AU2003204161A1 - Wireless monitoring system and method - Google Patents

Description

13/05 '03 TUE 16:46 FAX 61 3 9288 1567 FREEHILLS CARTER SMITH B 1004 pmoW 11 Regultion 32 AUsTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFIATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: Wireless monitoring system and method The following statement is a full description of this method of performing it known to us: Invention, including the best Preehills Carter Smith Beadle Melbournme04294598 Printed 13 May 2003 (143S) page 2 COMS ID No: SMBI-00246823 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2003-05-13 13/05 '03 TUE 16:46 FAX 61 3 9288 1567 FREEHILLS CARTER SMITH! B Q005 2 WIRELESS MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD The present invention relates generally to monitoring systems and methods using a wireless network to locate fixed or mobile assets. The invention may be used in the tracking of vehicles and it will be convenient to describe the invention in relation to that exemplary application. It will be appreciated, however, that the invention is not limited to that application.

Transport companies and fleet vehicle owners Orack the geographical location of their vehicles on a real time basis. It is known to equip each vehicle with a sensor to determine the vehicle's location relative to a predetermined reference point. Each vehicle transmits its location and othei information to a base station.

The base station then forwards the vehicle location information to a central monitoring system via a communications network. ,The central monitoring system includes a user interface application for displayino the received vehicle location information to a user. Existing vehicle tracking systems uses the Short Messaging Service (SMS) service of the Global System for Mobile (GSM) communications network, or like radio data facilities, to transmit t4- vehicle location information from each vehicle to the central monitoring system.

One problem associated with the commnication of vehicle location information from a vehicle to a central monitoring Isystem is the large number of data bits required to communicate the vehicles poiition. SMS messages have a limited length. Several messages may need to be sent in order to transmit the requisite information from a vehicle to the central monitoring system. The SMS messages are transmitted down a channel with two 4ther streams of user data, each in its own time slot. Upon receipt of the central monitoring station, the SMS messages are required to be placed in order df receipt, and the data bits reassembled. The frequently changing location of vdhicles to be monitored requires a high volume of data bits to be transmitted fromi the monitored vehicles to the central monitoring system.

Existing vehicle tracking systems of this typp typically suffer from limited Melbeurne\0040535t2 Printed 13 May 2003 (16:13) COMS ID No: SMBI-00246823 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2003-05-13 13/05 '03 TUE 16:46 FAX 61 3 9288 1567 FREEHILLS CARTER SMITH B oo6 3

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reliability, due to data transmission and re-assembly errors. Those systems that ensure an improved quality of service by performing data validation operations and multiple transmission of position information requite expensive transmission and reception equipment. These systems are also expensive to operate due to the j increased volume of radio traffic required to be transztiitted.

It would be desirable to provide a monitoriog system that ameliorates or overcomes one or more problems of known monitoring systems.

It would also be desirable to provide a monioring system that enables the monitoring of vehicles at a lower cost and with increased reliability than is achieved by existing monitoring systems.

With this in mind, one aspect of the present i4vention provides a method for monitoring an object, including: establishing a connection between a qommunication unit associated with the object and a General Packet Radio Service (PPRS) network; dynamically assigning a network address to the communication unit; transmitted data indicative of the curtent assigned network address and an object identifier from the communication uit via the GPRS network to a gateway server for storage in a database, the database maintaining the object identifier, the current assigned network addres6 and corresponding object monitoring information; periodically deriving object monioring information in the communication unit and transmitting data indicaive of the object monitoring 1 information via the GPRS network to the gateway seiver; and updating the object monitoring information stored in the database.

The object may be a vehicle or like mobile asset. Alternatively, the object may be a fixed asset.

Preferably, the data is transmitted between tle communication unit and the gateway server in packets conforming to the User DaJagram Protocol (UDP).

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) may be configured within the GPRS network. The object tracking information may rbe derived from information Melbourun\004053592- Printed 13 May 2003 (16:13) COMS ID No: SMBI-00246823 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2003-05-13 13/05 '03 TUE 16:47 FAX 61 3 9288 1567 FREEHILLS CARTER SMITH B 16007 4 transmitted by a plurality of Global Positioning Systein (GPS) satellites. The object tracking information may be indicative of the object ieographic position.

The object tracking information may also be indicative of object speed and/or direction of travel.

The communication unit may include a GPR modem, a GPS receiver and a controller for controlling operation of the GFRS mjdem and GPS receiver. The communication unit may also include a messaging tehninal for user communication to and/or from the gateway server.

The method may farther include: the communication unit transmitting the data ih step at pr-set times.

The method may further include: I the communication unit transmitting the datd in step upon receipt of a polling request from the gateway server.

The method may further include: the communication unit periodically re-transritting the data in step until receipt of an acknowledgment signal from the gateway server.

The method may flurther include: the gateway server sending an acknowledgmnt signal to the communication unit.

The method may further include; the gateway server performing a checksum ind count verification on data received from the communication unit.

The method may further include: providing a customer accessible server conneted to the gateway server by a public network, the customer accessible server pro-iding a customer interface for retrieving information stored in the database.

The customer accessible server may be a web server connected to the gateway server by the Internet.

The method may further include: receiving a poll request at the gateway server, land Melbourna"004053592 Printed 3 May 2003 (16:13) COMS ID No: SMBI-00246823 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2003-05-13 13/05 '03 TUE 16:47 FAX 81 3 9288 1567 FREEHILLS CARTER SMITH B a008 i transmitting the poll request from the gatewaj server via the GPRS network to the communication unit, the communication limit acting to transmit data indicative of the object monitoring information upon wreceipt of the poll request The poll request may be transmitted by the galeway server via: retrieving the current assigned network adiress from the database and retrieving the poll request to that network address.

The method may further include: the gateway server periodically retransmittingithe poll request until receipt of an acknowledgment signal from the communication *nit.

The method may further include: receiving a message at the gateway server; and transmitting the message from the gateway srver via the GPRS network to the communication unit.

The communication unit may act to display the message to a customer via the messaging terminal.

The message may be transmitted by: verifying the current assigned network address in the database and transmitting the message to that network address.

The method may further include: the gateway server periodically re-transmitting the message until the receipt of an acknowledgment signal from the communicatiOn unit.

t The message and/or poll request may originale from the customer accessible server.

Another aspect of the invention provides a gateway server for use in the above described method.

A further aspect of the invention includes a communication unit for use in the above described method.

A further aspect of the invention includes a web server for use as a customer accessible server in the above described method.

Yet another aspect of the invention includek computer software including Melbournc\00W403S92 Printed 13 May 2003 (16:13) COMS ID No: SMBI-00246823 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2003-05-13 13/05 '03 TUE 16:47 FAX 61 3 9288 1567 FREEHILLS CARTER SMITH B 6 computer program instructions for causing the gateway server to carry out the above described functionality.

A still further aspect of the present invention includes computer software including computer program instructions for causing the web server to carry out the above described functionality.

The following description refers in more detail to the various features of the monitoring system and method of the present linvention. To facilitate an understanding of the invention, reference is made in the description to the accompanying drawing where the monitoring systei and method is illustrated in a preferred embodiment. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the embodiment as illustrated in the drawings.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a monitoring system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a commuiication unit forming part of the vehicle tracking system of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a flow chart showing the operation of the communication unit of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a flow chart showing the operatioA of the gateway server forming part of the monitoring system of Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a an exemplary display provided t4 a customer from a web server forming part of the monitoring system of Figure 1.

Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown generally a vehicle monitoring system 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle monitoring system 1 is adapted to derive vehicle moaitoring information in relation to a fleet of one or more vehicles, a representative one of which is referenced 2, from information transmitted by a plurality of Gobal Position Systems (GPS) satellites. A representative GPS satellite is referenced 3 in this figure. The vehicle monitoring information is transmitted from a vehicle communication unit mounted in the vehicle 2 via a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network 4 to a gateway Melbourne\4053592 Printed 13 May 2003 (16:13) l009 COMS ID No: SMBI-00246823 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2003-05-13 13/05 '03 TUE 16:47 FAX 61 3 9288 1567 FREEHILLS CARTER SMITH B 7 server The gateway server 5 segments the received vehicle monitoring information for storage in tables within a database 6. A web seiver 7 is adapted to access the database 6 and display the retrieved information at a pustomer terminal 8 connected to the web server 7 by a public network, such as the Ihternet 9.

GPRS is a packet based communications srvice for mobile devices that allows data to be sent and received across a mobilJ telephone network, such as a Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) etwork. The GPRS network 4 includes a conventional Base Station (BS) 10 an4 transmitting tower 11, Base Station Controller (BSC) 12 and Mobile Switching dentre (MSC) 13. The MSC 13 includes a Home Location Register (HLR) 14 contai ing subscriber information. A Packet Control Unit (PCU) 15 differentiates data cestined for the standard GSM network or circuit switched data, and data destinel for the GPRS network 4 or packet switched data.

In addition, a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) 16 and a Gateway GPR Support Node (GGSN) 17 are provided. The SGSN 16 takes care of various GPRS tasks, including routing, handover and IP network aadress assignment. The SGSN converts mobile data into an IP format and is cpnnected to the GGSN via a tunnelling protocol. The GGSN 17 is the "last po of call" before a connection between the gateway server 5 occurs. The GGSN 1 7 includes a gateway, router and firewall rolled into one. A switch 19 acts to ensure correct dataflow between the web server 7, gateway server 5, database server 6 a*d GPRS network 4 or Internet 9.

The GPRS vehicle communication unit mounted in the vehicle 2 is shown i generally in Figure 2. The vehicle communication unit 30 includes a GPRS modem 31 and GPS receiver 32. A messaging terminal 3B, including a monitor 34 and keyboard or other data input device 35 is also provided. A microcontroller 36 controls the operation of the GPRS modem 31, GPS receiver 32 and messaging terminal 33.

The global positioning system is a constellati n of 24 satellites that orbit the Melbourne\004053592 Printed 13 May2003 (16:13) S010 COMS ID No: SMBI-00246823 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2003-05-13 13/05 '03 TUE 16:48 FAX 61 3 9288 1567 FREEHILLS CARTER SMITH B l1011 8 earth, making it possible for people with ground receivers to pin-point their geographic location. Each satellite contains a conputer, an atomic clock and a radio. With an understanding of its own orbit and the atomic clock, each satellite continually broadcasts its changing position and timei The GPS receiver 30 contains a computer thit triangulates its own position from information transmitted by three GPS satellite at a time. If the vehicle 2 in which the vehicle communication unit 30 is mounted 'is moving, the GPRS receiver 32 is also able to calculate the vehicle's speed and direction of travel.

When the vehicle communication unit 30 is switched on, a signal is transmitted from the GPRS modem 31 to the BS 10 a order to establish connection to the GPRS network 4. Due to the shortage of network addresses available, the vehicle communication unit 30 does not have its on permanent IP address stored in the HLR 14, but is dynamically assigned a netwo address by the GGSN 17. In that regard, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is iestablished within the GPRS network 4. Upon receipt of a signal from the vhicle communication unit indicating that the unit has been switched on, the GG5N 17 accesses a new network address from within an internal range of IP addresse. The new network address is then forwarded to the vehicle communication unit 30 and stored by the microcontroller 36.

Data indicative of the assigned network addess and a vehicle identifier is then transmitted from the vehicle communication unit 30 via the VPN network 4 to the gateway server 5 for storage in the database 6. The database 6 maintains the vehicle identifier, current assigned network address and corresponding vehicle monitoring information for the vehicle 2 and other vehicles being currently monitored. Subsequent communications with the 4ehicle communication unit then take place by consulting the database 6 to establish the current IP address of the vehicle communication unit Referring now to Figure 3, the GPS reciver 32 continually receives information from the GPS satellites (step 40). Every second (step 41) the microcontroller 36 processes the information received from the GPS satellites to Melbourne\004053592 Printed 13 May 2003 (16:13) COMS ID No: SMBI-00246823 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2003-05-13 13/05 '03 TLTE 16:48 FAX 61 3 9288 1567 FREEHILLS CARTER SMITH B Z012 9 calculate the current geographical position, speed ,nd direction of travel of the vehicle 2 (step 42).

At predetermined time intervals (step 43) tte derived vehicle monitoring information is transmitted from the vehicle commucication unit 30 to the gateway server 5 (step 44). The vehicle communication unit 130 will re-transmit the vehicle monitoring information until receipt of an acknowltdgment signal (step 45) from the gateway server 5. Vehicle monitoring informnaton will also be transmitted by the vehicle communication unit 30 if a poll request 'is received from the gateway server 5 (step 46).

Data is transmitted between the vehicle commnunication unit 30 and the gateway server 5 by data packets conforming to the Ijiser Datagram Protocol (UDP).

UDP is a communications protocol that offers a liiuted amount of service when messages are exchanged between devices in a netwjork that uses Internet protocol UDP is an alternative to the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). Unlike TCP however, UDP does not provide the service of 4ividing a message into packets (datagrams) and reassembling it at the other end, Ii the present application, UDP can be used since the frequent transmission of vehicl traffic information means that any lost packets can simply be ignored. Data integrity is ensured by performing a checksum count and verification on data received at the gateway server 5 from the vehicle communication unit Referring now to Figure 4, the gateway server 5 includes application i software for communicating with the vehicle communication unit 30. The gateway server 5 has a static network address on the GPR$ network 4. Using a receive winsock32.dll interface program, the gateway server 5 monitors a specific port address on this static network address (step 60). Upon receipt of the vehicle monitoring information (step 61), an acknowledgmnt signal is transmitted to the vehicle communication unit 30 (step 62). The UDI communication layer provides a checksum count and verification. Accordingly, a checksum count and verification on the received data is performed (step 63). If the count of the number of bits in the data transmission matches the checksum, it is! assumed that the complete Mclbourne\O4053SP2 Printed 13 May 2003 (16:13) COMS ID No: SMBI-00246823 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2003-05-13 13/05 '03 TUE 16:49 FAX 61 3 9288 1567 FREEHILLS CARTER SMITH B transmission was received.

The data received is then split into comma plit delimited fields (step 64) representative of the vehicle identifier, current netwofk address, vehicle geographic position, speed and direction information. The gafiway server 5 transmits this information for storage in the database 6 (step Access to the vehicle monitoring information stored iih the database 6 is provided by way of the web server 7. Upon establishment of a conection with the web server 7 from the customer terminal 8, the web server 7 act 4 to retrieve the stored vehicle tracking information from the database 6 and seved that information to the customer terminal 8 for display. An exemplary dislay 80 is shown in Figure The display 80 includes an indication of the geographical location 81 of the vehicle 2, as well as indications of the vehicle speed 82 and direction of travel 83.

Returning once again to Figure 4, vehicle zronitoring information may be actively obtained from the vehicle communication tmit 30 upon receipt of a poll request. Such a poll request may be created by a customer via the customer terminal 8. Upon receipt of the poll request at the $ateway server 5 (step 70), the gateway server 5 acts to retrieve the current network kddress (step 71) of the vehicle identified in the poll request.

At step 72, the gateway server 5 encodes tle poll request into string data (step 72) for subsequent transmission. At step 73, tht* string data is formatted by the windsock32.dll interface application, prior to transmission to the vehicle communications unit (step 74). The gateway serve 5 periodically re-transmits the polar request until receipt (step 75) of an acknowlegment signal from the vehicle communication unit Similarly, messages may be transmitted to 4e driver of the vehicle 2 for display by the messaging terminal 33 of the vehicle, communication unit 30. The steps involved in the transmission of this message a4 identical to steps 70 to 75 just described.

Advantageously, the GPRS network 4 enabls the cost of data transmission to be minimised since communications channels a* used on a shared, as needed Melbou ric\004053592 Printed 13 May 2003 (16:13) 013 COMS ID No: SMBI-00246823 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2003-05-13 13/05 '03 TUE 16:49 FAX 61 3 9288 1567 FREEHILLS CARTER SMITH B Z014 11 basis rather than being used by only one user at a time. The faster data rate of GPRS networks also means that middleware currently needed to adapt applications to the slowest beat of wireless systems are no longer required. The UDP protocol used for the transmission of data in the above-refeienced system also provides a more efficient protocol for the transmission of small mounts of data, thus lowering transmission costs.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that thre may be many variations and modifications of the above described system and method which are within the scope of the present invention. For example, whilst the 4bove description refers to the monitoring of vehicles, the invention may also be usd in relation to the monitoring of other mobile assets, or in relation to the monitmring of fixed assets, such as vending machines.

Melbourne\004053592 Printed 13 May 2003 (16:16) COMS ID No: SMBI-00246823 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2003-05-13

Claims (29)

1. A method for monitoring an object, including te steps of: establishing a connection between a commhnication unit associated with the object and a General Packet Radio Service (GPR) network; dynamically assigning a network address to the communication unit; transmitting data indicative of the current as gned network address and an object identifier from the communication unit via the GPRS network to a gateway server for storage in a database, the database maintdining the object identifier, the current assigned network address and corresponding 4bject monitoring information; periodically deriving object monitoring infdormation in the communication unit and transmitting data indicative of the object monitoring information via the GPRS network to the gateway server; and updating the object monitoring information stored in the database.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein th object is a vehicle or other mobile asset.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the o4ject is a fixed asset.

4. A method according to any one of the precedfng claims, wherein the data is transmitted between the communication unit and (he gateway server in packets conforming to the User Datagram Protocol (UDP).

5. A method according to any one of the preceliing claims, wherein a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is configured within the GPIS network.

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the object tracking information is derived from information transmitted by a plurality of Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites. Melbonrne\004053592 Printed 13 May 2003 (16:13) COMS ID No: SMBI-00246823 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2003-05-13 13/05 '03 TUE 16:49 FAX 61 3 9288 1567 FREEHILLS CARTER SMITH B 13

7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the object tracking information is indicative of the object geog ic position.

8. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the object tracking information is indicative of object speed andor direction of travel.

9. A method according to any one of the pieceding claims, wherein the communication unit includes a GPRS modem, a GPS receiver and a controller for controlling operation of the GPRS modem and GPS r ceiver.

A method according to any one of the peceding claims, wherein the communication unit includes a messaging terminal for user communication to and/or from the gateway server.

11. A method according to any one of the lreceding claims, and further including the step of: the communication unit transmitting the data i step at pre-set times.

12. A method according to any one of the receding claims, and further including the step of: the communication unit transmitting the data in step upon receipt of a polling request from the gateway server.

13. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, and further including the step of: the communication unit periodically re-transn witting the data in step until receipt of an acknowledgment signal from the gateway server.

14. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, and further Melbournc'004053592 Printed 13 May 2003 (16:13) Q016 COMS ID No: SMBI-00246823 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2003-05-13 13/05 '03 TUE 16:50 FAX 81 3 9288 1567 FREEHILLS CARTER SMITH B 14 J including the step of: the gateway server sending an acknowledgmeit signal to the communication unit.

15. A method according to any one of the pieceding claims, and fTther including the step of: the gateway server performing a checksum nd count verification on data received from the communication unit.

16. A method according to any one of the ecding claims, and further including the step of: providing a customer accessible server connedted to the gateway server by a public network, the customer accessible server prodding a customer interface for retrieving information stored in the database.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the Icustomer accessible server is a web server connected to the gateway server by the Internet.

18. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, and further including the step of: receiving a poll request at the gateway server, and transmitting the poll request from the gateway server via the GPRS network to the communication unit, the communication !unit acting to transmit data indicative of the object monitoring information uponlreceipt of the poll request.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein th poll request is transmitted by the gateway server via: retrieving the current assigned network a4dress from the database and retrieving the poll request to that network address.

Melbourne\064053592 Printed 13 May 2003 (16:13) 017 COMS ID No: SMBI-00246823 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2003-05-13 13/05 '03 TUE 16:50 FAX 61 3 9288 1567 FREEHILLS CARTER SMITH B 018 A method according to any one of the pieceding claims, and further including the step of: the gateway server periodically retransmitting tlie poll request until receipt of an acknowledgment signal from the communication u hit.

21. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, and further including the step of: receiving a message at the gateway server, andi transmitting the message from the gateway sever via the GPRS network to the communication unit.

22. A method according to claim 21, and further iieluding the step of: i the communication unit displaying the mesage to a customer via the messaging terminal.

23. A method according to either one of claims 1 or 22, and further including the step of: verifying the current assigned network address in the database and transmitting the message to that network address.

24. A method according to any one of claims 21 io 23, and further including the step of: the gateway server periodically re-transmittinj the message until the receipt of an acknowledgment signal from the communicaticon unit.

A method according to any one of claims I1 to 24, wherein the message and/or poll request originates from the customer accessible server.

26. A gateway server for use in a method according to any one of the preceding claims. Melbourne\004053592 Printed 13 May 2003 (16:13) COMS ID No: SMBI-00246823 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2003-05-13 13/05 '03 TLE 16:50 FAX 61 3 9288 1567 FREEHILLS CARTER SMITH B 0019 16

27. A communication unit for use in for use in a niethod according to any one of the preceding claims.

28. A web server for use as a customer accessible server in for use in a method acncnrrl;n, to nnv nne f the nreceding claims. v-m.,A-uub y e of the clam

29. Computer software including computer progrl instructions for causing the gateway server to carry out a method according to any one of the preceding claims. Computer software including computer progrm instructions for causing the web server to carry out for a method according to and one of the preceding claims. Dated: 13 May, 2003 FREEHILLS CARTER SMIT BEADLE Patent Attorneys for the Ap licant SMARTTRACK PTY L ID Mebourne\004053592 Printed 13 May 2003 (16:16) COMS ID No: SMBI-00246823 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:51 Date 2003-05-13