EP1202234A1 - Targeted impending arrival notification of a wirelessly connected location device - Google Patents
Targeted impending arrival notification of a wirelessly connected location device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1202234A1 EP1202234A1 EP01308997A EP01308997A EP1202234A1 EP 1202234 A1 EP1202234 A1 EP 1202234A1 EP 01308997 A EP01308997 A EP 01308997A EP 01308997 A EP01308997 A EP 01308997A EP 1202234 A1 EP1202234 A1 EP 1202234A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- alert
- mobile unit
- destination
- service center
- rover
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
- G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
- G08G1/20—Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
- G08G1/207—Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles with respect to certain areas, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas with possible alerting when inside or outside boundaries
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08G—TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
- G08G1/00—Traffic control systems for road vehicles
- G08G1/123—Traffic control systems for road vehicles indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, trams
- G08G1/127—Traffic control systems for road vehicles indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, trams to a central station ; Indicators in a central station
Definitions
- This invention relates to communications and tracking systems that track the location, movement, and destination of vehicles or individuals.
- Fig. 1 shows a tracking system similar to that described in U.S. patent application No. 5,959,577, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
- the system of Fig. 1 includes multiple mobile units (also referred to herein as rovers) 110.
- Each rover 110 can be a handheld device that a delivery person carries or a device mounted in a vehicle.
- Each rover 110 contains a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, a wireless device, and a control circuit.
- GPS global positioning system
- the GPS receiver When activated, the GPS receiver receives signals from GPS satellites 120 and from the signal identifies the position (e.g., longitude and latitude) and velocity of a rover 110.
- the wireless device typically a wireless modem, transmits the position and velocity information via a wireless network 130 and the Internet 150 to a service center 140.
- Service center 140 receives and collects data from mobile units 110 and makes the collected data available to a user of a terminal 160.
- Terminal 160 is typically a computer that connects via the Internet 150 to a web site associated with service center 140.
- the user can view the data or send a query or message to service center 140 for relaying to a specific rover 110.
- service center 140 sends the query or message to the selected rover 110.
- the system of Fig. 1 provides a convenient method for a business to track deliveries, the system is generally not accessible to the business' customers who may also be interested in knowing when a delivery will arrive. Additionally, the business expecting an arrival of a vehicle at a particular location such as a loading dock must periodically check the position of the vehicle to determine when the vehicle can be expected. This monitoring may be subject to errors since the vehicle while near the destination may be headed elsewhere. Accordingly, a possible improvement of the system of Fig. 1 would be to provide better information indicating expected arrival times and to provide such information not only to the business but also to customers without requiring the business or customers to constantly poll the position of the delivery vehicle.
- a rover identifies a destination or travel threshold, periodically checks the rover's location relative to the destination or threshold, and sends an alert to a service center upon nearing the destination or crossing the threshold.
- the service center relays the alert to one or more designated party. Accordingly, the service center can alert a designated party when the rover nears a destination or when the rover leaves an alert area surrounding a location.
- the alerts can be relayed via an automated telephone message, a pager message, an e-mail message, or any other communication means.
- the alerts can be used for deliveries by directing an alert to a customer expecting a delivery or to a site expecting a vehicle for loading or unloading. In a private context, the alerts can automatically activate systems such as a home appliances or systems in anticipation of a resident's arrival.
- the alert generating method includes: providing to a mobile unit information that identifies conditions for an alert; monitoring by the mobile unit, of the position of the mobile unit; and alerting a designated location when the monitoring indicates the mobile units satisfies the conditions for the alert.
- the conditions for an alert typically include that the mobile unit is headed to a specific destination and is within an alert area surrounding that destination or the mobile unit has entered or left an alert area.
- alerting the designated location includes: sending a signal from the mobile unit to a service center when the mobile unit satisfies the conditions for the alert; and generating the alert from the service center to the designated location in response to the signal from the mobile unit.
- the alert can be sent to a telephone, a pager, or an e-mail address.
- Another embodiment of the invention is a delivery method that includes creating a list of destinations for deliveries.
- the list includes a threshold distance and other information for one or more destination for which an alert should be generated.
- a next destination that a delivery vehicle is headed towards is selected from the list for the delivery vehicle, and the delivery vehicle monitors distance between the delivery vehicle and the selected destination.
- the delivery vehicle generates an alert when the distance is less than a threshold distance associated with the destination. More specifically, generating the alert includes sending a message from the delivery vehicle to a service center, looking-up a designated location that corresponds to the destination, and sending the alert from the service center to the designated location.
- Yet another embodiment of the invention is a mobile unit that includes a location system, a wireless device, and a control circuit.
- the control system periodically activates the location system to determine a current location of the mobile unit, determines whether the mobile unit has satisfied an alert condition (e.g., has entered or left an alert area), and activates the wireless device to send an alert signal if the mobile unit has satisfied the alert condition.
- the location system is typically a GPS receiver
- the wireless device is typically a wireless modem or telephone.
- the control circuit can determine whether the current location is within the alert area by determining whether a distance between the current location and a central point or destination in the alert area is less than or greater than a threshold distance associated with the alert area.
- Still another embodiment of the invention is a system including a communication connection, an alerting device, and a service center.
- the communication connection allows the service center to receive messages from a mobile unit, and the alerting device allows the service center to send alerts.
- the service center maintains contact information for the mobile unit, and in response to a signal from the mobile unit, the service center activates the alerting device to send an alert to a designated location identified in the contact information.
- the contact information can be kept at the service center or forwarded from the mobile unit to the service center.
- the service center is generally Internet accessible to allow multiple, geographically disparate people to set the conditions for an alert and the designated location to which the alerting device sends the alert.
- a tracking system automatically alerts a designated party before a mobile unit (or rover) arrives at a destination.
- Fig. 2 illustrates a system 200 implementing alerts in accordance with the invention.
- System 200 is similar to system 100 described above and includes rovers 210, GPS satellites 120, a wireless network service connection 130, a service center 240, an alerting device 250, the Internet 150, and terminal 160.
- Rovers 210 and service center 240 of Fig. 2 are similar to rovers 110 and service center 140 of Fig. 1.
- service center 240 communicates with and tracks multiple rovers 210, as describe above.
- rovers 210 and service center 240 have additional features for generating impending arrival alerts to designated locations 270. These additional features can be implemented in software or firmware performing the functions described further below.
- Each rover 210 includes a communications package such as the iLM 2000 available from @Road, Inc.
- the communications package includes a GPS receiver 212, a control circuit 214, and a wireless device 216.
- GPS receiver 212 when activated interprets signals from GPS satellites 120 to identify the position and velocity of the rover 110.
- Control circuit 214 has a user interface including a keyboard or other input device for operator control of the communications package, a display or another output device for conveying information such as the status of the package and received messages, and a processing circuit.
- the processing circuit implements automated operation and commands from the operator or from service center 240.
- Wireless device 216 and service connection 130 handle communications between service center 240 and rovers 210.
- Connection 130 can be any wireless service, whether analogue or digital, which supports data transfers between service center 240 and rover 210.
- the communication can operate through a CDPD, AMPS, CDMA, GSM, or Nextel system, using both OEM modem modules internal to the rover or cellular phones that are separable from the rover and attached to the remainder of the communication package via a data cable.
- the communications package could use a removable or separate cellular telephone, this is not the ideal solution since removing the telephone disables the connection between the communications package and service center 240.
- the wireless service 132 preferably offers packetized data and direct connection to the Internet because these capabilities facilitate sporadic data transfers between rovers 210 and service center 240 with least use of the wireless resources and therefore the least cost to the operator of the communications package.
- Fig. 3 is a flow diagram of a method 300 of generating impending arrival alerts in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
- An initial step 310 of method 300 is creation of a destination list that can be forwarded or downloaded to service center 240 and/or rover 210.
- Each rover 210 has a destination list, which contains a set of destination entries corresponding to the intended destinations of the rover 210.
- the Appendix contains a C-language data structure for one embodiment of a destination list.
- Each destination entry includes a location (e.g., an address or longitude and latitude of a destination), an alert condition, contact information for the alert or alerts, and any other information related to the destination, the alert, or the contact.
- the Service center 240 can easily convert an address provided in a destination list to longitude and latitude values, which are commonly used in GPS systems.
- the alert condition typically includes threshold information, which is typically a distance or radius that defines an alert area around the destination.
- the alert condition may additionally include fields indicating circumstances for the alert. Typical circumstances surrounding an alert include whether the alert should be sent at all, a direction of traversal of the threshold that triggers an alert, an order of the destinations, and any time limitations on the alert.
- the contact information identifies designated location 270 and the method for contacting location 270 when an issuing an alert.
- the contact information can include, for example, a telephone number, a pager number, or IP address and port.
- the destination list can be maintained in service center 240 or rover 210 or a combination of the two.
- keeping and manipulating the destination list at service center 240 has advantages.
- a central dispatcher through terminal 160 and data connection 150 can organize destinations into an ordered destination list and download the list to service center 240.
- service center 240 is ideally Internet based, multiple people could access and manage the destination list via the Internet 150, even after rovers 210 have started their routes. End customers, who are anticipating a delivery, could also be given limited access to their destination entry to determine an estimated arrival time, schedule an alert immediately before arrival at their address, or change the contact information.
- the service center can also provide a telephone or e-mail interface for creating, changing, or reviewing a destination list.
- Each destination entry is at least partially downloaded to rover 210, so that rover 210 at least has the destination and threshold information for the next destination.
- the destination location can be latitude and longitude (probably from geocoding the street address) as used in the GPS receiver.
- rover 210 does not require the contact information, but other information may be useful in rover 210.
- text sent to rover 210 could indicate any information related to the destination, for example, a destination name and address that permits a driver/operator to more readily identify destinations when scrolling through the destination list.
- An appointment time associated with a destination provides the driver additional information for scheduling of deliveries.
- Additional fields used by control circuit 214 in the communications package can indicate whether to generate an alert when the rover 210 crosses into the alert area, out of the alert area, or both.
- an alert is generated when rover 210 moves into the alert area to indicate an impending arrival.
- an alert can also be generated when rover 210 leaves an alert area indicating rover 210 is headed elsewhere, for example, possibly indicating that rover 210 is outside its intended range and may have been stolen or misdirected.
- Other information that can be included with a destination entry indicates an expiration time (when the entry is automatically deleted whether or not one or more alerts were generated), whether the entry should auto-delete after an alert is sent or is retained until its expiration time, and alternate contact information that may be indexed for use at different times.
- step 320 when rover 210 begins heading to the next destination, the operator/driver of rover 210 selects that destination for use in generating alerts. In particular, some alerts may only be issued if the alert is for the next destination. Other alerts could be issued regardless of the next destination.
- the rover informs service center 240 of the selection.
- the selection of the destination can be automatic according to the order in the destination list or subject to the choice and judgement of the driver. If the list is downloaded to the rover 210 instead of being managed exclusively at service center 240, the in-vehicle system can display candidate destinations for the driver's selection.
- the driver may override the order of destinations in the destination list because of traffic or other reasons not anticipated by the list's creators. Where the driver overrides the order, the rover 210 can send a message directing the service center to update the destination list to reflect the new order and update estimates of delivery times. The driver could even create new entries, although the limits of the user interface available on an in-vehicle system might make this difficult.
- service center 240 in step 330 confirms the next destination and instructs the rover 210 to keep checking the location until rover 210 an alert condition is met, e.g., the rover enters an alert area for the selected destination. If necessary, service center 240 supplies a location for the selected destination and the alert conditions during step 330, but that information may have been previously downloaded into rover 210.
- rover 210 determines whether rover 210 has crossed the boundary of the alert area.
- the appendix includes functions that record route hysteresis to determine whether a boundary has been crossed and whether the crossing direction is into or out of to the area within the boundary.
- the rover determines whether the rover has crossed from a distance from the destination that is greater than the bounding radius to a distance from the destination that is less than the threshold radius.
- Other more complicated threshold area descriptions could also be used.
- the alert condition could identify an alert area other than a circle or include some variations based on the current or recent average speed of rover, but such identifications could significantly complicate the required calculations in rover 210.
- a decision step 350 determines whether rover 210 reached the threshold for an alert. If not, rover 210, typically after a delay, again determines whether it has reached the threshold for an alert.
- rover 210 in step 350, when rover 210 determines that it has crossed the threshold in the target direction, rover 210 in step 360 sends an alert to service center 240.
- service center 240 forwards the alert to designated location 270 using the contact information from the destination list.
- the designated location 270 can be the destination or to another location. For example, if the destination is a customer's home and the designated location 270 is the customer's work address, the customer upon receiving the alert can return home to accept the delivery. As noted above, the designated location 270 can change according to factors such as the time.
- alerting device 250 is a communication device such as an automated telephone messaging system or an automated e-mail system.
- the alerted party can be alerted in a variety of ways, including but not limited to by e-mail, paging message, text message to a cellular phone, or a telephone call with a synthesized speech or recorded message.
- Method 300 can be widely varied without departing from the scope of the invention.
- rovers 210 can keep their own destination lists.
- the communications device in the rover accesses threshold and contact information in the stored on board in the destination list.
- step 360 when rover 210 sends an alert to service center 240, the rover forwards the contact information for designated location 270, and service center 240 forwards the alert to the designated location 270.
- a rover 210 sends an alert whenever the rover is near particular destinations regardless of whether any of these destinations is the next destination.
- the rover in step 340 compares the current location to the location and threshold information of all destinations that are eligible for alerts, and in step 350 decides to issue an alert if conditions for the alert are met.
- a rover can issue an alert if the rover leaves a designate area or range from its base location (indicating perhaps that the rover is misdirected or stolen).
- Each destination entry can include a tag number that identifies the destination, and the rover 210 incorporates the tag number in the alert message sent to service center 240. From the tag number, service center 240 decides where (e.g., which designated location) and how to send the alert.
- the alerted party might be the truck dispatcher (for example, to alert the dispatcher that a truck is returning to base or that the truck has crossed a perimeter, heading away, and might be stolen).
- Service center 240 can forward an alert from a rover 210 to multiple designated locations, for example, to a customer, and to the dispatcher to alert the dispatcher as to the progress of their drivers.
- Arrival alerting systems such as described above can be employed in a variety of applications.
- an alert indicating an impending arrival allows a delivery manager to deploy resources to a particular loading bay, and even to call ahead to the driver tell them which bay has been allocated for the delivery.
- the site manager can ready loading/unloading equipment and people, to minimize turn-around time.
- resources are not wasted waiting for arrival, and time is not consumed periodically polling the position of the truck.
- the alert can go to a location other than the destination, for example, to alert a consumer at work or via the consumer's pager that an impending delivery is destined for the consumer's home. If the consumer is near enough to home, the consumer can return home to meet the delivery or ask the delivery driver to wait.
- Another consumer application is automated activation of household equipment such as heating or cooling systems or appliances when the resident nears home. Energy can be saved by leaving heating and cooling systems in a low power mode while the resident is away and activating the system so that the home is at a comfortable temperature when the resident arrives. Alternatively, an alert can activate a coffeepot so that the resident has freshly brewed coffee when arriving home.
- the full range of applications of the invention is of course not limited to these few examples.
Abstract
Description
- A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
- This invention relates to communications and tracking systems that track the location, movement, and destination of vehicles or individuals.
- Many businesses deliver packages to customers and may have one or a fleet of vehicles for such deliveries. A nearly universal problem for these businesses is tracking and planning the movement of the delivery people and vehicles. Fig. 1 shows a tracking system similar to that described in U.S. patent application No. 5,959,577, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The system of Fig. 1 includes multiple mobile units (also referred to herein as rovers) 110. Each
rover 110 can be a handheld device that a delivery person carries or a device mounted in a vehicle. Eachrover 110 contains a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, a wireless device, and a control circuit. When activated, the GPS receiver receives signals fromGPS satellites 120 and from the signal identifies the position (e.g., longitude and latitude) and velocity of arover 110. The wireless device, typically a wireless modem, transmits the position and velocity information via awireless network 130 and the Internet 150 to aservice center 140. -
Service center 140 receives and collects data frommobile units 110 and makes the collected data available to a user of aterminal 160. Terminal 160 is typically a computer that connects via the Internet 150 to a web site associated withservice center 140. The user can view the data or send a query or message toservice center 140 for relaying to aspecific rover 110. In response to communications fromterminal 160,service center 140 sends the query or message to theselected rover 110. - Although the system of Fig. 1 provides a convenient method for a business to track deliveries, the system is generally not accessible to the business' customers who may also be interested in knowing when a delivery will arrive. Additionally, the business expecting an arrival of a vehicle at a particular location such as a loading dock must periodically check the position of the vehicle to determine when the vehicle can be expected. This monitoring may be subject to errors since the vehicle while near the destination may be headed elsewhere. Accordingly, a possible improvement of the system of Fig. 1 would be to provide better information indicating expected arrival times and to provide such information not only to the business but also to customers without requiring the business or customers to constantly poll the position of the delivery vehicle.
- In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a rover identifies a destination or travel threshold, periodically checks the rover's location relative to the destination or threshold, and sends an alert to a service center upon nearing the destination or crossing the threshold. The service center relays the alert to one or more designated party. Accordingly, the service center can alert a designated party when the rover nears a destination or when the rover leaves an alert area surrounding a location. The alerts can be relayed via an automated telephone message, a pager message, an e-mail message, or any other communication means. The alerts can be used for deliveries by directing an alert to a customer expecting a delivery or to a site expecting a vehicle for loading or unloading. In a private context, the alerts can automatically activate systems such as a home appliances or systems in anticipation of a resident's arrival.
- One embodiment of the invention is an alert generating method. The alert generating method includes: providing to a mobile unit information that identifies conditions for an alert; monitoring by the mobile unit, of the position of the mobile unit; and alerting a designated location when the monitoring indicates the mobile units satisfies the conditions for the alert. The conditions for an alert typically include that the mobile unit is headed to a specific destination and is within an alert area surrounding that destination or the mobile unit has entered or left an alert area. Typically, alerting the designated location includes: sending a signal from the mobile unit to a service center when the mobile unit satisfies the conditions for the alert; and generating the alert from the service center to the designated location in response to the signal from the mobile unit. The alert can be sent to a telephone, a pager, or an e-mail address.
- Another embodiment of the invention is a delivery method that includes creating a list of destinations for deliveries. The list includes a threshold distance and other information for one or more destination for which an alert should be generated. A next destination that a delivery vehicle is headed towards is selected from the list for the delivery vehicle, and the delivery vehicle monitors distance between the delivery vehicle and the selected destination. The delivery vehicle generates an alert when the distance is less than a threshold distance associated with the destination. More specifically, generating the alert includes sending a message from the delivery vehicle to a service center, looking-up a designated location that corresponds to the destination, and sending the alert from the service center to the designated location.
- Yet another embodiment of the invention is a mobile unit that includes a location system, a wireless device, and a control circuit. In one mode, the control system periodically activates the location system to determine a current location of the mobile unit, determines whether the mobile unit has satisfied an alert condition (e.g., has entered or left an alert area), and activates the wireless device to send an alert signal if the mobile unit has satisfied the alert condition. The location system is typically a GPS receiver, and the wireless device is typically a wireless modem or telephone. The control circuit can determine whether the current location is within the alert area by determining whether a distance between the current location and a central point or destination in the alert area is less than or greater than a threshold distance associated with the alert area.
- Still another embodiment of the invention is a system including a communication connection, an alerting device, and a service center. The communication connection allows the service center to receive messages from a mobile unit, and the alerting device allows the service center to send alerts. Generally, the service center maintains contact information for the mobile unit, and in response to a signal from the mobile unit, the service center activates the alerting device to send an alert to a designated location identified in the contact information. The contact information can be kept at the service center or forwarded from the mobile unit to the service center. The service center is generally Internet accessible to allow multiple, geographically disparate people to set the conditions for an alert and the designated location to which the alerting device sends the alert.
-
- Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of a tracking system.
- Fig. 2 shows a tracking and impending arrival notification system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
- Fig. 3 is a flow diagram of a process for generating an alert in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
-
- Use of the same reference symbols in different figures indicates similar or identical items.
- In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a tracking system automatically alerts a designated party before a mobile unit (or rover) arrives at a destination. Fig. 2 illustrates a
system 200 implementing alerts in accordance with the invention.System 200 is similar tosystem 100 described above and includesrovers 210,GPS satellites 120, a wirelessnetwork service connection 130, aservice center 240, analerting device 250, the Internet 150, andterminal 160. Rovers 210 andservice center 240 of Fig. 2 are similar torovers 110 andservice center 140 of Fig. 1. In particular,service center 240 communicates with and tracksmultiple rovers 210, as describe above. However,rovers 210 andservice center 240 have additional features for generating impending arrival alerts to designatedlocations 270. These additional features can be implemented in software or firmware performing the functions described further below. - Each
rover 210 includes a communications package such as the iLM 2000 available from @Road, Inc. The communications package includes aGPS receiver 212, acontrol circuit 214, and awireless device 216.GPS receiver 212 when activated interprets signals fromGPS satellites 120 to identify the position and velocity of therover 110.Control circuit 214 has a user interface including a keyboard or other input device for operator control of the communications package, a display or another output device for conveying information such as the status of the package and received messages, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit implements automated operation and commands from the operator or fromservice center 240. -
Wireless device 216 andservice connection 130 handle communications betweenservice center 240 androvers 210.Connection 130 can be any wireless service, whether analogue or digital, which supports data transfers betweenservice center 240 androver 210. For example, the communication can operate through a CDPD, AMPS, CDMA, GSM, or Nextel system, using both OEM modem modules internal to the rover or cellular phones that are separable from the rover and attached to the remainder of the communication package via a data cable. Although the communications package could use a removable or separate cellular telephone, this is not the ideal solution since removing the telephone disables the connection between the communications package andservice center 240. The wireless service 132 preferably offers packetized data and direct connection to the Internet because these capabilities facilitate sporadic data transfers betweenrovers 210 andservice center 240 with least use of the wireless resources and therefore the least cost to the operator of the communications package. - Fig. 3 is a flow diagram of a
method 300 of generating impending arrival alerts in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Aninitial step 310 ofmethod 300 is creation of a destination list that can be forwarded or downloaded toservice center 240 and/orrover 210. Eachrover 210 has a destination list, which contains a set of destination entries corresponding to the intended destinations of therover 210. (The Appendix contains a C-language data structure for one embodiment of a destination list.) Each destination entry includes a location (e.g., an address or longitude and latitude of a destination), an alert condition, contact information for the alert or alerts, and any other information related to the destination, the alert, or the contact.Service center 240 can easily convert an address provided in a destination list to longitude and latitude values, which are commonly used in GPS systems. The alert condition typically includes threshold information, which is typically a distance or radius that defines an alert area around the destination. The alert condition may additionally include fields indicating circumstances for the alert. Typical circumstances surrounding an alert include whether the alert should be sent at all, a direction of traversal of the threshold that triggers an alert, an order of the destinations, and any time limitations on the alert. The contact information identifies designatedlocation 270 and the method for contactinglocation 270 when an issuing an alert. The contact information can include, for example, a telephone number, a pager number, or IP address and port. - The destination list can be maintained in
service center 240 orrover 210 or a combination of the two. However, keeping and manipulating the destination list atservice center 240 has advantages. For example, a central dispatcher throughterminal 160 anddata connection 150 can organize destinations into an ordered destination list and download the list toservice center 240. Sinceservice center 240 is ideally Internet based, multiple people could access and manage the destination list via theInternet 150, even afterrovers 210 have started their routes. End customers, who are anticipating a delivery, could also be given limited access to their destination entry to determine an estimated arrival time, schedule an alert immediately before arrival at their address, or change the contact information. Besides a web interface, the service center can also provide a telephone or e-mail interface for creating, changing, or reviewing a destination list. - Each destination entry is at least partially downloaded to
rover 210, so thatrover 210 at least has the destination and threshold information for the next destination. The destination location can be latitude and longitude (probably from geocoding the street address) as used in the GPS receiver. Generally, whenservice center 240 keeps the destination list,rover 210 does not require the contact information, but other information may be useful inrover 210. For example, text sent torover 210 could indicate any information related to the destination, for example, a destination name and address that permits a driver/operator to more readily identify destinations when scrolling through the destination list. An appointment time associated with a destination provides the driver additional information for scheduling of deliveries. - Additional fields used by
control circuit 214 in the communications package can indicate whether to generate an alert when therover 210 crosses into the alert area, out of the alert area, or both. Generally, an alert is generated whenrover 210 moves into the alert area to indicate an impending arrival. However, an alert can also be generated whenrover 210 leaves an alertarea indicating rover 210 is headed elsewhere, for example, possibly indicating thatrover 210 is outside its intended range and may have been stolen or misdirected. Other information that can be included with a destination entry indicates an expiration time (when the entry is automatically deleted whether or not one or more alerts were generated), whether the entry should auto-delete after an alert is sent or is retained until its expiration time, and alternate contact information that may be indexed for use at different times. - In
step 320, whenrover 210 begins heading to the next destination, the operator/driver ofrover 210 selects that destination for use in generating alerts. In particular, some alerts may only be issued if the alert is for the next destination. Other alerts could be issued regardless of the next destination. Optionally, the rover informsservice center 240 of the selection. The selection of the destination can be automatic according to the order in the destination list or subject to the choice and judgement of the driver. If the list is downloaded to therover 210 instead of being managed exclusively atservice center 240, the in-vehicle system can display candidate destinations for the driver's selection. In some cases, the driver may override the order of destinations in the destination list because of traffic or other reasons not anticipated by the list's creators. Where the driver overrides the order, therover 210 can send a message directing the service center to update the destination list to reflect the new order and update estimates of delivery times. The driver could even create new entries, although the limits of the user interface available on an in-vehicle system might make this difficult. - After
rover 210 forwards or confirms the next destination,service center 240 instep 330 confirms the next destination and instructs therover 210 to keep checking the location untilrover 210 an alert condition is met, e.g., the rover enters an alert area for the selected destination. If necessary,service center 240 supplies a location for the selected destination and the alert conditions duringstep 330, but that information may have been previously downloaded intorover 210. Instep 340,rover 210 determines whetherrover 210 has crossed the boundary of the alert area. The appendix includes functions that record route hysteresis to determine whether a boundary has been crossed and whether the crossing direction is into or out of to the area within the boundary. In particular, if the alert condition indicates a bounding radius and a direction into the bounded area, the rover determines whether the rover has crossed from a distance from the destination that is greater than the bounding radius to a distance from the destination that is less than the threshold radius. Other more complicated threshold area descriptions could also be used. For example, the alert condition could identify an alert area other than a circle or include some variations based on the current or recent average speed of rover, but such identifications could significantly complicate the required calculations inrover 210. - A
decision step 350 determines whetherrover 210 reached the threshold for an alert. If not,rover 210, typically after a delay, again determines whether it has reached the threshold for an alert. Instep 350, whenrover 210 determines that it has crossed the threshold in the target direction,rover 210 instep 360 sends an alert toservice center 240. Instep 370,service center 240 forwards the alert to designatedlocation 270 using the contact information from the destination list. The designatedlocation 270 can be the destination or to another location. For example, if the destination is a customer's home and the designatedlocation 270 is the customer's work address, the customer upon receiving the alert can return home to accept the delivery. As noted above, the designatedlocation 270 can change according to factors such as the time. - In
system 200 of Fig. 2,service center 240 activates alertingdevice 250 to send the alert to designatedlocation 270.Alerting device 250 is a communication device such as an automated telephone messaging system or an automated e-mail system. The alerted party can be alerted in a variety of ways, including but not limited to by e-mail, paging message, text message to a cellular phone, or a telephone call with a synthesized speech or recorded message. -
Method 300 can be widely varied without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, instead of providingservice center 240 with a destination list,rovers 210 can keep their own destination lists. When the operator/driver of arover 210 selects the next destination instep 320, the communications device in the rover accesses threshold and contact information in the stored on board in the destination list. Instep 360, whenrover 210 sends an alert toservice center 240, the rover forwards the contact information for designatedlocation 270, andservice center 240 forwards the alert to the designatedlocation 270. - In another variation of
method 300, arover 210 sends an alert whenever the rover is near particular destinations regardless of whether any of these destinations is the next destination. For this variation, the rover instep 340 compares the current location to the location and threshold information of all destinations that are eligible for alerts, and instep 350 decides to issue an alert if conditions for the alert are met. For example, a rover can issue an alert if the rover leaves a designate area or range from its base location (indicating perhaps that the rover is misdirected or stolen). Each destination entry can include a tag number that identifies the destination, and therover 210 incorporates the tag number in the alert message sent toservice center 240. From the tag number,service center 240 decides where (e.g., which designated location) and how to send the alert. - In some cases, the alerted party might be the truck dispatcher (for example, to alert the dispatcher that a truck is returning to base or that the truck has crossed a perimeter, heading away, and might be stolen).
Service center 240 can forward an alert from arover 210 to multiple designated locations, for example, to a customer, and to the dispatcher to alert the dispatcher as to the progress of their drivers. - Arrival alerting systems such as described above can be employed in a variety of applications. In warehousing, an alert indicating an impending arrival allows a delivery manager to deploy resources to a particular loading bay, and even to call ahead to the driver tell them which bay has been allocated for the delivery. In construction, when a supply truck is about to arrive, the site manager can ready loading/unloading equipment and people, to minimize turn-around time. Similarly, if a truck is delayed, resources are not wasted waiting for arrival, and time is not consumed periodically polling the position of the truck.
- For consumer delivery, the alert can go to a location other than the destination, for example, to alert a consumer at work or via the consumer's pager that an impending delivery is destined for the consumer's home. If the consumer is near enough to home, the consumer can return home to meet the delivery or ask the delivery driver to wait. Another consumer application is automated activation of household equipment such as heating or cooling systems or appliances when the resident nears home. Energy can be saved by leaving heating and cooling systems in a low power mode while the resident is away and activating the system so that the home is at a comfortable temperature when the resident arrives. Alternatively, an alert can activate a coffeepot so that the resident has freshly brewed coffee when arriving home. The full range of applications of the invention is of course not limited to these few examples.
- Although the invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, the description is only an example of the invention's application and should not be taken as a limitation. For example, although the above embodiments employ GPS devices to identify locations, other locating systems using, for example, triangulation based on terrestrial signals or landmarks are also suitable for use in the embodiments described above. Various other adaptations and combinations of features of the embodiments disclosed are within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.
Claims (22)
- An alert generating method comprising:providing to a mobile unit over a wireless network service connection information that identifies conditions for an alert, the wireless network service connection linking the mobile unit and a service center over a wide area network;monitoring in the mobile unit a position of the mobile unit;providing the service center a signal indicating that the conditions for an alert are satisfied; andalerting a designated location from the service center upon receiving the signal.
- The method of claim 1, wherein the signal from the mobile unit is sent via the wireless network service connection.
- The method of claim 1, wherein the alerting comprises telephoning the designated location.
- The method of claim 1, wherein the alerting comprises sending e-mail to the designated location.
- The method of claim 1, wherein providing the information that identifies the conditions for the alert, comprises downloading the information from the service center to the mobile unit.
- The method of claim 5, further comprising downloading a destination list, including the information that identifies the conditions for the alert, to a web site corresponding to the service center.
- The method of claim 1, wherein the information that identifies the conditions identifies an area around a destination for the mobile unit.
- The method of claim 7, wherein the information that identifies the conditions indicates that the alert should be generated when the mobile unit enters the area around the destination.
- The method of claim 7, wherein the information that identifies the conditions indicates that the alert should be generated when the mobile unit leaves the area around the destination.
- The method of claim 7, wherein the information includes a location and a threshold radius that respectively correspond to a center and a radius of the area surrounding the destination.
- The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a selected destination for the mobile unit, wherein the information that identifies the conditions for the alert, requires that the selected destination be a destination that is identified in the information.
- The method of claim 11, wherein an operator of the mobile unit selects the selected destination when the mobile unit is directly proceeding to the selected destination.
- A delivery method comprising:creating a list of destinations for deliveries at a service center, the list including a threshold distance for one or more destination for which an alert should be generated;downloading a portion of the list of destinations to a mobile unit installed in a delivery vehicle, the downloading being effectuated over a wireless network connection which links the mobile unit to the service center over a wide area network;selecting a destination from the list as a next destination for a delivery vehicle;monitoring distance between the delivery vehicle and the selected destination; andgenerating an alert from the delivery vehicle when the distance is less than a threshold distance.
- The method of claim 13, wherein generating the alert comprises:sending a message from the delivery vehicle to the service center, the message including a tag identifying the destination;looking-up a designated location that corresponds to the destination; and sending the alert from the service center to the designated location.
- A mobile unit comprising:a location system;a wireless device linking the mobile unit with a service center over a wireless network connection of a wide area network; anda control circuit, wherein the control system automatically activates the location system to determine a current location of the mobile unit, determines whether the mobile unit has crossed a threshold, and activates the wireless device to send an alert signal if the mobile unit has crossed the threshold.
- The mobile unit of claim 15, wherein the location system is a GPS receiver.
- The mobile unit of claim 15, wherein the wireless device is a wireless modem.
- The mobile unit of claim 15, wherein the wireless device is an attached data-capable cellular telephone.
- The mobile unit of claim 15, wherein the control circuit determines whether the mobile unit has crossed the threshold by determining whether the current location of the mobile unit is within an alert area.
- The mobile unit of claim 19, wherein the control circuit calculates a distance between the current location and a central point in the alert area and determines whether the distance is less than a threshold distance associated with the alert area.
- A system comprising:a data connection to wide area network;an alerting device; anda service center connected to the data connection to enable receipt of messages from a mobile unit over a wireless network connection and connected to the alerting device to enable the service center to activate the alerting device and send alerts, the service center maintaining contact information for the mobile unit, whereinin response to a signal from the mobile unit, the service center activates the alerting device to send an alert to a designated location identified in the contact information.
- The system of claim 21, wherein the service center comprises a server that permits internet access to the service center for setting of the designated location to which the alerting device sends the alert.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/696,722 US6980131B1 (en) | 2000-10-24 | 2000-10-24 | Targeted impending arrival notification of a wirelessly connected location device |
US696722 | 2000-10-24 | ||
CA002360226A CA2360226A1 (en) | 2000-10-24 | 2001-10-26 | Targeted impending arrival notification of a wirelessly connected location device |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1202234A1 true EP1202234A1 (en) | 2002-05-02 |
EP1202234B1 EP1202234B1 (en) | 2006-05-03 |
Family
ID=32043789
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP01308997A Expired - Lifetime EP1202234B1 (en) | 2000-10-24 | 2001-10-23 | Targeted impending arrival notification of a wirelessly connected location device |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1202234B1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2360226A1 (en) |
Cited By (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2004004403A1 (en) * | 2002-06-27 | 2004-01-08 | Intel Corporation | Method for performing location dependent authentification |
FR2854478A1 (en) * | 2001-10-03 | 2004-11-05 | Groupe Sofide | Lost vehicle e.g. truck, identifying method for transport organization, involves periodically detecting direction of evolution of vehicle with respect to entrance point and generating alarm when fault is detected |
US6816784B1 (en) | 2002-03-08 | 2004-11-09 | Navteq North America, Llc | Method and system using delivery trucks to collect address location data |
EP1528496A1 (en) * | 2003-10-31 | 2005-05-04 | Elsag Spa | Mail delivery support system |
EP1548684A2 (en) * | 2003-12-25 | 2005-06-29 | Pioneer Corporation | Apparatus and method for transmitting information from a mobile object to a destination |
WO2005064558A1 (en) * | 2003-12-18 | 2005-07-14 | Nokia Corporation | Context dependent alert in a portable electronic device |
GB2426347A (en) * | 2002-08-31 | 2006-11-22 | Hymix Ltd | Monitoring a concrete mixing vehicle |
EP1833292A2 (en) * | 2004-12-07 | 2007-09-19 | Pitney Bowes, Inc. | Method and system for gps augmentation of mail carrier efficiency |
US7418342B1 (en) | 2007-12-03 | 2008-08-26 | International Business Machines Corporation | Autonomous destination determination |
WO2024051934A1 (en) * | 2022-09-07 | 2024-03-14 | Volvo Autonomous Solutions AB | A method for determining whether a vehicle is driving in, or towards a target area |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN105957387B (en) * | 2016-07-11 | 2018-10-23 | 南通大学 | A kind of transport condition method for early warning of route vehicle |
DE102016216200A1 (en) | 2016-08-29 | 2018-03-01 | Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft | Procedure for vehicles |
WO2018164674A1 (en) * | 2017-03-07 | 2018-09-13 | Pleasant Anthem | Automated postal delivery notification based on geolocation |
Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0494499A2 (en) * | 1990-12-21 | 1992-07-15 | Rockwell International Corporation | System and method for monitoring and reporting out-of-route mileage for long haul trucks |
US5648770A (en) * | 1993-05-14 | 1997-07-15 | Worldwide Notification Systems, Inc. | Apparatus and method of notifying a party of a pending delivery or pickup |
US5657010A (en) * | 1993-05-18 | 1997-08-12 | Global Research Systems, Inc. | Advance notification system and method utilizing vehicle progress report generator |
US5719771A (en) * | 1993-02-24 | 1998-02-17 | Amsc Subsidiary Corporation | System for mapping occurrences of conditions in a transport route |
US5959577A (en) * | 1997-08-28 | 1999-09-28 | Vectorlink, Inc. | Method and structure for distribution of travel information using network |
US5987377A (en) * | 1995-02-10 | 1999-11-16 | Highwaymaster Communications, Inc. | Method and apparatus for determining expected time of arrival |
WO2000013339A1 (en) * | 1998-08-28 | 2000-03-09 | Qualcomm Incorporated | Method and apparatus for dynamic address allocation in a wireless communication system |
US6124810A (en) * | 1998-09-15 | 2000-09-26 | Qualcomm Incorporated | Method and apparatus for automatic event detection in a wireless communication system |
-
2001
- 2001-10-23 EP EP01308997A patent/EP1202234B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2001-10-26 CA CA002360226A patent/CA2360226A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0494499A2 (en) * | 1990-12-21 | 1992-07-15 | Rockwell International Corporation | System and method for monitoring and reporting out-of-route mileage for long haul trucks |
US5719771A (en) * | 1993-02-24 | 1998-02-17 | Amsc Subsidiary Corporation | System for mapping occurrences of conditions in a transport route |
US5648770A (en) * | 1993-05-14 | 1997-07-15 | Worldwide Notification Systems, Inc. | Apparatus and method of notifying a party of a pending delivery or pickup |
US5657010A (en) * | 1993-05-18 | 1997-08-12 | Global Research Systems, Inc. | Advance notification system and method utilizing vehicle progress report generator |
US5987377A (en) * | 1995-02-10 | 1999-11-16 | Highwaymaster Communications, Inc. | Method and apparatus for determining expected time of arrival |
US5959577A (en) * | 1997-08-28 | 1999-09-28 | Vectorlink, Inc. | Method and structure for distribution of travel information using network |
WO2000013339A1 (en) * | 1998-08-28 | 2000-03-09 | Qualcomm Incorporated | Method and apparatus for dynamic address allocation in a wireless communication system |
US6124810A (en) * | 1998-09-15 | 2000-09-26 | Qualcomm Incorporated | Method and apparatus for automatic event detection in a wireless communication system |
Cited By (14)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2854478A1 (en) * | 2001-10-03 | 2004-11-05 | Groupe Sofide | Lost vehicle e.g. truck, identifying method for transport organization, involves periodically detecting direction of evolution of vehicle with respect to entrance point and generating alarm when fault is detected |
US6990409B2 (en) | 2002-03-08 | 2006-01-24 | Navteq North America, Llc. | Method and system using delivery trucks to collect address location data |
US6816784B1 (en) | 2002-03-08 | 2004-11-09 | Navteq North America, Llc | Method and system using delivery trucks to collect address location data |
WO2004004403A1 (en) * | 2002-06-27 | 2004-01-08 | Intel Corporation | Method for performing location dependent authentification |
GB2426347B (en) * | 2002-08-31 | 2007-02-28 | Hymix Ltd | Monitoring a concrete mixer |
GB2426347A (en) * | 2002-08-31 | 2006-11-22 | Hymix Ltd | Monitoring a concrete mixing vehicle |
EP1528496A1 (en) * | 2003-10-31 | 2005-05-04 | Elsag Spa | Mail delivery support system |
WO2005064558A1 (en) * | 2003-12-18 | 2005-07-14 | Nokia Corporation | Context dependent alert in a portable electronic device |
EP1548684A2 (en) * | 2003-12-25 | 2005-06-29 | Pioneer Corporation | Apparatus and method for transmitting information from a mobile object to a destination |
EP1548684A3 (en) * | 2003-12-25 | 2007-04-04 | Pioneer Corporation | Apparatus and method for transmitting information from a mobile object to a destination |
EP1833292A2 (en) * | 2004-12-07 | 2007-09-19 | Pitney Bowes, Inc. | Method and system for gps augmentation of mail carrier efficiency |
EP1833292A4 (en) * | 2004-12-07 | 2011-01-05 | Lockheed Corp | Method and system for gps augmentation of mail carrier efficiency |
US7418342B1 (en) | 2007-12-03 | 2008-08-26 | International Business Machines Corporation | Autonomous destination determination |
WO2024051934A1 (en) * | 2022-09-07 | 2024-03-14 | Volvo Autonomous Solutions AB | A method for determining whether a vehicle is driving in, or towards a target area |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP1202234B1 (en) | 2006-05-03 |
CA2360226A1 (en) | 2003-04-26 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US6980131B1 (en) | Targeted impending arrival notification of a wirelessly connected location device | |
US6952645B1 (en) | System and method for activation of an advance notification system for monitoring and reporting status of vehicle travel | |
US7400970B2 (en) | System and method for an advance notification system for monitoring and reporting proximity of a vehicle | |
US8099085B2 (en) | Method and system for communicating with users of wireless devices when approaching a predetermined destination | |
EP1202234B1 (en) | Targeted impending arrival notification of a wirelessly connected location device | |
US6363323B1 (en) | Apparatus and method for monitoring travel of a mobile vehicle | |
US8483939B2 (en) | Vehicle-dispatching method, vehicle-dispatching system and navigating device used in the same | |
AU2006221152B2 (en) | Vehicle location and navigation system | |
CA2283239C (en) | Advanced notification systems and methods utilizing a computer network | |
US6748320B2 (en) | Advance notification systems and methods utilizing a computer network | |
WO2000019170A1 (en) | Activation system for an advance notification system for monitoring the status of vehicle travel | |
US6745125B2 (en) | Method, and related system and apparatus, for providing travel-related information to a mobile communications device | |
US20030193414A1 (en) | User-definable communications methods and systems | |
US20130307707A1 (en) | Notification System For Reporting Status of a Vehicle and Anticipated Arrival Times. | |
US20030193412A1 (en) | Business method associated with monitoring travel of a movable thing and providing a notification based upon travel status | |
JP2018049408A (en) | Vehicle allocation system | |
US20030193413A1 (en) | Business methods for notification systems | |
JP2006172061A (en) | Method, device and system for managing reservation object | |
JP2008078784A (en) | Vehicle dispatch system | |
JP2004013801A (en) | Automatic reporting management system on arriving at destination and passage point | |
CN1977561B (en) | Method and arrangement for determining at least one suggestion for changing location for a user of a mobile terminal | |
EP1261902A1 (en) | Apparatus and method for monitoring travel of a mobile vehicle | |
KR20010086611A (en) | Mobile call taxi service method | |
JP4806994B2 (en) | Location information notification method and location information notification method | |
JP3745676B2 (en) | Navigation service provision system using place attributes |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR |
|
AX | Request for extension of the european patent |
Free format text: AL;LT;LV;MK;RO;SI |
|
RAP1 | Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred) |
Owner name: AT ROAD, INC. |
|
AKX | Designation fees paid | ||
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 20021104 |
|
RBV | Designated contracting states (corrected) |
Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: 8566 |
|
17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 20030121 |
|
GRAP | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1 |
|
GRAS | Grant fee paid |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3 |
|
GRAA | (expected) grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: B1 Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: IT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT;WARNING: LAPSES OF ITALIAN PATENTS WITH EFFECTIVE DATE BEFORE 2007 MAY HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY TIME BEFORE 2007. THE CORRECT EFFECTIVE DATE MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE RECORDED. Effective date: 20060503 Ref country code: FI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20060503 Ref country code: NL Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20060503 Ref country code: BE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20060503 Ref country code: CH Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20060503 Ref country code: AT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20060503 Ref country code: LI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20060503 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: GB Ref legal event code: FG4D |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: EP |
|
REF | Corresponds to: |
Ref document number: 60119260 Country of ref document: DE Date of ref document: 20060608 Kind code of ref document: P |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: IE Ref legal event code: FG4D |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: SE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20060803 Ref country code: DK Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20060803 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: ES Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20060814 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: PT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20061003 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: IE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20061023 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: MC Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20061031 |
|
NLV1 | Nl: lapsed or annulled due to failure to fulfill the requirements of art. 29p and 29m of the patents act | ||
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: PL |
|
PLBE | No opposition filed within time limit |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT |
|
26N | No opposition filed |
Effective date: 20070206 |
|
EN | Fr: translation not filed | ||
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20070309 Ref country code: GR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20060804 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: LU Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20061023 Ref country code: TR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20060503 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: CY Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20060503 Ref country code: FR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20060503 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Payment date: 20201027 Year of fee payment: 20 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Payment date: 20201228 Year of fee payment: 20 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R071 Ref document number: 60119260 Country of ref document: DE |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: GB Ref legal event code: PE20 Expiry date: 20211022 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF EXPIRATION OF PROTECTION Effective date: 20211022 |