Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Traffic analysis or control of surface vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
2006-08-23
2008-03-11
Zanelli, Michael J. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Traffic analysis or control of surface vehicle
C342S357490
Reexamination Certificate
active
07343243
ABSTRACT:
A system for controlling vehicles (20) to provide transportation services without need for human intervention. A database (10) stores records each documenting needed transportation services. Processing circuitry (which may be one or several networked computers) performs a dispatching process (26) which reviews these records, locates records indicating a need for immediate transportation service, and instructs vehicles to provide the service. The processing circuitry also performs a monitoring process (28) which monitors vehicle activities by reviewing the records, and automatically obtained vehicle activity information, to identify transportation services which are not being adequately provided, and refer these to human dispatchers (16) for special attention. A variety of methods for obtaining and updating vehicle activity information are disclosed, as are various applications for the system.
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