The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 11, 1990
Filed:
Jun. 09, 1988
Thomas W Cearley, Clemmons, NC (US);
Michael F Donovan, Advance, NC (US);
Raymond A Gardea, II, Winston-Salem, NC (US);
Kolleen C Hughes, King, NC (US);
William R Hunt, III, Mt. Airy, NC (US);
William R Jarvis, Winston-Salem, NC (US);
Marvin R Martin, Winston-Salem, NC (US);
Aftab Shamb, Clay, NY (US);
Michael D Shepard, Winston-Salem, NC (US);
William F Summers, Mocksville, NC (US);
David C Twine, Winston-Salem, NC (US);
Lonnie M Utt, Jr, Mt. Airy, NC (US);
R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Winston-Salem, NC (US);
Abstract
The system includes a first computer for communicating with automatic guided vehicles on a guided vehicle loop and storing information related to vehicle position. A second computer determines vehicle destinations. The first computer and the second computer maintain separate databases. Information in the data of the first computer relating to vehicle position is copied into the database of the second computer to assist in making vehicle destination determinations and the vehicle destination information stored in the database of the second computer is copied into the first computer. The invention also includes a unique fast and slow polling routine to insure that data transfer to the vehicles requiring it most is achieved in any polling cycle.