Patent ID: 7356494
Filing Date: 2008-04-08
Classification: G06Q,G07B,G08C,G08G,H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A system for managing data associated with mobile assets, comprising: a management computer for storing asset control data for a plurality of mobile assets in a relational database format; an asset monitor, for each of a plurality of mobile assets, for monitoring a respective mobile asset to collect asset monitored data, for wirelessly receiving asset control data originated at the management computer, and for controlling operation of the mobile asset in view of the asset monitored data and the received asset control data; a wireless communications infrastructure interconnecting the management computer to each of the mobile assets, the infrastructure including a plurality of local monitor nodes each storing asset control data in a relational database format for at least a portion of the plurality of mobile assets that is at least a partial replica of the asset control data stored by the management computer; wherein each of the local monitor nodes includes a processor operable to be responsive to received asset control data originated at the management computer, to make decisions concerning operation of the mobile asset in view of the received asset control data and wirelessly communicate instructions for mobile asset operation to the mobile asset; and wherein the management computer operates to determine to which ones of the plurality of local monitor nodes does the asset control data for a certain one of the plurality of mobile assets need to be communicated.