U.S. patent application number 09/989042 was filed with the patent office on 2002-04-11 for land vehicle communications system and process for providing information and coordinating vehicle activities.
Invention is credited to Baughman, Ronald L., Dager, Steven J., Diaz, R. Gary, Gemender, John J..
Application Number | 20020042670 09/989042 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22315231 |
Filed Date | 2002-04-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020042670 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Diaz, R. Gary ; et
al. |
April 11, 2002 |
Land vehicle communications system and process for providing
information and coordinating vehicle activities
Abstract
A communication system architecture (SA) for a vehicle which may
be integrated into the vehicle's multiplexed electronic component
communication system, and a process for communicating with the
vehicle to provide information for and about the vehicle's
operational status and coordinating the vehicle's activities. The
communication system will include a multi-functional antenna system
for the vehicle that will have the capability to receive AM/FM
radio and television signals, and transmit and receive citizens
band (CB) radio signals, satellite and microwave and cellular phone
communications. The antenna may be installed as original equipment
or as a back-fit part in the after-market. In either case the
multi-functional antenna will be integrated with the vehicle's
multiplexed electronic component communication system. The process
for communicating with the vehicle will involve a communication
service for which the vehicle's driver will enroll for and service
will continue so long as maintenance fees are paid. The service
will be capable of providing various levels of information transfer
and coordination. The levels may include vehicle information such
as (1) the need for servicing and location of the nearest service
center with the necessary parts in stock, (2) routing, and (3) load
brokering and coordination. The modular design of the system
architecture (SA) will allow it to be employed with the vehicle
platform that does not possess a full multiplexed electronic
component communications system. The resulting vehicle, using an
after-market application package, will be able to participate in
some of the services.
Inventors: |
Diaz, R. Gary;
(Lincolnshire, IL) ; Gemender, John J.; (Fort
Wayne, IN) ; Dager, Steven J.; (Fort Wayne, IN)
; Baughman, Ronald L.; (Churubusco, IN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
INTERNATIONAL TRUCK
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COMPANY, LLC.
4201 WINFIELD ROAD
P.O. BOX 1488
WARRENVILLE
IL
60555
US
|
Family ID: |
22315231 |
Appl. No.: |
09/989042 |
Filed: |
November 20, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09989042 |
Nov 20, 2001 |
|
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09434671 |
Nov 5, 1999 |
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60107174 |
Nov 5, 1998 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
701/31.4 ;
340/438 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08G 1/096811 20130101;
G07C 5/008 20130101; G08G 1/205 20130101; G08G 1/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
701/33 ; 701/29;
340/438 |
International
Class: |
G01M 017/00; G06F
019/00 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A process for an off board communication network for detecting
and correcting a fault in a mobile vehicle having an engine engaged
to a transmission engaged to a drive train for driving an axle with
wheels, the vehicle having an internal communication backbone to
which electronic controllers of the vehicle are electrically
engaged, the electronic controllers monitoring certain vehicle
components and the vehicle in contact with the off board
communication network through communication means engaged to the
internal communication network, comprising the steps of: receiving
an indication of an abnormal condition in a monitored vehicle
component from an electronic controller on the mobile vehicle
through the vehicle internal communication network and the
communication means; comparing the indication of an abnormal
condition with the vehicle component's manufacturers' expected
parameters in a data management system, and finding a significant
difference from the manufacturer's expected parameters, performing
the further steps of: determining the most probable cause of the
difference from the manufacturer's expected parameters; determining
the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the
difference from the manufacturer's expected parameters; searching a
ground support network for potential vehicle service providers that
have both the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of
the difference from the manufacturer's expected parameters and an
available service bay to correct the most probable cause of the
difference from the manufacturer's expected parameters; querying
the vehicle through the communication means and receiving the
location of the vehicle back from the vehicle; querying the data
management system to determine and receiving a closest by time
traveled potential vehicle service provider from the potential
vehicle service providers to the vehicle; querying the data
management system for and receiving driving directions for the
vehicle to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service;
and providing the driving directions for the vehicle through the
communication means to the closest by time traveled potential
vehicle service to the vehicle; comparing the indication of the
abnormal condition with a specific history of the vehicle component
stored in the data management system and finding a significant
difference from the specific history of the vehicle component,
performing the further steps of: determining the most probable
cause of the difference from the specific history of the vehicle
component; determining the parts necessary to correct the most
probable cause of the difference from the specific history of the
vehicle component; searching a ground support network for potential
vehicle service providers that have both the parts necessary to
correct the most probable cause of the difference from the specific
history of the vehicle component and an available service bay to
correct the most probable cause of the difference from the specific
history of the vehicle component; querying the vehicle through the
communication means and receiving the location of the vehicle back
from the vehicle; querying the data management system to determine
and receiving a closest by time traveled potential vehicle service
provider from the potential vehicle service providers to the
vehicle; querying the data management system for and receiving
driving directions for the vehicle to the closest by time traveled
potential vehicle service; and providing the driving directions for
the vehicle through the communication means to the closest by time
traveled potential vehicle service to the vehicle; and comparing
the indication of an abnormal condition with the vehicle
component's manufacturers' expected parameters in a data management
system, and comparing the indication of the abnormal condition with
a specific history of the vehicle component stored in the data
management system, and finding no significant difference from the
specific history of the vehicle component, and finding no
significant difference from the manufacturer's expected parameters,
performing the further step of recording the indication of an
abnormal condition in the data management system.
2. The process of claim 1, wherein: transmitting a notice to the
vehicle for a driver of the vehicle of the most probable cause of
the difference from the manufacturer's expected parameters before
the step of providing the driving directions for the vehicle to the
closest by time traveled potential vehicle service to the
vehicle.
3. The process of claim 1, wherein: transmitting a notice to the
vehicle for a driver of the vehicle of the most probable cause of
the difference from the specific history of the vehicle component
before the step of providing the driving directions for the vehicle
to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service to the
vehicle.
4. The process of claim 2, wherein following the step querying the
data management system for and receiving driving directions for the
vehicle to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service,
the additional steps of: querying the data management system for
any cargo being transported by the vehicle; arranging an
alternative vehicle to transport the cargo; and arranging a
rendezvous between the vehicle and the alternative vehicle to
transfer the cargo.
5. The process of claim 3, wherein following the step querying the
data management system for and receiving driving directions for the
vehicle to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service,
the additional steps of: querying the data management system for
any cargo being transported by the vehicle; arranging an
alternative vehicle to transport the cargo; and arranging a
rendezvous between the vehicle and the alternative vehicle to
transfer the cargo.
6. The process of claim 4, wherein said step of arranging an
alternative vehicle to transport the cargo, comprises the steps of:
providing a brokerage management system with a description of the
cargo, a current location of the cargo, and a final destination of
the cargo; and receiving identifying information of an alternative
vehicle to transport the cargo.
7. The process of claim 6, wherein said step of arranging a
rendezvous between the vehicle and the alternative vehicle to
transfer the cargo, comprises the steps of: querying and receiving
a location of the alternative vehicle; querying the data management
system for and receiving driving directions for the alternative
vehicle for the fastest by time traveled route to rendezvous with
the vehicle to transfer the cargo; transmitting the fastest by time
traveled route to rendezvous with the vehicle to transfer the cargo
to the alternative vehicle; and transmitting the cargo transfer
rendezvous information to the vehicle.
8. The process of claim 5, wherein said step of arranging an
alternative vehicle to transport the cargo, comprises the steps of:
providing a brokerage management system with a description of the
cargo, a current location of the cargo, and a final destination of
the cargo; and receiving identifying information of an alternative
vehicle to transport the cargo.
9. The process of claim 8, wherein said step of arranging a
rendezvous between the vehicle and the alternative vehicle to
transfer the cargo, comprises the steps of: querying and receiving
a location of the alternative vehicle; querying the data management
system for and receiving driving directions for the alternative
vehicle for the fastest by time traveled route to rendezvous with
the vehicle to transfer the cargo; transmitting the fastest by time
traveled route to rendezvous with the vehicle to transfer the cargo
to the alternative vehicle; and transmitting the cargo transfer
rendezvous information to the vehicle.
10. A process for an off board communication network for detecting
and correcting a fault in a mobile vehicle having an engine engaged
to a transmission engaged to a drive train for driving an axle with
wheels, the vehicle having an internal communication backbone to
which electronic controllers of the vehicle are electrically
engaged, the electronic controllers monitoring certain vehicle
components and the vehicle in contact with the off board
communication network through communication means engaged to the
internal communication network, comprising the steps of: receiving
an indication of an abnormal condition in a monitored vehicle
component from the mobile vehicle through the vehicle internal
communication network and the communication means; comparing the
indication of an abnormal condition with an expected condition
stored in a data management system, and finding a significant
difference from the expected condition, performing the further
steps of: determining the need for further action for the vehicle;
transmitting instructions for further action to the vehicle through
the communication means; comparing the indication of an abnormal
condition with the expected condition stored in a data management
system, and finding no significant difference from the expected
condition, performing the further step of recording the indication
of an abnormal condition in the data management system.
11. The process of claim 10, wherein said step of determining the
need for further action for the vehicle includes the steps of:
determining parts required to effect a repair of the abnormal
condition; and determining a closest location of the repair parts
to the vehicle.
12. The process of claim 11, wherein said step of transmitting
instructions for further action to the vehicle through the
communication means includes the step of: providing instructions to
the vehicle on how and where to obtain the parts.
13. The process of claim 10, wherein said step of determining the
need for further action for the vehicle includes the steps of:
locating an alternative vehicle to transport a cargo carried by the
vehicle; determining a rendezvous location to transfer the cargo
from the vehicle to the alternative vehicle; and notifying the
alternative vehicle of the rendezvous location.
14. The process of claim 13, wherein said step of determining the
need for further action for the vehicle further includes the steps
of: determining a fastest by time traveled route between the
alternative vehicle and the vehicle; and transmitting the fastest
by time traveled route between the alternative vehicle and the
vehicle to the alternative vehicle.
15. The process of claim 14, wherein said step of transmitting
instructions for further action to the vehicle through the
communication means includes the step of: providing instructions to
the vehicle on how and where to effect the transfer of transfer the
cargo from the vehicle to the alternative vehicle.
16. The process of claim 1, wherein said step of determining the
most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer's
expected parameters includes the steps of: determining the need for
further clarifying information from the vehicle; querying the
vehicle through the communication means for the further clarifying
information; and receiving the clarifying information from the
vehicle through the communication means.
17. The process of claim 1, wherein said step of determining the
most probable cause of the difference from the specific history of
the vehicle component includes the steps of: determining the need
for further clarifying information from the vehicle; querying the
vehicle through the communication means for the further clarifying
information; and receiving the clarifying information from the
vehicle through the communication means.
18. The process of claim 10, wherein said step of determining the
need for further action for the vehicle includes the steps of:
determining the need for further clarifying information from the
vehicle; querying the vehicle through the communication means for
the further clarifying information; and receiving the clarifying
information from the vehicle through the communication means.
19. The process of claim 1, wherein: the indication of an abnormal
condition is received from an engine electronic control module.
20. The process of claim 10, wherein: the indication of an abnormal
condition is received from an engine electronic control module.
21. The process of claim 1, wherein: the indication of an abnormal
condition is received from a transmission electronic control
module.
22. The process of claim 10, wherein: the indication of an abnormal
condition is received from a transmission electronic control
module.
23. The process of claim 1, wherein: the indication of an abnormal
condition is received from an anti-lock brake electronic control
module.
24. The process of claim 10, wherein: the indication of an abnormal
condition is received from an anti-lock brake electronic control
module.
25. A mobile vehicle for communicating with an off board
communication network, comprised of: an engine engaged to a
transmission engaged to a drive train for driving an axle with
wheels; an internal communication backbone to which electronic
controllers are electrically engaged; said electronic controllers
monitoring certain vehicle components; a lead electronic controller
programmed for monitoring said certain vehicle components through
said electronic controllers; said lead electronic controller
programmed for communication with the off board communication
network through communication means engaged to said internal
communication backbone; said lead electronic controller programmed
for transmitting an indication of an abnormal condition in one of
said monitored vehicle components to the off board communication
network through the vehicle internal communication backbone and the
communication means; said lead electronic controller programmed for
receiving instructions for action to address the abnormal condition
from the off board network through the communication means; and
said lead electronic controller programmed for notifying a driver
of the vehicle of driver actions of the received instructions from
the off board network.
26. The vehicle of claim 25, wherein: said lead controller is
programmed for receiving a query for additional information from
the off board network related to the abnormal condition; said lead
controller is programmed for obtaining the additional queried
information about the abnormal condition through the internal
communication backbone without driver intervention; and said lead
controller is programmed for transmitting the additional queried
information to the off board communication network through the
vehicle internal communication backbone and the communication means
without driver intervention.
27. The vehicle of claim 25, wherein: the instructions said lead
electronic controller is programmed for receiving for action to
address the abnormal condition from the off board network includes
a closest location of the repair parts to correct the abnormal
condition and directions to the closest location.
28. The vehicle of claim 25, wherein: the indication of an abnormal
condition said lead electronic controller is programmed for
monitoring is monitored through an anti-lock brake electronic
control module.
29. The vehicle of claim 25, wherein: the indication of an abnormal
condition said lead electronic controller is programmed for
monitoring is monitored through an engine electronic control
module.
30. The vehicle of claim 25, wherein: the indication of an abnormal
condition said lead electronic controller is programmed for
monitoring is monitored through a transmission electronic control
module.
31. A process for a data management system component of an off
board communication network, comprising the steps of: storing a
vehicle component's manufacturers' expected parameters; receiving a
query from the off board network for the manufacturer's expected
parameters for the vehicle; providing the off board network with
the manufacturer's expected parameters for the vehicle for the off
board network's comparison of an indication of an abnormal
condition with the vehicle component's manufacturers' expected
parameters, and upon the off board network finding a significant
difference from the manufacturer's expected parameters, performing
the further steps of: storing a listing of most probable causes of
differences from the manufacturer's expected parameters; receiving
a query for and providing the off board network with listing of
most probable causes of differences from the manufacturer's
expected parameters for the off board network to compare to the
abnormal condition for a match between a most probable cause and
the abnormal condition; storing independent listings of vehicle
parts necessary to correct each of the most probable causes of
differences from the manufacturer's expected parameters; receiving
a query for and providing the off board network independent
listings of vehicle parts necessary to correct each of the most
probable causes of differences from the manufacturer's expected
parameters for the off board network to determine the parts
necessary to correct the most probable cause of the difference from
the manufacturer's expected parameters; receiving a query from the
off board network to determine a closest by time traveled potential
vehicle service provider from a listing of potential vehicle
service providers that have both the parts necessary to correct the
most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer's
expected parameters and an available service bay to correct the
most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer's
expected parameters; accessing a data base to determine driving
times from potential vehicle service providers to the vehicle from
the listing of potential vehicle service providers that have both
the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the
difference from the manufacturer's expected parameters and an
available service bay to correct the most probable cause of the
difference from the manufacturer's expected, choosing a closest by
time traveled potential vehicle service provider, providing the
closest by time traveled potential vehicle service provider to the
off board network; receiving a query from the off board network for
driving directions for the vehicle to the closest by time traveled
potential vehicle service; accessing a data base to determine the
driving directions for the vehicle through the communication means
to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service to the
vehicle; and providing to the off board network the driving
directions for the vehicle to the closest by time traveled
potential vehicle service to the vehicle; storing a specific
history of the vehicle component; receiving a query from the off
board network for the specific history of the vehicle component;
providing the off board network with the specific history of the
vehicle component for the off board network's comparison of an
indication of an abnormal condition with the specific history of
the vehicle component, and upon the off board network finding a
significant difference from the manufacturer's expected parameters,
performing the further steps of: storing a listing of most probable
causes of differences from the specific history of the vehicle
component; receiving a query for and providing the off board
network with listing of most probable causes of differences from
the specific history of the vehicle component for the off board
network to compare to the abnormal condition for a match between a
most probable cause and the abnormal condition; storing independent
listings of vehicle parts necessary to correct each of the most
probable causes of differences from the specific history of the
vehicle component; receiving a query for and providing the off
board network independent listings of vehicle parts necessary to
correct each of the most probable causes of differences from the
specific history of the vehicle component for the off board network
to determine the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause
of the difference from the specific history of the vehicle
component; receiving a query from the off board network to
determine a closest by time traveled potential vehicle service
provider from a listing of potential vehicle service providers that
have both the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of
the difference from the specific history of the vehicle component
and an available service bay to correct the most probable cause of
the difference from the specific history of the vehicle component;
accessing a data base to determine driving times from potential
vehicle service providers to the vehicle from the listing of
potential vehicle service providers that have both the parts
necessary to correct the most probable cause of the difference from
the specific history of the vehicle component and an available
service bay to correct the most probable cause of the difference
from the manufacturer's expected, choosing a closest by time
traveled potential vehicle service provider, providing the closest
by time traveled potential vehicle service provider to the off
board network; receiving a query from the off board network for
driving directions for the vehicle to the closest by time traveled
potential vehicle service; accessing a data base to determine the
driving directions for the vehicle through the communication means
to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service to the
vehicle; and providing to the off board network the driving
directions for the vehicle to the closest by time traveled
potential vehicle service to the vehicle; and receiving and storing
a history of the indication of an abnormal condition following the
off board network's comparison of the indication of the abnormal
condition with the vehicle component's manufacturers' expected
parameters, and the off board network's comparison of the
indication of the abnormal condition with a specific history of the
vehicle component, and the off normal network finding no
significant difference from the specific history of the vehicle
component, and finding no significant difference from the specific
history of the vehicle component.
32. The process of claim 31, the additional steps of: storing a
record of cargo being carried by the vehicle needing service;
receiving a query from the off board network for any cargo being
transported by the vehicle; and transmitting the record of cargo
carried by the vehicle needing service to the off board
network.
33. The process of claim 32, the additional steps of: receiving a
location of an alternative vehicle to transport the cargo carried
by the vehicle needing service; receiving a status of the mobility
of the vehicle needing service; receiving a query from the off
board network for a fastest by time traveled from the alternative
vehicle to a rendezvous location with the vehicle needing service;
accessing a data base to determine the driving directions for the
alternative vehicle to the fastest by time traveled from the
alternative vehicle to a rendezvous location with the vehicle
needing service; and providing to the off board network the driving
directions for the alternative vehicle to the fastest by time
traveled from the alternative vehicle to a rendezvous location with
the vehicle needing service.
34. A process for a vehicle load brokerage management system
component of an off board communication network, comprising the
steps of: storing data on a network of mobile vehicles including
locations, cargo carrying ability, availability to carry cargo, and
operating area of the vehicles in the mobile vehicle network;
receiving a description of any cargo being transported by a vehicle
with an abnormal condition, a current location of the cargo, and a
final destination of the cargo from an off board communication
network along with a query for a specific alternative vehicle from
the network of mobile vehicles to transport the cargo; comparing
the cargo to be carried to the vehicles in the network of mobile
vehicles to derive a listing of mobile vehicles capable of carrying
the cargo; comparing the listing of mobile vehicles capable of
carrying the cargo to the vehicle availability data on the network
of mobile vehicles and deriving a listing of mobile vehicles both
available and capable of carrying the cargo; determining a general
route between the current location of the cargo and the final
destination of the cargo; comparing the operating areas of the
vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and
capable of carrying the cargo and determining which vehicle's
operating area encompasses the general route between the current
location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo;
communicating with the vehicles whose operating areas encompass the
general route between the current location of the cargo and the
final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the
cargo as an alternative vehicle; receiving an acceptance of the
offer from a vehicle whose operating areas encompass the general
route between the current location of the cargo and the final
destination of the cargo and designating this the alternative
vehicle to transport the cargo; and communicating identifying
information of the alternative vehicle to transport the cargo to
the off board network.
35. A process for a vehicle load brokerage management system
component of an off board communication network, comprising the
steps of: storing data on a network of mobile vehicles including
locations, cargo carrying ability, availability to carry cargo, and
operating area of the vehicles in the mobile vehicle network;
receiving a description of any cargo being transported by a vehicle
with an indication of an abnormal condition, a current location of
the cargo, and a final destination of the cargo from an off board
communication network along with a query for a specific alternative
vehicle from the network of mobile vehicles to transport the cargo;
comparing the cargo to be carried to the vehicles in the network of
mobile vehicles to derive a listing of mobile vehicles capable of
carrying the cargo; comparing the listing of mobile vehicles
capable of carrying the cargo to the vehicle availability data on
the network of mobile vehicles and deriving a listing of mobile
vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo;
determining a general route between the current location of the
cargo and the final destination of the cargo; comparing the
operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles
both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which
vehicle's operating area encompasses the general route between the
current location of the cargo and the final destination of the
cargo, and finding individual vehicles whose operating area
encompasses the general route, performing the additional steps of:
communicating with the vehicles whose operating areas encompass the
general route between the current location of the cargo and the
final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the
cargo as an alternative vehicle; receiving an acceptance of the
offer from a vehicle whose operating areas encompass the general
route between the current location of the cargo and the final
destination of the cargo and designating this the alternative
vehicle to transport the cargo; and communicating identifying
information of the alternative vehicle to transport the cargo to
the off board network; comparing the operating areas of the
vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and
capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicles'
operating areas encompass the general route between the current
location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and
finding a combination or combinations of vehicles whose operating
areas encompass the general route, performing the additional steps
of: communicating with the vehicles whose combination of operating
areas encompass the general route between the current location of
the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an
option to carry the cargo as an alternative vehicle; receiving an
acceptance of the offer from the vehicles whose combination
operating areas encompass the general route between the current
location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and
designating these as the alternative vehicles to transport the
cargo; and communicating identifying information of the alternative
vehicles to transport the cargo to the off board network; and
comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of
mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to
determine which vehicle's operating area encompasses the general
route between the current location of the cargo and the final
destination of the cargo, and not finding a vehicle or a
combination of vehicles whose operating areas encompass the general
route or willing to accept a previous offer to carry the cargo,
performing the additional steps of: comparing operating areas of
the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and
capable of carrying the cargo with the current location of the
cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and determining an
alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the
final destination of the cargo; comparing the operating areas of
the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and
capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicle's
operating area encompasses the alternative route between the
current location of the cargo and the final destination of the
cargo, and finding individual vehicles whose operating area
encompasses the alternative route, performing the additional steps
of: communicating with the vehicles whose operating areas encompass
the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and
the final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry
the cargo as an alternative vehicle; receiving an acceptance of the
offer from a vehicle whose operating areas encompass the
alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the
final destination of the cargo and designating this the alternative
vehicle to transport the cargo; and communicating identifying
information of the alternative vehicle to transport the cargo to
the off board network; comparing the operating areas of the
vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and
capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicles'
operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current
location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and
finding a combination or combinations of vehicles whose operating
areas encompass the alternative route, performing the additional
steps of: communicating with the vehicles whose combination of
operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current
location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and
offering an option to carry the cargo as an alternative vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from the vehicles whose
combination operating areas encompass the alternative route between
the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the
cargo and designating these as the alternative vehicles to
transport the cargo; and communicating identifying information of
the alternative vehicles to transport the cargo to the off board
network.
36. A process for a vehicle load brokerage management system
component of an off board communication network, comprising the
steps of: storing data on a network of mobile vehicles including
locations, cargo carrying ability, availability to carry cargo, and
operating area of the vehicles in the mobile vehicle network;
receiving a description of any cargo needing to be transported by a
vehicle, a current location of the cargo, and a final destination
of the cargo from an off board communication network along with a
query for a specific cargo carrying vehicle from the network of
mobile vehicles to transport the cargo; comparing the cargo to be
carried to the vehicles in the network of mobile vehicles to derive
a listing of mobile vehicles capable of carrying the cargo;
comparing the listing of mobile vehicles capable of carrying the
cargo to the vehicle availability data on the network of mobile
vehicles and deriving a listing of mobile vehicles both available
and capable of carrying the cargo; determining a general route
between the current location of the cargo and the final destination
of the cargo; comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the
listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying
the cargo to determine which vehicle's operating area encompasses
the general route between the current location of the cargo and the
final destination of the cargo, and finding individual vehicles
whose operating area encompasses the general route, performing the
additional steps of: communicating with the vehicles whose
operating areas encompass the general route between the current
location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and
offering an option to carry the cargo as an specific cargo carrying
vehicle; receiving an acceptance of the offer from a vehicle whose
operating areas encompass the general route between the current
location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and
designating this the specific cargo carrying vehicle to transport
the cargo; and communicating identifying information of the
specific cargo carrying vehicle to transport the cargo to the off
board network; comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the
listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying
the cargo to determine which vehicles' operating areas encompass
the general route between the current location of the cargo and the
final destination of the cargo, and finding a combination or
combinations of vehicles whose operating areas encompass the
general route, performing the additional steps of: communicating
with the vehicles whose combination of operating areas encompass
the general route between the current location of the cargo and the
final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the
cargo as an specific cargo carrying vehicle; receiving an
acceptance of the offer from the vehicles whose combination
operating areas encompass the general route between the current
location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and
designating these as the specific cargo carrying vehicles to
transport the cargo; and communicating identifying information of
the specific cargo carrying vehicles to transport the cargo to the
off board network; and comparing the operating areas of the
vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and
capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicle's
operating area encompasses the general route between the current
location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and
not finding a vehicle or a combination of vehicles whose operating
areas encompass the general route or willing to accept a previous
offer to carry the cargo, performing the additional steps of:
comparing operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile
vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo with the
current location of the cargo and the final destination of the
cargo, and determining an alternative route between the current
location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo;
comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of
mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to
determine which vehicle's operating area encompasses the
alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the
final destination of the cargo, and finding individual vehicles
whose operating area encompasses the alternative route, performing
the additional steps of: communicating with the vehicles whose
operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current
location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and
offering an option to carry the cargo as an specific cargo carrying
vehicle; receiving an acceptance of the offer from a vehicle whose
operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current
location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and
designating this the specific cargo carrying vehicle to transport
the cargo; and communicating identifying information of the
specific cargo carrying vehicle to transport the cargo to the off
board network; comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the
listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying
the cargo to determine which vehicles' operating areas encompass
the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and
the final destination of the cargo, and finding a combination or
combinations of vehicles whose operating areas encompass the
alternative route, performing the additional steps of:
communicating with the vehicles whose combination of operating
areas encompass the alternative route between the current location
of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an
option to carry the cargo as an specific cargo carrying vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from the vehicles whose
combination operating areas encompass the alternative route between
the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the
cargo and designating these as the specific cargo carrying vehicles
to transport the cargo; and communicating identifying information
of the specific cargo carrying vehicles to transport the cargo to
the off board network.
37. A process for an off board communication network for detecting
and correcting a fault in a mobile vehicle having an engine engaged
to a transmission engaged to a drive train for driving an axle with
wheels, the vehicle having an internal communication backbone to
which electronic controllers of the vehicle are electrically
engaged, the electronic controllers monitoring certain vehicle
components and the vehicle in contact with the off board
communication network through communication means engaged to the
internal communication network, comprising the steps of: receiving
a query about an perceived condition of a vehicle from a driver of
the mobile vehicle through the vehicle internal communication
network and the communication means; comparing the driver perceived
condition with the vehicle component's manufacturers' expected
parameters in a data management system, and finding a significant
difference from the manufacturer's expected parameters, performing
the further steps of: determining the most probable cause of the
difference from the manufacturer's expected parameters; determining
the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the
difference from the manufacturer's expected parameters; searching a
ground support network for potential vehicle service providers that
have both the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of
the difference from the manufacturer's expected parameters and an
available service bay to correct the most probable cause of the
difference from the manufacturer's expected parameters; querying
the vehicle through the communication means and receiving the
location of the vehicle back from the vehicle; querying the data
management system to determine and receiving a closest by time
traveled potential vehicle service provider from the potential
vehicle service providers to the vehicle; querying the data
management system for and receiving driving directions for the
vehicle to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service;
and providing the driving directions for the vehicle through the
communication means to the closest by time traveled potential
vehicle service to the vehicle; comparing the perceived condition
with a specific history of the vehicle component stored in the data
management system and finding a significant difference from the
specific history of the vehicle component, performing the further
steps of: determining the most probable cause of the difference
from the specific history of the vehicle component; determining the
parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the
difference from the specific history of the vehicle component;
searching a ground support network for potential vehicle service
providers that have both the parts necessary to correct the most
probable cause of the difference from the specific history of the
vehicle component and an available service bay to correct the most
probable cause of the difference from the specific history of the
vehicle component; querying the vehicle through the communication
means and receiving the location of the vehicle back from the
vehicle; querying the data management system to determine and
receiving a closest by time traveled potential vehicle service
provider from the potential vehicle service providers to the
vehicle; querying the data management system for and receiving
driving directions for the vehicle to the closest by time traveled
potential vehicle service; and providing the driving directions for
the vehicle through the communication means to the closest by time
traveled potential vehicle service to the vehicle; and comparing
the perceived condition with the vehicle component's manufacturers'
expected parameters in a data management system, and comparing the
perceived condition with a specific history of the vehicle
component stored in the data management system, and finding no
significant difference from the specific history of the vehicle
component, and finding no significant difference from the
manufacturer's expected parameters, performing the further step of
recording the perceived condition in the data management
system.
38. The process of claim 37, wherein: transmitting a notice to the
vehicle for the driver of the vehicle of the most probable cause of
the difference from the manufacturer's expected parameters before
the step of providing the driving directions for the vehicle to the
closest by time traveled potential vehicle service to the
vehicle.
39. The process of claim 37, wherein: transmitting a notice to the
vehicle for the driver of the vehicle of the most probable cause of
the difference from the specific history of the vehicle component
before the step of providing the driving directions for the vehicle
to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service to the
vehicle.
40. The process of claim 38, wherein following the step querying
the data management system for and receiving driving directions for
the vehicle to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle
service, the additional steps of: querying the data management
system for any cargo being transported by the vehicle; arranging an
alternative vehicle to transport the cargo; and arranging a
rendezvous between the vehicle and the alternative vehicle to
transfer the cargo.
41. The process of claim 39, wherein following the step querying
the data management system for and receiving driving directions for
the vehicle to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle
service, the additional steps of: querying the data management
system for any cargo being transported by the vehicle; arranging an
alternative vehicle to transport the cargo; and arranging a
rendezvous between the vehicle and the alternative vehicle to
transfer the cargo.
42. The process of claim 40, wherein said step of arranging an
alternative vehicle to transport the cargo, comprises the steps of:
providing a brokerage management system with a description of the
cargo, equipment required to transfer the cargo from one vehicle or
trailer to another, a current location of the cargo, and a final
destination of the cargo; and receiving identifying information of
an alternative vehicle to transport the cargo.
43. The process of claim 42, wherein said step of arranging a
rendezvous between the vehicle and the alternative vehicle to
transfer the cargo, comprises the steps of: querying and receiving
a location of the alternative vehicle; querying the data management
system for and receiving driving directions for the alternative
vehicle for the fastest by time traveled route to rendezvous with
the vehicle to transfer the cargo; transmitting the fastest by time
traveled route to rendezvous with the vehicle to transfer the cargo
to the alternative vehicle; and transmitting the cargo transfer
rendezvous information to the vehicle.
44. The process of claim 41, wherein said step of arranging an
alternative vehicle to transport the cargo, comprises the steps of:
providing a brokerage management system with a description of the
cargo, a current location of the cargo, and a final destination of
the cargo; and receiving identifying information of an alternative
vehicle to transport the cargo.
45. The process of claim 44, wherein said step of arranging a
rendezvous between the vehicle and the alternative vehicle to
transfer the cargo, comprises the steps of: querying and receiving
a location of the alternative vehicle; querying the data management
system for and receiving driving directions for the alternative
vehicle for the fastest by time traveled route to rendezvous with
the vehicle to transfer the cargo; transmitting the fastest by time
traveled route to rendezvous with the vehicle to transfer the cargo
to the alternative vehicle; and transmitting the cargo transfer
rendezvous information to the vehicle.
46. A process for an off board communication network for detecting
and correcting a fault in a mobile vehicle having an engine engaged
to a transmission engaged to a drive train for driving an axle with
wheels, the vehicle having an internal communication backbone to
which electronic controllers of the vehicle are electrically
engaged, the electronic controllers monitoring certain vehicle
components and the vehicle in contact with the off board
communication network through communication means engaged to the
internal communication network, comprising the steps of: receiving
a query about an perceived condition of a vehicle from a driver of
the mobile vehicle through the vehicle internal communication
network and the communication means; comparing the driver perceived
condition with an expected condition stored in a data management
system, and finding a significant difference from the expected
condition, performing the further steps of: determining the need
for further action for the vehicle; transmitting instructions for
further action to the vehicle through the communication means;
comparing the driver perceived condition with the expected
condition stored in a data management system, and finding no
significant difference from the expected condition, performing the
further step of recording the driver perceived condition in the
data management system.
47. The process of claim 46, wherein said step of determining the
need for further action for the vehicle includes the steps of:
determining parts required to effect a repair of the driver
perceived condition; and determining a closest location of the
repair parts to the vehicle.
48. The process of claim 47, wherein said step of transmitting
instructions for further action to the vehicle through the
communication means includes the step of: providing instructions to
the vehicle on how and where to obtain the parts.
49. The process of claim 48, wherein said step of determining the
need for further action for the vehicle includes the steps of:
locating an alternative vehicle to transport a cargo carried by the
vehicle; determining a rendezvous location to transfer the cargo
from the vehicle to the alternative vehicle; and notifying the
alternative vehicle of the rendezvous location.
50. The process of claim 49, wherein said step of determining the
need for further action for the vehicle further includes the steps
of: determining a fastest by time traveled route between the
alternative vehicle and the vehicle; and transmitting the fastest
by time traveled route between the alternative vehicle and the
vehicle to the alternative vehicle.
51. The process of claim 50, wherein said step of transmitting
instructions for further action to the vehicle through the
communication means includes the step of: providing instructions to
the vehicle on how and where to effect the transfer of transfer the
cargo from the vehicle to the alternative vehicle.
52. The process of claim 46, wherein said step of determining the
need for further action for the vehicle includes the steps of:
determining the need for further clarifying information from the
vehicle; querying the vehicle through the communication means for
the further clarifying information; and receiving the clarifying
information from the vehicle through the communication means.
53. A process for an off board communication network for directing
the routing, and operation of a network of mobile vehicles, the
vehicles of the network each having an internal communication
backbone to which electronic controllers of the vehicles are
electrically engaged, the electronic controllers monitoring certain
external parameters, and the vehicles of the network in contact
with the off board communication network through communication
means engaged to the internal communication network of each network
vehicle, comprising the steps of: receiving an indication of an
external condition in environments which may impact at least one of
the network vehicles; querying each of the network vehicles and
receiving the location and current route of each of the network
vehicles; comparing the external condition in environments which
may impact the transit along a current route of at least one of the
network vehicles with the location and route of each of the network
vehicles, and generating a listing of route impacted vehicles, and
performing the following steps: querying the data management system
to determine and receiving an alternate route for each of the route
impacted vehicles; querying the data management system for and
receiving driving directions for the route impacted vehicles to
transit the specific alternate routes; and providing the driving
directions for the route impacted vehicles through the
communication means to transit the specific alternate routes; and
comparing the external condition in environments which may impact
the operation along a current route of at least one of the network
vehicles with the location and route of each of the network
vehicles, and generating a listing of operation impacted vehicles,
and performing the following steps: querying the data management
system to determine and receiving alternate operation instructions
for each of the operation impacted vehicles; and providing the
alternate operation instructions for the operation impacted
vehicles through the communication means.
54. The process of claim 53, wherein: the external condition in
environments which may impact at least one of the network vehicles
is inclement weather.
55. The process of claim 54, wherein: the inclement weather
indication is provided by a weather service through a data
management system.
56. The process of claim 54, wherein: the inclement weather
condition is provided from onboard vehicle sensors on at least one
of network vehicles.
57. The process of claim 56, wherein: the onboard sensors measure
temperature and humidity.
58. The process of claim 56, wherein: the onboard sensors measure
road surface friction through downward aimed infrared
transceivers.
59. The process of claim 53, wherein: the external condition in
environments which may impact at least one of the network vehicles
is impaired road visibility.
60. The process of claim 59, wherein: the impaired road visibility
condition is provided from onboard vehicle sensors on at least one
of the network vehicles.
61. The process of claim 60, wherein: the onboard sensors are
forward aimed infrared transceivers.
62. The process of claim 53, wherein: the external condition in
environments which may impact at least one of the network vehicles
impacts road traffic flow.
63. The process of claim 62, wherein: the road traffic impacting
condition is provided by a governmental authority through a data
management system.
64. The process of claim 62, wherein: the road traffic impacting
condition is provided from at least one of network vehicles.
65. The process of claim 53, wherein: the external condition in
environments which may impact at least one of the network vehicles
are animal road crossings.
66. The process of claim 65, wherein: the animal road crossings
condition is provided from at least one of network vehicles.
67. The process of claim 66, wherein: the animal road crossings
condition is sensed by onboard infrared sensors.
68. The process of claim 53, wherein: the external condition in
environments which may impact at least one of the network vehicles
is a civil disturbance provided by a news source through a data
management system.
69. The process of claim 53, wherein: the external condition in
environments which may impact at least one of the network vehicles
is a potential vehicle highjacker.
70. The process of claim 69, wherein: the vehicle highjacker
condition is provided from at least one of network vehicles.
71. The process of claim 69, wherein: the vehicle highjacker
condition is sensed by onboard cameras engaged to the internal
communication network of the sensing network vehicle.
72. A data management system for engagement to an off board
communication network for directing the routing, and operation of a
network of mobile vehicles, the vehicles of the network each having
an internal communication backbone to which electronic controllers
of the vehicles are electrically engaged, the electronic
controllers monitoring certain external parameters, and the
vehicles of the network in contact with the off board communication
network through communication means engaged to the internal
communication network of each network vehicle, comprising: a
computer useable medium having computer readable program means
embodied in said medium for causing storage of network vehicle
sensed conditions communicated through the communication means
engaged to the internal communication network of the sensing
network vehicles, the vehicle sensed conditions in environments
which may impact at least one of the network vehicles; computer
readable program means for causing communication with, querying,
and receiving weather information in environments which may impact
at least one of the network vehicles from a weather service;
computer readable program means for causing communication with,
querying, and receiving information on a civil disturbance in
environments which may impact at least one of the network vehicles;
and computer readable program means for causing communication with,
reception of, and response to queries on the vehicle sensed
conditions, weather information, civil disturbances.
73. The data management system of claim 72, wherein: the vehicle
sensed conditions are local temperature and humidity.
74. The data management system of claim 72, wherein: the vehicle
sensed conditions is local road surface friction measured through
downward aimed infrared transceivers.
75. The data management system of claim 72, wherein: the vehicle
sensed conditions is local road visibility friction measured
through forward aimed infrared transceivers.
76. The data management system of claim 72, wherein: the vehicle
sensed conditions is a local road traffic condition.
77. The data management system of claim 72, wherein: the vehicle
sensed conditions are animal road crossings measured through
forward aimed infrared transceivers.
78. The data management system of claim 72, wherein: the vehicle
sensed condition is a vehicle highjacker condition sensed by
onboard cameras engaged to the internal communication network of
the sensing network vehicle.
79. A mobile vehicle for communicating with an off board
communication network, comprised of: an engine engaged to a
transmission engaged to a drive train for driving an axle with
wheels; an internal communication backbone to which electronic
controllers are electrically engaged; said electronic controllers
monitoring certain vehicle components; a lead electronic controller
programmed for monitoring said certain vehicle components through
said electronic controllers; said lead electronic controller
programmed for communication with the off board communication
network through communication means engaged to said internal
communication backbone; said lead electronic controller programmed
for transmitting an indication of an external condition through one
of said monitored vehicle components to the off board communication
network through the vehicle internal communication backbone and the
communication means; said lead electronic controller programmed for
receiving instructions for action to address external conditions
from the off board network through the communication means; and
said lead electronic controller programmed for notifying a driver
of the vehicle of driver actions of the received instructions from
the off board network.
80. The mobile vehicle of claim 79, wherein: the external condition
is local external temperature and humidity.
81. The mobile vehicle of claim 79, wherein: the external condition
is local road surface friction measured through downward aimed
infrared transceivers.
82. The mobile vehicle of claim 79, wherein: the external condition
is local road visibility measured through forward aimed infrared
transceivers.
83. The mobile vehicle of claim 79, wherein: the external condition
is animal road crossings measured through forward aimed infrared
transceivers.
84. A process for an off board communication network for tracking
and directing routine and periodic maintenance on a mobile vehicle
having an engine engaged to a transmission engaged to a drive train
for driving an axle with wheels, the vehicle having an internal
communication backbone to which electronic controllers of the
vehicle are electrically engaged, the electronic controllers
monitoring certain vehicle components and the vehicle in contact
with the off board communication network through communication
means engaged to the internal communication network, comprising the
steps of: storing a listing of routine and periodic maintenance
activities required for the vehicle, the routine and periodic
maintenance activities each maintenance activity having an
initiating condition; receiving an indication of an initiating
condition for a routine and periodic maintenance activity for a
vehicle component from an electronic controller on the mobile
vehicle through the vehicle internal communication network and the
communication means; determining the parts necessary to implement
the routine and periodic maintenance activity; searching a ground
support network for potential vehicle service providers that have
both the parts necessary to implement the routine and periodic
maintenance activity and an available service bay to implement the
routine and periodic maintenance activity on the vehicle; querying
the vehicle through the communication means and receiving the
location of the vehicle back from the vehicle; querying the data
management system to determine and receiving a closest by time
traveled potential vehicle service provider from the potential
vehicle service providers to the vehicle; querying the data
management system for and receiving driving directions for the
vehicle to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service;
and providing the driving directions for the vehicle through the
communication means to the closest by time traveled potential
vehicle service to the vehicle.
85. The process of claim 84, wherein following the step of querying
the data management system for and receiving driving directions for
the vehicle to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle
service, the additional steps of: querying the data management
system for any cargo being transported by the vehicle; arranging an
alternative vehicle to transport the cargo; and arranging a
rendezvous between the vehicle and the alternative vehicle to
transfer the cargo.
86. The process of claim 85, wherein said step of arranging an
alternative vehicle to transport the cargo, comprises the steps of:
providing a brokerage management system with a description of the
cargo, a current location of the cargo, and a final destination of
the cargo; and receiving identifying information of an alternative
vehicle to transport the cargo.
87. The process of claim 86, wherein said step of arranging a
rendezvous between the vehicle and the alternative vehicle to
transfer the cargo, comprises the steps of: querying and receiving
a location of the alternative vehicle; querying the data management
system for and receiving driving directions for the alternative
vehicle for the fastest by time traveled route to rendezvous with
the vehicle to transfer the cargo; transmitting the fastest by time
traveled route to rendezvous with the vehicle to transfer the cargo
to the alternative vehicle; and transmitting the cargo transfer
rendezvous information to the vehicle.
88. A process for a vehicle load brokerage management system
component of an off board communication network, comprising the
steps of: storing data on a network of mobile vehicles including
locations, cargo carrying ability, and operating area of the
vehicles in the mobile vehicle network; receiving a request for a
cargo carrying arrangement from a requesting vehicle in the mobile
vehicle network; storing descriptions of any cargo needing
transport by a vehicle, a current location of the cargo, and a
final destination of the cargo from an off board communication
network along with a query for a specific cargo carrying vehicle
from the network of mobile vehicles to transport the cargo;
comparing the cargo needing transport to the cargo carrying ability
of the requesting vehicle; deriving a listing of general routes
between each cargo needing transport's current location and each
final destination; comparing the listing of general routes for
cargo needing transport to an operating area of requesting vehicle,
a deriving a listing of potential cargo carrying arrangements for
the requesting vehicle; communicating the listing of potential
cargo carrying arrangements for the requesting vehicle to the
requesting vehicle; receiving an acceptance of the offer from the
requesting vehicle to carry a specific cargo needing transport from
the listing of potential cargo carrying arrangements; and
communicating identifying information of the requesting vehicle to
transport the cargo to the off board network.
89. The process of claim 89, further comprising: querying and
receiving a rendezvous location between the requesting vehicle and
the specific cargo needing transport; querying and receiving a
current location of the requesting vehicle; communicating the
current location of the requesting vehicle; requesting and
receiving driving directions between the requesting vehicle and the
specific cargo needing transport; and communicating the driving
directions to the requesting vehicle.
90. A computer program product for an off board communication
network for detecting and correcting a fault in a mobile vehicle
having an engine engaged to a transmission engaged to a drive train
for driving an axle with wheels, the vehicle having an internal
communication backbone to which electronic controllers of the
vehicle are electrically engaged, the electronic controllers
monitoring certain vehicle components and the vehicle in contact
with the off board communication network through communication
means engaged to the internal communication network, said computer
program product comprising: a computer useable medium having
computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for
causing the off board network to receive an indication of an
abnormal condition in a monitored vehicle component from an
electronic controller on the mobile vehicle through the vehicle
internal communication network and the communication means;
computer readable program code means for causing the off board
network to compare the indication of an abnormal condition with the
vehicle component's manufacturers' expected parameters in a data
management system, and the off board network finding a significant
difference from the manufacturer's expected parameters, computer
readable program code means for causing the off board network to
perform the further steps of: determining the most probable cause
of the difference from the manufacturer's expected parameters;
determining the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause
of the difference from the manufacturer's expected parameters;
searching a ground support network for potential vehicle service
providers that have both the parts necessary to correct the most
probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer's expected
parameters and an available service bay to correct the most
probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer's expected
parameters; querying the vehicle through the communication means
and receiving the location of the vehicle back from the vehicle;
querying the data management system to determine and receiving a
closest by time traveled potential vehicle service provider from
the potential vehicle service providers to the vehicle; querying
the data management system for and receiving driving directions for
the vehicle to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle
service; and providing the driving directions for the vehicle
through the communication means to the closest by time traveled
potential vehicle service to the vehicle; computer readable program
code means for causing the off board network to compare the
indication of the abnormal condition with a specific history of the
vehicle component stored in the data management system and the off
board network finding a significant difference from the specific
history of the vehicle component, computer readable program code
means for causing the off board network to perform the further
steps of: determining the most probable cause of the difference
from the specific history of the vehicle component; determining the
parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the
difference from the specific history of the vehicle component;
searching a ground support network for potential vehicle service
providers that have both the parts necessary to correct the most
probable cause of the difference from the specific history of the
vehicle component and an available service bay to correct the most
probable cause of the difference from the specific history of the
vehicle component; querying the vehicle through the communication
means and receiving the location of the vehicle back from the
vehicle; querying the data management system to determine and
receiving a closest by time traveled potential vehicle service
provider from the potential vehicle service providers to the
vehicle; querying the data management system for and receiving
driving directions for the vehicle to the closest by time traveled
potential vehicle service; and providing the driving directions for
the vehicle through the communication means to the closest by time
traveled potential vehicle service to the vehicle; and computer
readable program code means for causing the off board network to
compare the indication of an abnormal condition with the vehicle
component's manufacturers' expected parameters in a data management
system, and comparing the indication of the abnormal condition with
a specific history of the vehicle component stored in the data
management system, and the off board network finding no significant
difference from the specific history of the vehicle component, and
finding no significant difference from the manufacturer's expected
parameters, computer readable program code means for causing the
off board network to perform the further step of recording the
indication of an abnormal condition in the data management
system.
91. A computer program product for an off board communication
network for detecting and correcting a fault in a mobile vehicle
having an engine engaged to a transmission engaged to a drive train
for driving an axle with wheels, the vehicle having an internal
communication backbone to which electronic controllers of the
vehicle are electrically engaged, the electronic controllers
monitoring certain vehicle components and the vehicle in contact
with the off board communication network through communication
means engaged to the internal communication network, said computer
program product comprising: a computer useable medium having
computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for
causing the off board network to receive an indication of an
abnormal condition in a monitored vehicle component from the mobile
vehicle through the vehicle internal communication network and the
communication means; computer readable program code means for
causing the off board network to compare the indication of an
abnormal condition with an expected condition stored in a data
management system, and the off board network finding a significant
difference from the expected condition, computer readable program
code means for causing the off board network to perform the further
steps of: determining the need for further action for the vehicle;
transmitting instructions for further action to the vehicle through
the communication means; computer readable program code means for
causing the off board network to compare the indication of an
abnormal condition with the expected condition stored in a data
management system, and the off board network finding no significant
difference from the expected condition, computer readable program
code means for causing the off board network to perform the further
step of recording the indication of an abnormal condition in the
data management system.
92. A computer program product for a data management system
component of an off board communication network, said computer
program product comprising: a computer useable medium having
computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for
causing the data management system to store a vehicle component's
manufacturers' expected parameters; computer readable program code
means for causing the data management system to receive a query
from the off board network for the manufacturer's expected
parameters for the vehicle; computer readable program code means
for causing the data management system to provide the off board
network with the manufacturer's expected parameters for the vehicle
for the off board network's comparison of an indication of an
abnormal condition with the vehicle component's manufacturers'
expected parameters, and upon the off board network finding a
significant difference from the manufacturer's expected parameters,
computer readable program code means for causing the data
management system to perform the further steps of: storing a
listing of most probable causes of differences from the
manufacturer's expected parameters; receiving a query for and
providing the off board network with listing of most probable
causes of differences from the manufacturer's expected parameters
for the off board network to compare to the abnormal condition for
a match between a most probable cause and the abnormal condition;
storing independent listings of vehicle parts necessary to correct
each of the most probable causes of differences from the
manufacturer's expected parameters; receiving a query for and
providing the off board network independent listings of vehicle
parts necessary to correct each of the most probable causes of
differences from the manufacturer's expected parameters for the off
board network to determine the parts necessary to correct the most
probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer's expected
parameters; receiving a query from the off board network to
determine a closest by time traveled potential vehicle service
provider from a listing of potential vehicle service providers that
have both the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of
the difference from the manufacturer's expected parameters and an
available service bay to correct the most probable cause of the
difference from the manufacturer's expected parameters; accessing a
data base to determine driving times from potential vehicle service
providers to the vehicle from the listing of potential vehicle
service providers that have both the parts necessary to correct the
most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer's
expected parameters and an available service bay to correct the
most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer's
expected, choosing a closest by time traveled potential vehicle
service provider, providing the closest by time traveled potential
vehicle service provider to the off board network; receiving a
query from the off board network for driving directions for the
vehicle to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service;
accessing a data base to determine the driving directions for the
vehicle through the communication means to the closest by time
traveled potential vehicle service to the vehicle; and providing to
the off board network the driving directions for the vehicle to the
closest by time traveled potential vehicle service to the vehicle;
computer readable program code means for causing the data
management system to store a specific history of the vehicle
component; computer readable program code means for causing the
data management system to receive a query from the off board
network for the specific history of the vehicle component; computer
readable program code means for causing the data management system
to provide the off board network with the specific history of the
vehicle component for the off board network's comparison of an
indication of an abnormal condition with the specific history of
the vehicle component, and upon the off board network finding a
significant difference from the manufacturer's expected parameters,
computer readable program code means for causing the data
management system to perform the further steps of: storing a
listing of most probable causes of differences from the specific
history of the vehicle component; receiving a query for and
providing the off board network with listing of most probable
causes of differences from the specific history of the vehicle
component for the off board network to compare to the abnormal
condition for a match between a most probable cause and the
abnormal condition; storing independent listings of vehicle parts
necessary to correct each of the most probable causes of
differences from the specific history of the vehicle component;
receiving a query for and providing the off board network
independent listings of vehicle parts necessary to correct each of
the most probable causes of differences from the specific history
of the vehicle component for the off board network to determine the
parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the
difference from the specific history of the vehicle component;
receiving a query from the off board network to determine a closest
by time traveled potential vehicle service provider from a listing
of potential vehicle service providers that have both the parts
necessary to correct the most probable cause of the difference from
the specific history of the vehicle component and an available
service bay to correct the most probable cause of the difference
from the specific history of the vehicle component; accessing a
data base to determine driving times from potential vehicle service
providers to the vehicle from the listing of potential vehicle
service providers that have both the parts necessary to correct the
most probable cause of the difference from the specific history of
the vehicle component and an available service bay to correct the
most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer's
expected, choosing a closest by time traveled potential vehicle
service provider, providing the closest by time traveled potential
vehicle service provider to the off board network; receiving a
query from the off board network for driving directions for the
vehicle to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service;
accessing a data base to determine the driving directions for the
vehicle through the communication means to the closest by time
traveled potential vehicle service to the vehicle; and providing to
the off board network the driving directions for the vehicle to the
closest by time traveled potential vehicle service to the vehicle;
and computer readable program code means for causing the data
management system to receive and store a history of the indication
of an abnormal condition following the off board network's
comparison of the indication of the abnormal condition with the
vehicle component's manufacturers' expected parameters, and the off
board network's comparison of the indication of the abnormal
condition with a specific history of the vehicle component, and the
off normal network finding no significant difference from the
specific history of the vehicle component, and finding no
significant difference from the specific history of the vehicle
component.
93. A computer program product for a vehicle load brokerage
management system component of an off board communication network,
said computer program product comprising: a computer useable medium
having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium
for causing the brokerage management system to store data on a
network of mobile vehicles including locations, cargo carrying
ability, availability to carry cargo, and operating area of the
vehicles in the mobile vehicle network; computer readable program
code means for causing the brokerage management system to receive a
description of any cargo being transported by a vehicle with an
abnormal condition, a current location of the cargo, and a final
destination of the cargo from an off board communication network
along with a query for a specific alternative vehicle from the
network of mobile vehicles to transport the cargo; computer
readable program code means for causing the brokerage management
system to compare the cargo to be carried to the vehicles in the
network of mobile vehicles to derive a listing of mobile vehicles
capable of carrying the cargo; computer readable program code means
for causing the brokerage management system to compare the listing
of mobile vehicles capable of carrying the cargo to the vehicle
availability data on the network of mobile vehicles and deriving a
listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying
the cargo; computer readable program code means for causing the
brokerage management system to determine a general route between
the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the
cargo; computer readable program code means for causing the
brokerage management system to compare the operating areas of the
vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and
capable of carrying the cargo and determining which vehicle's
operating area encompasses the general route between the current
location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage
management system to communicate with the vehicles whose operating
areas encompass the general route between the current location of
the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an
option to carry the cargo as an alternative vehicle; computer
readable program code means for causing the brokerage management
system to receive an acceptance of the offer from a vehicle whose
operating areas encompass the general route between the current
location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and
designating this the alternative vehicle to transport the cargo;
and computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage
management system to communicate identifying information of the
alternative vehicle to transport the cargo to the off board
network.
94. A computer program product for a vehicle load brokerage
management system component of an off board communication network,
said computer program product comprising: a computer useable medium
having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium
for causing the brokerage management system to store data on a
network of mobile vehicles including locations, cargo carrying
ability, availability to carry cargo, and operating area of the
vehicles in the mobile vehicle network; computer readable program
code means for causing the brokerage management system to receive a
description of any cargo being transported by a vehicle with an
indication of an abnormal condition, a current location of the
cargo, and a final destination of the cargo from an off board
communication network along with a query for a specific alternative
vehicle from the network of mobile vehicles to transport the cargo;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage
management system to compare the cargo to be carried to the
vehicles in the network of mobile vehicles to derive a listing of
mobile vehicles capable of carrying the cargo; computer readable
program code means for causing the brokerage management system to
compare the listing of mobile vehicles capable of carrying the
cargo to the vehicle availability data on the network of mobile
vehicles and the brokerage management system deriving a listing of
mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage
management system to determine a general route between the current
location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage
management system to compare the operating areas of the vehicles on
the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of
carrying the cargo to determine which vehicle's operating area
encompasses the general route between the current location of the
cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and the brokerage
management system finding individual vehicles whose operating area
encompasses the general route, computer readable program code means
for causing the brokerage management system to perform the
additional steps of: communicating with the vehicles whose
operating areas encompass the general route between the current
location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and
offering an option to carry the cargo as an alternative vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from a vehicle whose operating
areas encompass the general route between the current location of
the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating
this the alternative vehicle to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the alternative vehicle to
transport the cargo to the off board network; computer readable
program code means for causing the brokerage management system to
compare the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of
mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to
determine which vehicles' operating areas encompass the general
route between the current location of the cargo and the final
destination of the cargo, and the brokerage management system
finding a combination or combinations of vehicles whose operating
areas encompass the general route, computer readable program code
means for causing the brokerage management system to perform the
additional steps of: communicating with the vehicles whose
combination of operating areas encompass the general route between
the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the
cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo as an alternative
vehicle; receiving an acceptance of the offer from the vehicles
whose combination operating areas encompass the general route
between the current location of the cargo and the final destination
of the cargo and designating these as the alternative vehicles to
transport the cargo; and communicating identifying information of
the alternative vehicles to transport the cargo to the off board
network; and computer readable program code means for causing the
brokerage management system to compare the operating areas of the
vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both available and
capable of carrying the cargo to determine which vehicle's
operating area encompasses the general route between the current
location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and
the brokerage management system not finding a vehicle or a
combination of vehicles whose operating areas encompass the general
route, computer readable program code means for causing the
brokerage management system to perform the additional steps of:
comparing operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile
vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo with the
current location of the cargo and the final destination of the
cargo, and determining an alternative route between the current
location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo;
comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of
mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to
determine which vehicle's operating area encompasses the
alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the
final destination of the cargo, and the brokerage management system
finding individual vehicles whose operating area encompasses the
alternative route, computer readable program code means for causing
the brokerage management system to perform the additional steps of:
communicating with the vehicles whose operating areas encompass the
alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the
final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the
cargo as an alternative vehicle; receiving an acceptance of the
offer from a vehicle whose operating areas encompass the
alternative route between the current location of the cargo and the
final destination of the cargo and designating this the alternative
vehicle to transport the cargo; and communicating identifying
information of the alternative vehicle to transport the cargo to
the off board network; and computer readable program code means for
causing the brokerage management system to compare the operating
areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both
available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which
vehicles' operating areas encompass the alternative route between
the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the
cargo, and the brokerage management system finding a combination or
combinations of vehicles whose operating areas encompass the
alternative route, computer readable program code means for causing
the brokerage management system to perform the additional steps of:
communicating with the vehicles whose combination of operating
areas encompass the alternative route between the current location
of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an
option to carry the cargo as an alternative vehicle; receiving an
acceptance of the offer from the vehicles whose combination
operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current
location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and
designating these as the alternative vehicles to transport the
cargo; and communicating identifying information of the alternative
vehicles to transport the cargo to the off board network.
95. A computer program product for a vehicle load brokerage
management system component of an off board communication network,
said computer program product comprising: a computer useable medium
having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium
for causing the brokerage management system to store data on a
network of mobile vehicles including locations, cargo carrying
ability, availability to carry cargo, and operating area of the
vehicles in the mobile vehicle network; computer readable program
code means for causing the brokerage management system to receive a
description of any cargo needing to be transported by a vehicle, a
current location of the cargo, and a final destination of the cargo
from an off board communication network along with a query for a
specific cargo carrying vehicle from the network of mobile vehicles
to transport the cargo; computer readable program code means for
causing the brokerage management system to compare the cargo to be
carried to the vehicles in the network of mobile vehicles to derive
a listing of mobile vehicles capable of carrying the cargo;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage
management system to compare the listing of mobile vehicles capable
of carrying the cargo to the vehicle availability data on the
network of mobile vehicles and to derive a listing of mobile
vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo; computer
readable program code means for causing the brokerage management
system to determine a general route between the current location of
the cargo and the final destination of the cargo; computer readable
program code means for causing the brokerage management system to
compare the operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of
mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo to
determine which vehicle's operating area encompasses the general
route between the current location of the cargo and the final
destination of the cargo, and the brokerage management system
finding individual vehicles whose operating area encompasses the
general route, computer readable program code means for causing the
brokerage management system to perform the additional steps of:
communicating with the vehicles whose operating areas encompass the
general route between the current location of the cargo and the
final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the
cargo as an specific cargo carrying vehicle; receiving an
acceptance of the offer from a vehicle whose operating areas
encompass the general route between the current location of the
cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating this
the specific cargo carrying vehicle to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the specific cargo
carrying vehicle to transport the cargo to the off board network;
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage
management system to compare the operating areas of the vehicles on
the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of
carrying the cargo to determine which vehicles' operating areas
encompass the general route between the current location of the
cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and the brokerage
management system finding a combination or combinations of vehicles
whose operating areas encompass the general route, computer
readable program code means for causing the brokerage management
system to perform the additional steps of: communicating with the
vehicles whose combination of operating areas encompass the general
route between the current location of the cargo and the final
destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the cargo
as a specific cargo carrying vehicle; receiving an acceptance of
the offer from the vehicles whose combination operating areas
encompass the general route between the current location of the
cargo and the final destination of the cargo and designating these
as the specific cargo carrying vehicles to transport the cargo; and
communicating identifying information of the specific cargo
carrying vehicles to transport the cargo to the off board network;
and computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage
management system to compare the operating areas of the vehicles on
the listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of
carrying the cargo to determine which vehicle's operating area
encompasses the general route between the current location of the
cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and the brokerage
management system not finding a vehicle or a combination of
vehicles whose operating areas encompass the general route,
computer readable program code means for causing the brokerage
management system to perform the additional steps of: comparing
operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles
both available and capable of carrying the cargo with the current
location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo, and
determining an alternative route between the current location of
the cargo and the final destination of the cargo; comparing the
operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles
both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which
vehicle's operating area encompasses the alternative route between
the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the
cargo, and finding individual vehicles whose operating area
encompasses the alternative route, computer readable program code
means for causing the brokerage management system to perform the
additional steps of: communicating with the vehicles whose
operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current
location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and
offering an option to carry the cargo as an specific cargo carrying
vehicle; receiving an acceptance of the offer from a vehicle whose
operating areas encompass the alternative route between the current
location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and
designating this the specific cargo carrying vehicle to transport
the cargo; and communicating identifying information of the
specific cargo carrying vehicle to transport the cargo to the off
board network; comparing the operating areas of the vehicles on the
listing of mobile vehicles both available and capable of carrying
the cargo to determine which vehicles' operating areas encompass
the alternative route between the current location of the cargo and
the final destination of the cargo, and finding a combination or
combinations of vehicles whose operating areas encompass the
alternative route, computer readable program code means for causing
the brokerage management system to perform the additional steps of:
communicating with the vehicles whose combination of operating
areas encompass the alternative route between the current location
of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and offering an
option to carry the cargo as an specific cargo carrying vehicle;
receiving an acceptance of the offer from the vehicles whose
combination operating areas encompass the alternative route between
the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the
cargo and designating these as the specific cargo carrying vehicles
to transport the cargo; and communicating identifying information
of the specific cargo carrying vehicles to transport the cargo to
the off board network.
96. A computer program product for an off board communication
network for directing the routing, and operation of a network of
mobile vehicles, the vehicles of the network each having an
internal communication backbone to which electronic controllers of
the vehicles are electrically engaged, the electronic controllers
monitoring certain external parameters, and the vehicles of the
network in contact with the off board communication network through
communication means engaged to the internal communication network
of each network vehicle, said computer program product comprising:
a computer useable medium having computer readable program code
means embodied in said medium for causing the off board network to
receive an indication of an external condition in environments
which may impact at least one of the network vehicles; computer
readable program code means for causing the off board network to
query each of the network vehicles and receiving the location and
current route of each of the network vehicles; computer readable
program code means for causing the off board network to compare the
external condition in environments which may impact the transit
along a current route of at least one of the network vehicles with
the location and route of each of the network vehicles, and the off
board network generating a listing of route impacted vehicles, and
computer readable program code means for causing the off board
network to perform the following steps: querying the data
management system to determine and receiving an alternate route for
each of the route impacted vehicles; querying the data management
system for and receiving driving directions for the route impacted
vehicles to transit the specific alternate routes; and providing
the driving directions for the route impacted vehicles through the
communication means to transit the specific alternate routes; and
computer readable program code means for causing the off board
network to compare the external condition in environments which may
impact the operation along a current route of at least one of the
network vehicles with the location and route of each of the network
vehicles, and the off board network generating a listing of
operation impacted vehicles, and computer readable program code
means for causing the off board network to perform the following
steps: querying the data management system to determine and
receiving an alternate route for each of the operation impacted
vehicles; querying the data management system for and receiving
driving directions for the operation impacted vehicles to transit
the specific alternate routes; and providing the driving directions
for the operation impacted vehicles through the communication means
to transit the specific alternate routes.
97. A computer program product for an off board communication
network for tracking and directing routine and periodic maintenance
on a mobile vehicle having an engine engaged to a transmission
engaged to a drive train for driving an axle with wheels, the
vehicle having an internal communication backbone to which
electronic controllers of the vehicle are electrically engaged, the
electronic controllers monitoring certain vehicle components and
the vehicle in contact with the off board communication network
through communication means engaged to the internal communication
network, said computer program product comprising: a computer
useable medium having computer readable program code means embodied
in said medium for causing the off board network to store a listing
of routine and periodic maintenance activities required for the
vehicle, the routine and periodic maintenance activities each
maintenance activity having an initiating condition; computer
readable program code means for causing the off board network to
receive an indication of an initiating condition for a routine and
periodic maintenance activity for a vehicle component from an
electronic controller on the mobile vehicle through the vehicle
internal communication network and the communication means;
computer readable program code means for causing the off board
network to determine the parts necessary to implement the routine
and periodic maintenance activity; computer readable program code
means for causing the off board network to search a ground support
network for potential vehicle service providers that have both the
parts necessary to implement the routine and periodic maintenance
activity and an available service bay to implement the routine and
periodic maintenance activity on the vehicle; computer readable
program code means for causing the off board network to query the
vehicle through the communication means and receiving the location
of the vehicle back from the vehicle; computer readable program
code means for causing the off board network to query the data
management system to determine and receiving a closest by time
traveled potential vehicle service provider from the potential
vehicle service providers to the vehicle; computer readable program
code means for causing the off board network to query the data
management system for and receiving driving directions for the
vehicle to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service;
and computer readable program code means for causing the off board
network to provide the driving directions for the vehicle through
the communication means to the closest by time traveled potential
vehicle service to the vehicle.
98. An off board communication network for coordinating operation
of a network of mobile vehicles, comprising: a data management
system for querying, receiving, and storing information related to
the vehicles and to external conditions that may impact the
vehicles; said data management system programmed to respond to
queries using the stored information related to the vehicles and to
external conditions that may impact the vehicles; a ground support
network for communication with vehicle parts and services
suppliers; a brokerage management system for coordinating cargo for
transport by the vehicles; a means of communication between a lead
electronic control module on each vehicle, the data management
system, the ground support network, and the brokerage management
system.
99. The off board network of claim 98, wherein: said means of
communications is through a satellite communications network.
100. The off board network of claim 98, wherein: said means of
communications is through a ground communications network.
101. The off board network of claim 99, wherein: said means of
communications additionally includes a ground communications
network.
102. The off board network of claim 100, wherein: said ground
communications network includes communications along the
internet.
103. The off board network of claim 101, wherein: said ground
communications network includes communications along the internet.
Description
[0001] This is a non-provisional application claiming priority
under provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/107,174, filed
Nov. 5, 1998.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a communication system
architecture (SA) for a vehicle which may be integrated into the
vehicle's multiplexed electronic component communication system,
and a process for communicating with the vehicle to provide
information for and about the vehicle's operational status and
coordinating the vehicle's activities. The system architecture
includes an off board communication network. The communication
system will include a multi-functional antenna system for the
vehicle that will have the capability to receive AM/FM radio and
video signals, and transmit and receive citizens band (CB) radio
signals, short range radio frequency, satellite and microwave and
cellular phone communications. The antenna may be installed as
original equipment or as a back-fit part in the after-market. In
either case the multi-functional antenna will be integrated with
the vehicle's multiplexed electronic component communication
system. The process for communicating with the vehicle will involve
a communication service for which the vehicle's driver will enroll
for and service will continue so long as maintenance fees are paid.
The service will be capable of providing various levels of
information transfer and coordination. The levels may include
vehicle information such as (1) the need for servicing and location
of the nearest service center with the necessary parts in stock,
(2) routing, and (3) load brokering and coordination. The modular
design of the system architecture (SA) will allow it to be employed
with the vehicle platform which does not possess a full multiplexed
electronic component communications system. The resulting vehicle,
using an aftermarket application package, will be able to
participate in some of the services.
PRIOR ART
[0003] Vehicle communication systems have been described before in
the prior art. These systems in some cases related to vehicle
maintenance and service. None of them took a direct feed of vehicle
status from the vehicle internal communication system. Some of the
prior art systems provided routing instructions. None of them used
the concept of independent vehicles in a network as probes for
information on driving condition status. None of the prior art
coordinated vehicle load transfers of independent carriers to allow
the independent day trip carriers to act in concert for long
distance load transfers.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0004] The invention is an intelligent information system
architecture and process for commercial and other transportation
vehicles that provides improved productivity, effectiveness, safety
and other benefits. Moreover, the system architecture is tailored
to the different businesses.
[0005] Commercial vehicles are tools for businesses. Like any tool,
the commercial vehicle may be used in various applications
depending on the businesses specific needs. All commercial vehicles
require some kind of external information to enhance the use or
performance of the vehicle. Of this information, some is generic to
all businesses using commercial vehicles and some is specific to
particular industries. The commercial vehicle platform required by
this invention has an internal communication system with
multiplexed electronic components using wireless as well as wired
communications. Electronic components are communicated with and
controlled through this network. Included among the electronic
components is a multi-functional antenna system for the vehicle.
The antenna(s) system will replace all current vehicle antennas
such as CB, cellular, TV, and AM/FM/Weatherband radio, satellite,
LORAN navigation, and other bands of the electromagnetic spectrum.
The antenna(s) system may be installed as original factory
equipment in the vehicle or as after market equipment. Also,
included amongst the electronic equipment on the commercial vehicle
platform are all the numerous speakers, microphones, and
enunciators contained on the vehicle, and integrated into a modular
integrated package.
[0006] The multiplexed system may gather the status of various
operating parameters of the vehicle from the electronic components.
The operating status of the vehicle may be uplinked through the
multi-functional antenna system to one or more external
communications control centers (ECCC). The ECCCs and the enrolled
vehicle platforms generally comprise the communications system
architecture (SA), although the SA is expected to include service
and parts centers as well as weather, and routing and traffic
tracking centers. There are three anticipated phases to implement
the SA. They are:
[0007] 1. Maintenance and Service
[0008] 2. Routing and Trip Information
[0009] 3. Business Specific Information/Coordination
[0010] All phases involve at a minimum two way communication
between the ECCC and the enrolled vehicle platforms. The vehicle
platforms may be any mobile vehicle. Only medium and heavy duty
trucks and people transportation buses are described for
illustration here. Additional components or functions which may be
included into the platform system by the use of software modules
and/or hardware components which once installed in an electronic
cabinet will integrate the additional functions into the
multiplexed system. This installation will make use of standardized
modules and interface components.
[0011] Phase One (1) involves the maintenance and servicing of the
vehicle platforms. The internal multiplexing system of the vehicle
platforms will interconnect all of the electronic components of the
vehicle. As such the status of vehicle systems may be uplinked to
the ECCC without driver intervention. The status will include, but
is not limited to key engine parameters provided from the engine
electronic control module, transmission controller, anti-lock brake
(ABS) status from the ABS controller, and trailer load and
installation status, as well as truck cargo and conditions. The
status information is only limited as far as to electronic
component inputs which may be provided. The ECCC will analyze the
vehicle operating status and downlink information and instructions
to the vehicle. The downlinked information will include maintenance
needs of the vehicle. Such maintenance needs might include the need
for immediate service. In this case the downlinked information will
include the location of the nearest vehicle service center which
has the parts in stock to effect the repairs. It will also include
routing instructions to get to the nearest service center. Routing
instructions will be discussed further below in the description of
Phase Two (2) Routing and Trip Information. The multiplexed vehicle
electronic controllers will be able to sense erratic operation of
the vehicle using monitors on steering, engine, and brake
components as well as the trailer status. Should the uplinked
status indicate an erratic driving pattern, the ECCC will contact
the driver directly recommending a break and if necessary contact
the vehicle's owner and in a last case notify highway or police
authorities to provide warnings. The vehicle platform may also be
configured to provide immediate feedback directly to the operator
based on the business needs of the owner.
[0012] The Phase 1 information is viewed as generic type
information valuable to owners of all mobile vehicles with
particular interest to commercial vehicle owners.
[0013] The multiplexed vehicle may include infrared heat sensing
apparatus, among apparatus using other frequency ranges and
pressure sensing devices, to detect animals, vehicles and other
heat emitting objects during poor visibility or nighttime driving.
This will include the ability to sense the range to objects being
approached. The electronic controllers will provide the driver
warnings of the status directly through the integrated speakers and
will uplink the information to the ECCC so the animal crossings may
be provided to enrolled vehicle platforms in the vicinity. The ECCC
will use the vehicle platforms with their sensory inputs as probes
to establish a real time picture of a particular region; thereby,
augmenting the information provided by any one service.
[0014] Phase 2 involves routing and trip information for the
enrolled vehicle platforms. At the drivers active request or upon
regular intervals, the ECCC will provide routing information to the
enrolled vehicles. The ECCC will have a running fix of the enrolled
vehicles' locations. The routing information will allow the drivers
of the vehicle platforms to choose and use the most efficient
routes to transit. Prior art routing information included the best
path based upon the shortest distance. Of course the shortest
mileage is not necessarily the most efficient route. The ECCC will
also have a geographic fix of devices and locations pertinent to
the business and its needs. The ECCC upon sensing the uplinked
location of the vehicle platforms will analyze the location of the
vehicle. The ECCC will then collect input traffic information
throughout the NAFTA countries (or other contiguous geographic
regions) from Department of Transportation (DOT) repeaters (or
international equivalent service), weather information from the
National Weather Service (or international equivalent service) and
other route effecting information from news services such as civil
unrest or labor strife, as well as the shortest distance routing
information. The traffic condition ECCC will then provide a
cohesive route plan through electronic downlinking to the enrolled
vehicle platforms with automatic updates upon the changing of the
input information. Phase 2 routing information will be very useful
in regional or line haul applications where a cohesive route plan
means significant savings in operator costs and shipping expenses.
Additionally, the routing information will be valuable for any
business which has vehicles traveling in environments which are
subject to rapidly changing conditions.
[0015] The school bus industry could utilize the varying downlinked
routing plans during foul weather as well as providing instructions
to substitute drivers unfamiliar with normal planned routes. The
geographic reference information part of the routing information
may be used to notify the operator and ECCC of both ideal and
hazardous geographic zones.
[0016] The electric, gas, and telephone utility industry could use
the routing information to direct work crews during response to
foul weather or emergencies. In these situations, utilities are
known to borrow crews and vehicles from utilities from other
locations, sometimes from as far as thousands of miles away. Prior
art vehicle tracking did not include visiting crew vehicles and
coordination was not cohesive or well controlled. The ECCC can
provide routing to these borrowed work crews and vehicles to
coordinate response and the use of the vehicle as a tool for the
business.
[0017] Municipal emergency vehicle small and large fleets could use
the routing information to ensure that emergency vehicles such as
police, fire, and ambulance vehicles may avoid obstacles such as
traffic jams, bad weather, closed roads, open draw bridges, and the
like. The ECCC input information will include the status of these
intra-city and country obstructions to smooth passage and use this
information to compute and downlink the most effective route to the
emergency response vehicles. As with utility vehicles, some events
or conditions require a response from out of area crews and
vehicles. The ECCC routing and trip information will be invaluable
to providing command and control of the out of area as well as
local emergency vehicles and crews.
[0018] Phase Three (3) involves Business Specific
Information/Coordination- . For some business applications this
will require the enrollment of vehicle platforms in various key
locations throughout the participating countries. The general
process involves gathering the locations of participating vehicles,
evaluating the required tasks, and then directing the enrolled
vehicle platforms to the locations to enhance the overall
performance of the participating vehicles and organizations. Phase
3 will integrate the information transfers and controls of Phases 1
and 2 in that only vehicles which are in a proper operating status
will be directed to be applied as tools for the desired functions,
and in most cases routing directions will be required to fully
coordinate diverse and far flung work crews or vehicles for work
efforts.
[0019] In the utility area, for instance, the multiplexed vehicle
platforms will also include electronic seat sensors or other
occupant detection devices to monitor the manning levels of the
response vehicles. This information will be uplinked by the
multi-functional antenna system to provide manpower response
estimates of the crews. The ECCC will track man hours worked in
order to control overtime and ensure legal work hour requirements
such as required in Department of Transportation (DOT) or Nuclear
Regulatory Commission 10 C.F.R. 20 regulations are not exceeded.
The electronic sensors in the multiplexed vehicle platform may also
be used to track passenger entry and egress from buses. Information
will be uplinked to record completed missions and to plan optimized
pick-up locations.
[0020] The most far reaching application of Phase 3 business
coordination is related to the regional and line haul trucking
businesses. Phase 3 for these businesses involves a `Pony Express`
Service for transporting goods. Under this brokerage service
vehicle owners or drivers will sign up to make deliveries within a
geographic radius so that they may make transfers of goods (i.e.
trailer loads) and enable them to return to their home each night.
A 200-300 mile radius will allow a driver to make a pickup and
transfer along a route to another driver in an adjacent 200-300
mile radius circle in order to move shipments of goods. In this way
Phase 3 will allow regional day hauler tractor trailers to
participate in a national or NAFTA or international transportation
system while still sleeping in their own beds each night. It will
allow small trucking entities to be more coordinated than large
fleets due to the integration of vehicle operating status and
routing under Phases 1 and 2. The integration of the independently
owned multiplexed vehicle platforms will allow individual owners or
small trucking firms to compete on an international level with
minimum investment. Phase 3 implementation will need to be delayed
until drivers with the overlapping work radii are enrolled in the
Phase 1 and 2 services. Once the ECCC receives a request for a load
transfer, it will contact the vehicle platforms within the most
efficient transit path based upon the calculated Phase 2 routing
analysis. Once the impacted drivers electronically agree to
participate in the specific load transfer, the automatic routing
information will commence with allowance for calculating rendezvous
points. The load will be tracked using the Phase 1 service until
completion of the journey. The load owner will be periodically
automatically updated on delivery status if he or she so
desires.
DRAWINGS
[0021] Other objects and advantages of the invention will become
more apparent upon perusal of the detailed description thereof and
upon inspection of the drawings, in which:
[0022] FIG. 1 is an overview drawing of a communication network for
mobile vehicles made in accordance with this invention.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a perspective of a mobile vehicle made in
accordance with this invention.
[0024] FIG. 3 is page 1 of a process for an off board communication
network for detecting and correcting a fault in a mobile vehicle
made in accordance with this invention.
[0025] FIG. 4 is page 2 of the process of FIG. 3.
[0026] FIG. 5 is another embodiment of a process for an off board
communication network for detecting and correcting a fault in a
mobile vehicle made in accordance with this invention.
[0027] FIG. 6 is page 1 of a further embodiment of the process of
FIG. 5.
[0028] FIG. 7 is page 2 of the process of FIG. 6.
[0029] FIG. 8 is page 1 of a process for a brokerage management
system component of an off board communication network made in
accordance with this invention.
[0030] FIG. 9 is page 2 of the process of FIG. 8.
[0031] FIG. 10 is page 1 of another embodiment of a process for a
brokerage management system component of an off board communication
network made in accordance with this invention.
[0032] FIG. 11 is page 2 of the process of FIG. 10.
[0033] FIG. 12 is page 3 of the process of FIG. 10.
[0034] FIG. 13 is page 4 of the process of FIG. 10.
[0035] FIG. 14 is page 5 of the process of FIG. 10.
[0036] FIG. 15 is page 1 of a driver initiated process for an off
board communication network for detecting and correcting a fault in
a mobile vehicle made in accordance with this invention.
[0037] FIG. 16 is page 2 of the process of FIG. 15.
[0038] FIG. 17 is another embodiment of a driver initiated process
for an off board communication network for detecting and correcting
a fault in a mobile vehicle made in accordance with this
invention.
[0039] FIG. 18 is an external condition initiated process for
directing the routing and operation of a network of mobile vehicles
made in accordance with this invention.
[0040] FIG. 19 is a data management system for coordinating
information related to external conditions that may impact a
network of mobile vehicles made in accordance with this
invention.
[0041] FIG. 20 is a process for an off board communication network
for tracking and directing routine and periodic maintenance of a
mobile vehicle made in accordance with this invention.
[0042] FIG. 21 is a vehicle initiated process for a brokerage
management system component of an off board communication network
made in accordance with this invention.
[0043] FIG. 22 is a diagram for illustrating some brokerage
management system processes and external condition rerouting.
DETAILS OF INVENTION
[0044] FIGS. 1 to 22 show a land vehicle communications system and
process for providing information and coordinating vehicle
activities. A land vehicle off board communication network 100 made
in accordance with this invention may be comprised of any number of
the subparts shown in FIG. 1. Both a centralized and de-centralized
control scheme embodiment will be described. These subparts consist
of: a Vehicle Onboard System (VOS) 101; a Satellite Communication
Network (SCN) 102; a Communication Control Center (CCC) 103, short
for the ECCC described earlier; a Ground Communication Network
(GCN) 104; a Ground Support Network (GSN) 105; a Data Management
System (DMS) 106; and a Brokerage Management System (BMS) 107. The
minimum requirements for a vehicle communication network 100 are a
VOS 101, a GSN 105, and either a SCN 102 or a GCN 104.
[0045] The VOS 101 serves two primary functions. The first is to
provide information and requests to the CCC 103 through either the
SCN 102 or the land based GCN 104. This information and these
requests result in commands, queries, directions, and
recommendations back from the CCC 103. The second primary function
of the VOS 101 is to act as a mobile sensor platform for the CCC
103 and the DMS 106. The mobile sensor steps and components of the
VOS 101 will be discussed below.
[0046] The SCN 102 and the GCN 104 may generally described as off
board communication networks. In the decentralized embodiment of
the invention, the GCN 104 may be integral to and carry on all the
functions of the CCC 103. The SCN 102 is a network of one or more
satellites which provide remote communication to, from, and between
a mobile vehicle 111 that includes a VOS 101 and the other
applicable subparts of the vehicle communication network 100. The
SCN 102 will be a conventional network known in the art. The use of
the network for transfer of VOS 101 as a sensor information and
vehicle load management by the BMS 107 is new.
[0047] The GCN 104 is a network on the ground that may consist of
any combination of telephones, RF transponders, radio, cellular
phones, and the internet. The GCN 104 will be a conventional
network known in the art. The use of the network for transfer of
VOS 101 as a sensor information and vehicle load management by the
BMS 107 is new.
[0048] The CCC 103, required only in the centralized control
embodiment of the invention, analyzes input and requests from the
other subparts and issues requests, directions, and recommendations
to the other subparts. The CCC 103 will embody a single
organization or several working in concert to analyze problems and
needs and come up with solutions. The CCC 103 may include the DMS
106 although the DMS 106 may be a separate data system. The DMS 106
will collect and collate information from various sources that will
include external conditions that may impact the vehicles 111. The
incoming information may be from the VOS 101 as a sensor and as a
monitored vehicle 100, the Department of Transportation traffic
reports, the National Weather Service, news sources such as the
Cable News Network (CNN) or the Associated Press, and road map
direction generating systems such as those commercially available.
This listing is not exclusive.
[0049] The GSN 105 is comprised of a network of vehicle support
facilities that may include parts warehouses, vehicle service and
maintenance centers, information services (a.k.a. `help desk`) and
road service providers such as tow trucks or wreckers. The GSN 105
will provide parts and service as necessary to return or maintain a
mobile vehicle in service. It may include vehicle dealers and
independent service and parts providers.
[0050] The BMS 107 provides two primary functions. The first
function is to provide shippers of goods and materials a single
point of contact to electronically arrange shipments of materials
by both tractor-trailer and smaller vehicles. The loads may include
straight truck applications and also people for bus transportation.
The BMS 107 takes the shipping request and will then determine the
route through the DMS 106. The BMS 107 will then contact member
Vehicle 111s, determine availability and economics of the
associated Vehicle 111s, contact the Vehicle 111s to offer and
arrange the necessary vehicle 111s along the shipment route, and
make arrangements for rendezvous and load transfers to implement
the transfer. The BMS 107 will contact out of network carriers as
necessary to arrange the shipment. The BMS 107 will monitor and
receive VOS 101 reports on the road and vehicle conditions and make
changes to the route or carriers as necessary to effect the
shipment order. The second function of the BMS 107 is to provide
the owners and drivers of Vehicles 111 electronic brokerage
services. The owners or drivers of the vehicles, usually in the
Class 5 to 8 as determined by the Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), will
sign up the vehicle for the load brokerage service. The BMS 107
will contact available vehicles 111 or their owners with potential
haulage opportunities and provide instructions to the vehicle as
far as rendezvous, load transfers, and routing. In at least one
embodiment, the BMS 107 will be integral to the CCC 103.
[0051] The VOS 101 may include as complex as a multiplexed vehicle
system that includes an internal communication backbone 112
allowing communication between electronic components using
standards and communication protocols such as the Society of
Automotive Engineers (SAE) J1708, J1587, J1939 communication
protocols or a like proprietary variant. The communication backbone
112 may be as simple as a loose network of sensors and components
connected in a point-to-point fashion. The more complex version is
shown in FIG. 2. The internal electrical communication backbone 112
is electrically engaged to provide a communication path between
various electronic devices and controllers as part of the VOS 101.
The vehicle 111 has an engine 113 engaged to a transmission 114.
The transmission is engaged to a drive train 118 for driving the
wheels 126. The engine 113 is controlled and monitored by an engine
electronic control module (ECM) 113a that is electrically engaged
to the communication backbone 112. The engine ECM 113a may receive
and communicate status of the engine and auxiliaries including but
not limited to engine performance, engine coolant parameters,
engine oil system parameters, air intake quality, and other
monitored parameters. The transmission 114 if automatic or
semi-automatic may be controlled and monitored by a transmission
electronic control module 114a that is electrically engaged to the
communication backbone 112. The vehicle 111 may have an onboard
computer (OBC) 119 which if present will be the lead message
arbitrator or lead controller for the vehicle 111. The OBC 119 will
collect input and send requests from and to the CCC 103 through an
onboard communications means and either the SCN 102 or the GCN 104.
The OBC 119 will act as a lead message arbitrator or lead
controller, whose orders in conflict with other controllers will
countermand. If the vehicle 111 does not have an OBC 119, then
another ECM such as the engine ECM 113a will act as the lead
controller. The onboard communication means may be a satellite
access antenna 115 that may be included in a sun visor 128 or a
cellular phone antenna 116 with a phone transceiver 116a. The
communication means may additionally be any vehicle to land method
and equipment. The wheels 126 may include anti-lock (ABS) brakes.
The anti-lock brakes may be controlled by an anti-lock brake
electronic control module (ABS ECM) 117. The ABS ECM 117 is
electrically engaged to the communication backbone 112 and like the
other ECMs provides status of the system to the OBC 119 or other
lead controller and hence to the CCC 103 through the onboard
communication means. The onboard communication means provides input
of its own system operability to the OBC 119 or other lead
controller. A tire pressure sensor 126a is mounted on each wheel.
The tire pressure sensor 126a measures each tires pressure and
sends radio signal to a receiver 126b that is electrically engaged
to the communication backbone 112. Tire pressure is an indicator of
tire wear, the need for a pressure adjustment, or vehicle loading
depending on the pressure distribution across the tires and a
specific vehicle history maintained by either the OBC 119 or the
DMS 106 remotely. An electronic odometer may also be tied to the
communication backbone 112 provide input of miles traveled to the
OBC 119, other lead controller, and the CCC 103 remotely. A
navigation system such as those based on GPS and Dead Reckoning may
be installed and engaged to the communication backbone 112 with an
appropriate antenna 136 and transceiver 137 for providing input of
the vehicle 111's geographic position. The above mentioned ECMs and
sensors are examples of specific vehicle inputs providing a
specific vehicle status.
[0052] Other sensors on the vehicle 111 provide the VOS 101 with
indications of external conditions that may be valuable to other
vehicles tied to the communication network 100. Some examples
include a road ice sensor 123. The road ice sensor 123 can be a
simple as an infrared transceiver directed downwards to a road
surface 133. Road surfaces 133 with ice, snow, black ice, or water,
or dry will give different infrared reflective signals back to the
road ice transceiver 123. The road ice transceiver 123 is also
electrically engaged to the communication backbone 112. The vehicle
111 may include an infrared animal detector 124 tied to the
communication backbone 112. The infrared animal detector 124
detects large animals crossing the road such as elk, moose, or
deer. In addition to providing the driver with a warning message or
alarm, the VOS 101 will provide the information to the DMS 106
externally. This information will be logged and provided to other
drivers entering the vicinity of the vehicle 111 acting as an
animal crossing detector. The vehicle may also have an external
security camera 125 for detecting thieves, high-jackers or other
threats 131 to the driver or his load. The CCC 103 may notify the
local police or private security firms upon receiving transmission
of a crime in progress. The VOS 101 may also include local weather
monitors 134 tied to the communication backbone 112. The local
weather monitors 134 can include temperature, wind speed, and
humidity. This information will provide the DMS 106 with validation
and confirmation of National Weather Service information.
[0053] The lead message arbitrator or lead electronic controller
may be programmed for communication with the off board
communication network through the communication means engaged to
the internal communication backbone 112. The lead electronic
controller is also programmed for transmitting an indication of an
abnormal condition in one of the monitored vehicle components to
the off board communication network 100 through the vehicle
internal communication backbone 112 and the communication means.
The lead electronic controller may be programmed for receiving
instructions for action to address the abnormal condition from the
off board network 100 through the communication means. The lead
electronic controller may also be programmed for notifying a driver
of the vehicle 111 of driver actions of the received instructions
from the off board network 100.
[0054] The lead message arbitrator or lead electronic controller
may also be programmed for receiving a query for additional
information from the off board network 100 related to the abnormal
condition. The lead controller may be programmed for obtaining the
additional queried information about the abnormal condition through
the internal communication backbone without driver intervention.
The lead controller may be programmed for transmitting the
additional queried information to the off board communication
network through the vehicle internal communication backbone 112 and
the communication means without driver intervention.
[0055] The instructions the lead electronic controller is
programmed for receiving for action to address the abnormal
condition from the off board network may include a closest location
of the repair parts to correct the abnormal condition and
directions to the closest location. Additionally, the indication of
an abnormal condition the lead electronic controller is programmed
for monitoring may be monitored through either the engine ECM 113a,
the transmission ECM 114a, anti-lock brake ECM 117, or the OBC
119.
[0056] One embodiment of the data management system is shown in
FIG. 19. The data management system 106 may be integral to the
communications control center in a centralized control scheme. The
embodiment shown in FIG. 19 is for control of network vehicles as a
result of external conditions which include external conditions
sensed by Vehicle onboard systems 101. The embodiment of FIG. 19 is
comprised of a computer useable medium having computer readable
program means embodied in the medium for causing storage of network
vehicle sensed conditions. The vehicle sensed conditions are
communicated through the communication means engaged to the
internal communication network 112 of the sensing network vehicles.
For this embodiment, the vehicle sensed conditions are in
environments that may impact at least one of the network vehicles.
Additionally, the data management system 106 has computer readable
program means for causing communication with weather information in
environments which may impact at least one of the network vehicles
from a weather service. In this embodiment, there is also a
computer readable program means for causing communication querying
for and reception of information on a civil disturbance in
environments which may impact at least one of the network vehicles.
The data management system 106 has computer readable program means
for causing communication with, reception of, and response to
queries on the vehicle sensed conditions, weather information,
civil disturbances.
[0057] The off board network 100 may be utilized for a number of
processes involving different combinations of Vehicles 111 with
Vehicle onboard systems (VOSs) 101; the satellite communications
network (SCN) 102; a communications control center (CCC) 103, the
ground communications network (GCN) 104; the ground support network
(GSN) 105; a data management system (DMS) 106; and the brokerage
management system (BMS) 107.
[0058] A first process for the off board communication network 100
is for detecting and correcting a fault in a mobile vehicle 111
with a VOS 101 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. This process may be
performed by a centralized entity or the subparts performed by a
combination of entities. One embodiment of this process has a first
step of the off board network 100 receiving an indication of an
abnormal condition in a monitored vehicle 111 component from an
electronic controller on the mobile vehicle 111 through the vehicle
internal communication network 112 and the communication means. The
next step is comparing the indication of an abnormal condition with
the vehicle component's manufacturers' expected parameters in the
data management system 106. If there is a significant difference
from the manufacturer's expected parameters, then the following
steps are performed. Next the most probable cause of the difference
from the manufacturer's expected parameters is determined using a
comparison to an existing fault chart or by live engineering
personnel. The next step is determining the parts necessary to
correct the most probable cause of the difference from the
manufacturer's expected parameters. This also is obtained from
fault charts or by live personnel. The ground support network 105
is searched for potential vehicle service providers that have both
the parts necessary and an available service bay to correct the
most probable cause of the difference from the manufacturer's
expected parameters. The vehicle 111 is queried and responds
through the communication means with the location of the vehicle.
The off board network 100 queries the data management system 106 to
determine a closest by time traveled potential vehicle service
provider from the potential vehicle service providers to the
vehicle 111. The off board network 100 queries the data management
system 106 for and receives driving directions for the vehicle 111
to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service. The off
board network 100 provides the driving directions for the vehicle
111 through the communication means to the closest by time traveled
potential vehicle service to the vehicle.
[0059] Should there not be a significant difference between the
abnormal condition and the manufacturer's expected parameters, the
off board network 100 compares the indication of the abnormal
condition with a specific history of the vehicle component stored
in the data management system. Should there be a finding of a
significant difference from the specific history of the vehicle
component, the off board network 100 performs the following steps.
The off board network 100 determines the most probable cause of the
difference from the specific history of the vehicle component using
a comparison to an existing fault chart or by live engineering
personnel. The next step is determining the parts necessary to
correct the most probable cause of the difference from the specific
history of the vehicle component. This also is obtained from fault
charts, other types of diagnostic procedures, or by live personnel.
The off board network 100 searches a ground support network 105 for
potential vehicle service providers that have both the parts
necessary and an available service bay to correct the most probable
cause of the difference from the specific history of the vehicle
component. The vehicle 111 is queried and responds through the
communication means with the location of the vehicle. The off board
network 100 queries the data management system 106 to determine a
closest by time traveled potential vehicle service provider from
the potential vehicle service providers to the vehicle 111. The off
board network 100 queries the data management system 106 for and
receives driving directions for the vehicle 111 to the closest by
time traveled potential vehicle service. The off board network 100
provides the driving directions for the vehicle 111 through the
communication means to the closest by time traveled potential
vehicle service to the vehicle.
[0060] If the off board network 100 compares the indication of an
abnormal condition with the vehicle component's manufacturers'
expected parameters, and with a specific history of the vehicle
component stored and finds no significant difference, the off board
network 100 performs the step of recording the indication of an
abnormal condition in the data management system.
[0061] Additional steps to this process of FIGS. 3 and 4 may
include transmitting a notice to the vehicle for a driver of the
vehicle 111. The notice may include of the most probable cause of
the difference from the manufacturer's expected parameters. This
notice could be before the step of providing the driving directions
for the vehicle 111 to the closest by time traveled potential
vehicle service to the vehicle for both situations requiring action
beyond mere recording of the condition.
[0062] Additionally, following the step querying the data
management system for and receiving driving directions for the
vehicle to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service,
the additional off board network 100 may perform the following
steps. The network 100 will query the data management system 106
for any cargo being transported by the vehicle 111. The network 100
will arrange an alternative vehicle to transport the cargo and
arrange a rendezvous between the vehicle 101 and the alternative
vehicle to transfer the cargo. The step of arranging an alternative
vehicle may include providing the brokerage management system 107
with a description of the cargo, a current location of the cargo,
and a final destination of the cargo. The brokerage management
system may communicate to and the network 100 may receive
identifying information of an alternative vehicle to transport the
cargo.
[0063] The off board network 100 may further arrange the cargo
transfer rendezvous by querying and receiving a location of the
alternative vehicle. The network 100 may query the data management
system 106 for and receive driving directions for the alternative
vehicle for the fastest by time traveled route to rendezvous with
the vehicle 111 to transfer the cargo. The off board network 100
then may transmit the fastest by time traveled route to rendezvous
with the vehicle to transfer the cargo to the alternative vehicle.
Also the network 100 may transmit the cargo transfer rendezvous
information to the vehicle.
[0064] An additional process embodiment may provide more
flexibility in addressing other abnormal conditions in the vehicle
111. This process also may be performed by a centralized entity or
by a group of entities acting in concert. The first step of this
embodiment, shown in FIG. 5 is receiving an indication of an
abnormal condition in a monitored vehicle component from the mobile
vehicle 111 through the vehicle internal communication network 112
and the communication means. Then there is a comparison of the
indication of an abnormal condition with an expected condition
stored in a data management system 106. Should there be a finding
of a significant difference from the expected condition, then the
need for further action is determined. Instructions for further
action are transmitted to the vehicle through the communication
means. Should the comparison of the indication of an abnormal
condition with the expected condition stored in a data management
system find no significant difference from the expected condition,
then the indication of an abnormal condition in the data management
system is recorded.
[0065] FIG. 6 and 7 show a further embodiment of the process of
FIG. 5. This further embodiment includes additional actions in
regards to determining further action and transmitting instructions
in related to that further action. These additional actions were
described above for the process shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The
abnormal conditions identified by the vehicle 111 may be initially
processed by the engine ECM 113a, the transmission ECM 114a, or the
antilock braking ECM 117 or the Onboard Computer 119. The network
100 may determine the need for further information. The vehicle may
need to be queried for additional information with the vehicle 111
providing such information.
[0066] The data management system 106 performs some processes
alone, although as mentioned above the data management system may
be integral to the communications control center 100. One of these
data management system processes is inherently shown in FIGS. 3 and
4. The first step of this process is storing a vehicle component's
manufacturers' expected parameters and a specific history of the
vehicle components. The data management system 106 may receive a
query from the off board network 100 for the manufacturer's
expected parameters for the vehicle or for the specific history of
the vehicle components. The data management system 106 then
provides the off board network 100 with the stored information for
comparison of to an indication of an abnormal condition. All along
the data management system stores a listing of most probable causes
of differences from the comparison information parameters. Upon the
off board network 100 finding a significant difference from the
comparison information parameters, the data management system 106
may receive a query for and subsequently provide the off board
network 100 with listing of most probable causes of differences
from the comparison parameters. The off board network 100 would
compare the abnormal condition to this cause-condition reference
listing to determine a match between a most probable cause and the
abnormal condition. The data management system 106 stores
independent listings of vehicle parts necessary to correct each of
the most probable causes of differences from comparison parameters.
Upon receiving a query for parts listings, the data management
system 106 provides the off board network independent listings of
vehicle parts necessary to correct each of the most probable
causes. This allows the off board network 100 to determine the
parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the
difference from the comparison parameters. The data management
system 106 may receive a query from the off board network 100 to
determine a closest by time traveled potential vehicle service
provider from a listing of potential vehicle service providers that
has both the parts necessary and an available service bay to
correct the most probable cause of the abnormal condition. The data
management system 106 may access a data base to determine driving
times from potential vehicle service providers to the vehicle from
the listing of potential vehicle service providers that have both
the parts necessary to correct the most probable cause of the
difference from the manufacturer's expected parameters and an
available service bay to correct the most probable cause of the
abnormal condition. The data management system 106 may choose a
closest by time traveled potential vehicle service provider and
provide identifying information about this provider to the off
board network. The data management system 106 may receive a query
from the off board network 100 for driving directions for the
vehicle to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service.
The data management system 106 may access a data base to determine
the driving directions for the vehicle 111 through the
communication means to the closest by time traveled potential
vehicle service to the vehicle. The data management system 106 will
then provide the driving directions to the off board network 100.
Should there not be a significant difference between the abnormal
condition and the manufacturer's expected parameters or the
specific component history, the data management system 106 will
store a record of the abnormal condition.
[0067] This process for the data management system 106 may
additionally consist of storing a record of cargo being carried by
the vehicle 111 needing service. Upon receiving a query from the
off board network 100 for any cargo being transported by the
vehicle, data management system 106 will transmit a record of the
cargo to the off board network 100. If the off board network 100
determines that an alternative vehicle may need to take a transfer
of the cargo, the data management system 106 may receive a location
of an alternative vehicle to transport the cargo carried by the
vehicle needing service. Additionally, the data management system
106 may receive a status of the mobility of the vehicle 111 needing
service. The data management system 106 may receive a query from
the off board network 100 for a fastest by time traveled from the
alternative vehicle to a rendezvous location with the vehicle
needing service. The data management system 106 will in this
situation access a data base to determine the driving directions
for the alternative vehicle to the fastest by time traveled from
the alternative vehicle to a rendezvous location with the vehicle
needing service. The data management system 106 would then provide
the alternative vehicle driving directions to the off board network
100 to the rendezvous.
[0068] The brokerage management system 107 may perform some
internal processes alone, although as mentioned above the brokerage
management system may be integral to the communications control
center 103 in centralized control schemes. One of these brokerage
management system 107 alone processes is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.
The brokerage management system 107 stores data on a network of
mobile vehicles including locations, cargo carrying ability,
availability to carry cargo, and operating area of the vehicles in
the mobile vehicle network. As mentioned earlier this cargo may be
human passengers for a bus network as well as conventional cargo.
The cargo may be items to be shipped in containers or a trailer
where the vehicles 111 are highway tractors for pulling a trailer
in tractor-trailer applications. The brokerage management system
107 may receive a description of any cargo being transported by a
vehicle 111 with an abnormal condition, a current location of the
cargo, and a final destination of the cargo from the off board
network 100. There may also be a query for a specific alternative
vehicle from the network of mobile vehicles to transport the cargo.
Alternatively, the brokerage management system 107 may receive a
description of cargo needing transportation, a current location of
the cargo, and a final destination of the cargo along with a query
for a specific cargo carrying vehicle from the network of mobile
vehicles to transport the cargo. In either case the brokerage
management system 107 compares the cargo to be carried to the
vehicles in the network of mobile vehicles to derive a listing of
mobile vehicles capable of carrying the cargo. The brokerage
management system 107 compares the listing of mobile vehicles
capable of carrying the cargo to the vehicle availability data on
the network of mobile vehicles and derives a listing of mobile
vehicles both available and capable of carrying the cargo. The
brokerage management system 107 determines a general route between
the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the
cargo. The brokerage management system 107 compares the operating
areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both
available and capable of carrying the cargo and determining which
vehicle's operating area encompasses the general route between the
current location of the cargo and the final destination of the
cargo. The brokerage management system 107 communicates with the
vehicles whose operating areas encompass the general route between
the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the
cargo and offers an option to carry the cargo as an alternative
vehicle or as a specific cargo carrying vehicle. The brokerage
management system 107 receives an acceptance of the offer from a
vehicle whose operating areas encompass the general route between
the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the
cargo and designates this the alternative vehicle to transport the
cargo. The brokerage management system 107 communicates identifying
information of the alternative vehicle or specific cargo carrying
vehicle to the off board network 100. The brokerage management
system 107 may also locate and coordinate transportation of
equipment required for the transfer the cargo or people from one
container or trailer to another in the event that the abnormality
is related to the performance of the container or trailer.
[0069] A more complex process performed by the brokerage management
system 107 is shown in FIGS. 10 to 14. Reference to FIG. 22 is also
illustrative. The brokerage management system 107 stores data on a
network of mobile vehicles including locations, cargo carrying
ability, availability to carry cargo, and operating area of the
vehicles in the mobile vehicle network. Similar to the above
process, the brokerage management system 107 may receive a
description of any cargo being transported by a vehicle 111 with an
abnormal condition, a current location of the cargo, and a final
destination of the cargo from the off board network 100. There may
also be a query for a specific alternative vehicle from the network
of mobile vehicles to transport the cargo. Alternatively, the
brokerage management system 107 may receive a description of cargo
needing transportation, a current location of the cargo, and a
final destination of the cargo along with a query for a specific
cargo carrying vehicle from the network of mobile vehicles to
transport the cargo. In either case, the brokerage management
system 107 compares the cargo to be carried to the vehicles in the
network of mobile vehicles to derive a listing of mobile vehicles
capable of carrying the cargo. The brokerage management system 107
compares the listing of mobile vehicles capable of carrying the
cargo to the vehicle availability data on the network of mobile
vehicles and derives a listing of mobile vehicles both available
and capable of carrying the cargo. For illustration purposes,
Vehicles 111A to 111M, whose operating areas are shown on FIG. 22,
are all available and capable of carrying the cargo. Vehicle 111N
is a cross country vehicle with the entire country as an operating
area and will be referred to in later examples. The brokerage
management system 107 may determine a general route between the
current location of the cargo and the final destination of the
cargo. The general route of the example shown in FIG. 22 is
designated HW80. The brokerage management system 107 compares the
operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles
both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which
(if any) vehicle's or vehicles' operating area(s) encompasses the
general route.
[0070] FIG. 11 indicates the brokerage management system 107
actions should there be individual vehicles which are available,
capable, and whose operating area encompasses the general route. In
the FIG. 22 example, the general route would be HW80 between New
York and Cleveland. The brokerage management system 107 would find
Vehicles 111A and 111B with operating area A encompassing the
entire route on HW80 between New York and Cleveland. The brokerage
management system 107 communicates with the vehicles whose
operating areas encompass the general route between the current
location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo and
offering an option to carry the cargo as an alternative vehicle.
For the FIG. 22 example, the brokerage management system 107 would
contact Vehicles 111A and 111B to make such an offer. The brokerage
management system 107 would receive an acceptance of the offer from
a vehicle whose operating areas encompass the general route between
the current location of the cargo and the final destination of the
cargo and designating this the alternative vehicle to transport the
cargo. In the FIG. 22 example, Vehicle 111A would accept. The
brokerage management system 107 then communicates identifying
information of the alternative vehicle or specific cargo carrying
vehicle to transport the cargo to the off board network 100, which
for FIG. 22 would be Vehicle 111A.
[0071] FIG. 12 indicates the brokerage management system 107
actions should there be a combination or combinations of vehicles
which are available, capable, and whose operating area encompasses
the general route. In the FIG. 22 example for this combination
situation, the general route would be HW80 between New York and
Chicago. The brokerage management system 107 would communicate with
the vehicles whose combination of operating areas encompass the
general route between the current location of the cargo and the
final destination of the cargo and offering an option to carry the
cargo as an alternative vehicle. For the New York to Chicago FIG.
22 example, the brokerage management system 107 would communicate
with Vehicles 111A, 111B, 111C, and 111D whose respective operating
areas are the Operating Areas designated A and B. The brokerage
management system 107 would receive an acceptance of the offer from
the vehicles whose combination operating areas encompass the
general route between the current location of the cargo and the
final destination of the cargo. The specific cargo carrying
vehicles would designate these as either the alternative vehicles
to transport the cargo or specific cargo carrying vehicles. The
brokerage management system 107 would receive acceptance from at
least one vehicle of the group of Vehicles 111A or 111B and at
least one vehicle of the group of Vehicles 111C or 111D. The
brokerage management system 107 would communicate identifying
information of the alternative vehicles to transport the cargo or
specific cargo carrying vehicles to the off board network 100.
FIGS. 13 and 14 show the brokerage management system 107 actions
should there be no individual vehicles or a combination or
combinations of vehicles which are available, capable, whose
operating area encompasses the general route, and who accept an
offer to carry the cargo. In the FIG. 22 example for this
situation, the general route would be HW80 between New York and Los
Angeles. The brokerage management system 107 compares operating
areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles both
available and capable of carrying the cargo with the current
location of the cargo and the final destination of the cargo. The
brokerage management system 107 determines an alternative route
between the current location of the cargo and the final destination
of the cargo. For the FIG. 22 example, the assumption would be that
either Vehicles 111E and 111F were either not available, or not
capable, or are not in the network, or did not accept an offer to
carry the cargo in Operating Area C along HW80. The brokerage
management system 107 would determine the alternate route to be,
assuming Vehicles 111A, B, C, D, G, H, J, K, L, M, and N are
capable and available, HW80 from New York to Chicago, HW55-63 from
Chicago to Salt Lake City, and HW80 from Salt Lake City to Los
Angeles.
[0072] The brokerage management system 107 would compare the
operating areas of the vehicles on the listing of mobile vehicles
both available and capable of carrying the cargo to determine which
vehicle's or combination of vehicles' operating area encompass the
alternative route. Should the brokerage management system 107 find
individual vehicles whose operating area encompasses the
alternative route, the brokerage management system 107 communicates
with the vehicles whose operating areas encompass the alternative
route and offer these vehicles an option to carry the cargo as an
alternative vehicle or as a specific cargo carrying vehicle. For
the New York to Los Angles alternate route example shown in FIG.
22, only Vehicle 111N would be communicated with. The brokerage
management system 107 may receive an acceptance of the offer from a
vehicle whose operating areas encompass the alternative route. The
brokerage management system 107 would communicate identifying
information of the alternative vehicle to transport the cargo to
the off board network 100.
[0073] In the last option, the brokerage management system 107
finds a combination of vehicles whose operating area encompasses
the alternative route or if individual vehicles, such as Vehicle
111N whose individual operating area encompasses the alternate
route, do not accept the offer. The brokerage management system 107
communicates with the vehicles whose combination of operating areas
encompass the alternative route and offers an option to carry the
cargo as an alternative vehicle or as specific cargo carrying
vehicles. The offer in the FIG. 22 alternate route from New York to
Los Angeles example would be to Vehicles 111A, B, C, D, G, H, J, K,
L, and M. The brokerage management system 107 would receive an
acceptance of the offer from the vehicles whose combination
operating areas encompass the alternative route. For the FIG. 22
example, that would be at least one vehicle of each group with
Operating Areas A, B, D, E, and F. Should there not be an
acceptance from enough vehicles to complete this route the
brokerage management system 107 would derive new alternative routes
until enough vehicles accept to complete the route. The brokerage
management system 107 communicates identifying information of the
alternative vehicles to transport the cargo to the off board
network 100.
[0074] The above example is for the situations where either a
vehicle slated to carry a cargo can not or where a shipper needs a
cargo shipped. Another method of cargo coordination performed by
the brokerage management system 107 is where a vehicle 111 in the
network requests a cargo to carry. An embodiment of this vehicle
requested cargo coordination process is shown in FIG. 21. As above,
the brokerage management system 107 stores data on a network of
mobile vehicles including locations, cargo carrying ability, and
operating area of the vehicles in the mobile vehicle network. The
brokerage management system 107 receives a request for a cargo
carrying arrangement from a requesting vehicle in the mobile
vehicle network. The brokerage management system 107 stores
descriptions of any cargo needing transport, a current location of
the cargo, and a final destination of the cargo along with a query
for a specific cargo carrying vehicle from the network of mobile
vehicles to transport the cargo. The brokerage management system
107 compares the cargo needing transport to the cargo carrying
ability of the requesting vehicle 111. Then the brokerage
management system 107 derives a listing of general routes between
each cargo needing transport's current location and each final
destination. The brokerage management system 107 compares the
listing of general routes for cargo needing transport to an
operating area of requesting vehicle, and derives a listing of
potential cargo carrying arrangements for the requesting vehicle
111. The brokerage management system 107 communicates the listing
of potential cargo carrying arrangements for the requesting vehicle
to the requesting vehicle 111. The brokerage management system 107
receives an acceptance of the offer from the requesting vehicle 111
to carry a specific cargo needing transport from the listing of
potential cargo carrying arrangements. The brokerage management
system 107 communicates identifying information of the requesting
vehicle to transport the cargo to the off board network. This
process may additionally include deriving and providing driving
directions to the vehicle 111 to a rendezvous location to accept
the cargo.
[0075] The process described above for the off board network 100
and shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 were for a vehicle sensed abnormal
condition. The architecture of this invention may also respond
similarly for driver perceived conditions. An example of the
process for a driver perceived condition is shown in FIGS. 15 and
16. The driver may inform the off board network of perceived
condition. The onboard network 100 processes and responds as it
would for a vehicle sensed condition. Some examples of things a
driver may perceive include things he or she may see, hear, smell,
or feel while operating the vehicle 111. The off board network 100
may go through the same processes as identifying causes, and
actions such as parts, service providers from the ground support
network 105. FIG. 17 shows an analogous process for a driver
perceived condition as the vehicle sensed condition of FIG. 5, with
all the associated variations as far as determining cause, and
arranging parts, service, and alternative cargo carriers if
necessary.
[0076] The off board network 100 as mentioned above may use
information on external conditions to route, re-route and direct
operation of vehicles a network of mobile vehicles. The external
conditions may be but are not limited to weather related, traffic,
road work, animal road crossings, natural disasters, or human
instigated conditions. The external conditions may be detected and
communicated by external sources such as a national weather service
or national transportation authorities or local and national news
services. The external conditions may also be detected by using the
vehicles in the network of mobile vehicles as mobile sensors for
the off board network 100 as a whole. The first step is the off
board network 100 receiving an indication of an external condition
in environments which may impact at least one of the network
vehicles. The off board network 100 queries and receives from each
of the network vehicles 111 for the location and current route of
each of the vehicles 111.
[0077] The off board network 100 compares the external condition in
environments which may impact the transit along a current route of
at least one of the network vehicles with the location and route of
each of the network vehicles 111. The off board network 100
generates a listing of route impacted vehicles. Impact on the
transit of the vehicles means the specific roads and highways the
vehicles are traveling on. The off board network 100 queries the
data management system 106 to provide an alternate route for each
of the route impacted vehicles. The off board network 100 queries
the data management system 106 for and receives driving directions
for the route impacted vehicles to transit the specific alternate
routes. The off board network 100 provides the driving directions
for the route impacted vehicles through the communication means to
transit the specific alternate routes. FIG. 22 contains an
illustration of transit rerouting. Assume vehicle 111N was
transiting general route HW80 from New York to Los Angeles, and the
off board network 100 detected an external condition which may
impact transit, as shown, between Chicago and Salt Lake City. The
off board network 100 might redirect Vehicle 111 N to take
alternate route HW 55-63 at Chicago until reaching Salt Lake City,
where Vehicle 111N would return to HW 80.
[0078] In some cases the external condition may also or
alternatively impact operation of a transiting vehicle. For
instance, if the condition shown on HW 80 of FIG. 22 was a snow
storm, the off board network 100 might direct HW 80 to proceed with
caution, obtain chains, or take other snow related actions. If the
external the condition impacts operation of the vehicle, the off
board network 100 compares the external condition in environments
with the location and route of each of the network vehicles. The
off board network 100 generates a listing of operation impacted
vehicles. Subsequently the off board network 100 queries the data
management system 106 to determine and receiving alternate
operation instructions for each of the operation impacted vehicles.
The off board network 100 provides the alternate operation
instructions for the operation impacted vehicles through the
communication means.
[0079] The off board network 100 as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 may
direct and route vehicles in response to faults or unexpected
maintenance needs of vehicles 111 in the network of vehicles.
Additionally, the off board network 100 may track and direct
vehicle routing for routine and periodic maintenance on the
vehicles. One embodiment of such a routine maintenance process is
shown in FIG. 20. The off board network 100 or the data management
system 106 stores a listing of routine and periodic maintenance
activities required for the vehicle, the routine and periodic
maintenance activities each maintenance activity having an
initiating condition. The off board network 100 receives an
indication of an initiating condition for a routine and periodic
maintenance activity for a vehicle component from an electronic
controller on the mobile vehicle through the vehicle internal
communication network and the communication means. One example of
an initiating condition may be an odometer reading. The off board
network 100 for example may direct routine maintenance such as
engine oil changes and tune ups. The first step of this process is
the off board network 100 receives an indication of an initiating
condition for a routine and periodic maintenance activity for a
vehicle component from an electronic controller on the mobile
vehicle 111 through the vehicle internal communication network 112
and the communication means. The network 100 determines the parts
necessary to implement the routine and periodic maintenance
activity. The network then searches a ground support network 105
for potential vehicle service providers that have both the parts
necessary to implement the routine and periodic maintenance
activity and an available service bay to implement the routine and
periodic maintenance activity on the vehicle 111. The network 100
queries the vehicle 111 through the communication means and
receives the location of the vehicle 111. The data management
system 106 is queried to determine a closest by time traveled
potential vehicle service provider from the potential vehicle
service providers to the vehicle. The data management system 106
provides identifying information for the closest by time traveled
potential vehicle service provider. The data management system 106
is queried for and provides driving directions for the vehicle 111
to the closest by time traveled potential vehicle service. The off
board network 100 provides the driving directions for the vehicle
100 through the communication means to the closest by time traveled
potential vehicle service. Additional steps may include the
arrangement for an alternate carrier for any cargo on the vehicle
111 as described above.
[0080] The processes may be programmed into a computer or the
program may be a computer program product comprised of a computer
usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied
in the medium for affecting the above process when used in
conjunction with a computing system.
[0081] As described above, the intelligent information system
architecture including the off board network 100, the vehicles 111,
and the processes for commercial and other transportation vehicles
provide a number of advantages, some of which have been described
above and others that are inherent in the invention. Also
modifications may be proposed to the intelligent information system
architecture, the off board network 100, the vehicles 111, and the
processes for commercial and other transportation vehicles without
departing from the teachings herein.
* * * * *