Intelligent fleet management system and method
First Claim
1. An intelligent fleet management system for a commercial vehicle, the intelligent fleet management system comprising:
- a vehicle fleet management system interface device configured to validate an electronic form of a driver'"'"'s identification by accessing the electronic form and also requiring a driver-specific personal identification number (PIN) entry into the vehicle fleet management system interface;
an analytical software and/or hardware module at least partially executed on a CPU and a memory unit of the vehicle fleet management system interface device, wherein the analytical software and/or hardware module comprises a speed and driving pattern analysis module, an unexpected stop detection module, a driver'"'"'s identification validation module, and a reporting module;
a wireless transceiver unit and a global positioning system (GPS) receiver unit incorporated in the vehicle fleet management system interface device, wherein the wireless transceiver unit is configured to communicate data from the driver'"'"'s identification validation module, the speed and driving pattern analysis module, the unexpected stop detection module, and/or other relevant data with a monitoring station; and
the monitoring station configured to communicate with the vehicle fleet management system interface device via a wireless and/or wired data network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An intelligent fleet management system and a related method of operation provide a higher level of legal compliance and public road safety by requiring a commercial driver an electronic form of a driver'"'"'s identification in a commercial vehicle. In one embodiment of the invention, the electronic form of the driver'"'"'s identification is validated and additionally authenticated by a driver-specific PIN entry to a vehicle fleet management system interface device installed in a commercial vehicle. The vehicle fleet management system interface device can also communicate with a monitoring station via a data network for dynamically-generated alerts and periodic reports associated with vehicle speeds, driving pattern analysis utilizing various sensors, unexpected stops, and continuous driving which exceed a mandatory rest requirement. The monitoring station is able to disable the commercial vehicle remotely or take other actions based on an alert generated from the vehicle fleet management system interface device.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An intelligent fleet management system for a commercial vehicle, the intelligent fleet management system comprising:
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a vehicle fleet management system interface device configured to validate an electronic form of a driver'"'"'s identification by accessing the electronic form and also requiring a driver-specific personal identification number (PIN) entry into the vehicle fleet management system interface; an analytical software and/or hardware module at least partially executed on a CPU and a memory unit of the vehicle fleet management system interface device, wherein the analytical software and/or hardware module comprises a speed and driving pattern analysis module, an unexpected stop detection module, a driver'"'"'s identification validation module, and a reporting module; a wireless transceiver unit and a global positioning system (GPS) receiver unit incorporated in the vehicle fleet management system interface device, wherein the wireless transceiver unit is configured to communicate data from the driver'"'"'s identification validation module, the speed and driving pattern analysis module, the unexpected stop detection module, and/or other relevant data with a monitoring station; and the monitoring station configured to communicate with the vehicle fleet management system interface device via a wireless and/or wired data network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of operating an intelligent fleet management system, the method comprising steps of:
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inserting or enabling a driver'"'"'s electronic identification to be accessed by a vehicle fleet management system interface device in a commercial vehicle; entering a correct personal identification number (PIN) into the vehicle fleet management system interface device using a keyboard, a keypad, or a touch screen; if the driver'"'"'s electronic identification is validated; activating a driver pattern analysis module for speed and driving pattern analysis, unexpected stop detection, the driver'"'"'s electronic identification presence check, and analysis reporting for a monitoring station; displaying a validated driver'"'"'s name, a current speed of the commercial vehicle, and other relevant driving information; and transmitting periodic and dynamically-triggered alerts and reports from the vehicle fleet management system interface to the monitoring station; else if the driver'"'"'s electronic identification is not validated; alerting the monitoring station for the vehicle fleet management system and/or disabling the commercial vehicle associated with the vehicle fleet management system interface device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification