DRIVER TRAINING SYSTEMS

• US 20100094688A1
• Filed: 09/04/2009
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2008
• 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: Davidson, Mark J., Olsen, John A. III
• Granted Patent: US 8,380,640 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.42
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06398 Performance of employee with respect to a job function
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/056 with provision for distinguishing direction of travel

Abstract

A computer system that is configured to: (A) define a geofence surrounding a geographic area; (B) gather information associated with the geofenced area; and (C) assign one or more parameters to the geofenced area based on the information gathered, wherein at least one of the assigned parameters is used to monitor the performance of a delivery vehicle driver while the delivery vehicle driver is operating a delivery vehicle within the geofenced area. In particular embodiments, the parameters include a backup limit defining a number of times a delivery vehicle operating within the geofenced area is permitted to back up while operating the delivery vehicle within the geofenced area (e.g., during a particular delivery cycle). In other embodiments, the parameters include a maximum speed limit for the geofenced area. The system may be adapted to automatically generate an alert in response to the delivery vehicle operating outside of the defined parameters.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

at least one computer processor; and

a memory, the computer system being configured to;

define a geofence surrounding a geographic area;

gather information associated with the geofenced area; and

assign one or more parameters to the geofenced area based at least in part on the information gathered, wherein at least one of the one or more assigned parameters is used to monitor the performance of a delivery vehicle driver while the delivery vehicle driver is operating a delivery vehicle within the geofenced area.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more parameters comprises a backup limit, the backup limit defining a number of times a delivery vehicle operating within the geofenced area is permitted to back up while operating the delivery vehicle within the geofenced area.

3. The computer system of claim 2, wherein in order to gather information associated with the geofenced area, the computer system is further configured to:

obtain zoning information associated with the geofenced area; and

determine a zoning classification associated with the geofenced area based at least in part on the obtained zoning information, wherein the back up limit assigned to the geofenced area is defined based at least in part on the determined zoning classification.

4. The computer system of claim 3, wherein in order to obtain zoning information associated with the geofenced area, the computer system is further configured to retrieve one or more government-assigned zoning classifications associated with the geofenced area.

5. The computer system of claim 3, wherein in order to obtain zoning information associated with the geofenced area, the computer system is further configured to access information associated with at least one shipment made to or from a location within the geofenced area to determine a zoning classification associated with the at least one shipment.

6. The computer system of claim 2, wherein the computer system is further configured to:

monitor a number of times a delivery vehicle operating within the geofenced area backs up while the delivery vehicle is within the geofenced area; and

generate an alert in response to the number of times exceeding the backup limit assigned to the geofenced area.

7. The computer system of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the one or more parameters comprises a target maximum speed to be reached by delivery vehicles operating within the geofenced area, and

said computer system is configured to;

monitor a speed of a delivery vehicle operating within the geofenced area; and

generate an alert in response to the delivery vehicle'"'"'s speed exceeding said target maximum speed.

8. The computer system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more parameters comprises a plan time associated with the geofenced area.

9. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the plan time defines an amount of time associated with a delivery of an item to, or a pickup of an item from, a location within the geofenced area.

10. The computer system of claim 8, wherein in order to gather information associated with the geofenced area, the computer system is further configured to:

receive data collected in association with a delivery vehicle or a delivery vehicle driver, the data collected in real time while the delivery vehicle or delivery vehicle driver is operating within the geofenced area, the data collected comprising at least one of time data, geographic position data associated with the delivery vehicle, geographic position data associated with the delivery vehicle driver, speed data, mileage data, or ignition data.

11. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the computer system is further configured to:

calculate, based at least in part on the data collected, an average amount of time spent at each location within the geofenced area in association with a delivery of an item to, or a pickup of an item from, the location, wherein the plan time is assigned based at least in part on the calculated average amount of time.

12. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the computer system is further configured to:

calculate, based at least in part on the data collected, an average distance traversed by the delivery vehicle at each location within the geofenced area in association with a delivery of an item to, or a pickup of an item from, the location, wherein the plan time is assigned based, at least in part, on the calculated average distance traversed.

13. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the computer system is further configured to:

calculate, based at least in part on the data collected, an average speed conducted within the geofenced area, wherein the plan time is assigned based, at least in part, on the calculated average speed conducted.

14. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the computer system is further configured to:

calculate, based at least in part on the data collected, an average distance walked by the delivery vehicle driver at each location within the geofenced area in association with a delivery of an item to, or a pickup of an item from, the location, wherein the plan time is assigned based, at least in part, on the calculated average distance walked.

15. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the computer system is further configured to detect a deviation from the plan time assigned to the geofenced area, the deviation indicative of the delivery vehicle driver'"'"'s performance.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein in order to detect a deviation from the plan time, the computer system is further configured to:

determine, based at least in part on the plan time assigned to the geofenced area, a plan time schedule associated with the delivery vehicle driver, the plan time schedule defining a number of delivery vehicle stops to be made within a predefined period of time;

determine the number of delivery vehicle stops actually made by the delivery vehicle driver within the predefined period of time; and

compare the plan time schedule to the number of delivery vehicle stops actually made in order to detect a deviation from the plan time schedule.

17. A computer system comprising:

at least one computer processor; and

a memory, the computer system being configured to;

(A) define a geofence surrounding a geographic area;

(B) gather information associated with the geofenced area;

(C) assign a backup limit to the geofenced area based at least in part on the information gathered, the backup limit defining a number of times a delivery vehicle operating within the geofenced area is permitted to back up within the geofenced area;

(D) monitor a number of times a delivery vehicle operating within the geofenced area backs up within the geofenced area; and

(E) generate an alert in response to the number of times exceeding the backup limit assigned to the geofenced area.

18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein:

said step (D) comprises monitoring a number of times a delivery vehicle operating within the geofenced area backs up within the geofenced area while on a particular route.

19. The computer system of claim 18, wherein the alert is an alert that is selected from a group consisting of:

(1) an e-mail message;

(2) a text message; and

(3) a text alert that is displayed on a display screen associated with the computer system.

20. A computer system comprising:

at least one computer processor; and

a memory, the computer system being configured to;

define a geofence surrounding a geographic area;

gather information associated with the geofenced area;

assign a speed limit to the geofenced area based at least in part on the information gathered;

monitor a speed associated with a delivery vehicle operating within the geofenced area; and

generate an alert in response to the speed exceeding the speed limit assigned to the geofenced area.

21. The computer system of claim 20, wherein the alert is selected from a group consisting of:

(1) an e-mail message;

(2) a text message; and

(3) a text alert that is displayed on a display screen associated with the computer system.

22. A computer system comprising:

at least one computer processor; and

a memory, the computer system being configured to;

define a geofence surrounding a geographic area;

gather information associated with the geofenced area;

assign a plan time to the geofenced area based at least in part on the information gathered, the plan time defining an amount of time associated with a delivery of an item to, or a pickup of an item from, a location within the geofenced area;

detect a deviation from the plan time assigned to the geofenced area by a delivery vehicle driver operating a delivery vehicle within the geofenced area, the deviation indicative of the delivery vehicle driver'"'"'s performance; and

generate an alert in response to detecting the deviation.

23. The computer system of claim 22, wherein the alert is selected from a group consisting of:

(1) an e-mail message;

(2) a text message; and

(3) a text alert that is displayed on a display screen associated with the computer system.