System and method for real-time management of mobile resources

• US 7,880,609 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2009
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Id Systems Incorporated (PowerFleet, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Carrierweb LLC (PowerFleet, Inc.)
• Inventors: Viegers, Arthur T., Marous, John C., Fenton-May, Roualeyn, Fenton-May, Tristan
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl; Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/493,307
• Publication Number:
  US 20090261971A1
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.22, 340/870.34, 340/825.69, 340/521, 340/539.23, 340/540, 340/539.21, 340/825.72
• US Class Current: 340/539.22
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• 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: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for real-time management of mobile resources. The management system includes an on board system, a processor, and a data center. The on board system is provided with the mobile resource to be managed and includes a number of sensors to monitor various conditions. Each sensor collects information independently and asynchronously with respect to the other sensors. The processor collects the information from the sensors and saves it in the form of synchronous data. A continuous two-way connection is established between the on board system and the data center across a wireless communication network. The data center monitors at least one sensed state from the sensors based on receipt of the synchronous data from the on board system. The data center can also provide instructions to the on board system in response to the state that is being monitored.

Claims

1. A wireless mobile resource management system comprising:

a wireless communication network;

an on board system including a position locating system for determining a location of the on board system, a plurality of sensors for monitoring conditions and collecting information corresponding to sensed states of the conditions being monitored, at least one of the plurality of sensors collecting the information asynchronously with respect to other sensors, a transceiver for transmitting and receiving information to and from the on board system over the wireless communication network, and a processor for collecting the information collected from the plurality of sensors, and saving the independently collected information as synchronous data;

a data center for monitoring at least one sensed state from the plurality of sensors and providing instructions to the on board system in response to the at least one monitored sensed state, the data center including a communication server for establishing a first communication link with the on board system over the wireless communication network, a data center processor for processing the synchronous data, and generating streams of data representative of the information collected by the plurality of sensors, and a database for storing operational transactions of the on board system at predetermined time intervals and/or upon a change in a sensed state of at least one of the conditions being monitored; and

wherein

a continuous two-way connection is established between the on board system and the data center across the wireless communication network and synchronous data saved by the processor is synchronous with respect to the data center processor.

2. The wireless mobile resource management system of claim 1, comprising at least one customer system linked to the data communication network for communicating with the data center for accessing conditions monitored by the sensors and transmitting control data to the on board system.

3. The wireless mobile resource management system of claim 1, wherein the processor for collecting the collected information is included in the on board system.

4. The wireless mobile resource management system of claim 1, wherein the processor for collecting the collected information is included in the data center.

5. The wireless mobile resource management system of claim 4, wherein the processor for collecting the collected information is the data center processor.

6. The wireless mobile resource management system of claim 1, wherein the database stores operational transactions of the on board system related to location at predetermined time intervals.

7. The wireless mobile resource management system of claim 1, wherein the database stores operational transactions of the on board system upon a change in a sensed state of at least one of the conditions being monitored.

8. The wireless mobile resource management system of claim 1, wherein the position locating system is satellite based.

9. The wireless mobile resource management system of claim 1, wherein the position locating system is cellular based.

10. The wireless mobile resource management system of claim 1, wherein the position locating system is based on both satellite and cellular communication networks.

11. The wireless mobile resource management system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors includes an RFID transmitter.

12. The wireless mobile resource management system of claim 1, wherein:

the on board processor includes an auxiliary processor for receiving sampled information collected by the plurality of sensors and generating the synchronized data; and

the on board processor processes the synchronized data for transmission over the wireless communication network.

13. The wireless mobile resource management system of claim 1, wherein the control data, includes at least one of load plans, updates, messages, and instructions.

14. The wireless mobile resource management system of claim 1, wherein the operational transactions include time, date, and position information for the on board system.

15. The wireless mobile resource management system of claim 14, wherein the operational transactions further include a sensed state of the conditions being monitored by the on board system.

16. The wireless mobile resource management system of claim 1, wherein the conditions being monitored include environmental conditions.

17. The wireless mobile resource management system of claim 1, further comprising a vehicle, and wherein the on board system is contained in the vehicle.

18. The wireless mobile resource management system of claim 1, wherein the conditions being monitored include unauthorized access to a vehicle equipped with the on board system.

19. The wireless mobile resource management system of claim 18, wherein the vehicle is self powered.

20. The wireless mobile resource management system of claim 19, comprising a towable unit selectively connectable to the self powered vehicle.

21. The wireless mobile resource management system of claim 18, wherein the conditions being monitored include unauthorized movement of the vehicle.

22. The wireless mobile resource management system of claim 18, wherein the conditions being monitored include unauthorized transportation of the vehicle from a predetermined location.

23. The wireless mobile resource management system of claim 1, wherein the on board system comprises an interface unit for displaying information and receiving inputs.

24. A wireless mobile resource management system comprising:

a wireless communication network;

a self powered vehicle;

a towable unit selectively connectable to the self powered vehicle, and including a place for storing at least one mobile asset;

an on board system located in at least one of the self powered vehicle and the towable unit, the on board system including a position locating system for determining a location of the on board system, a plurality of sensors for monitoring conditions and collecting information corresponding to sensed states of the conditions being monitored, at least one of the sensors collecting the information asynchronously with respect to other sensors, and at least one sensor including an RFID transmitter, and a transceiver for transmitting and receiving information to and from the on board system over the wireless communication network and a processor for collecting the collected information from a plurality of the sensors and generating synchronized data;

a data center for monitoring at least one sensed state from the plurality of sensors and providing instructions to the on board system in response to the at least one monitored sensed state, the data center including a communication server for establishing a first communication link with the on board system over the wireless communication network, a data center processor for processing the synchronous data and generating parallel streams of sensor data corresponding to the collected information collected by the plurality of sensors, and a database for storing operational transactions of the on board system at predetermined time intervals and/or upon a change in a sensed state of at least one of the conditions being monitored; and

wherein

an always on continuous two-way connection is established between the on board system and the data center across the wireless communication network and data saved by the on board processor is synchronous with respect to the data center processor.

25. The wireless mobile resource management system of claim 24, comprising at least one customer system linked to the data communication network for communicating with the data center for accessing conditions monitored by the sensors and further transmitting control data to the on board system.

26. The wireless mobile resource management system of claim 24, wherein the processor for collecting the independently collected information is included in the on board system.

27. The wireless mobile resource management system of claim 26, wherein the processor for collecting the independently collected information is included in the data center.

28. The wireless mobile resource management system of claim 27, wherein the processor for collecting the independently collected information is the data center processor.

29. The wireless mobile resource management system of claim 24, wherein the database stores operational transactions of the on board system related to location of the towable unit at predetermined time intervals.

30. The wireless mobile resource management system of claim 24, wherein the database stores operational transactions of the on board system upon a change in a sensed state of at least one of the conditions being monitored.

31. A wireless monitoring system comprising:

a wireless communication system;

at least one self-powered vehicle including a plurality of mobile control units, a plurality of the mobile control units including a processor for collecting data of at least one sensed state from at least one monitored mobile asset during connection to the self powered vehicle, a transceiver for wirelessly transmitting the data which is collected by the processor after processing to the wireless communication system and receiving data from the wireless communication system, a plurality of towable units selectively connectable to the self powered vehicle, at least one towable unit including at least one monitored mobile asset stored during at least towing of a towed unit by the self powered vehicle;

at least one sensing unit for monitoring the at least one mobile asset and providing data regarding at least one sensed state of the at least one mobile asset, the at least one sensing unit being wirelessly coupled to an associated one of the mobile control units during connection of the towed unit to one of the self powered vehicles;

a management control system for providing instructions to the mobile control units for responding to the at least one sensed state of the at least one monitored mobile asset and real time monitoring of the at least one sensed state of the at least one mobile asset of at least one mobile unit associated with the at least one self-powered vehicle; and

wherein

the wireless communication system provides two way continuous connectivity between the plurality of mobile control units and the management control system.

32. A system in accordance with claim 31 wherein:

the at least one sensing unit is associated with at least one RFID system associated with a mobile asset and a towed unit which wirelessly communicates over a wireless communication link to provide to the towed unit on which the at least one sensing unit is located the at least one sensed state of the at least one mobile asset and instructions and at least one sensing unit which monitors at least one state of an engine of the self powered vehicle with the mobile asset and the at least one sensed state of the engine being processed by the processor into a data stream which is synchronous to the at least one sensing unit and asynchronous to the wireless communication system and the management control system; and

the management control system in response to reception of the synchronous data stream from at least one mobile control unit provides the instructions to the at least one mobile control unit associated with at least one of the self powered vehicles which are responsive to the at least one sensed state which pertain to operation of the engine of at least one of the self powered vehicle and/or the at least one mobile sensed state associated with the at least one mobile asset of at least one of the towed units.

33. A method for wirelessly managing mobile resources utilizing a wireless communication network comprising:

providing an on board system on a mobile resource;

determining a position location of the on board system;

monitoring conditions and collecting information corresponding to sensed states of the conditions being monitored by a plurality of sensors, at least one sensor collecting the information asynchronously with respect to other sensors;

transmitting and receiving information between the on board system and a data center over the wireless communication network;

collecting the information collected by the plurality of sensors and saving the asynchronously collected information as synchronous data;

monitoring at least one sensed state from the plurality of sensors and providing instructions to the on board system in response to the at least one monitored sensed state;

establishing a first communication link with the on board system over the wireless communication network;

processing the synchronous data and generating streams of sensor data representative of the information collected by the plurality of sensors;

storing operational transactions of the on board system at predetermined time intervals and/or upon a change in a sensed state of at least one of the conditions being monitored; and

establishing a continuous two-way connection between the on board system and the data center across the wireless communication network and the synchronous data saved by the processor is synchronous with respect to the data center processor.

34. A method for wirelessly monitoring mobile resources utilizing a wireless communication network comprising:

monitoring a plurality of conditions of a mobile resource with an on board system comprising a plurality of sensors provided on board the mobile resource, collecting information corresponding to sensed states of the conditions being monitored by the plurality of sensors with one of the plurality of sensors collecting information concerning a first condition at a time independent from a time at which another of the plurality of sensors collects information concerning a second condition;

upon a status change of one of the plurality of sensors, creating a data record containing a status of a plurality of the sensors; and

transmitting at least one of the information collected corresponding to the sensed states of the conditions being monitored by the plurality of sensors or the data record containing the status of a plurality of the plurality of the sensors from the on board system to a database over the wireless communication network and establishing a continuous two-way connection between the on board system and the database with the wireless communication network.

35. The method for wirelessly monitoring mobile resources according to claim 34, comprising transmitting a command over the wireless communication network to at least one mobile resource to manage the at least one mobile resource based on at least one data record recording a status of all of the plurality of the sensors.

36. The method for wirelessly monitoring mobile resources according to claim 34, wherein the plurality of sensors is a subset of all of the sensors provided on the mobile resource.

37. A system for wirelessly monitoring mobile resources including a wireless communication network comprising:

an on board system comprising a plurality of sensors provided on board the mobile resource for monitoring a plurality of conditions of a mobile resource, a processor for independently collecting information corresponding to sensed states of the conditions being monitored by the plurality of sensors, wherein one of the plurality of sensors collects information concerning a first condition at a time independent from a time at which another of the plurality of sensors collects information concerning a second condition;

a processor for creating a data record containing a status of a plurality of the plurality of the sensors upon a status change of one of the plurality of sensors;

a database; and

wherein

the wireless communication network transmits at least one of the information collected corresponding to the sensed states of the conditions being monitored by the plurality of sensors or the data record containing the status of a plurality of the plurality of the sensors from the on board system to the database and establishes a continuous two-way connection between the on board system and the database.

38. The system for wirelessly monitoring mobile resources according to claim 37, wherein the plurality of sensors is a subset of all of the sensors provided on the mobile resource.