Wirelessly enabled trailer locking/unlocking

• US 7,519,463 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2008
• Issued: 04/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2004
• 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: Olsen, John A. III, Bradley, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby; Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US12/055,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20080184751A1
• Time in Patent Office: 384 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/50, 701/300, 701/301, 702/57, 702/82
• US Class Current: 701/51
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 15/00 Tags attached to, or associated with, an object, in order to enable detection of the object record carriers for use with machines having a detectable tag or marker G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5973 Remote control

Abstract

A method and system for providing improved handling of tractors and trailers (or any powered vehicle and storage devices towed thereby) with a staging area by the automatic locking or unlocking of a trailer door when the trailer leaves or enters the hub, respectively, wherein geofencing and/or Wi-Fi can be used to trigger the automatic locking or unlocking.

Claims

1. A method for automating inbound and outbound tractor/trailer exchange procedures at a staging area having at least one wireless access point, in which drivers, having driver'"'"'s terminals, drive tractors pulling detachable trailers in and out of said staging area, said trailers having at least one wirelessly operated locking device for locking a rear door of the trailer, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing an outermost geofence, an intermediate geofence, and an innermost geofence, said geofences readable by a driver'"'"'s terminal;

upon the crossing of said outermost geofence by said driver'"'"'s terminal, sending a first signal from said driver'"'"'s terminal to said staging area wireless access point;

pursuant to the receipt of said first signal, creating a driver'"'"'s dispatch including instructions for the driver upon arrival at said staging area;

upon the crossing of said intermediate geofence by said driver'"'"'s terminal, sending a second signal from said driver'"'"'s terminal to said staging area wireless access point;

pursuant to the receipt of said second signal, sending said driver'"'"'s dispatch to said driver'"'"'s terminal; and

upon the crossing of said innermost geofence by said driver'"'"'s terminal, sending a third signal from said driver'"'"'s terminal to said locking device such that said locking device is unlocked.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein media access control (MAC) addresses of said driver'"'"'s terminal and said locking device are verified as valid according to a preestablished protocol prior to unlocking of said wirelessly operated locking device.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of locking said wirelessly operated locking device upon the crossing of one of said geofences as said vehicle is exiting from the staging area.

4. A method for automating inbound and outbound tractor/trailer exchange procedures at a staging area having at least one wireless access point, in which drivers, having driver'"'"'s terminals, drive tractors pulling detachable trailers in and out of said staging area, said trailers having at least one wirelessly operated locking device for locking a rear door of the trailer, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing an outermost Wi-Fi boundaries, an intermediate Wi-Fi boundary, and an innermost Wi-Fi boundary, said Wi-Fi boundaries readable by a driver'"'"'s terminal;

upon the crossing of said outermost Wi-Fi boundary by said driver'"'"'s terminal, sending a first signal from said driver'"'"'s terminal to said staging area wireless access point;

pursuant to the receipt of said first signal, creating a driver'"'"'s dispatch including instructions for the driver upon arrival at said staging area;

upon the crossing of said intermediate Wi-Fi boundary by said driver'"'"'s terminal, sending a second signal from said driver'"'"'s terminal to said staging area wireless access point;

pursuant to the receipt of said second signal, sending said driver'"'"'s dispatch to said driver'"'"'s terminal; and

upon the crossing of said innermost Wi-Fi boundary by said driver'"'"'s terminal, sending a third signal from said driver'"'"'s terminal to said locking device such that said locking device is unlocked.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising the step of locking said wirelessly operated locking device upon the crossing of one of said Wi-Fi boundaries as said vehicle is exiting from the staging area.