System and method for tool allocation for service vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12254445-B2
Application number	US-202217888554-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 16, 2022
Priority date	Aug 16, 2022
Publication date	Mar 18, 2025
Grant date	Mar 18, 2025

Abstract

A tool application system for a vehicle may include a database configured to maintain an inventory of items on a vehicle, and a server configured to receive a request for at least one item relating to a worksite from a technician, compare the request for the at least one item to the inventory, determine that the item is not part of the inventory, transmit a part request to at least one location based on at least one factor, and transmit instructions to the vehicle in response to receiving a response to the request from the location confirming availability of the item.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tool application system for a vehicle, comprising:
a database configured to maintain an inventory of items on a vehicle;
a vehicle camera configured to capture a live-stream of a delivery at at least one location; and
a server configured to
receive a request for at least one item relating to a worksite from a technician,
compare the request for the at least one item to the inventory,
determine that the at least one item is not part of the inventory,
transmit a part request to the at least one location based on at least one factor,
transmit instructions to the vehicle in response to receiving a response to the part request from the location confirming availability of the at least one item, and
receive an image of a delivery person and the at least one item from the camera and authenticate the delivery person and the at least one item at the location based on the image,
instruct at least one vehicle door to open in response to verifying the delivery person and the at least one item.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one factor is item value.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the server is further configured to instruct the vehicle to autonomously drive to the location.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the server is further programmed to receive confirmation from the technician that the at least one item was delivered.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the server is further programmed to instruct the vehicle to autonomously drive to the worksite in response to confirming that the at least one item was delivered.

6. A tool application system for a vehicle, comprising:
a database configured to maintain an inventory of items on a vehicle;
a vehicle camera configured to capture a live-stream of a delivery at at least one location; and
a server configured to
transmit a part request for at least one item to the at least one location based on at least one factor,
transmit instructions to the vehicle in response to receiving a response to the request from the location confirming availability of the at least one item, the instructions including autonomously driving to the location,
receive an image of a delivery person and at least one item from the camera and verify the delivery person and the at least one item at the location based on the image, and
instruct at least one vehicle door to open in response to verifying the delivery person and the at least one item.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the server is further configured to receive a request for the at least one item relating to a worksite from a technician;
compare the request for the at least one item to the inventory;
determine that the at least one item is not part of the inventory.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one factor is item value.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the server is further configured to instruct the vehicle to autonomously drive to the location.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the server is further programmed to receive confirmation from the technician that the at least one item was delivered.

11. The system of claim 6 , wherein the server is further programmed to instruct the vehicle to autonomously drive to a worksite in response to confirming that the at least one item was delivered.

12. A method for locating an item using tool application for a vehicle, comprising:
receiving a request for at least one item relating to a worksite from a technician;
comparing the request for the at least one item to a current vehicle inventory;
determining that at least one missing item of the at least one item is not part of the inventory;
transmitting an item request for the at least one missing item to at least one location based on at least one factor; and
transmitting instructions to the vehicle in response to receiving a response to the item request from the location confirming availability of the at least one missing item;
receiving an image of a delivery person and the at least one missing item, and verifying the delivery person and the at least one missing item at the location; and
instructing at least one vehicle door to open in response to verifying the delivery person and the at least one missing item.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one factor is item value.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising instructing the vehicle to autonomously drive to the location.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising receiving confirmation from the technician that the the at least one item was delivered.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising instructing the vehicle to autonomously drive to the worksite in response to confirming that the the at least one item was delivered.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Diamond Brendan F
• Preiss Meghan
• Huebner Annette Lynn
• Pillen Lia

Classifications

• G06Q10/083

  Shipping · CPC title

• B60W60/00256

  Delivery operations · CPC title

• B60W2556/45

  External transmission of data to or from the vehicle · CPC title

• G06Q10/0875 Primary

  Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials · CPC title