Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-23
2004-07-27
Alam, Shahid (Department: 2172)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000, C709S218000, C709S246000, C715S252000, C715S252000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06768994
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to the field of database report generation and data mining. It is specifically related to retrieval of data from a database over the Internet and presenting the results as web pages. The data to be retrieved primarily include historical reports for individual remote assets or vehicles and fleet summaries consisting of location and telemetry data from vehicles collected in real time through a wireless data network. Flexible database queries are generated and efficiently displayed in a web browser using ASP (Active Server Page), XML (Extensible Markup Language), XSL (Extensible Stylesheet Language) and COM (Component Object Model) technologies.
2. Brief Review of the Prior Art
Data processing systems in business enterprises are typically implemented in a three tiered client-server system, the tiers consisting of a database, business logic run on the server to access the database, and a presentation component to allow entry or display of the data. Widely distributed businesses often use the Internet to connect the client applications to the server. Browser based clients are only recently coming into use and typically provide less functionality to the end user than do full client applications. This is because most display processing and formatting occurs on the server, which slows the interface and restricts functionality.
Common examples of browser-based database access systems are Internet search engines such as Yahoo!™ (trademark of Yahoo!, Inc.) or on-line product catalogs or auctions such as eBay™ (trademark of eBay, Inc.). These systems provide the user with the ability to enter simple, Boolean database queries and return the search results in list form on a static HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) web page. The user cannot modify the view of the data. Additionally, these applications are consumer oriented and contain no specific business logic to apply to the database queries or report formatting. However, they may present additional information, such as advertising, to the user based on search terms included in the query.
An automatic report generating system disclosed by Solecki in U.S. Pat. No. 6,055,541 uses ASP (Active Server Pages), a web server scripting technology, to create H reports that are then displayed in the browser. The system generates engineering reports from a database of parameters of parts from a computer aided design application. The ASP script launches the code necessary to retrieve data from the database and format an HTML page according to a predefined format. If the user desires any change to the report format, a new report must be generated by the server.
Data mining is the process of examining a large database of information to identify trends in particular parameters or to discover new relationships between parameters. Apte discloses in U.S. Pat. No. 5,970,464 a client-server based system for mining insurance data to analyze underwriting profitability. A web based data mining system is disclosed by Appleman in U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,010. This system creates HTML based web pages by accessing information from multiple web pages to combine relevant data onto a single page.
While there are many systems for retrieving data from remote vehicles, there is no mention of database reporting systems to extract those data for reporting business related information. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,844,473, Kaman describes a system for collecting usage data, such as mileage, from vehicles and storing the data in a central computer for later use in determining vehicle maintenance schedules. However, the system does not seem to provide detailed reports on vehicle location or activity related to the business in which those vehicle operate. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,777,580, Janky references numerous systems for obtaining location and telemetry data from remote vehicles and assets over wireless networks.
Travel and route planning is a field that is the counterpart to historical reporting of vehicle location and telemetry data. DeLorme, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,802,492, describes a stand-alone travel planning application that identifies the locations of points of interest and events or activities to be performed at those points of interest. The application provides the user with a list of locations to be visited and multimedia presentations related to those locations. It does provide for the loading of an actual travel route into the application for use in creating new travel plans.
Many businesses operate fleets of vehicles, have a mobile workforce, have remote fixed assets, or rent mobile equipment. Managing these assets or employees efficiently is a difficult task. Getting data from these assets that indicates what they are doing and where and when they are doing it into applications that managers use to run their businesses is of critical importance.
In the aforementioned '850 application, Coffee et. al. disclose a Location Aware Wireless Gateway that is a platform for providing location and telemetry data from remote assets to business end users and applications. Applications and data are provided to customers over the Internet from the network operations center. Text messaging and mapping are provided as core functions. Standard protocol interfaces are provided to the core location business logic and database as well as the mapping and messaging to enable other business applications to use the wireless networks and location information. One example of location aware business logic is the ability to send a location of interest to a mobile device. The mobile device then can automatically report when it has arrived or left the location. The ability to send locations and receive status is extended to any application, such as dispatching, to enable it to track work order status. Interfaces to mapping functions allow the application to view and define locations of interest.
The Gateway stores asset telemetry and location data in a large database for later reporting or playback. Businesses require detailed reports on vehicle and asset activities to settle disputes, provide data for cost determination and billing, and to evaluate asset utilization. With a large enough body of data, businesses can perform data mining functions to determine trends in vehicle trip times or distances, costs of and revenues generated by assets, and other information to enhance business decision making. The Internet and standard browser software allow the business user to access data at any time from almost anywhere. The subject of the present invention is a customizable, web based, reporting and data mining system that provides these benefits to business owners with vehicle fleets and remote personnel or assets.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The database reporting and data mining system that is the subject of this invention is implemented, in one of its aspects, as part of a Location Aware Wireless Gateway. The Gateway provides a standard platform for providing location and telemetry data through wireless connections from remote assets to business end users and applications. Applications and data are provided to customers over the Internet from the network operations center. The Gateway provides inherent text messaging and mapping applications. Telemetry data, location data, and message text are stored in the database within the Gateway. The database reporting system is provided as a mechanism to analyze the past activity of a business's assets or vehicles.
Remote assets are connected to the Gateway through wireless data networks; data reported by the assets are stored in the Gateway database and forwarded in real time through the Internet to any business users who are owners of those assets. Assets may be vehicles, remote equipment, or personnel. Assets report periodic location related information (position, speed, direction of travel, etc.) as well as other telemetry information as required. Telemetry data include events related to changes in sensor inputs, such as a door opening or ignition turning on, and other
Allen Robert J.
Howard Craig
Alam Shahid
Blank Rome LLP
Trimble Navigation Limited
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