DATA COLLECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FLEET MANAGEMENT
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A fleet management system for assisting with management of one or more pieces of equipment and one or more equipment operators, the fleet management system comprising:
- an identification unit configured to be worn or carried by a human operator, wherein each identification unit comprises an identification unit transmitter communicably coupled to a memory, wherein the identification unit'"'"'s memory comprises stored therein an operator identification code uniquely associated with a specific operator, and wherein the identification unit is configured to wirelessly communicate the operator identification code via the identification unit'"'"'s transmitter; and
an equipment data sensor associated with a specific piece of equipment, the equipment data sensor comprising a processing device communicably coupled to a memory, a receiver, and at least one sensor configured to sense data about the equipment, operation of the equipment, or the equipment'"'"'s environment,wherein the processing device of the equipment data sensor is configured to;
use the receiver to receive the operator identification code transmitted by the identification unit'"'"'s transmitter; and
store the operator identification code in the memory with the data about the equipment, operation of the equipment, or the equipment'"'"'s environment.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention are directed a data communication system and method for a fleet management system configured to assist with monitoring and managing a fleet of one or more powered machines and one or more human operators.
36 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A fleet management system for assisting with management of one or more pieces of equipment and one or more equipment operators, the fleet management system comprising:
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an identification unit configured to be worn or carried by a human operator, wherein each identification unit comprises an identification unit transmitter communicably coupled to a memory, wherein the identification unit'"'"'s memory comprises stored therein an operator identification code uniquely associated with a specific operator, and wherein the identification unit is configured to wirelessly communicate the operator identification code via the identification unit'"'"'s transmitter; and an equipment data sensor associated with a specific piece of equipment, the equipment data sensor comprising a processing device communicably coupled to a memory, a receiver, and at least one sensor configured to sense data about the equipment, operation of the equipment, or the equipment'"'"'s environment, wherein the processing device of the equipment data sensor is configured to; use the receiver to receive the operator identification code transmitted by the identification unit'"'"'s transmitter; and store the operator identification code in the memory with the data about the equipment, operation of the equipment, or the equipment'"'"'s environment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. (canceled)
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21. (canceled)
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22. A method of monitoring equipment and/or equipment operators, the method comprising:
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providing each of a plurality of operators with an identification unit to be worn or carried by the operator whenever the operator is operating the equipment, wherein each identification unit comprises an identification unit transmitter communicably coupled to a memory, wherein the identification unit'"'"'s memory comprises stored therein unique operator identification code that can be uniquely associated with one of the plurality of operators, and wherein the identification unit is configured to wirelessly communicate the operator identification code via the identification unit'"'"'s transmitter; providing each of a plurality of pieces of equipment with an equipment data sensor associated with a specific piece of equipment, the equipment data sensor comprising a processing device communicably coupled to a memory, a receiver, and at least one sensor configured to sense data about the equipment, operation of the equipment, or the equipment'"'"'s environment; automatically receiving, via the receiver, the operator identification code transmitted by the identification unit'"'"'s transmitter; and storing the operator identification code in the memory with the data about the equipment, operation of the equipment, or the equipment'"'"'s environment.
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23-27. -27. (canceled)
Specification