Fleet Management System with Real-Time Load Balancing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current fleet management systems for vehicles like taxis and limousines are inefficient due to manual data capture, leading to data loss, poor reporting, and errors, and they struggle with real-time communication of multimedia content to multiple vehicles, causing a heavy load on wireless communication links and assuming vehicle availability.

Innovation Solution

A system where fleet vehicles participate in a unique methodology to share information with a central control center, enabling real-time or near real-time data capture, processing, and communication, allowing managers to view vehicle locations and status, facilitate dispatch, and provide electronic trip sheets, using a central control center, gateway, and wireless service provider to handle multiple communication channels securely.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If manual data capture by drivers is used, then implementation simplicity is maintained, but data accuracy and completeness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimplementation simplicityVSAvoiddata accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service data capture where the fleet management software automatically collects trip data, vehicle status, and location information from connected vehicles without requiring manual driver input. This eliminates human error while maintaining ease of implementation through automated processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical manual data entry process with an electronic automated system that captures data directly from vehicle sensors, GPS, and fare collection systems, substituting human action with automated electronic data collection mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Speed

If simultaneous mass distribution of multimedia content to all vehicles is performed, then real-time communication capability is achieved, but communication link load increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereal-time communicationVSAvoidcommunication link load

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-loading multimedia content to vehicles during off-peak times when communication load is low, and uses predictive analytics to pre-position content based on anticipated vehicle locations and passenger requests, reducing peak-time communication demands.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of continuous simultaneous distribution, the system implements periodic content updates where vehicles receive multimedia content at scheduled intervals based on their operational status, location, and predicted passenger demand, distributing load evenly across the communication network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional push distribution methodology is used, then content delivery capability is provided, but system complexity and reliability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent delivery capabilityVSAvoidsystem reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system inverts the conventional push distribution model by implementing a pull-based architecture where vehicles and passengers request content based on their specific needs, and the central server responds by delivering only requested content. This reverses the initiation of communication from server-to-vehicle to vehicle-to-server.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes communication parameters such as data transmission timing, content format, and delivery method based on vehicle status, network conditions, and passenger preferences, optimizing reliability by adapting to real-time conditions rather than using fixed distribution patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of operation

If vehicle availability is assumed for content distribution, then distribution simplicity is maintained, but service accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistribution simplicityVSAvoidservice accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements continuous feedback mechanisms where vehicles report their actual status (available, in-service, offline) to the central management system in real-time, and the distribution algorithm adjusts content delivery based on this feedback, ensuring content is only sent to vehicles that can actually receive and display it.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10510132B2Vehicle fleet management method and system with load balancing

Publication Date: 2019.12.17 CREATIVE MOBILE TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

A method utilizing real-time location information in a fleet management system. Simultaneous wireless communication connections are maintained between a respectively corresponding number of vehicles in a fleet and a central control center. The messages are received at the central control center, and each one of the messages includes information indicating the geographic location of a respectively corresponding vehicle in real-time or near real-time. The messages are collected and stored in the central control center. In response to a user request, a fleet management tool or report is provided in real-time or near real-time, the management tool or report being based at least in part on the messages indicating the geographic location of the vehicles.