IP Library Granted Patent US 10,555,403
Granted Patent B2
US 10,555,403 · App. 16/111,925 · Granted Feb 4, 2020

System, method, apparatus, and program for light tower control

Inventors: Bruce Dressel (Bonita Springs, FL); Sunil Gupta (Bonita Springs, FL); Matthew Gavin (Bonita Springs, FL)
Assignee: HERC RENTALS INC.
H05B37/0245H04L69/16
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,555,403
App. No.
16/111,925
Granted
Feb 4, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method, system, apparatus, and program for scheduling and controlling light towers in the field and receiving detailed reports relating to the same. The system for light tower control includes a telematics platform, a telematics device, and a light tower. The telematics platform is configured to transmit and receive a UDP message over a cellular network, wherein a transmitted UDP message contains a control signal for turning ON or OFF a light tower. The telematics device is configured to receive the UDP message and configure a voltage output of the telematics device based on the control signal. If the control signal is ON the voltage output of the telematics device is changed from Low to High and if the control signal is OFF the voltage output of the telematics device is changed from High to Low. A relay controller of the light tower turns the light tower ON if the output voltage of the telematics device is High and turns the light tower OFF if the output voltage of the telematics device is Low.

Claims (55)

1. A system of for light tower control, comprising:

a telematics platform, configured to transmit and receive a UDP message over a cellular network, a transmitted UDP message containing a control signal for turning ON or OFF a light tower; and

a telematics device, configured to receive the UDP message and configure a voltage output of the telematics device based on the control signal,

wherein if the control signal is ON the voltage output of the telematics device is changed from Low to High and if the control signal is OFF the voltage output of the telematics device is changed from High to Low, and

wherein after the light tower is turned ON the telematics device sends a Locational Report to the telematics platform at a predetermined interval, the Locational Report including locational information and information about a health status of the light tower.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein a relay controller of the light tower turns the light tower ON if the voltage output of the telematics device is High and turns the light tower OFF if the voltage output of the telematics device is Low.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the telematics device is configured to transmit an acknowledgment message back to the telematics platform confirming receipt of the UDP message.

4. A system for light tower control, comprising:

a telematics platform, configured to transmit and receive a UDP message over a cellular network, a transmitted UDP message containing a control signal for turning ON or OFF a light tower; and

a telematics device, configured to receive the UDP message and configure a voltage output of the telematics device based on the control signal,

wherein if the control signal is ON the voltage output of the telematics device is changed from Low to High and if the control signal is OFF the voltage output of the telematics device is changed from High to Low, and

wherein the telematics device has two input ports and one output port, wherein the output port has the voltage output and the input ports are used to obtain information from a relay controller of the light tower relating to fuel level and any system alerts.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the relay controller of the light tower turns the light tower ON if the voltage output of the telematics device is High and turns the light tower OFF if the voltage output of the telematics device is Low.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the telematics device is configured to transmit an acknowledgment message back to the telematics platform confirming receipt of the UDP message.

7. A system for light tower control, comprising:

a telematics platform, configured to transmit and receive a UDP message over a cellular network, a transmitted UDP message containing a control signal for turning ON or OFF a light tower; and

a telematics device, configured to receive the UDP message and configure a voltage output of the telematics device based on the control signal,

wherein if the control signal is ON the voltage output of the telematics device is changed from Low to High and if the control signal is OFF the voltage output of the telematics device is changed from High to Low,

wherein the telematics platform has a dashboard for enabling a user to interface with a scheduler of the telematics platform, and

wherein access to the scheduler is controlled by double authentication.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein a relay controller of the light tower turns the light tower ON if the voltage output of the telematics device is High and turns the light tower OFF if the voltage output of the telematics device is Low.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the telematics device is configured to transmit an acknowledgment message back to the telematics platform confirming receipt of the UDP message.

10. A system for light tower control, comprising:

a telematics platform, configured to transmit and receive a UDP message over a cellular network, a transmitted UDP message containing a control signal for turning ON or OFF a light tower; and

a telematics device, configured to receive the UDP message and configure a voltage output of the telematics device based on the control signal,

wherein if the control signal is ON the voltage output of the telematics device is changed from Low to High and if the control signal is OFF the voltage output of the telematics device is changed from High to Low, and

wherein the telematics platform generates reports from the data fed back from the telematics device and determines a schedule for controlling ON/OFF status of the light tower based on the reports.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein a relay controller of the light tower turns the light tower ON if the voltage output of the telematics device is High and turns the light tower OFF if the voltage output of the telematics device is Low.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the telematics device is configured to transmit an acknowledgment message back to the telematics platform confirming receipt of the UDP message.

13. A telematics platform for light tower control, comprising:

a scheduling unit, configured to create an ON/OFF schedule for a light tower unit;

a control unit, configured to determine whether the light tower unit is scheduled to be ON or OFF based on the schedule and create a control signal based thereon; and

a network interface, configured to transmit a message over a cellular network which contains the control signal for turning ON or OFF the light tower,

wherein the telematics platform is configured to receive a Locational Report including locational information and information about a health status of the light tower unit.

14. The telematics platform of claim 13 , wherein the message is a UDP message.

15. A telematics platform for light tower control, comprising:

a scheduling unit, configured to create an ON/OFF schedule for a light tower unit;

a control unit, configured to determine whether the light tower unit is scheduled to be ON or OFF based on the schedule and create a control signal based thereon;

a network interface, configured to transmit a message over a cellular network which contains the control signal for turning ON or OFF the light tower; and

a dashboard for enabling a user to interface with a scheduler of the telematics platform to program a schedule for the light towers including on/off time, recurrence pattern, and length of pattern,

wherein access to the scheduler is controlled by double authentication.

16. The telematics platform of claim 15 , wherein the message is a UDP message.

17. A telematics platform for light tower control, comprising:

a scheduling unit, configured to create an ON/OFF schedule for a light tower unit;

a control unit, configured to determine whether the light tower unit is scheduled to be ON or OFF based on the schedule and create a control signal based thereon;

a network interface, configured to transmit a message over a cellular network which contains the control signal for turning ON or OFF the light tower; and

a dashboard for enabling a user to interface with a scheduler of the telematics platform to program a schedule for the light towers including on/off time, recurrence pattern, and length of pattern,

wherein the dashboard presents an overview of all light tower units along with current status, health alerts, and network coverage thereof.

18. The telematics platform of claim 17 , wherein the message is a UDP message.

19. A telematics platform for light tower control, comprising:

a scheduling unit, configured to create an ON/OFF schedule for a light tower unit;

a control unit, configured to determine whether the light tower unit is scheduled to be ON or OFF based on the schedule and create a control signal based thereon; and

a network interface, configured to transmit a message over a cellular network which contains the control signal for turning ON or OFF the light tower,

wherein the telematics platform generates reports from the data received from a telematics device and determines a schedule for controlling ON/OFF status of the light tower based on the reports.

20. The telematics platform of claim 19 , wherein the message is a UDP message.

Assignments (4)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 2, 2025
From: HERC RENTALS INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 071286/0410 →
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL AT R/F 49930/0110 Recorded Jun 2, 2025
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 071492/0920 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 26, 2019
From: DRESSEL, BRUCE; GUPTA, SUNIL; GAVIN, MATTHEW
To: HERC RENTALS INC.
Reel/Frame 051371/0526 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 1, 2019
From: HERC RENTALS INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049930/0110 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62549505 · Aug 24, 2017
Related Publication 20190069378A1 · Feb 28, 2019