Method for remotely determining and managing connection of tractor and trailer
First Claim
1. An apparatus for determining the connection of a cargo trailer to a tractor comprising:
- a tractor identification unit for providing a tractor identification information comprising a fleet code;
a power line communication bus for receiving the tractor identification information and communicatively coupled to the tractor identification unit;
a trailer tracking device, coupled to receive data from the power line communication bus and to receive the tractor identification information from the tractor identification unit, for combining the tractor identification information with its own trailer identification information to provide a tractor/trailer pairing data;
a wide area wireless data link for permitting the trailer tracking device to communicate the tractor/trailer pairing data to a central location; and
a receiver for receiving the tractor/trailer pairing data at the central location.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Truck tractors in a transportation fleet include a transponder that transmits a unique tractor identifier to a connected trailer using a Power Line Communication (PLC) bus device. The information transmitted typically includes a manufacturing unique ID for the tractor and an optional user defined ID. The user defined ID may include a fleet division code. The tractor ID and/or fleet ID codes determine how the trailer is hooked up. In particular, with detection of a connected state signal from the PLC bus, together with receipt of tractor identification code(s) from the tractor, the trailer tracking device can now communicate the coupling event information to a centralized location, such as via a cellular telephone connection.
58 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An apparatus for determining the connection of a cargo trailer to a tractor comprising:
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a tractor identification unit for providing a tractor identification information comprising a fleet code; a power line communication bus for receiving the tractor identification information and communicatively coupled to the tractor identification unit; a trailer tracking device, coupled to receive data from the power line communication bus and to receive the tractor identification information from the tractor identification unit, for combining the tractor identification information with its own trailer identification information to provide a tractor/trailer pairing data; a wide area wireless data link for permitting the trailer tracking device to communicate the tractor/trailer pairing data to a central location; and a receiver for receiving the tractor/trailer pairing data at the central location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification