Patent ID: 8760274
Filing Date: 2014-06-24
Classification: G06Q,G08B,G08G

Abstract:
1. A method for communicating information between a trailer tracking device attached to a cargo trailer, one or more truck tracking devices attached to one or more trucks that are operable to haul the cargo trailer, a server computer of a service provider, and a customer device, the method comprising: (a) at least some components of the trailer tracking device operating in a low-power mode to minimize power consumption when the cargo trailer is not coupled to any of the one or more trucks; (b) detecting that the cargo trailer has become coupled to one of the one or more trucks; (c) caused by the occurrence of step (b): (d) one or both of the trailer tracking device and the truck tracking device wirelessly transmitting a first data message containing at least the unique identifier of the truck tracking device and the unique identifier of the trailer tracking device; (e) receiving at the server computer at least the unique identifier of the truck tracking device and the unique identifier of the trailer tracking device contained in the first data message; (f) associating the unique identifier of the truck tracking device with the unique identifier of the trailer tracking device in a database accessible to the server computer, (g) after step (d), detecting that the cargo trailer has become decoupled from the truck; (h) caused by the occurrence of step (g), one or both of the trailer tracking device and the truck tracking device transmitting a second data message containing at least the unique identifier of the trailer tracking device and information indicating that the cargo trailer has become decoupled from the truck; (i) after step (h), at least some components of the trailer tracking device going into a low-power mode; (j) receiving at the server computer the unique identifier of the trailer tracking device and the information indicating that the cargo trailer has become decoupled from the truck; (k) disassociating the unique identifier of the truck tracking device from the unique identifier of the trailer tracking device in the database; and (l) the server computer sending information to the customer device indicating that the cargo trailer has become decoupled from the truck.