| US 7,519,463 B2 | ||
| Wirelessly enabled trailer locking/unlocking | ||
| John A. Olsen, III, Cumming, Ga. (US); and David L. Bradley, Alpharetta, Ga. (US) | ||
| Assigned to United Parcel Service of America, Inc., Atlanta, Ga. (US) | ||
| Filed on Mar. 26, 2008, as Appl. No. 12/55,940. | ||
| Application 12/055940 is a division of application No. 10/891414, filed on Jul. 14, 2004, granted, now 7,379,805. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2008/0184751 A1, Aug. 07, 2008 | ||
| This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer. | ||
| Int. Cl. G06F 7/70 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 701—51 [701/36; 701/300] | 5 Claims |
| 1. A method for automating inbound and outbound tractor/trailer exchange procedures at a staging area having at least one
wireless access point, in which drivers, having driver's terminals, drive tractors pulling detachable trailers in and out
of said staging area, said trailers having at least one wirelessly operated locking device for locking a rear door of the
trailer, said method comprising the steps of:
establishing an outermost geofence, an intermediate geofence, and an innermost geofence, said geofences readable by a driver's
terminal;
upon the crossing of said outermost geofence by said driver's terminal, sending a first signal from said driver's terminal
to said staging area wireless access point;
pursuant to the receipt of said first signal, creating a driver's dispatch including instructions for the driver upon arrival
at said staging area;
upon the crossing of said intermediate geofence by said driver's terminal, sending a second signal from said driver's terminal
to said staging area wireless access point;
pursuant to the receipt of said second signal, sending said driver's dispatch to said driver's terminal; and
upon the crossing of said innermost geofence by said driver's terminal, sending a third signal from said driver's terminal
to said locking device such that said locking device is unlocked.
|