Communications: electrical – Vehicle position indication – At remote location
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-01
2002-12-10
Lee, Benjamin C. (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Vehicle position indication
At remote location
C340S988000, C340S989000, C340S309160, C340S007480, C701S204000, C455S456500, C379S088220, C379S088250
Reexamination Certificate
active
06492912
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to vehicle monitoring and messaging systems and, in particular, to a vehicle monitoring system and method capable of efficiently communicating a plurality of notification messages to warn users in advance of impending arrivals of vehicles.
2. Related Art
For at least the purposes of allowing advance preparation and scheduling, it would be desirable to know, in advance and with substantial accuracy, the expected arrival time of a mobile vehicle (for example but not limited to, a bus, truck, train, ship, plane, aircraft, etc.) at a particular location, such as a stop along a predefined route.
For example, consider a commercial bus station. A person picking up a friend or relative at the commercial bus station usually calls the bus station to find out the approximate arrival time (information which is oftentimes unavailable or inaccurate) and/or arrives at the bus station prior to the scheduled arrival time of the bus, hoping that the bus is not significantly delayed. With knowledge of accurate arrival information in advance, adjustments can be made to one's schedule to avoid having to wait extended periods for a vehicle.
Another example involves school children that ride school buses. The arrival times of school buses at scheduled stops can be significantly affected by many factors, such as maintenance problems, rush hour traffic, congested urban/suburban conditions, adverse weather, etc. As a result, school children often wait at bus stops for long periods of time, sometimes in adverse weather conditions, on unlit street corners, or in hazardous conditions near busy or secluded streets. An advance notification system that would inform the students of the proximity of the school bus would be desirable, so that students can avoid having to wait for the school bus at the bus stop for extended time periods.
Yet another example involves the commercial overnight package delivery industry, wherein packages are often delivered on a tight schedule. Customers sometimes wait on delivery of important time-critical packages, not knowing precisely when the delivery will occur. An advance notification system that can inform a customer of the precise arrival time of a delivery vehicle would be desirable in order to improve customer service and to allow the customer to better schedule a pickup of a delivered item.
Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry for better systems, apparatuses, and methods for accurately tracking and/or reporting the status of mobile vehicles as the vehicles travel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes many inadequacies and deficiencies of the prior art, as discussed hereinbefore. In general, the present invention provides an automated system and method for monitoring travel of vehicles and for efficiently communicating notification messages to warn users of impending arrivals of the vehicles.
In a broad sense, the system of the present invention includes memory and logic. The memory stores data indicating when notification messages are scheduled for transmission to remote communications devices to warn users of impending arrivals of at least one vehicle. The logic is configured to determine that at least one of the notification messages is scheduled for transmission during a particular time period and to determine a number of notification messages that are scheduled for transmission during the particular time period. If the number exceeds a threshold number, the logic causes the one notification message to be transmitted prior to the time period.
In accordance with another feature of the present invention, the system also includes a sensor and a vehicle control unit disposed on the one vehicle. The sensor transmits location signals indicating the location of the one vehicle. The vehicle control unit transmits a message indicating whether the vehicle is off schedule based on the location signals. The logic is configured to update the data stored in the memory based on the message transmitted by the vehicle control unit.
The present invention can also be viewed as providing a method for notifying users of impending arrivals of vehicles. The method can be broadly conceptualized by the following steps: storing data indicating when notification messages are scheduled for transmission to remote communications devices; determining that at least one of the notification messages is scheduled for transmission during a particular time period; determining a number of the notification messages that are scheduled for transmission during the particular time period; comparing the number to a threshold number; changing when the one notification message is scheduled for transmission in response to a determination that the number exceeds the threshold number; and notifying one of the users of an impending arrival of a vehicle via the one notification message.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art upon examination of the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is intended that all such features and advantages be included herein within the teachings of the present invention, as set forth herein and as sought to be protected by the claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3845289 (1974-10-01), French
patent: 3934125 (1976-01-01), Macano
patent: 4220946 (1980-09-01), Henriot
patent: 4325057 (1982-04-01), Bishop
patent: 4350969 (1982-09-01), Greer
patent: 4383241 (1983-05-01), Kojima et al.
patent: 4401971 (1983-08-01), Saito et al.
patent: 4438422 (1984-03-01), Nojiri et al.
patent: 4791571 (1988-12-01), Takahashi et al.
patent: 4804937 (1989-02-01), Barbiaux et al.
patent: 4812843 (1989-03-01), Champion, III et al.
patent: 4956777 (1990-09-01), Cearley et al.
patent: 4989133 (1991-01-01), May et al.
patent: 5014206 (1991-05-01), Scribner et al.
patent: 5068656 (1991-11-01), Sutherland
patent: 5113185 (1992-05-01), Ichikawa
patent: 5122959 (1992-06-01), Nathanson et al.
patent: 5131020 (1992-07-01), Liebesny et al.
patent: 5168451 (1992-12-01), Bolger
patent: 5218629 (1993-06-01), Dumond, Jr. et al.
patent: 5223844 (1993-06-01), Mansell et al.
patent: 5299132 (1994-03-01), Wortham
patent: 5351194 (1994-09-01), Ross et al.
patent: 5381338 (1995-01-01), Wysocki et al.
patent: 5400020 (1995-03-01), Jones
patent: 5444444 (1995-08-01), Ross
patent: 5461374 (1995-10-01), Lewiner et al.
patent: 5493295 (1996-02-01), Lewiner et al.
patent: 5493694 (1996-02-01), Vlcek et al.
patent: 5519621 (1996-05-01), Wortham
patent: 5539810 (1996-07-01), Kennedy, III et al.
patent: 5541981 (1996-07-01), Lynn
patent: 5587715 (1996-12-01), Lewis
patent: 5594650 (1997-01-01), Shah et al.
patent: 5602739 (1997-02-01), Haagenstad et al.
patent: 5614898 (1997-03-01), Kamiya et al.
patent: 5623260 (1997-04-01), Jones
patent: 5648770 (1997-07-01), Ross
patent: 5657010 (1997-08-01), Jones
patent: 5668543 (1997-09-01), Jones
patent: 5673305 (1997-09-01), Ross
patent: 5719771 (1998-02-01), Buck et al.
patent: 5724243 (1998-03-01), Westerlage et al.
patent: 5726640 (1998-03-01), Jones et al.
patent: 5736940 (1998-04-01), Burgener
patent: 5739774 (1998-04-01), Olandesi
patent: 5751245 (1998-05-01), Janky et al.
patent: 5760742 (1998-06-01), Branch et al.
patent: 5808565 (1998-09-01), Matta et al.
patent: RE35920 (1998-10-01), Sorden et al.
patent: 6006159 (1999-12-01), Schmier et al.
patent: 6134501 (2000-10-01), Oumi
patent: 2 559 930 (1985-08-01), None
patent: 2674355 (1992-09-01), None
patent: 52066175 (1977-06-01), None
patent: 63288400 (1988-11-01), None
ArrivalStar, Inc.
Lee Benjamin C.
Thomas Kayden Horstemeyer & Risley LLP
LandOfFree
System and method for efficiently notifying users of... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with System and method for efficiently notifying users of..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and System and method for efficiently notifying users of... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2995372