System and Method for Increasing Asset Utilization Using Satellite Aided Location Tracking

Abstract

A system and method for increasing asset utilization using satellite aided location tracking. Smart sensor technology incorporated into mobile tracking hardware affixed to an asset can be used to support decision processes related to management of multiple assets. Automated decision processes based on customized business rules can operate on asset positions at various defined landmark locations and customized geographical areas.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, by a computer implemented operations module via a communication network, a request for asset assignment from an asset transporter;   determining, for a plurality of customer defined landmark areas, a ranked list of assets in the plurality of customer defined landmark areas based on a customer defined weighting of a plurality of rules, the plurality of rules including a landmark specific threshold that relates to a target number of assets that are presently located in one of the plurality of customer defined landmark areas;   selecting an asset from the ranked list of assets; and   transmitting, via a communication network, an identification of the selected asset to the asset transporter.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of rules includes a turn time target that identifies a target amount of time between an arrival and departure of an asset from a landmark area. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of rules includes a rule based on a revenue generated per landmark area for a given time period. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of rules includes a rule based on a number of asset idle days at a landmark area. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of rules further includes a threshold that relates to a target number of assets that are presently located in a customer defined geographic area, the customer defined geographic area including a plurality of customer defined landmark areas. 
     
     
         6 . An asset pool management method, comprising:
 receiving, by a computer implemented operations module via a communication network, a definition of a geographical area for monitoring;   receiving, via a communication network, a target number of assets for the geographical area;   identifying a number of assets that are located within the geographical area at a given point in time; and   generating an alert when the identified number of assets is greater than a threshold variance from the target number of assets.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the geographical area is a landmark location. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the geographical area is a customized geographical area that includes a plurality of landmark locations, each of the plurality of landmark locations having associated therewith a respective target number of assets. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the identifying comprises identifying a number of assets that are located within the geographical area based on arrival reports that are generated after an asset has remained in a no motion state for greater than a predefined percentage of a period of time. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said generating comprises generating an alert if the identified number of assets is greater than a threshold variance above the target number of assets. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the generating comprises generating an alert if the identified number of assets is greater than a threshold variance below the target number of assets. 
     
     
         12 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, by a computer implemented operations module via a communication network, a request for asset assignment from an asset transporter;   selecting an asset from a ranked list of assets, wherein the ranked list of assets is based at least in part on a landmark specific threshold that relates to a target number of assets that are presently located in a customer defined landmark areas; and   transmitting, via a communication network, an identification of the selected asset to the asset transporter.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the ranked list of assets is further based on a threshold that relates to a target number of assets that are presently located in a customer defined geographic area, the customer defined geographic area including a plurality of customer defined landmark areas.