Systems and methods for a material handling vehicle network
First Claim
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1. A management system for a fleet of material handling vehicles, the management system comprising:
- a management server system enabled for communication over a management network, including management server;
a first material handling vehicle with a first telematics controller and a processor device;
a second material handling vehicle with a second telematics controller, and a second-vehicle vehicle identification;
the processor device of the first material handling vehicle being configured to;
determine that the second material handling vehicle is in proximity to the first material handling vehicle;
obtain the second-vehicle vehicle identification from the second material handling vehicle;
based upon the second-vehicle vehicle identification, determine whether the second material handling vehicle is a missing vehicle; and
log multiple material handling vehicles of the fleet that have been determined to be in proximity to the first material handling vehicle; and
report the log to the management server via at least one of;
a mesh network that includes the first material handling vehicle; and
a direct communications link between the first material handling vehicle and a mobile device; and
wherein the first telematics controller is a multi-channel controller configured to communicate with the second telematics controller over a first channel and to communicate with the management server over a second channel.
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Abstract
One or more material handling vehicles of a fleet can be equipped with telematics controllers and configured for wireless communication. In different arrangements, the material handling vehicles of the fleet can communicate with each other and with a management system, in order to effect management of the fleet and of particular material handling vehicles belonging thereto.
27 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A management system for a fleet of material handling vehicles, the management system comprising:
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a management server system enabled for communication over a management network, including management server; a first material handling vehicle with a first telematics controller and a processor device; a second material handling vehicle with a second telematics controller, and a second-vehicle vehicle identification; the processor device of the first material handling vehicle being configured to; determine that the second material handling vehicle is in proximity to the first material handling vehicle; obtain the second-vehicle vehicle identification from the second material handling vehicle; based upon the second-vehicle vehicle identification, determine whether the second material handling vehicle is a missing vehicle; and log multiple material handling vehicles of the fleet that have been determined to be in proximity to the first material handling vehicle; and report the log to the management server via at least one of; a mesh network that includes the first material handling vehicle; and a direct communications link between the first material handling vehicle and a mobile device; and wherein the first telematics controller is a multi-channel controller configured to communicate with the second telematics controller over a first channel and to communicate with the management server over a second channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 18, 19)
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11. A fleet of material handling vehicles configured to be managed via a management network with a management server, the fleet of material handling vehicles comprising:
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a first material handling vehicle with a first telematics controller, a first-vehicle vehicle identification, and a processor device; a second material handling vehicle with a second telematics controller, and a second-vehicle vehicle identification; a plurality of additional material handling vehicles configured to form a mesh network with the first and second material handling vehicles to facilitate remote communication between the first and second material handling vehicles and the management server; the processor device being configured to; determine that the second material handling vehicle is in proximity to the first material handling vehicle; obtain the second-vehicle vehicle identification from the second material handling vehicle; based upon the second-vehicle vehicle identification; determine whether the second material handling vehicle is a missing vehicle; and establish a communications link with the second material handling vehicle; log a plurality of encounters with a plurality of other material handling vehicles of the fleet and report the log to the management server via at least one of; the mesh network that includes the first material handling vehicle; and a direct communications link between the first material handling vehicle and a mobile device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 17)
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16. A method of managing a fleet of material handling vehicles using a management network with a management server, the fleet including a first material handling vehicle having a first telematics controller, the first telematics controller being a multi-channel controller, and a second material handling vehicle having a second telematics controller, the method comprising:
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establishing a first communications link between the first telematics controller and the second telematics controller over a first channel of the first telematics controller; establishing a second communications link between the first telematics controller and the management server over a second channel of the first telematics controller; detecting, using the first material handling vehicle, identification data of the second material handling vehicle; determining, based upon the identification data of the second material handling vehicle, that the second material handling vehicle is a missing vehicle; logging a plurality of encounters with a plurality of other material handling vehicles of the fleet and reporting the log to the management server via at least one of; a mesh network that includes the first material handling vehicle; and a direct communications link between the first material handling vehicle and a mobile device.
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Specification