Determining speed parameters in a geographic area

• US 8,219,312 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2009
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Davidson, Mark J., Olsen, John A. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US12/553,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20100100315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 705/330, 701200-213, 701/409, 701/450, 701/439, 701/454, 701/466, 701/519, 701/540
• US Class Current: 701/409
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/202 Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for assigning parameters to a geographic area, wherein the parameters may be used to associate a speed limit with the geographic area. For example, in one embodiment, a geofenced area that (a) corresponds to a geographic area and (b) comprises one or more street segments is identified. Additionally, speed data associated with one of more of the street segments is received. After receiving the speed data, a speed limit is (a) determined for one or more of the street segments and (b) associated with the geofenced area.

Claims

1. A carrier computer system comprising a central computing device having one or more memory storage areas and one or more processors, the central computing device configured to:

identify a geofenced area that (a) corresponds to a geographic area and (b) comprises one or more street segments;

receive geofenced area data associated with a first street segment of the one or more street segments, wherein (a) the geofenced area data is collected in real time while at least one of (i) a delivery vehicle or (ii) a delivery vehicle driver is operating within the geofenced area and (b) the geofenced area data comprises speed data associated with the first street segment;

determine a speed limit for the first street segment, wherein the speed limit is determined based at least in part on the speed data; and

associate the speed limit with the first street segment of the geofenced area.

2. The carrier computer system of claim 1, wherein the geofenced area data further comprises at least one of (a) geographic position data associated with the delivery vehicle or (b) geographic position data associated with the delivery vehicle driver.

3. The carrier computer system of claim 1 further comprising one or more telematics devices positioned within the delivery vehicle, wherein:

the speed data is automatically collected by the one or more telematics devices during operation of the delivery vehicle within the geofenced area; and

the one or more telematics devices are configured to transmit the geofenced area data to the central computing device.

4. The carrier computer system of claim 1, wherein the speed limit is determined using the speed data to determine an average speed of the delivery vehicle with respect to the first street segment.

5. The carrier computer system of claim 4, wherein to determine the average speed of the delivery vehicle with respect to the first street segment, the central computing device is further configured to:

determine a fastest speed traveled by the delivery vehicle within the first street segment of the geofenced area;

determine a slowest speed traveled by the delivery vehicle within the first street segment of the geofenced area; and

exclude the fastest speed and the slowest speed in determining the average speed of the first street segment.

6. The carrier computer system of claim 5, further comprising a portable data acquisition device, wherein:

the speed data is received by the portable data acquisition device as input from the vehicle delivery driver; and

the portable data acquisition device is configured to transmit the geofenced area data to the central computing device.

7. The carrier computer system of claim 6, wherein the speed data identifies a government-assigned speed limit of the first street segment.

8. The carrier computer system of claim 6, wherein the speed data identifies a carrier-assigned speed limit of the first street segment.

9. A computer-implemented method comprising:

identifying, via a central computing device, a geofenced area that (a) corresponds to a geographic area and (b) comprises one or more street segments;

receiving, via the central computing device, geofenced area data associated with a first street segment of the one or more street segments, wherein (a) the geofenced area data is collected in real time while at least one of (i) a delivery vehicle or (ii) a delivery vehicle driver is operating within the geofenced area and (b) the geofenced area data comprises speed data associated with the first street segment;

determining, via the central computing device, a speed limit for the first street segment, wherein the speed limit is determined based at least in part on the speed data; and

associating, via the central computing device, the speed limit with the first street segment of the geofenced area.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the geofenced area data further comprises at least one of (a) geographic position data associated with the delivery vehicle or (b) geographic position data associated with the delivery vehicle driver.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 further comprising:

automatically collecting the speed data, via one or more telematics devices positioned within the delivery vehicle, during operation of the delivery vehicle within the geofenced area; and

transmitting, via the one or more telematics devices, the geofenced area data to the central computing device.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the speed limit is determined using the speed data to determine an average speed of the delivery vehicle with respect to the first street segment.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the step of determining the average speed of the delivery vehicle with respect to the first street segment further comprises:

determining a fastest speed traveled by the delivery vehicle within the first street segment of the geofenced area;

determining a slowest speed traveled by the delivery vehicle within the first street segment of the geofenced area; and

excluding the fastest speed and the slowest speed in determining the average speed.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 further comprising:

receiving, via a portable data acquisition device, the speed data as input from the vehicle delivery driver; and

transmitting, via a portable data acquisition device, the geofenced area data to the central computing device.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the speed data identifies a government-assigned speed limit of the first street segment.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the speed data identifies a carrier-assigned speed limit of the first street segment.

17. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

an executable portion configured to identify a geofenced area that (a) corresponds to a geographic area and (b) comprises one or more street segments;

an executable portion configured to receive geofenced area data associated with a first street segment of the one or more street segments, wherein (a) the geofenced area data is collected in real time while at least one of a (i) delivery vehicle or (ii) a delivery vehicle driver is operating within the geofenced area and (b) the geofenced area data comprises speed data associated with the first street segment;

an executable portion configured to determine a speed limit for the first street segment, wherein the speed limit is determined based at least in part on the speed data; and

an executable portion configured to associate the speed limit with the first street segment of the geofenced area.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the geofenced area data further comprises at least one of (a) geographic position data associated with the delivery vehicle or (b) geographic position data associated with the delivery vehicle driver.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the speed limit is determined using the speed data to determine an average speed of the delivery vehicle with respect to the first street segment.

20. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the speed data identifies a government-assigned speed limit of the first street segment.