US 6,687,609 B2 · Mobile-trailer tracking system and method

Abstract

A position tracking system for a plurality of mobile tractors and trailers includes an unique electronic identifier for each of a plurality of trailers. For each tractor of a plurality of tractors, the position tracking system includes a navigation system for determining a current position of the tractor, an electronic identifier reader for acquiring the electronic identifier of a trailer coupled to the tractor, and a position-reporting subsystem for reporting to a remote system the current position of the tractor and the electronic identifier of the trailer coupled to the tractor. In addition, the position tracking system includes, at each facility of a plurality of fixed-location facilities, one or more electronic identifier readers for acquiring the electronic identifier of one or more trailers located within the facility, and a trailer-presence reporting subsystem for reporting to the remote system the presence of the one or more trailers located within the facility.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A position tracking system for a plurality of mobile tractors and trailers comprising:

an unique electronic identifier for each of a plurality of trailers;
for each tractor of a plurality of tractors:
a navigation system for determining a current position of the tractor;
an electronic identifier reader for acquiring the electronic identifier of a trailer, of the plurality of trailers, coupled to the tractor;
and
a position-reporting subsystem, coupled to the navigation system and to the electronic identifier reader, for reporting to a remote system the current position of the tractor and the electronic identifier of the trailer coupled to the tractor;
at each facility of a plurality of fixed-location facilities:
one or more electronic identifier readers for acquiring the electronic identifier of one or more trailers, of the plurality of trailers, located within the facility;
a trailer-presence reporting subsystem, coupled to the one or more electronic identifier readers of the facility, for reporting to the remote system the presence of the one or more trailers located within the facility.

6 more elements

A method of maintaining a mobile tractor-trailer database for use in a position tracking system for a plurality of mobile tractors, mobile trailers, and fixed-location yards, each trailer of the plurality of mobile trailers having an unique identifier, the unique identifier of each trailer being identifiable by a tractor to which the trailer is coupled, the unique identifier of each trailer also being identifiable by a fixed-location yard in which the trailer is located, each tractor of the plurality of tractors having a navigation system for determining a current position of the tractor, the method comprising:

receiving, at a remote system, a report from a communication device on a tractor indicating a current position of the tractor, and indicating an electronic identifier of a first trailer coupled to the tractor;
receiving, at the remote system, a report from a communication device at a fixed-location facility indicating the electronic identifier of a second trailer present in the facility;
and
storing in the mobile tractor-trailer database at least one entry selected from the group consisting of:
a representation of the electronic identifier of the first trailer;
an indication that the first trailer is coupled to the tractor;
a position, affiliated with the first trailer, representing the current position of the tractor;
a representation of the electronic identifier of the second trailer;
and
an indication that the second trailer is present in the facility.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Mobile-trailer tracking system and method

Life of this patent

Mobile-trailer tracking system and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31