CA2212330C - Method and apparatus for determining expected time of arrival - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for determining expected time of arrival Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2212330C CA2212330C CA002212330A CA2212330A CA2212330C CA 2212330 C CA2212330 C CA 2212330C CA 002212330 A CA002212330 A CA 002212330A CA 2212330 A CA2212330 A CA 2212330A CA 2212330 C CA2212330 C CA 2212330C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- vehicle
- destination information
- arrival
- information
- dispatch
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
- G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
- G08G1/20—Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
- G08G1/202—Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01C—MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
- G01C21/00—Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C19/00
- G01C21/26—Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C19/00 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
Abstract
A system (10) for determining an expected time of arrival of a vehicle (40) equipped with a mobile unit (42) includes a dispatch (20) remotely located from the vehicle (40). The dispatch (20) generates destination information for the vehicle (40), the destination information specifying at least one destination. The mobile unit (42) includes a mobile communications device (90) to receive the destination information for the vehicle (40) generated by the dispatch (20). The mobile unit (42) also includes a positioning receiver (80) to determine a vehicle position. In response to the destination information received from the dispatch (20) and the vehicle position, the mobile unit (42) determines the expected time of arrival of the vehicle.
Description
WO 96124915 PCTllJS96JDD867 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
DETERMINING EXPECTED TIME OF ARRIVAL
. FT~T~n C~F T~ l~v~ ON
This inventi.on relates to a system for determining an expected time of arrival, and more particularly to a system for deteL ; n; ng an expected time of arrival using a mobile communications network and a positioning system.
CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
WO 96/24915 PCI~/US96/00867 R~CKGROUN~ OF T~ I~V~ lON
Mobile c~ ;cations t~c-hnology has enjoyed substantial growth over the past decade. Many cars, trucks, airplanes, boats, and other vehicles are equipped with devices that allow convenient and reliable mobile communications using a network of satellite-based or land-based transceivers. Advances in this technology have also led to widespread use of hand-held, portable mobile communications devices.
Many customers of mobile communications systems desire an accurate determination of their expected time of arrival at a particular destination, and perhaps reporting of this time to a remote location. For example, a cellular telephone in a vehicle or carried by a person offers a convenient communication link to report expected time of arrival information. One method to determine an expected time of arrival uses the average travel time from a point of origin to a destination.
This approach, however, may not be suitable for particular applications that require more accuracy and more frequent updates of an expected time of arrival.
Furthermore, transportation systems would benefit from a dispatching function that monitors and directs the travel route and expected time of arrival of its carriers. For example, dispatchers of long-haul or local vehicles desire a system that allows access to expected time of arrival information to make routing and dispatching decisions.
CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
WO 96/24915 PCT/IJS96~00867 SU~MA~Y' OF T~ l~v~ ON
In accordance with the present invention, the disadvantages and problems associated with previous t~chn; ~ues used to determine and report the expected time o~ arrival of a vehicle, person, or object at a particular destination have been substantially reduced or eliminated. One aspect of the present invention provides a system for deteL ;n;ng an expected time of arrival that integrates positi~ning technology with an existing mobile communications infrastructure.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a system for determining an expected time of arrival of a vehicle equipped ~with a mobile unit includes a dispatch remotely located from the vehicle. The dispatch generates destination information for the vehicle, specifying at least one destination. A communications link is coupled to the dispatch and receives the destination information for the vehicle from the dispatch. The mobile unit is coupled to the co ;cations link and receives from the c ln;cations link the destination information for the vehicle generated by the dispatch. The mobile unit determines a vehicle position and, in response to the vehicle position, also determines the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at thle destination identified by the destination information.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method for determining an expected time of arrival of a vehicle includes generating destination information at a dispatch, specifying at least one destination and at least one appointment time. The destination information is transmitted to the vehicle.
The vehicle position is determined at the vehicle. In = response to the vehicle position, the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at the destination identified by CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
WO 96/24915 PCT/u~ 67 the destination information is also determined at the vehicle.
Important techn; cal features of the present invention include ; -l~ving the accuracy of dete~ ; n; ng an expected time of arrival by using a positioning system. In particular, the positioning system provides information to a processor on the vehicle so that the processor may calculate the expected time of arrival based upon the actual position of the vehicle.
Additionally, the expected time of arrival may be updated continuously throughout a trip. Another t~chn;cal advantage includes sending information to the vehicle from a remote location, such as a dispatch. Such information may comprise one or more destinations and corresponding appointment times, route information, information regarding tasks to be performed or packages to be delivered at each destination specified, weather information, traffic updates, or other information.
Other t~chn; cal advantages of the present invention include generating late information when the vehicle determines it will not arrive at a destination at the corresponding appointment time. The present invention may also display this late information to the operator of the vehicle and transmit the late information to a remote location. Important te~hn; cal advantages may also include reporting to the remote location that the vehicle is not being driven along a predetermined route. Other t~-hn; cal advantages are readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, description, and claims.
CA 022l2330 l997-08-05 WOg6/24915 PCT~S96100867 RRT~ C~TPTTOM OF T~ nRAwT~Gs F~ar a more c:omplete underst~n~; n~ of the present invent.ion and for further features and advantages, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction wi.th the ac~ _~nying drawing, wherein like reference n~erals represent like parts, in which:
FIGURE 1 illustrates a system for determining an expected time of arrival at a single destination.
FIGURE 2 illustrates a system for determining expected times of arrival at a plurality of destinations;
FIGURE 3 ill.ustrates an alternative embodiment of the system for determining expected times of arrival at a pluraliLty of dest,inations;
FIGURE 4 illustrates a display on a vehicle;
F]:GURE 5 is a schematic representation of a mobile unit;
FIGURE 6 is a schematic representation of a dispatc:h;
FIGURE 7 is a flow chart for determining an expected time of' arrival at a single destination; and FIGURE 8 is a flow chart for dete, ; n; ng expected times of arrival at a plurality of destinations.
CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
nliTZ~TT.lin DF~c:c~TpTToN OF THF: I l'JV~:N'l' I ON
FIGURE 1 illustrates a system 10 for determining an expected time of arrival of a vehicle 40 travelling from a point of origin A to a destination B. System 10 includes a dispatch 20, a host 25, a c ;cations link 30, and vehicle 40 equipped with a mobile unit: 42.
System 10 provides an accurate expected time of arrival for vehicle 40 at destination B.
Dispatch 20 is remotely located from vehicle 40.
One function of dispatch 20 is to generate destination information for vehicle 40. Such destination information may include one or more destinations, appointment information such as a corresponding appointment time for each destination specified, routing information, information regarding tasks to be performed at each destination specified, average travel time to each destination, rush hour and traffic information, and weather information. Destination information may be any information generated by dispatch 20 that facilitates the control or monitoring of vehicle 40. As will be explained later in more detail, an important technical advantage of the present invention includes remotely sending information to vehicle 40 from dispatch 20.
System 10 may also include one or more hosts 25 remotely located from vehicle 40. In one embodiment, host 25 performs the management and control functions for one or more fleets of trucks. Therefore, system 10 may include many hosts 25 associated with trucking companies, delivery services, or other organizations with vehicles 40 equipped with mobile units 42. Host 25 generates destination information and transmits this information over a communications link to dispatch 20. Dispatch 20 collects destination information from several hosts 25 and transmits this information to vehicles 40.
Therefore, dispatch 20 can generate destination information or route destination information generated by CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
WO 96124915 PCTlUS9''~67 host 25. Alternatively, host 25 can transmit destination information to vehicles 40 over communications link 30.
In esse-nce, some of the functions performed by dispatch 20 may be distributed among several hosts 25. Host 25 can also receive c_ ;cations, such as late information, from mobile unit 42 over communications link 30. For clarity, this description will focus primarily on the functionality of dispatch 20, but it is understood that host 25 can perform some or all of the functions performed by dispatch 20.
Communicatio:ns link 30 is coupled to dispatch 20 and host 25 and allow:s communication between dispatch 20, host 25, and mobile unit 42 on vehicle 40.
c ;cations li:nk 30 may be any land-based or spaced-based communicati~ns system, such as a cellular telephonenetwork.. More sp~ecifically, communications link 30 comprises a mobile tel~ ;cations switching office (MTSO) 32 coupled to dispatch 20 and host 25, and at least one transmitter site 34 associated with the cellular telephonl_ network. Dispatch 20 or host 25 generates destination information and sends this information to MT.S0 32. MTS0 32 routes the destination information to transmitter site 34. Transmitter site 34 then transmits the destination information to mobile unit 42 over a destina-tion information stream 36. Destination information may be encoded using traditional data encoders, such as a modem or a dual tone multifrequency (DTMF) coder/d~colle~
C ;cations link 30 may be one or a combination of dedicated telephone lines, switched telephone lines, microwave communications links, satellite-based c- ;cations links, specialized mobile radio (SMR), enhanced speciali.zed mobile radio (ESMR), a personal .communications service (PCS), a citizen's band (CB), a dedicated radio system, such as those used by police and fire fighters, or any other suitable communications link CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
that allows dispatch 20 or host 25 to transmit data to or receive data from mobile unit 42. C~ ;cations link 30 may also be an SS7 backbone link or similar network for linking land-line or cellular switches in a public switched tel~phn~e network (PSTN). Such a link allows components of the PSTN to share information for validation, ror ;ng, billing, call routing, and other functions. C_ ;cations link 30 may also include intelligence to route information generated a~ dispatch 20, host 25, or mobile unit 42 to multiple selected sites.
Destination information stream 36 may be implemented in a control channel, paging channel, part of a seized voice or data channel, or overhead message stream currently implemented in cellular telephone technology.
Presently, the control channel provides paging of ;nc- ;ng calls, hand-off instructions, and other features of the cellular telephone network, but may be modified by one skilled in the art to include tr~n! ;~sion of destination information. Destination information stream 36 may also be implemented using any other analog or digital communications link between transmitter site 34 and mobile unit 42, whether or not the communications link requires seizing of a voice or data channel, and whether or not a data encoder is used. For example, destination information stream 36 may be part of a separate channel requiring mobile unit 42 to re-tune to destination information stream 36 transmitted from transmitter site 34.
Additionally, there are several developing technologies that may provide a convenient implementation of destination information stream 36. For example, cellular digital packet data (CDPD) technology allows integration of data and voice using the existing cellular telephone infrastructure. In a CDPD system, digital packets of data and analog voice segments share the same CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
~h~nn~l. Other developments in digital cellular . ications, s~ch as code division multiple access (CDMA) and time division multiple access (TDMA), allow digital data and digital voice signals to be interspersed on a c~ ;catio~s channel. These technologies integrate digital data transmission in a communications link 30, and there~fore provide a convenient implementation sclleme for destination information stream 36.
Transmitter site 34 may send destination information to mobile unit 42 in one large packet or in several smaller packets interspersed with other data used for mobile communications. For example, the destination in~ormation may be packaged in existing, but unused, bytes oE the overhead message stream or in a dedicated protocol. One pos;sible implementation would place destination information in the extended protocol described in the EIA/TIA-533 mobile communications st~n~Ard, which provides for bidirectional co~lln;cation between transmitter site 34 and mobile unit 42.
Mobile unit 42 may continuously monitor destination information stream 36 transmitted from transmitter site 34. Furthermore, mobile unit 42 may alternatively tune between several destination information streams 36 from several transmitter sites 34 to determine the strongest signal, usually relating to the nearest transmitter site 3~.
FIGURE 1 shows mobile unit 42 on vehicle 40. The present invention contemplates mobile unit 42 being carried by all types of vehicles, including cars, trucks, airplane!s, boats, barges, rail cars, truck trailers, on a person's body, along with a package, or any other movable object for which it is desirable to calculate an expected time of arrival.
Because mobile unit 42 is coupled to communications link 30, mobile unit 42 can c~ ln;cate with dispatch 20.
CA 022l2330 l997-08-o~
WO96/24915 PCT~S96/00867 Mobile unit 42 receives the destination information generated by dispatch 20 for vehicle 40 over communications link 30. In particular, mobile unit 42 contains a mobile c~ n; cations device 90 (F]:GURE 5) that receives destination information over destination information stream 36.
Mobile unit 42 may comprise an output device 104 (FIGURE 5) operable to present visually or audibly the destination information to an operator of vehicle 40 once the information has been received by mobile unit 42. For example, referring to FIGURE 1, G~L~L 104 displays destination information that specifies a particular route 52 for vehicle 40 to follow from a point of origin A to a destination B. Once informed of this information, the operator may then drive along route 52.
Using a positioning system 45, mobile unit 42 determines the position of vehicle 40. Specifically, mobile unit 42 comprises a mobile positioning receiver 80 (FIGURE 5) operable to receive positioning information from positioning system 45. Mobile unit 42 receives positioning information over positioning information streams 49 from a plurality of satellites 47. Mobile unit 42 then determines its position using information from positioning information streams 49. The positioning information comprises accurate satellite positioning information transmitted by satellites 47 and pseudorange data represented by the time of arrival of positioning information streams 49 to mobile unit 42.
Positioning system 45 is illustrated as a satellite-based radio navigation system, such as the NAVSTAR globalpositioning system (GPS). The description uses the NAVSTAR GPS as a representative positioning system 45, but any land-based or satellite-based system may be used.
For example, positioning system 45 may be a land-based LORAN-C, a space-based GLONASS, a dead reckoning system, an inertial navigation system, or any other appropriate CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
WO 96/24915 PCTJU' ~ 7 positioning technology. As shown in FIGURE 1, positioning system 45 comprises a plurality of satellites 47. In general, positioning system 45 comprises a plurali.ty of space-based or land-based transmitters that emit positioning information.
Sa.tellites 47 maintain accurate and synchronized time and simultaneously transmit positioning information that contains sat~ellite specific and system information required by mobilla unit 42 to determ~ine the position of vehicle 40. The ]positioning information transmitted by satellites 47 may include high precision clock and ephemeris data fo:r a particular satellite, low precision clock and ephemer.is data for every satellite in a constellation ("almanac data"), health and configuration status for all saltellites, user text messages, and other parameters describing operation of positioning system 45.
Positioning system 45 may also comprise additional satellites and one or more positioning receivers. The additional satell:ites may also c~ ;cate positioning information to mobile unit 42. In one embodiment, a positioning receiver 50 may be mounted on transmitter site 34 to implement differential GPS t~chn;cfues.
Positioning receiver 50 generates correction data that enables mobile un:it 42 to more accurately determine the positio:n of vehic:Le 40. Positioning receiver 50 transmits the correction data to mobile unit 42 over any suitable link, such as destination information stream 36.
In response t:o the vehicle position, mobile unit 42 determines the expected time of arrival of vehicle 40 at the destination iclentified by the destination information received from dispatch 20 over communications link 30.
In calculating the expected time of arrival, mobile unit 42 may also consicler such factors as the expected average speed of vehicle 40, the actual average speed of vehicle 40, the time of day during which vehicle 40 is traveling, the average time of a trip from origin A to destination B
CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
WO 96/24915 PCI~/US96/00867 along route 52 based upon prior travel, weather conditions, and other information impacting the expected time of arrival calculation. Stationary intervals along the route may also impact the calculation of expected time of arrival. These stationary intervals may include mandatory driver rest periods, allocated time to perform tasks at a location, overnight stays, scheduled or unscheduled maintenance, weigh-ins, or other intervals when vehicle 40 is not moving. The factors used to calculate expected time of arrival may be provided to mobile unit 42 from dispatch 20 or generated locally at vehicle 40. For example, mobile unit 42 may factor in delays due to weather conditions or mandatory driver rest periods that dispatch 20 is unable to predict.
Dispatch 20 can configure the interval of time between calculations of expected time of arrival by mobile unit 42. The calculation of expected time of arrival may also be continuous. As discussed below, this interval of time dictates how quickly dispatch 20 will be informed that vehicle 40 may be late in arriving at a particular destination. Furthermore, mobile unit 42 may transmit information on expected time of arrival even if it is determined that vehicle 40 will be on-time at the destination. For example, vehicle 40 may want to report to dispatch 20 a calculated expected time of arrival that is much earlier than the corresponding appointment time.
In general, mobile unit 42 may initiate transmission of information to dispatch 2 0 based on calculation of late arrival, calculation of early arrival, a predetermined reporting interval, or other condition.
System 10 provides a more accurate estimate for expected time of arrival than currently available systems, and may provide these estimates near instantaneously or "on the fly." These estimates may consider the specifics of each trip, such as traffic, weather conditions, and the time of day during which CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
WO 96/24915 PC~IUS96J~D867 vehicle 40 travel~s. In some applications, low frequency and low accuracy llpdates are sufficient. Other - applications, however, require greater accuracy and higher frequency llpdates in near real-time. For example, the operator of a local delivery truck may require accurate, high frequency estimates of expected time of arrival to monitor scheduled activities. System l0 provides these hi~h frequency updates without relying on off-vehicle compu1;ations. In addition, the same delivery truck may send lower frequency estimates of expected time of arrival or late information to a remote location, such as dispa~ch 20. ~hese estimates may be sent at fixed time intervals, on-demalld, or as a result of a predete~mined reporting event.
Sy:,tem l0 supports the remote s~n~;ng of destination information to vehicle ~0 from dispatch 20. If destination information is only input into mobile unit 42 just pr:ior to depalrture of vehicle 40 from its origin, mobile lmit 42 only has available destination information that is current as of the moment of departure. Over a ~long-haul trucking route or an extended local delivery route, destination information may become outdated before vehicle 40 reaches its final destination. To remedy this problemr dispatch 20 can continuously update the destinat:ion information used by mobile unit 42 to calculate the expected time of arrival of vehicle 40 at one or more destinations. For example, at the moment of departure, destination information input into mobile unit 42 may include the preferred route for vehicle 40 and several destinations with corresponding appointment times. During the trip, the preferred route may be shut down, additional destinations and corresponding appointment times may be added to the route, existing destinations and appointment times may be modified or deleted, traffic and truck conditions may change, or any CA 022l2330 l997-08-0~
WO 96/~915 PCT~S96/00867 other event may compel dispatch 20 to send updated destination information to vehicle 40.
Furthermore, destination information is sent directly to mobile unit 42, rather than input by the 5 operator of vehicle 40. Since the operator of vehicle 40 is not distracted from his main duty of drivin~ vehicle 40, the risk of vehicle 40 being involved in an accident is reduced. Furthermore, any human error in inputting destination information into mobile unit 42 is substantially reduced.
Mobile unit 42 may also be configured to notify both dispatch 20 and an operator of vehicle 40 if there is a likelihood that vehicle 40 Will be late in arriving at a destination. After mobile unit 42 has determined the expected time of arrival, mobile unit 42 compares this time to a corresponding appointment time specified in the destination information. If the expected time of arrival for vehicle 40 at the destination is later than the appointment time, mobile unit 42 generates late 20 information that may include the expected time of arrival. The interval of time between expected time of arrival calculations dictates the accuracy of the late information. If the expected time of arrival is calculated more often, then dispatch 20 and the operator 25 Will more likely be notified sooner that vehicle 40 will be late. For example, suppose the interval between calculations is one hour. Further suppose that vehicle 40 breaks down just after mobile unit 42 has calculated an expected time of arrival. In this case, mobile unit 30 42 Will not generate late information informing dispatch 20 that vehicle 40 Will likely be late until almost a full hour has passed. Suppose, however, that the interval between calculations is fifteen minutes. In this case, dispatch 20 is informed sooner that vehicle 40 35 will probably be late.
CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
WO 96/24915 PCrllJS96~00867 The generation of late in~ormation is also configurable in several ways. Late information does not need to be genera1:ed in all instances where mobile unit 42 calculates the expected time of arrival to be later than the correspoIlding appointment time at a destination.
For example, in most cases dispatch 20 should not be alerted if vehicle 40 will arrive at a destination one minute after the appointment time. Thus, dispatch 20 is operabl,e to conf iç~re a delta time parameter, defined a~
the difference bet:ween the appointment time and a later expected time of arrival, based upon the importance of vehicle 40 arriving at a destination on or before the appointment time. Also, just because mobile unit 42 determines that the expected time of arrival of vehicle 40 is later than t:he appointment time after one calculaltion does not mean that vehicle 40 will definitely be late.. Vehicle 40 may not be h~h;n~ sche~lle the next time that mobile unit 42 calculates the expected time of arrival.. Thus, di.spatch 20 is operable to configure a ~ailure count para.meter, defined as the number of calculal_ions of expected times of arrival in a row that are later than the! appointment time. For instance, under a failure count of zero, late information will be sent to dispatch 20 the fi.rst time mobile unit 42 calculates that the expected time of arrival is later than the appointment time. Furthermore, dispatch 20 does not need to be notified con.tinuously once vehicle 40 has fallen behind schedule. Rather, mobile unit 42 should only renotify dispatch 20 at intervals. Thus, a renotification interval parameter is configurable based upon how often dispatch 20 needs to be informed that vehicle 40 will probably be late. The delta time parameter, failure count parameter, renotification interval parameter, and other operating parameters can be sent from dispatch 2.0 to vehicle 40 as destination information.
CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
WO 96/24915 PCI~/US96/00867 System 10 allows parties to adjust for a late arrival. Mobile unit 42 transmits the late information to dispatch 20 over communications link 30. Dispatch 20 may then act upon the late information. For example, S dispatch 20 may inform parties at the destination that vehicle 40 will not make the appointment time, but rather will arrive at the expected time of arrival determined by mobile unit 42. Mobile unit 42 may also transmit late information directly to the destination Of vehicle 4 0 .
Furthermore, mobile unit 42 may present the late information to the operator of vehicle 40 via output 104 (FIGURE 5). Once informed that vehicle 42 will not arrive at the destination at the corresponding appointment time, the operator may take corrective action, such as making less stops. Additionally, mobile unit 42 may be configured to determine and display the average speed of travel required of vehicle 40 to arrive at the destination at the appointment time.
Mobile unit 42 can be configured to generate late information only if the expected time of arrival at the destination is later than the corresponding appointment time. Other systems that are used for monitor~ng vehicles provide constant updates on the vehicles. Most dispatchers, however, are not concerned about the exact position of a vehicle at every moment in route to its destination. Rather, dispatchers may be concerned only when a vehicle cannot reach its destination at the appointed time. In such a manner, mobile unit 42 substantially reduces or eliminates the expense of additional personnel, equipment, and c- u~,ications costs needed to monitor vehicle 40.
In system 10, dispatch 20 allows monitoring of at least one vehicle 40 equipped with mobile unit 42. A
large company may operate dispatch 20 to monitor a plurality of vehicles 40 equipped with mobile units 42.
Smaller companies with more limited resources could pool CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
WO 96/24915 PCTlUS~>~'t'~7 together to either jointly operate dispatch 20 or employ an independent fi~ to operate dispatch 20. It should be understood that the present invention contemplates any ~ h~r ~nd arrangement of dispatches 20 to monitor one or more fleets of vebLicles 40.
FI~URE 2 illustrates a system lOa for determining expected times of arrival at a plurality of destinations.
More particularly, system lOa as shown provides accurate expect~d times of arrival for vehicle 40 at de~tinations C, D, and E along route 52a or destinations C', D', and E
along route 52b.
In this embodiment of the present invention, the destination information generated by dispatch 20 includes several destinations and corresponding appointment times.
For example, the destination information may specify that vehicle 40 must be at: (1) destination C at 1:00 p.m., February 1, 1995; (2) destination D at 4:00 p.m., February~ 1, 1995; and (3) destination E at 10:00 a.m., February~ 2, 1995. Based upon this and other destination information received from dispatch 20 over c 7n; cations link 30 and from p~sitioning information received from positioning system 45, mobile unit 42 determines the expected times of arrival of vehicle 40 at destinations C, D, an~d E.
The operator of vehicle 40 may be required to perform some task, such as dropping off a delivery, at each of destinations C, D, and E. Vehicle 40 is scheduled to arrive at each destination by the corresponding appointment time specified in the destination information; otherwise, mobile unit 42 generates late information for each destination that vehicle 40 will not reach by the corresponding appointment time. For example, assume vehicle 40 arrived at the appointed tLme at destination C, but is now running late by an hour for destination D. Based on current vehicle position and other factors, mobile unit CA 022l2330 l997-08-0~
WO 96/249l5 PCTIUS96/00867 42 determines the expected time of arrival at destination D and may also determine an expected time of arrival at destination E. If one or both of these expected times of arrival are after the correspon~;ng appointment time, then mobile unit 42 generates late information for display to the operator and/or transmission to dispatch 20. Dispatch 20 may then inform parties at destinations D and E that vehicle 40 will arrive at the expected times of arrival determined by mobile unit 42 for those destinations.
A problem that trucking c -n;es have often faced is that operators of trucks, either intentionally or unintentionally, drive considerable dist~nc~s from their assigned routes. Because trucking comr~n;es must pay for the additional fuel and maint~n~nC~ e~pen~es associated with the increased mileage, these out-of-route miles are ext~. -ly costly to trucking c~ -n; es. To alleviate this problem, destinations C and D may be used as way points to determine whether the operator of vehicle 40 has driven out of route 52a specified in the destination information generated by dispatch 20. Referring to FIGURE 2, dispatch 20 generates destination information specifying that vehicle 40 is to proceed to destination E
along route 52a, thus passing through way points C and D.
Mobile unit 42 may be configured to update dispatch 20 when vehicle 40 has reached a way point. In this way, dispatch 20 may be notified that vehicle 40 is still in route. Suppose, however, that instead of following route 52a specified by the destination information, the operator of vehicle 40 drives along route 52b passing through points C' and D'. Based upon the position information received from positioning system 45 and the destination information received from dispatch 20, mobile unit 42 determines that the expected time of arrival of vehicle 40 at way point C will be later than the corresponding appointment time. This will occur at some CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
WO g~i/2491S PCTJUS91~100867 point along the path between A and C', and most likely at the beginning of 1:he path near A. Therefore, shortly a~ter vehicle 40 1:akes the wrong route, mobile unit 42 generates late ini-ormation, including the position of vehicle 40, to iniorm dispatch 20 and the operator of vehicle 40 of the out-of-route condition. Regardless of the operator's int:entions, he may now correct his route in order to minimize the out-of-route mileage. At this point, dispatch 20 may update the destination information for mobile unit 42.
Besides reducing out-of-route mileage, the use of intermediate way points improves the calculation of expected time of arrival. Specifically, the actual distance between the position of vehicle 40 and the destination may nat be the road distance. way points may be used as intermediate points between the position of vehicle 40 and the destination in order to more accurately calculate actual road distance. If used for more acc:urate distance calculation, way points do not need an associated appointment time and mobile unit 42 need not: calculate an expected time of arrival at these way poi~lts. Way points may be generated locally at mobile unit 42 using, for example, routing software or database!s .
FIGURE 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of system lOa for det~eL ; n; ng expected times of arrival at a plurality of destinations, with particular application to local delivery or repair services. System lOb provides expected times of ;lrrival for vehicle 40a at destinations L, M, N, 0, and P, which define the expected route of vehicle 40a shown ]~y the dotted line. Mobile unit 42 receives destination information generated by dispatch 20 through communicat:ions link 30. The operation of system lOb illustrated in FIGUR~ 3 is best understood in reference to both FIGURES 3 and 4.
CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
FIGURE 4 illustrates a display 60 on vehicle 40a.
Address column 64 includes at least one destination, appointment time column 66 includes at least one correspo~;ng appointment time, and description column 68 includes at least one task to be performed at a destination. The letters in parenth~c~ under column 62, not included in display 60, disclose the correspon~;ng destinations in FIGURE 3. Specifically, lines 1, 2, 3, and 4 in display 60 of FIGURE 4 correspond to destinations M, N, 0, and P, respectively, shown in FIGURE 3. In addition, expected time column 69 displays at least one expected time of arrival calculated by mobile unit 42. Display 60 may also display a map 67 showing the location of vehicle 40a relative to one or more destinations, a predetermined route for vehicle 40a to follow, and any other information that may be useful to the operator.
In operation, dispatch 20 generates destination information for vehicle 40a. The destination information defines, for example, the delivery schedule for a local delivery service or an appointment schedule for a local service provider. The destination information may be based in part on an allocated amount of time to perform a task at a destination and the expected travel time between destinations. For example, dispatch 20 may allocate fifty-five minutes to repair a machine at destination M and five minutes to travel between destinations M and N. Thus, as shown on line 2 of display 60 in FIGURE 4, dispatch 20 generates destination information for vehicle 40a that includes an appointment time of 9:00 a.m. at destination N by adding fifty-five minutes work time plus five minutes travel time to the 8:00 a.m. appointment time at destination M.
Dispatch 20 transmits the destination information to vehicle 40a over communications link 30. Destination information may also be loaded into mobile unit 42 using CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
WO ~)6/24915 PCI~/IJS9610U8~7 any suitable input device, such as a keyboard, a direct connection, or any suitable removable storage media.
4 In a particular example, the operator of vehicle 4Oa is a plumber who is at destination M, shown on line 1 of display 60. Destination N, shown on line 2 of display 60, is five minut,es away from destination M, the time is now 9:10 a.m., an~ the operator has just finished repairing the mac]~ine, as shown under description column 68 of line 1. Mo~ile unit 42 determines the expected time of arrival oE vehicle 40a at destination N to be 9:15 a.m. (as shown in expected time column 69 of line 2), based upon the destination information and the vehicle position. The appointment time for destination N, however, is 9:00 a.m. (as shown in appointment time column 66 of line 2). ~he late expected time of arrival is displayed to the operator, which may be highlighted, bl ;nk;n,~, or in a different color to alert the operator.
Moreover, mobile ~mit 42 has calculated the expected times of arrival at destinations O and P to be 10:45 a.m.
and }1:45 a.m., respectively, (as shown in expected time column 69 of lines 3 and 4, respectively) based upon the estimated late arrival at destination N.
Mobile unit 92 generates late information and transmits it to dispatch 20. Dispatch 20 may inform the party at destination N that vehicle 40a will be late, or the operator of v~!hicle 40a may do so over mobile communications de~ice 90 (FIGURE 5). Dispatch 20 may modify the route for vehicle 40a in response to receiving late information, and transmit new destination information with updated routing information and appointment inform~ation.
FIGURE 5 is a schematic representation of mobile unit 42. Mobile unit 42 includes mobile positioning receiver 80, mobile communications device 90, and other associated hardware and software, described below.
Mobile positioning receiver 80 includes antenna 82, CA 022l2330 l997-08-0~
receiver 84, controller 86, and memory 88. In operation, mobile positioning receiver 80 receives positioning information from satellites 47 over positioning information streams 49 at antenna 82. Receiver 84 processes the positioning information to extract ephemeris, ~1 ~n~c, and clock correction data.
Co..LLoller 86 receives the positioning information and computes a vehicle position. These calculations perform~d by controller 86 may use data stored in memory 88.
Mobile communications device 90 includes antenna 92, transceiver 94, and handset 96. In operation, mobile communications device 90 receives destination information at antenna 92 over destination information stream 36.
The destination information may be transmitted from dispatch 20 through communications link 30. More particularly, mobile communications device 90 receives destination information over destination information stream 36 transmitted from transmitter site 34 associated with the cellular telephone network. As described above, the destination information may be in a variety of forms, including one or more destinations, appointment information such as corresponding appointment times, routing information, weather information, average travel time between destinations, tasks to be performed at each destination, operating parameters, and other information.
Destination information received by transceiver 94 may be passed to processor 100 over a link 95 or over any other a~u~ U~Ul iate path, such as through bus drivers 112 and a modem or dual tone multifrequency (DTMF) coder/decoder 110. Handset 96 provides traditional voice or data communications using mobile communications device 90.
Processor 100 manages the communicating, calculating, locating, and reporting features of mobile unit 42. In operation, processor 100 receives a vehicle position from controller 86 and destination information WO 96/24915 PCr)USgf '00~'7 from tr~nCc~;ver 5~4. Proc~co~ 100 generates an expected time of arrival for vehicle 40 at a particular destination based on the vehicle position and the de~tina1_ion information.
Coupled to processor 100 is memory 102 which may contain p,oy r ~ ~ ~ maps, databases, and other information requirecl by processor 100 to perform its functions.
Memory 102 may be random access ~ (RAM), read-only memory ~ROM), CD-ROM, removable memory devices, or any other de!vice that allows storage or retrieval of data.
Processor 100 and controller 86, as well as memory 102 and memory 88, may be separate or integral components of mobile unit 42. Mobile unit 42 contemplates any arrangement, processing capability, or task assignment between mobile pos:itioning receiver 80, mobile communications dev:ice 90, and processor 100.
The expected t:ime of arrival is sent to output device 104, such a-; display 60 in FIGURE 4, to generate a table of destinations and corresponding expected times of arrival or, alternatively, a map displaying vehicle 40 ~and the destinatiorls. ouL~uL device 104 also produces audible :information, such as ex]pected time of arrival updates or a late announcement, to the operator of vehicle 40.
Processor 100 is also coupled to input device 106, which may be a keypad or touch screen, as well as voice recognition software and hardware that can accept audible C ~n~s and information. Furthermore, both ouL~uL
device 104 and input device 106 may include fixed or removable! storage media, such as magnetic computer discs, CD-ROM, or other suitable media to both receive output from and provide in]put to processor 100 or memory 102.
Destination information may be provided to mobile unit 42 using input device L06. This can be accomplished by a direct connection w:ith dispatch 20, audible or keypad input, or through removable storage media.
CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
WO 96/24915 PCT/u~ D~G7 A feature of the present invention is that the operator of vehicle 4 O may input information into mobile unit 42 when vehicle 40 is at one of its destinations.
Using input device 106, the operator logs information about the load of vehicle 40, the weight of vehicle 40, the bill of lading, and any other item for which it is desirable to have a record. The operator may also enter the position of the particular destination based upon the position of vehicl~ 40 determined by mobile po~itioning receiver 80. The position of the destination may be stored in memory 102 along with an identification of that destination. Dispatch 2 O can then use the accurate position information for that destination in generating destination information for future trips. Also on future trips, mobile unit 42 can use this position information to more accurately calculate an expected time of arrival for that destination.
Processor 100 generates information for tr~n! ;~sion to dispatch 20 using mobile communications device 90.
The information may include late information, such as the expected time of arrival of vehicle 40 at a particular destination, the time of reporting, and the vehicle position, or information input by the vehicle operator, as well as any other information collected by processor 100 from various sensors 108. For example, sensors 108 may include various engine sensors, truck trailer sensors, security monitors, or other devices generating information on the status or condition of mobile unit 42, vehicle 40, or its operator. The generation and transmission of this information may be based on a late expected time of arrival, an elapsed time, mo~t ent of mobile unit 42, sensor readings, or any other piece of information that may necessitate reporting to a remote location. The information is sent from processor 100 through modem or DTMF coder/d~co~r 110 to bus drivers 112, and then to transceiver 94 for tr~n! ;ssion over WO 96/24gl5 PCTrUS96100867 antenna 92 to a re~mote location, such as dispatch 20 (FIGURE 6). Infol~ation may also be sent directly to ~ transceiver 94 over li~ 95. Mobile unit 42 may also include a clock 116 coupled to processor 100 that may be used to synchroniz;e the vehicle position received from control:Ler 86 with destination information received from transceiiver 94.
Components of mobile unit 42 shown in FIGURE 5 may be packaged into one or more housings. Mobile unit 42 may be mounted to vehicle 40 or an object to be tracked.
Mobile unit 42 may also be packaged as a portable, hand-held device that provides personal timing, locating, communicating, and reporting functions. For example, a portable, hand-hel~ mobile unit 42 may be used by police, fire fighters, rescue teams, service and delivery personnel, individuals that may change forms of transportation, or in any other application re~uiring portability of mob:ile unit 42.
FIGURE 6 is a schematic representation of dispatch 20. Dispatch 20 includes a modem or DTMF coder/decoder 70, a central controller 72, a ~ ~Ly 74, an input/ouLpùL
device 76, and other associated hardware and software.
Memory 74 may be R~, ROM, CD-ROM, removable memory devices, or any other device that allows storage or retrieva:L of data. Input/~uL~uL device 76 includes any variety of ouL~uL devices, such as a display, a speaker to provide audible information, removable storage media, or any other appropriate output device. Input/o~L~L
device 76 may also include a variety of input devices, such as a keyboard, mouse, touch screen, removable storage media, or any other appropriate input device.
Dispatch 20 generates destination information for one or more vehicles 40 carrying mobile units 42. In particular, destination information may be input into central controller 72 by a person manually using input/ouLpuL device 76, by removable storage media, such CA 02212330 l997-08-o~
WO96/24915 PCT~S96100867 as magnetic c _uLer discs or CD-ROM, or any other suitable means to input information into central ~unL~oller 72. The destination information may include one or more destinations, corresponding appointment times for each destination, predete~ ; n~A routes, average travel times from one destination to another, tasks to be performed at each destination, operating parameters, and other information. The destination information is sent ~rom central ~ LLoller 72 through modem or DTMF
coder/d~co~er 70 to communications link 30 for trAn! ;~sion by transmitter site 34 to mobile unit 42.
Alternatively, transmission of destination information from dispatch 20 may not require a data encoder.
Central controller 72 also receives information from mobile unit 42 and processes this information to determine expected time of arrival, locate, track, dispatch, and communicate with mobile unit 42. For example, central controller 72 can maintain a database in memory 74 of all mobile units 42 with their current expected times of arrival, location, status, and relevant sensor r~;ngs. This database can also be used to initiate communication with mobile unit 42. Furthermore, central controller 72 may perform a call delivery function that routes ;~c ;ng calls to mobile unit 42 through communications link 30.
~ IGURE 7 is a flow chart for dete, ;n;ng an expected time of arrival at a single destination. Initially, central controller 72 of dispatch 20 generates destination information (at 210), comprising a destination and corresponding appointment time, for vehicle 40 carrying mobile unit 42. The destination can be in a variety of forms, such as latitude/longitude, as well as a street address, town or city identifier, highway crossing, or other geographic monument or identifier that can be correlated with a latitude/longitude or other positional coordinate used by CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
WO 96/24915 PCTlUS9~i~00867 mo~ile positionin~3 receiver 80. The destination information is sent from central controller 72 through modem or DTMF coder/~c~A~ 70 to communications link 30, which transmits the destination information (at Z12) to mobile unit 42 on vehicle 40. Mobile unit 42 receives the destination information via mobile communications device 90. Receiver 84 of mobile positioning receiver 80 processes positiolling information received from sa~ellites 47, an~l controller 86 d~terminQ~ a v~hicle positio:n (at 214).
Processor 10() receives the destination information from mo:bile communications device 90 and the vehicle position ~rom mobi,le positioning receiver 80. Based upon this information cmd other information that may be con~;ne~ within memory 102, processor 100 determines the expected time of arrival (at 216) of vehicle 40 at the destination speci~.ied in the destination information.
Processor 100 next determines (at 218) whether the expected time of arrival is later than the appointment time specified in the destination information received from dispatch 20. If the expected time of arrival is not later than the appointment time, mobile unit 42 will return to the step of determining vehicle position (at 214).
If the expect;ed time of arrival is later than the appointment time, processor 100 generates late informa1_ion (at 220). Processor 100 transmits the late informal:ion (at 222) to dispatch 20 using mobile c~ ;cations device 90 and ~-~ u-,ications link 30.
Processor 100 also displays late information (at 224) on vehicle 40 using output device 104 to inform the - operator.
FIGU~E 8 is a flow chart for determining expected times of arrival at a plurality of destinations.
Initially, central controller 72 of dispatch 20 generates destinat:ion information (at 310), comprising at least two CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
W096/24915 PCT/u~ ~8~7 destinations and corresponding appointment times, for vehicle 40 equipped with mobile unit 42. The destination information is sent from central ~ullLroller 72 through modem or DTMF coder/deco~er 70 to communications link 30, 5 which transmits the destination information (at 312) to mobile unit 42 on vehicle 40. Mobile unit 42 receives the destination information via mobile c~ ;cations device 90.
Processor 100 receives the destination in~ormation from mobile communications device 90. Processor 100 displays this information to the operator of vehicle 40 (at 314) using ouL~L device 104. Using the destination information, processor 100 initializes a destination and an appointment time (at 316) and resets a late flag (at 318). Receiver 84 of mobile positioning receiver 80 proo~CC~ positioning information received from satellites 47, and ~llL~oller 86 determines a vehicle position (at 320) .
Processor 100 receives the vehicle position from 20 mobile positioning receiver 80. By comparing the vehicle position to the destination, processor 100 determines whether vehicle 40 has reached the destination (at 322) .
If vehicle 40 has reached the destination, processor 100 sets the next destination and corresponding appointment 25 time (at 324) specified in the destination information received from dispatch 20. If vehicle 40 has not reached the destination, processor 100 skips the step (at 324) of setting the next destination and corresponding appointment time. Based upon the vehicle position, the destination information, and other information that may be contained within memory 102, processor 100 determines an expected time of arrival (at 326) of vehicle 40 at one or more destinations. Processor 100 may generate multiple expected times of arrival for multiple 35 destinations based on the current vehicle position.
CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
WO 96/2491!; PCI'~US96)nD8fi7 Proc~o~ lol~ next detel ;n~ (at 328) whether the expected time of arrival is later than the correspon~; ng ~ appointment time. If the expected time of arrival is not later than the appointment time, mobile unit 42 will return to the step of determining vehicle position (at 320). If the expected time of arrival is later than the appoint:ment time, processor 100 generates late in~ormation (at 330). Proc~c-cor 100 displays late information (at 332) on vehicle 40 using o~L~uL devic:e 104 to inform the operator. Late information may be generated if any of the multiple expected times of arrival are later than their corresponding appointment times.
Processor 100 next determines (at 333) whether it should report the late information to dispatch 20, based upon a ~ll hr~ of configurable operating parameters, such as the delta time parameter, failure count parameters, and renotification. interval parameters. If late information is not repo.Led, processor loo r eL~LllS to the step of resetting the late flag (at 318). If late information is reported, processor 100 transmits the late information (at 334) to dispatch 20 using mobile communic:ations device 90 and communications link 30.
Dispatch 20 receives late information from mobile unit 42 (at 336) through communications link 30. Late information enters dispatch ZO through modem or DTMF
coder/de!coder 70 and passes to central controller 72.
Central controller 72 may decide to update the destination information (at 338) and return to the step of generating destination information (at 310). If central controller 72 does not update the destination information, mobil~e unit 42 rese.ts the late flag (at 318), either autonomously or in response to a signal from dispatch 20. The method continues by determining the vehicle position (at 320).
CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
WO 96124915 PCT/u' ~ ~7 Although the present invention has been described with several embodiments, various changes and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art, and it is intended that the present invention encr ~
such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.
DETERMINING EXPECTED TIME OF ARRIVAL
. FT~T~n C~F T~ l~v~ ON
This inventi.on relates to a system for determining an expected time of arrival, and more particularly to a system for deteL ; n; ng an expected time of arrival using a mobile communications network and a positioning system.
CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
WO 96/24915 PCI~/US96/00867 R~CKGROUN~ OF T~ I~V~ lON
Mobile c~ ;cations t~c-hnology has enjoyed substantial growth over the past decade. Many cars, trucks, airplanes, boats, and other vehicles are equipped with devices that allow convenient and reliable mobile communications using a network of satellite-based or land-based transceivers. Advances in this technology have also led to widespread use of hand-held, portable mobile communications devices.
Many customers of mobile communications systems desire an accurate determination of their expected time of arrival at a particular destination, and perhaps reporting of this time to a remote location. For example, a cellular telephone in a vehicle or carried by a person offers a convenient communication link to report expected time of arrival information. One method to determine an expected time of arrival uses the average travel time from a point of origin to a destination.
This approach, however, may not be suitable for particular applications that require more accuracy and more frequent updates of an expected time of arrival.
Furthermore, transportation systems would benefit from a dispatching function that monitors and directs the travel route and expected time of arrival of its carriers. For example, dispatchers of long-haul or local vehicles desire a system that allows access to expected time of arrival information to make routing and dispatching decisions.
CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
WO 96/24915 PCT/IJS96~00867 SU~MA~Y' OF T~ l~v~ ON
In accordance with the present invention, the disadvantages and problems associated with previous t~chn; ~ues used to determine and report the expected time o~ arrival of a vehicle, person, or object at a particular destination have been substantially reduced or eliminated. One aspect of the present invention provides a system for deteL ;n;ng an expected time of arrival that integrates positi~ning technology with an existing mobile communications infrastructure.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a system for determining an expected time of arrival of a vehicle equipped ~with a mobile unit includes a dispatch remotely located from the vehicle. The dispatch generates destination information for the vehicle, specifying at least one destination. A communications link is coupled to the dispatch and receives the destination information for the vehicle from the dispatch. The mobile unit is coupled to the co ;cations link and receives from the c ln;cations link the destination information for the vehicle generated by the dispatch. The mobile unit determines a vehicle position and, in response to the vehicle position, also determines the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at thle destination identified by the destination information.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method for determining an expected time of arrival of a vehicle includes generating destination information at a dispatch, specifying at least one destination and at least one appointment time. The destination information is transmitted to the vehicle.
The vehicle position is determined at the vehicle. In = response to the vehicle position, the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at the destination identified by CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
WO 96/24915 PCT/u~ 67 the destination information is also determined at the vehicle.
Important techn; cal features of the present invention include ; -l~ving the accuracy of dete~ ; n; ng an expected time of arrival by using a positioning system. In particular, the positioning system provides information to a processor on the vehicle so that the processor may calculate the expected time of arrival based upon the actual position of the vehicle.
Additionally, the expected time of arrival may be updated continuously throughout a trip. Another t~chn;cal advantage includes sending information to the vehicle from a remote location, such as a dispatch. Such information may comprise one or more destinations and corresponding appointment times, route information, information regarding tasks to be performed or packages to be delivered at each destination specified, weather information, traffic updates, or other information.
Other t~chn; cal advantages of the present invention include generating late information when the vehicle determines it will not arrive at a destination at the corresponding appointment time. The present invention may also display this late information to the operator of the vehicle and transmit the late information to a remote location. Important te~hn; cal advantages may also include reporting to the remote location that the vehicle is not being driven along a predetermined route. Other t~-hn; cal advantages are readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, description, and claims.
CA 022l2330 l997-08-05 WOg6/24915 PCT~S96100867 RRT~ C~TPTTOM OF T~ nRAwT~Gs F~ar a more c:omplete underst~n~; n~ of the present invent.ion and for further features and advantages, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction wi.th the ac~ _~nying drawing, wherein like reference n~erals represent like parts, in which:
FIGURE 1 illustrates a system for determining an expected time of arrival at a single destination.
FIGURE 2 illustrates a system for determining expected times of arrival at a plurality of destinations;
FIGURE 3 ill.ustrates an alternative embodiment of the system for determining expected times of arrival at a pluraliLty of dest,inations;
FIGURE 4 illustrates a display on a vehicle;
F]:GURE 5 is a schematic representation of a mobile unit;
FIGURE 6 is a schematic representation of a dispatc:h;
FIGURE 7 is a flow chart for determining an expected time of' arrival at a single destination; and FIGURE 8 is a flow chart for dete, ; n; ng expected times of arrival at a plurality of destinations.
CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
nliTZ~TT.lin DF~c:c~TpTToN OF THF: I l'JV~:N'l' I ON
FIGURE 1 illustrates a system 10 for determining an expected time of arrival of a vehicle 40 travelling from a point of origin A to a destination B. System 10 includes a dispatch 20, a host 25, a c ;cations link 30, and vehicle 40 equipped with a mobile unit: 42.
System 10 provides an accurate expected time of arrival for vehicle 40 at destination B.
Dispatch 20 is remotely located from vehicle 40.
One function of dispatch 20 is to generate destination information for vehicle 40. Such destination information may include one or more destinations, appointment information such as a corresponding appointment time for each destination specified, routing information, information regarding tasks to be performed at each destination specified, average travel time to each destination, rush hour and traffic information, and weather information. Destination information may be any information generated by dispatch 20 that facilitates the control or monitoring of vehicle 40. As will be explained later in more detail, an important technical advantage of the present invention includes remotely sending information to vehicle 40 from dispatch 20.
System 10 may also include one or more hosts 25 remotely located from vehicle 40. In one embodiment, host 25 performs the management and control functions for one or more fleets of trucks. Therefore, system 10 may include many hosts 25 associated with trucking companies, delivery services, or other organizations with vehicles 40 equipped with mobile units 42. Host 25 generates destination information and transmits this information over a communications link to dispatch 20. Dispatch 20 collects destination information from several hosts 25 and transmits this information to vehicles 40.
Therefore, dispatch 20 can generate destination information or route destination information generated by CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
WO 96124915 PCTlUS9''~67 host 25. Alternatively, host 25 can transmit destination information to vehicles 40 over communications link 30.
In esse-nce, some of the functions performed by dispatch 20 may be distributed among several hosts 25. Host 25 can also receive c_ ;cations, such as late information, from mobile unit 42 over communications link 30. For clarity, this description will focus primarily on the functionality of dispatch 20, but it is understood that host 25 can perform some or all of the functions performed by dispatch 20.
Communicatio:ns link 30 is coupled to dispatch 20 and host 25 and allow:s communication between dispatch 20, host 25, and mobile unit 42 on vehicle 40.
c ;cations li:nk 30 may be any land-based or spaced-based communicati~ns system, such as a cellular telephonenetwork.. More sp~ecifically, communications link 30 comprises a mobile tel~ ;cations switching office (MTSO) 32 coupled to dispatch 20 and host 25, and at least one transmitter site 34 associated with the cellular telephonl_ network. Dispatch 20 or host 25 generates destination information and sends this information to MT.S0 32. MTS0 32 routes the destination information to transmitter site 34. Transmitter site 34 then transmits the destination information to mobile unit 42 over a destina-tion information stream 36. Destination information may be encoded using traditional data encoders, such as a modem or a dual tone multifrequency (DTMF) coder/d~colle~
C ;cations link 30 may be one or a combination of dedicated telephone lines, switched telephone lines, microwave communications links, satellite-based c- ;cations links, specialized mobile radio (SMR), enhanced speciali.zed mobile radio (ESMR), a personal .communications service (PCS), a citizen's band (CB), a dedicated radio system, such as those used by police and fire fighters, or any other suitable communications link CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
that allows dispatch 20 or host 25 to transmit data to or receive data from mobile unit 42. C~ ;cations link 30 may also be an SS7 backbone link or similar network for linking land-line or cellular switches in a public switched tel~phn~e network (PSTN). Such a link allows components of the PSTN to share information for validation, ror ;ng, billing, call routing, and other functions. C_ ;cations link 30 may also include intelligence to route information generated a~ dispatch 20, host 25, or mobile unit 42 to multiple selected sites.
Destination information stream 36 may be implemented in a control channel, paging channel, part of a seized voice or data channel, or overhead message stream currently implemented in cellular telephone technology.
Presently, the control channel provides paging of ;nc- ;ng calls, hand-off instructions, and other features of the cellular telephone network, but may be modified by one skilled in the art to include tr~n! ;~sion of destination information. Destination information stream 36 may also be implemented using any other analog or digital communications link between transmitter site 34 and mobile unit 42, whether or not the communications link requires seizing of a voice or data channel, and whether or not a data encoder is used. For example, destination information stream 36 may be part of a separate channel requiring mobile unit 42 to re-tune to destination information stream 36 transmitted from transmitter site 34.
Additionally, there are several developing technologies that may provide a convenient implementation of destination information stream 36. For example, cellular digital packet data (CDPD) technology allows integration of data and voice using the existing cellular telephone infrastructure. In a CDPD system, digital packets of data and analog voice segments share the same CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
~h~nn~l. Other developments in digital cellular . ications, s~ch as code division multiple access (CDMA) and time division multiple access (TDMA), allow digital data and digital voice signals to be interspersed on a c~ ;catio~s channel. These technologies integrate digital data transmission in a communications link 30, and there~fore provide a convenient implementation sclleme for destination information stream 36.
Transmitter site 34 may send destination information to mobile unit 42 in one large packet or in several smaller packets interspersed with other data used for mobile communications. For example, the destination in~ormation may be packaged in existing, but unused, bytes oE the overhead message stream or in a dedicated protocol. One pos;sible implementation would place destination information in the extended protocol described in the EIA/TIA-533 mobile communications st~n~Ard, which provides for bidirectional co~lln;cation between transmitter site 34 and mobile unit 42.
Mobile unit 42 may continuously monitor destination information stream 36 transmitted from transmitter site 34. Furthermore, mobile unit 42 may alternatively tune between several destination information streams 36 from several transmitter sites 34 to determine the strongest signal, usually relating to the nearest transmitter site 3~.
FIGURE 1 shows mobile unit 42 on vehicle 40. The present invention contemplates mobile unit 42 being carried by all types of vehicles, including cars, trucks, airplane!s, boats, barges, rail cars, truck trailers, on a person's body, along with a package, or any other movable object for which it is desirable to calculate an expected time of arrival.
Because mobile unit 42 is coupled to communications link 30, mobile unit 42 can c~ ln;cate with dispatch 20.
CA 022l2330 l997-08-o~
WO96/24915 PCT~S96/00867 Mobile unit 42 receives the destination information generated by dispatch 20 for vehicle 40 over communications link 30. In particular, mobile unit 42 contains a mobile c~ n; cations device 90 (F]:GURE 5) that receives destination information over destination information stream 36.
Mobile unit 42 may comprise an output device 104 (FIGURE 5) operable to present visually or audibly the destination information to an operator of vehicle 40 once the information has been received by mobile unit 42. For example, referring to FIGURE 1, G~L~L 104 displays destination information that specifies a particular route 52 for vehicle 40 to follow from a point of origin A to a destination B. Once informed of this information, the operator may then drive along route 52.
Using a positioning system 45, mobile unit 42 determines the position of vehicle 40. Specifically, mobile unit 42 comprises a mobile positioning receiver 80 (FIGURE 5) operable to receive positioning information from positioning system 45. Mobile unit 42 receives positioning information over positioning information streams 49 from a plurality of satellites 47. Mobile unit 42 then determines its position using information from positioning information streams 49. The positioning information comprises accurate satellite positioning information transmitted by satellites 47 and pseudorange data represented by the time of arrival of positioning information streams 49 to mobile unit 42.
Positioning system 45 is illustrated as a satellite-based radio navigation system, such as the NAVSTAR globalpositioning system (GPS). The description uses the NAVSTAR GPS as a representative positioning system 45, but any land-based or satellite-based system may be used.
For example, positioning system 45 may be a land-based LORAN-C, a space-based GLONASS, a dead reckoning system, an inertial navigation system, or any other appropriate CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
WO 96/24915 PCTJU' ~ 7 positioning technology. As shown in FIGURE 1, positioning system 45 comprises a plurality of satellites 47. In general, positioning system 45 comprises a plurali.ty of space-based or land-based transmitters that emit positioning information.
Sa.tellites 47 maintain accurate and synchronized time and simultaneously transmit positioning information that contains sat~ellite specific and system information required by mobilla unit 42 to determ~ine the position of vehicle 40. The ]positioning information transmitted by satellites 47 may include high precision clock and ephemeris data fo:r a particular satellite, low precision clock and ephemer.is data for every satellite in a constellation ("almanac data"), health and configuration status for all saltellites, user text messages, and other parameters describing operation of positioning system 45.
Positioning system 45 may also comprise additional satellites and one or more positioning receivers. The additional satell:ites may also c~ ;cate positioning information to mobile unit 42. In one embodiment, a positioning receiver 50 may be mounted on transmitter site 34 to implement differential GPS t~chn;cfues.
Positioning receiver 50 generates correction data that enables mobile un:it 42 to more accurately determine the positio:n of vehic:Le 40. Positioning receiver 50 transmits the correction data to mobile unit 42 over any suitable link, such as destination information stream 36.
In response t:o the vehicle position, mobile unit 42 determines the expected time of arrival of vehicle 40 at the destination iclentified by the destination information received from dispatch 20 over communications link 30.
In calculating the expected time of arrival, mobile unit 42 may also consicler such factors as the expected average speed of vehicle 40, the actual average speed of vehicle 40, the time of day during which vehicle 40 is traveling, the average time of a trip from origin A to destination B
CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
WO 96/24915 PCI~/US96/00867 along route 52 based upon prior travel, weather conditions, and other information impacting the expected time of arrival calculation. Stationary intervals along the route may also impact the calculation of expected time of arrival. These stationary intervals may include mandatory driver rest periods, allocated time to perform tasks at a location, overnight stays, scheduled or unscheduled maintenance, weigh-ins, or other intervals when vehicle 40 is not moving. The factors used to calculate expected time of arrival may be provided to mobile unit 42 from dispatch 20 or generated locally at vehicle 40. For example, mobile unit 42 may factor in delays due to weather conditions or mandatory driver rest periods that dispatch 20 is unable to predict.
Dispatch 20 can configure the interval of time between calculations of expected time of arrival by mobile unit 42. The calculation of expected time of arrival may also be continuous. As discussed below, this interval of time dictates how quickly dispatch 20 will be informed that vehicle 40 may be late in arriving at a particular destination. Furthermore, mobile unit 42 may transmit information on expected time of arrival even if it is determined that vehicle 40 will be on-time at the destination. For example, vehicle 40 may want to report to dispatch 20 a calculated expected time of arrival that is much earlier than the corresponding appointment time.
In general, mobile unit 42 may initiate transmission of information to dispatch 2 0 based on calculation of late arrival, calculation of early arrival, a predetermined reporting interval, or other condition.
System 10 provides a more accurate estimate for expected time of arrival than currently available systems, and may provide these estimates near instantaneously or "on the fly." These estimates may consider the specifics of each trip, such as traffic, weather conditions, and the time of day during which CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
WO 96/24915 PC~IUS96J~D867 vehicle 40 travel~s. In some applications, low frequency and low accuracy llpdates are sufficient. Other - applications, however, require greater accuracy and higher frequency llpdates in near real-time. For example, the operator of a local delivery truck may require accurate, high frequency estimates of expected time of arrival to monitor scheduled activities. System l0 provides these hi~h frequency updates without relying on off-vehicle compu1;ations. In addition, the same delivery truck may send lower frequency estimates of expected time of arrival or late information to a remote location, such as dispa~ch 20. ~hese estimates may be sent at fixed time intervals, on-demalld, or as a result of a predete~mined reporting event.
Sy:,tem l0 supports the remote s~n~;ng of destination information to vehicle ~0 from dispatch 20. If destination information is only input into mobile unit 42 just pr:ior to depalrture of vehicle 40 from its origin, mobile lmit 42 only has available destination information that is current as of the moment of departure. Over a ~long-haul trucking route or an extended local delivery route, destination information may become outdated before vehicle 40 reaches its final destination. To remedy this problemr dispatch 20 can continuously update the destinat:ion information used by mobile unit 42 to calculate the expected time of arrival of vehicle 40 at one or more destinations. For example, at the moment of departure, destination information input into mobile unit 42 may include the preferred route for vehicle 40 and several destinations with corresponding appointment times. During the trip, the preferred route may be shut down, additional destinations and corresponding appointment times may be added to the route, existing destinations and appointment times may be modified or deleted, traffic and truck conditions may change, or any CA 022l2330 l997-08-0~
WO 96/~915 PCT~S96/00867 other event may compel dispatch 20 to send updated destination information to vehicle 40.
Furthermore, destination information is sent directly to mobile unit 42, rather than input by the 5 operator of vehicle 40. Since the operator of vehicle 40 is not distracted from his main duty of drivin~ vehicle 40, the risk of vehicle 40 being involved in an accident is reduced. Furthermore, any human error in inputting destination information into mobile unit 42 is substantially reduced.
Mobile unit 42 may also be configured to notify both dispatch 20 and an operator of vehicle 40 if there is a likelihood that vehicle 40 Will be late in arriving at a destination. After mobile unit 42 has determined the expected time of arrival, mobile unit 42 compares this time to a corresponding appointment time specified in the destination information. If the expected time of arrival for vehicle 40 at the destination is later than the appointment time, mobile unit 42 generates late 20 information that may include the expected time of arrival. The interval of time between expected time of arrival calculations dictates the accuracy of the late information. If the expected time of arrival is calculated more often, then dispatch 20 and the operator 25 Will more likely be notified sooner that vehicle 40 will be late. For example, suppose the interval between calculations is one hour. Further suppose that vehicle 40 breaks down just after mobile unit 42 has calculated an expected time of arrival. In this case, mobile unit 30 42 Will not generate late information informing dispatch 20 that vehicle 40 Will likely be late until almost a full hour has passed. Suppose, however, that the interval between calculations is fifteen minutes. In this case, dispatch 20 is informed sooner that vehicle 40 35 will probably be late.
CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
WO 96/24915 PCrllJS96~00867 The generation of late in~ormation is also configurable in several ways. Late information does not need to be genera1:ed in all instances where mobile unit 42 calculates the expected time of arrival to be later than the correspoIlding appointment time at a destination.
For example, in most cases dispatch 20 should not be alerted if vehicle 40 will arrive at a destination one minute after the appointment time. Thus, dispatch 20 is operabl,e to conf iç~re a delta time parameter, defined a~
the difference bet:ween the appointment time and a later expected time of arrival, based upon the importance of vehicle 40 arriving at a destination on or before the appointment time. Also, just because mobile unit 42 determines that the expected time of arrival of vehicle 40 is later than t:he appointment time after one calculaltion does not mean that vehicle 40 will definitely be late.. Vehicle 40 may not be h~h;n~ sche~lle the next time that mobile unit 42 calculates the expected time of arrival.. Thus, di.spatch 20 is operable to configure a ~ailure count para.meter, defined as the number of calculal_ions of expected times of arrival in a row that are later than the! appointment time. For instance, under a failure count of zero, late information will be sent to dispatch 20 the fi.rst time mobile unit 42 calculates that the expected time of arrival is later than the appointment time. Furthermore, dispatch 20 does not need to be notified con.tinuously once vehicle 40 has fallen behind schedule. Rather, mobile unit 42 should only renotify dispatch 20 at intervals. Thus, a renotification interval parameter is configurable based upon how often dispatch 20 needs to be informed that vehicle 40 will probably be late. The delta time parameter, failure count parameter, renotification interval parameter, and other operating parameters can be sent from dispatch 2.0 to vehicle 40 as destination information.
CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
WO 96/24915 PCI~/US96/00867 System 10 allows parties to adjust for a late arrival. Mobile unit 42 transmits the late information to dispatch 20 over communications link 30. Dispatch 20 may then act upon the late information. For example, S dispatch 20 may inform parties at the destination that vehicle 40 will not make the appointment time, but rather will arrive at the expected time of arrival determined by mobile unit 42. Mobile unit 42 may also transmit late information directly to the destination Of vehicle 4 0 .
Furthermore, mobile unit 42 may present the late information to the operator of vehicle 40 via output 104 (FIGURE 5). Once informed that vehicle 42 will not arrive at the destination at the corresponding appointment time, the operator may take corrective action, such as making less stops. Additionally, mobile unit 42 may be configured to determine and display the average speed of travel required of vehicle 40 to arrive at the destination at the appointment time.
Mobile unit 42 can be configured to generate late information only if the expected time of arrival at the destination is later than the corresponding appointment time. Other systems that are used for monitor~ng vehicles provide constant updates on the vehicles. Most dispatchers, however, are not concerned about the exact position of a vehicle at every moment in route to its destination. Rather, dispatchers may be concerned only when a vehicle cannot reach its destination at the appointed time. In such a manner, mobile unit 42 substantially reduces or eliminates the expense of additional personnel, equipment, and c- u~,ications costs needed to monitor vehicle 40.
In system 10, dispatch 20 allows monitoring of at least one vehicle 40 equipped with mobile unit 42. A
large company may operate dispatch 20 to monitor a plurality of vehicles 40 equipped with mobile units 42.
Smaller companies with more limited resources could pool CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
WO 96/24915 PCTlUS~>~'t'~7 together to either jointly operate dispatch 20 or employ an independent fi~ to operate dispatch 20. It should be understood that the present invention contemplates any ~ h~r ~nd arrangement of dispatches 20 to monitor one or more fleets of vebLicles 40.
FI~URE 2 illustrates a system lOa for determining expected times of arrival at a plurality of destinations.
More particularly, system lOa as shown provides accurate expect~d times of arrival for vehicle 40 at de~tinations C, D, and E along route 52a or destinations C', D', and E
along route 52b.
In this embodiment of the present invention, the destination information generated by dispatch 20 includes several destinations and corresponding appointment times.
For example, the destination information may specify that vehicle 40 must be at: (1) destination C at 1:00 p.m., February 1, 1995; (2) destination D at 4:00 p.m., February~ 1, 1995; and (3) destination E at 10:00 a.m., February~ 2, 1995. Based upon this and other destination information received from dispatch 20 over c 7n; cations link 30 and from p~sitioning information received from positioning system 45, mobile unit 42 determines the expected times of arrival of vehicle 40 at destinations C, D, an~d E.
The operator of vehicle 40 may be required to perform some task, such as dropping off a delivery, at each of destinations C, D, and E. Vehicle 40 is scheduled to arrive at each destination by the corresponding appointment time specified in the destination information; otherwise, mobile unit 42 generates late information for each destination that vehicle 40 will not reach by the corresponding appointment time. For example, assume vehicle 40 arrived at the appointed tLme at destination C, but is now running late by an hour for destination D. Based on current vehicle position and other factors, mobile unit CA 022l2330 l997-08-0~
WO 96/249l5 PCTIUS96/00867 42 determines the expected time of arrival at destination D and may also determine an expected time of arrival at destination E. If one or both of these expected times of arrival are after the correspon~;ng appointment time, then mobile unit 42 generates late information for display to the operator and/or transmission to dispatch 20. Dispatch 20 may then inform parties at destinations D and E that vehicle 40 will arrive at the expected times of arrival determined by mobile unit 42 for those destinations.
A problem that trucking c -n;es have often faced is that operators of trucks, either intentionally or unintentionally, drive considerable dist~nc~s from their assigned routes. Because trucking comr~n;es must pay for the additional fuel and maint~n~nC~ e~pen~es associated with the increased mileage, these out-of-route miles are ext~. -ly costly to trucking c~ -n; es. To alleviate this problem, destinations C and D may be used as way points to determine whether the operator of vehicle 40 has driven out of route 52a specified in the destination information generated by dispatch 20. Referring to FIGURE 2, dispatch 20 generates destination information specifying that vehicle 40 is to proceed to destination E
along route 52a, thus passing through way points C and D.
Mobile unit 42 may be configured to update dispatch 20 when vehicle 40 has reached a way point. In this way, dispatch 20 may be notified that vehicle 40 is still in route. Suppose, however, that instead of following route 52a specified by the destination information, the operator of vehicle 40 drives along route 52b passing through points C' and D'. Based upon the position information received from positioning system 45 and the destination information received from dispatch 20, mobile unit 42 determines that the expected time of arrival of vehicle 40 at way point C will be later than the corresponding appointment time. This will occur at some CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
WO g~i/2491S PCTJUS91~100867 point along the path between A and C', and most likely at the beginning of 1:he path near A. Therefore, shortly a~ter vehicle 40 1:akes the wrong route, mobile unit 42 generates late ini-ormation, including the position of vehicle 40, to iniorm dispatch 20 and the operator of vehicle 40 of the out-of-route condition. Regardless of the operator's int:entions, he may now correct his route in order to minimize the out-of-route mileage. At this point, dispatch 20 may update the destination information for mobile unit 42.
Besides reducing out-of-route mileage, the use of intermediate way points improves the calculation of expected time of arrival. Specifically, the actual distance between the position of vehicle 40 and the destination may nat be the road distance. way points may be used as intermediate points between the position of vehicle 40 and the destination in order to more accurately calculate actual road distance. If used for more acc:urate distance calculation, way points do not need an associated appointment time and mobile unit 42 need not: calculate an expected time of arrival at these way poi~lts. Way points may be generated locally at mobile unit 42 using, for example, routing software or database!s .
FIGURE 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of system lOa for det~eL ; n; ng expected times of arrival at a plurality of destinations, with particular application to local delivery or repair services. System lOb provides expected times of ;lrrival for vehicle 40a at destinations L, M, N, 0, and P, which define the expected route of vehicle 40a shown ]~y the dotted line. Mobile unit 42 receives destination information generated by dispatch 20 through communicat:ions link 30. The operation of system lOb illustrated in FIGUR~ 3 is best understood in reference to both FIGURES 3 and 4.
CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
FIGURE 4 illustrates a display 60 on vehicle 40a.
Address column 64 includes at least one destination, appointment time column 66 includes at least one correspo~;ng appointment time, and description column 68 includes at least one task to be performed at a destination. The letters in parenth~c~ under column 62, not included in display 60, disclose the correspon~;ng destinations in FIGURE 3. Specifically, lines 1, 2, 3, and 4 in display 60 of FIGURE 4 correspond to destinations M, N, 0, and P, respectively, shown in FIGURE 3. In addition, expected time column 69 displays at least one expected time of arrival calculated by mobile unit 42. Display 60 may also display a map 67 showing the location of vehicle 40a relative to one or more destinations, a predetermined route for vehicle 40a to follow, and any other information that may be useful to the operator.
In operation, dispatch 20 generates destination information for vehicle 40a. The destination information defines, for example, the delivery schedule for a local delivery service or an appointment schedule for a local service provider. The destination information may be based in part on an allocated amount of time to perform a task at a destination and the expected travel time between destinations. For example, dispatch 20 may allocate fifty-five minutes to repair a machine at destination M and five minutes to travel between destinations M and N. Thus, as shown on line 2 of display 60 in FIGURE 4, dispatch 20 generates destination information for vehicle 40a that includes an appointment time of 9:00 a.m. at destination N by adding fifty-five minutes work time plus five minutes travel time to the 8:00 a.m. appointment time at destination M.
Dispatch 20 transmits the destination information to vehicle 40a over communications link 30. Destination information may also be loaded into mobile unit 42 using CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
WO ~)6/24915 PCI~/IJS9610U8~7 any suitable input device, such as a keyboard, a direct connection, or any suitable removable storage media.
4 In a particular example, the operator of vehicle 4Oa is a plumber who is at destination M, shown on line 1 of display 60. Destination N, shown on line 2 of display 60, is five minut,es away from destination M, the time is now 9:10 a.m., an~ the operator has just finished repairing the mac]~ine, as shown under description column 68 of line 1. Mo~ile unit 42 determines the expected time of arrival oE vehicle 40a at destination N to be 9:15 a.m. (as shown in expected time column 69 of line 2), based upon the destination information and the vehicle position. The appointment time for destination N, however, is 9:00 a.m. (as shown in appointment time column 66 of line 2). ~he late expected time of arrival is displayed to the operator, which may be highlighted, bl ;nk;n,~, or in a different color to alert the operator.
Moreover, mobile ~mit 42 has calculated the expected times of arrival at destinations O and P to be 10:45 a.m.
and }1:45 a.m., respectively, (as shown in expected time column 69 of lines 3 and 4, respectively) based upon the estimated late arrival at destination N.
Mobile unit 92 generates late information and transmits it to dispatch 20. Dispatch 20 may inform the party at destination N that vehicle 40a will be late, or the operator of v~!hicle 40a may do so over mobile communications de~ice 90 (FIGURE 5). Dispatch 20 may modify the route for vehicle 40a in response to receiving late information, and transmit new destination information with updated routing information and appointment inform~ation.
FIGURE 5 is a schematic representation of mobile unit 42. Mobile unit 42 includes mobile positioning receiver 80, mobile communications device 90, and other associated hardware and software, described below.
Mobile positioning receiver 80 includes antenna 82, CA 022l2330 l997-08-0~
receiver 84, controller 86, and memory 88. In operation, mobile positioning receiver 80 receives positioning information from satellites 47 over positioning information streams 49 at antenna 82. Receiver 84 processes the positioning information to extract ephemeris, ~1 ~n~c, and clock correction data.
Co..LLoller 86 receives the positioning information and computes a vehicle position. These calculations perform~d by controller 86 may use data stored in memory 88.
Mobile communications device 90 includes antenna 92, transceiver 94, and handset 96. In operation, mobile communications device 90 receives destination information at antenna 92 over destination information stream 36.
The destination information may be transmitted from dispatch 20 through communications link 30. More particularly, mobile communications device 90 receives destination information over destination information stream 36 transmitted from transmitter site 34 associated with the cellular telephone network. As described above, the destination information may be in a variety of forms, including one or more destinations, appointment information such as corresponding appointment times, routing information, weather information, average travel time between destinations, tasks to be performed at each destination, operating parameters, and other information.
Destination information received by transceiver 94 may be passed to processor 100 over a link 95 or over any other a~u~ U~Ul iate path, such as through bus drivers 112 and a modem or dual tone multifrequency (DTMF) coder/decoder 110. Handset 96 provides traditional voice or data communications using mobile communications device 90.
Processor 100 manages the communicating, calculating, locating, and reporting features of mobile unit 42. In operation, processor 100 receives a vehicle position from controller 86 and destination information WO 96/24915 PCr)USgf '00~'7 from tr~nCc~;ver 5~4. Proc~co~ 100 generates an expected time of arrival for vehicle 40 at a particular destination based on the vehicle position and the de~tina1_ion information.
Coupled to processor 100 is memory 102 which may contain p,oy r ~ ~ ~ maps, databases, and other information requirecl by processor 100 to perform its functions.
Memory 102 may be random access ~ (RAM), read-only memory ~ROM), CD-ROM, removable memory devices, or any other de!vice that allows storage or retrieval of data.
Processor 100 and controller 86, as well as memory 102 and memory 88, may be separate or integral components of mobile unit 42. Mobile unit 42 contemplates any arrangement, processing capability, or task assignment between mobile pos:itioning receiver 80, mobile communications dev:ice 90, and processor 100.
The expected t:ime of arrival is sent to output device 104, such a-; display 60 in FIGURE 4, to generate a table of destinations and corresponding expected times of arrival or, alternatively, a map displaying vehicle 40 ~and the destinatiorls. ouL~uL device 104 also produces audible :information, such as ex]pected time of arrival updates or a late announcement, to the operator of vehicle 40.
Processor 100 is also coupled to input device 106, which may be a keypad or touch screen, as well as voice recognition software and hardware that can accept audible C ~n~s and information. Furthermore, both ouL~uL
device 104 and input device 106 may include fixed or removable! storage media, such as magnetic computer discs, CD-ROM, or other suitable media to both receive output from and provide in]put to processor 100 or memory 102.
Destination information may be provided to mobile unit 42 using input device L06. This can be accomplished by a direct connection w:ith dispatch 20, audible or keypad input, or through removable storage media.
CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
WO 96/24915 PCT/u~ D~G7 A feature of the present invention is that the operator of vehicle 4 O may input information into mobile unit 42 when vehicle 40 is at one of its destinations.
Using input device 106, the operator logs information about the load of vehicle 40, the weight of vehicle 40, the bill of lading, and any other item for which it is desirable to have a record. The operator may also enter the position of the particular destination based upon the position of vehicl~ 40 determined by mobile po~itioning receiver 80. The position of the destination may be stored in memory 102 along with an identification of that destination. Dispatch 2 O can then use the accurate position information for that destination in generating destination information for future trips. Also on future trips, mobile unit 42 can use this position information to more accurately calculate an expected time of arrival for that destination.
Processor 100 generates information for tr~n! ;~sion to dispatch 20 using mobile communications device 90.
The information may include late information, such as the expected time of arrival of vehicle 40 at a particular destination, the time of reporting, and the vehicle position, or information input by the vehicle operator, as well as any other information collected by processor 100 from various sensors 108. For example, sensors 108 may include various engine sensors, truck trailer sensors, security monitors, or other devices generating information on the status or condition of mobile unit 42, vehicle 40, or its operator. The generation and transmission of this information may be based on a late expected time of arrival, an elapsed time, mo~t ent of mobile unit 42, sensor readings, or any other piece of information that may necessitate reporting to a remote location. The information is sent from processor 100 through modem or DTMF coder/d~co~r 110 to bus drivers 112, and then to transceiver 94 for tr~n! ;ssion over WO 96/24gl5 PCTrUS96100867 antenna 92 to a re~mote location, such as dispatch 20 (FIGURE 6). Infol~ation may also be sent directly to ~ transceiver 94 over li~ 95. Mobile unit 42 may also include a clock 116 coupled to processor 100 that may be used to synchroniz;e the vehicle position received from control:Ler 86 with destination information received from transceiiver 94.
Components of mobile unit 42 shown in FIGURE 5 may be packaged into one or more housings. Mobile unit 42 may be mounted to vehicle 40 or an object to be tracked.
Mobile unit 42 may also be packaged as a portable, hand-held device that provides personal timing, locating, communicating, and reporting functions. For example, a portable, hand-hel~ mobile unit 42 may be used by police, fire fighters, rescue teams, service and delivery personnel, individuals that may change forms of transportation, or in any other application re~uiring portability of mob:ile unit 42.
FIGURE 6 is a schematic representation of dispatch 20. Dispatch 20 includes a modem or DTMF coder/decoder 70, a central controller 72, a ~ ~Ly 74, an input/ouLpùL
device 76, and other associated hardware and software.
Memory 74 may be R~, ROM, CD-ROM, removable memory devices, or any other device that allows storage or retrieva:L of data. Input/~uL~uL device 76 includes any variety of ouL~uL devices, such as a display, a speaker to provide audible information, removable storage media, or any other appropriate output device. Input/o~L~L
device 76 may also include a variety of input devices, such as a keyboard, mouse, touch screen, removable storage media, or any other appropriate input device.
Dispatch 20 generates destination information for one or more vehicles 40 carrying mobile units 42. In particular, destination information may be input into central controller 72 by a person manually using input/ouLpuL device 76, by removable storage media, such CA 02212330 l997-08-o~
WO96/24915 PCT~S96100867 as magnetic c _uLer discs or CD-ROM, or any other suitable means to input information into central ~unL~oller 72. The destination information may include one or more destinations, corresponding appointment times for each destination, predete~ ; n~A routes, average travel times from one destination to another, tasks to be performed at each destination, operating parameters, and other information. The destination information is sent ~rom central ~ LLoller 72 through modem or DTMF
coder/d~co~er 70 to communications link 30 for trAn! ;~sion by transmitter site 34 to mobile unit 42.
Alternatively, transmission of destination information from dispatch 20 may not require a data encoder.
Central controller 72 also receives information from mobile unit 42 and processes this information to determine expected time of arrival, locate, track, dispatch, and communicate with mobile unit 42. For example, central controller 72 can maintain a database in memory 74 of all mobile units 42 with their current expected times of arrival, location, status, and relevant sensor r~;ngs. This database can also be used to initiate communication with mobile unit 42. Furthermore, central controller 72 may perform a call delivery function that routes ;~c ;ng calls to mobile unit 42 through communications link 30.
~ IGURE 7 is a flow chart for dete, ;n;ng an expected time of arrival at a single destination. Initially, central controller 72 of dispatch 20 generates destination information (at 210), comprising a destination and corresponding appointment time, for vehicle 40 carrying mobile unit 42. The destination can be in a variety of forms, such as latitude/longitude, as well as a street address, town or city identifier, highway crossing, or other geographic monument or identifier that can be correlated with a latitude/longitude or other positional coordinate used by CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
WO 96/24915 PCTlUS9~i~00867 mo~ile positionin~3 receiver 80. The destination information is sent from central controller 72 through modem or DTMF coder/~c~A~ 70 to communications link 30, which transmits the destination information (at Z12) to mobile unit 42 on vehicle 40. Mobile unit 42 receives the destination information via mobile communications device 90. Receiver 84 of mobile positioning receiver 80 processes positiolling information received from sa~ellites 47, an~l controller 86 d~terminQ~ a v~hicle positio:n (at 214).
Processor 10() receives the destination information from mo:bile communications device 90 and the vehicle position ~rom mobi,le positioning receiver 80. Based upon this information cmd other information that may be con~;ne~ within memory 102, processor 100 determines the expected time of arrival (at 216) of vehicle 40 at the destination speci~.ied in the destination information.
Processor 100 next determines (at 218) whether the expected time of arrival is later than the appointment time specified in the destination information received from dispatch 20. If the expected time of arrival is not later than the appointment time, mobile unit 42 will return to the step of determining vehicle position (at 214).
If the expect;ed time of arrival is later than the appointment time, processor 100 generates late informa1_ion (at 220). Processor 100 transmits the late informal:ion (at 222) to dispatch 20 using mobile c~ ;cations device 90 and ~-~ u-,ications link 30.
Processor 100 also displays late information (at 224) on vehicle 40 using output device 104 to inform the - operator.
FIGU~E 8 is a flow chart for determining expected times of arrival at a plurality of destinations.
Initially, central controller 72 of dispatch 20 generates destinat:ion information (at 310), comprising at least two CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
W096/24915 PCT/u~ ~8~7 destinations and corresponding appointment times, for vehicle 40 equipped with mobile unit 42. The destination information is sent from central ~ullLroller 72 through modem or DTMF coder/deco~er 70 to communications link 30, 5 which transmits the destination information (at 312) to mobile unit 42 on vehicle 40. Mobile unit 42 receives the destination information via mobile c~ ;cations device 90.
Processor 100 receives the destination in~ormation from mobile communications device 90. Processor 100 displays this information to the operator of vehicle 40 (at 314) using ouL~L device 104. Using the destination information, processor 100 initializes a destination and an appointment time (at 316) and resets a late flag (at 318). Receiver 84 of mobile positioning receiver 80 proo~CC~ positioning information received from satellites 47, and ~llL~oller 86 determines a vehicle position (at 320) .
Processor 100 receives the vehicle position from 20 mobile positioning receiver 80. By comparing the vehicle position to the destination, processor 100 determines whether vehicle 40 has reached the destination (at 322) .
If vehicle 40 has reached the destination, processor 100 sets the next destination and corresponding appointment 25 time (at 324) specified in the destination information received from dispatch 20. If vehicle 40 has not reached the destination, processor 100 skips the step (at 324) of setting the next destination and corresponding appointment time. Based upon the vehicle position, the destination information, and other information that may be contained within memory 102, processor 100 determines an expected time of arrival (at 326) of vehicle 40 at one or more destinations. Processor 100 may generate multiple expected times of arrival for multiple 35 destinations based on the current vehicle position.
CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
WO 96/2491!; PCI'~US96)nD8fi7 Proc~o~ lol~ next detel ;n~ (at 328) whether the expected time of arrival is later than the correspon~; ng ~ appointment time. If the expected time of arrival is not later than the appointment time, mobile unit 42 will return to the step of determining vehicle position (at 320). If the expected time of arrival is later than the appoint:ment time, processor 100 generates late in~ormation (at 330). Proc~c-cor 100 displays late information (at 332) on vehicle 40 using o~L~uL devic:e 104 to inform the operator. Late information may be generated if any of the multiple expected times of arrival are later than their corresponding appointment times.
Processor 100 next determines (at 333) whether it should report the late information to dispatch 20, based upon a ~ll hr~ of configurable operating parameters, such as the delta time parameter, failure count parameters, and renotification. interval parameters. If late information is not repo.Led, processor loo r eL~LllS to the step of resetting the late flag (at 318). If late information is reported, processor 100 transmits the late information (at 334) to dispatch 20 using mobile communic:ations device 90 and communications link 30.
Dispatch 20 receives late information from mobile unit 42 (at 336) through communications link 30. Late information enters dispatch ZO through modem or DTMF
coder/de!coder 70 and passes to central controller 72.
Central controller 72 may decide to update the destination information (at 338) and return to the step of generating destination information (at 310). If central controller 72 does not update the destination information, mobil~e unit 42 rese.ts the late flag (at 318), either autonomously or in response to a signal from dispatch 20. The method continues by determining the vehicle position (at 320).
CA 02212330 1997-08-0~
WO 96124915 PCT/u' ~ ~7 Although the present invention has been described with several embodiments, various changes and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art, and it is intended that the present invention encr ~
such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims (103)
1. A system for determining an expected time of arrival of a vehicle equipped with a mobile unit, comprising:
a dispatch remotely located from the vehicle, the dispatch operable t:o generate destination information for the vehicle, the destination information specifying at least one destination and a corresponding appointment time;
a communications link coupled to the dispatch, the communications link: operable to receive the destination information for the vehicle from the dispatch; and the mobile unit coupled to the communications link, the mobile unit operable to receive from the communications link the destination information for the vehicle generated by the dispatch, the mobile unit further operable to determine a vehicle position, the mobile unit further operable to determine in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at the destination identified by the destination information, the mobile unit further operable to determine if the expected time of arrival differs from the corresponding appointment time for the destination by more than a predetermined amount.
a dispatch remotely located from the vehicle, the dispatch operable t:o generate destination information for the vehicle, the destination information specifying at least one destination and a corresponding appointment time;
a communications link coupled to the dispatch, the communications link: operable to receive the destination information for the vehicle from the dispatch; and the mobile unit coupled to the communications link, the mobile unit operable to receive from the communications link the destination information for the vehicle generated by the dispatch, the mobile unit further operable to determine a vehicle position, the mobile unit further operable to determine in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at the destination identified by the destination information, the mobile unit further operable to determine if the expected time of arrival differs from the corresponding appointment time for the destination by more than a predetermined amount.
2. The system of Claim 1, wherein the communications link comprises a cellular telephone network.
3. The system of Claim 1, wherein the destination information comprises routing information, the routing information specifying a predetermined route for the vehicle to travel to the destination, the mobile unit further operable to determine the expected time of arrival of the vehicle in response to the routing :information.
4. The system of Claim 1, wherein the destination information comprises routing information, the routing information specifying a predetermined route for the vehicle to travel to the destination and an expected travel speed along the predetermined route, the mobile unit further operable to determine the expected time of arrival of the vehicle in response to the routing information.
5. The system of Claim 1, wherein the mobile unit comprises a GPS receiver to determine the vehicle position for use in determining the expected time of arrival.
6. The system of Claim 1, wherein the mobile unit is further operable to generate late information if the expected time of arrival differs from the appointment time by more than a predetermined amount.
7. The system of Claim 6, wherein the mobile unit is further operable to transmit the late information to the dispatch using the communications link.
8. The system of Claim 6, wherein the late information specifies the expected time of arrival of the vehicle determined by the mobile unit.
9. The system of Claim 6, wherein the mobile unit is further operable to display a late message on the vehicle in response to the late information.
10. The system of Claim 9, wherein the late message specifies the expected time of arrival of the vehicle determined by the mobile unit.
11. The system of Claim 1, wherein the destination information specifies a corresponding appointment time for the vehicle to be at each of a plurality of destinations identified by the destination information, the mobile unit further operable to determine in response to the vehicle position the expected times of arrival of the vehicle at each of the destinations identified by the destination information.
12. The system of Claim 11, wherein the mobile unit is further operable to generate late information if the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at one of the destinations identified by the destination information differs from the corresponding appointment time by more than a predetermined amount.
13. The system of Claim 12, wherein the mobile unit is further operable to transmit the late information to the dispatch using the communications link.
14. A system for dispatching a vehicle equipped with a mobile unit, comprising:
a dispatch remotely located from the vehicle, the dispatch operable to generate destination information for the vehicle, the destination information specifying a first destination, a stationary interval at the first destination, a second destination, and a corresponding appointment time for the second destination;
a communications link coupled to the dispatch, the communications link operable to receive the destination information for the vehicle from the dispatch; and the mobile unit coupled to the communications link, the mobile unit operable to receive from the communications link the destination information for the vehicle generated by the dispatch, the mobile unit further operable to determine a vehicle position, the mobile unit further operable to determine in response to the vehicle position and the stationary interval the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at the second destination, the mobile unit further operable to determine if the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at the at the second destination differs from the corresponding appointment time for the second destination by more than a predetermined amount.
a dispatch remotely located from the vehicle, the dispatch operable to generate destination information for the vehicle, the destination information specifying a first destination, a stationary interval at the first destination, a second destination, and a corresponding appointment time for the second destination;
a communications link coupled to the dispatch, the communications link operable to receive the destination information for the vehicle from the dispatch; and the mobile unit coupled to the communications link, the mobile unit operable to receive from the communications link the destination information for the vehicle generated by the dispatch, the mobile unit further operable to determine a vehicle position, the mobile unit further operable to determine in response to the vehicle position and the stationary interval the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at the second destination, the mobile unit further operable to determine if the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at the at the second destination differs from the corresponding appointment time for the second destination by more than a predetermined amount.
15. The system of Claim 14, wherein the stationary interval is an allotted time to perform a task at the first destination.
16. The system of Claim 14, wherein the destination information comprises routing information, the routing information specifying a predetermined route for the vehicle to travel to the second destination.
17. The system of Claim 14, wherein the mobile unit comprises a database operable to store routing information, the mobile unit further operable to generate a predetermined route for the vehicle to travel to the second destination in response to the routing information stored on the database.
18. The system of Claim 14, wherein the mobile unit comprises a database operable to store routing information, the mobile unit further operable to generate a predetermined route for the vehicle to travel to the second destination in response to the routing information stored on the database, the mobile unit further operable to determine the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at the second destination in response to the routing information.
19. The system of Claim 14, wherein the mobile unit is further operable to generate late information if the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at the second destination differs from the corresponding appointment time by more than a predetermined amount.
20. The system of Claim 19, wherein the mobile unit is further operable to transmit the late information to the dispatch using the communications link.
21. The system of Claim 20, wherein the late information transmitted to the dispatch specifies the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at the second destination.
22. The system of Claim 19, wherein the mobile unit is further operable to display a late message on the vehicle in response to the late information.
23. An apparatus on a vehicle for determining an expected time of arrival of the vehicle, comprising:
a communications device operable to receive destination information from a dispatch, the destination information specifying at least one destination and a corresponding appointment time;
a positioning device operable to determine a vehicle position; and a processor coupled to the communications device and the positioning device, the processor operable to receive destination information from the communications device and the vehicle position from the positioning device, the processor further operable to determine in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at the destination identified by the destination information, the processor further operable to determine if the expected time of arrival differs from the corresponding appointment time for the destination by more than a predetermined amount.
a communications device operable to receive destination information from a dispatch, the destination information specifying at least one destination and a corresponding appointment time;
a positioning device operable to determine a vehicle position; and a processor coupled to the communications device and the positioning device, the processor operable to receive destination information from the communications device and the vehicle position from the positioning device, the processor further operable to determine in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at the destination identified by the destination information, the processor further operable to determine if the expected time of arrival differs from the corresponding appointment time for the destination by more than a predetermined amount.
24. The apparatus of Claim 23, wherein the communications device is coupled to a cellular telephone network.
25. The apparatus of Claim 23, wherein the positioning device comprises a GPS receiver.
26. The apparatus of Claim 23, wherein the destination information comprises routing information, the routing information specifying a predetermined route for the vehicle to travel to the destination, the processor further operable to determine the expected time of arrival of the vehicle in response to the routing information.
27. The apparatus of Claim 23, wherein the destination information comprises routing information, the routing information specifying a predetermined route for the vehicle to travel to the destination and an expected travel speed along the predetermined route, the processor further operable to determine the expected time of arrival of the vehicle in response to the routing information.
28. The apparatus of Claim 23, wherein the processor is further operable to generate late information if the expected time of arrival of the vehicle differs from the appointment time by more than a predetermined amount.
29. The apparatus of Claim 28, wherein the communications device is operable to transmit the late information to the dispatch.
30. The apparatus of Claim 29, wherein the late information specifies the expected time of arrival of the vehicle determined by the processor.
31. The apparatus of Claim 28, further comprising a display operable to display a late message on the vehicle in response to the late information.
32. The apparatus of Claim 23, further comprising a database operable to store routing information, the processor being further operable to generate a predetermined route for the vehicle to travel to the destination in response to the routing information stored in the database, the processor further operable to determine the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at the destination in response to the routing information.
33. The apparatus of Claim 23, wherein the destination information specifies a plurality of destinations, the processor operable to determine in response to the vehicle position the expected times of arrival of the vehicle at each of the destination.
34. The apparatus of Claim 33, wherein the destination information specifies an appointment time corresponding to each of the destinations, the processor operable to generate late information if the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at one of the destinations differs from the corresponding appointment time by more than a predetermined amount.
35. The apparatus of Claim 34, wherein the communications device is further operable to transmit the late information to the dispatch.
36. A method for determining an expected time of arrival of a vehicle, comprising:
generating destination information at a dispatch, the destination information specifying at least one destination and a corresponding appointment time;
transmitting the destination information to the vehicle;
determining at the vehicle the vehicle position;
determining at the vehicle in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at the destination identified by the destination information;
determining at the vehicle whether the expected time of arrival differs from the corresponding appointment time for the destination by more than a predetermined amount.
generating destination information at a dispatch, the destination information specifying at least one destination and a corresponding appointment time;
transmitting the destination information to the vehicle;
determining at the vehicle the vehicle position;
determining at the vehicle in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at the destination identified by the destination information;
determining at the vehicle whether the expected time of arrival differs from the corresponding appointment time for the destination by more than a predetermined amount.
37. The method of Claim 36, wherein the step of transmitting the destination information to the vehicle is performed using a cellular telephone network.
38. The method of Claim 36, wherein the step of determining at the vehicle the vehicle position is performed using a GPS receiver.
39. The method of Claim 36, further comprising the step of displaying the destination information to an operator of the vehicle.
40. The method of Claim 36, further comprising the step of generating late information at the vehicle if the expected time of arrival of the vehicle differs from the appointment time by more than a predetermined amount.
41. The method of Claim 40, further comprising the step of displaying the late information to an operator of the vehicle.
42. The method of Claim 40, further comprising the step of transmitting the late information to the dispatch.
43. The method of Claim 40, further comprising the steps of:
transmitting the late information to the dispatch;
generating updated destination information at the dispatch in response to the late information; and transmitting the updated destination information to the vehicle.
transmitting the late information to the dispatch;
generating updated destination information at the dispatch in response to the late information; and transmitting the updated destination information to the vehicle.
44. A method for determining an expected time of arrival of a vehicle, comprising:
generating destination information at a dispatch, the destination information specifying a plurality of destinations and a plurality of corresponding appointment times;
transmitting the destination information to the vehicle;
determining at the vehicle the vehicle position;
determining at the vehicle in response to the vehicle position an expected time of arrival of the vehicle at one or more of the destinations;
determining at the vehicle whether the expected time of arrival at one or more of the destinations differs from the corresponding appointment time by more than a predetermined amount; and generating late information if the expected time of arrival at one or more destinations differs from the corresponding appointment time by more than the predetermined amount.
generating destination information at a dispatch, the destination information specifying a plurality of destinations and a plurality of corresponding appointment times;
transmitting the destination information to the vehicle;
determining at the vehicle the vehicle position;
determining at the vehicle in response to the vehicle position an expected time of arrival of the vehicle at one or more of the destinations;
determining at the vehicle whether the expected time of arrival at one or more of the destinations differs from the corresponding appointment time by more than a predetermined amount; and generating late information if the expected time of arrival at one or more destinations differs from the corresponding appointment time by more than the predetermined amount.
45. The method of Claim 44, wherein the step of transmitting the destination information to the vehicle is performed using a cellular telephone network.
46. The method of Claim 44, wherein the step of determining at the vehicle the vehicle position is performed by a GPS receiver.
47. The method of Claim 44, further comprising the step of transmitting the late information to the dispatch.
48. The method of Claim 44, further comprising the steps of:
transmitting the late information to the dispatch;
determining updated destination information at the dispatch in response to the late information; and transmitting the updated destination information to the vehicle.
transmitting the late information to the dispatch;
determining updated destination information at the dispatch in response to the late information; and transmitting the updated destination information to the vehicle.
49. The system of Claim 1, wherein:
the dispatch is further operable to configure a failure count parameter; and the mobile unit is further operable to maintain a count of a number of calculations of expected time of arrival that are later than the corresponding appointment time, the mobile unit further operable to generate and transmit late information if the maintained count exceeds the failure count parameter.
the dispatch is further operable to configure a failure count parameter; and the mobile unit is further operable to maintain a count of a number of calculations of expected time of arrival that are later than the corresponding appointment time, the mobile unit further operable to generate and transmit late information if the maintained count exceeds the failure count parameter.
50. The apparatus of Claim 23, wherein:
the destination information specifies a failure count parameter; and the processor is further operable to maintain a count of a number of calculations of expected time of arrival that are later than the corresponding appointment time, the processor further operable to generate and transmit late information if the maintained count exceeds the failure count parameter.
the destination information specifies a failure count parameter; and the processor is further operable to maintain a count of a number of calculations of expected time of arrival that are later than the corresponding appointment time, the processor further operable to generate and transmit late information if the maintained count exceeds the failure count parameter.
51. The method of Claim 36, further comprising the steps of:
configuring at the dispatch a failure count parameter;
transmitting the failure count parameter to the vehicle;
maintaining at the vehicle a count of a number of calculations of expected time of arrival that are later than the corresponding appointment time;
generating and transmitting late information at the vehicle if the maintained count of a number of calculations of expected time of arrival that are later than the corresponding appointment time exceeds the failure count parameter.
configuring at the dispatch a failure count parameter;
transmitting the failure count parameter to the vehicle;
maintaining at the vehicle a count of a number of calculations of expected time of arrival that are later than the corresponding appointment time;
generating and transmitting late information at the vehicle if the maintained count of a number of calculations of expected time of arrival that are later than the corresponding appointment time exceeds the failure count parameter.
52. A system for determining an expected time of arrival of a vehicle equipped with a mobile unit, comprising:
a dispatch remotely located from the vehicle, the dispatch operable to generate destination information for the vehicle, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
a communications link coupled to the dispatch, the communications link operable to receive the destination information for the vehicle from the dispatch; and the mobile unit coupled to the communications link, the mobile unit operable to receive from the communications link the destination information for the vehicle generated by the dispatch, the mobile unit further operable to determine a vehicle position, the mobile unit further operable to determine in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information and wherein the communications link comprises a cellular telephone network.
a dispatch remotely located from the vehicle, the dispatch operable to generate destination information for the vehicle, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
a communications link coupled to the dispatch, the communications link operable to receive the destination information for the vehicle from the dispatch; and the mobile unit coupled to the communications link, the mobile unit operable to receive from the communications link the destination information for the vehicle generated by the dispatch, the mobile unit further operable to determine a vehicle position, the mobile unit further operable to determine in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information and wherein the communications link comprises a cellular telephone network.
53. The system of Claim 52, wherein the communications link comprises a cellular telephone network.
54. The system of Claim 52, wherein the way points comprise highway crossings.
55. The system of Claim 52, wherein the destination information further comprises an expected travel speed along a predetermined route specified by the way points, the mobile unit further operable to determine the expected time of arrival of the vehicle in response to the expected travel speed.
56. The system of Claim 52, wherein the destination information further comprises traffic or weather information associated with a predetermined route specified by the way points, the mobile unit further operable to determine the expected time of arrival of the vehicle in response to the traffic or weather information.
57. The system of Claim 52, wherein the mobile unit comprises a GPS receiver to determine the vehicle position for use in determining the expected time of arrival.
58. The system of Claim 52, wherein the mobile unit is further operable to select a next way point if the vehicle reaches a present way point.
59. The system of Claim 58, wherein the mobile unit is further operable to communicate audibly information regarding the next way point.
60. The system of Claim 52, wherein the mobile unit is further operable to display the way points on a map.
61. The system of Claim 52, wherein the mobile unit is operable to communicate audibly the expected time of arrival.
62. The system of Claim 52, wherein the destination information comprises an appointment time for each way point, the mobile unit further operable to compare the expected time of arrival to the appointment time.
63. An apparatus on a vehicle for determining an expected time of arrival of the vehicle, comprising:
a communications device operable to receive destination information from a dispatch, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
a positioning device operable to determine a vehicle position; and a processor coupled to the communications device and the positioning device, the processor operable to receive destination information from the communications device and the vehicle position from the positioning device, the processor further operable to determine in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information and wherein the communications device comprises a cellular telephone.
a communications device operable to receive destination information from a dispatch, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
a positioning device operable to determine a vehicle position; and a processor coupled to the communications device and the positioning device, the processor operable to receive destination information from the communications device and the vehicle position from the positioning device, the processor further operable to determine in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information and wherein the communications device comprises a cellular telephone.
64. The apparatus of Claim 63, wherein the communications device comprises a cellular telephone.
65. The apparatus of Claim 63, wherein the way points comprise highway crossings.
66. The apparatus of Claim 63, wherein the destination information further comprises an expected travel speed along a predetermined route specified by the way points, the processor further operable to determine the expected time of arrival of the vehicle in response to the expected travel speed.
67. The apparatus of Claim 63, wherein the destination information further comprises traffic or weather information associated with a predetermined route specified by the way points, the processor further operable to determine the expected time of arrival of the vehicle in response to the traffic or weather information.
68. The apparatus of Claim 63, wherein the positioning device comprises a GPS receiver.
69. The apparatus of Claim 63, wherein the processor selects a next way point if the vehicle reaches a present way point.
70. The apparatus of Claim 69, further comprising a speaker to communicate audibly information regarding the next way point.
71. The apparatus of Claim 63, further comprising a speaker to communicate audibly the expected time of arrival.
72. The apparatus of Claim 63, further comprising a display to display the way points on a map.
73. The apparatus of Claim 63, wherein the destination information comprises an appointment time for each way point, the processor further operable to compare the expected time of arrival to the appointment time.
74. A method for determining an expected time of arrival of a vehicle, comprising:
generating destination information at a dispatch, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
transmitting the destination information to the vehicle;
determining at the vehicle the vehicle position;
determining at the vehicle in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information; and wherein the step of transmitting the destination information to the vehicle is performed using a cellular telephone network.
generating destination information at a dispatch, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
transmitting the destination information to the vehicle;
determining at the vehicle the vehicle position;
determining at the vehicle in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information; and wherein the step of transmitting the destination information to the vehicle is performed using a cellular telephone network.
75. The method of Claim 74, wherein the step of transmitting the destination information to the vehicle is performed using a cellular telephone network.
76. The method of Claim 74, wherein the step of determining at the vehicle the vehicle position is performed using a GPS receiver.
77. The method of Claim 74, wherein the way points comprise highway crossings.
78. The method of Claim 74, wherein:
the destination information further comprises an expected travel speed along a predetermined route specified by the way points; and determining the expected time of arrival comprises determining the expected time of arrival in response to the expected travel speed.
the destination information further comprises an expected travel speed along a predetermined route specified by the way points; and determining the expected time of arrival comprises determining the expected time of arrival in response to the expected travel speed.
79. The method of Claim 74, wherein:
the destination information further comprises traffic or weather information associated with a predetermined route specified by the way points; and determining tree expected time of arrival comprises determining the expected time of arrival in response to the traffic or weather information.
the destination information further comprises traffic or weather information associated with a predetermined route specified by the way points; and determining tree expected time of arrival comprises determining the expected time of arrival in response to the traffic or weather information.
80. The method of Claim 74, further comprising the step of selecting a next way point if the vehicle reaches the way point.
81. The method of Claim 80, further comprising the step of communicating audibly information regarding the next way point.
82. The method of Claim 74, further comprising the step of communicating audibly the expected time of arrival.
83. The method of Claim 74, further comprising the step of displaying the way points on a map.
84. The method of Claim 74, wherein the destination information comprises an appointment time for each way point, and further comprising the step of comparing the expected time of arrival to the appointment time.
85. The method of Claim 74, further comprising:
transmitting late information to the dispatch;
generating updated destination information at the dispatch in response to the late information; and transmitting the updated destination information to the vehicle.
transmitting late information to the dispatch;
generating updated destination information at the dispatch in response to the late information; and transmitting the updated destination information to the vehicle.
86. A system for determining an expected time of arrival of a vehicle equipped with a mobile unit, comprising:
a dispatch remotely located from the vehicle, the dispatch operable to generate destination information for the vehicle, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
a communications link coupled to the dispatch, the communications link operable to receive the destination information for they vehicle from the dispatch; and the mobile unit coupled to the communications link, the mobile unit operable to receive from the communications link the destination information for the vehicle generated by the dispatch, the mobile unit further operable to determine a vehicle position, the mobile unit further operable to determine in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information and wherein the way points comprise highway crossings.
a dispatch remotely located from the vehicle, the dispatch operable to generate destination information for the vehicle, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
a communications link coupled to the dispatch, the communications link operable to receive the destination information for they vehicle from the dispatch; and the mobile unit coupled to the communications link, the mobile unit operable to receive from the communications link the destination information for the vehicle generated by the dispatch, the mobile unit further operable to determine a vehicle position, the mobile unit further operable to determine in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information and wherein the way points comprise highway crossings.
87. A system for determining an expected time of arrival of a vehicle equipped with a mobile unit, comprising:
a dispatch remotely located from the vehicle, the dispatch operable to generate destination information for the vehicle, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
a communications link coupled to the dispatch, the communications link operable to receive the destination information for the vehicle from the dispatch; and the mobile unit coupled to the communications link, the mobile unit operable to receive from the communications link the destination information for the vehicle generated by the dispatch, the mobile unit further operable to determine a vehicle position, the mobile unit further operable to determine in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information and wherein the destination information further comprises traffic or weather information associated with a predetermined route specified by the way points, the mobile unit further operable to determine the expected time of arrival of the vehicle in response to the traffic or weather information.
a dispatch remotely located from the vehicle, the dispatch operable to generate destination information for the vehicle, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
a communications link coupled to the dispatch, the communications link operable to receive the destination information for the vehicle from the dispatch; and the mobile unit coupled to the communications link, the mobile unit operable to receive from the communications link the destination information for the vehicle generated by the dispatch, the mobile unit further operable to determine a vehicle position, the mobile unit further operable to determine in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information and wherein the destination information further comprises traffic or weather information associated with a predetermined route specified by the way points, the mobile unit further operable to determine the expected time of arrival of the vehicle in response to the traffic or weather information.
88. A system for determining an expected time of arrival of a vehicle equipped with a mobile unit, comprising:
a dispatch remotely located from the vehicle, the dispatch operable to generate destination information for the vehicle, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
a communications link coupled to the dispatch, the communications line operable to receive the destination information for the vehicle from the dispatch; and the mobile unit coupled to the communications link, the mobile unit operable to receive from the communications link the destination information for the vehicle generated by the dispatch, the mobile unit further operable to determine a vehicle position, the mobile unit further operable to determine in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information and wherein the mobile unit is further operable to select a next way point if the vehicle reaches a present way point and to communicate audibly information regarding the next way point.
a dispatch remotely located from the vehicle, the dispatch operable to generate destination information for the vehicle, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
a communications link coupled to the dispatch, the communications line operable to receive the destination information for the vehicle from the dispatch; and the mobile unit coupled to the communications link, the mobile unit operable to receive from the communications link the destination information for the vehicle generated by the dispatch, the mobile unit further operable to determine a vehicle position, the mobile unit further operable to determine in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information and wherein the mobile unit is further operable to select a next way point if the vehicle reaches a present way point and to communicate audibly information regarding the next way point.
89. A system for determining an expected time of arrival of a vehicle equipped with a mobile unit, comprising:
a dispatch remotely located from the vehicle, the dispatch operable to generate destination information for the vehicle, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
a communications link coupled to the dispatch, the communications link operable to receive the destination information for the vehicle from the dispatch; and the mobile unit coupled to the communications link, the mobile unit operable to receive from the communications link the destination information for the vehicle generated by the dispatch, the mobile unit further operable to determine a vehicle position, the mobile unit further operable to determine in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information and wherein the mobile unit is operable to communicate audibly the expected time of arrival.
a dispatch remotely located from the vehicle, the dispatch operable to generate destination information for the vehicle, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
a communications link coupled to the dispatch, the communications link operable to receive the destination information for the vehicle from the dispatch; and the mobile unit coupled to the communications link, the mobile unit operable to receive from the communications link the destination information for the vehicle generated by the dispatch, the mobile unit further operable to determine a vehicle position, the mobile unit further operable to determine in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information and wherein the mobile unit is operable to communicate audibly the expected time of arrival.
90. A system for determining an expected time of arrival of a vehicle equipped with a mobile unit, comprising:
a dispatch remotely located from the vehicle, the dispatch operable to generate destination information for the vehicle, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
a communications link coupled to the dispatch, the communications link operable to receive the destination information for the vehicle from the dispatch; and the mobile unit coupled to the communications link, the mobile unit operable to receive from the communications link the destination information for the vehicle generated by the dispatch, the mobile unit further operable to determine a vehicle position, the mobile unit further operable to determine in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information and wherein the destination information comprises an appointment time for each way point, the mobile unit further operable to compare the expected time of arrival to the appointment time.
a dispatch remotely located from the vehicle, the dispatch operable to generate destination information for the vehicle, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
a communications link coupled to the dispatch, the communications link operable to receive the destination information for the vehicle from the dispatch; and the mobile unit coupled to the communications link, the mobile unit operable to receive from the communications link the destination information for the vehicle generated by the dispatch, the mobile unit further operable to determine a vehicle position, the mobile unit further operable to determine in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information and wherein the destination information comprises an appointment time for each way point, the mobile unit further operable to compare the expected time of arrival to the appointment time.
91. An apparatus on a vehicle for determining an expected time of arrival of the vehicle, comprising:
a communications device operable to receive destination information from a dispatch, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
a positioning device operable to determine a vehicle position; and a processor coupled to the communications device and the positioning device, the processor operable to receive destination information from the communications device and the vehicle position from the positioning device, the processor further operable to determine in response to the vehicle position the expected tune of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information and wherein the way points comprise highway crossings.
a communications device operable to receive destination information from a dispatch, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
a positioning device operable to determine a vehicle position; and a processor coupled to the communications device and the positioning device, the processor operable to receive destination information from the communications device and the vehicle position from the positioning device, the processor further operable to determine in response to the vehicle position the expected tune of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information and wherein the way points comprise highway crossings.
92. An apparatus on a vehicle for determining an expected time of arrival of the vehicle, comprising:
a communications device operable to receive destination information from a dispatch, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
a positioning device operable to determine a vehicle position; and a processor coupled to the communications device and the positioning device, the processor operable to receive destination information from the communications device and the vehicle position from the positioning device, the processor further operable to determine in response to the vehicle position the expected tune of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information and wherein the destination information further comprises traffic or weather information associated with a predetermined route specified by the way points, the processor further operable to determine the expected time of arrival of the vehicle in response to the traffic or weather information.
a communications device operable to receive destination information from a dispatch, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
a positioning device operable to determine a vehicle position; and a processor coupled to the communications device and the positioning device, the processor operable to receive destination information from the communications device and the vehicle position from the positioning device, the processor further operable to determine in response to the vehicle position the expected tune of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information and wherein the destination information further comprises traffic or weather information associated with a predetermined route specified by the way points, the processor further operable to determine the expected time of arrival of the vehicle in response to the traffic or weather information.
93. An apparatus on a vehicle for determining an expected time of arrival of the vehicle, comprising:
a communications device operable to receive destination information from a dispatch, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
a positioning device operable to determine a vehicle position; and a processor coupled to the communications device and the positioning device, the processor operable to receive destination information from the communications device and the vehicle position from the positioning device, the processor further operable to determine in response to the vehicle position the expected tune of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information and wherein the processor selects a next way point if the vehicle reaches a present way point
a communications device operable to receive destination information from a dispatch, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
a positioning device operable to determine a vehicle position; and a processor coupled to the communications device and the positioning device, the processor operable to receive destination information from the communications device and the vehicle position from the positioning device, the processor further operable to determine in response to the vehicle position the expected tune of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information and wherein the processor selects a next way point if the vehicle reaches a present way point
94. An apparatus on a vehicle for determining an expected time of arrival of the vehicle, comprising:
a communications device operable to receive destination information from a dispatch, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
a positioning device operable to determine a vehicle position;
a processor coupled to the communications device and the positioning device, the processor operable to receive destination information from the communications device and the vehicle position from the positioning device, the processor further operable to determine in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information, the processor operable to select a next way point if the vehicle reaches a present way point; and a speaker operable to communicate audibly information regarding the next way point.
a communications device operable to receive destination information from a dispatch, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
a positioning device operable to determine a vehicle position;
a processor coupled to the communications device and the positioning device, the processor operable to receive destination information from the communications device and the vehicle position from the positioning device, the processor further operable to determine in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information, the processor operable to select a next way point if the vehicle reaches a present way point; and a speaker operable to communicate audibly information regarding the next way point.
95. An apparatus on a vehicle for determining an expected time of arrival of the vehicle, comprising:
a communications device operable to receive destination information from a dispatch, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
a positioning device operable to determine a vehicle position; and a processor coupled to the communications device and the positioning device, the processor operable to receive destination information from the communications device and the vehicle position from the positioning device, the processor further operable to determine in response to the vehicle position the expected tune of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information and further comprising a speaker to communicate audibly the expected time of arrival.
a communications device operable to receive destination information from a dispatch, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
a positioning device operable to determine a vehicle position; and a processor coupled to the communications device and the positioning device, the processor operable to receive destination information from the communications device and the vehicle position from the positioning device, the processor further operable to determine in response to the vehicle position the expected tune of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information and further comprising a speaker to communicate audibly the expected time of arrival.
96. An apparatus on a vehicle for determining an expected time of arrival of the vehicle, comprising:
a communications device operable to receive destination information from a dispatch, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
a positioning device operable to determine a vehicle position; and a processor coupled to the communications device and the positioning device, the processor operable to receive destination information from the communications device and the vehicle position from the positioning device, the processor further operable to determine in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information and wherein the destination information comprises an appointment time for each way point, the processor further operable to compare the expected time of arrival to the appointment time.
a communications device operable to receive destination information from a dispatch, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
a positioning device operable to determine a vehicle position; and a processor coupled to the communications device and the positioning device, the processor operable to receive destination information from the communications device and the vehicle position from the positioning device, the processor further operable to determine in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information and wherein the destination information comprises an appointment time for each way point, the processor further operable to compare the expected time of arrival to the appointment time.
97. A method for determining an expected time of arrival of a vehicle, comprising:
generating destination information at a dispatch, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
transmitting the destination information to the vehicle;
determining at the vehicle the vehicle position;
determining at the vehicle in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information; and wherein the way points comprise highway crossings.
generating destination information at a dispatch, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
transmitting the destination information to the vehicle;
determining at the vehicle the vehicle position;
determining at the vehicle in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information; and wherein the way points comprise highway crossings.
98. A method for determining an expected time of arrival of a vehicle, comprising:
generating destination information at a dispatch, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points and traffic or weather information associated with a predetermined route specified by the plurality of way points;
transmitting the destination information to the vehicle;
determining at the vehicle the vehicle position; and determining at the vehicle in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information in response to the traffic or weather information.
generating destination information at a dispatch, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points and traffic or weather information associated with a predetermined route specified by the plurality of way points;
transmitting the destination information to the vehicle;
determining at the vehicle the vehicle position; and determining at the vehicle in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information in response to the traffic or weather information.
99. A method for determining an expected time of arrival of a vehicle, comprising:
generating destination information at a dispatch, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
transmitting the destination information to the vehicle;
determining at the vehicle the vehicle position;
determining at the vehicle in response to the vehicle position the expected tune of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information; and selecting a next way point if the vehicle reaches the way point.
generating destination information at a dispatch, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
transmitting the destination information to the vehicle;
determining at the vehicle the vehicle position;
determining at the vehicle in response to the vehicle position the expected tune of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information; and selecting a next way point if the vehicle reaches the way point.
100. A method for determining an expected time of arrival of a vehicle, comprising:
generating destination information at a dispatch, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
transmitting the destination information to the vehicle;
determining at the vehicle the vehicle position;
determining at the vehicle in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information selecting a next way point if the vehicle reaches the way point; and communicating audibly information regarding the next way point.
generating destination information at a dispatch, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
transmitting the destination information to the vehicle;
determining at the vehicle the vehicle position;
determining at the vehicle in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information selecting a next way point if the vehicle reaches the way point; and communicating audibly information regarding the next way point.
101. A method for determining an expected time of arrival of a vehicle, comprising::
generating destination information at a dispatch, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
transmitting the destination information to the vehicle;
determining at the vehicle the vehicle position;
determining at the vehicle in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information; and communicating audibly the expected time of arrival.
generating destination information at a dispatch, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
transmitting the destination information to the vehicle;
determining at the vehicle the vehicle position;
determining at the vehicle in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information; and communicating audibly the expected time of arrival.
102. A method for determining an expected time of arrival of a vehicle, comprising:
generating destination information at a dispatch, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points and an appointment time for each way point, transmitting the destination information to the vehicle;
determining at the vehicle the vehicle position;
determining at the vehicle in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information; and comparing the expected time of arrival to the appointment time.
generating destination information at a dispatch, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points and an appointment time for each way point, transmitting the destination information to the vehicle;
determining at the vehicle the vehicle position;
determining at the vehicle in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information; and comparing the expected time of arrival to the appointment time.
103. A method for determining an expected time of arrival of a vehicle, comprising:
generating destination information at a dispatch, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
transmitting the destination information to the vehicle;
determining at the vehicle the vehicle position;
determining at the vehicle in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information transmitting late information to the dispatch;
generating updated destination information at the dispatch in response to the late information; and transmitting the updated destination information to the vehicle.
generating destination information at a dispatch, the destination information specifying a plurality of way points;
transmitting the destination information to the vehicle;
determining at the vehicle the vehicle position;
determining at the vehicle in response to the vehicle position the expected time of arrival of the vehicle at a way point identified by the destination information transmitting late information to the dispatch;
generating updated destination information at the dispatch in response to the late information; and transmitting the updated destination information to the vehicle.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US08/387,221 US5724243A (en) | 1995-02-10 | 1995-02-10 | Method and apparatus for determining expected time of arrival |
US387,221 | 1995-02-10 | ||
PCT/US1996/000867 WO1996024915A1 (en) | 1995-02-10 | 1996-01-23 | Method and apparatus for determining expected time of arrival |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
CA2212330A1 CA2212330A1 (en) | 1996-08-15 |
CA2212330C true CA2212330C (en) | 2003-09-02 |
Family
ID=23528993
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
CA002212330A Expired - Lifetime CA2212330C (en) | 1995-02-10 | 1996-01-23 | Method and apparatus for determining expected time of arrival |
Country Status (9)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US5724243A (en) |
EP (1) | EP0808492B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH11505642A (en) |
AT (1) | ATE292836T1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU4858396A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2212330C (en) |
DE (1) | DE69634561T2 (en) |
MX (1) | MX9705797A (en) |
WO (1) | WO1996024915A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9984575B2 (en) | 2008-01-03 | 2018-05-29 | Prosper Technology, Llc | Method for requesting transportation services |
Families Citing this family (261)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6618668B1 (en) | 2000-04-26 | 2003-09-09 | Arrivalstar, Inc. | System and method for obtaining vehicle schedule information in an advance notification system |
US20030098802A1 (en) * | 1999-03-01 | 2003-05-29 | Jones Martin Kelly | Base station apparatus and method for monitoring travel of a mobile vehicle |
US20030193413A1 (en) * | 1993-05-18 | 2003-10-16 | Jones M. Kelly | Business methods for notification systems |
US6492912B1 (en) | 1993-05-18 | 2002-12-10 | Arrivalstar, Inc. | System and method for efficiently notifying users of impending arrivals of vehicles |
US6748320B2 (en) | 1993-05-18 | 2004-06-08 | Arrivalstar, Inc. | Advance notification systems and methods utilizing a computer network |
US6748318B1 (en) | 1993-05-18 | 2004-06-08 | Arrivalstar, Inc. | Advanced notification systems and methods utilizing a computer network |
US6683542B1 (en) | 1993-05-18 | 2004-01-27 | Arrivalstar, Inc. | Advanced notification system and method utilizing a distinctive telephone ring |
US6363323B1 (en) * | 1993-05-18 | 2002-03-26 | Global Research Systems, Inc. | Apparatus and method for monitoring travel of a mobile vehicle |
US6278936B1 (en) * | 1993-05-18 | 2001-08-21 | Global Research Systems, Inc. | System and method for an advance notification system for monitoring and reporting proximity of a vehicle |
US6700507B2 (en) | 1993-05-18 | 2004-03-02 | Arrivalstar, Inc. | Advance notification system and method utilizing vehicle signaling |
US8799461B2 (en) * | 1994-11-29 | 2014-08-05 | Apple Inc. | System for collecting, analyzing, and transmitting information relevant to transportation networks |
US9832610B2 (en) | 1994-11-29 | 2017-11-28 | Apple Inc. | System for collecting, analyzing, and transmitting information relevant to transportation networks |
US5717406A (en) * | 1995-06-07 | 1998-02-10 | Sanconix Inc. | Enhanced position calculation |
FR2748334B1 (en) * | 1996-05-03 | 1998-09-11 | J C Decaux International | PORTABLE BOX FOR INFORMING USERS OF A BUS NETWORK ON THE WAITING TIMES FOR THE STOPPERS OF THIS NETWORK |
AU6453598A (en) | 1997-03-10 | 1998-09-29 | Global Research Systems, Inc. | Advanced notification systems and methods utilizing a computer network |
DE19711092A1 (en) * | 1997-03-17 | 1998-09-24 | Philips Patentverwaltung | Navigation system and method for outputting direction information from the navigation system |
WO1998053573A2 (en) * | 1997-05-19 | 1998-11-26 | Integrated Data Communications, Inc. | System and method to communicate time stamped, 3-axis geo-position data within telecommunication networks |
US6690681B1 (en) * | 1997-05-19 | 2004-02-10 | Airbiquity Inc. | In-band signaling for data communications over digital wireless telecommunications network |
US6493338B1 (en) * | 1997-05-19 | 2002-12-10 | Airbiquity Inc. | Multichannel in-band signaling for data communications over digital wireless telecommunications networks |
JP2892336B2 (en) * | 1997-06-09 | 1999-05-17 | 運輸省船舶技術研究所長 | Runway reservation system |
JPH11109477A (en) * | 1997-10-03 | 1999-04-23 | Minolta Co Ltd | Date display device and camera provided with the same |
DE19752458A1 (en) * | 1997-11-27 | 1999-06-02 | Cit Alcatel | Waiting time prediction system |
US6097974A (en) * | 1997-12-12 | 2000-08-01 | Ericsson Inc. | Combined GPS and wide bandwidth radiotelephone terminals and methods |
WO1999034638A1 (en) * | 1997-12-23 | 1999-07-08 | Nokia Networks Oy | Clock generating method and apparatus for an asynchronous transmission |
US7769644B2 (en) | 1998-04-01 | 2010-08-03 | R & L Carriers, Inc. | Bill of lading transmission and processing system for less than a load carriers |
DE19823123C2 (en) * | 1998-05-23 | 2000-05-25 | Opel Adam Ag | Method for operating a navigation system for motor vehicles |
US6535743B1 (en) * | 1998-07-29 | 2003-03-18 | Minorplanet Systems Usa, Inc. | System and method for providing directions using a communication network |
US6490454B1 (en) * | 1998-08-07 | 2002-12-03 | Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ) | Downlink observed time difference measurements |
US20030067542A1 (en) * | 2000-10-13 | 2003-04-10 | Monroe David A. | Apparatus for and method of collecting and distributing event data to strategic security personnel and response vehicles |
JP2000175249A (en) * | 1998-12-01 | 2000-06-23 | Denso Corp | On-vehicle communication unit |
US6545601B1 (en) * | 1999-02-25 | 2003-04-08 | David A. Monroe | Ground based security surveillance system for aircraft and other commercial vehicles |
US6317060B1 (en) | 1999-03-01 | 2001-11-13 | Global Research Systems, Inc. | Base station system and method for monitoring travel of mobile vehicles and communicating notification messages |
US6567792B1 (en) * | 1999-03-02 | 2003-05-20 | Thristle Marine, Llc | Method of data collection for fisheries management |
AU4465900A (en) * | 1999-04-17 | 2000-11-02 | Idmicro, Inc. | Method and system for providing an estimated time of arrival for a bus |
US6466862B1 (en) | 1999-04-19 | 2002-10-15 | Bruce DeKock | System for providing traffic information |
US7437305B1 (en) * | 1999-05-11 | 2008-10-14 | Christopher Angel Kantarjiev | Scheduling delivery of products via the internet |
US6975937B1 (en) | 1999-05-11 | 2005-12-13 | Christopher Kantarjiev | Technique for processing customer service transactions at customer site using mobile computing device |
US7177825B1 (en) | 1999-05-11 | 2007-02-13 | Borders Louis H | Integrated system for ordering, fulfillment, and delivery of consumer products using a data network |
US6285950B1 (en) * | 1999-05-13 | 2001-09-04 | Alpine Electronics, Inc. | Vehicle navigation system |
US6526341B1 (en) * | 1999-06-10 | 2003-02-25 | Qualcomm, Inc. | Paperless log system and method |
US6947881B1 (en) | 1999-07-07 | 2005-09-20 | Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Shared vehicle system and method with vehicle relocation |
US6941197B1 (en) | 1999-07-07 | 2005-09-06 | The Regents Of The University Of California | Vehicle sharing system and method with vehicle parameter tracking |
US7181409B1 (en) | 1999-07-07 | 2007-02-20 | The Regents Of The University Of California | Shared vehicle system and method involving reserving vehicles with highest states of charge |
US6850898B1 (en) | 1999-07-07 | 2005-02-01 | The Regents Of The University Of California | Vehicle sharing system and method for allocating vehicles based on state of charge |
US7016687B1 (en) * | 1999-07-29 | 2006-03-21 | Bryan Holland | Portable locator system and method |
US20050020241A1 (en) * | 1999-07-29 | 2005-01-27 | Bryan Holland | Locator system |
US20050026589A1 (en) * | 1999-07-29 | 2005-02-03 | Bryan Holland | Remote locator system using A E911-enabled wireless system |
JP2001076031A (en) * | 1999-09-02 | 2001-03-23 | Fujitsu Ltd | Method, device, and system for vehicle selection |
JP3739610B2 (en) * | 1999-09-24 | 2006-01-25 | 松下電器産業株式会社 | Visit plan generator |
JP2001116578A (en) * | 1999-10-14 | 2001-04-27 | Yazaki Corp | On-vehicle navigation system and recording medium recorded with processing program in on-vehicle navigation system |
US6839614B1 (en) | 1999-12-29 | 2005-01-04 | Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation | Multi-mode in-vehicle control unit with network selectivity for transmitting vehicle data for fleet management |
US6356841B1 (en) * | 1999-12-29 | 2002-03-12 | Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation | G.P.S. management system |
US6580976B1 (en) | 1999-12-30 | 2003-06-17 | Ge Harris Railway Electronics, Llc | Methods and apparatus for very close following train movement |
AU2001236546A1 (en) * | 2000-01-27 | 2001-08-07 | Ronald Johnson | System and methods for on-line, real-time inventory display, monitoring and control |
WO2001059601A1 (en) | 2000-02-11 | 2001-08-16 | Grounds Thomas L | Device and method for transmitting vehicle position |
US6975998B1 (en) | 2000-03-01 | 2005-12-13 | Arrivalstar, Inc. | Package delivery notification system and method |
US6510383B1 (en) * | 2000-03-01 | 2003-01-21 | Arrivalstar, Inc. | Vehicular route optimization system and method |
US20010026276A1 (en) * | 2000-03-17 | 2001-10-04 | Kiyomi Sakamoto | Map display device and navigation device |
US6697730B2 (en) | 2000-04-04 | 2004-02-24 | Georgia Tech Research Corp. | Communications and computing based urban transit system |
JP3387475B2 (en) * | 2000-04-13 | 2003-03-17 | 日本電気株式会社 | Data distribution system |
US7240283B1 (en) | 2000-11-10 | 2007-07-03 | Narasimha Rao Paila | Data transmission and rendering techniques implemented over a client-server system |
JP2003536186A (en) * | 2000-06-19 | 2003-12-02 | シーメンス トランスポーテイション システムズ インコーポレイテッド | Traffic information display configuration system and method |
US7126527B1 (en) | 2000-06-23 | 2006-10-24 | Intel Corporation | Method and apparatus for mobile device location via a network based local area augmentation system |
JP2002022464A (en) * | 2000-07-05 | 2002-01-23 | Mazda Motor Corp | Apparatus and method of processing information for moving bodies and memory medium having stored information processing programs for moving bodies |
US6240362B1 (en) | 2000-07-10 | 2001-05-29 | Iap Intermodal, Llc | Method to schedule a vehicle in real-time to transport freight and passengers |
US6411897B1 (en) | 2000-07-10 | 2002-06-25 | Iap Intermodal, Llc | Method to schedule a vehicle in real-time to transport freight and passengers |
US20020173885A1 (en) | 2001-03-13 | 2002-11-21 | Lowrey Larkin Hill | Internet-based system for monitoring vehicles |
US6681174B1 (en) * | 2000-08-17 | 2004-01-20 | Lee Harvey | Method and system for optimum bus resource allocation |
US6600982B1 (en) * | 2000-08-23 | 2003-07-29 | International Business Machines Corporation | System, method and article of manufacture to provide output according to trip information |
US6587781B2 (en) * | 2000-08-28 | 2003-07-01 | Estimotion, Inc. | Method and system for modeling and processing vehicular traffic data and information and applying thereof |
US6847825B1 (en) * | 2000-09-14 | 2005-01-25 | Lojack Corporation | Method and system for portable cellular phone voice communication and positional location data communication |
US6700506B1 (en) * | 2000-09-14 | 2004-03-02 | Everyday Wireless, Inc. | Bus arrival notification system and methods related thereto |
DE10051810C2 (en) * | 2000-10-18 | 2002-11-21 | T Mobile Deutschland Gmbh | Procedure for active transport management based on cell broadcast |
EP1202234B1 (en) * | 2000-10-24 | 2006-05-03 | At Road, Inc. | Targeted impending arrival notification of a wirelessly connected location device |
US6980131B1 (en) * | 2000-10-24 | 2005-12-27 | @Road, Inc. | Targeted impending arrival notification of a wirelessly connected location device |
US6801850B1 (en) * | 2000-10-30 | 2004-10-05 | University Of Illionis - Chicago | Method and system for tracking moving objects |
JP2002170197A (en) * | 2000-12-04 | 2002-06-14 | Nec Corp | Patrol path guide method, system thereof, device thereof, and recording medium recording program |
US7233914B1 (en) | 2000-12-27 | 2007-06-19 | Joyo Wijaya | Technique for implementing item substitution for unavailable items relating to a customer order |
US6529136B2 (en) * | 2001-02-28 | 2003-03-04 | International Business Machines Corporation | Group notification system and method for implementing and indicating the proximity of individuals or groups to other individuals or groups |
US6611740B2 (en) | 2001-03-14 | 2003-08-26 | Networkcar | Internet-based vehicle-diagnostic system |
US7308423B1 (en) | 2001-03-19 | 2007-12-11 | Franklin Goodhue Woodward | Technique for handling sales of regulated items implemented over a data network |
US7370085B2 (en) * | 2001-05-03 | 2008-05-06 | International Business Machines Corporation | Method, system, and program for providing user location information with a personal information management program |
US6658349B2 (en) | 2001-05-14 | 2003-12-02 | James Douglas Cline | Method and system for marine vessel tracking system |
US6928270B2 (en) * | 2001-06-07 | 2005-08-09 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Postal Service | Wireless communication system and method for deliveries |
JP4421789B2 (en) * | 2001-06-11 | 2010-02-24 | パイオニア株式会社 | Control device and control method for mobile electronic system, mobile electronic system, and computer program |
KR20040016995A (en) | 2001-07-16 | 2004-02-25 | 웨이브마켓 인코포레이티드 | System for providing alert-based services to mobile stations in a wireless communications network |
US6470268B1 (en) | 2001-08-14 | 2002-10-22 | Horizon Navigation, Inc. | Navigation destination entry via glyph to digital translation |
US11341853B2 (en) | 2001-09-11 | 2022-05-24 | Zonar Systems, Inc. | System and method to enhance the utility of vehicle inspection records by including route identification data in each vehicle inspection record |
US20150170521A1 (en) * | 2001-09-11 | 2015-06-18 | Zonar Systems, Inc. | System and method to enhance the utility of vehicle inspection records by including route identification data in each vehicle inspection record |
US8972179B2 (en) * | 2006-06-20 | 2015-03-03 | Brett Brinton | Method and apparatus to analyze GPS data to determine if a vehicle has adhered to a predetermined route |
JP2003106854A (en) * | 2001-09-27 | 2003-04-09 | Pioneer Electronic Corp | Navigation system, method for retrieving route in navigation system, first communication terminal device in navigation system, second communication terminal device in navigation system, vehicle navigation apparatus in navigation system, program for second communication terminal device and program for vehicle navigation apparatus |
US20030082993A1 (en) * | 2001-10-25 | 2003-05-01 | Peters William H. | Toy travel clock |
GB2382203A (en) * | 2001-11-20 | 2003-05-21 | Hewlett Packard Co | Alerting users to impending events |
JP2003185446A (en) * | 2001-12-14 | 2003-07-03 | Denso Corp | On-vehicle navigation device and program |
EP1320045A3 (en) * | 2001-12-17 | 2005-08-10 | Nissan Motor Company, Limited | Vehicle information providing apparatus and method and on-vehicle information playing apparatus and method |
JP3742336B2 (en) * | 2001-12-20 | 2006-02-01 | 株式会社東芝 | Navigation support device, aircraft equipped with this navigation support device, navigation support method, and navigation support processing program |
US6545637B1 (en) * | 2001-12-20 | 2003-04-08 | Garmin, Ltd. | Systems and methods for a navigational device with improved route calculation capabilities |
US6892135B1 (en) | 2001-12-21 | 2005-05-10 | Garmin Ltd. | Navigation system, method and device with automatic next turn page |
US7277794B1 (en) | 2001-12-21 | 2007-10-02 | Garmin Ltd. | Guidance with feature accounting for insignificant roads |
US6847890B1 (en) | 2001-12-21 | 2005-01-25 | Garmin Ltd. | Guidance with feature accounting for insignificant roads |
EP1909245A1 (en) * | 2002-02-14 | 2008-04-09 | Everyday Wireless, Inc. | Wireless mobile vehicle real-time tracking and notification systems and methods related thereto |
DE60320237T2 (en) * | 2002-02-14 | 2009-05-14 | Everyday Wireless, Inc. | WIRELESS MOBILE VEHICLE REAL TIME TRACKING AND NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS THEREFOR |
US6973320B2 (en) * | 2002-04-29 | 2005-12-06 | Motorola, Inc. | Method and apparatus for locating a remote unit within a communication system |
US6691029B2 (en) | 2002-05-09 | 2004-02-10 | International Business Machines Corporation | System and method for automatically generating a third party notification when a traveler is overdue |
US7233907B2 (en) * | 2002-08-07 | 2007-06-19 | United Parcel Service Of America, Inc. | Parcel or service delivery with partially scheduled time windows |
GB0220062D0 (en) * | 2002-08-29 | 2002-10-09 | Itis Holdings Plc | Traffic scheduling system |
AU2003259357B2 (en) * | 2002-08-29 | 2009-08-13 | Inrix Uk Limited | Apparatus and method for providing traffic information |
WO2004022075A1 (en) * | 2002-09-04 | 2004-03-18 | Novartis Ag | Treatment of neurological disorders by dsrna adminitration |
US7116326B2 (en) | 2002-09-06 | 2006-10-03 | Traffic.Com, Inc. | Method of displaying traffic flow data representing traffic conditions |
US6625539B1 (en) * | 2002-10-22 | 2003-09-23 | Electricab Taxi Company | Range prediction in fleet management of electric and fuel-cell vehicles |
US7206837B2 (en) * | 2002-11-04 | 2007-04-17 | Avaya Technology Corp. | Intelligent trip status notification |
US7835858B2 (en) * | 2002-11-22 | 2010-11-16 | Traffic.Com, Inc. | Method of creating a virtual traffic network |
US7231217B2 (en) * | 2002-12-31 | 2007-06-12 | Nokia Corporation | Determining neighbour lists |
US6862521B1 (en) * | 2003-01-29 | 2005-03-01 | Trimble Navigation Limited | Method for inferring useful information from position-related vehicular events |
JP4142468B2 (en) * | 2003-02-28 | 2008-09-03 | 矢崎総業株式会社 | Traveling bus route acquisition system and arrival notification system |
US20050251330A1 (en) * | 2003-04-17 | 2005-11-10 | Paul Waterhouse | Internet package tracking system |
AU2003902042A0 (en) * | 2003-04-30 | 2003-05-15 | Nextspace Technologies Pty Ltd | Delivery and/or collection optimization system & method |
US7119716B2 (en) | 2003-05-28 | 2006-10-10 | Legalview Assets, Limited | Response systems and methods for notification systems for modifying future notifications |
US6934624B2 (en) * | 2003-07-09 | 2005-08-23 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Systems and methods for providing information regarding the arrival of a party |
US7634352B2 (en) * | 2003-09-05 | 2009-12-15 | Navteq North America, Llc | Method of displaying traffic flow conditions using a 3D system |
US7216037B2 (en) * | 2003-09-10 | 2007-05-08 | International Business Machines Corporation | Method and system for logistics quality of service measurements using GPS |
US7221928B2 (en) * | 2003-10-01 | 2007-05-22 | Laird Mark D | Mobile emergency notification system |
US7418340B2 (en) * | 2003-10-10 | 2008-08-26 | Denso Corporation | Navigation device |
ITTO20030859A1 (en) * | 2003-10-31 | 2005-05-01 | Elsag Spa | SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR DELIVERY OF POSTAL ITEMS. |
US20050096840A1 (en) * | 2003-11-03 | 2005-05-05 | Simske Steven J. | Navigation routing system and method |
US7561069B2 (en) | 2003-11-12 | 2009-07-14 | Legalview Assets, Limited | Notification systems and methods enabling a response to change particulars of delivery or pickup |
US20050154626A1 (en) * | 2004-01-09 | 2005-07-14 | Mike Jones | Dynamic window vehicle tracking method |
US7003398B2 (en) * | 2004-02-24 | 2006-02-21 | Avaya Technology Corp. | Determining departure times for timetable-based trips |
JP4323984B2 (en) * | 2004-03-10 | 2009-09-02 | 株式会社日立製作所 | In-vehicle content providing device |
US7430411B2 (en) * | 2004-03-31 | 2008-09-30 | Intel Corporation | Transmission of service availability information |
US7225065B1 (en) | 2004-04-26 | 2007-05-29 | Hti Ip, Llc | In-vehicle wiring harness with multiple adaptors for an on-board diagnostic connector |
US7620402B2 (en) * | 2004-07-09 | 2009-11-17 | Itis Uk Limited | System and method for geographically locating a mobile device |
US20060058948A1 (en) * | 2004-07-28 | 2006-03-16 | Ms. Melanie Blass | Recordable location-based reminder system organizer |
JP2006038734A (en) * | 2004-07-29 | 2006-02-09 | Seiko Epson Corp | Positioning system, terminal device, control method for terminal device, control program for terminal device, and computer-readable recording medium for recording control program on terminal device |
US7702427B1 (en) * | 2004-07-30 | 2010-04-20 | The United States Of America As Represented By The National Aeronautics And Space Administration (Nasa) | Air traffic management evaluation tool |
US9552599B1 (en) | 2004-09-10 | 2017-01-24 | Deem, Inc. | Platform for multi-service procurement |
US20060074791A1 (en) * | 2004-09-28 | 2006-04-06 | Jelaco John A | System, method and associated software for managing the transportation of goods |
US7250860B2 (en) * | 2004-09-30 | 2007-07-31 | Signature Control Systems, Inc. | Method and integrated system for networked control of an environment of a mobile object |
US20060085203A1 (en) * | 2004-10-19 | 2006-04-20 | Ford Motor Company | Computer-implemented method and system for determining vehicle delivery estimated time of arrival |
JP4314526B2 (en) * | 2004-11-19 | 2009-08-19 | ソニー株式会社 | In-vehicle user interface device and in-vehicle navigation system |
US7693735B2 (en) * | 2004-11-23 | 2010-04-06 | Etadirect Holdings, Inc. | Dynamic schedule mediation |
WO2006058209A2 (en) * | 2004-11-24 | 2006-06-01 | Agilis Systems, Inc. | Mobile resource management system and method |
US7970666B1 (en) * | 2004-12-30 | 2011-06-28 | Rearden Commerce, Inc. | Aggregate collection of travel data |
US7908080B2 (en) | 2004-12-31 | 2011-03-15 | Google Inc. | Transportation routing |
US7508810B2 (en) | 2005-01-31 | 2009-03-24 | Airbiquity Inc. | Voice channel control of wireless packet data communications |
NZ538796A (en) * | 2005-03-10 | 2007-05-31 | Brunswick New Technologies Asi | Vehicle location and navigation system |
US8165773B1 (en) * | 2005-03-29 | 2012-04-24 | Avaya Inc. | Destination arrival estimates auto-notification based on cellular systems |
US20060247850A1 (en) * | 2005-04-18 | 2006-11-02 | Cera Christopher D | Data-driven traffic views with keyroute status |
US7765055B2 (en) * | 2005-04-18 | 2010-07-27 | Traffic.Com, Inc. | Data-driven traffic views with the view based on a user-selected object of interest |
US20060253246A1 (en) * | 2005-04-18 | 2006-11-09 | Cera Christopher D | Data-driven combined traffic/weather views |
US8781736B2 (en) * | 2005-04-18 | 2014-07-15 | Navteq B.V. | Data-driven traffic views with continuous real-time rendering of traffic flow map |
US8626440B2 (en) * | 2005-04-18 | 2014-01-07 | Navteq B.V. | Data-driven 3D traffic views with the view based on user-selected start and end geographical locations |
US7894982B2 (en) | 2005-08-01 | 2011-02-22 | General Motors Llc | Method and system for linked vehicle navigation |
US7412325B1 (en) | 2005-08-10 | 2008-08-12 | Union Beach L.P. | System and method for selective navigation tracking |
US9117223B1 (en) | 2005-12-28 | 2015-08-25 | Deem, Inc. | Method and system for resource planning for service provider |
US20070185647A1 (en) * | 2006-02-09 | 2007-08-09 | Nguegang Gino F | Automated in-vehicle paging system |
US7924934B2 (en) | 2006-04-07 | 2011-04-12 | Airbiquity, Inc. | Time diversity voice channel data communications |
US20070262853A1 (en) * | 2006-05-05 | 2007-11-15 | Black & Decker Inc. | Vehicle alarm |
US10056008B1 (en) | 2006-06-20 | 2018-08-21 | Zonar Systems, Inc. | Using telematics data including position data and vehicle analytics to train drivers to improve efficiency of vehicle use |
US7617042B2 (en) * | 2006-06-30 | 2009-11-10 | Microsoft Corporation | Computing and harnessing inferences about the timing, duration, and nature of motion and cessation of motion with applications to mobile computing and communications |
US20080082257A1 (en) * | 2006-09-05 | 2008-04-03 | Garmin Ltd. | Personal navigational device and method with automatic call-ahead |
EP2070053A2 (en) * | 2006-09-12 | 2009-06-17 | Itis Holdings PLC | Apparatus and method for implementing a road pricing scheme |
US8577594B2 (en) * | 2006-10-25 | 2013-11-05 | Motorola Mobility Llc | Apparatus and method for route navigation of multiple destinations |
DE102006057942B4 (en) * | 2006-12-08 | 2008-07-31 | Audi Ag | Communication system and method for exchanging messages by a communication system |
US7941133B2 (en) | 2007-02-14 | 2011-05-10 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | Methods, systems, and computer program products for schedule management based on locations of wireless devices |
US9715683B2 (en) | 2007-02-23 | 2017-07-25 | Epona Llc | System and method for controlling service systems |
US9830637B2 (en) * | 2007-02-23 | 2017-11-28 | Epona Llc | System and method for processing vehicle transactions |
US9792632B2 (en) * | 2007-02-23 | 2017-10-17 | Epona Llc | System and method for processing vehicle transactions |
US20080203146A1 (en) * | 2007-02-23 | 2008-08-28 | Newfuel Acquisition Corp. | System and Method for Controlling Service Systems |
US20080281518A1 (en) * | 2007-05-10 | 2008-11-13 | Dozier Chad A | Vehicular communication and information system and method of using the same |
US8380744B2 (en) | 2007-07-17 | 2013-02-19 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for generating a report indicating job availability |
US8069072B2 (en) * | 2007-07-17 | 2011-11-29 | At&T Intellectual Property I, Lp | Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for providing an indication of hightime |
US8060401B2 (en) * | 2007-07-17 | 2011-11-15 | At&T Intellectual Property I, Lp | Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for providing an indication of a schedule conflict |
US8239232B2 (en) | 2007-07-17 | 2012-08-07 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for providing commitments information relative to a turf |
US8352302B2 (en) | 2007-07-17 | 2013-01-08 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for determining a plurality of turfs from where to reallocate a workforce to a given turf |
US8341547B2 (en) | 2007-07-17 | 2012-12-25 | At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. | Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for providing contact information at turf level |
US20090024437A1 (en) * | 2007-07-17 | 2009-01-22 | Robert Ingman | Methods, Systems, and Computer-Readable Media for Providing A Ratio of Tasks Per Technician |
US8249905B2 (en) | 2007-07-17 | 2012-08-21 | At&T Intellectual Property I, Lp | Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for providing future job information |
DE102007040633A1 (en) * | 2007-08-27 | 2009-03-05 | Navigon Ag | Method for operating a navigation system |
US7979095B2 (en) | 2007-10-20 | 2011-07-12 | Airbiquity, Inc. | Wireless in-band signaling with in-vehicle systems |
US8731746B2 (en) * | 2008-05-29 | 2014-05-20 | Greenbrier Management Services, Llc | Integrated data system for railroad freight traffic |
JP5330508B2 (en) * | 2008-06-25 | 2013-10-30 | トムトム インターナショナル ベスローテン フエンノートシャップ | Navigation device, navigation device control method, program, and medium |
US8594138B2 (en) | 2008-09-15 | 2013-11-26 | Airbiquity Inc. | Methods for in-band signaling through enhanced variable-rate codecs |
US7983310B2 (en) | 2008-09-15 | 2011-07-19 | Airbiquity Inc. | Methods for in-band signaling through enhanced variable-rate codecs |
US20100082241A1 (en) * | 2008-09-30 | 2010-04-01 | Verizon Business Network Services Inc. | Method and system for providing navigational services |
US9739634B2 (en) | 2008-09-30 | 2017-08-22 | Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. | Multicomputer data transferring for transferring data between multiple computers that use the data after the transfer |
US8244466B2 (en) * | 2008-10-30 | 2012-08-14 | Ge Aviation Systems, Llc | Method and systems for required time of arrival performance display |
US8010267B2 (en) * | 2008-10-31 | 2011-08-30 | General Electric Company | Methods and system for time of arrival control using available speed authority |
US20100127854A1 (en) * | 2008-11-21 | 2010-05-27 | Richard Eric Helvick | Method and system for controlling home appliances based on estimated time of arrival |
GB0901588D0 (en) | 2009-02-02 | 2009-03-11 | Itis Holdings Plc | Apparatus and methods for providing journey information |
US8036600B2 (en) * | 2009-04-27 | 2011-10-11 | Airbiquity, Inc. | Using a bluetooth capable mobile phone to access a remote network |
US10552849B2 (en) * | 2009-04-30 | 2020-02-04 | Deem, Inc. | System and method for offering, tracking and promoting loyalty rewards |
JP4947099B2 (en) * | 2009-07-07 | 2012-06-06 | 株式会社デンソー | Navigation device and program |
DE102009034508A1 (en) | 2009-07-24 | 2011-01-27 | Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft | Device for reproducing destination and position of motor vehicle on display of navigation system, has map section arranged in display for representing information of motor vehicle, where information is reproduced for different directions |
US8418039B2 (en) | 2009-08-03 | 2013-04-09 | Airbiquity Inc. | Efficient error correction scheme for data transmission in a wireless in-band signaling system |
US8364402B2 (en) | 2009-08-20 | 2013-01-29 | Ford Global Technologies, Llc | Methods and systems for testing navigation routes |
US8249865B2 (en) | 2009-11-23 | 2012-08-21 | Airbiquity Inc. | Adaptive data transmission for a digital in-band modem operating over a voice channel |
US20110137696A1 (en) * | 2009-12-04 | 2011-06-09 | 3Pd | Performing follow-up actions based on survey results |
CN102110252A (en) * | 2009-12-28 | 2011-06-29 | 鸿富锦精密工业(深圳)有限公司 | Transport monitoring system and method |
US9037405B2 (en) * | 2009-12-29 | 2015-05-19 | Blackberry Limited | System and method of sending an arrival time estimate |
US20110173072A1 (en) * | 2010-01-08 | 2011-07-14 | David Ross | Systems and methods for advertising on a mobile electronic device |
US8874475B2 (en) | 2010-02-26 | 2014-10-28 | Epona Llc | Method and system for managing and monitoring fuel transactions |
US20110238543A1 (en) * | 2010-03-26 | 2011-09-29 | Paez Ivan E | System and method of verifying driving logs with gps data |
US8626439B2 (en) | 2010-07-09 | 2014-01-07 | Telenav, Inc. | Navigation system with traffic estimation mechanism and method of operation thereof |
US8700252B2 (en) | 2010-07-27 | 2014-04-15 | Ford Global Technologies, Llc | Apparatus, methods, and systems for testing connected services in a vehicle |
US8718862B2 (en) | 2010-08-26 | 2014-05-06 | Ford Global Technologies, Llc | Method and apparatus for driver assistance |
US9830571B2 (en) | 2010-09-23 | 2017-11-28 | Epona Llc | System and method for coordinating transport of cargo |
US8725174B2 (en) | 2010-10-23 | 2014-05-13 | Wavemarket, Inc. | Mobile device alert generation system and method |
US8583352B2 (en) | 2010-11-22 | 2013-11-12 | Ge Aviation Systems, Llc | Method and system for hold path computation to meet required hold departure time |
US9915755B2 (en) | 2010-12-20 | 2018-03-13 | Ford Global Technologies, Llc | Virtual ambient weather condition sensing |
US20120226440A1 (en) * | 2011-03-02 | 2012-09-06 | Navman Wiresless North America LP | Systems and methods for managing mobile assets using estimated time of arrival information |
US8742950B2 (en) | 2011-03-02 | 2014-06-03 | Ford Global Technologies, Llc | Vehicle speed data gathering and reporting |
US8610600B1 (en) * | 2011-03-11 | 2013-12-17 | Symantec Corporation | Techniques for providing missed arrival notifications |
US8727056B2 (en) | 2011-04-01 | 2014-05-20 | Navman Wireless North America Ltd. | Systems and methods for generating and using moving violation alerts |
US8542097B2 (en) | 2011-04-13 | 2013-09-24 | Jingle Technologies Llc | Systems and methods for transmitting information, alerts, and/or comments to participants based on location information |
US8615345B2 (en) | 2011-04-29 | 2013-12-24 | Ford Global Technologies, Llc | Method and apparatus for vehicle system calibration |
US9449288B2 (en) | 2011-05-20 | 2016-09-20 | Deem, Inc. | Travel services search |
GB2492369B (en) | 2011-06-29 | 2014-04-02 | Itis Holdings Plc | Method and system for collecting traffic data |
EP2740030A2 (en) * | 2011-08-04 | 2014-06-11 | CONNORS, Robert W. | Content changeable smart phone application for navigable venues and multi-party navigational system |
WO2013043928A2 (en) | 2011-09-20 | 2013-03-28 | Telogis, Inc. | Vehicle fleet work order management system |
US8848825B2 (en) | 2011-09-22 | 2014-09-30 | Airbiquity Inc. | Echo cancellation in wireless inband signaling modem |
US9659500B2 (en) | 2011-12-05 | 2017-05-23 | Navman Wireless North America Ltd. | Safety monitoring in systems of mobile assets |
CN102565831A (en) * | 2012-02-13 | 2012-07-11 | 惠州市德赛西威汽车电子有限公司 | System and method for utilizing portable intelligent terminal to assist in automatic navigation |
US9031497B1 (en) | 2012-02-21 | 2015-05-12 | Acr Electronics, Inc. | Dual-satellite emergency locator beacon and method for registering, programming and updating emergency locator beacon over the air |
US9178601B1 (en) | 2012-02-21 | 2015-11-03 | Christopher Paul Hoffman | Apparatus for emergency communications using dual satellite communications systems for redundancy and a means of providing additional information to rescue services to support emergency response |
US10061745B2 (en) | 2012-04-01 | 2018-08-28 | Zonar Sytems, Inc. | Method and apparatus for matching vehicle ECU programming to current vehicle operating conditions |
US9307706B2 (en) * | 2012-05-21 | 2016-04-12 | Smart Rain Systems, LLC | Irrigation management |
US20130339098A1 (en) | 2012-06-15 | 2013-12-19 | Telogis, Inc. | Vehicle fleet routing system |
US20130339266A1 (en) | 2012-06-15 | 2013-12-19 | Telogis, Inc. | Vehicle fleet routing system |
US8478307B1 (en) | 2012-06-15 | 2013-07-02 | Google Inc. | Communicating based on navigation destination |
US9197316B1 (en) | 2012-08-08 | 2015-11-24 | Acr Electronics, Inc. | Method and apparatus for testing emergency locator beacons incorporating over the air responses back to the emergency locator beacon |
JP5967205B2 (en) * | 2012-09-20 | 2016-08-10 | トヨタ自動車株式会社 | On-demand vehicle operation management device, on-demand vehicle operation management method, and on-demand vehicle operation management system |
US9184777B2 (en) | 2013-02-14 | 2015-11-10 | Ford Global Technologies, Llc | Method and system for personalized dealership customer service |
US9659495B2 (en) | 2013-02-28 | 2017-05-23 | Here Global B.V. | Method and apparatus for automated service schedule derivation and updating |
US9786102B2 (en) | 2013-03-15 | 2017-10-10 | Ford Global Technologies, Llc | System and method for wireless vehicle content determination |
JP2015072574A (en) * | 2013-10-02 | 2015-04-16 | ヤフー株式会社 | Distribution device, distribution method, and terminal device |
US8942727B1 (en) | 2014-04-11 | 2015-01-27 | ACR Development, Inc. | User Location Tracking |
US9510152B2 (en) | 2014-04-11 | 2016-11-29 | Location Labs, Inc. | System and method for scheduling location measurements |
US9413707B2 (en) | 2014-04-11 | 2016-08-09 | ACR Development, Inc. | Automated user task management |
US20160048799A1 (en) | 2014-08-15 | 2016-02-18 | Xpo Last Mile, Inc. | Cascading call notification system and method |
US9949091B1 (en) * | 2015-12-11 | 2018-04-17 | Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company | Path storage and recovery using wireless devices |
US9721451B1 (en) | 2015-12-11 | 2017-08-01 | Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company | Location-based warning notification using wireless devices |
US11055785B1 (en) | 2016-05-03 | 2021-07-06 | Allstate Insurance Company | System for monitoring and using data indicative of driver characteristics based on sensors |
DE102016012344A1 (en) | 2016-10-14 | 2017-04-27 | Daimler Ag | Method for determining an expected time of arrival of a vehicle |
US10628782B2 (en) * | 2017-03-23 | 2020-04-21 | Blackberry Limited | Determining whether a vehicle is able to transfer a cargo transportation unit |
US10949795B1 (en) | 2017-08-01 | 2021-03-16 | Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. | Secure transfer of items |
USD889492S1 (en) | 2017-09-05 | 2020-07-07 | Byton Limited | Display screen or portion thereof with a graphical user interface |
USD890195S1 (en) | 2017-09-05 | 2020-07-14 | Byton Limited | Display screen or portion thereof with a graphical user interface |
USD907653S1 (en) | 2017-09-05 | 2021-01-12 | Byton Limited | Display screen or portion thereof with a graphical user interface |
US10746560B2 (en) * | 2017-09-05 | 2020-08-18 | Byton Limited | Interactive mapping |
US11240976B2 (en) | 2018-01-03 | 2022-02-08 | Smart Rain Systems, LLC | Remote irrigation control system |
US10979857B2 (en) * | 2018-05-03 | 2021-04-13 | Curbside Inc. | Content conversion tracking based on location data |
CN109800901A (en) * | 2018-12-07 | 2019-05-24 | 纳恩博(北京)科技有限公司 | Dispatching method, device, storage medium and the electronic device of scooter |
US11185024B2 (en) | 2019-04-26 | 2021-11-30 | Smart Rain Systems, LLC | Irrigation system map integration |
CN110689719B (en) * | 2019-05-31 | 2021-01-19 | 北京嘀嘀无限科技发展有限公司 | System and method for identifying closed road sections |
GB201908502D0 (en) * | 2019-06-13 | 2019-07-31 | Tomtom Telematics Bv | Methods and systems of assigning trips |
RU2746965C1 (en) * | 2019-10-30 | 2021-04-22 | ООО "Обоз" | Method of recording deviations of vehicle from predetermined route |
US11631284B2 (en) | 2020-01-21 | 2023-04-18 | Calamp Corp. | Systems and methods for switching between communication and navigation modes in a telematics device |
US11057689B1 (en) | 2020-12-10 | 2021-07-06 | Elliot Klein | Docking station accessory device for connecting electronic module devices to a package |
US11955003B1 (en) | 2021-02-01 | 2024-04-09 | Thomas J. Ikeler | Enhanced transportation control |
WO2023157013A1 (en) * | 2022-02-21 | 2023-08-24 | Tvs Motor Company Limited | System and method for notifying a rider of a vehicle about an estimated time to leave an origin point to reach a destination point |
Family Cites Families (83)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US34034A (en) * | 1861-12-24 | Improvement in bee-hives | ||
US3518674A (en) * | 1969-02-13 | 1970-06-30 | Urban Scient Corp | Mobile unit locating system |
US3680121A (en) * | 1970-01-02 | 1972-07-25 | Gen Electric | Mobile locator system for metropolitan areas |
US3714650A (en) * | 1970-07-30 | 1973-01-30 | Raytheon Co | Vehicle command and control system |
US3789409A (en) * | 1970-10-08 | 1974-01-29 | R Easton | Navigation system using satellites and passive ranging techniques |
US3757290A (en) * | 1971-03-12 | 1973-09-04 | Sperry Rand Corp | Automatic vehicle monitoring system |
AT330845B (en) * | 1971-07-28 | 1976-07-26 | Siemens Ag | PROCEDURES FOR THE LOCATION OF VEHICLES |
US4083003A (en) * | 1973-11-05 | 1978-04-04 | Products Of Information Technology, Inc. | Vehicle location system |
FR2291479A1 (en) * | 1974-11-18 | 1976-06-11 | Sfena | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION OF A PILOT VEHICLE |
US4107689A (en) * | 1976-06-07 | 1978-08-15 | Rca Corporation | System for automatic vehicle location |
US4222052A (en) * | 1976-12-15 | 1980-09-09 | Dunn Ronald A | Data transmission system |
US4152693A (en) * | 1977-04-25 | 1979-05-01 | Audio Alert, Inc. | Vehicle locator system |
US4177466A (en) * | 1977-11-16 | 1979-12-04 | Lo-Jack Corporation | Auto theft detection system |
JPS55130208U (en) * | 1979-03-09 | 1980-09-13 | ||
US4435711A (en) * | 1980-09-15 | 1984-03-06 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | Radio telephone with position transmission capability |
US4445118A (en) * | 1981-05-22 | 1984-04-24 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration | Navigation system and method |
US4428052A (en) * | 1981-06-09 | 1984-01-24 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | Navigational aid autopilot |
US4547778A (en) * | 1981-06-09 | 1985-10-15 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | Method and apparatus for automatic distress call signal transmission |
US4428057A (en) * | 1981-06-09 | 1984-01-24 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | Electronic chart system |
US4660037A (en) * | 1982-01-28 | 1987-04-21 | Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Current location indication apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle |
US4809005A (en) * | 1982-03-01 | 1989-02-28 | Western Atlas International, Inc. | Multi-antenna gas receiver for seismic survey vessels |
GB8311303D0 (en) * | 1983-04-26 | 1983-06-02 | British Telecomm | Vehicle route finding system |
US4590569A (en) * | 1983-10-14 | 1986-05-20 | Navigation Sciences Inc. | Navigation system including an integrated electronic chart display |
US4754465A (en) * | 1984-05-07 | 1988-06-28 | Trimble Navigation, Inc. | Global positioning system course acquisition code receiver |
IT1209566B (en) * | 1984-07-06 | 1989-08-30 | Face Standard Ind | SYSTEM AND PROCEDURE TO IDENTIFY THE POSITION OF A RADIO USER WITHIN A WIDE GEOGRAPHICAL SURFACE. |
US4774670A (en) * | 1985-04-29 | 1988-09-27 | Lockheed Corporation | Flight management system |
US4651157A (en) * | 1985-05-07 | 1987-03-17 | Mets, Inc. | Security monitoring and tracking system |
EP0219859B1 (en) * | 1985-10-25 | 1993-10-06 | Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | Route bus service controlling system |
US4791571A (en) * | 1985-10-29 | 1988-12-13 | Tokyu Corporation | Route bus service controlling system |
US4791572A (en) * | 1985-11-20 | 1988-12-13 | Mets, Inc. | Method for accurately displaying positional information on a map |
US4908629A (en) * | 1986-03-31 | 1990-03-13 | Lo-Jack Corporation | Apparatus for locating and/or tracking stolen or missing vehicles and the like |
CA1277400C (en) * | 1986-04-09 | 1990-12-04 | Uri Rapoport | Anti-theft and locating system |
US4728959A (en) * | 1986-08-08 | 1988-03-01 | Ventana Sciences Inc. | Direction finding localization system |
GB8619875D0 (en) * | 1986-08-15 | 1986-09-24 | British Telecomm | Communications system |
US4740792A (en) * | 1986-08-27 | 1988-04-26 | Hughes Aircraft Company | Vehicle location system |
US4742357A (en) * | 1986-09-17 | 1988-05-03 | Rackley Ernie C | Stolen object location system |
US4688244A (en) * | 1986-11-10 | 1987-08-18 | Marwan Hannon | Integrated cargo security system |
US4750197A (en) * | 1986-11-10 | 1988-06-07 | Denekamp Mark L | Integrated cargo security system |
EP0292182B1 (en) * | 1987-05-15 | 1996-07-24 | Securicor Datatrak Limited | Mobile transmitter/receiver |
EP0303371B1 (en) * | 1987-08-10 | 1993-03-10 | Lynxvale Limited | Navigation and tracking system |
US4833477A (en) * | 1987-08-12 | 1989-05-23 | Tendler Robert K | Emergency vessel location system |
US4870686A (en) * | 1987-10-19 | 1989-09-26 | Motorola, Inc. | Method for entering digit sequences by voice command |
JPH02502681A (en) * | 1987-12-07 | 1990-08-23 | ビーティー テレコム、インコーポレイテッド | System for interfacing alarm annunciators with cellular radio transceivers |
US5055851A (en) * | 1988-05-16 | 1991-10-08 | Trackmobile, Inc. | Vehicle location system |
US4891650A (en) * | 1988-05-16 | 1990-01-02 | Trackmobile Inc. | Vehicle location system |
US5014206A (en) * | 1988-08-22 | 1991-05-07 | Facilitech International Incorporated | Tracking system |
US4897642A (en) * | 1988-10-14 | 1990-01-30 | Secura Corporation | Vehicle status monitor and management system employing satellite communication |
US5025253A (en) * | 1988-10-14 | 1991-06-18 | Secura Corporation | System and method for remotely monitoring the connect/disconnect status of a multiple part vehicle |
DE3837633A1 (en) * | 1988-11-05 | 1990-05-10 | Bosch Gmbh Robert | LOCATION AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR MOBILE RADIO STATIONS |
KR920005507B1 (en) * | 1989-05-16 | 1992-07-06 | 삼성전자 주식회사 | Vehicel loading equipment of automatic vehicle chasing system |
US5003317A (en) * | 1989-07-11 | 1991-03-26 | Mets, Inc. | Stolen vehicle recovery system |
US5270936A (en) * | 1989-09-05 | 1993-12-14 | Pioneer Electronic Corporation | Simplified navigation apparatus |
US5032845A (en) * | 1990-02-08 | 1991-07-16 | D.G.R., Inc. | Vehicle locating system with Loran-C |
GB2241623A (en) * | 1990-02-28 | 1991-09-04 | Philips Electronic Associated | Vehicle location system |
US5121325A (en) * | 1990-04-04 | 1992-06-09 | Smiths Industries Aerospace & Defense Systems, Inc. | Required time of arrival (RTA) control system |
US5293163A (en) * | 1990-06-06 | 1994-03-08 | Mazda Motor Corporation | Navigation apparatus for vehicles |
US5043736B1 (en) * | 1990-07-27 | 1994-09-06 | Cae Link Corp | Cellular position location system |
DE4026740A1 (en) * | 1990-08-24 | 1992-02-27 | Wild Heerbrugg Ag | PROCESS FOR DETERMINING THE SITUATION |
US5392458A (en) * | 1990-09-20 | 1995-02-21 | Motorola, Inc. | Trunked communication system with variable communication capability support for roamers |
US5155490A (en) * | 1990-10-15 | 1992-10-13 | Gps Technology Corp. | Geodetic surveying system using multiple GPS base stations |
US5172321A (en) * | 1990-12-10 | 1992-12-15 | Motorola, Inc. | Vehicle route planning system |
US5068656A (en) * | 1990-12-21 | 1991-11-26 | Rockwell International Corporation | System and method for monitoring and reporting out-of-route mileage for long haul trucks |
US5155689A (en) * | 1991-01-17 | 1992-10-13 | By-Word Technologies, Inc. | Vehicle locating and communicating method and apparatus |
US5208756A (en) * | 1991-01-28 | 1993-05-04 | Song Han L | Vehicle locating and navigating system |
US5121126A (en) * | 1991-03-12 | 1992-06-09 | Bell Atlantic Network Services Inc. | Beacon enhanced telecommunications system and method |
US5225842A (en) * | 1991-05-09 | 1993-07-06 | Navsys Corporation | Vehicle tracking system employing global positioning system (gps) satellites |
US5272638A (en) * | 1991-05-31 | 1993-12-21 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | Systems and methods for planning the scheduling travel routes |
DE4123632A1 (en) * | 1991-07-17 | 1993-01-21 | Ant Nachrichtentech | Information transmission system for vehicles and mobile haulage units - has transmitter and receiver in each vehicle working in conjuction with stationary central control unit also having transmitter and receiver and process computer |
US5365516A (en) * | 1991-08-16 | 1994-11-15 | Pinpoint Communications, Inc. | Communication system and method for determining the location of a transponder unit |
US5166694A (en) * | 1991-08-20 | 1992-11-24 | Hughes Aircraft Company | Vehicle location system having enhanced position location processing |
JP3140100B2 (en) * | 1991-08-29 | 2001-03-05 | パイオニア株式会社 | Navigation device |
US5334974A (en) * | 1992-02-06 | 1994-08-02 | Simms James R | Personal security system |
US5323322A (en) * | 1992-03-05 | 1994-06-21 | Trimble Navigation Limited | Networked differential GPS system |
US5223844B1 (en) * | 1992-04-17 | 2000-01-25 | Auto Trac Inc | Vehicle tracking and security system |
US5432841A (en) * | 1992-07-10 | 1995-07-11 | Rimer; Neil A. | System for locating and communicating with mobile vehicles |
US5396540A (en) * | 1992-07-23 | 1995-03-07 | Rockwell International Corporation | Remote vehicle communications system and method |
US5317323A (en) * | 1993-03-05 | 1994-05-31 | E-Systems, Inc. | Passive high accuracy geolocation system and method |
US5392052A (en) * | 1993-04-28 | 1995-02-21 | Eberwine; Mark A. | Position reporting emergency location system |
US5327144A (en) * | 1993-05-07 | 1994-07-05 | Associated Rt, Inc. | Cellular telephone location system |
WO1994027264A1 (en) * | 1993-05-14 | 1994-11-24 | Worldwide Notification Systems, Inc. | Apparatus and method of notifying a recipient of an unscheduled delivery |
US5400020A (en) * | 1993-05-18 | 1995-03-21 | Global Research Systems, Inc. | Advance notification system and method |
JP3302445B2 (en) * | 1993-06-18 | 2002-07-15 | パイオニア株式会社 | Navigation device |
US5422816A (en) * | 1994-02-22 | 1995-06-06 | Trimble Navigation Limited | Portable personal navigation tracking system |
-
1995
- 1995-02-10 US US08/387,221 patent/US5724243A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1996
- 1996-01-23 DE DE69634561T patent/DE69634561T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1996-01-23 JP JP8524271A patent/JPH11505642A/en active Pending
- 1996-01-23 CA CA002212330A patent/CA2212330C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1996-01-23 WO PCT/US1996/000867 patent/WO1996024915A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1996-01-23 AU AU48583/96A patent/AU4858396A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1996-01-23 MX MX9705797A patent/MX9705797A/en unknown
- 1996-01-23 AT AT96904490T patent/ATE292836T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1996-01-23 EP EP96904490A patent/EP0808492B1/en not_active Revoked
-
1998
- 1998-03-02 US US09/033,565 patent/US5987377A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9984575B2 (en) | 2008-01-03 | 2018-05-29 | Prosper Technology, Llc | Method for requesting transportation services |
US9997076B2 (en) | 2008-01-03 | 2018-06-12 | Prosper Technology, Llc | Method for requesting transportation services |
US10123173B2 (en) | 2008-01-03 | 2018-11-06 | Prosper Technology, Llc | Requesting transportation services |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE69634561T2 (en) | 2006-04-06 |
EP0808492B1 (en) | 2005-04-06 |
JPH11505642A (en) | 1999-05-21 |
ATE292836T1 (en) | 2005-04-15 |
CA2212330A1 (en) | 1996-08-15 |
AU4858396A (en) | 1996-08-27 |
DE69634561D1 (en) | 2005-05-12 |
EP0808492A4 (en) | 2000-04-26 |
US5724243A (en) | 1998-03-03 |
US5987377A (en) | 1999-11-16 |
EP0808492A1 (en) | 1997-11-26 |
WO1996024915A1 (en) | 1996-08-15 |
MX9705797A (en) | 1997-10-31 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
CA2212330C (en) | Method and apparatus for determining expected time of arrival | |
US5966658A (en) | Automated selection of a communication path | |
US6771969B1 (en) | Apparatus and method for tracking and communicating with a mobile radio unit | |
EP0824731B2 (en) | Method and apparatus for determining tax of a vehicle | |
US5742509A (en) | Personal tracking system integrated with base station | |
US6124810A (en) | Method and apparatus for automatic event detection in a wireless communication system | |
US6606557B2 (en) | Method for improving dispatch response time | |
US20020016171A1 (en) | Mobile unit location system for automatically reporting to a central controller and subscriber the proximity of mobile units to a destination | |
US6028553A (en) | Method for dynamic route recommendation | |
US20030065442A1 (en) | Navigation system and travel coordinator with dynamic traffic data | |
US20040196162A1 (en) | Centralized traffic signal preemption system and method of use | |
KR20010036842A (en) | Service method and system of bus location and traffic information using GPS and wireless network | |
US6636801B2 (en) | Delivering location-dependent services to automobiles | |
US20040160358A1 (en) | Method and apparatus for determination of position | |
CA2247128A1 (en) | Vehicle navigation and route guidance system | |
KR100712828B1 (en) | Method and system of proxy-drive using location based service | |
JP2005309721A (en) | Cruising vehicle support system | |
JPH09147297A (en) | Vehicle communication device | |
EP1647154B1 (en) | Method for obtaining traffic information using billing information of mobile terminal | |
MXPA97005797A (en) | Method and device for determining the expected hour of arr | |
KR20030057020A (en) | Bus guide broadcasting apparatus and method using gps and dsrc device | |
JPH06309596A (en) | Operation management system for vehicle | |
JPH1049798A (en) | Method and system for mca loading | |
Pletta et al. | Performance assessment of automatic vehicle location (AVL) systems | |
JPH064797A (en) | Avm system |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
EEER | Examination request | ||
MKEX | Expiry |
Effective date: 20160125 |