Method and apparatus for detecting cargo state in a delivery vehicle

• US 7,339,460 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2005
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnitracs LLC (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Peckham, William, Matic, Bratislav, Parisi, Mark D., Pedersen, Charles, Oertle, Ken, Doyle, Mark, Lane, Richard D., Molesworth, William Hugh
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland; Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US11/070,762
• Publication Number:
  US 20060202809A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 180/290
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

Method and apparatus for detecting cargo state in a delivery vehicle. A method is provided for determining a cargo state in a delivery vehicle. The method includes sensing a cargo state change, and determining whether or not the delivery vehicle is in motion. The method also includes storing the cargo state change if it is determined that the delivery vehicle is not in motion.

Claims

1. A method for determining a cargo state in a delivery vehicle, the method comprising:

sensing a cargo state change;

determining whether or not the delivery vehicle is in motion; and

storing the cargo state change if it is determined that the delivery vehicle is not in motion.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising ignoring the cargo state change if it is determined that the delivery vehicle is in motion.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an indicator of the cargo state change.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting an indicator of the cargo state change to a remote station.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining comprises determining that the vehicle is not in motion if it is traveling slower than a selected threshold speed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining comprises determining whether or not the delivery vehicle is in motion by processing a GPS signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining comprises determining whether or not the delivery vehicle is in motion by processing an engine sensor signal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining comprises determining whether or not the delivery vehicle is in motion by processing a vibration sensor signal.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of sensing comprises periodically sensing a cargo state to sense the cargo state change.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of sensing comprises sensing the cargo state change in response to a trigger event.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of sensing comprises sensing the cargo state change using an ultrasonic sensor.

12. A cargo state detection system for detecting a cargo state in a vehicle, the system comprising:

a sensor that operates to sense cargo in the vehicle and output a sensor signal;

motion detection logic that operates to determine whether or not the vehicle is in motion; and

cargo sensing logic that operates to sense a cargo state change based on the sensor signal, and store the cargo state change if the motion detection logic determines that the vehicle is in motion.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the cargo sensing logic operates to ignore the cargo state change if it is determined that the vehicle is in motion.

14. The system of claim 12, further comprising messaging logic that operates to provide an indicator of the cargo state change.

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising messaging logic that operates to transmit an indicator of the cargo state change to a remote station.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the motion detection logic comprises logic that operates to determine that the vehicle is not in motion if it is traveling slower than a selected threshold speed.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the motion detection logic comprises logic that operates to determine whether or not the delivery vehicle is in motion by processing a GPS signal.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the motion detection logic comprises logic that operates to determine whether or not the delivery vehicle is in motion by processing an engine sensor signal.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the motion detection logic comprises logic that operates to determine whether or not the delivery vehicle is in motion by processing a vibration sensor signal.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the cargo sensing logic operates to periodically sense a cargo state change based on the sensor signal.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the cargo sensing logic operates to sense the cargo state change in response to a trigger event.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the sensor is an ultrasonic sensor.

23. Apparatus for determining a cargo state in a delivery vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

means sensing a cargo state change;

means for determining whether or not the delivery vehicle is in motion; and

means for storing the cargo state change if it is determined that the delivery vehicle is not in motion.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising means for ignoring the cargo state change if it is determined that the delivery vehicle is in motion.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising means for providing an indicator of the cargo state change.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising means for transmitting an indicator of the cargo state change to a remote station.

27. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for determining comprises means for determining that the vehicle is not in motion if it is traveling slower than a selected threshold speed.

28. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for determining comprises means for determining whether or not the delivery vehicle is in motion by processing a GPS signal.

29. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for determining comprises means for determining whether or not the delivery vehicle is in motion by processing an engine sensor signal.

30. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for determining comprises means for determining whether or not the delivery vehicle is in motion by processing a vibration sensor signal.

31. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for sensing comprises means for periodically sensing a cargo state to sense the cargo state change.

32. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for sensing comprises means for sensing the cargo state change in response to a trigger event.

33. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the means for sensing comprises means for sensing the cargo state change using an ultrasonic sensor.