US 12,367,367 B2
Indirect electronic badge tracking
Lewis H. Manci, New Bremen, OH (US); Juergen Buchmann, Pliening (DE); Andreas Simon, Munich (DE); and Sebastian Theos (AKA Sick), Vaterstetten (DE)
Assigned to Crown Equipment Corporation, New Bremen, OH (US)
Filed by Crown Equipment Corporation, New Bremen, OH (US)
Filed on Apr. 8, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/716,345.
Application 17/716,345 is a continuation of application No. 16/786,264, filed on Feb. 10, 2020, granted, now 11,301,738.
Application 16/786,264 is a continuation of application No. 16/538,341, filed on Aug. 12, 2019, granted, now 10,558,903, issued on Feb. 11, 2020.
Application 16/538,341 is a continuation of application No. 15/631,376, filed on Jun. 23, 2017, granted, now 10,380,473, issued on Aug. 13, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/354,220, filed on Jun. 24, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2022/0230036 A1, Jul. 21, 2022
Int. Cl. G06K 19/07 (2006.01); F16P 3/14 (2006.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01); G06Q 10/0835 (2023.01); G07C 5/00 (2006.01); G06Q 10/0833 (2023.01); G07C 9/28 (2020.01); G07C 9/38 (2020.01)
CPC G06K 19/0725 (2013.01) [F16P 3/147 (2013.01); G05D 1/021 (2013.01); G05D 1/0282 (2013.01); G06Q 10/08355 (2013.01); G07C 5/008 (2013.01); G06Q 10/0833 (2013.01); G07C 9/28 (2020.01); G07C 9/38 (2020.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A process for controlling an industrial vehicle, the process comprising:
receiving, by a stationary badge communicator, vehicle data that is transmitted from a remote mobile industrial vehicle via a first communications protocol upon the mobile industrial vehicle traveling within a predetermined range of the stationary badge communicator, wherein:
the stationary badge communicator is mounted at a stationary location within an environment upon which the mobile industrial vehicle operates;
the first communications protocol enables direct local wireless communication between the badge communicator and the mobile industrial vehicle using Bluetooth, Ultra-wideband (UWB), or Zigbee; and
the vehicle data includes:
an identity of an electronic badge, an identity of the industrial vehicle, or an identity of a vehicle operator;
sending, from the badge communicator to a remote server, a first message based on the received vehicle data and an identity of the badge communicator via a second communications protocol that is different from the first communications protocol;
receiving, at the industrial vehicle, responsive to the exchange between the badge communicator and the remote server, an electronic communication comprising an instruction, wherein the electronic communication is sent from the remote server, and includes instructions based on the first message and based on rules concerning the operation of the industrial vehicle; and
controlling the industrial vehicle to take a predetermined action based upon the instruction.