Systems, methods, and apparatus for efficient vehicle fleet tracking, deployment, and management

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for efficiently managing fleet asset activities. In one aspect, a method includes establishing a plurality of vehicle activity stages including a source geozone, a destination geozone, a source-destination transit geozone, and a destination-source transit geozone; receiving sensed data from a sensor over a network, where the sensor is situated on an asset; storing the sensed data in a data store as stored data; generating a time bar display based on the stored data, where the time bar display depicts the asset's location relative to the source geozone and the destination geozone; monitoring the time bar display for a deviation from a staggered operating pattern; and sending an update to the asset to correct for the deviations from the staggered operating pattern, where the update brings the asset back into the staggered operating pattern.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for efficiently managing tracked assets, comprising the steps of:
 establishing a plurality of vehicle activity stages including a source geozone, a destination geozone, a source-destination transit geozone, and a destination-source transit geozone, wherein the source geozone represents a first geographic area, wherein the destination geozone represents a second geographic area, wherein the source-destination transit geozone represents a third geographic area connecting the first geographic area and the second geographic area, and wherein the destination-source transit geozone represents a fourth geographic area connecting the second geographic area and the first geographic area;   periodically receiving sensed data from a sensor over a network, wherein the sensor is situated on an asset;   storing the sensed data in a data store as stored data;   generating a time bar display based on the stored data, wherein the time bar display depicts the asset's location relative to the source geozone and the destination geozone;   monitoring the time bar display for a deviation from a staggered operating pattern; and   indicating on a display of the time bar assets that deviate from the staggered operating pattern, whereby the scheduling of the assets may be managed to reform the staggered operating pattern.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 generating a quadrant graph display based on the stored data, the quadrant graph display depicting a quantity representing how many assets are located in each respective vehicle activity stage.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the source geozone comprises a plurality of source geozones;   the destination geozone comprises a plurality of destination geozones;   the sensor comprises a plurality of sensors;   the asset comprises a plurality of assets; and   the update comprises a plurality of updates.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 establishing a source subgeozone within the source geozone and a destination subgeozone within the destination geozone.   
     
     
         5 . A system for optimally managing vehicle resource allocation, comprising:
 a plurality of vehicle activity stages including a source geozone, a destination geozone, a source-destination transit geozone, and a destination-source transit geozone, wherein the source geozone represents a first geographic area, wherein the destination geozone represents a second geographic area, wherein the source-destination transit geozone represents a third geographic area connecting the first geographic area and the second geographic area, and wherein the destination-source transit geozone represents a fourth geographic area connecting the second geographic area and the first geographic area;   a sensor situated on an asset that traverses the plurality of vehicle activity stages, wherein the sensor senses operating data from the asset;   a datastore that stores operating data, wherein the datastore stores the operating data as stored data; and   a generated time bar display depicting the stored data, wherein the time bar display depicts the asset's location relative to the source geozone and the destination geozone over a period of time, wherein the generated time bar display depicts a pattern illustrating asset usage.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein an optimal pattern is a staggered operating pattern. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 an update addressable to the asset, wherein the update corrects for deviations from the staggered operating pattern, wherein the update brings the asset back into the staggered operating pattern.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a generated quadrant graph display based on the stored data, the generated quadrant graph display depicting a quantity representing how many assets are located in each respective vehicle activity stage.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the source geozone comprises a plurality of source geozones;   the destination geozone comprises a plurality of destination geozones;   the sensor comprises a plurality of sensors; and   the asset comprises a plurality of assets.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a source subgeozone disposed within the source geozone; and   a destination subgeozone disposed within the destination geozone.   
     
     
         11 . A system for providing a vehicle tracking system over a computer network configured to overate over a network, comprising:
 a server operating the vehicle tracking system, the server adapted to communicate with a network;   wherein the server is configured to:
 establish a plurality of vehicle activity stages including a source geozone, a destination geozone, a source-destination transit geozone, and a destination-source transit geozone, wherein the source geozone represents a first geographic area, wherein the destination geozone represents a second geographic area, wherein the source-destination transit geozone represents a third geographic area connecting the first geographic area and the second geographic area, and wherein the destination-source transit geozone represents a fourth geographic area connecting the second geographic area and the first geographic area; 
 receive sensed data from a sensor over a network, wherein the sensor is situated on an asset; 
 store the sensed data in a data store as stored data; 
 generate a time bar display based on the stored data, wherein the time bar display depicts the asset's location relative to the source geozone and the destination geozone; 
 monitor the time bar display for a deviation from a desired operating pattern; and 
 send an update to the asset to correct for the deviations from the desired operating pattern, wherein the update brings the asset back into the desired operating pattern. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the server is further configured to:
 generate a quadrant graph display based on the stored data, the generated quadrant graph display depicting a quantity representing how many assets are located in each respective vehicle activity stage.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the desired operating pattern is a staggered operating pattern. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the server is further configured to:
 establish a source subgeozone disposed within the source geozone; and   establish a destination subgeozone disposed within the destination geozone receiving external valuation data from an external source.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the source geozone comprises a plurality of source geozones;   the destination geozone comprises a plurality of destination geozones;   the sensor comprises a plurality of sensors;   the asset comprises a plurality of assets; and   the update comprises a plurality of updates.   
     
     
         16 . A method for categorizing and optimizing asset fleet activity, comprising the steps of:
 setting a first geographic area as a first geozone and a second geographic area as a second geozone;   receiving and storing sensed data from a fleet asset as stored data;   analyzing stored data for geolocation information;   generating time bars based on the geolocation information relative to the first geozone and the second geozone; and   displaying the time bars in an interface, wherein the time bars present a fleet pattern and wherein the fleet pattern allows enables management of allocation of the fleet asset.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of:
 generating a corrective update when the fleet pattern deviates from a desired pattern type; and   sending the corrective update to increase efficiency of the allocation of the fleet asset.   
     
     
         18 . A system for managing assets over a computer network configured to overate over a network, comprising:
 a server operating an asset tracking system, the server adapted to communicate with a network;   wherein the server is configured to:
 set a first geographic area as a first geozone and a second geographic area as a second geozone; 
 receive and store sensed data from a fleet asset as stored data; 
 analyze stored data for geolocation information; 
 generate time bars based on the geolocation information relative to the first geozone and the second geozone; and 
 display the time bars in an interface, wherein the time bars present a fleet pattern and wherein the fleet pattern allows enables management of allocation of the fleet asset. 
   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the server is further configured to:
 generate a quadrant graph display based on the stored data, the generated quadrant graph display depicting a quantity representing how many assets are located in the first geozone and the second geozone.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the server is further configured to:
 generate a corrective update when the fleet pattern deviates from a desired pattern type; and   send the corrective update to increase efficiency of the allocation of the fleet asset.