pour at the job site, (vii) undergoing a wash at the job site, and (viii) departure from the job site. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A system for automated reporting of status of a ready mix concrete or other slurry material mixer truck, including status of events related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems or cargo of the truck, to a remote location for system users including dispatchers and managers using a wireless network, the remote location including a dispatch software application for issuing dispatch instructions that identifies destination site coordinates over the wireless network to said truck, the automated reporting system comprising, on board the truck:
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a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems, or cargo of the truck, said parameters indicative of various selected ones of said events, computer apparatus for automatically receiving inputs from selected ones of said sensor parameter measurements, and for transmitting data denoting the status of events of interest derived from the selected inputs to the remote location over the wireless network, and navigation apparatus for automatically detecting the current geographic location of the truck and providing additional inputs representative thereof to said computer apparatus, wherein computer apparatus logic in conjunction with said navigation apparatus additional inputs and at least some of said sensor parameter measurement inputs automatically detect at least one of the events of truck (i) arrival at its designated concrete or other slurry material plant site, (ii) loading at the plant site, (iii) departure from the plant site, (iv) arrival at its designated job site, (v) begin pour at the job site, (vi) end pour at the job site, (vii) undergoing a wash at the job site, and (viii) departure from the job site. - View Dependent Claims (62)
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4. A system for automated reporting of status of a ready mix concrete or other slurry material mixer truck, including status of events related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems or cargo of the truck, to a remote location for system users including dispatchers and managers using a wireless network, the remote location including a dispatch software application for issuing dispatch instructions that identify destination site coordinates over the wireless network to said truck, the automated reporting system comprising, on board the truck:
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a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems, or cargo of the truck, said parameters indicative or various selected ones of said events, computer apparatus for automatically receiving inputs from selected ones of said sensor parameter measurements, and for transmitting data denoting the status of events of interest derived from the selected inputs to the remote location over the wireless network, and navigation apparatus for automatically detecting the current geographic location of the truck and providing additional inputs representative thereof to said computer apparatus, said navigation apparatus being adapted to detect arrival or departure of the truck at its designated concrete or other slurry material home site, and arrival or departure of the truck at its job site.
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5. A system for automated reporting of status of a ready mix concrete or other slurry material mixer truck, including status of events related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems or cargo of the truck, to a remote location for system users including dispatchers and managers using a wireless network, the remote location including a dispatch software application for issuing dispatch instructions that identify destination site coordinates over the wireless network to said truck, the automated reporting system comprising, on board the truck:
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a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems, or cargo of the truck, said parameters indicative of various selected ones of said events, computer apparatus for automatically receiving inputs from selected ones of said parameter measurements, and for transmitting data denoting the status of events of interest derived from the selected inputs to the remote location over the wireless network, and navigation apparatus for automatically detecting the current geographic location of the truck and providing additional inputs representative thereof to said computer apparatus, wherein computer apparatus logic in conjunction with said navigation apparatus additional inputs and at least one of said sensor parameter measurement inputs automatically detects loading of the truck at its designated concrete or other slurry material home site.
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6. A system for automated reporting of status of a ready mix concrete or other slurry material mixer truck, including status of events related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems or cargo of the truck, to a remote location for system users including dispatchers and managers using a wireless network, the automated reporting system comprising, on board the truck:
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a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems, or cargo of the truck, said parameters indicative of various selected ones of said events, and computer apparatus for automatically receiving inputs from selected ones of said sensor parameter measurements, and for transmitting data denoting the status of events of interest derived from the selected inputs to the remote location ever the wireless network, wherein computer apparatus logic in conjunction with at least one of said sensor parameter measurement inputs automatically detects a begin pour event from the truck, or an end pour event by the truck, or the truck undergoing a wash. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for automated reporting of status of a ready mix concrete or other slurry material mixer truck, including status of events related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems or cargo of the truck, to a remote location for system users including dispatchers and managers using a wireless network, the automated reporting system comprising, on board the truck:
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a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems, or cargo of the truck, said parameters indicative of various selected ones of said events, and computer apparatus for automatically receiving inputs from selected ones of said sensor parameter measurements, and for transmitting data denoting the status of events of interest derived from the selected inputs to the remote location over the wireless network, wherein one of said sensors comprises an on-board weight measurement system that measures at least one of the weight of the truck or the weight of the truck'"'"'s mixer drum and its contents.
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18. A system for automated reporting of status of a ready mix concrete or other slurry material mixer truck, including status of events related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems or cargo of the truck, to a remote location for system users including dispatchers and managers using a wireless network, the automated reporting system comprising, on board the truck:
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a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems, or cargo of the truck, said parameters indicative of various selected ones of said events, and computer apparatus for automatically receiving inputs from selected ones of said sensor parameter measurements, and for transmitting data denoting the status of events of interest derived from the selected inputs to the remote location over the wireless network, wherein one of said sensors measures water flow from a pressurized water tank on the truck. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 33, 34, 35)
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23. A system for automated reporting of status of a ready mix concrete or other slurry material mixer truck, including status of events related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems or cargo of the truck, to a remote location for system users including dispatchers and managers using a wireless network, the automated reporting system comprising, on board the truck:
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a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters related to the usage, function, operation, location, system, or cargo of the truck, said parameters indicative of various selected ones of said events, and computer apparatus for automatically receiving inputs from selected ones of said sensor parameter measurements, and for transmitting data denoting the status of events of interest derived from the selected inputs to the remote location over the wireless network, wherein at least one of said sensors measures speed or direction of rotation of the truck'"'"'s mixer drum.
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24. A system for automated reporting of status of a ready mix concrete or other slurry material mixer truck, including status of events related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems or cargo of the truck, to a remote location for system users including dispatchers and managers using a wireless network, the automated reporting comprising, on board the truck:
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a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems, or cargo of the truck, said parameters indicative of various selected ones of said events, and computer apparatus for automatically receiving inputs from selected ones of said sensor parameter measurements, and for transmitting data denoting the status of events of interest derived from the selected inputs to the remote location over the wireless network, wherein at least one of said sensors comprises devices for measuring speed and direction of rotation of the truck'"'"'s mixer drum. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A system for automated reporting of status of a ready mix concrete or other slurry material mixer truck, including status of events related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems or cargo of the truck, to a remote location for system users including dispatchers and managers using a wireless network, the automated reporting system comprising, on board the truck:
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a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems, or cargo of the track, said parameters indicative of various selected ones of said events, and computer apparatus for automatically receiving inputs from selected ones of said sensor parameter measurements, and for transmitting data denoting the status of events of interest derived from the selected inputs to the remote location over the wireless network, wherein said computer apparatus reports loading of the truck'"'"'s drum in response to sensor parameter measurements that indicate the truck is substantially stationary and its drum is rotating at a speed exceeding a predetermined threshold in the charge direction. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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32. A system for automated reporting of status of a ready mix concrete or other slurry material mixer truck, including status of events related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems or cargo of the truck, to a remote location for system users including dispatchers and managers using a wireless network, the remote location, including a dispatch software application for issuing dispatch instructions that identify destination site coordinates over the wireless network in said truck, the automated reporting system comprising, on board the truck:
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a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems, or cargo of the truck, said parameters indicative of various selected ones of said events, computer apparatus for automatically receiving inputs from selected ones of said sensor parameter measurements, and for transmitting data denoting the status of events of interest derived from the selected inputs to the remote location over the wireless network, and navigation apparatus for automatically detecting the current geographic location of the truck and providing additional inputs representative thereof to said computer apparatus, wherein computer apparatus logic in conjunction with said parameter measurement inputs and said navigation apparats additional inputs detects loading of the truck from a combination of the truck'"'"'s presence at a plant site and the truck'"'"'s substantially stationary position together with drum rotation exceeding a predetermined threshold speed in the charge direction.
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36. A system for automated reporting of status of a ready mix concrete or other slurry material mixer truck, including status of events related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems or cargo of the truck, to a remote location for system users including dispatchers and managers using a wireless network, the remote location including a dispatch software application for issuing dispatch instructions that identify destination site coordinates over the wireless network to said truck, the automated reporting system comprising, on board the truck:
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a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems, or cargo of the truck, said parameters indicative of various selected ones of said events, computer apparatus for automatically receiving inputs from selected ones of said sensor parameter measurements, and for transmitting data denoting the status of events of interest derived from the selected inputs to the remote location over the wireless network, and navigation apparatus for automatically detecting the current geographic location of the truck and providing additional inputs representative thereof to said computer apparatus, wherein computer apparatus logic in conjunction with said navigation apparatus additional inputs enables said system to reliably report a plant departure event when the truck'"'"'s location undergoes a change from inside to outside a zone identifying the plant site. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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38. A system for automated reporting of status of a ready mix concrete or other slurry material mixer truck, including status of events related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems or cargo of the truck, to a remote location for system users including dispatchers and managers using a wireless network, the remote location including a dispatch software application for issuing dispatch instructions that identify destination site coordinates over the wireless network to said truck the automated reporting system comprising, on board the truck:
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a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems, or cargo of the truck, said parameters indicative of various selcted ones of said events, computer apparatus for automatically receiving inputs from selected ones of said sensor parameter measurements, and for transmitting data denoting the status of events of interest derived from the selected inputs to the remote location over the wireless network, and navigation apparatus for automatically detecting the current geographic location of the truck and providing additional inputs representative thereof to said computer apparatus, wherein computer apparatus logic in conjunction with said navigation apparatus additional inputs enables said system to reliably report a job site arrival event when the truck undergoes a change in location from outside to inside a zone identifying the job site designated by said dispatch instructions.
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39. A system for automated reporting of status of a ready mix concrete or other slurry material mixer truck, including status of events related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems or cargo of the truck to a remote location for system users including dispatchers and managers using a wireless network, the remote location including a dispatch software application for issuing dispatch instructions that identify destination site coordinates over the wireless network to said truck, the automated reporting system comprising, on board the truck:
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a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems, or cargo of the truck, said parameters indicative of various selected ones of said events, computer apparatus for automatically receiving inputs from selected ones of said sensor parameter measurements, and for transmitting data denoting the status of events of interest derived from the selected inputs to the remote location over the wireless network, and navigation apparatus for automatically detecting the current geographic location of the truck and providing additional inputs representative thereof to said computer apparatus, wherein computer apparatus logic in conjunction with said parameter measurement inputs and said navigation apparatus additional inputs enables said system to reliably report a job site arrival event when the truck has undergone a change in location from outside to inside a zone identifying the job site designated by said dispatch instructions and the truck has an open driver'"'"'s door.
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40. A system for automated reporting of status of a ready mix concrete or other slurry material mixer truck, including status of events related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems or cargo of the truck, to a remote location for system users including dispatchers and managers using a wireless network, the automated reporting system comprising, on board the truck:
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a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems, or cargo of the truck, said parameters indicative of various selected ones of said events, and computer apparatus for automatically receiving inputs from selected ones of said sensor parameter measurements, and for transmitting data denoting the status of events of interest derived from the selected inputs to the remote location over the wireless network wherein computer apparatus logic in conjunction with said parameter measurement inputs and said navigation apparatus additional inputs enables said system to reliably report a job site arrival event when the truck'"'"'s mixing drum has rotated in the discharge direction for a predetermined minimum time interval.
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41. A system for automated reporting of status of a ready mix concrete or other slurry material mixer truck, including status of events related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems or cargo of the truck, to a remote location for system users including dispatchers and managers using a wireless network, the automated reporting system comprising, on board the truck:
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a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems, or cargo of the tuck, said parameters indicative of various selected ones of said events, and computer apparatus for automatically receiving inputs from selcted ones of said sensor parameter measurements, and for transmitting data denoting the status of events of interest derived from the selected inputs to the remote location over the wireless network, wherein computer apparatus logic in conjunction with said parameter measurement inputs enables said system to reliably report a job site arrival event when the truck'"'"'s mixing drum has rotated a fraction of a revolution in the discharge direction.
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42. A system for automated reporting of status of a ready mix concrete or other slurry material mixer truck, including status of events related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems or cargo of the truck, to a remote location for system users including dispatchers and managers using a wireless network, the automated reporting system comprising, on board the truck:
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a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems, or cargo of the truck, said parameters indicative of various selected ones of said events, computer apparatus for automatically receiving inputs from selected ones of said sensor parameter measurements, and for transmitting data denoting the status of events of interest derived from the selected inputs to the remote location over the wireless network, wherein computer apparatus logic in conjunction with said parameter measurement inputs enables said system to reliably report a begin pour event upon sensor measurement of rotation or the trucks loaded mixer drum in the discharge direction for a predetermined minimum time interval.
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43. A system for automated reporting of status of a ready mix concrete or other slurry material mixer truck, including status of events related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems or cargo of the truck, to a remote location for system users including dispatchers and managers using a wireless network, the automated reporting system comprising, on board the truck:
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a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems, or cargo of the truck, said parameters indicative of various selected ones of said events, computer apparatus for automatically receiving inputs from selected ones of said sensor parameter measurements, and for transmitting data denoting the status of events of interest derived from the selected inputs to the remote location over the wireless network, wherein computer apparatus logic in conjunction with said parameter measurement inputs enables said system to reliably report a begin pour event upon sensor measurement of rotation of the truck'"'"'s loaded mixer drum in the discharge direction for a predetermined minimum number of revolutions.
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44. A system for automated reporting of status of a ready mix concrete or other slurry material mixer truck, including status of events related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems or cargo of the truck, to a remote location for system users including dispatchers and managers using a wireless network, the remote location including a dispatch software application for issuing dispatch instructions that identify destination site coordinates over the wireless network to said truck, the automated reporting system comprising, on board the truck:
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a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems, or cargo of the truck, said parameters indicative of various selected ones of said events, computer apparatus for automatically receiving inputs from selected ones of said sensor parameter measurements, and for transmitting data denoting the status of events of interest derived from the selected inputs to the remote location over the wireless network, and navigation apparatus for automatically detecting the current geographic location of the truck and providing additional inputs representative thereof to said computer apparatus, wherein computer apparatus logic in conjunction with said parameter measurement inputs and said navigation apparatus additional inputs enables said system to reliably report a begin pour event upon sensor measurement of rotation of the truck'"'"'s at least partially loaded mixer drum the discharge direction for a predetermined minimum time interval after the truck'"'"'s arrival at a job site designated by the dispatch instructions.
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45. A system for automated reporting of status of a ready mix concrete or other slurry material mixer truck, including status of events related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems or cargo of the truck, to a remote location for system users including dispatchers and managers using a wireless network, the remote location including a dispatch software application for issuing dispatch instructions that identify destination site coordinates over the wireless network to said truck, the automated reporting system comprising, on board the truck:
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a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems, or cargo of the truck, said parameters indicative of various selected ones of said event, computer apparatus for automatically receiving inputs from selected ones of said sensor parameter measurements, and for transmitting data denoting the status of events of interest derived from the selected inputs to the remote location over the wireless network, and navigation apparatus for automatically detecting the current geographic location of the truck and providing additional inputs representative thereof to said computer apparatus, wherein computer apparatus logic in conjunction with said parameter measurement inputs and said navigation apparatus additional inputs enables said system to reliably report a begin pour event upon sensor measurement of rotation of the truck'"'"'s at least partially loaded mixer drum in the discharge direction for a predetermined minimum number of revolutions after the truck'"'"'s arrival at a job site designated by the dispatch instructions.
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46. A system for automated reporting of the status of a bulk powder material transport truck, including the status of events related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems or cargo of the truck, to a remote location for system users including dispatchers and managers using a wireless network, the automated reporting system comprising, on board the truck:
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a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems, or cargo of the truck, said parameters indicative of various selected ones of said events, and computer apparatus for automatically receiving inputs from selected ones of said sensor parameter measurements, and for transmitting data denoting the status of events of interest derived from the selected inputs to the remote location over the wireless network said truck being a semi tractor trailer with a bulk hopper from which the bulk powder material carried therein is unloaded by directing air or gas flow through the hopper. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A system for automated reporting of the status of a bulk aggregate material transport truck, including the status of events related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems or cargo of the truck, to a remote location for system users including dispatchers and managers using a wireless network, the automated reporting system comprising, on board the truck:
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a plurality of sensors for measuring parameters related to the usage, function, operation, location, systems, or cargo of the truck, said parameters indicative of various selected ones of said events, and computer apparatus for automatically receiving inputs from selected ones of said sensor parameter measurements, and for transmitting data denoting the status of events of interest derived from the selected inputs to the remote location over the wireless network, said truck having a dumper with a bed for carrying the aggregate material when the bed is in a down position, the dumper being operable to rotate the bed to an up position so as to unload the aggregate material from the dumper, at least one of said sensors being adapted to sense dumper operation to enable computer apparatus logic to detect bed up and bed down events. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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Specification