Information transmission and processing systems and methods for freight carriers

• US 8,358,205 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2012
• Issued: 01/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R+L Carriers, Inc.
• Original Assignee: R+L Carriers, Inc.
• Inventors: Roberts, Ralph L. Sr., Deck, Chris, Crandall, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US13/439,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20120188061A1
• Time in Patent Office: 293 Days
• Field of Search: 340/431, 701/29, 701/32, 701/33, 701/35
• US Class Current: 340/431
• 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: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

Methods and systems for remotely monitoring trailer or trailers attached to a vehicle is provided. The method includes associating an identification tag or ABS ECU that is configured to broadcast a trailer identification signal with a trailer. The method further includes receiving the trailer identification signal on-board the vehicle, associating the trailer identification signal with the vehicle, transmitting the trailer identification signal to a remote processor and receiving the trailer identification signal at the remote processor. The system comprises a mobile data terminal capable of generating and responding to telematic events comprising at least one processor, a graphical user interface, an input device, a memory and a set of executable instructions which may include a plurality of modules, such as a vehicle location module capable of receiving a GPS signal and transmitting the GPS signal to a remote processor for determining a location of a transportation unit.

Claims

1. A method of remotely monitoring at least one trailer attached to a vehicle comprising:

establishing a communication with an ABS electronic control unit located on the at least one trailer by a mobile data terminal device;

receiving an ABS identification number from the ABS electronic control unit by the mobile data terminal device;

associating the ABS identification number with the at least one trailer by the mobile data terminal device;

transmitting the ABS identification number to a remote processor by the mobile data terminal device;

generating a hook event at an initial communication between the mobile data terminal device and the ABS electronic control unit; and

transmitting trailer information data to the remote processor upon the hook event;

wherein the mobile data terminal device is positioned within the vehicle.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the method further comprises requesting the ABS identification number from the ABS electronic control unit.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the method further comprises programming the ABS identification number from an ABS electronic control unit such that the ABS identification number matches a trailer identification number.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the method further comprises cross-referencing the ABS identification number with a unit identification number.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the step of cross-referencing the ABS identification number with the unit identification number is performed by the mobile data terminal device.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the step of cross-referencing the ABS identification number with the unit identification number is performed by the remote processor.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein trailer information comprises at least one of a current trailer mileage, a current trailer location, a hook date and a hook time.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mobile data terminal device is configured to communicate directly with the ABS electronic control unit of the at least one trailer.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 wherein:

the mobile data terminal device communicates directly with the ABS electronic control unit on a J2497/PLC4Trucks bus via an engine control module gateway.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mobile data terminal device is configured to indirectly communicate with the ABS electronic control unit of the at least one trailer via an engine control module.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein:

the mobile data terminal device is coupled to the engine control module via an engine control module interface; and

the ABS electronic control unit of the at least one trailer is coupled to the engine control module via the engine control module gateway.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11 wherein:

the mobile data terminal communicates with the engine control module via a J1708/J1939 bus; and

the ABS control unit of the at least one trailer communicates with the engine control module via a J2497/PLC4Trucks bus.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the method further comprises:

requesting the ABS identification number and trailer information from the vehicle, and further wherein the trailer information comprises at least one of a trailer mileage, a trailer location, a date and a time; and

transmitting the ABS identification number and the trailer information from the vehicle to the remote processor; and

generating an event based at least in part on the ABS identification number and the trailer information.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the event comprises receiving a notification from the remote processor to the mobile data terminal device.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the event comprises sending a notification from the mobile data terminal device to a remote processor to further send to an enterprise asset system.