Routing drivers to trailers effectively
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus for locating a specific asset using navigation technology or specific signaling capabilities. This system improves a driver's productivity by providing location information or signals to a driver to assist him in locating a specific trailer. An embodiment includes a system for navigating/routing drivers to their assigned trailer, using GPS, and Navigation technology. Another embodiment includes an audio and/or visual signal from a specific trailer activated by a driver seeking the location of the specific trailer.
1. A system for routing a driver of a truck to a specific trailer located among a plurality of trailers, the system comprising:
a driver's navigation system configured to calculate a route to the specific trailer based on location data received from a global positioning system (GPS) disposed on the specific trailer and navigate the truck to the location via the route; and
a communication system configured to send a message to a signaling device on the specific trailer commanding the specific trailer to make itself apparent when the truck is within a radius of the location of the specific trailer, wherein the signaling device distinguishes the specific trailer from the plurality of trailers.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the driver's navigation system comprises a GPS.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the driver's navigation system comprises a display of the route.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the driver's navigation system comprises audio directions of the route.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the communication system comprises a
member from the group consisting of a satellite system; a terrestrial system and a Wi-Fi system.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the driver's navigation system
comprises a member from the group consisting of a mobile device, a hand-held device, a cellular phone, a PDA and a laptop computer.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the signaling device comprises a flashing light.
8. A method of routing a driver of a truck to a specific trailer located among a plurality of trailers, the method comprising:
receiving, by a navigation system associated with the driver of the truck, a location of the specific trailer from a transmitter disposed in the specific trailer;
calculating, by the navigation system, a route to the location of the specific trailer;
navigating, by the navigation system, the truck to the location of the specific trailer via the calculated route; and
sending, by a communications device associated with the driver of the truck, a message to a signaling device on the specific trailer commanding the specific trailer to make itself apparent when the truck is within a radius of the location of the specific trailer, wherein the signaling device distinguishes the specific trailer from the plurality of trailers.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein receiving the location comprises receiving the location via a wireless communication system.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein the location comprises a GPS location.
11. The method of claim 8 wherein navigating the truck comprises displaying the calculated route.
12. The method of claim 8 wherein navigating the truck comprises providing audio directions.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the signaling device comprises a flashing light.
14. A system for locating a specific trailer located among a plurality of trailers by a driver of a truck, the system comprising;
a driver's transceiver configured to send communications via a wireless communication system to a trailer transceiver disposed in the specific trailer, wherein the driver of the truck is assigned a job for which the specific trailer is to be located; and
wherein the communications comprise a signal to activate a signaling device disposed on the specific trailer that makes the trailer apparent when the truck is within a radius of the location of the specific trailer, and wherein the signaling device distinguishes the specific trailer from the plurality of trailers.
15. The system of claim 14 wherein the wireless communication system comprises a member from the group consisting of a satellite system, a terrestrial system and a Wi-Pi system.
16. The system of claim 14 wherein the signaling device comprises a flashing light.
17. The system of claim 14 wherein the driver's transceiver comprises a member from the group consisting of a mobile device, a hand-held device, a cellular phone, a PDA and a laptop computer.
18. A machine-readable medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations, the instructions comprising:
program code to receive a location of a specific trailer located among a plurality of trailers from a transmitter disposed in the specific trailer;
program code to calculate a route to the location of the specific trailer;
program code to navigate the truck to the location of the specific trailer via the calculated route; and
program code to send a message to a signaling device on the specific trailer commanding the specific trailer to make itself apparent when the truck is within a radius of the location of the specific trailer and activate a signaling device on the specific trailer, wherein the signaling device distinguishes the specific trailer from the plurality of trailers.
19. An apparatus for providing to a driver of a truck a route to a specific trailer comprising:
means for receiving a location of the specific trailer from a transmitter disposed in the specific trailer;
means for calculating the route to the location of the specific trailer;
means for navigating the truck to the location of the specific trailer via the calculated route; and
means to send a message to a signaling device on the specific trailer commanding the specific trailer to make itself apparent when the truck is within a radius of the location of the
specific trailer, wherein the signaling device distinguishes the specific trailer from a plurality of trailers.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the means for receiving the location comprises a GPS.
21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the means for navigating the truck comprises a display of the route.
22. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the means for navigating the truck comprises audio directions of the route.
23. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the means to calculate a route comprises a driver's navigation system.
24. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the means for receiving the location comprises a member from the group consisting of a satellite system, a terrestrial system and a Wi-Fi system.
25. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the means for receiving the location comprises a member from the group consisting of a mobile device, a hand-held device, a cellular phone, a PDA and a laptop computer.
26. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the signaling device comprises a flashing light.
27. A method for locating a specific trailer located among a plurality of trailers by a driver of a truck, the method comprising;
sending, by a communications device associated with the driver of the truck, communications via a wireless communication system to a trailer transceiver disposed in the specific trailer, wherein the driver of the truck is assigned a job for which the specific trailer is to be located; and
wherein the communications comprise a signal to activate a signaling device disposed on the specific trailer that makes the trailer apparent when the truck is within a radius of the location of the specific trailer, and wherein the signaling device distinguishes the specific trailer from the plurality of trailers.
28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the wireless communication system comprises a member from the group consisting of a satellite system, a terrestrial system and a Wi-Fi system.
29. The method of claim 27 , wherein the signaling device comprises a flashing light.
30. The method of claim 27 , wherein the communications device comprises a member from the group consisting of a mobile device, a hand-held device, a cellular phone, a PDA and a laptop computer.
31. A machine-readable medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations, the instructions comprising:
program code to send communications via a wireless communication system to a trailer transceiver disposed in the specific trailer, wherein the driver of the truck is assigned a job for which the specific trailer is to be located; and
wherein the communications comprise a signal to activate a signaling device disposed on the specific trailer that makes the trailer apparent when the truck is within a radius of the location of the specific trailer, and
wherein the signaling device distinguishes the specific trailer from a plurality of trailers.
32. An apparatus for locating a specific trailer located among a plurality of trailers by a driver of a truck, the apparatus comprising;
means for sending communications via a wireless communication system to a trailer transceiver disposed in the specific trailer, wherein the driver of the truck is assigned a job for which the specific trailer is to be located,
wherein the communications comprise a signal to activate a signaling device disposed on the specific trailer that makes the trailer apparent when the truck is within a radius of the location of the specific trailer, and
wherein the signaling device distinguishes the specific trailer from the plurality of trailers; and
means for receiving a location of the specific trailer from the trailer transmitter disposed in the specific trailer.