Monitoring powered assets for fueling using geofences

• US 9,598,007 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2014
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• 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): RUSHING, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US14/504,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20150109120A1
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/438, 340/450, 340/450.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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:

determining, via one or more processors, whether an estimated amount of fuel remaining in a powered asset satisfies a predetermined threshold, the estimated amount of fuel determined based at least in part on fuel data;

responsive to determining that the estimated amount of fuel remaining in the powered asset satisfies the predetermined threshold, (a) indicating, via the one or more processors, that the powered asset needs fuel and (b) monitoring, via the one or more processors, the location of a mobile fueling unit with regard to the location of the powered asset as the mobile fueling unit moves throughout a geographic area, wherein the mobile fueling unit is a unit that is mobile and dispenses fuel;

determining, via the one or more processors and based at least in part on monitoring the location of the mobile fueling unit with regard to the location of the powered asset, whether the powered asset is within a geofence defined around the mobile fueling unit based at least in part on (a) location data indicative of the location of the powered asset and (b) location data indicative of the location of the mobile fueling unit as the mobile fueling unit moves throughout the geographic area; and

responsive to determining that the powered asset is within the geofence defined around the mobile fueling unit, providing, via the one or more processors, a command to cause the powered asset to turn on an exterior light of the powered asset, generate a sound audible from the exterior of the powered asset, or both.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving telematics data from the powered asset computing device.

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

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

determining, via one or more processors, whether an estimated amount of fuel remaining in a powered asset satisfies a predetermined threshold, the estimated amount of fuel determined based at least in part on fuel data;

responsive to determining that the estimated amount of fuel remaining in the powered asset satisfies the predetermined threshold, (a) indicating, via the one or more processors, that the powered asset needs fuel and (b) monitoring, via the one or more processors, the location of a mobile fueling unit with regard to the location of the powered asset as the mobile fueling unit moves throughout a geographic area, wherein the mobile fueling unit is a unit that is mobile and dispenses fuel;

determining, via the one or more processors and based at least in part on monitoring the location of the mobile fueling unit with regard to the location of the powered asset, whether a mobile fueling unit is within a geofence defined around the powered asset based at least in part on (a) location data indicative of the location of the powered asset and (b) location data indicative of the location of the mobile fueling unit as the mobile fueling unit moves throughout a geographic area; and

responsive to determining that the mobile fueling unit is within the geofence defined around the powered asset, providing, via the one or more processors, a command to cause the powered asset to turn on an exterior light of the powered asset, generate a sound audible from the exterior of the powered asset, or both.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising receiving telematics data from a powered asset computing device associated with the powered asset.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the telematics data comprises the fuel data.

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

determine whether an estimated amount of fuel remaining in a powered asset satisfies a predetermined threshold, the estimated amount of fuel determined based at least in part on fuel data;

responsive to determining that the estimated amount of fuel remaining in the powered asset satisfies the predetermined threshold, (a) indicate that the powered asset needs fuel and (b) monitor the location of a mobile fueling unit with regard to the location of the powered asset as the mobile fueling unit moves throughout a geographic area, wherein the mobile fueling unit is a unit that is mobile and dispenses fuel;

determine, based at least in part on monitoring the location of the mobile fueling unit with regard to the location of the powered asset, whether the powered asset is within a geofence defined around the mobile fueling unit based at least in part on (a) location data indicative of the location of the powered asset and (b) location data indicative of the location of the mobile fueling unit as the mobile fueling unit moves throughout the geographic area; and

responsive to determining that the powered asset is within the geofence defined around the mobile fueling unit, provide a command to cause the powered asset to turn on an exterior light of the powered asset, generate a sound audible from the exterior of the powered asset, or both.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the system is further configured to receive telematics data from the powered asset computing device.

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

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

determine whether an estimated amount of fuel remaining in a powered asset satisfies a predetermined threshold, the estimated amount of fuel determined based at least in part on fuel data;

responsive to determining that the estimated amount of fuel remaining in the powered asset satisfies the predetermined threshold, (a) indicate that the powered asset needs fuel and (b) monitor the location of a mobile fueling unit with regard to the location of the powered asset as the mobile fueling unit moves throughout a geographic area, wherein the mobile fueling unit is a unit that is mobile and dispenses fuel;

determine, based at least in part on monitoring the location of the mobile fueling unit with regard to the location of the powered asset, whether a mobile fueling unit is within a geofence defined around the powered asset based at least in part on (a) location data indicative of the location of the powered asset and (b) location data indicative of the location of the mobile fueling unit as the mobile fueling unit moves throughout a geographic area; and

responsive to determining that the mobile fueling unit is at least partially within the geofence defined around the powered asset, provide a command to cause the powered asset to turn on an exterior light of the powered asset, generate a sound audible from the exterior of the powered asset, or both.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the system is further configured to receive telematics data from a powered asset computing device associated with the powered asset.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the telematics data comprises the fuel data.