Overlapping geographic areas

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9171471-B2
Application number	US-201414197413-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 5, 2014
Priority date	Apr 19, 2012
Publication date	Oct 27, 2015
Grant date	Oct 27, 2015

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for identifying overlapping areas. For example, in one embodiment, telematics data can be collected as vehicles traverse various geographic areas. Then, the areas traversed by the vehicles can be displayed to identify overlapping areas.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for identifying an overlapping area, the method comprising:
receiving, via one or more processors, telematics data associated with a first vehicle, wherein the telematics data is collected while the first vehicle operates within a first geographic area;
receiving, via the one or more processors, telematics data associated with a second vehicle, wherein the telematics data is collected while the second vehicle operates within a second geographic area;
identifying, via the one or more processors, an overlapping area, wherein (1) the overlapping area is identified based at least in part from the (a) telematics data associated with the first vehicle and (b) the telematics data associated with the second vehicle, and (2) at least a portion of the overlapping area is within the first geographic area and the second geographic area; and
assigning, via the one or more processors, one or more detected locations in the overlapping area to at least one of the first geographic area or the second geographic area for travel to the detected locations by a vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising simultaneously causing display of the first geographic area, the second geographic area, and the overlapping geographic area on a graphical image of a map.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising simultaneously causing display of an outline of each of the first geographic area, the second geographic area, and the overlapping area on the graphical image of the map.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:
electronically identifying one or more locations within the overlapping area and assigned to the second geographic area; and
electronically assigning the one or more locations within the overlapping area and assigned to the second geographic area to the first geographic area.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising:
electronically identifying one or more locations within the overlapping area and assigned to the first geographic area; and
electronically assigning the one or more locations within the overlapping area and assigned to the first geographic area to the second geographic area.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising simultaneously causing display of an outline of each of the first geographic area, the second geographic area, and the overlapping area on the graphical image of the map.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein (1) each of the respective outlines is a polygon and (2) the first geographic area and the second geographic area are respectively defined by geofences.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first geographic area comprises an area assigned to the first vehicle for delivery or pickup of one or more items; and
the second geographic area comprises an area assigned to the second vehicle for delivery or pickup of one or more other items.

9. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:
receive telematics data associated with a first vehicle, wherein the telematics data is collected while the first vehicle operates within a first geographic area;
receive telematics data associated with a second vehicle, wherein the telematics data is collected while the second vehicle operates within a second geographic area;
identify an overlapping area, wherein (1) the overlapping area is identified based at least in part from the (a) telematics data associated with the first vehicle and (b) the telematics data associated with the second vehicle, and (2) at least a portion of the overlapping area is within the first geographic area and the second geographic area; and
assign one or more detected locations in the overlapping area to at least one of the first geographic area or the second geographic area for travel to the detected locations by a vehicle.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to simultaneously cause display of the first geographic area, the second geographic area, and the overlapping geographic area on a graphical image of a map.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to simultaneously cause display of an outline of each of the first geographic area, the second geographic area, and the overlapping area on the graphical image of the map.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:
identify one or more locations within the overlapping area and assigned to the second geographic area; and
assign the one or more locations within the overlapping area and assigned to the second geographic area to the first geographic area.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:
identify one or more locations within the overlapping area and assigned to the first geographic area; and
assign the one or more locations within the overlapping area and assigned to the first geographic area to the second geographic area.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to simultaneously cause display of an outline of each of the first geographic area, the second geographic area, and the overlapping area on the graphical image of the map.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein (1) each of the respective outlines is a polygon and (2) the first geographic area and the second geographic area are respectively defined by geofences.

16. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein:
the first geographic area comprises an area assigned to the first vehicle for delivery or pickup of one or more items; and
the second geographic area comprises an area assigned to the second vehicle for delivery or pickup of one or more other items.

17. A computer program product for identifying an overlapping area, the computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:
an executable portion configured to receive telematics data associated with a first vehicle, wherein the telematics data is collected while the first vehicle operates within a first geographic area;
an executable portion configured to receive telematics data associated with a second vehicle, wherein the telematics data is collected while the second vehicle operates within a second geographic area;
an executable portion configured to identify an overlapping area, wherein (1) the overlapping area is identified based at least in part from the (a) telematics data associated with the first vehicle and (b) the telematics data associated with the second vehicle, and (2) at least a portion of the overlapping area is within the first geographic area and the second geographic area; and
an executable portion configured to assign one or more detected locations in the overlapping area to at least one of the first geographic area or the second geographic area for travel to the detected locations by a vehicle.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 further comprising an executable portion configured to simultaneously cause display of

Assignees

• United Parcel Service Inc

Inventors

• Davidson Mark J

Classifications

• G08G1/202

  Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching · CPC title

• G06Q10/08355

  Routing methods · CPC title

• G08G1/207 Primary

  with respect to certain areas, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas with possible alerting when inside or outside boundaries · CPC title

• G08G1/137

  the indicator being in the form of a map · CPC title

• G08G1/13

  the indicator being in the form of a map · CPC title