Centralized and Web-based Design

Centralized application services and web based database requires less at client end so system can be deployed rapidly. In addition, this kind of architecture is able to offer more flexible configurations at client side so a customer could choose browser or client to access and operate the system.

A Cost Effective AVL Implementation

A basic AVL implementation for two-way radio fleet management only requires a gateway to bridge a base radio and Internet. A dispatcher uses browser to login and access web based tracking database without any software installation required. The vehicle's locations will be overlapped on an online map such as Google map.  Such system architecture made deploying rapidly and will meet many customer's requirements.  

NFC Tag for Fleet Radio Management and Maintenance

Keeping tracking information is essential for both end users and service providers to manage or maintain fleet two-way radios. Storing the information such as radio ID, programming file index and last maintenance record into a NFC tag and sticking to a radio will obviously helpful. In additional, it can exchange data with other equipment such as a smart phone with NFC function. Comparing to optical bar code, a NFC tag is more suitable for harsh or dirty environments.

Simple but Effective AVL and Dispatching

According to my experience, even for some customers such as city engineering departments, the most effective dispatching is still over voice. Although their AVL software has dozens functions that not only tracking vehicles, but also messaging, checking status, lone works, alarm, speed control, and etc, most of time they just use map to locate vehicles and talk to drivers. Think about this circumstance that your digital Mototrbo radio can display text messages but has to roll forward and backward to show the complete message in which there are more than 20 characters, unless using a MDT attached to radio, it is definitely not convenient. Therefore, for many fleet management, voice dispatching + vehicle tracking will meet customer's requirements and made their jobs easy.

Message Driven User Operation

Message is sent by coding with embedded command, so a smart MDT will list received messages according to these embedded commands and shows them in different way, such as different color or font. Moreover, when a user manipulates a certain message, the corresponding operation is vary and depends on the embedded command. It may pop up a window for further operations, or just simply to change message color to indicate this message has been  read. It is very similar like the co-channel signaling in communication system.

Online Map or Desktop Map Software

As long as the application software requires Internet connection all the time, for example, the application on server need to check incoming emails frequently or uses UDP to do data communication, I prefer to choose online map because of the cost. Moreover, it is easier to setup remote access so a desktop map software  is not required on each client computer.  

The Family of Smart MDT

The solution Android smart phone and 2-way radio integration will be extended to a product family. An Android smart phone which functions as a smart MDT could be used as a standalone MDT if cellular network meets the customer communication requirements.