System for monitoring vehicle efficiency and vehicle and driver performance

• US 6,253,129 B1
• Filed: 03/27/1997
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MiX Telematics North America, Inc. (MiX Telematics Limited)
• Original Assignee: Tripmaster Corporation (MiX Telematics Limited)
• Inventors: Smith, Andrew D., Morton, James W., Egeberg, Gerald W., Hoy, David R., Deal, David V., Cuthbertson, Thomas G., Jenkins, Paul C.
• Primary Examiner(s): LOUIS JACQUES, JACQUES H
• Application Number:
  US08/828,015
• Time in Patent Office: 1,552 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/30, 701/35, 701/200, 701/213, 701/219, 701/123, 340/436, 340/438, 340/439, 340/825.33, 340/825.34, 340/825.35, 340/942, 340/825.54, 340/576, 340/539, 340/541, 340/426, 340/937, 340/440, 235/381, 235/384
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/202 Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching

Abstract

A commercial vehicle fleet management system which integrates a vehicle on-board computer, a precise positioning system, and communication system to provide automated calculating and reporting of jurisdictional fuel taxes, road use taxes, vehicle registration fees, and the like. In a further aspect, there is provided an online mobile communication system and a system for monitoring carrier vehicle efficiency and vehicle driver performance.

Claims

1. A method for managing a fleet vehicle, comprising:

determining the location of the fleet vehicle;

checking a database for frequencies available in a geo-cell in which the fleet vehicle is located;

trying all available frequencies;

determining which of the available frequencies has the best reception;

performing a protocol handshake;

requesting pertinent information for the geo-cell;

sending vehicle and event information to a dispatch office;

determining if a change of course is warranted;

upon a change of course being warranted, contacting the dispatch office via a wireless communication link;

analyzing a new route;

instructing the driver of the fleet vehicle of the new route; and

otherwise repeating said location determining step.

2. A method for managing a fleet vehicle, comprising:

determining if the shipment of the fleet vehicle is temperature sensitive;

upon the shipment being temperature sensitive, determining the temperature of the cargo bay of the fleet vehicle;

comparing the temperature of the cargo bay to a predetermined acceptable temperature range for the shipment;

upon the temperature of the cargo bay being outside the predetermined acceptable temperature range, modifying the temperature of the cargo bay to within the predetermined temperature range and repeating said determining step;

upon the temperature range of the cargo bay being within the predetermined acceptable temperature range, analyzing the route of the fleet vehicle for extreme temperature zones by comparing the route to a temperature database;

upon the route not passing through an extreme temperature zone, repeating said determining step;

upon the route passing through an extreme temperature zone, calculating the distance and time to the extreme temperature zone;

upon the distance and time to the extreme temperature zone not being with in a threshold, repeating said determining step;

otherwise, anticipating a climactic change;

modifying the temperature of the cargo bay according to the anticipated climactic change; and

repeating said determining step.

3. A method for managing a fleet vehicle, comprising:

determining the weight on the wheels of the fleet vehicle;

comparing the determined weight on the wheels with a previously determined weight value;

upon the determined weight being greater than or equal to the previously determined weight value, repeating said determining step;

otherwise, recording a vehicle unloading event and associated data;

determining the position of the fleet vehicle and comparing the position to the delivery location;

upon the position of the fleet vehicle not being the delivery location, alerting a dispatch operator of a base station of a possible security breach or misdelivery;

otherwise, determining the remaining capacity of the cargo bay of the fleet vehicle;

upon the remaining capacity being sufficient for an additional load, determining if an additional load is available;

upon an additional load being available, notifying the driver of the fleet vehicle and the dispatch operator of a change in course to the additional load; and

otherwise, continuing the fleet vehicle on a prescheduled route.

4. A method for managing a fleet vehicle, comprising:

determining if the driver of the fleet vehicle is on duty;

upon the driver not being on duty, calculating the rest period duration;

upon the rest period duration not expiring, estimating remaining rest period duration and informing the driver;

upon the rest period expiring, informing the driver of expiration of the rest period;

upon the driver continuing working, repeating said duty determining step;

determining if the driver of the fleet vehicle is driving the fleet vehicle;

upon the driver driving the fleet vehicle, calculating continuous driving time;

determining whether continuous driving time exceeds a maximum value;

upon continuous driving time exceeding a maximum value, informing the driver to stop driving and recording a violation;

upon continuous driving time not exceeding a maximum value, repeating said driving determining step;

upon the driver not driving, calculating continuous on duty time and determining wheiher continuous on duty time exceeds a maximum value;

upon continuous on duty time exceeding a maximum value, informing the driver to stop and recording a violation;

upon continuous on-duty time not exceeding a maximum value, estimating when the maximum value will be exceeded and informing the driver thereof;

calculating total on duty time in the last work period;

determining whether the total on duty time exceeds a predetermined value;

upon total on duty time exceeding the predetermined value, informing the driver to stop and recording a violation;

otherwise, estimating when the predetermined value will be exceeded and informing the driver thereof.

5. A method for managing a fleet vehicle for determining jurisdictional location of the fleet vehicle, comprising:

detecting the fleet vehicle crossing a jurisdictional border;

determining the elapsed driving time of the fleet vehicle;

upon the elapsed driving time exceeding a predetermined value, determining a cold start and returning a logical false output;

otherwise, determining if the present jurisdiction is known;

upon the present jurisdiction not being known, finding the start jurisdiction and determining if the start jurisdiction is known;

upon the present jurisdiction not being known, returning a logical false output;

otherwise, determining if the present jurisdiction is ambiguous;

upon the present jurisdiction being ambiguous, returning a logical false output;

otherwise, determining whether the present jurisdiction is the same jurisdiction as the start jurisdiction;

upon the present jurisdiction being the start jurisdiction, returning a logical false output;

otherwise, updating a jurisdictional border crossing record;

updating a current jurisdictional record with the present jurisdiction; and

recalculating a jurisdiction band and returning a logical true output.