# US 7,613,617 B2 · Systems and methods for managing powered industrial vehicles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,613,617 B2 - Document ID: US7613617B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/417,007 - Filed: 2006-05-03 - Published: 2007-08-23 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2006-02-21 - Assignees: United States Postal Service - Inventors: David E. Williams; Stephen J. McElroy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7613617B2 ## CPC - G06Q 10/047: Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem - G06Q 10/06: Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling - G06Q 10/06311: {Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group} - G06Q 10/06316: {Sequencing of tasks or work} - G06Q 10/08: Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management - G06Q 10/0833: Tracking - G06Q 10/08355: {Routing methods} - G06Q 50/02: Agriculture; Fishing; Forestry; Mining - G06Q 50/04: Manufacturing - G06Q 50/08: Construction - G08G 1/202: {Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching} - Y02P 90/30: Computing systems specially adapted for manufacturing - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93}) - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract Systems and methods for managing powered industrial vehicles are provided. In one embodiment, the system includes an analyzer module configured to determine route data based on facility layout data. The system also includes a dispatch management module configured to receive a request to transport cargo from a first location to a second location in the warehouse, and a surface visibility module configured to track the cargo after it is transferred from the first location to the second location by receiving scanned barcode data from the cargo via a scanner connected to a wireless network. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method of managing the use of powered industrial vehicles (PIVs) comprising: receiving a request to transport cargo from a first location to a second location; selecting a PIV to carry out the request, the selection of the PIV being based on at least one of: a current location of the PIV, and a maintenance schedule of the PIV; sending a notification to the PIV about the request, the notification including a current, substantially optimal route determined at least in part by at least one of workload data and routing data, and at least one of a cargo identification code, a cargo location, and a cargo destination; receiving an acknowledgement from the PIV of receipt of the notification, communicating to the PIV, via a computer, a modification to the route of the PIV, while the PIV is in transit, in response to a change in cargo handling circumstances. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the PIV is operated by an operator. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The computer implemented method of claim 2, wherein the request is further based on a status of the operator of the PIV. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the cargo identification code is a barcode. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The computer implemented method of claim 4, further comprising: scanning, upon delivery of the cargo to the destination, the barcode; and associating the cargo with the cargo location based on the scan of the barcode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising: receiving a notification of delivery of the cargo to the destination; and sending, upon receiving the notification of the delivery, a second notification to the PIV, the notification comprising at least one of: a second cargo identification code, a second cargo location, a second cargo destination, and a second optimal route for delivering the cargo. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the optimal route is selected at least in part based on an analysis of route layout data for a region of PIV operation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the optimal route is selected at least in part based on a location of another PIV in the region of PIV operation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising displaying the optimal route on a user interface of the PIV. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The computer implemented method of claim 9, wherein the user interface comprises a display and an input device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the notification is displayed on the display. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the acknowledgement is created by receiving input from the input device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the input device comprises a keypad. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the input device comprises a touch screen. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the notification is displayed on a user interface of the PIV. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the notification is transmitted to the PIV over a computer network. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the PIV receives, the notification through a wireless transceiver, the wireless transceiver being in communication with a user interface of the PIV. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the current location of the PIV is provided by an REID tag associated with the PIV. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The computer-implemented method of claim 18, further comprising: collecting PIV usage data; and determining the maintenance schedule of the PIV based on the collected PIV usage data. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein the PIV usage data includes collision data. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The computer-implemented method of claim 20, wherein collecting PIV usage data includes detecting collisions of the PIV and storing data about the collisions. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the detecting collisions is performed by a sensor of the PIV. ### Claim 23 A networked PIV management system comprising: a PIV data analysis module configured to determine PIV route data through a facility based on at least one of facility layout data, workload data and routing data, the PIV route data substantially comprising optimization data indicating a route between two points in the facility; a PIV dispatch management module configured to receive a request to transport a cargo from a first location to a second location in the facility, the PIV dispatch management module being further configured to receive route data from a PIV analyzer tool and to select, based at least in part on the route data and a location of the first location, a PIV for transporting the cargo; and a surface visibility module configured to track the cargo after it is transferred from the first location to the second location by receiving scanned barcode data from the cargo via a scanner connected to the network and to communicate to the PIV, via a computer, a modification to the route of the PIV, while the PIV is in transit, in response to a change in cargo handling circumstances. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The networked PIV management system of claim 23, wherein the facility layout data is electronically generated by a software mapping tool. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The networked PIV management system of claim 23, further comprising a PIV interface module configured to receive a notification of a request to transport the cargo from the first location to the second location, the PIV interface module being further configured to display the notification to an operator of the PIV. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The networked PIV management system of claim 23, further comprising: a maintenance management module configured to receive PIV usage data from the PIV, and further being configured to generate a PIV maintenance schedule for the PIV based at least in part on the PIV usage data. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The networked PIV management system of claim 23, further comprising a labor scheduling module configured to receive PIV demand data and location labor data, the labor scheduling module being further configured to generate PIV personnel scheduling data based at least in part on the PIV demand data. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The networked PIV management system of claim 27, wherein the labor scheduling module receives the PIV demand data from the PIV analyzer module, and wherein the PIV analyzer module generates the PIV demand data based in part on workload profile data received into the PIV analyzer module. ### Claim 29 (depends on 23) The networked PIV management system of claim 23 further comprising a facility access and shipment tracking module configured to receive a notification of an incoming irregular cargo, the facility access and shipment tracking module being further configured to generate workload profile data based on one or more attributes of the incoming irregular cargo, and to transmit the workload profile data to the PIV data analysis module. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The networked PIV management system of claim 29, wherein the PIV data analysis module is further configured to generate a predictive PIV demand scheduling data based at least in part on the workload profile data. ### Claim 31 (depends on 23) The networked PIV management system of claim 23, wherein the PIV dispatch management module is further configured to determine a status of a PIV based at least in part on a status of an operator of the PIV. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The networked PIV management system of claim 31, wherein the status of the operator of the PIV is based in part on a tour start time and a tour end time. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The networked PIV management system of claim 31, wherein the status of the PIV is based at least in part on a battery charge status. ### Claim 34 A networked PIV management system comprising: means for determining, based on facility layout data, PIV route data substantially comprising optimization data indicating a route between two points in the facility; means for receiving a request to transport a cargo from a first location to a second location in the warehouse; means for receiving route data; means for selecting a PIV for transporting the cargo, based at least in part on the received route data and a location of the first location; and means for tracking the cargo after it is transferred from the first location to the second location by receiving scanned barcode data from the cargo via a scanner connected to the network and for communicating to the PIV, via a computer, a modification to the route of the PIV, while the PIV is in transit, in response to a change in cargo handling circumstances. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The networked PIV management system of claim 34, further comprising: means for receiving a notification of the request to transport the cargo from the first location to the second location, and means for displaying the notification to an operator of the PIV. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) The networked PIV management system of claim 34, further comprising: means for receiving PIV usage data from the PIV; and means for generating a PIV maintenance schedule for the PIV based at least in part on the received PIV usage data. ### Claim 37 (depends on 34) The networked PIV management system of claim 34, further comprising: means for receiving PIV demand data and location labor data; and means for generating PIV personnel scheduling, data based at least in part on the PIV demand data. ### Claim 38 (depends on 34) The networked PIV management system of claim 34 further comprising: means for receiving a notification of an incoming irregular cargo; means for generating workload profile data based on one or more attributes of the incoming irregular cargo; and means for transmitting the workload profile data. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The networked PIV management system of claim 38, further comprising means for generating predictive PIV demand scheduling data based at least in part on the workload profile data. ### Claim 40 (depends on 34) The networked PIV management system of claim 34, further comprising means for determining a status of a PIV based at least in part on a status of an operator of the PIV. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The networked PIV management system of claim 40, wherein the status of the operator of the PIV is based in part on a tour start time and a tour end time. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The networked PIV management system of claim 41, wherein the status of the PIV is based at least in part on a battery charge status.