Multi-mode in-vehicle control unit with network selectivity for transmitting vehicle data for fleet management
View Patent ↗A multi-mode in-vehicle control unit (ICU) contains a plurality of modems. Each modem allows the multi-mode ICU to transmit vehicle data over a different kind of transmission network. Exemplary transmission networks include wireless data networks, cellular telephone networks and satellite networks. Vehicle data is collected. The multi-mode ICU selects one of the modems for transmission of vehicle data to a processing center. Priorities can be assigned to the transmission networks and or modems to control order the transmission network selection process.
1. A method for sending vehicle data from an in-vehicle control unit to a processing center, comprising:
collecting the vehicle data;
determining whether to transmit the vehicle data to a processing center over a first transmission network or a second transmission network;
transmitting the data to the processing center over the first transmission network using a first modem if the determining step determines that the vehicle data should be transmitted over the first transmission network; and
transmitting the data to the processing center over the second transmission network using a second modem if the determining step determines that the vehicle data should be transmitted over the second transmission network.
2. The method recited in claim 1 , further comprising collecting vehicle status data.
3. The method recited in claim 1 , further comprising collecting vehicle data related to an emergency.
4. The method recited in claim 3 , further comprising resolving a transmission network usage conflict.
5. The method recited in claim 4 , further comprising bumping an in-progress transmission of vehicle data.
6. A method for managing a fleet of vehicles, comprising:
placing an in-vehicle control unit in every vehicle in the fleet of vehicles, wherein at least one of the in-vehicle control units is a multi-mode in-vehicle control unit having a plurality of modems allowing the in-vehicle control unit to transmit vehicle data to a processing center using different transmission networks;
collecting vehicle data for each vehicle in the fleet;
transmitting the vehicle data to the processing center; and
analyzing the vehicle data to generate routing schedules to route the vehicles in the fleet.
7. The method recited in claim 6 , wherein each multi-mode ICU performs:
determining whether to transmit the vehicle data to a processing center over a first transmission network or a second transmission network; and
transmitting the data to the processing center over the first transmission network using a first modem if the determining step determines that the vehicle data should be transmitted over the first transmission network; and
transmitting the data to the processing center over the second transmission network using a second modem if the determining step determines that the vehicle data should be transmitted over the second transmission network.
8. A method for managing a fleet of vehicles, comprising:
placing an in-vehicle control unit in every vehicle in the fleet of vehicles, wherein at least one of the in-vehicle control units is a multi-mode in-vehicle control unit;
collecting vehicle data for each vehicle in the fleet;
transmitting the vehicle data to a processing center;
analyzing the vehicle data to generate routing schedules to route the vehicles in the fleet;
determining a percentage of the vehicles in the fleet that is not covered by a particular transmission network; and
placing multi-mode in-vehicle control units only in a number of vehicles in the fleet corresponding to the percentage of the vehicles in the fleet not covered by the particular transmission network.
9. A method for managing a fleet of vehicles, comprising:
placing an in-vehicle control unit in every vehicle in the fleet of vehicles, wherein at least one of the in-vehicle control units is a multi-mode in-vehicle control unit;
collecting vehicle data for each vehicle in the fleet;
transmitting the vehicle data to a processing center;
analyzing the vehicle data to generate routing schedules to route the vehicles in
the fleet; and
logging vehicle data that cannot be transmitted to the processing center in real-time or near real-time.
10. A method for managing a fleet of vehicles, comprising:
placing an in-vehicle control unit in every vehicle in the fleet of vehicles, wherein at least one of the in-vehicle control units is a multi-mode in-vehicle control unit;
collecting vehicle data for each vehicle in the fleet;
transmitting the vehicle data to a processing center;
analyzing the vehicle data to generate routing schedules to route the vehicles in the fleet; and
logging vehicle data that cannot be transmitting over a highest priority transmission network.
11. The method recited in claim 6 , further comprising:
logging the vehicle data; and
transmitting the vehicle data at a later time when transmission costs are reduced.