Determining speed parameters in a geographic area

• US 9,128,809 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2011
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• 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): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nelson, Sara
• Application Number:
  US13/088,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20110196644A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,604 Days
• Field of Search: 701400-412, 701200-213, 701/450, 701/454, 701/532, 705/330, 702/142
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 geofenced 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 defined. Speed parameters can be assigned to the geofenced area. After receiving speed data, it can be determined whether the speed parameters have been exceeded.

Claims

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

define a geofenced area that corresponds to a geographic area, the geofenced area (a) comprising two or more street segments and (b) defined based at least in part on determining (i) an average number of stops, (ii) an average frequency of stops, or (iii) both based at least in part on past pickups and deliveries within the geofenced area;

assign one or more speed parameters to the geofenced area, wherein (a) the one or more speed parameters are used to monitor the performance of a vehicle driver while the vehicle driver is operating a vehicle within the geofenced area, (b) the one or more speed parameters comprise at least one speed parameter selected from the group consisting of a government-assigned speed limit and a non-government assigned speed limit, (c) the government-assigned speed limit and the non-government assigned speed limit are determined based in part on one or more prior detections of (i) speed limits and (ii) one or more prior detections average speed traveled within the geofenced area indicated by a plurality of vehicle drivers operating one or more corresponding vehicles during previous traversals within the geo fenced area;

receive geofenced area data, wherein (a) the geofenced area data is collected in real time (i) responsive to the vehicle entering the geofenced area and (ii) while the vehicle driver is operating the vehicle within the geofenced area and (b) the geofenced area data comprises speed data associated with the vehicle; and

determine, based at least in part on the speed data, whether the one or more speed parameters assigned to the geofenced area have been exceeded.

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

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

the geofenced area data is automatically collected by the one or more telematics devices during operation of the 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 system of claim 1, wherein the one or more speed parameters correspond respectively to one or more speed limits in the geofenced area.

5. The system of claim 1, (a) wherein determining whether the one or more speed parameters assigned to the geofenced area have been exceeded is based at least upon an average speed of the vehicle, and (b) wherein the central computing device being further configured to determine the average speed of the vehicle by:

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

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

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

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a portable computing device, wherein the portable computing device is configured to transmit the geofenced area data to the central computing device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the one or more speed parameters correspond respectively to one or more government-assigned speed limits.

8. A method comprising:

electronically defining a geofenced area that corresponds to a geographic area, the geofenced area (a) comprising two or more street segments and (b) defined based at least in part on determining (i) an average number of stops, (ii) an average frequency of stops, or (iii) both based at least in part on past pickups and deliveries within the geofenced area;

electronically assigning one or more speed parameters to the geofenced area, wherein (a) the one or more speed parameters are used to monitor the performance of a vehicle driver while the vehicle driver is operating a vehicle within the geofenced area, (b) the one or more speed parameters comprise at least one speed parameter selected from the group consisting of a government-assigned speed limit and a non-government assigned speed limit, (c) the government-assigned speed limit and the non-government assigned speed limit are determined based in part on one or more prior detections of (i) speed limits and (ii) one or more prior detections average speed traveled within the geofenced area indicated by a plurality of vehicle drivers operating one or more corresponding vehicles during previous traversals within the geofenced area;

electronically receiving geofenced area data, wherein (a) the geofenced area data is collected in real time (i) responsive to the vehicle entering the geofenced area and (ii) while the vehicle driver is operating the vehicle within the geofenced area and (b) the geofenced area data comprises speed data associated with the vehicle; and

electronically determining, based at least in part on the speed data, whether the one or more speed parameters assigned to the geofenced area have been exceeded.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the geofenced area data further comprises at least one of (a) geographic position data associated with the vehicle or (b) geographic position data associated with the vehicle driver.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein (a) the geofenced area data is automatically collected by one or more telematics devices during operation of the vehicle within the geofenced area and (b) the one or more telematics devices are configured to transmit the geofenced area data to a central computing device.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more speed parameters correspond respectively to one or more speed limits in the geofenced area.

12. The method of claim 8, (a) wherein determining whether the one or more speed parameters assigned to the geofenced area have been exceeded is based at least upon an average speed of the vehicle, and (b) wherein the average speed of the vehicle is determined by:

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

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

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

13. The method of claim 12, wherein a portable computing device is configured to transmit the geofenced area data to a central computing device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more speed parameters correspond respectively to one or more government-assigned speed limits.

15. 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 define a geofenced area that corresponds to a geographic area, the geofenced area (a) comprising two or more street segments and (b) defined based at least in part on determining (i) an average number of stops, (ii) an average frequency of stops, or (iii) both based at least in part on past pickups and deliveries within the geofenced area;

an executable portion configured to assign one or more speed parameters to the geofenced area, wherein (a) the one or more speed parameters are used to monitor the performance of a vehicle driver while the vehicle driver is operating a vehicle within the geofenced area, (b) the one or more speed parameters comprise at least one speed parameter selected from the group consisting of a government-assigned speed limit and a non-government assigned speed limit, (c) the government-assigned speed limit and the non-government assigned speed limit are determined based in part on one or more prior detections of (i) speed limits and (ii) one or more prior detections average speed traveled within the geofenced area indicated by a plurality of vehicle drivers operating one or more corresponding vehicles during previous traversals within the geofenced area;

an executable portion configured to receive geofenced area data, wherein (a) the geofenced area data is collected in real time (i) responsive to the vehicle entering the geofenced area and (ii) while the vehicle driver is operating the vehicle within the geofenced area and (b) the geofenced area data comprises speed data associated with the vehicle; and

an executable portion configured to determine, based at least in part on the speed data, whether the one or more speed parameters assigned to the geofenced area have been exceeded.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the geofenced area data further comprises at least one of (a) geographic position data associated with the vehicle or (b) geographic position data associated with the vehicle driver.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the one or more speed parameters correspond respectively to one or more speed limits in the geofenced area.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, (a) wherein determining whether the one or more speed parameters assigned to the geofenced area have been exceeded is based at least upon an average speed of the vehicle, and (b) further comprising an executable portion configured to determine the average speed of the vehicle by:

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

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

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

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the one or more speed parameters correspond respectively to one or more government-assigned speed limits.