Method and apparatus for changing vehicle behavior based on current vehicle location and zone definitions mandated by a remote user
A remote user can mandate one or more zone-based driver/vehicle predefined behaviors. Current vehicle location is analyzed at the vehicle or remotely to determine if the vehicle is approaching or has arrived at a location for which a zone-based driver/vehicle behavior has been mandated. For zone-based vehicle behavior mandates, a vehicle controller at the vehicle responsible for controlling the defined behavior is reprogrammed to impose the defined behavior (no regeneration at location, max speed at location, no idle over 2 minutes at location, etc.). Once the vehicle has left the zone, the controller programming reverts to its prior state, and/or zone-based driver behavior definition is no longer displayed.
1. A method for restricting fleet vehicle operation based on a location of the fleet vehicle, comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a remote user with a computing device displaying a graphical user interface, including a map and a menu offering a set of predefined vehicle behaviors, thereby enabling the remote user to define a zone on the map and to indicate a mandated set of vehicle behaviors for the zone;
(b) automatically collecting vehicle location data during operation of the fleet vehicle, the fleet vehicle at every moment being at a current location;
(c) automatically analyzing current fleet vehicle location data to determine if the fleet vehicle is within the zone; and
(d) when the fleet vehicle is within the zone, automatically controlling the fleet vehicle to conform to the mandated set of vehicle behaviors for the zone.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of automatically analyzing the current location of the fleet vehicle is implemented by a processor remote from the fleet vehicle, and further comprising the steps of:
(a) automatically conveying the fleet vehicle location data collected during operation of the fleet vehicle from the fleet vehicle to the remote processor; and
(b) when the fleet vehicle is substantially proximate the zone, automatically conveying the zone-based behavior defined for that location from the remote processor to the fleet vehicle.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of automatically analyzing the current location of the fleet vehicle is implemented by a processor at the fleet vehicle, and further comprising the step of automatically conveying to the fleet vehicle from the remote user the zone and the zone-based behavior, with which to control the fleet vehicle.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of automatically analyzing the current location of the fleet vehicle is implemented by a processor at the fleet vehicle, and further comprising the steps of:
(a) automatically conveying the location for which the zone-based behavior has been defined from the computing device remote from the fleet vehicle to the processor at the fleet vehicle;
(b) when the controller at the fleet vehicle determines that the current vehicle location is within the predetermined distance of the location, automatically conveying from the controller at the fleet vehicle to the remote controller a request for the zone-based behavior defined for that location to the fleet vehicle, such that step (d) of claim 1 can be implemented.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the remote user mandates one of the predefined vehicle behaviors, that vehicle lighting must be in a specific state while the fleet vehicle is in the zone.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the remote user mandates one of the predefined vehicle behaviors requiring no engine idling in the zone.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the remote user mandates one of the predefined vehicle behaviors imposing a special speed limit in the zone.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the remote user mandates one of the predefined vehicle behaviors forbidding the use of power take off devices in the zone.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the remote user sets the zone to correspond to at least one of a warehouse, a tank farm, and a port.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mandated set of vehicle behaviors includes a single vehicle behavior only.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the remote user is enabled to define a zone on the map by being enabled to draw a zone on the map.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the remote user is enabled to define a zone on the map by being enabled to select a predefined area on the map.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein some predefined areas correspond to schools.
14. A system for restricting fleet vehicle operation for specific locations; the system comprising:
(a) a remote computing device displaying a graphical user interface, including a map and a menu offering a set of predefined vehicle behaviors, thereby enabling a remote user to define a zone on the map and to indicate a zone-based behavior for restriction of the fleet vehicle operation, while in the zone,
(b) a fleet vehicle position determining component, producing fleet vehicle location data;
(c) a controller of at least a part of the fleet vehicle;
(c) a memory for storing zone-based driver behavior rules; and
(d) at least one processor, the at least one processor being configured to implement the functions of:
(i) analyzing the fleet vehicle location data and the zone-based driver behavior rules to determine if a current fleet vehicle location falls within the zone defined by the remote user; and
(ii) if the analysis so indicates, automatically conveying to the controller the zone-based behavior.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one processor includes a processor remote from the fleet vehicle and wherein the remote processor implements the functions of analyzing the fleet vehicle location and the zone-based driver behavior rules to determine if a current fleet vehicle location corresponds to the location defined in the zone-based driver rules, and wherein the system further comprises:
(a) a telematics unit at the fleet vehicle that automatically conveys the fleet vehicle location data collected during operation of the fleet vehicle from the fleet vehicle to the remote processor;
(b) a telematics unit at the remote processor that, when the fleet vehicle is within the zone, automatically conveys the zone-based behavior defined for that location from the remote processor to the fleet vehicle.
16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one processor includes a processor at the vehicle, and wherein the system further includes telematics units that convey to the fleet vehicle from the remote user the zone and the zone-based behavior.
17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the zone-based behavior corresponds to requiring that vehicle lighting must be in specific state while the fleet vehicle is in the zone.
18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the zone-based behavior corresponds to imposing a special speed limit in the zone.
19. The system of claim 14 , wherein the zone-based behavior corresponds to forbidding the use of power take off devices in the zone.
20. The system of claim 14 , wherein the remote user is enabled to select a facility shown on the map.