Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Vehicle diagnosis or maintenance indication
Reexamination Certificate
1997-03-27
2001-06-26
Louis-Jacques, Jacques H. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Vehicle diagnosis or maintenance indication
C701S030000, C701S035000, C701S031000, C340S438000, C340S439000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253129
ABSTRACT:
STATEMENT UNDER 37 C.F.R. '1.71(D) AND (E)
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears on the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever.
MICROFICHE APPENDIX
The present application contains a microfiche appendix of a computer program listing for partial operation of the invention described herein, said appendix includes three microfiche sheets and 208 frames.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to carrier vehicle management devices and, more particularly, to an improved carrier vehicle management system employing vehicle position information.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Presently, there exists no system for integrating and automating the various communication, record keeping, vehicle maintenance, and route management needs of commercial vehicle fleet operators. For example, DOT log book records may be stored on a table or on-board computer. Haendel et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,359,528, hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, discloses a vehicle monitoring system using a satellite positioning system for recording the number of miles driven in a given state for purposes of apportioning road use taxes. Also, cellular telephone communication and other wireless mobile communication systems have improved the communication between a vehicle operator and a central dispatcher. However, there still exists a need for a single, comprehensive vehicle management system that can integrate all aspects of commercial fleet operators.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a commercial vehicle fleet management system which integrates a vehicle on-board computer, a precise positioning system, and communication system to provide automated calculating and reporting of jurisdictional fuel taxes, road use taxes, vehicle registration fees, and the like.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a system which allows for driver and vehicle performance and evaluation.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a system that allows a commercial fleet operator, and the customers thereof, to monitor the position of a given shipment.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a system for aiding in accident reconstruction or accident investigation.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a system which automates all other aspects of a commercial fleet operation, such as scheduling of routine maintenance, vehicle operator payroll, hours on service or mileage limitation compliance, DOT log books, inventory control, speed, engine RPM, braking, and other vehicle parameters, route analysis, pick up and delivery scheduling, fuel consumption and efficiency, border crossings, driver error, data transfer, safety, security, etc.
A first aspect of the present invention employs position information and geographical database information to calculate and automate reporting of fuel tax and vehicle registration fees.
A second aspect of the present invention employs position information, geographical database information and vehicle operational parameters to calculate and automate vehicle operator logs, operator and vehicle performance and efficiency, route analysis, vehicle operator payroll, hours on service (HOS) compliance, etc.
A third aspect of the present invention employs vehicle position information and a communication system for increasing the efficiency of a commercial vehicle operation.
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Cuthbertson Thomas G.
Deal David V.
Egeberg Gerald W.
Hoy David R.
Jenkins Paul C.
Louis-Jacques Jacques H.
Rader & Fishman & Grauer, PLLC
Tripmaster Corporation
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