Mobile asset data management system

• US 8,725,596 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2007
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Id Systems Incorporated (PowerFleet, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Id Systems Incorporated (PowerFleet, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ehrman, Kenneth S., Ehrman, Michael L., Jagid, Jeffrey M., Pinzon, Joseph M., Hecker, Yaron, Pimentel, Leonard
• Primary Examiner(s): Zeender, Ryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Haider, Fawaad
• Application Number:
  US11/762,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20070239324A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,526 Days
• Field of Search: 705/28
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/304 Boats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• 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 25/302 using recording means, e.g. black box
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06312 Adjustment or analysis of established resource schedule, e.g. resource or task levelling, or dynamic rescheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/32 in combination with an identity check
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 to a central station ; Indicators in a central station
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/108 when the policy decisions are valid for a limited amount of time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 : involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 : Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/76 : Group identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A computerized vehicle control system and device for limiting the functionality of a mobile asset (e.g., vehicle) capable of performing a plurality of mobile asset functions. The device includes an asset monitor, a mobile wireless transceiver, and a mobile asset processor. The asset monitor is in communication with a first mobile asset for collecting monitored data associated with the first mobile asset. The mobile wireless transceiver is adapted to interface with a management computer. The mobile asset processor is adapted to receive the monitored data from the asset monitor; determine that a first mobile asset function of the plurality of mobile asset functions should be limited; and limit operation of the first mobile asset function. The mobile asset control device can be adapted to override the functionality of the mobile asset, based on the navigation, relative location of the mobile asset, or business rules.

Claims

1. A mobile asset control device for limiting the functionality of a mobile asset capable of performing a plurality of mobile asset functions, the mobile asset control device comprising:

an asset monitor coupled to a first mobile asset;

a mobile wireless transceiver for interfacing to a management computer; and

a mobile asset processor programmed to;

receive vehicle information or impact data from the asset monitor;

determine that a first mobile asset function of the plurality of mobile asset functions should be limited based upon an analysis of the vehicle information or impact data received from the asset monitor; and

automatically restrict operation of the first mobile asset to a creeper mode;

wherein creeper mode limits, but does not suspend, the first mobile asset function to enable the first mobile asset to operate in a limited capacity.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the mobile asset processor is further programmed to transmit a message to a second mobile asset, said message instructing the second mobile asset to limit operation of a second mobile asset function associated with the second mobile asset.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising an indicator for signaling that an operation of the first mobile asset function is limited.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the indicator is a siren.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the indicator is a light.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the mobile asset processor limits operation of the first mobile asset function by limiting movement of a lift associated with the first mobile asset.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the mobile asset processor limits operation of the first mobile asset function after the mobile asset processor determines that the first mobile asset has experienced a significant stop.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the mobile asset processor limits operation of the first mobile asset function after the mobile asset processor determines that the first mobile asset has experienced an impact.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the mobile asset processor limits operation of the first mobile asset function after the mobile asset processor determines that the first mobile asset has experienced a predetermined number of stops.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the mobile asset processor limits operation of the first mobile asset function after the mobile asset manipulates movement of an object.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the mobile asset processor determines that the first mobile asset function of the plurality of mobile asset functions should be limited when the mobile asset enters a secured area.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the mobile asset processor determines that the first mobile asset function of the plurality of mobile asset functions should be limited based on the location of the first mobile asset.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the mobile asset processor determines that the first mobile asset function of the plurality of mobile asset functions should be limited based on a battery ID associated with a battery installed on the first mobile asset.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the mobile asset processor determines that the first mobile asset function of the plurality of mobile asset functions should be limited based on a battery level with a battery associated with the first mobile asset.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the mobile asset processor determines that the first mobile asset function of the plurality of mobile asset functions should be limited based on a fuel level of the first mobile asset.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the mobile asset processor determines that the first mobile asset function of the plurality of mobile asset functions should be limited based on an amount of time during which an engine associated with the first mobile asset was idle.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the mobile asset processor determines that the first mobile asset function of the plurality of mobile asset functions should be limited based on an amount of time that a lift associated with the first mobile asset was used.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the mobile asset processor determines that the first mobile asset function of the plurality of mobile asset functions should be limited when the first mobile asset impacts another object.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein the mobile asset processor determines that the first mobile asset function of the plurality of mobile asset functions should be limited based on a number of times the first mobile asset impacted another object.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein the mobile asset processor determines that the first mobile asset function of the plurality of mobile asset functions should be limited based on an odometer reading associated with the first mobile asset.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein the mobile asset processor determines that the first mobile asset function of the plurality of mobile asset functions should be limited based on a number of times that the first mobile asset stopped.

22. The device of claim 1, wherein the mobile asset processor determines that the first mobile asset function of the plurality of mobile asset functions should be limited based on checklist data.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the checklist data is vehicle data.

24. The device of claim 22, wherein the checklist data is vehicle inspection data.

25. The device of claim 22, wherein the checklist data is OSHA checklist data.

26. The device of claim 1, wherein the mobile asset processor determines that the first mobile asset function of the plurality of mobile asset functions should be limited based on a user response to a query.

27. The device of claim 1, wherein the mobile asset processor determines that the first mobile asset function of the plurality of mobile asset functions should be limited based on an operator logged onto the first mobile asset.

28. The device of claim 1, wherein use by an operator is restricted after the first mobile asset impacts an object.

29. The device of claim 1, wherein only a supervisor can reactivate the limited first mobile asset function.

30. The device of claim 1, wherein the mobile asset processor determines that the first mobile asset function of the plurality of mobile asset functions should be limited based on business rules.

31. The device of claim 1, wherein the mobile asset processor is further programmed to discontinue communication between the mobile wireless transceiver and the management computer if the mobile wireless transceiver is unable to communicate with the management computer for a predetermined amount of time.

32. The device of claim 1, wherein the mobile asset processor is further programmed to allow a predetermined operator to override the limited operation of the first mobile asset function if the mobile wireless transceiver is unable to communicate with the management computer for a predetermined period of time.

33. A mobile asset control device for limiting the functionality of a mobile asset capable of performing a plurality of mobile asset functions, the mobile asset control device comprising:

one or more accelerometers coupled to a mobile asset and collecting monitored data associated with the movement of the mobile asset;

a mobile wireless transceiver for interfacing to a management computer; and

a mobile asset processor programmed to;

receive at least a portion of the monitored data from at least one of the accelerometers, the monitored data comprising impact data;

determine that a first mobile asset function of the plurality of mobile asset functions should be limited based upon an analysis of the impact data received; and

automatically restrict the operation of the mobile asset to a creeper mode wherein the mobile asset continues to operate in a limited capacity.

34. The device of claim 33, the processor programmed to determine level duration, waveform, and angle of impact of an impact between the mobile asset and an object from data gathered by the one or more accelerometers.

35. A mobile asset control device for limiting the functionality of a mobile asset capable of performing a plurality of mobile asset functions, the mobile asset control device comprising:

an asset impact monitor coupled to a first mobile asset, the asset impact monitor detecting the first asset impacting an object;

a mobile wireless transceiver for interfacing to a management computer; and

a mobile asset processor programmed to;

receive at least a portion of the monitored data from the asset impact monitor, the monitored data comprising impact data;

determine that a first mobile asset function of the plurality of mobile asset functions should be limited based upon an analysis of the impact data received from the asset impact monitor; and

automatically restrict the operation of the mobile asset to a creeper mode based on the analysis of the impact data, wherein while in the creeper mode the mobile asset continues to operate in a limited capacity until the mobile asset control device is reset.

36. The device of claim 35, wherein the operation of a lift on the mobile asset is limited.

37. The device of claim 36, wherein the speed of the lift is limited.

38. The device of claim 36, wherein the range of motion of the lift is limited.