System and method for generating an alert for an asset

• US 8,416,075 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2011
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SkyBitz, Inc. (Ametek Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SkyBitz, Inc. (Ametek Incorporated)
• Inventors: McKethan, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Young, Wayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHERWIN, RYAN W
• Application Number:
  US13/183,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20110267183A1
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 340/431, 340/425.5, 340/500, 340/540, 3405681-5729, 340669-671, 340673-674, 340/686.1, 340/0.6, 340/687, 340/426.12, 340/0.19, 340/429, 340/539.13, 340/0.15, 340/0.23, 701300-302
• US Class Current: 340/539.23
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/028 Communication between parent and child units via remote transmission means, e.g. satellite network

Abstract

A system and method for generating an alert signal for an asset. Proper truck/trailer matching is based on a proximity analysis between position reports for a truck and position reports for a trailer. In one embodiment, this proximity analysis is triggered by a detection of movement in a trailer. In the proximity analysis, unexpected deviations in proximity between a truck and a trailer would lead to a generation of an alert signal that is sent to the appropriate management system for investigation.

Claims

1. A method of generating an alert for an asset, comprising:

determining whether a position of an asset transporter assigned to an asset as reported to a monitoring system is in proximity to a position of said asset as reported to said monitoring system, said reported position of said asset being initiated by a detection of motion of said asset and said position of said asset transporter being reported to said monitoring system in response to a poll that is generated by said monitoring system subsequent to said detection of motion; and

generating an alert if it is determined that said reported position of said asset transporter is not in proximity to said reported position of said asset.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a motion detection report that is generated based on a motion sensor condition.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining said reported position of said asset based on said received motion detection report.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining said reported position of said asset transporter based on a polling of said asset transporter by a dispatch system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining is based on a time elapsed from a time of departure of said asset from an origin location.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining is based on a proximity radius from said reported position of said asset.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said determining is based on a distance of said reported position of said asset transporter from said origin location.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining is based on a difference in time between a time of said reported position of said asset and a time of said reported position of said asset transporter.

9. A method of generating an alert for an asset, comprising:

receiving, in a monitoring system, a position report from an asset upon an indication that said asset has moved;

determining whether a position of an asset transporter assigned to said asset as reported to said monitoring system is in proximity to a position of said asset, said position of said asset transporter being reported to said monitoring system in response to a poll that is generated by said monitoring system subsequent to said indication that said asset has moved; and

generating an alert if said determination indicates that said asset transporter is not in proximity to said asset.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said receiving comprises receiving from a mobile terminal affixed to said asset.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said receiving comprises receiving from a mobile terminal coupled to a motion sensor.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said determining is based on a measure of time.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said determining is based on a measure of distance.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein said receiving comprises receiving a motion detection report that includes information that enables identification of said position of said asset.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising polling said asset transporter for a position.

16. A method, comprising:

determining whether a position of an asset transporter assigned to an asset as reported to a monitoring system is in proximity to a position of said asset as reported to said monitoring system, said position of said asset transporter being reported to said monitoring system in response to a poll that is generated by said monitoring system subsequent to a detection of motion of said asset.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said determining is based on a time elapsed from a time of departure of said asset from an origin location.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said determining is based on a distance of said reported position of said asset transporter from said origin location.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said determining is based on a proximity radius from said reported position of said asset.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein said determining is based on a difference in time between a time of said reported position of said asset and a time of said reported position of said asset transporter.