Systems and methods for optimizing fleet management and production management using mobile geofences
Systems, devices and methods for managing mobile assets at a worksite. A system computer creates a geofence relating to the geolocation of a first communication device disposed in a first mobile asset, the data points of the geofence periodically updated according to the geolocation of the first communication device such that changes in the geolocation of the first communication device are proportionally reflected in the updated geolocation of the datapoints of the geofence. The cycle time of a second communication device disposed in a second mobile asset can be determined by determining the amount of time lapsed after the second communication device triggers the geofence. Various triggering events are described. Various shapes of the geofence are described to avoid unintended triggers of the geofence by assets, including polygonal shapes.
1. A system for managing the wait time of assets at a worksite, the system comprising:
a system computer device in communication with a database;
a first communication device capable of being disposed on or in a first mobile asset, the first communication device comprising:
a receiver of geolocation signals, and
at least one computer processor and at least one memory resource storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one computer processor causes the first communication device to generate geolocation data related to its geolocation based on the geolocation signals, and to communicate the geolocation data over a network to the system computer device;
a second communication device capable of being disposed on or in a second mobile asset, the second communication device comprising:
a receiver of geolocation signals, and
at least one computer processor and at least one memory resource storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one computer processor causes the second communication device to generate geolocation data related to its geolocation based on the geolocation signals, and to communicate the geolocation data over the network to the system computer device; and
wherein the system computer device comprises at least one computer processor and at least one memory resource storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one computer processor:
receives the geolocation data from the first and second communication devices over a network and stores the geolocation data in the database, and
stores in the database at least one datapoint of geolocation data representing a mobile geofence, wherein the mobile geofence relates to the geolocation data of the first communication device;
wherein the system computer device determines a wait time of the second communication device by determining an amount of time that passes between when the mobile geofence is triggered by the second communication device and when the mobile geofence is subsequently triggered by the second communication device, wherein the mobile geofence is triggered by at least one of the conditions selected from the group consisting of: (1) the geolocation of the second communication device is same as the geolocation of at least one of the datapoints of the mobile geofence; (2) the geolocation of the second communication device is between at least two of the datapoints of the mobile geofence; and (3) the geolocation of the second communication device is within a preset distance of a datapoint of the mobile geofence.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system computer device periodically updates the at least one datapoint of the mobile geofence based on the geolocation data of the first communication device disposed on or in the first mobile asset.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the update by the system computer device comprises changing each datapoint of the mobile geofence proportionally with a change in the geolocation data of the first communication device, in same direction as the change in the geolocation data of the first communication device.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one datapoint of geolocation data representing the mobile geofence is a set of datapoints that, when the datapoints are connected by a continuous line, forms a closed shape that starts and ends at a same datapoint.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the system computer device is preset to maintain the datapoints of the mobile geofence such that the geolocation of the first communication device is outside the closed shape of the mobile geofence.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one datapoint of geolocation data representing the mobile geofence is a set of datapoints that, when the datapoints are connected by a line, forms a shape comprising a series of straight line segments.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one datapoint of geolocation data representing the mobile geofence is a set of datapoints that, when the datapoints are connected by a line, forms a shape that is a polygon.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system computer device periodically updates the at least one datapoint of the mobile geofence based on orientation data of the first communication device disposed on or in the first mobile asset, wherein the orientation data comprises information generated by an accelerometer, magnetic sensor and/or a power take-off sensor disposed on or in the first communication device.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein geolocation of the at least one datapoint of the mobile geofence is at least a distance from the first mobile communication device that is greater than a dimension of the first mobile asset.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein geolocation of the at least one datapoint of the mobile geofence is less than a distance from the first mobile communication device that is a dimension of the second mobile asset.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system computer device generates an alert based on a criteria preset by a user of the system.
12. The system of claim 11 , further comprising:
a third communication device capable of being disposed on or in a third mobile asset, the third communication device comprising:
a receiver of geolocation signals, and
at least one computer processor and at least one memory resource storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one computer processor causes the third communication device to generate geolocation data related to its geolocation based on the geolocation signals, and to communicate the geolocation data over a network to the system computer device;
wherein the alert is generated when the mobile geofence is triggered by both the second communication device and the third communication device within an amount of time preset by a user of the system.
13. A method for managing the wait time of assets at a worksite, the method being performed by one or more computer processors, the method comprising:
generating geolocation data related to the geolocation of a first and second communication device, the first communication device capable of being disposed on or in a first mobile asset and the second communication device capable of being disposed on or in a second mobile asset;
receiving, over a network, the geolocation data and storing the geolocation data in a database;
storing in the database at least one datapoint of geolocation data representing a mobile geofence, wherein the mobile geofence relates to the geolocation data of the first communication device;
determining a wait time of the second communication device by determining an amount of time that passes between when the mobile geofence is triggered by the second communication device and when the mobile geofence is subsequently triggered by the second communication device, wherein the mobile geofence is triggered by at least one of the conditions selected from the group consisting of: (1) the geolocation of the second communication device is same as the geolocation of at least one of the datapoints of the mobile geofence; (2) the geolocation of the second communication device is between at least two of the datapoints of the mobile geofence; and (3) the geolocation of the second communication device is within a preset distance of a datapoint of the mobile geofence.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising updating the at least one datapoint of the mobile geofence based on the geolocation data of the first communication device disposed on or in the first mobile asset.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein updating the at least one datapoint of the mobile geofence comprises changing each datapoint of the mobile geofence proportionally with a change in the geolocation data of the first communication device, in same direction as the change in the geolocation data of the first communication device.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the at least one datapoint of geolocation data representing the mobile geofence is a set of datapoints that, when the datapoints are connected by a continuous line, forms a shape that is a polygon.
17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising periodically updating the at least one datapoint of the mobile geofence based on orientation data of the first communication device disposed on or in the first mobile asset, wherein the orientation data comprises information determined based on information generated by an accelerometer, magnetic sensor and/or power take-off sensor disposed on or in the first communication device.
18. The method of claim 13 , wherein geolocation of the at least one datapoint of the mobile geofence is less than a distance from the first mobile communication device that is a dimension of the second mobile asset.
19. The method of claim 13 , further comprising generating an alert based on a criteria preset by a user of the system.
20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising generating geolocation data related to the geolocation of a third communication device, the third communication device capable of being disposed on or in a third mobile asset, and wherein the alert is generated when the mobile geofence is triggered by both the second communication device and the third communication device within an amount of time preset by a user of the system.
21. A non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores instructions, executable by one or more processors, to cause the one or more processors to perform operations that comprise:
generating geolocation data related to the geolocation of a first and second communication device, the first communication device capable of being disposed on or in a first mobile asset and the second communication device capable of being disposed on or in a second mobile asset;
receiving, over a network, the geolocation data and storing the geolocation data in a database;
storing in the database at least one datapoint of geolocation data representing a mobile geofence, wherein the mobile geofence relates to the geolocation data of the first communication device;
updating the at least one datapoint of the mobile geofence based on the geolocation data of the first communication device disposed on or in the first mobile asset by changing each datapoint of the mobile geofence proportionally with a change in the geolocation data of the first communication device, in the same direction as the change in the geolocation data of the first communication device; and
determining a wait time of the second communication device by determining an amount of time that passes between when the mobile geofence is triggered by the second communication device and when the mobile geofence is subsequently triggered by the second communication device, wherein the mobile geofence is triggered by at least one of the conditions selected from the group consisting of: (1) the geolocation of the second communication device is same as the geolocation of at least one of the datapoints of the mobile geofence; (2) the geolocation of the second communication device is between at least two of the datapoints of the mobile geofence; and (3) the geolocation of the second communication device is within a preset distance of a datapoint of the mobile geofence.
22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21 , further comprising generating an alert based on a criteria preset by a user of the system.
23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21 , further comprising generating geolocation data related to the geolocation of a third communication device, the third communication device capable of being disposed on or in a third mobile asset, and wherein the alert is generated when the mobile geofence is triggered by both the second communication device and the third communication device within an amount of time preset by a user of the system.