DE102004015911A1 - fleet management - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to the current operational control of a fleet (eg of taxis, courier or emergency vehicles, etc.) with a mobile phone for each fleet member, which reduces the financial expense for the technical equipment and / or the time required for the person of the dispatcher or even completely dispense with a human dispatcher, wherein the mobile phones are always locatable mobile phones that regularly or on request report their position and, starting from this current position, take over a current mission.

Description

I. Field of application

The The invention relates to the current operational control of a fleet.

II. Technical background

A Current fleet control is necessary in a variety of applications, be it the vehicle fleet of a forwarding or delivery service, the vehicle control of auxiliary and rescue forces, in particular the emergency services of an ambulatory Nursing service, or the taxis in a particular region.

there it was important to have a recent incoming, in particular Requirement request, usually by phone by means of a request call is received either as soon as possible (in relief and rescue operations), or (in the case of delivery services and forwarding agents) within a certain time limit, for the Operator but possible economical and thus with the least possible travel time and / or route of that member, which the place of use starts up and performing the mission, Fulfills becomes.

Depending on the intended use, the circumstances differ not only according to the desired type of optimization already mentioned (the shortest possible journey time or the lowest possible compliance costs), but also with regard to many other boundary conditions:
For example, a taxi fleet only needs to be controlled so that when a current request call is made, the caller at his location is approached and picked up as soon as possible or at a given time by the next available member of the fleet. The destination of the caller is usually not known, but may be queried and taken into account. The boundary conditions when and where the implementing member must subsequently be available for follow-up orders are usually not or not yet available.

delivery services and forwarding agencies, but also mobile care services, should be against currently inserted inserts mostly between missions a previously at least roughly defined general deployment plan carry out, have to So after the currently inserted insert at a certain Place and be available again at a certain time, resulting in the award the current, interim order should be considered.

The same can at mission planning for a medical Emergency service given by the upcoming episodes and their maximum allowable waiting time be.

such Current operational controls of a fleet were previously solved so that entered the mission request in a dispatch center occupied by a dispatcher, the overview of availability and whereabouts of the members of the fleet had, and the current Bet on the appropriate member forgiven. The whereabouts of the Members were either known to him, for example because of a fixed operational plan or due to GPS units in the individual Vehicles of the fleet on the computer of the dispatcher to one Display of whereabouts, or were from the dispatcher due to constant contact with the members the fleet, be it over Radio or mobile phone, constantly updated.

These Type of fleet control and in particular the current mission control required therefore a high technical and personnel expenditure: To One had to be available at headquarters at any time and / or the equipment for any time location and / or Radio contact between dispatcher and members of the fleet was significant. In particular, each of the vehicles had either a GPS receiver as well a transmitting unit to be installed firmly to the center, or the Position determination was made by regular voice contact with the Dispatchers and thereby increased Workload for the dispatcher.

III. Presentation of the invention

a) Technical task

It is therefore the object according to the invention, a method and apparatus for current mission control to create, which the financial expenditure for the technical equipment reduced and / or the time required for the person of the dispatcher reduced or even completely dispense with a human dispatcher can.

• – Zunächst die Möglichkeit, dass ein eingeschaltetes Handy vom Netzbetreiber hinsichtlich des Standortes durch Meldung des Handys bei einer der Antennen relativ genau geortet werden kann (Funkzellenortung), insbesondere indem sich die Wirkungsbereiche (Funkzellen) der einzelnen Antennen des Mobilfunkbetreibers in aller Regel überlappen und daher jedes Handy von mehr als einer Funkzelle erreichbar ist und durch gleichzeitigen oder nur kurz zeitversetzten Kontakt mit mehrere Funkzellen der Standort des Mobiltelefons relativ genau (kleiner als 100 Meter) geortet werden kann;
• – Dadurch, dass sog. "Notfall-Handys" bereits verfügbar sind, die neben dieser Technik Notfallfunktionen besitzen, beispielsweise dergestalt, dass z.B. gesundheitlich labile Patienten ein solches Notfall-Handy bei sich tragen, das einen Notfall-Rufknopf besitzt, der sofort bei Drücken Kontakt mit einer Notruf-Zentrale herstellt, oder die Patienten regelmäßig automatisch hinsichtlich Ihres Wohlergehens/Gesundheitszustandes abgefragt werden, und dies entweder manuell bejahen müssen (durch Rückmeldung) oder irgendeine Körperfunktion automatisch bei Anfrage an die Zentrale rückgemeldet und auf unkritischen Befund untersucht wird. Im Negativfall erfolgt auch hier – bei erfolgloser telefonischer Kontaktaufnahme mit dem Patienten – eine Ortung, insbesondere mittels Funkzellenortung;
• – Die Kopplung einer GPS-Einheit mit einem Handy, insbesondere die Integration der GPS-Einheit in das Handy, die jederzeit die Positionsbestimmung und Positionsübermittlung (z.B. mittels Kurzmitteilung (SMS), auch automatisch) des Handys ermöglicht und darüber hinaus in dem mit Computerfunktionen/-programmen ausgestatteten Handy auch eine Routenbeschreibung von Ausgangsort zu Zielort oder gar eine direkte Navigation (Anleitung des Fahrers während der Fahrt) zum Zielort bietet. Durch Nutzung der Funkzellenortung und/oder der Ortung des Handys mittels GPS wird aus einem normalen Mobiltelefon ein jederzeit ortungsfähiges Mobiltelefon (JOM), vor allem bei paralleler Nutzung beider Möglichkeiten, welches diejenigen Standorte/Zeiten, in denen überhaupt keine Ortung möglich ist, stark reduziert.

For this purpose, the possibilities of mobile networks available today are to be used:

• - First, the possibility that a mobile phone switched on by the network operator with respect to the location by reporting the mobile phone in one of the antennas can be located relatively accurately (radio cell location), in particular by the areas of action (radio cells) of the individual antennas of the mobile operator as a rule overlap and therefore each cell phone can be reached by more than one radio cell and by simultaneous or only a short time delayed contact with multiple radio cells, the location of the mobile phone can be located relatively accurately (less than 100 meters);
• - The fact that so-called "emergency phones" are already available, in addition to this technique have emergency functions, for example, such that, for example, health-labile patients carry such an emergency phone, which has an emergency call button, the immediate pressing Contact with an emergency call center or the patients are automatically queried on a regular basis for their well-being / health status and must either confirm this manually (by feedback) or any body function is automatically reported back to the central office upon request and checked for uncritical findings. In the negative case, also here - in case of unsuccessful telephone contact with the patient - a location, in particular by means of radio cell location;
• - The coupling of a GPS unit with a mobile phone, in particular the integration of the GPS unit in the cell phone, which at any time the position determination and position transfer (eg via text message (SMS), even automatically) of the mobile phone allows and beyond in the with computer functions / Programs equipped mobile phone also a route description from source to destination or even a direct navigation (guidance of the driver while driving) to the destination offers. By using the radio cell location and / or the location of the cell phone using GPS is from a normal mobile phone anytime locatable mobile phone (JOM), especially in parallel use of both possibilities, which those locations / times in which no location is possible, greatly reduced ,

b) Solution of the task

The The above object is achieved by the features of claims 1 and 14 solved. Advantageous embodiments emerge from the dependent claims.

Of the Basic idea of the solution according to the invention exists in that the individual members of the fleet to be controlled each have one Mobile phone, whose position can be automatically located at any time (JOM), so that it is possible is that this position determination in case of need or independently of it regularly or permanently communicated by the individual mobile phones of a central office will, without having to call or speak this position from the member to a central office must be passed.

By the knowledge of the locations of the individual JOMs and thus of the members of the fleet can the head office currently pending operations targeted to the Location, operational readiness or other factors suitable Forgive members. This can be done by the person one at the headquarters present dispatchers by telephone contact (telephone call or SMS to the member), with the automatic position message the individual members merely facilitates the dispatcher's work.

Primary goal however, is the installation of an automatic, unmanned center, For example, the operator of the mobile network in the form of a Computer program can be installed, which is only the most cost-effective Control even a small fleet makes possible.

One current new use is usually by phone call, but also by request with the help of another medium (eMail, SMS etc.). An automatic center should then ensure that this request, in particular the request call immediately in terms of location, availability or possibly further Factors appropriate member is redirected to this call or receives the request and confirms or upon request in the form of a call directly with the requestor discusses the use and then use performs.

In order to the central office, especially an automatic control center, this efficient can afford, the demand position at which the use is required, and if The use is not currently required immediately - the time of need initially from the headquarters be determined. At an automatic control panel will first of it assumed that the demand position is the current position of the the caller requesting the mission (origin of the call) is.

These Origin function is automatically detected and sent to the control center disposal by placing the position on a call / SMS from a mobile phone of the mobile phone Cell location is determined by the mobile operator or at a call / SMS from a landline phone from the Fixed network operator deposited location of this connection of the headquarters automatically available is provided.

If the demand position is not the original position of the call, the demand position from the center - preferably again automatically, for example by means of a "voice-guide", ie an acoustic user-guidance system (from the control center are automatically asked questions that by entering on the Keyboard or voice input from on be answered). The demand position determined in this way then serves as a criterion for determining the appropriate member to handle the task to which the use is then either by the dispatcher of the control center or to which the request call is forwarded from the automatic control panel, so that the executing Member in direct contact with the requesting occurs.

The incoming calls to the central office are documented for verification purposes, at least as regards the origin number of the call and the Number of the member accepting the request call and its Location, if necessary also with regard to the content of the conversation and further information.

The Positions of members can additionally except the headquarters also the rest Members of the fleet or part of the remaining members so that each member is in a certain distance range to know your own location or even all members, especially including theirs Position, and this graphically also contains on his Mobile phone.

If the position determination of the individual mobile phones of the members (the JOM's) via radio cell location via the mobile operator or over Satellite navigation happens, is in principle secondary, since the respective fore- and Disadvantages (different availability and accuracies depending on the location) depend on the application. ideal is natural the combination of both methods, as this is a particularly accurate or in the critical case at all only a position determination is possible.

By the measures described above and Devices as a basic function can be as a simple example the requirement of a taxi in a small place or a rural one Region are organized, although the taxis different operators belong and independent work and not to a usual in large cities Funktaxi headquarters constantly managed by a dispatcher occupied headquarters: the individual Taxis are each equipped with a JOM equipped with an automatic Central, the mobile operator in the form of a computer program is realized, communicate.

Of the Calling a taxi caller dials a number with this portable radio operator, there becomes the place of need, where the taxi wanted is determined, and if necessary, the demand time as described above and subsequently the request, usually a call, directly to the on-demand location nearest available Taxi switched through, the - in Case of request by means of a call - directly with the requesting phoned and then him at the desired Picks up location.

through of such an automatic center, only a few, e.g. from two or three taxis, at any time cost-effectively connected and are centrally accessible in case of a request.

These Basic functions can Depending on the application, additional functions are added:

Taxi Fleet:

through that too during the mission trip constantly existing site verification and so that relocation the route can be determined and Thus, the mobile phone and the calculation of the fare by means of a corresponding program instead of a taximeter. Even the printing of a receipt is over a connected printer possible.

On the same way also from a certain distance chargeable directions collected and calculated to pick up the taxi guest.

Also an emergency call function for Taxi driver, in case of robbery and robbed, can be installed, not only the surrounding colleagues but also police and ambulance requests, including transmission the location of the attacked Colleagues.

Emergency service:

Not only the positioning of the next upcoming missions could the doctor on a card-like Representation but also their urgency, arranged according to urgency classes etc., with different ones Symbols.

In addition, over the same system of the emergency doctor when carrying out the order from his cellphone off and again under transmission the site further help for Request the patient, be it urgently needed medication from one Pharmaceutical delivery service, care of a nursing service and / or social care from a social service or an ambulance for transport to the hospital etc.

Ambulatory care service:

• – ein zweiter verfügbarer Pfleger aus dem naheliegenden Umkreis, für Maßnahmen, die alleine nicht bewältigt werden können;
• – benötigte Medikamente und in diesem Zusammenhang die Anforderung eines entsprechenden Rezeptes über das Mobiltelefon, z. B. per SMS oder eMail, vom behandelnden Hausarzt, und/oder von der zur Verfügung stehenden Apotheke, ggf. einschließlich des Bringdienstes durch die Apotheke;
• – Anforderung anderer therapeutischer oder Pflegemaßahmen, z. B. eines Physiotherapeuten, Chiropraktikers, Fußpflegers etc.;
• – Angabe, wann der betreffende Pfleger/Flottenmitglied trotz momentanen Einsatzes wieder frei sein wird;

In the mobile phone can be entered and stored during or after the use of the care measures, in particular for billing purposes, and also the time required when, for example, arrival and departure be detected in the patient, usually manually by the carer or by automatic recording of residence time at the known position of the patient, and it can also be requested additional measures by mobile phone and submitting the location, eg. B.

• - a second available carer from the immediate vicinity, for measures that can not be handled alone;
• - Required medication and in this context, the requirement of a corresponding recipe via the mobile phone, z. B. by SMS or e-mail, from the treating GP, and / or from the available pharmacy, possibly including the delivery service by the pharmacy;
• - Request for other therapeutic or nursing measures, eg. A physiotherapist, chiropractor, chiropodist, etc .;
• - indication of when the respective caretaker / fleet member will be free again despite the current assignment;

Courier / delivery service:

• - Computer features / programs in the cellphone of the member enable a route planning program, which after each update of the operational plan by a new application also updated the route planning, so that the Courier constantly the optimal sequence of operations, if necessary including already specified routes, receives, if necessary, including the guide the driver to the next Customers via navigation system;
• - doing so the load of the vehicle, e.g. Capacity bottlenecks through Volume limitation, etc., taken into account by the route planning program become.

c) embodiments

A embodiment according to the invention in the following described by way of example with reference to the figures. Show it:

1 : A position determination,

2a : a mobile radio device according to the invention with a first type of display,

2 B : a mobile device according to the invention with a second type of display,

3 : A mobile device according to the invention with a third type of display.

• – die Herkunftsposition H, also die Position, von der ein Anforderungs-Anruf oder eine andere Art der Anforderung aus erfolgt ist,
• – die Anforderungsposition A, an welcher die gewünschte Dienstleistung benötigt wird,
• – die momentanen Positionen der verschiedenen Mitglieder 1a–d,
• – die Position der Antennen 10a–d des Mobilnetzbetreibers in diesem Bereich und
• – die diesen Antennen 10a–d zugeordneten Wirkungsbereiche, die sog. Funkzellen 5a–d in zweidimensionaler Darstellung.

1 shows

• The home position H, ie the position from which a request call or other type of request was made,
• The request item A, at which the desired service is required,
• - the current positions of the different members 1a -d,
• - the position of the antennas 10a -D of the mobile network operator in this area and
• - the these antennas 10a -D associated areas of action, the so-called. Radio cells 5a -D in two-dimensional representation.

The antennas 10a -D and their radio cells 5a -D are shown only if the position determination of the individual members and / or H or A by means of radio cell location is done.

at another positioning type, z. B. via GPS, the two-dimensional Representation relative to each other based on the detected GPS coordinates.

From the central office 4 respectively. 4 ' is - in the latter case automatically - when entering a request call initially determined the origin position H. If, in the course of the request, it turns out that the request item A does not correspond to the originating position of the call, the request item A then also follows.

It then determines which members 1a , b ... or their mobile phones 2a , b ... are near the request position A if the request is for the current current time.

This can be done in different ways: if the actual, two-dimensional relative position of the members or at least some of the members - in the environment of the request position A - is known as in

1 located, becomes the central office 4 respectively. 4 ' the request call to the next to the request item A member 1c and arrange this with the caller to complete the order.

If member 1c is prevented or does not want to accept the order, the transfer is made to the member 1d ,

If the location is done via the radio cells of the mobile operator, there are several possibilities: If a member, for. B. 1c , just touching one of the radio cells ( 5a ), is the concrete two-dimensional position relative to this antenna 10a not known, but only that this mobile device 2c of the member 1c within this radio cell 5a located.

When assigned to two overlapping radio cells, such as with respect to the request position A of the radio cells 5a , b, may be due to overlapping bearing of both antennas 10a . 10b from this position relative to the two antennas 10a . 10b be verified two-dimensionally.

in the the latter case becomes the request call for the request item A indeed nearest Member, which also the others Boundary conditions (eg availability) fulfilled, switched on or the order issued.

In the former case is assumed as the first step that a member z. B. 1c which contact to the same radio cell 5a has the closest member as the request item A

If several members are logged in in this radio cell, the selection is random, unless within the radio cell 5a even a more precise positioning is possible.

Located inside the radio cell in question 5a no available member; the same thing with the one or more members of the radio cell z. B. 5b performed by the radio cell 5a is closest, if there are no members there, in turn, the nearest, z. B. 5d etc.

2a shows the display on the display of a z. B. Mobile device, as the requestor uses for his request call:
Upon selection of a central dialing number, the requester could have his own originating position H and, in relation thereto, the positions of the nearest mobile phones 2a , b and thus the corresponding members of the fleet 1a , b, along with the indication to which of these members (usually the nearest one) his call is now forwarded.

This choice can also be left to the caller himself, by referring to the displayed members in the vicinity 1a . 1b selects the member you want, either by tapping on a touch-sensitive display or by selecting it with the keyboard.

If no image display is performed or possible, a schematic representation according to 3 for the caller appear on its display, in which the individual members, for example, including their mobile numbers, their availability status and their distance from the originating position H of the caller are displayed.

Also in this case the call can be made from the central office one, usually the closest, free member will be redirected or this selection will turn left to the caller.

While the solution described above appears to be most suitable for requesting one of several taxis in the envoy's environment 2 B on the mobile device of a z. B. courier driver or an ambulatory nurse, the positions of the next two missions 1a * . 1b * in turn, in a realistic card-like representation as in 2a , possibly even including a graphically or in writing / linguistically illustrated route description of the optimized route between the next upcoming missions.

Of course you can the display mode for a mobile phone between the individual functions and display types, for example, between position display and navigation to the next to be approached point etc. changed.

1a, b, c

member

2a, b

mobile phone

3

Operations Center

4, 4 '

headquarters (automatically)

5a, b

radio cells

6

mobile

7

GPS module

8th

display

9

input unit

10a, b

antennas

H

origin position

A

request item

Claims (17)

Procedure for the current deployment control of a fleet of mobile members ( 1a , b ...) using mobile phones, with each member ( 1a , b ...) of the fleet with a mobile phone ( 2a , b ...), characterized in that the mobile phones ( 2a , b ...) are mobile phones (JOMs) which can be placed at any time and which regularly or on request report their position, and take over a current assignment from this current position. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the request call for a current mission at an occupied by a dispatcher operations center ( 4 ), the current use of the appropriate, for example, the nearest location, member (eg 1c ) assigns, in particular the request call to this member knows terschaltet. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the request call for a current mission is determined at least with regard to its origin position or required position and by means of an automatic control center ( 4 ' ) to the appropriate, eg nearest to the site, mobile phone (eg 2c ) is switched on. Procedure according to addressed 1 , characterized in that the request call for a current use on the mobile phone ( 2a , b ...) of the member ( 1a , b ...), which takes the call first. Method according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, in the case of a request call, the automatic control center ( 4 ' ) as the recipient of the call, the members positioned in a predetermined environment of the demand position, in particular the originating position of the request call ( 1a , b ...) for selection, and of these the member (eg 1c ) receives the call which takes the call first. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that the demanded position is the current location of the request caller and this originating position - on call from a mobile phone over Radio cell location is determined automatically, or - at a Landline phone over the reported location of the fixed line connection automatically specified is. Method according to Claim 6, characterized that at least the demand position to the executing member automatically is communicated on his cell phone. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that the demand position differs from the whereabouts the caller queried by the caller and e.g. by voice control notified demand position is located. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that in an automatic control center all incoming calls at least with respect to the originating position and / or Origin number of the call as well as location / number of the accepting Member, and possibly also with regard to the conversation content at least one limited time, and in particular the conversation content is deleted earlier than the rest Information. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the JOM ( 2a , b ...) contains a GPS receiver and the position of the position regularly or at the request of the manual ( 4 ) or automatic ( 4 ' ) Central reports. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the position of the JOM ( 2a , b ...) by means of radio cell location of the antennas ( 10a , b ...) of the mobile network operator and can be determined regularly or at the request of the head office ( 4 . 4 ' ) is communicated. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the current or last identified locations of all members ( 1a , b ...) or members positioned in a certain radius to their own position ( 1a , b ...) to each member or member (s) located within a particular locality of the localized member ( 1a , b ...), in particular displayed, in particular graphically, in particular in the form of a map, on the mobile telephone ( 2a , b ...) are displayed. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the mobile phone ( 2a , b ...) the current availability or non-availability of the respective member ( 1a , b, c) entered by the member or by automatic coupling with an availability module, in a taxi in particular the taximeter, known and is constantly or regularly, in particular automatically reported to the control center, in particular only from available members of the current location is reported. Device for the current operational control of a fleet with a mobile telephone ( 2a , b ...) for each fleet member ( 1a , b ...), characterized in that - the mobile phones ( 2a , b ...) at any time are settable mobile phones (JOM's), - a central ( 4 ), in particular an automatically operating, unmanned center ( 4 ' ) with the mobile phones ( 2a , b ...) of the members ( 1a , b ...) or can connect to them at any time, in particular can forward request calls to them, and - at least one position-determining device for determining the current position of at least the mobile phones ( 2a , b ...) of the members ( 1a , b ...), in particular a GPS system and / or a radio cell location system and / or a fixed network positioning system. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the mobile phones ( 2a , b ...) of the members ( 1a , b ...) the corresponding part of the Po tion determination device included or coupled with this. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mobile phones ( 2a , b ...) of the members ( 1a , b ...) a display device for displaying the demand position for a pending mission and / or one or more additional members ( 1a , b ...) of the fleet, in particular in graphic form, in particular in the form of a map / street map. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mobile phones ( 2a , b ...) of the members ( 1a , b ...) have a switch for setting the availability or non-availability of the corresponding member, which can in particular be controlled automatically by an availability device, and whose setting is automatically sent to the control center together with its own position.