Methods and systems for geofence monitoring of powered assets for fueling

• US 8,907,775 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2011
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2011
• 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: Tyler, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Ghayour, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): RUSHING, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US13/040,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20120223829A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/438, 340/450, 340/450.2, 701/123
• US Class Current: 340/450.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/005 automatically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/04 for transferring fuels, lubricants or mixed fuels and lubricants
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/348 by interrogating an information transmitter, e.g. a transponder B67D7/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/207 with respect to certain areas, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas with possible alerting when inside or outside boundaries
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for monitoring powered assets for fueling. For example, in one embodiment, a fuel server can monitor the location of powered assets and fueling units. In response to determining, for example, that a powered asset that needs fuel is within a predetermined geofence defined around a fueling unit, the powered asset can emit a perceivable indication. The powered asset can then be authenticated for receiving fuel from the fueling unit.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring powered assets for fueling comprising:

defining, via one or more processors, a geofence specifying location coordinates of the geofence around a mobile fueling unit configured to traverse locations in the geofence to dispense fuel;

determining, via one or more processors, an estimated amount of fuel remaining in the powered asset based at least in part on ignition data;

determining, via one or more processors, whether the estimated amount of fuel remaining in the powered asset is below a predetermined threshold;

after determining that the estimated amount of fuel remaining in the powered asset is below the predetermined threshold, indicating, via one or more processors, that the powered asset needs fuel;

receiving, via the one or more processors, location data from a powered asset computing device associated with a powered asset, wherein the location data substantially identifies the location of the powered asset;

determining whether the powered asset is at least partially within the geofence defined around the mobile fueling unit; and

after determining that the powered asset is at least partially within the geofence defined around the mobile fueling unit, generating a command to cause the powered asset to emit a perceivable indication.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving, via the one or more processors, telematics data from the powered asset computing device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the telematics data comprises fuel data.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

determining whether an estimated amount of fuel remaining in the powered asset is below a predetermined threshold; and

after determining that the estimated amount of fuel remaining in the powered asset is below the predetermined threshold, indicating that the powered asset needs fuel.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the telematics data comprises ignition data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the emitted perceivable indication is selected from the group consisting of (a) lights flashing, (b) illuminating a beacon, and (c) honking a horn.

7. A method for monitoring powered assets for fueling comprising:

defining, via one or more processors, a geofence specifying location coordinates of the geofence around a powered asset;

determining, via the one or more processors, an estimated amount of fuel remaining in the powered asset based at least in part on ignition data;

determining, via the one or more processors, whether the estimated amount of fuel remaining in the powered asset is below a predetermined threshold;

after determining that the estimated amount of fuel remaining in the powered asset is below the predetermined threshold, indicating, via the one or more processors, that the powered asset needs fuel;

receiving, via the one or more processors, location data from a mobile fueling unit computing device associated with a mobile fueling unit configured to traverse locations in the geofence to dispense fuel, wherein the location data substantially identifies the location of the mobile fueling unit;

determining whether the mobile fueling unit is at least partially within the geofence defined around the powered asset; and

after determining that the mobile fueling unit is at least partially within the geofence defined around the powered asset, generating a command to cause the powered asset to emit a perceivable indication.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising receiving, via the one or more processors, telematics data from a powered asset computing device associated with the powered asset.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the telematics data comprises fuel data.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

determining whether an estimated amount of fuel remaining in the powered asset is below a predetermined threshold; and

after determining that the estimated amount of fuel remaining in the powered asset is below the predetermined threshold, indicating that the powered asset needs fuel.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the telematics data comprises ignition data.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the emitted perceivable indication is selected from the group consisting of (a) lights flashing, (b) illuminating a beacon, and (c) honking a horn.

13. A system comprising one or more memory storage areas and one or more processors, the system configured to:

define a geofence specifying location coordinates of the geofence around a mobile fueling unit configured to traverse locations in the geofence to dispense fuel;

determine an estimated amount of fuel remaining in the powered asset based at least in part on ignition data;

determine whether the estimated amount of fuel remaining in the powered asset is below a predetermined threshold;

after determining that the estimated amount of fuel remaining in the powered asset is below the predetermined threshold, indicate that the powered asset needs fuel;

receive location data from a powered asset computing device associated with a powered asset, wherein the location data substantially identifies the location of the powered asset;

determine whether the powered asset is at least partially within the geofence defined around the mobile fueling unit; and

after determining that the powered asset is at least partially within the geofence defined around the mobile fueling unit, generate a command to cause the powered asset to emit a perceivable indication.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the system is further configured to receive telematics data from the powered asset computing device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the telematics data comprises fuel data.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the system is further configured to:

determine whether an estimated amount of fuel remaining in the powered asset is below a predetermined threshold; and

after determining that the estimated amount of fuel remaining in the powered asset is below the predetermined threshold, indicate that the powered asset needs fuel.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the telematics data comprises ignition data.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the emitted perceivable indication is selected from the group consisting of (a) lights flashing, (b) illuminating a beacon, and (c) honking a horn.

19. A system comprising one or more memory storage areas and one or more processors, the system configured to:

define a geofence specifying location coordinates of the geofence around a powered asset;

determine an estimated amount of fuel remaining in the powered asset based at least in part on ignition data;

determine whether the estimated amount of fuel remaining in the powered asset is below a predetermined threshold;

after determining that the estimated amount of fuel remaining in the powered asset is below the predetermined threshold, indicate that the powered asset needs fuel;

receive location data from a mobile fueling unit computing device associated with a mobile fueling unit configured to traverse locations in the geofence to dispense fuel, wherein the location data substantially identifies the location of the mobile fueling unit;

determine whether the mobile fueling unit is at least partially within the geofence defined around the powered asset; and

after determining that the mobile fueling unit is at least partially within the geofence defined around the powered asset, generate a command to cause the powered asset to emit a perceivable indication.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the system is further configured to receive telematics data from a powered asset computing device associated with the powered asset.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the telematics data comprises fuel data.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the system is further configured to:

determine whether an estimated amount of fuel remaining in the powered asset is below a predetermined threshold; and

after determining that the estimated amount of fuel remaining in the powered asset is below the predetermined threshold, indicate that the powered asset needs fuel.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the telematics data comprises ignition data.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the emitted perceivable indication is selected from the group consisting of (a) lights flashing, (b) illuminating a beacon, and (c) honking a horn.