Real-time vehicle management and monitoring system

• US 20070260375A1
• Filed: 04/12/2007
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Blaine Hilton
• Original Assignee: Blaine Hilton
• Inventors: Hilton, Blaine
• Application Number:
  US11/787,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20070260375A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/35
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/007 Wheeled or endless-tracked vehicles G01M17/08 takes precedence

Abstract

Embodiments relate to a real-time vehicle management and monitoring system and method. The system comprises at least a vehicle subsystem, a control subsystem, a dispatch subsystem, a maintenance subsystem, and a rider subsystem. As illustrated, the vehicle subsystem comprises a vehicle, a production tracking device, a global positioning system device, a rain gauge device, a steering wheel sensor device, at least one camera, at least one display; and an engine diagnostic system. The system further comprises the control subsystem communicating (wirelessly for example) with at least the vehicle system, the dispatch subsystem, the maintenance subsystem and the rider subsystem.

Claims

1. A real-time management and monitoring system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

a. a vehicle subsystem, comprising a plurality of sensors to monitor environments in and around the vehicle;

b. a control subsystem for manipulating the vehicle based on input from said vehicle subsystem, and communicating with at least said vehicle subsystem;

c. a dispatch subsystem communicating with at least said control subsystem, said dispatch subsystem relaying data from said vehicle subsystem and said control subsystem to a remote database;

d. a maintenance subsystem communicating with at least said control system, said maintenance subsystem troubleshooting said control and dispatch subsystems; and

e. a rider subsystem communicating with at least said control system;

said rider subsystem receiving control input from an operator.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said vehicle subsystem comprises:

a. a production tracking device;

said production tracking device providing instant feedback to the operator of said vehicle;

b. a global positioning system device;

said positioning device communicating to said vehicle subsystem the present position of the vehicle;

c. a rain gauge device;

said rain gauge device communicating to said vehicle subsystem the amount of precipitation in the environment outside the vehicle;

d. a steering wheel sensor device;

said steering wheel sensor device communicating to said vehicle subsystem steering wheel telemetry information;

e. at least one camera;

said camera communicating with said vehicle subsystem images of the environments;

f. at least one display;

said display communicating vehicle subsystem status to vehicle operator; and

g. an engine diagnostic system;

said engine diagnostic system communicating engine use data to said vehicle subsystem.

3. The system as recited in claim 2 wherein said control subsystem communicates wirelessly with said vehicle subsystem.

4. The system as recited in claim 2 wherein the steering wheel sensor device comprises an add-on layer for pre-existing steering wheel in a pre-existing vehicle.

5. The system as recited in claim 2 wherein the steering wheel sensor device divides the steering wheel into discreet sections of equal size.

6. The system as recited in claim 2 wherein the steering wheel sensor device detects the number of hands concurrently present on the steering wheel.

7. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the vehicle subsystem uses heuristic methods to determine whether a vehicle hijack is being attempted based on the number of hands that have come in contact with the vehicle steering wheel as conveyed to the vehicle subsystem by a steering wheel sensor.

8. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the vehicle subsystem uses fuzzy logic to determine whether the vehicle operator has lost consciousness based on the force of operator physical interactions or contacts and the number of operator contact points with the steering wheel as indicated by a steering wheel sensor to the vehicle subsystem.

9. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the vehicle subsystem provides the dispatch subsystem a live video of the vehicle upon detection of possible hijack or incapacity of the driver.

10. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the vehicle subsystem provides the vehicle operator an opportunity to respond via the production tracking device upon determination by vehicle subsystem that a hijack is attempted or that operator has become incapacitated.

11. The system as recited in claim 9 wherein the vehicle subsystem executes an orderly stop of the vehicle upon detection of incapacity of vehicle operator.

12. The system as recited in claim 9 wherein the vehicle subsystem notifies the dispatch subsystem upon detection of incapacity of vehicle operator.

13. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the vehicle is a school bus with a retracting stop arm indicator.

14. The system as recited in claim 12 wherein the school bus camera continuously records traffic passing by the school bus.

15. The system as recited in claim 12 wherein the school bus camera is adjusted to photograph drivers who fail to stop despite the extension of the stop arm indicator.

16. The system as recited in claim 12 wherein the vehicle subsystem adjusts the angle of the camera so that the camera recording encompasses the largest amount of the neighboring traffic as possible by determining the number of lanes found on the road where the bus is traveling.

17. The system as recited in claim 15 wherein the vehicle subsystem determines the number of lanes found on the road by locating the school bus on a map conveyed to the vehicle subsystem by the control subsystem and through the use of the global positioning device.

18. The system as recited in claim 12 wherein the vehicle subsystem notifies the control subsystem upon detection of motion in the school bus during time periods when no key is in ignition of the school bus.

19. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the rider subsystem notifies the control system when rider subsystem receives information on demand for vehicle stops.

20. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the dispatch subsystem schedules a replacement vehicle upon receipt of signal from control subsystem that a vehicle or vehicle operator are otherwise incapacitated.