Patents by Inventor Mark J. Davidson

Mark J. Davidson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20160334225
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, systems, computer program products, and apparatuses for determining whether a street segment is a one-way street segment or a bi-directional segment, validating map data, and/or updating map data. In one embodiment, a method for determining whether a street segment is a one-way street segment or a bi-directional segment is provided. The method comprises receiving vehicle telematics data associated with one or more vehicles during one or more time periods, the vehicle telematics data indicating a street segment traveled by the one or more vehicles during the one or more time periods; and based at least in part on the vehicle telematics, determining whether the street segment is a one-way street segment or a bi-directional segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventor: Mark J. Davidson
  • Patent number: 9472030
    Abstract: According to various embodiments, a fleet management system is provided for capturing, storing, and analyzing telematics data to improve fleet management operations. The fleet management system may be used, for example, by a shipping entity (e.g., a common carrier) to capture telematics data from a plurality of vehicle sensors located on various delivery vehicles and to analyze the captured telematics data. In particular, various embodiments of the fleet management system are configured to analyze engine idle data in relation to other telematics data in order to identify inefficiencies, safety hazards, and theft hazards in a driver's delivery process. The fleet management system may also be configured to assess various aspects of vehicle performance, such as vehicle travel delays and vehicle speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Davidson, John A. Olsen, III
  • Publication number: 20160229592
    Abstract: A portable bag is provided, comprising: a plurality of surfaces constructed of a foldable material and comprising at least a front surface and a rear surface connected relative to each other by a pair of side surfaces, a bottom surface, and a top surface opposite the bottom surface; at least two handling openings, the at least two handling openings being integrally defined on at least one of the plurality of surfaces, the at least two handling openings being positioned substantially adjacent opposing sides of the at least one of the plurality of surfaces; and an interior liner further defining the interior compartment of the portable bag, the interior liner being positioned intermediate the interior compartment and the plurality of surfaces, at least two portions of the interior liner being inset relative to the plurality of surfaces to define respective cavities substantially aligned with the at least two handling openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventor: Mark J. Davidson
  • Publication number: 20160169689
    Abstract: Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided for defining travel paths in parking areas. In one embodiment, travel paths in parking areas can be defined in a digital map by automatically, semi-automatically, and/or manually after the parking areas are identified from one or more captured images of the parking area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: Mark J. Davidson
  • Publication number: 20160171012
    Abstract: Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided for determining the accuracy of map data. In one embodiment, map data and collected telematics data can be compared. The difference between the map data and the telematics data can be used to determine the accuracy of the map data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: Mark J. Davidson
  • Patent number: 9324198
    Abstract: According to various embodiments, a fleet management system is provided for capturing, storing, and analyzing telematics data to improve fleet management operations. The fleet management system may be used, for example, by a shipping entity (e.g., a common carrier) to capture telematics data from a plurality of vehicle sensors located on various delivery vehicles and to analyze the captured telematics data. In particular, various embodiments of the fleet management system are configured to analyze engine idle data in relation to other telematics data in order to identify inefficiencies, safety hazards, and theft hazards in a driver's delivery process. The fleet management system may also be configured to assess various aspects of vehicle performance, such as vehicle travel delays and vehicle speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Davidson, John A. Olsen, III
  • Publication number: 20160098729
    Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for determining carbon emissions of one or more vehicles. For instance, in one example embodiment, an apparatus may calculate miles traveled by the vehicles along a predefined route and may calculate a fuel usage of the vehicles for traveling along the route to obtain one or more fuel values. The apparatus may also analyze data indicating the miles traveled and the fuel values to determine fuel efficiency values corresponding to the vehicles traveling the route. The apparatus may also determine an estimate of an amount of carbon emissions for each of the vehicles based in part on applying at least one carbon emission value to respective fuel values associated with corresponding determined fuel efficiency values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: David L. Bradley, John A. Olsen, III, Mark J. Davidson
  • Patent number: 9291466
    Abstract: Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided for defining travel paths in parking areas. In one embodiment, travel paths in parking areas are defined by connecting street networking connection points within the parking areas. In another embodiment, such defined travel paths are merged with actual paths traveled by vehicles in the parking areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Mark J. Davidson
  • Patent number: 9273975
    Abstract: Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided for determining the accuracy of map data. In one embodiment, map data and collected telematics data can be compared. The difference between the map data and the telematics data can be used to determine the accuracy of the map data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Mark J. Davidson
  • Patent number: 9273976
    Abstract: Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided for defining travel paths in parking areas. In one embodiment, travel paths in parking areas are defined by automatically, semi-automatically, and/or manually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Mark J. Davidson
  • Patent number: 9256992
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a fleet management computer system configured for assessing vehicle backing According to various embodiments, the fleet management computer system is configured to assess operational data associated with one or more vehicles and identify vehicle backing events occurring during a particular time period. In various embodiments, the fleet management computer system is also configured to determine one or more backing characteristics for the identified backing events and generate a graphical display providing backing information indicative of the backing characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark J. Davidson
  • Patent number: 9248790
    Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for determining carbon emissions of one or more vehicles. For instance, in one example embodiment, an apparatus may calculate miles traveled by the vehicles along a predefined route and may calculate a fuel usage of the vehicles for traveling along the route to obtain one or more fuel values. The apparatus may also analyze data indicating the miles traveled and the fuel values to determine fuel efficiency values corresponding to the vehicles traveling the route. The apparatus may also determine an estimate of an amount of carbon emissions for each of the vehicles based in part on applying at least one carbon emission value to respective fuel values associated with corresponding determined fuel efficiency values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: David L. Bradley, John A. Olsen, III, Mark J. Davidson
  • Patent number: 9222781
    Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for automated data collection using geofence-based triggers. In one embodiment, the location of a vehicle can be monitored by a variety of computing entities. By using the vehicle's location, it can be determined when the vehicle enters and/or exits defined geofences. After a determination that a vehicle has entered or exited a defined geofence, one or more events can be automatically triggered/initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher T. Schenken, Mark J. Davidson
  • Patent number: 9208626
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to an efficiency management system configured for evaluating various operational efficiencies based on operational data. In certain embodiments, the efficiency management system is adapted for use as a vehicle fleet management system and configured for receiving operational data from a fleet of vehicles and vehicle operators, and for segmenting the received operational data into a plurality of activity segments. Various embodiments of the vehicle fleet management system may also be further configured for generating a graphical representation of the identified activity segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark J. Davidson
  • Patent number: 9171471
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Inventor: Mark J. Davidson
  • Publication number: 20150262433
    Abstract: Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided for segmenting operational data and identifying events of interest in the segmented operational data. With the events of interest identified, a total time between the events of interest can be determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventor: MARK J. DAVIDSON
  • Publication number: 20150254592
    Abstract: Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided for segmenting operational data and identifying events of interest in the segmented operational data. With the events of interest identified, a total time between the events of interest can be determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventor: MARK J. DAVIDSON
  • Patent number: 9129449
    Abstract: Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided for forecasting travel delays corresponding to streets, street segments, geographic areas, geofenced areas, and/or user-specified criteria. And from the forecasted travel delays, speed and travel times that take into account such travel delays can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Inventor: Mark J. Davidson
  • Patent number: 9128809
    Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for assigning parameters to a geofenced area. For example, in one embodiment, a geofenced area that (a) corresponds to a geographic area and (b) comprises one or more street segments is defined. Speed parameters can be assigned to the geofenced area. After receiving speed data, it can be determined whether the speed parameters have been exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Inventors: Mark J. Davidson, John A. Olsen, III
  • Publication number: 20150248795
    Abstract: Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided for segmenting operational data and identifying events of interested in the segmented operational data. With the events of interest identified, a total time between the events of interest can be determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventor: MARK J. DAVIDSON