Information transmission and processing systems and methods for freight carriers

• US 8,599,003 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2012
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R+L Carriers, Inc.
• Original Assignee: R+L Carriers, Inc.
• Inventors: Roberts, Ralph L. Sr., Deck, Chris, Crandall, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US13/686,351
• Publication Number:
  US 20130085668A1
• Time in Patent Office: 371 Days
• Field of Search: 340/431, 701/29, 701/32, 701/33, 701/35
• US Class Current: 340/431
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

Methods and systems for remotely monitoring trailer or trailers attached to a vehicle is provided. The method includes associating an identification tag or ABS ECU that is configured to broadcast a trailer identification signal with a trailer. The method further includes receiving the trailer identification signal on-board the vehicle, associating the trailer identification signal with the vehicle, transmitting the trailer identification signal to a remote processor and receiving the trailer identification signal at the remote processor. The system comprises a mobile data terminal capable of generating and responding to telematic events comprising at least one processor, a graphical user interface, an input device, a memory and a set of executable instructions which may include a plurality of modules, such as a vehicle location module capable of receiving a GPS signal and transmitting the GPS signal to a remote processor for determining a location of a transportation unit.

Claims

1. A method of dynamically generating telematic events in a transportation operation comprising at least one vehicle and a remote processor, the method comprising:

defining on the remote processor a geofence surrounding at least one point of interest;

receiving vehicle information from a mobile data terminal, wherein the vehicle location information corresponds to a vehicle location of the at least one vehicle;

determining on the remote processor whether the at least one vehicle is entering the geofence surrounding the at least one point of interest utilizing the received vehicle location information;

determining on the remote processor whether the at least one vehicle is within the geofence surrounding the at least one point of interest utilizing the received vehicle location information;

determining on the remote processor whether the at least one vehicle is exiting the geofence surrounding the at least one point of interest utilizing the received vehicle location information;

accessing on the remote processor information associated with the at least one point of interest if it is determined that the at least one vehicle is entering, within and/or exiting the geofence surrounding the at least one point of interest; and

generating on the remote processor at least one event based at least in part upon the vehicle location of the vehicle and the information associated with the at least one point of interest.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the point of interest is a customer.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the point of interest is a terminal.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the point of interest is a slip-point.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the point of interest is a route.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the method further comprises determining a vehicle location from a global positioning system signal in communication with the mobile data terminal.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the geofence is defined by a plurality of longitude and latitude coordinates that define a region.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the geofence is defined by a predetermined distance from the global positioning system coordinates for the point of interest.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the method further comprises dynamically updating an asset management system with the vehicle location of the at least one vehicle and the associated information.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the information comprises at least one of customer account information, a customer address, a customer shipping history, a customer e-mail address, a customer package information, and a customer account status.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the event comprises:

composing a notification document using the information; and

transmitting the notification document to a customer.

12. A system for generating and responding to telematic events associated with a transportation unit comprising:

a mobile data terminal on or in vicinity of a transportation unit, wherein the mobile data terminal is capable of determining a location of the transportation unit;

a remote asset management system comprising;

at least one processor;

a memory;

a set of executable instructions residing on the at least one processor configured to;

define a geofence surrounding at least one point of interest;

receive transportation unit location information from the mobile data terminal, wherein the transportation unit location information corresponds to the location of the transportation unit;

determine whether the transportation unit is entering the geofence surrounding the at least one point of interest utilizing the received transportation unit location information;

determine whether the transportation unit is within the geofence surrounding the at least one point of interest utilizing the received transportation unit location information;

determine whether the transportation unit is exiting the geofence surrounding the at least one point of interest utilizing the received transportation unit location information;

access information associated with the at least one point of interest if it is determined that the transportation unit is entering, within and/or exiting the geofence surrounding the at least one point of interest; and

generate at least one event based at least in part upon the location of the transportation unit and the information associated with the at least one point of interest;

wherein the mobile data terminal is in wireless communication with the remote asset management system.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12 wherein the mobile data terminal comprises:

at least one processor;

a graphical user interface;

a user input device;

a memory; and

a set of executable instructions residing on the at least one processor comprising;

a transportation unit location module capable of receiving a global positioning system signal and transmitting the global positioning system signal to the remote asset management system for determining a location of a transportation unit.

14. The system as claimed in claim 12 wherein the executable instructions further comprise:

an event geofencing module configured to;

dynamically transmit an estimated time of arrival data when the transportation unit is within a predetermined distance of the at least one point of interest;

automatically announce an arrival of the transportation unit at the point of interest when the transportation unit is within a second predetermined distance of the at least one point of interest;

automatically announce a departure when the transportation unit is no longer within the predetermined distance of the at least one point of interest; and

dynamically generate and transmit a manifest to a remote facility when the transportation unit is within the predetermined distance of the at least one point of interest.

15. The system as claimed in claim 12 wherein the remote asset management system is further configured to track the location of multiple transportation units within a transportation enterprise.