System, method, and apparatus for collecting telematics and sensor information in a delivery vehicle

• US 7,457,693 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2005
• Issued: 11/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Jenkins, Rhesa, Olsen, John, Bradley, David
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US11/033,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20050203683A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,415 Days
• Field of Search: 701/33, 701/35, 701/66, 701/112, 701/437, 180/287, 340/506
• US Class Current: 701/35
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/105 Radio frequency identification data [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0261 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect trespassing over a fixed physical boundary, e.g. the end of a garden
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0275 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tag technology used for parent or child unit, e.g. same transmission technology, magnetic tag, RF tag, RFID
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/042 using inductive or magnetic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/202 Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching

Abstract

The invention is directed to a data collection and evaluation system that includes a telematics device for collecting, time-stamping, and storing vehicle sensor data. Examples of the type of data collected include door data, ignition data, speed data, global positioning data, and diagnostic and trouble code data. The system further includes an external data acquisition device, such as a mainframe computer system or a hand-held computing device like an iPAQ. The external data acquisition device is configured to communicate with the telematics device over a wireless network, which enables the telematics device to transmit the time-stamped data to the external data acquisition device and receive information and instructions from the external data acquisition device. The ability of the system to automatically collect and transfer data and communicate with an external data acquisition device allows for the automation of fleet management processes, vehicle maintenance and repair processes, and certain security features.

Claims

1. A system for automating the collection of vehicle sensor data for fleet operations of a parcel delivery service, said system comprising:

a telematics device comprising an input interface for collecting data from one or more sensors disposed within a vehicle, a processor for associating a time-stamp with at least a portion of said data, and a first data radio for wirelessly transmitting said data, wherein said data includes a current global position of said vehicle; and

a portable data acquisition device accessible to a vehicle operator, said portable data acquisition device comprising a second data radio for receiving said data from said first data radio of said telematics device, a memory for storing said data, and a data acquisition processor,

wherein said memory is further configured for storing one or more pre-selected delivery positions and said data acquisition processor compares said current global position to said one or more pre-selected delivery positions, and

wherein said data acquisition processor is configured to provide an estimated time of arrival to each of said one or more pre-selected delivery positions to said operator.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said portable data acquisition device is further configured to alert said operator if a parcel associated with a particular delivery position is delivered to an incorrect delivery position.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the data the telematics device is capable of collecting includes at least one of door data, electronic control module trouble and diagnostic codes, geo-fencing data, alarm signals, ignition data, mileage data, seat belt data, hazardous material data of cargo, entry process number, engine data, geographical position data, routing instructions for vehicle, weather data for route, or combinations thereof.

4. A system for automating the collection of vehicle sensor data for fleet operations of a parcel delivery service, said system comprising:

a telematics device comprising an input interface for collecting data from one or more sensors that are disposed within a vehicle, a processor for associating a time-stamp with at least a portion of said data, and a first data radio for wirelessly transmitting said data; and

a portable data acquisition device accessible to a vehicle operator, said portable data acquisition device comprising a second data radio for receiving said data from said first data radio of said telematics device, a memory for storing said data, and a data acquisition processor,

wherein said memory of said portable data acquisition device stores threshold data parameters representative of normal vehicle operation conditions, and

wherein said data acquisition processor is configured for comparing said data collected by said telematics device to said data parameters in said memory and transmitting an alarm signal if said collected data is outside of said data parameters indicating that the vehicle needs repair or maintenance.

5. The fleet management system of claim 4 wherein said data acquisition processor is further configured to compare said collected data to said data parameters in said memory of said data acquisition device over a time interval.

6. A system for managing traffic and equipment within a fleet facility hub, said system comprising:

a telematics device disposed within a vehicle, said telematics device comprising a first data radio for wirelessly transmitting data to an external data acquisition device and an input interface for receiving data from one more sensors disposed within the vehicle, said data including an identity of said vehicle and identities of any cargo and hazardous materials being transported within said vehicle; and

an external data acquisition device comprising a second data radio, wherein said external data acquisition device communicates wirelessly via the second data radio with the first data radio of the telematics device while said external data acquisition device is within a particular geographical range of said telematics device and wherein said external data acquisition device utilizes said data to determine where in a facility said vehicle should park,

wherein, in response to said telematics device being within said particular geographical range of said external data acquisition device, said telematics device is configured to transmit said data to said external data acquisition device.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said external data acquisition device further utilizes said data to allow the vehicle to enter the facility or to exit the facility.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the facility includes a parcel sorting hub facility, a railhead facility, or a seaport facility.

9. A system for automating the collection of vehicle sensor data for fleet operations of a parcel delivery service, said system comprising:

a telematics device comprising an input interface for collecting data from one or more sensors disposed within a vehicle, a processor for associating a time-stamp with at least a portion of said data, and a first data radio for wirelessly transmitting said data, wherein said data includes a current global position of said vehicle; and

a portable data acquisition device accessible to a vehicle operator, said portable data acquisition device comprising a second data radio for receiving said data from said first data radio of said telematics device, a memory for storing said data, and a data acquisition processor,

wherein said memory is further configured for storing one or more pre-selected delivery positions and said data acquisition processor compares said current global position to said one or more pre-selected delivery positions, and

wherein said data acquisition processor is configured to alert said operator if a parcel associated with a particular delivery position is delivered to an incorrect delivery position.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said portable data acquisition device is further configured to provide an estimated time of arrival to each of said one or more pre-selected delivery positions to said operator.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the data the telematics device is capable of collecting includes at least one of door data, electronic control module trouble and diagnostic codes, geo-fencing data, alarm signals, ignition data, mileage data, seat belt data, hazardous material data of cargo, entry process number, engine data, geographical position data, routing instructions for vehicle, weather data for route, or combinations thereof.