Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02432239 2004-08-17
Industry InduStne
Canada Canada
2004108117
230 - 04
I~I~II~II~qIAIIIIIIIAI~Ipl~ll~
IIII
~IPO OPIC 00121364 Our File 19611 CA-INC (5500452)
PETITION FOR GRANT OF A PATENT
The applicant, REIMER TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC., whose complete address is
Suite 2900, 201 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3B 3K8, telephone 204-958-
5304,
Canada, requests the grant of a patent for an invention, entitled
Transportation
Communication System, which is described and claimed in the accompanying
specification.
The inventors are FRASER, Michael A., whose complete address is 295 Dromore
Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3M OJ1, Canada; WAREING, Richard T., whose
complete
address is 154 Lake Grove Bay, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 4Y2, Canada; and
KROPLA,
William C., whose complete address is 1205 Grant Avenue, Apt. 614, Winnipeg,
Manitoba,
R3M 1 Z3, Canada, and the applicant owns in Canada the whole interest in the
invention.
The applicant requests priority in respect of the application on the basis of
the
following previously regularly filed application:
The applicant appoints AIKINS, Ma,cAut.~Y & THORVALDSON, whose complete
address in Canada is 30~' Floor - 360 Main Street, Winnipeg, Mb, R3C 4G1,
telephone
204-957-0050, fax 204-957-0840, Canada, as the applicant's patent agent.
The applicant believes that the applicant is entitled to claim status as a
"small
entity" as defined under section 2 of the Patent Rules.
The applicant requests that Figure No. 1 of the drawings accompany the
abstract
when it is open to public inspection under section 10 of the Patent Act or
published.
SIGNED at Winnipeg, Manitoba
this 10t" day of June, 2003.
REIM RrTECHNOLOGY G,RP~UP INC.
:> l I:
,.
Per /r
Ai ins, Ma~Aulay &~horvaldson
Patent Agents for the Applicant
/I rh
CA 02432239 2004-08-17
TRANSPORTATION COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a system and method for transmitting data
between a vehicle and a host system using a wireless mobile transportation
communication system.
BACKGROUND
In the long haul segment of the transportation industry, vehicle operators
service large areas that require being away from the depot for several weeks
at a
time. As a result, long delays in returning paperwork often occur leading to
significant
process complications for the back office systems. For example, complications
can
arise due to delays in billing cycles, disputed invoices, disputed hours and
lost
revenue. A further complication in long haul transportation is the addition or
deletion
of loads on running orders. Any changes must be communicated to the vehicle
operator in order to make adequate arrangements for pickups, drop offs,
maintenance
and fuel purchases. In the event of weather related changes in road conditions
or
changes in traffic conditions, communication with the vehicle operator is
essential to
make route corrections to avoid costly delays. Therefore, the benefit of an
effective
wireless communication system that allows the transfer of a variety of data
types is
clear.
There are several, currently implemented communication technologies
that attempt to address these connectivity issues. Satellite communications
enables
global coverage but its high capital cost and restricted bandwidth precludes
its use for
data intensive applications such as order entry, signature capture and real
time
shipment tracking. FM sub-carrier methods provide wide area coverage and are
cheaper than satellite, but bandwidth is still restricted. Analog cellular
phone
technologies provide narrower geographical coverage than satellite, with
similar
CA 02432239 2004-08-17
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bandwidth restrictions.
Regardless of cost, existing technologies are deficient because they
lack functionality due mainly to bandwidth constraints. Moreover, none of
these
technologies provide a standardized interface to the world. The solution of
each
service provider consists of a proprietary hardware and software interface.
Communication to backend office systems is based on loosely coupled messaging
between a remote unit and the backend. Complex data entry functions that allow
real-time error checking are generally not available, while vehicle operator
communication is limited to three or four scheduled dispatches per day.
A cost effective wireless broadband communications system that
provides integration of backend transportation management, geographic asset
tracking and location based services is needed.
SUMMARY
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a
wireless mobile transportation communication system for transmitting data
between a
vehicle carried mobile system and a host system using a wireless
communications
network, wherein the host system comprises a host system database, and the
mobile
system comprises:
a mobile data communications device (MDC) with a mobile database
and a keyboard data entry device for the manual entry of user data into the
mobile
database;
a global positioning system (GPS) receiver to determine geographic
positional data of the vehicle and delivering the geographic positional data
to the MDC
for entry into the mobile database;
means for powering the MDC and the GPS receiver from a power
system of the vehicle; and
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means responsive to activation of the mobile system for establishing
communication between the mobile and host systems over the communications
network and for synchronizing the mobile and host system databases.
The MDC receives data input from a user through the keyboard data
entry device, and from the GPS receiver. The MDC provides a means for storage
of
data and controlling transmission of data to the host system over the wireless
communications network. The host system is a computer accessible from the
wireless communications network.
The MDC is most conveniently a personal digital assistant (PDA) with
wireless communication capability. This provides an advantage over the prior
art due
to it being mobile, robust, cost effective, providing for keyboard input, and
being
programmable to provide the validation of data entered locally and the
synchronization of the mobile and host system databases. It is also
programmable to
provide the mobile user with a seamless interaction with the MDC. Thus, where
the
mobile system is not within the coverage range of the communications network,
the
PDA validates data locally and holds it for later transmission. The mobile
system
detects the presence of network coverage automatically so that when it comes
back
into coverage, it will establish communication with the host system and
synchronize
the mobile and host system databases.
A serial communication port on the PDA allows connection to a GPS
receiver and an external power supply. There is no system comprised of a PDA,
modem, GPS receiver and power supply currently available.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a
method for transmitting data between a vehicle carried mobile system and a
host
system using a wireless communications network, wherein:
the host system comprises a host system database; and
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the mobile system comprises:
a mobile data communications device (MDC) with a mobile
database and a keyboard data entry device for the manual entry of user data
into the
mobile database;
a global positioning system (GPS) receiver to determine
geographic positional data of the vehicle and delivering the geographic
positional data
to the MDC for entry into the mobile database;
means for powering the MDC and the GPS receiver from a power
system of the vehicle; and
means responsive to activation of the mobile system for
establishing communication between the mobile and host systems over the
communications network and for synchronizing the mobile and host system
databases,
the method comprising:
performing a security login to the MDC;
establishing a wireless connection and initiating synchronization
between the MDC and the host system in response to the MDC detecting that it
is in
an area of coverage of the wireless communications network;
synchronizing the databases of the MDC and the host system when a
wireless connection is established;
requesting new data input for transmission to the host system;
receiving data for transmission from keyboard of the MDC and the GPS
receiver;
detecting whether wireless connection is still established;
transmitting data to the host system when the wireless connection is
established;
CA 02432239 2004-08-17
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storing data to the database of the MDC when the wireless connection is
not established;
re-establishing a wireless connection following a period during which no
connection is present;
retrieving stored data for transmission to the host system following re-
establishment of said wireless connection.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a
combination cable for providing power and serial communications to a GPS
receiver
from a PDA, the cable comprising first and second serial connectors for
connection to
respective serial ports on the PDA and the GPS receiver and a power connector
for
engaging a vehicle cigarette lighter socket.
This system thus provides a high bandwidth link from a computing
device in the vehicle to a backend transportation management system on a host
system. Another advantage of the system is its ability to deliver geographical
position
data and to serve as a platform for location based services. A further
advantage of
the system is the use of primarily off-the-shelf components. This dramatically
reduced
the cost of designing and building the system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention:
Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the wireless mobile transportation
communication system;
Figure 2 is an illustration of the combination cable that integrates power
and serial communications; and
Figure 3 is a flowchart showing the basic operational steps of the
wireless mobile transportation communication system.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a wireless
mobile transportation communication system in Figure 1 consisting of a mobile
unit 10
and host system 18 on a wireless network. The mobile unit 10 consists of a
mobile
data communications device (MDC) 11, global position sensor (GPS) receiver 12,
a
power supply 13, and a specialized combination cable 15. The host system 18 is
accessible from a wireless network that receives transmissions 17 from the
mobile
unit 10.
Power supply 13 provides power to the MDC 11 through the
combination cable 15. Preferably, the power supply is the cigarette lighter of
the
vehicle. The GPS receiver 12 obtains its power through cable 15. Data
communication between the GPS receiver and the MDC is provided through the
same
cable 15.
The GPS receiver 12 receives signals from the GPS satellite system
and converts the signals into vehicle position data. The receiver then
transmits the
position data to the MDC 11 through the combination cable 15 that provides
power
and serial communications. A software application resident on the MDC
processes
the position data for transmission over a wireless network to a host system.
A PDA with keyboard input 11 is an ideal mobile data communications
device (MDC). The vehicle operator has the ability to deliver text messages to
the
head office. In addition, back-end office applications would be available to
the vehicle
operator. This would allow real-time access to both the vehicle operator and
head
office of a variety of reports, for example, maintenance schedules, manifests,
route
tracing, and time sheets. Any modifications could be transmitted in real-time
for
approval.
Figure 2 depicts the combination cable 15 of Figure 1 that integrates
CA 02432239 2004-08-17
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power and serial communications. The combination cable consists of a power
connector 21, an 18-pin connector 22, and a conventional 9-pin DB9 serial
connector
23. The power connector 21 connects to the cigarette lighter of a vehicle.
Five of the
available pins on connector 22 are used for the power connector. Connector 22
connects to a serial port on the PDA for supplying power to and serial
communications with the GPS receiver via connector 23.
Referring to Figure 3, there is a flowchart depicting the basic operational
steps of the system. After power up 30 of the communication system, the system
will
prompt the vehicle operator to perform a security login process 31 for user
authentication. Once the vehicle operator has been identified as an authorized
user,
the system checks for stored data 32 that may not have been uploaded to the
host
system before the last power shutdown. Subsequently, the system determines
whether the MDC is in an area of wireless communication coverage 33 for
synchronization of the local and host databases. If a wireless connection is
established, the local database residing on the PDA will synchronize 34 with
that of
the host system. This process can include the uploading of data, downloading
of data
or both. If a wireless connection cannot be established, the system will
retain the
stored data for later processing.
Whether wireless communication can be established or not 33, the
system allows new data input 35. This provides a seamless user interface for
the
vehicle operator as he or she enters and exits areas of wireless
communication. If the
vehicle operator has no new data to input, the system enters into a standby
mode 36
until it is triggered into action. However, if there is new data to be input,
the system
waits 37 for the user's input. Once the vehicle operator enters all relevant
data, the
system validates the input to ensure data integrity, format, and completeness.
In the
event of any errors 38, the system will re-prompt the user for valid data.
When the
CA 02432239 2004-08-17
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system is satisfied that the data entry is valid 39, it will determine if it
is still in an area
of wireless communication coverage 40. If the system is out of a coverage
area, the
new data entry is queued 44 for later transmission and enters the standby
mode. If
the system is in a coverage area, the data is sent 41 to the host system via
the
wireless network and waits for a response. If the host receives the data
without error
42, it displays a successful transaction message, updates its records of the
successful
transaction, and enters the standby mode until further activation. If the host
system
finds errors in the transmitted data 43, it will relay a message to the mobile
system for
the user to enter required corrections. Re-entry of data will require the
system to
recheck for wireless coverage in the area.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a GPS
driver resides on the MDC to facilitate communication between a GPS receiver
and a
BlackberryTM PDA device.
The GPS driver is responsible for the acquisition, parsing, storage of all
telemetry data as well as queuing the appropriate telemetry readings for
transmission.
The GPS driver expects a NMEA 0183 compliant GPS receiver to be attached to
the
serial port of the RIM 5810 BlackberryT"" handheld.
Seria! communication with the GPS receiver occurs at a speed of
4800bps. The driver assumes no flow control is supported on the GPS receiver
and
has error recovery code in place to re-initialize the serial port should any
occur.
The GPS driver utilizes two NMEA GPS messages: GPRMC and
GPGSV. It parses the GPRMC message in order to acquire longitude, latitude,
ground speed as well as the time and date related to the reading. The GPGSV
message is parsed to determine the number of satellites which are currently
being
used to fix the currently displayed location. Checksums associated with all
parsed
NMEA messages are verified and the entire message rejected should any message
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fail this integrity check.
After messages are parsed and the telemetry extracted, the telemetry
data is then stored in a storage buffer for later retrieval. In addition, the
telemetry data
may be also added to a secondary transmission buffer.
While one embodiment of the present invention has been described in
the foregoing, it is to be understood that other embodiments are possible
within the
scope of the invention. The invention is to be considered limited solely by
the scope
of the appended claims.