Automated Fleet Vehicle Assignment and Verification System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems for managing the pick-up and transport of users by a fleet of vehicles are complex and time-consuming, requiring manual operator intervention and lacking efficient communication between users and vehicles.

Innovation Solution

A system where users and vehicles are equipped with communicating objects that include location means, allowing users to request transport and the server center to identify nearby available vehicles, transmit guidance information, and verify user and vehicle authenticity through a database of subscribed users and pre-established payment information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual operator intervention is used to manage transport requests, then the system can handle user requests, but the operational complexity and time required to take charge of the user increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of transport request handlingVSAvoidoperational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service through automated vehicle assignment and communication. The server center automatically matches users with nearby vehicles, transmits trip details to both user and driver, and handles payment verification without requiring manual operator intervention for each request.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical manual communication system with an electronic automated system. Instead of operators manually contacting drivers and users via telephone, the system uses electronic messaging through communicating objects to transmit trip details, vehicle locations, and payment information automatically.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If manual operator intervention is used to manage transport requests, then the system can verify user and vehicle information, but the time taken to take charge of the user increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveverification accuracyVSAvoidresponse time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-storing user profiles, vehicle information, and payment details in databases before transport requests are made. When a request is received, the server center quickly retrieves and verifies this pre-stored information, eliminating the need for manual verification during the request handling process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements automated feedback loops where the server center continuously monitors vehicle locations, user requests, and trip statuses. This real-time feedback enables automatic reassignment of trips when vehicles become available or unavailable, maintaining verification accuracy without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If automated vehicle assignment is implemented, then response time is improved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse speedVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The server center performs multiple functions including receiving user requests, identifying nearby vehicles, transmitting trip details, verifying payment information, and coordinating communication between users and drivers. This multi-functionality consolidates system complexity into a single centralized component rather than distributing it across multiple specialized systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2478509B1Managing the picking up and transport of at least one user by a vehicle of a fleet of vehicles
Publication Date: 2017.07.26 BISMUTH HENRI
  • EP2478509B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2478509B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

This system for managing the picking up and transport of at least one user (2) by a vehicle (4) of a fleet of vehicles is characterized in that the user and the vehicles of the fleet are equipped with communicating objects (3) comprising location means (6, 10), in that the communicating object (3) of the user (2) comprises means for sending (11), to a management server centre (1), a transport trip request, in that the server centre (1) comprises means (15, 16) of identification of a vehicle of the fleet available in proximity to the user and means (14) for sending thereto location information and/or information for guiding the vehicle to the user and a transport trip code and means (14) for sending, to the communicating object of the user, an item of information regarding the taking into account of his transport trip request and the transport trip code making it possible to verify that it is the appropriate user who is using the appropriate vehicle.