Method and apparatus to utilize GPS data to replace route planning software

A system for automatically defining optimal route data for a vehicle traversing a specific route, without using route planning software to develop the optimal route, comprising:

• (a) a memory in which a plurality of machine instructions are stored;
• (b) a data link for communicating geographical position data collected while operating the vehicle;
• and
• (c) a processor coupled to the memory and to the data link, said processor executing the machine instructions to carry out a plurality of functions, including:
• (i) upon receipt of actual route data collected while a vehicle traverses the specific route for a first time, automatically storing the actual route data as optimal route data, where the actual route data comprises vehicle geographical position data collected while the specific route is initially being traversed;
• and
• (ii) automatically comparing actual route data collected while a vehicle subsequently traverses the specific route with the optimal route data, and if the actual route data collected during the subsequent traversal represents an improvement over the optimal route data, as determined by one or more predefined criteria, then storing the actual route data collected during the subsequent traversal as the optimal route data.

A method for defining optimal route data for a specific route, without using route planning software, comprising the steps of:

• (a) initially traversing the specific route using a vehicle equipped to collect vehicle geographical position data while the vehicle is traversing the specific route, to obtain actual route data for the initial traversal of the specific route, wherein the actual route data includes the vehicle geographical position data;
• (b) transmitting the actual route data to a remote computing device;
• (c) using the remote computing device, storing the actual route data collected while initially traversing the specific route, as the initial optimal route data;
• (d) completing a subsequent traversal of the specific route with a vehicle, while collecting vehicle geographical position during the subsequent traversal, to obtain actual route data for the subsequent traversal of the specific route, wherein the actual route data for the subsequent traversal of the specific route includes the vehicle geographical position data for the vehicle collected during the subsequent traversal;
• (e) transmitting the actual route data for the subsequent traversal of the specific route to the remote computing device;
• and
• (f) using the remote computing device, comparing the actual route data collected during the subsequent traversal of the specific route with the optimal route data, and if the actual route data collected during the subsequent traversal represents an improvement over the optimal route data, as determined by one or more predefined criteria, then storing the actual route data collected during the subsequent traversal as the optimal route data.

A system for automatically defining optimal route data for a vehicle traversing a specific route, where the specific route will be traversed a plurality of different times, comprising:

• (a) a memory in which a plurality of machine instructions are stored;
• (b) a data link for communicating geographical position data collected in connection with operation of the vehicle;
• and
• (c) a processor, coupled to the memory and to the data link, said processor executing the machine instructions to carry out a plurality of functions, including:
• (i) upon receipt of actual route data collected while a vehicle traverses a specific route for a first time, automatically defining the actual route data as optimal route data, where the actual route data comprises vehicle position data collected while the specific route is initially traversed;
• and
• (ii) automatically comparing actual route data collected while a vehicle subsequently traverses the specific route with the optimal route data, where the actual route data comprises vehicle position data collected while the vehicle subsequently traverse the specific route, and based on the comparison, implementing at least one of the following steps:
• (A) if the actual route data collected during the subsequent traversal represents an improvement over the optimal route data, as determined by one or more predefined criteria, then redefining the optimal route data based on the actual route data collected during the subsequent traversal;
• (B) generating an exception report whenever the actual route data deviates from the optimal route data by more than a predefined value in at least one category;
• and
• (C) generating an exception report whenever the subsequent traversal does not represent an improvement over the optimal route data, as determined by one or more predefined criteria, and the actual route data deviates from the optimal route data.