Abstract: A tracking device and method of determining a location of a tag connected to an object. The method comprises transmitting a first message from a server over a long range communication protocol to the tag so that the tag emits short and long range distress messages; receiving at a server the long range distress messages including location data using the long range communication protocol; using the location data to determine a geographical area in which the tag is located; transmitting a message from the server to one or more mobile devices in the geographic area to enable the mobile devices to receive the short range distress messages; receiving at the mobile devices the short range distress messages from the tag and using the received short range distress message to locate the tag; and transmitting a second message from the mobile devices to the server including the location of the tag.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards tracking a package with a tracking device (TD). Embodiments include obtaining a shipping itinerary for the package, receiving a carrier acceptance confirmation indicating the driver has transferred the package to the carrier; receiving a departure confirmation for the segment; receiving, after receiving the departure confirmation, a TD status message including a first location of the package as determined by the TD; and in response to receiving the TD status message after the departure confirmation, issuing a failure to board alert for the package.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a sensor driven optimized maintenance program are provided. A first maintenance plan for an apparatus type is received; the first maintenance plan defining maintenance tasks for the apparatus type and defining intervals at which the maintenance tasks are to be performed. Historical sensor data, historical scheduled maintenance data, and historical unscheduled maintenance data are received and correlated to determine a predictive value of the sensor data. One or more maintenance optimization objectives of an operator of an apparatus of the apparatus type are received, and the sensor driven optimized maintenance program is generated, based at least on the predictive value of the sensor data and the maintenance optimization objectives. The sensor driven optimized maintenance program includes an adjusted one of the defined intervals.

Abstract: A system can receive, over one or more networks, location data from a computing device of a requesting user, where the location data indicates a current position of the requesting user. The system can determine a rendezvous location for the requesting user prior to the requesting user transmitting a service request to the network computer system. The system may then transmit, over the one or more networks, data corresponding to the rendezvous location to the computing device of the requesting user.

Abstract: A system for providing vehicle information to a mobile device includes a network access device to receive a request including image data corresponding to a portion of a vehicle. The system further includes a memory to store content related to vehicles. The system further includes a processor designed to identify a model of the vehicle based on the request for the vehicle information and to identify the portion of the vehicle based on the request for the vehicle information. The processor is further designed to determine a type of information requested based on the request for the vehicle information and to identify applicable content from the memory based on the identified model of the vehicle, the identified portion of the vehicle, and the identified type of information requested. The processor is further designed to control the network access device to transmit the applicable content to the remote device.

Abstract: A car-sharing system for vehicles including private and/or corporate-owned vehicles receives, from a user's terminal, a use reservation for one of the vehicles available at a parking station in the vicinity of the departure location during the user's desired period, and one of parking stations located in the vicinity of the destination location where the vehicle can be returned at the user's desired time, to register the use reservation in vehicle/parking station schedule information; and makes a use reservation, with respect to a period registered in the vehicle schedule information for the owner to use the vehicle, for another vehicle different from the vehicle from among the vehicles available during the period, and for a predetermined parking station from among the parking stations at which said another vehicle can be returned within the period, to register the use reservation in the vehicle/parking station schedule information.

Abstract: An approach is provided for estimating false positive reports of detectable road events. For example, the approach involves determining a first number of road reports from a fleet of vehicles, and operating in a geographic area during a first time period and a second number of road reports from the fleet operating in the geographic area during a second time period. The first number of road reports and the second number of reports relate to a road event detected by vehicle sensors. The approach further involves computing a difference between the first number and the second number. The approach further involves determining a percentage of defective vehicles in the fleet based on the difference. The defective vehicles are defective with respect to a detection of the road event. The approach further involves providing the percentage of defective vehicles as an output.

Abstract: An information providing device includes: a reception unit configured to receive current location information on a transportable power supply device from the transportable power supply device that supplies power to an electric apparatus detachably connected thereto; an information generation unit configured to generate use place information indicating a place of use of the transportable power supply device based on the received current location information; and a transmission unit configured to transmit the use place information to a service provider's terminal. The reception unit receives information on the electric apparatus connected to the transportable power supply device from the transportable power supply device. The use place information includes information on a type of the electric apparatus connected to the transportable power supply device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for worker protection system with ultra-wideband (UWB) based anchors. One or more wayside units placed on or near a track may be configured to form a work zone network, based on ultra-wideband (UWB) communications, corresponding to a work zone in an area surrounding or in proximity to the one or more wayside units. When the work zone network is formed, at least one wayside unit of the one or more wayside units may be configured to obtain ranging information to a train traversing the track, based on communications of UWB signals with at least one train-mounted unit deployed on the train, and the one or more wayside units are configured to generate, based on the ranging information, notifications relating to the train and/or the work zone.

Abstract: A control unit for a battery system includes a plurality of battery cells is provided. The control unit includes: an input node configured to receive a sensor signal indicative of a state of at least one of the plurality of battery cells; a microcontroller connected to the input node and configured to generate a first control signal based on the sensor signal; and a switch control circuit configured to control a power switch of the battery system by: receiving the sensor signal, the first control signal, and a fault signal indicative of an operational state of the microcontroller; generating a second control signal based on the sensor signal; and transmitting one of the first control signal and the second control signal to an output node of the control unit based on the received fault signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and system for communication between a vulnerable road user and an autonomous vehicle using augmented reality to highlight information to the vulnerable road user regarding potential interactions between the autonomous vehicle and the vulnerable road user.

Abstract: In one example embodiment, a computer-implemented method and system for automated detection of change of ownership of one or more assets are disclosed. The method includes learning and storing location information of at least one asset; detecting a location where no movement of the at least one asset has occurred over a pre-determined duration of time; determining whether the detected location is classified as a location of interest based on a pre-defined criteria; preparing a data model for the at least one asset to learn and analyze determined location of interest; classifying the determined locations of interests based on frequency of occurrence of pre-determined events; comparing new data to the data model; and determining probability of change of ownership of the at least one asset as a prediction score as a result of the comparison.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward systems and methods for providing an indicator of a direction between a requester and a transportation vehicle. For example, the systems and methods described herein can provide a dynamic digital compass from the current orientation of a requester client device to the location of a transportation vehicle. For example, the systems and methods described herein can determine a location of a requester client device, a location of a transportation vehicle, and an orientation of the requester client device. The systems and methods can also utilize the location of the requester client device, the location of the transportation vehicle, and the orientation of the requester client device to identify a direction from the requester client device to the transportation vehicle relative to the current orientation of the requester client device and provide a digital compass to indicate the direction to the transportation vehicle.

Abstract: An operation control apparatus executes sending operation instructions to vehicles running in an autonomous driving mode such that a time interval at which the vehicles running in the autonomous driving mode pass a selected point in a route is substantially constant, receiving, from any one vehicle running in the autonomous driving mode, a notification that the vehicle switches into a manual driving mode in response to an instruction of a boarding staff, and sending operation instructions to the vehicle having switched into the manual driving mode and the vehicle that continues running in the autonomous driving mode such that a time interval at which the vehicle having switched into the manual driving mode and the vehicle that continues running in the autonomous driving mode pass a selected point in the route is substantially constant in a set time from when the operation control apparatus has received the notification.

Abstract: An aggregate display of contact data from internal and external sources is provided. Contact data associated with at least one contact is obtained from a plurality of sources, including at least an internal source and an external source. The obtained contact data is processed to generate an aggregated collection of contact data. The aggregated collection of contact data is stored. A display of the aggregated collection of contact data is displayed in a single, interactive interface.

Abstract: A motion planner of an autonomous vehicle's computer system uses reconfigurable collision detection architecture hardware to perform a collision assessment on a planning graph for the vehicle prior to execution of a motion plan. For edges on the planning graph, which represent transitions in states of the vehicle, the system sets a probability of collision with a dynamic object in the environment based at least in part on the collision assessment. Depending on whether the goal of the vehicle is to avoid or collide with a particular dynamic object in the environment, the system then performs an optimization to identify a path in the resulting planning graph with either a relatively high or relatively low potential of a collision with the particular dynamic object. The system then causes the actuator system of the vehicle to implement a motion plan with the applicable identified path based at least in part on the optimization.

Abstract: A system for locating a vehicle event recorder after power loss includes an interface and a processor. The interface is configured to receive an indication of disconnection from a vehicle power source. The processor is configured to determine location information for a vehicle event recorder and indicate to transmit the location information.

Abstract: A control unit for a battery system includes a plurality of battery cells is provided. The control unit includes: an input node configured to receive a sensor signal indicative of a state of at least one of the plurality of battery cells; a microcontroller connected to the input node and configured to generate a first control signal based on the sensor signal; and a switch control circuit configured to control a power switch of the battery system by: receiving the sensor signal, the first control signal, and a fault signal indicative of an operational state of the microcontroller; generating a second control signal based on the sensor signal; and transmitting one of the first control signal and the second control signal to an output node of the control unit based on the received fault signal.

Abstract: Example on-demand driver (ODD) systems and methods are described herein. An example method includes generating, with an ODD system, a softkey for a vehicle associated with an agreement between a driver-in-need (DIN) and an ODD, monitoring, with the ODD system, a location of an ODD device carried by the ODD, and transmitting, with the ODD system, the softkey to the ODD device when the ODD device is detected as being within a proximity of the vehicle. In the example method, the softkey is used to unlock the vehicle.

Abstract: Techniques for maintaining d-heap property and speeding up retrieval operations, such as top or pop, by vectorizing the d-heap and utilizing horizontal aggregation SIMD instructions across the retrieval operations. A d-heap is vectorized by storing it in a contiguous memory array containing a beginning-most side and end-most side. Horizontal aggregation SIMD instructions are utilized to aggregate the values of the vectorized d-heap. Thus, the number of comparisons required in order to find the maximum or minimum key value within a single node of the d-heap is reduced resulting in faster retrieval operations.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring use, determining risk, and pricing insurance policies for a vehicle having one or more autonomous or semi-autonomous operation features are provided. According to certain aspects, a computer-implemented method for communicating information regarding a smart infrastructure component to an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle may be provided. Sensors may be communicatively connected to an infrastructure communication device, and the infrastructure communication device may generate a message based upon information from the sensors and/or regarding the infrastructure component. The message may be transmitted, and, with the vehicle operator's permission, all or part of the determined message may be presented to the operator of the autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle. The message may include weather, traffic, ice, or road condition or construction information and facilitate safer vehicle travel.

Abstract: Value-based data transmission in an autonomous vehicle may include acquiring sensor data from a plurality of sensors of the autonomous vehicle, the sensor data comprising a plurality of portions; determining, for each portion of the sensor data, a value; determining, based on the values for the sensor data, an upload policy; and transmitting, based on the upload policy, one or more portions of the sensor data to a server.

Abstract: A method of collecting data regarding the operation of a vehicle that includes receiving sensor data regarding one or more objects or events in a surrounding environment using one or more vehicle sensors, classifying, by one or more processors, the one or more detected objects or events, generating one or more vehicle inquiries based on the classification of the one or more detected objects or events, presenting one or more vehicle inquiries, and receiving user feedback to the one or more vehicle inquiries.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for defining, measuring and tracking aspects, such as pavement defects. Based on the survey data dimensional detail for the pavement defects is determined and treatment approaches selected. A bid package based on the treatment approach is generated.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a vehicle for receiving and processing first data while the vehicle is in a parked position, the data taking into consideration errors in a position determination for the vehicle on account of atmospheric effects. The first data are produced by at least one satellite which is designed to send the first data to the vehicle having a first communication interface. The first communication interface is designed to receive the first data from the at least one satellite. A controller is connectable to the first communication interface in order to receive first data from the first communication interface for processing. The controller is further designed to take the received first data as a basis for determining at least one parameter for the creation of an error correction model for correcting a position error in the determination of a position for the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for operating a communication network comprising a plurality of motor vehicles, wherein the motor vehicles each have a sensor device having at least one environmental sensor, wherein at least one motor vehicle, when a malfunction of an environmental sensor is found by its sensor device, transmits the status data describing the malfunction and including position data of the motor vehicle to at least one external evaluation device for determining interference area information describing an interference area for environmental sensors of the motor vehicles.

Abstract: Multicast expert system information dissemination systems and methods making use of artificial intelligence are provided. The systems and methods include a wireless device for receiving RF multicast information messages from a content provider wherein said information is descriptive of objects potentially of interest to users of the device. Received multicast messages may include information parameters about objects of potentially interest to the user. The wireless device also includes a knowledge base prestored in the wireless device descriptive of the user's level of interest in various objects. Artificial intelligence expert system control is used to evaluate a combination of the user's level of interest in the object information and distance from the user to the location where the object may be obtained. The artificial intelligence expert system derives a user advisory action index. In one embodiment the artificial intelligence may be implemented using fuzzy logic inference engine apparatus.

Abstract: The present teaching relates to method, system, and medium, for generating an augmented alert in a hybrid vehicle. First information indicating an upcoming switch in an operating mode of the vehicle is received, which specifies a set of tasks, arranged in an order, to be completed by a driver in the vehicle to achieve the upcoming switch, and a task duration for each of the set of tasks by which the task is to be completed. A current state of the driver is obtained and used to determine a set of warnings to alert the driver to perform the set of tasks. Each warning corresponds to a task in the set of tasks and is created based on the current state of the driver. A warning schedule is generated based on the set of warnings in the order of the set of tasks and transmitted so that warnings in the warning schedule are delivered to the driver.

Abstract: In a method for performing a manual drive in an elevator after mains power-off, the frequency converter of the motor is separated from mains, any safety blocking of the brake drive and/or motor drive is disabled, current is supplied from the battery to the brake drive to open the elevator brake and current is supplied from the battery to the drive control to allow regulation of the motor speed via the inverter bridge, the manual drive control observes the motor speed via the speed sensor and starts a speed feedback loop to regulate the motor speed to a manual drive reference value by feeding a three phase-AC current to the motor windings via the semiconductors of the inverter bridge, which manual drive speed reference is lower than the speed reference for normal elevator operation, when the car reaches a floor level the floor level indicator is activated, and the actuator is released whereafter the current supply from the battery to the elevator brake is interrupted and the previous disabled safety blocking o

Abstract: The network system triggers registration of the start a transport journey in response to a communication of a transport user device and a transport provider device with each other, performs a continuous coordinated proximity monitoring to verify the identity of a transport user and a transport provider vehicle, and triggers registration of the end of the transport journey through communication of the transport user device and the transport provider device with each other.

Abstract: A server device includes a memory and processor. A vehicle identification number (VIN) is stored in the memory. The VIN is associated with connection information for a vehicle associated with the VIN. The processor executes A VIN matcher stored in the memory, and denies a request for connection information in response to a mismatch between a supplied VIN from a connecting device and the VIN stored in memory. The processor executes a network connector stored in the memory, and sends connection information to a connecting device in response to a match between the supplied VIN from the connecting device and the VIN stored in memory. The connection information is sent through the network connection using a first communication protocol and contains information for the connecting device to connect to the vehicle through direct pairing using a second communication protocol.

Abstract: A system (1) for aiding navigation includes an airport navigation device (2) to generate a ground route within the airport for an aided aircraft, a device (3) for determining the current position of the aided aircraft, a traffic surveillance device (9) for determining the location and type of nearby aircraft, a computation unit (10) for determining, for each segment of the ground route congestion information as a function of the position, type and speed of the nearby aircraft on each of the segments, and a display device displaying an airport map, the current location of the aided aircraft and congestion information for each segment.

Abstract: A key information management device includes: a key information distribution unit configured to distribute key information to a company that provides a delivery service that allows an inside of a vehicle, a building, or a facility used by a user to be designated as a delivery destination of a package, key information being used by a delivery person of the company to unlock a specified entrance of the vehicle, the building, or the facility; and a determination unit configured to determine whether or not the delivery person who delivers the package has reached within a specified range of the vehicle, the building, or the facility, wherein the key information distribution unit is configured to distribute the key information to the company when the determination unit determines that the delivery person has reached within the specified range of the vehicle, the building, or the facility.

Abstract: Techniques for assigning APs to wireless network controllers are described. One or more RF constellations for a plurality of APs in a wireless network are generated. The RF constellations are organized based on estimated RF distances among the plurality of APs. The plurality of APs are clustered into a plurality of groups of one or more APs, based on the RF constellations and the estimated RF distances. Each group, of the plurality of groups, is assigned to a wireless network controller.

Abstract: A key information management device includes: a key information distribution unit configured to distribute key information to a company that provides a delivery service that allows an inside of a vehicle, a building, or a facility used by a user to be designated as a delivery destination of a package, key information being used by a delivery person of the company to unlock a specified entrance of the vehicle, the building, or the facility; and a determination unit configured to determine whether or not the delivery person who delivers the package has reached within a specified range of the vehicle, the building, or the facility, wherein the key information distribution unit is configured to distribute the key information to the company when the determination unit determines that the delivery person has reached within the specified range of the vehicle, the building, or the facility.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing Internet of Things (“IoT”) functionality. In some embodiments, a computing system or IoT management node might receive sensor data from one or more IoT-capable sensors, analyze the sensor data to determine one or more actions to be taken, and identify one or more devices (e.g., household devices associated with a customer premises; vehicular components associated with a vehicle; devices disposed in, on, or along a roadway; devices disposed throughout a population area; etc.) for performing the determined one or more first actions. The computing system or IoT management node then autonomously controls each of the identified one or more devices to perform tasks based on the determined one or more first actions to be taken, thereby implementing smart environment functionality (e.g., smart home, building, or customer premises functionality, smart vehicle functionality, smart roadway functionality, smart city functionality, and so on).

Abstract: A point calculation device includes an actual movement route calculation unit configured to calculate an actual movement route of a vehicle from departure to arrival, and a point calculation unit configured to calculate use points according to a difference between the actual movement route and a preset movement route from a departure location to an arrival location.

Abstract: At least one of a set of topics published by one or more vehicle-located mobile gateways is subscribed to. A set of publication topics is created based on the first set of topics, the publication topics made available to a client. A subscription request is received from the client corresponding to a selected topic of the set of publication topics. First sequential data is received from the one or more mobile gateways in response to the subscription to the at least one of the set of topics of the one or more mobile gateways. Second sequential data is sent to the client responsive to the subscription request, the second sequential data being based on the first sequential data.

Abstract: Methods and systems for operating an autonomous driving vehicle (ADV) are disclosed. A current state of an ADV is sampled at a first time to obtain a set of parameters. A cost, from a cost function that reflects desired control goals, is generated for a future time horizon based at least in part on the set of parameters. The cost is minimized with one or more constraints to obtain target control input values. For each of the target control input values, a lookup operation is performed using the control input value to locate a first mapping entry that approximately corresponds to the control input value. A first control command is derived from the first mapping entry. The ADV is controlled using the derived first control command.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide an address harvester that harvests addresses from one or more applications executing on a device. Some embodiments use the harvested addresses to facilitate the operation of one or more applications executing on the device. Alternatively, or conjunctively, some embodiments use the harvested addresses to facilitate the operation of one or more applications executing on another device than the one used for harvesting the addresses. In some embodiments, a prediction system uses the harvested addresses to formulate predictions, which it then provides to the same set of applications from which it harvested the addresses in some embodiments.

Abstract: A method and a system are provided for the automatic monitoring of the position of an object, such as a vehicle or other mobile equipment, including, for example, an implement or tool or of construction material and works-related material. The method includes a series of steps carried out iteratively. The steps include detecting a current position of an object to be monitored; determining a spatial distance of the detected current position from a position previously specified as a central position; checking whether the spatial distance which has been determined exceeds a predetermined distance threshold, and if this is the case, triggering a predefined functionality of the object and/or of the position monitoring system and specifying the detected current position as a central position for a subsequent iteration.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for transmitting a plurality of push-based communications associated with products moving geographically. In various aspects, an application programming interface (API) endpoint server having a push-based API, the push-based API associated with a webhook provided to a delivery service server, may receive via a webhook-push following an update to a delivery status state of a delivery event. The webhook-push includes information associated with the delivery event. A short message service (SMS) webpage server may generate a description of the update to the delivery status state. The SMS webpage server may be further configured to generate an SMS-based webpage including an image of an operator of a mobile delivery vehicle. An SMS delivery component may transmit a communication including the description of the update to a client device associated with the delivery event.

Abstract: An electronic scanning apparatus comprises a first wireless receiver configured to receive a first data. A second wireless receiver configured to initially be in a disabled mode. The second wireless receiver is enabled to receive a second data in response to reception of the first data by the first wireless receiver. The second wireless receiver returns to the disabled mode in response to receiving the second data. A processing module is coupled to the first wireless receiver and the second wireless receiver. A networking interface is coupled to the processing module. The networking interface is configured to receive the first data and the second data from the processing module and to transmit the first data and the second data to an external server. A Smart Tag includes both a first wireless receiver and a second wireless receiver.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for aircraft taxi routing are described herein. One device includes instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to receive a record of a plurality of historical routes taken by a plurality of aircraft through taxiways of an airport, receive an indication of a plurality of conditions particular to the airport, receive an indication of a starting point of a proposed route in the airport and an endpoint of the airport, wherein the starting point and the endpoint are associated with a proposed taxiing of an aircraft, determine a route between the starting point and the endpoint based on the plurality of historical routes and the plurality of conditions, and provide the determined route to an air traffic controller.

Abstract: Various embodiments of present invention provide systems, methods, and computer-program products containing executable code for processing a package for shipping with a common carrier. Various embodiments include a wireless computing device that may be one of several types of devices such as smartphones, mobile telephones, mobile computers, portable digital assistants, laptop computers, gaming devices, electronic tablets, or other types of similar devices. In particular embodiments, executable code is installed on the wireless computing device that, when executed, causes the device to perform certain functionality. For instance, in particular embodiments, the wireless computing device records an image of a shipping form being placed on a package, verifies the image is suitable for analysis and transmission, and extracts a tracking number from the image.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for transmitting a plurality of push-based communications associated with products moving geographically. In various aspects, an application programming interface (API) endpoint server having a push-based API, the push-based API associated with a webhook provided to a delivery service server, may receive via the webhook a webhook-push following an update to a delivery status state of a delivery event. A short message service (SMS) webpage server may generate a description of the update to the delivery status state. The SMS webpage server may be further configured to generate an SMS-based webpage and the description of the update to the delivery status state may include the URL of the SMS-based webpage. An SMS delivery component may transmit a communication including the description of the update to a client device associated with the delivery event.

Abstract: A system for controlling vehicle permissions based on a geo-fence boundary is disclosed. The system may include one or more processor that receives location information of an origin, generates a map based on the location information of the origin, determines the geo-fence boundary associated with a prospective radius from the origin based on the map, receives a vehicle location, and controls the vehicle permissions based on a comparison of the vehicle location to the geo-fence boundary. The system may further include a display configured to display the map and the geo-fence boundary.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward systems and methods for providing an indicator of a direction between a requester and a transportation vehicle. For example, the systems and methods described herein can provide a dynamic digital compass from the current orientation of a requester client device to the location of a transportation vehicle. For example, the systems and methods described herein can determine a location of a requester client device, a location of a transportation vehicle, and an orientation of the requester client device. The systems and methods can also utilize the location of the requester client device, the location of the transportation vehicle, and the orientation of the requester client device to identify a direction from the requester client device to the transportation vehicle relative to the current orientation of the requester client device and provide a digital compass to indicate the direction to the transportation vehicle.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing Internet of Things (“IoT”) functionality with a Public Safety Answering Point (“PSAP”). In some embodiments, a computing system located at a PSAP might receive a first message indicative of an emergency situation, analyze the first message to determine one or more actions to be taken, and identify one or more devices (e.g., household devices; vehicular components associated with a vehicle; utility devices; devices disposed in, on, or along a roadway; devices disposed throughout a population area; etc.) for performing the determined one or more first actions. The computing system might then autonomously control each of the identified one or more devices to perform tasks based on the determined one or more first actions to be taken, thereby implementing smart environment functionality (e.g., smart home, building, or customer premises functionality, smart vehicle functionality, smart utility, smart roadway functionality, smart city functionality, etc.).

Abstract: An apparatus, including a housing, microphone, speaker, camera, memory or database which stores information regarding a travel schedule or itinerary, global positioning device, controller, and a transmitter. The controller is specially programmed to detect a deviation of the apparatus from the travel schedule or itinerary or to detect an absence of, or a leaving of, the apparatus from an expected location on the travel schedule or itinerary, and, if the controller detects a deviation of the apparatus from the travel schedule or itinerary or detects an absence of, or a leaving of, the apparatus from the expected location on the travel schedule or itinerary, the controller generates a travel route deviation message. The transmitter transmits the travel route deviation message to a first communication device.