Methods for wirelessly routing a vehicle

• US 8,374,927 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2011
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: R+L Carriers, Inc.
• Original Assignee: R+L Carriers, Inc.
• Inventors: Roberts, Ralph L., Naghshineh, Steve F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaawat, Mussa A
• Application Number:
  US13/289,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20120047086A1
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/29
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08355 Routing methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0838 Historical data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

The present invention automates the process of receiving transportation documentation and producing advance loading manifests therefrom to optimize load planning and dynamic product shipment and delivery control. Methods provide for receipt of the transportation documentation, initial preparation, and transmission of the documentation from on board a vehicle or while the vehicle is in transit.

Claims

1. A method of routing a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving vehicle information from a vehicle main computer and a global positioning satellite device associated with the vehicle;

scanning an image representing a shipping document comprising shipping information for at least one package utilizing a scanning device;

processing the image utilizing an image processor on board the vehicle; and

generating image data from the processed image;

calculating an estimated time of arrival based at least in part on the vehicle information;

wirelessly transmitting estimated time of arrival data corresponding to the calculated estimated time of arrival to a remote processor, and wirelessly transmitting the image data to a remote processor, wherein the remote processor extracts and generates billing information in advance of arrival of the at least one package at an arrival destination;

wirelessly receiving updated route information data from the remote processor, the updated route information data based at least in part on the image data, the estimated time of arrival, or combinations thereof; and

displaying a graphical representation of the updated route information data,

wherein the acts of receiving, scanning, processing, calculating, transmitting and displaying are performed by an onboard device terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle information received comprises at least one of:

engine temperature, oil pressure, fluid levels, tire pressure, weather condition information, speed of travel, direction of travel, and vehicle location.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving comments from a driver of the vehicle, and wirelessly transmitting the comments to the remote processor.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the comments correspond to the shipping document.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the comments comprise at least one of:

remarks, details, error notations, corrections, and weather conditions.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing the image data representing the shipping document;

breaking the image data representing the shipping document into a plurality of packets, wherein the plurality of packets represent the image data; and

wirelessly transmitting the plurality of packets representing the image data to the remote processor.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising recording a number associated with each individual packet that is received by the remote processor.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising re-sending an individual packet of the plurality of packets that is not received by the remote processor.