Vehicle Function Restriction Control for Permission-Based Fleet Use

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current fleet management systems do not allow for the adaptation of vehicle functions according to user permissions, particularly for work-site vehicles like aerial work platforms or lifting vehicles, which is essential for ensuring safe operation.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle control system comprising a central unit and a communication interface that receives function restrictions, updates a list of restriction policies, and inhibits control orders to prohibit the use of restricted functions, thereby adapting the available functions based on user permissions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If fleet management systems rent vehicles to end users for specific uses with predefined periods and geographical areas, then vehicle control and management is improved, but the ability to adapt functions according to user permissions is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunction adaptationVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments vehicle functions into controllable units that can be individually restricted or authorized. The central unit divides function management into discrete policy rules that can be independently configured and applied to different users, enabling fine-grained adaptability without requiring complete system redesign.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The restriction policies are made dynamic and configurable through the communication interface, allowing the central unit to adapt function availability in real-time based on user permissions. The system transitions from static fleet management to dynamic function adaptation where restrictions can be modified, added, or removed without hardware changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the central unit analyzes and inhibits control orders to enforce restrictions, then operational safety is improved, but processing time and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational safetyVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-configuring restriction policies in the central unit before control orders are executed. Functions are pre-authorized or restricted based on user profiles, so that during operation, the central unit only needs to check against existing policies rather than making complex decisions in real-time, reducing processing delay.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The communication interface provides feedback mechanisms that allow the central unit to receive updates on user permissions and vehicle status, enabling it to adjust restriction enforcement dynamically. This feedback loop ensures safety while optimizing processing efficiency by only intervening when necessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If restriction policies are updated regularly through the communication interface, then adaptability to changing user needs is improved, but system vulnerability to interface damage or removal increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepolicy adaptabilityVSAvoidinterface vulnerability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies beforehand cushioning by implementing backup mechanisms that activate if the communication interface is damaged or removed. Default restriction policies are pre-loaded in the central unit, and the system can maintain safe operation with these default restrictions even when unable to communicate with external servers, cushioning against the harmful effect of interface failure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The central unit is designed to self-service by maintaining and enforcing restriction policies independently when the communication interface is unavailable. The system can autonomously manage function restrictions using stored policies, reducing dependency on continuous external communication and mitigating vulnerability to interface problems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12332648B2Methods and systems for managing a vehicle fleet

Publication Date: 2025.06.17 HAULOTTE GROUP

AI summary

Disclosed is a vehicle including a control system including a central processing unit and a communication interface, the central unit being configured to: receive a restriction of a functionality of the vehicle, via a communication interface; update a list of restriction policies based on the received restriction; and analyze the control orders issued by an operating console of the vehicle by comparing the orders to the restriction policies stored in the list and inhibiting one of the control orders to prohibit the use of a functionality corresponding to a restriction stored in the list of restriction policies.