IP Library Granted Patent US 11,756,428
Granted Patent B2
US 11,756,428 · App. 16/385,596 · Granted Sep 12, 2023

Resource transportation systems and methods

Inventors: Priyesh Ranjan (Denver, CO); Samuel Robert McLaughlin (Denver, CO)
Assignee: Vorto Technologies, LLC
G08G1/202G08G1/096811G08G1/096833G08G1/207
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,756,428
App. No.
16/385,596
Granted
Sep 12, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

In some embodiments, a system for resource transportation comprises a routing command subsystem. In some embodiments, the routing command subsystem is configured to be communicably coupled to a first input device at a first location, the first input device configured to determine a first resource factor of a resource at the first location and a location input device associated with a transporter, the transporter configured to transport the resource, the location input device configured to determine a transporter location. In some embodiments, the routing command subsystem is further configured to change a first endpoint of a transporter route to a first alternate location based at least in part on the first resource factor and the transporter location.

Claims (133)

1. A system for transportation of a payload, the system comprising:

a routing command subsystem implemented by at least one processor and a memory, the routing command subsystem configured to control transportation of the payload comprising a resource, and configured to be communicably coupled to:

a first input device at a first location, the first input device configured to determine a first resource factor of the resource at the first location;

a location input device associated with a transporter, the transporter configured to transport the resource, the location input device configured to determine a transporter location,

the routing command subsystem further configured to:

predict an availability of the resource at a supply node;

detect a failure point in transportation of the resource;

simulate a consequence of the predicted availability of the resource at the supply node by calculating a consequence factor;

compare the consequence factor to a predefined threshold;

when the consequence factor is not within the predefined threshold, change a first endpoint of a transporter route to a first alternate location based at least in part on the first resource factor and the transporter location, in order to increase a transportation utilization rate;

receive first data associated with the first location and second data associated with the transporter;

apply a fuzzy logic to match the first data and the second data, wherein the fuzzy logic comprises matching the first data and the second data by comparing a difference between the first data and the second data to a predefined fuzzy logic threshold;

automatically reconcile the first data and the second data when the difference between the first data and the second data is within the predefined fuzzy logic threshold; and

automatically determine, for a user, the first data and the second data when the difference between the first data and the second data is not within the predefined fuzzy logic threshold; and

a user interface configured to:

receive, from the user, an input to manually reconcile the first data and the second data that are automatically detected when the difference between the first data and the second data is not within the predefined fuzzy logic threshold; and

display, on a display device,

the first data and the second data that are automatically reconciled based on the fuzzy logic or manually reconciled based on the input from the user, and

the first alternate location as the first end point of the transportation route when the consequence factor is not within the predefined threshold.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first location comprises the supply node.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first location comprises a demand node.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a second input device at a second location, the second input device configured to determine a second resource factor at the second location;

wherein the changing the first endpoint of the transporter route further comprising changing the first endpoint of the transporter route to the first alternate location based at least in part on the second resource factor.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the first location comprises a source node and the second location comprises a destination node.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first input device comprises a sensor.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first input device comprises a data entry device.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the location input device comprises a sensor.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the location input device comprises a data entry device.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first resource factor comprises an amount of the resource.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the amount of the resource comprises a quantity of the resource at the first location or a weight of the resource at the first location.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the amount of the resource comprises a quantity of the resource consumed at the first location or a weight of the resource consumed at the first location.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first resource factor comprises a rate of change of the resource.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first resource factor comprises a comparison of a resource quantity withdrawn at the supply node with a scheduled resource demand at a demand node.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first input device determines the first resource factor based at least in part on a real-time input.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first input device determines the first resource factor based at least in part on a periodic input.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the location input device determines the transporter location based at least in part on a real-time input.

18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the location input device determines the transporter location based at least in part on a periodic input.

19. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a second input device associated with the transporter, the second input device configured to determine a second resource factor of the resource associated with the transporter.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the second resource factor comprises an amount of the resource transported by the transporter or a weight of the resource transported by the transporter.

21. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first endpoint of the transporter route comprises the supply node.

22. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first endpoint of the transporter route comprises a demand node.

23. The system of claim 1 , the routing command subsystem further configured to determine a transporter resource factor, wherein the transporter resource factor comprises a number of transporters transporting the resource.

24. The system of claim 1 , the routing command subsystem further configured to direct a second transporter to transport the resource based at least in part on the first resource factor and the transporter location.

25. The system of claim 1 , the routing command subsystem further configured to change a schedule for the transporter to transport the resource based at least in part on the first resource factor and the transporter location.

26. The system of claim 1 , the routing command subsystem further configured to change a route of the transporter to include a first intermediate location based at least in part on the first resource factor and the transporter location.

27. The system of claim 1 , wherein the changing the first endpoint of the transporter route further comprising predicting a demand of the resource at a demand node.

28. The system of claim 1 , wherein the changing the first endpoint of the transporter route further comprising predicting a number of transporters available to transport the resource.

29. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first resource factor depends on a second resource factor associated with a second resource.

30. The system of claim 1 , wherein the payload comprises a combination of one or more resource, the resource comprises sand, chemicals, water, oil, gas, raw materials, finished goods, parcels, equipment, or personnel.

31. The system of claim 1 , wherein the transporter comprises at least one of a rail car, a truck, or pipeline.

32. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first input device comprises at least one of a node site sensor, a fracking van sensor, or a supply node sensor.

33. The system of claim 1 , wherein the routing command subsystem further configured to change the first endpoint of the transporter route to the first alternate location based at least in part on the first resource factor, the transporter location, and a driver factor.

34. The system of claim 33 , wherein the driver factor comprises at least one of a current duty status or a number of hours of service remaining.

35. A system for transportation of a payload, the system comprising:

a transporter selection subsystem implemented by at least one processor and a memory, the transporter selection subsystem configured to control transportation of the payload comprising a resource, and configured to be communicably coupled to:

a first input device at a first location, the first input device configured to determine a first resource factor of a resource at the first location;

a first location input device associated with a first transporter, the first location input device configured to determine a first transporter location;

a second location input device associated with a second transporter, the second location input device configured to determine a second transporter location;

a driver input device associated with a driver, the driver input device configured to determine a driver factor; and

the transporter selection subsystem further configured to:

predict an availability of the resource at a supply node;

detect a failure point in transportation of the resource;

simulate a consequence of the predicted availability of the resource at the supply node by calculating a consequence factor;

compare the consequence factor to a predefined threshold;

when the consequence factor is not within the predefined threshold, select the first transporter or the second transporter to transport the resource based at least in part on the first resource factor, the first transporter location, the second transporter location, and the driver factor, in order to increase a transportation utilization rate;

receive first data associated with the first location and second data associated with the driver;

apply a fuzzy logic to match the first data and the second data, wherein the fuzzy logic comprises matching the first data and the second data by comparing a difference between the first data and the second data to a predefined fuzzy logic threshold;

automatically reconcile the first data and the second data when the difference between the first data and the second data is within the predefined fuzzy logic threshold; and

automatically determine, for a user, the first data and the second data when the difference between the first data and the second data is not within the predefined fuzzy logic threshold; and

a user interface configured to:

receive, from the user, an input to manually reconcile the first data and the second data that are automatically detected when the difference between the first data and the second data is not within the predefined fuzzy logic threshold; and

display, on a display device,

the first data and the second data that are automatically reconciled based on the fuzzy logic or manually reconciled based on the input from the user, and

the first transporter or the second transporter to transport the resource when the consequence factor is not within the predefined threshold.

36. The system of claim 35 , wherein the first location comprises the supply node.

37. The system of claim 35 , wherein the first location comprises a demand node.

38. The system of claim 35 , wherein the first input device comprises a sensor.

39. The system of claim 35 , wherein the first input device comprises a data entry device.

40. The system of claim 35 , wherein the first location input device comprises a sensor.

41. The system of claim 35 , wherein the first location input device comprises a data entry device.

42. The system of claim 35 , wherein the second location input device comprises a sensor.

43. The system of claim 35 , wherein the second location input device comprises a data entry device.

44. The system of claim 35 , wherein the first resource factor comprises an amount of the resource, and the resource comprises sand, chemicals, water, oil, gas, raw materials, finished goods, parcels, equipment, or personnel.

45. The system of claim 44 , wherein the amount of the resource comprises a quantity of the resource at the first location.

46. The system of claim 44 , wherein the amount of the resource comprises a quantity of the resource consumed at the first location.

47. The system of claim 35 , wherein the first resource factor comprises a rate of change of the resource.

48. The system of claim 35 , wherein the first resource factor comprises a comparison of a resource quantity withdrawn at the supply node with a scheduled resource demand at a demand node.

49. The system of claim 35 , wherein the first input device determines the first resource factor based at least in part on a real-time input.

50. The system of claim 35 , wherein the first input device determines the first resource factor based at least in part on a periodic input.

51. The system of claim 35 , wherein the first location input device determines the transporter location based at least in part on a real-time input.

52. The system of claim 35 , wherein the first location input device determines the transporter location based at least in part on a periodic input.

53. The system of claim 35 , wherein the second location input device determines the transporter location based at least in part on a real-time input.

54. The system of claim 35 , wherein the second location input device determines the transporter location based at least in part on a periodic input.

55. The system of claim 35 , further comprising a second input device associated with the transporter, the second input device configured to determine a second resource factor of the resource associated with the transporter.

56. The system of claim 55 , wherein the second resource factor comprises an amount or a weight of the resource transported by the transporter.

57. The system of claim 35 , the transporter selection subsystem further configured to determine a transporter resource factor, wherein the transporter resource factor comprises a number of transporters transporting the resource.

58. The system of claim 35 , the transporter selection subsystem further configured to direct the second transporter to transport the resource based at least in part on the first resource factor and the first transporter location.

59. The system of claim 35 , the transporter selection subsystem further configured to change a schedule for the transporter to transport the resource based at least in part on the first resource factor and the first transporter location.

60. The system of claim 35 , the routing command subsystem further configured to change a route of the transporter to include a first intermediate location based at least in part on the first resource factor and the first transporter location.

61. The system of claim 35 , wherein the first resource factor depends on a second resource factor associated with a second resource.

62. The system of claim 35 , wherein the driver factor comprises at least one of a current duty status or a number of hours of service remaining.

63. A system for transportation of a payload, the system comprising:

a routing command subsystem implemented by at least one processor and a memory, the routing command subsystem configured to control transportation of the payload comprising a resource, and configured to be communicably coupled to:

an amount sensor at a production operation at a first location, the amount sensor configured to determine an amount of a resource at the production operation, the production operation using the resource at a use rate that varies over time, wherein the use rate further depends on availability of other resources at the first location;

a location sensor associated with a transporter, the transporter configured to transport the resource, the location sensor configured to determine a transporter location,

the routing command subsystem further configured to:

receive information about the use rate;

predict an availability of the resource at a supply node;

detect a failure point in transportation of the resource at the supply node;

simulate a consequence of the predicted availability of the resource at the supply node by calculating a consequence factor;

compare the consequence factor to a predefined threshold;

when the consequence factor is not within the predefined threshold, reroute the transporter based at least in part on the amount, the use rate, and the transporter location;

receive first data associated with the first location and second data associated with the transporter;

apply a fuzzy logic to match the first data and the second data, wherein the fuzzy logic comprises matching the first data and the second data by comparing a difference between the first data and the second data to a predefined fuzzy logic threshold;

automatically reconcile the first data and the second data when the difference between the first data and the second data is within the predefined fuzzy logic threshold; and

automatically determine, for a user, the first data and the second data when the difference between the first data and the second data is not within the predefined fuzzy logic threshold; and

a user interface configured to:

receive, from the user, an input to manually reconcile the first data and the second data that are automatically detected when the difference between the first data and the second data is not within the predefined fuzzy logic threshold; and

display, on a display device, the first data and the second data that are automatically reconciled based on the fuzzy logic or manually reconciled based on the input from the user, and the reroute of the transporter when the consequence factor is not within the predefined threshold.

64. The system of claim 63 , wherein the resource comprises sand, chemicals, water, oil, gas, raw materials, finished goods, parcels, equipment, or personnel.

65. The system of claim 63 , wherein the transporter comprises a rail car.

66. The system of claim 63 , wherein the transporter comprises a truck.

67. The system of claim 63 , wherein the amount sensor comprises at least one of a site sensor, a fracking van sensor, a sand mine sensor, a weight sensor, or a transload sensor.

68. The system of claim 63 , wherein rerouting the transporter comprises routing the transporter via a transload.

69. The system of claim 63 , wherein the routing command subsystem is further configured to reroute the transporter based in part on a quantity or a weight of the resource at the first location.

70. The system of claim 63 , wherein the routing command subsystem is further configured to reroute the transporter based in part on a total quantity of the resource consumed at the first location.

71. The system of claim 63 , wherein the routing command subsystem is further configured to reroute the transporter based in part on a predicted consumption rate at the first location.

72. The system of claim 63 , wherein the routing command subsystem is further configured to reroute the transporter based in part on a predicted consumption rate at a second site.

73. The system of claim 1 , wherein the consequence factor comprises a non-productive time or a demurrage.

74. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first data comprises data tracked by the first location including a customer identifier, a bill of lading number, a purchase order number, a quantity of the payload, a type of the payload, a price of the payload, a time when the transporter loaded or unloaded the payload, or a transporter identifier; and

the second data comprises data tracked by the transporter including the customer identifier, the bill of lading number, the purchase order number, the quantity of the payload, the type of the payload, the price of the payload, the time when the transporter loaded or unloaded the payload, or the transporter identifier.

75. The system of claim 1 , wherein the routing command subsystem further configured to approve a first invoice from the first location and a second invoice from the transporter when the first data and the second data are automatically reconciled.

Assignments (9)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 9, 2025
From: VORTO, LLC; VORTO OPERATIONS HOLDINGS, INC.; LOHI LOGISTICS HOLDINGS, LLC; FIFTH FLOOR FREIGHT HOLDINGS, LLC; CANDLESTICK FREIGHT HOLDINGS, LLC; ASSET LEASING MARKETPLACE, LLC; TRUCK FUEL FINANCE, LLC; VORTO OPERATIONS, LLC; LOHI LOGISTICS, LLC; FIFTH FLOOR FREIGHT, LLC; CANDLESTICK FREIGHT, LLC; PRECISION MAINTENANCE GROUP, LLC; 5F TOURS, LLC; VORTO TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; 5F TRANSPORTATION, LLC; 5F LOGISTICS, LLC; BAINBRIDGE BROKERAGE HOLDINGS, LLC; BAINBRIDGE BROKERAGE, LLC; FREIGHTRAX, LLC; 5F MANAGED TRANSPORTATION, LLC; BLACK TIDE SHIPPING, LLC; RED ROCKS BROKERAGE HOLDINGS, LLC; RED ROCKS BROKERAGE, LLC; BAINBRIDGE BROKERAGE CANADA HOLDINGS, INC.; BAINBRIDGE BROKERAGE CANADA, INC.
To: FIRST-CITIZENS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 072199/0082 →
RATIFICATION AND SECOND AMENDMENT TO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 2, 2023
From: VORTO, LLC; VORTO OPERATIONS HOLDINGS, INC.; LOHI LOGISTICS HOLDINGS, LLC; FIFTH FLOOR FREIGHT HOLDINGS, LLC; CLARKSBURG FREIGHT HOLDINGS, LLC; SNOWSHOE MOUNTAIN FREIGHT HOLDINGS, LLC; CANDLESTICK FREIGHT HOLDINGS, LLC; CANARY FREIGHT HOLDINGS, LLC; LOHI ASSET LEASING MARKETPLACE, LLC; TRUCK FUEL FINANCE, LLC; VORTO OPERATIONS, LLC; LOHI LOGISTICS, LLC; FIFTH FLOOR FREIGHT, LLC; CLARKSBURG FREIGHT, LLC; SNOWSHOE MOUNTAIN FREIGHT, LLC; CANDLESTICK FREIGHT, LLC; CANARY FREIGHT, LLC; ALM MAINTENANCE, LLC; VORTO TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; 5F TRANSPORTATION, LLC; 5F LOGISTICS, LLC; 5F TOURS, LLC; BAINBRIDGE BROKERAGE HOLDINGS, LLC; BAINBRIDGE BROKERAGE, LLC; FREIGHTRAX, LLC; 5F MANAGED TRANSPORTATION, LLC; BLACK TIDE SHIPPING, LLC; RED ROCKS BROKERAGE HOLDINGS, LLC; RED ROCKS BROKERAGE, LLC
To: FIRST-CITIZENS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 065434/0702 →
RATIFICATION AND FIRST AMENDMENT TO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 18, 2023
From: VORTO, LLC; VORTO OPERATIONS HOLDINGS, INC.; LOHI LOGISTICS HOLDINGS, LLC; FIFTH FLOOR FREIGHT HOLDINGS, LLC; CLARKSBURG FREIGHT HOLDINGS, LLC; SNOWSHOE MOUNTAIN FREIGHT HOLDINGS, LLC; CANDLESTICK FREIGHT HOLDINGS, LLC; CANARY FREIGHT HOLDINGS, LLC; LOHI ASSET LEASING MARKETPLACE, LLC; TRUCK FUEL FINANCE, LLC; VORTO OPERATIONS, LLC; LOHI LOGISTICS, LLC; FIFTH FLOOR FREIGHT, LLC; CLARKSBURG FREIGHT, LLC; SNOWSHOE MOUNTAIN FREIGHT, LLC; CANDLESTICK FREIGHT, LLC; CANARY FREIGHT, LLC; ALM MAINTENANCE, LLC; VORTO TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; 5F TRANSPORTATION, LLC; 5F LOGISTICS, LLC; 5F TOURS, LLC; BAINBRIDGE BROKERAGE HOLDINGS, LLC; BAINBRIDGE BROKERAGE, LLC; FREIGHTRAX, LLC; 5F MANAGED TRANSPORTATION, LLC
To: FIRST-CITIZENS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 064930/0424 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CONVEYING PARTY DATA PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 059832 FRAME 0203. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Jun 17, 2022
From: VORTO, LLC; VORTO OPERATIONS HOLDINGS, INC.; LOHI LOGISTICS HOLDINGS, LLC; FIFTH FLOOR FREIGHT HOLDINGS, LLC; CLARKSBURG FREIGHT HOLDINGS, LLC; SNOWSHOE MOUNTAIN FREIGHT HOLDINGS, LLC; CANDLESTICK FREIGHT HOLDINGS, LLC; CANARY FREIGHT HOLDINGS, LLC; LOHI ASSET LEASING MARKETPLACE, LLC; TRUCK FUEL FINANCE, LLC; VORTO OPERATIONS, LLC; LOHI LOGISTICS, LLC; FIFTH FLOOR FREIGHT, LLC; CLARKSBURG FREIGHT, LLC; SNOWSHOE MOUNTAIN FREIGHT, LLC; CANDLESTICK FREIGHT, LLC; CANARY FREIGHT, LLC; ALM MAINTENANCE, LLC; VORTO TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; 5F TRANSPORTATION, LLC; 5F LOGISTICS, LLC; 5F TOURS, LLC; 5F BROKERAGE HOLDINGS, LLC; 5F BROKERAGE, LLC
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 061041/0804 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 5, 2022
From: VORTO, LLC; VORTO OPERATIONS HOLDINGS, INC.; LOHI LOGISTICS HOLDINGS, LLC; FIFTH FLOOR FREIGHT HOLDINGS, LLC; CLARKSBURG FREIGHT HOLDINGS, LLC; SNOWSHOE MOUNTAIN FREIGHT HOLDINGS, LLC; CANDLESTICK FREIGHT HOLDINGS, LLC; CANARY FREIGHT HOLDINGS, LLC; LOHI ASSET LEASING MARKETPLACE, LLC; TRUCK FUEL FINANCE, LLC; VORTO OPERATIONS, LLC; LOHI LOGISTICS, LLC; FIFTH FLOOR FREIGHT, LLC; LARKSBURG FREIGHT, LLC; SNOWSHOE MOUNTAIN FREIGHT, LLC; CANDLESTICK FREIGHT, LLC; CANARY FREIGHT, LLC; ALM MAINTENANCE, LLC; VORTO TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; 5F TRANSPORTATION, LLC; 5F LOGISTICS, LLC; 5F TOURS, LLC; 5F BROKERAGE HOLDINGS, LLC; 5F BROKERAGE, LLC
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 059832/0203 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 17, 2022
From: VORTO, LLC
To: VORTO TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 059299/0508 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 16, 2021
From: RANJAN, PRIYESH; MCLAUGHLIN, SAMUEL ROBERT
To: HEP SHALEAPPS, LLC
Reel/Frame 058130/0800 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 16, 2021
From: GGC SHALEAPPS, LLC
To: VORTO, LLC
Reel/Frame 058162/0622 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 16, 2021
From: HEP SHALEAPPS, LLC
To: GGC SHALEAPPS, LLC
Reel/Frame 058162/0459 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 62789294 · Jan 7, 2019
Provisional Application 62659109 · Apr 17, 2018
Related Publication 20190318629A1 · Oct 17, 2019
Cited By (2)
US 12,307,412 US 12,399,013