Real time shipment tracking system via DSRC protocol based Vehicular Wireless Communications

  Currently, shipment service providers such as USPS, FEDEX etc. provide an online tool for tracking shipments. An end-user enters the unique tracking id. that was generated when a package was accepted for shipment at a service location. Tracking information is updated whenever the shipment arrives or departs from a service facility. Latencies involved in the system amount to the transit time of the mobile shipment delivery unit between each service facility.   Described here is a real-time shipment tracking system, which upon implementation can further add value to this service.   Essential components of the proposed system are: a. Vehicle to Infrastructure & Vehicle to Vehicle communications facilitated by DSRC protocol based Vehicular Network. b. RFID (Radio Frequency ID) as an alternative to the commercially used shipment barcode/tracking tag. c. On demand Vehicular positioning using a commercial low-grade GPS receiver