Land vehicle communications system and process for providing information and coordinating vehicle activities

• US 6,539,296 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2001
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: OCC Technologies LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Diaz, R. Gary, Baughman, Ronald L., Gemender, John J., Dager, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): To, Tuan C
• Application Number:
  US09/989,332
• Publication Number:
  US 20020049523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: 701/33, 701/209, 701/30, 701/29, 701/48, 701/24, 340/825.54, 340/825.52, 345/156, 246/122.R
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• 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: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

A communication system architecture (SA) for a vehicle which may be integrated into the vehicle'"'"'s multiplexed electronic component communication system, and a process for communicating with the vehicle to provide information for and about the vehicle'"'"'s operational status and coordinating the vehicle'"'"'s activities. The communication system will include a multi-functional antenna system for the vehicle that will have the capability to receive AM/FM radio and television signals, and transmit and receive citizens band (CB) radio signals, satellite and microwave and cellular phone communications. The antenna may be installed as original equipment or as a back-fit part in the after-market. In either case the multi-functional antenna will be integrated with the vehicle'"'"'s multiplexed electronic component communication system. The process for communicating with the vehicle will involve a communication service for which the vehicle'"'"'s driver will enroll for and service will continue so long as maintenance fees are paid. The service will be capable of providing various levels of information transfer and coordination. The levels may include vehicle information such as (1) the need for servicing and location of the nearest service center with the necessary parts in stock, (2) routing, and (3) load brokering and coordination. The modular design of the system architecture (SA) will allow it to be employed with the vehicle platform that does not possess a full multiplexed electronic component communications system. The resulting vehicle, using an after-market application package, will be able to participate in some of the services.

Claims

1. A computer program product for an off board communication network for directing the routing, and operation of a network of mobile vehicles, the vehicles of the network each having an internal communication backbone to which electronic controllers of the vehicles are electrically engaged, the electronic controllers monitoring certain external parameters, and the vehicles of the network in contact with the off board communication network through communication means engaged to the internal communication network of each network vehicle, said computer program product comprising:

a computer useable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for causing the off board network to receive an indication of an external condition in environments which may impact at least one of the network vehicles;

computer readable program code means for causing the off board network to query each of the network vehicles and receiving the location and current route of each of the network vehicles; and

computer readable program code means for causing the off board network to compare the external condition in environments which may impact the operation along a current route of at least one of the network vehicles with the location and route of each of the network vehicles, and the off board network generating a listing of operation impacted vehicles, and computer readable program code means for causing the off board network to perform the following steps;

querying the data management system to determine and receiving an alternate route for each of the operation impacted vehicles;

querying the data management system for and receiving driving directions for the operation impacted vehicles to transit the specific alternate routes; and

providing the driving directions for the operation impacted vehicles through the communication means to transit the specific alternate routes.