DATABASE METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONDUCTING INTEGRATED DISPATCHING

• US 20090210140A1
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Telematics Corporation (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Telematics Corporation (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Inventors: Short, Charles F. III, Prabhakaran, Sanjiv
• Application Number:
  US12/340,630
• Publication Number:
  US 20090210140A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/25 Integrating or interfacing systems involving database management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• 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 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/162 involving adaptations of sockets based mechanisms secure socket layer H04L63/168
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A technique for integrating a pre-existing business system with a fleet management system. The preexisting business system includes, for example, an accounting system, a warehousing system, a dock management system, a yard management system. These fleet management system uses, for example, a combination of a raster map and vector data to provide an easy-to-read display for managing objects or articles, e.g., vehicle, container. The method uses a host gateway to provide a TCP/IP or like interface between the various systems.

Claims

1. A method for integrating a fleet management system onto legacy systems, said method comprising:

providing a fleet management system on a first platform;

providing a legacy system on a second platform;

providing a database; and

integrating said fleet management system comprising raster data and vector data to said legacy system using said database and a host gateway, said raster data and said vector data being used to display a digital map.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said host gateway comprises an MIS gateway.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of integrating provides a TCP/IP interface between said fleet management system and said legacy system.

4. A system for fleet management, said system comprising:

a legacy system, said legacy system being selected from a yard management system, a dock management system, a warehouse management system;

a fleet management system comprising raster data and vector data to display a digital map;

a database; and

a gateway coupling said legacy system to said database and said fleet management system.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said gateway comprises said database.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein said gateway coupling said legacy system and said fleet management system comprises a TCP/IP interface.

7. A method for tracking at least one of a plurality of products, comprising:

receiving arrival information about at least one of a plurality of vehicles transporting said at least one of a plurality of products at a distribution point;

receiving unloading information about said at least one of a plurality of products from said at least one of a plurality of vehicles transporting said at least one of a plurality of products, said unloading information being generated at said distribution point;

receiving storage information about said at least one of a plurality of products, said storage information resulting from storing said at least one of a plurality of products at said distribution point;

incorporating said arrival information, unloading information and storage information into a database to provide routing information for said at least one of a plurality of vehicles transporting said at least one of a plurality of products.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising receiving loading information about said at least one of a plurality products being loaded onto said at least one of a plurality of vehicles transporting said at least one of a plurality of products at said distribution point.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising receiving departure information about said at least one of a plurality of vehicles transporting said at least one of a plurality of products from said distribution point.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said arrival information about said at least one of a plurality of vehicles transporting said at least one of a plurality of products is received from a yard management system.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein said unloading information about said at least one of a plurality of products is received from a dock management system.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein said storage information about said at least one of a plurality of products is received from a warehouse management system.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein said routing information about said at least one of a plurality of vehicles transporting said at least one of a plurality of products comprises a fleet management system.

14. The method of claim 7 wherein said arrival information, loading information and storage information are received by a host gateway.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said host gateway receives said arrival information, loading information and storage information through a TCP/IP socket.

16-22. -22. (canceled)