Method and apparatus to collect object identification data during operation of a vehicle and analysis of such data

Abstract

System and method for collecting object identification data from a plurality of objects that interact with a vehicle during operation of the vehicle, where the vehicle interacts with specific objects at specific geographical positions. An identification sensor is coupled to a geographical position sensor, and whenever an object is identified a record is generated, the record including the identification of the object, the position of the vehicle when the interaction between the object and the vehicle occurs, and the time of the interaction. Exemplary objects include passengers, containers, and documents. Exemplary interactions include loading/unloading an object from the vehicle, boarding a passenger, unloading a passenger, transferring a bulk material from the vehicle into a specific container, and/or transferring a bulk material from a specific container to the vehicle. The record may also include additional data about a parameter of the object (such as the object's weight, volume, or temperature).

1 . A method for generating object identification (ID) encoded position data from a vehicle equipped with a geographical position system, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) collecting geographical position data from the vehicle during vehicle operation, the geographical position data being time indexed;   (b) collecting object ID data from an object interacting with the vehicle during operation of the vehicle, the object ID data uniquely identifying the object, wherein the step of collecting object ID data from an object interacting with the vehicle during operation of the vehicle comprises at least one of the following steps:
 (i) automatically scanning the object as it enters a cargo area of the vehicle not suitable for passengers using an identification sensor attached to the vehicle proximate an entry into the cargo area; 
 (ii) automatically scanning the object as it exits the cargo area of the vehicle not suitable for passengers using an identification sensor attached to the vehicle proximate an entry into the cargo area; 
 (iii) using an identification sensor attached to a material handling component used to manipulate the object; 
 (iv) using an identification sensor attached to a material handling component used to interact with the object; and 
 (v) scanning the object using a handheld device including an identification sensor and a wireless data link, the handheld device being configured to wirelessly transmit object ID data to a processor disposed in the vehicle, the processor being configured to combine the object ID data with the position data; and 
   (c) automatically combining the object ID data and the geographical position data together at the vehicle to produce object ID encoded position data.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of conveying the object ID encoded position data to a remote computing device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 (a) collecting additional object data from the object during operation of the vehicle; and   (b) including the additional object data in the object ID encoded position data such that the additional object data is also time indexed.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the object is a container, and the step of collecting the additional object data comprises the step of collecting at least one of:
 (a) a weight of material transferred into the container from the vehicle during the interaction between the container and the vehicle;   (b) a weight of material transferred into the vehicle from the container during the interaction between the container and the vehicle;   (c) a volume of material transferred into the container from the vehicle during the interaction between the container and the vehicle; and   (d) a volume of material transferred into the vehicle from the container during the interaction between the container and the vehicle.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 (a) as the vehicle is operating, comparing the current position of the vehicle with an intended destination associated with each object on the vehicle; and   (b) whenever the current position of the vehicle corresponds to the intended destination of an object on the vehicle, alerting the driver of the vehicle that the intended destination has been reached.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 (a) as the vehicle is operating, comparing the current position of the vehicle with a predefined location where an object the vehicle is to interact with is disposed; and   (b) whenever the current position of the vehicle corresponds with the predefined location, alerting the driver of the vehicle that the predefined location has been reached.   
     
     
         7 . A geographical position system for use in a vehicle, the geographical position system comprising:
 (a) a housing;   (b) a position sensing component for collecting geographical position data from the vehicle during vehicle operation, the geographical position data being time indexed;   (c) a first data port for receiving object identification (ID) data from an object interacting with the vehicle during operation of the vehicle, the object ID data uniquely identifying the object;   (d) a processor for combining the object ID data and the geographical position data together to produce object ID encoded position data; and   (e) a data link for conveying the object ID encoded position data to a remote computing device.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured to include additional object data in the object ID encoded position data such that the additional object data is also time indexed. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the data link comprises a wireless data link, and the processor is configured to use the data link to convey the object ID encoded position data to the remote computer in real-time. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a memory storing a plurality of records, each record associating a uniquely labeled object with a specific location, and wherein the processor is configured to alert the driver of the vehicle whenever the vehicle arrives at a specific location associated with one of the uniquely identified objects. 
     
     
         11 . A system for analyzing object identification (ID) encoded position data from a vehicle, the system comprising:
 (a) an object identification sensor for identifying a uniquely labeled object interacting with the vehicle during operation of the vehicle, and in response thereto generating object ID data; and   (b) a geographical position system for use in the vehicle, the geographical position system including:
 (i) a position sensing component for collecting geographical position data from the vehicle during vehicle operation, the geographical position data being time indexed; 
 (ii) a first data port for receiving object ID data from the object identification sensor during operation of the vehicle; 
 (iii) a processor for combining the object ID data and the geographical position data together to produce object ID encoded position data; and 
 (iv) a data link for conveying the object ID encoded position data to an external computing device. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a remote computing device spaced apart from the vehicle and configured to receive the object ID encoded position data via the data link, the remote computing device including a memory for storing machine instructions and a processor, the machine instructions, when implemented by a processor, enabling a user to access the object ID encoded position data for the vehicle, such that the object ID encoded position data can be analyzed to determine at least one characteristic of the interaction between the vehicle and the uniquely labeled object. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the uniquely labeled object is a container, and the remote computing device is configured to use additional object data included in the object ID encoded position data to implement at least one of the following functions:
 (a) determine a volume of material transferred into the container from the vehicle during the interaction between the container and the vehicle;   (b) determine a volume of material transferred into the vehicle from the container during the interaction between the container and the vehicle;   (c) determine a weight of material transferred into the container from the vehicle during the interaction between the container and the vehicle; and   (d) determine a weight of material transferred into the vehicle from the container during the interaction between the container and the vehicle.   
     
     
         14 . A method for facilitating the interaction of a vehicle with a plurality of uniquely labeled objects during the operation of the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a data set that correlates a specific geographical position with each uniquely labeled object;   (b) determining a current geographical position of the vehicle as the vehicle is being operated; and   (c) when the current geographical position of the vehicle corresponds to one of the specific geographical positions associated with one of the uniquely labeled objects, automatically providing an output to the operator of the vehicle, the output identifying the uniquely labeled object correlated with the vehicle's current geographical position.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of automatically providing the output to the operator of the vehicle comprises at least one step selected from a group of steps consisting of:
 (a) providing the identity of a container that is to be serviced at the specific geographical position, the container being one of the uniquely labeled objects;   (b) providing the identity of a container that is to be removed from the vehicle at the specific geographical position, the container being one of the uniquely labeled objects;   (c) providing the identity of a container that is to be loaded onto the vehicle at the specific geographical position, the container being one of the uniquely labeled objects; and   (d) displaying the identity of each uniquely labeled object correlated with the specific geographical position to the operator of the vehicle.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of automatically providing the output to the operator of the vehicle comprises at least one step selected from a group of steps consisting of:
 (a) providing the identity of a passenger that is to be loaded onto the vehicle at the specific geographical position, the passenger being one of the uniquely labeled objects; and   (b) providing the identity of a passenger that is to disembark from the vehicle at the specific geographical position, the passenger being one of the uniquely labeled objects.   
     
     
         17 . A method for using object identification (ID) encoded position data from a vehicle equipped with a geographical position system and an object ID sensor to determine at least one characteristic of an interaction between a uniquely labeled object and the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing object ID encoded position data collected during operation of the vehicle, the object ID encoded position data including object ID data uniquely identifying each uniquely labeled object interacting with the vehicle during operation of the vehicle, additional object data collected with the object ID data, and geographical position data defining a relative location of the vehicle during operation of the vehicle, the object ID data and the geographical position data being time indexed; and   (b) analyzing the object ID encoded position data using the additional object data collected with the object ID data to determine at least one element selected from a group of elements consisting of:
 (i) a volume of material transferred into a uniquely identifiable container from the vehicle during the interaction between that container and the vehicle; 
 (ii) a volume of material transferred into the vehicle from the uniquely identifiable container during the interaction between that container and the vehicle; 
 (iii) a weight of material transferred into the uniquely identifiable container from the vehicle during the interaction between that container and the vehicle; 
 (iv) a weight of material transferred into the vehicle from the uniquely identifiable container during the interaction between that container and the vehicle; 
 (v) a temperature of the object during the interaction between that object and the vehicle; 
 (vi) a temperature of a cargo portion of the vehicle into which the object is deposited during the interaction between that object and the vehicle; and 
 (vii) a temperature of a cargo portion of the vehicle from which the object is removed during the interaction between that object and the vehicle. 
   
     
     
         18 . A method for generating object identification (ID) encoded position data from a vehicle equipped with a geographical position system, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) collecting geographical position data from the vehicle during vehicle operation, the geographical position data being time indexed;   (b) collecting object ID data from an object interacting with the vehicle during operation of the vehicle, the object ID data uniquely identifying the object, wherein the interaction between the object and the vehicle does not include loading the object onto the vehicle or removing the object from the vehicle; and   (c) automatically combining the object ID data and the geographical position data together at the vehicle to produce object ID encoded position data.   
     
     
         19 . A method for generating object identification (ID) encoded position data from a vehicle equipped with a geographical position system, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) collecting geographical position data from the vehicle during vehicle operation, the geographical position data being time indexed;   (b) collecting object ID data from an object interacting with the vehicle during operation of the vehicle, the object ID data uniquely identifying the object, wherein the interaction between the object and the vehicle comprises at least one interaction selected from a group of interactions consisting of:
 (i) a first interaction wherein a material is transferred from the vehicle into a container separate from the vehicle at a specific location, wherein the container remains at the specific location after the vehicle departs; 
 (ii) a second interaction wherein a material is transferred from a container to the vehicle, the container being disposed at a specific location and being separate from the vehicle, wherein the container remains at the specific location after the vehicle departs; and 
 (iii) a third interaction wherein an inspection of the object is performed at a specific location, the object being separate from the vehicle, wherein the object that was inspected remains at the specific location after the vehicle departs; and 
   (c) automatically combining the object ID data and the geographical position data together at the vehicle to produce object ID encoded position data.   
     
     
         20 . A method for training an operator of a vehicle that interacts with a plurality of uniquely labeled objects during the operation of the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a data set that correlates a specific geographical position with each uniquely labeled object;   (b) determining a current geographical position of the vehicle as the vehicle is being operated; and   (c) when the current geographical position of the vehicle corresponds to one of the specific geographical positions associated with one of the uniquely labeled objects, automatically providing an output to the operator of the vehicle, the output identifying the uniquely labeled object correlated with the vehicle's current geographical position and the interaction required.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the step of automatically providing the output to the operator of the vehicle comprises at least one step selected from a group of steps consisting of:
 (a) providing the identity of an object that is to be serviced at the specific geographical position, that object being one of the uniquely labeled objects;   (b) providing the identity of a container that is to be removed from the vehicle at the specific geographical position, the container being one of the uniquely labeled objects;   (c) providing the identity of a container that is to be loaded onto the vehicle at the specific geographical position, the container being one of the uniquely labeled objects;   (d) displaying the identity of each uniquely labeled object correlated with the specific geographical position to the operator of the vehicle; and   (e) providing the identity of an object that is to be inspected at the specific geographical position, that object being one of the uniquely labeled objects.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the step of automatically providing the output to the operator of the vehicle comprises at least one step selected from a group of steps consisting of:
 (a) providing the identity of a passenger that is to be loaded onto the vehicle at the specific geographical position, the passenger being one of the uniquely labeled objects; and   (b) providing the identity of a passenger that is to disembark from the vehicle at the specific geographical position, the passenger being one of the uniquely labeled objects.   
     
     
         23 . A method for generating object identification (ID) encoded position data from a vehicle equipped with a geographical position system, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a position sensing component for collecting geographical position data from the vehicle during vehicle operation, the geographical position data being time indexed, the position sensing component comprising:
 (i) a position sensor configured to generate geographical position data during operation of the vehicle; 
 (ii) a first data port for receiving object identification (ID) data from an object interacting with the vehicle during operation of the vehicle, the object ID data uniquely identifying the object; 
 (iii) a processor for combining the object ID data and the geographical position data together to produce object ID encoded position data; and 
 (iv) a data link for conveying the object ID encoded position data to a remote computing device; 
   (b) collecting geographical position data from the vehicle during vehicle operation, the geographical position data being time indexed;   (c) collecting object ID data from an object interacting with the vehicle during operation of the vehicle, the object ID data uniquely identifying the object;   (d) introducing the object ID data into the position sensing component using the first data port; and   (e) using the processor in the position sensing component to automatically combining the object ID data and the geographical position data together to produce object ID encoded position data.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the first data port comprises a wireless data port.