US6185501B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods and apparatus for loading or modifying a vehicle database from a remote computer via a communications network and a fuel or current dispenser
Assignee: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATES OF CONNECTICUT Inc
•
Filing: 1998-08-06
•
Granted: 2001-02-06
•
Expires: 2018-08-06
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus providing supplementary navigation data to be used with a vehicular navigation system. The supplementary navigation data can be superimposed over primary navigation data on a navigation system display or can be presented as a split-screen display. The supplementary navigation data may contain information such as locations of local facilities, local road information, types of local facilities. The supplementary navigation data is received by the vehicle when the vehicle is coupled to a station, such as a battery recharging or a refueling station, and is transmitted to the navigation system. An on-board controller can store the data and/or display the data. The navigation system could use the supplementary data to determine routes or locations for specific local facilities selected by the user. In an interactive or two-way communications system, the user can select predetermined types of supplementary data to be received. The supplementary navigation data is preferably transmitted to the navigation system at a local vehicle station, such as a refueling station, a vehicle rest stop, a vehicle tourist center, etc. Position update information can also be entered for resetting or recalibrating an internally maintained vehicle position.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry F. Smith
- 👤 Mark F. Harrington
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 00:52
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60L; B60L53/00; B60L53/30; B60L53/305; B60L53/60; B60L53/65; B60L53/66; B60L53/665; G; G01; G01C; G01C21/00; G01C21/26; G01C21/34; G01C21/36; G01C21/3679; G01C21/3697; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/08; G06Q20/12; G06Q20/127; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; G07; G07C; G07C5/00; G07C5/008; G07F; G07F15/00; G07F15/003; G07F15/12; G07F17/00; G07F17/0014; G07F17/16; G07F5/00; G07F5/18; G07F9/00; G07F9/002; B60L2240/00; B60L2240/60; B60L2240/62; B60L2240/622; B60L2240/70; B60L2240/72; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/60; Y02T10/70; Y02T10/7072; Y02T10/72; Y02T90/00; Y02T90/10; Y02T90/12; Y02T90/14; Y02T90/16; Y02T90/167; Y04; Y04S; Y04S30/00; Y04S30/10; Y04S30/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for inputting information to a vehicle, comprising the steps of: providing a vehicle that comprises a memory capable of storing information; coupling the vehicle to a dispenser of a consumable vehicle energy source; transferring a message from the vehicle to a computer via the dispenser and a data communications network, the message comprising a portion for specifying a request that all or some of the stored information be modified; in response to a receipt of the message, transferring information from the computer to the memory via the data communications network and the dispenser; and inserting the transferred information into the memory for modifying all or some of the stored information.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for inputting information to a vehicle, comprising the steps of: providing a vehicle that comprises a memory capable of storing information; coupling the vehicle to a dispenser of a consumable vehicle energy source; transferring a message from the vehicle to a computer via the dispenser and a data communications network, the message comprising a portion for specifying a request that all or some of the stored information be modified; in response to a receipt of the message, transferring information from the computer to the memory via the data communications network and the dispenser; and inserting the transferred information into the memory for modifying all or some of the stored information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein the stored information is comprised of navigation information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein the message includes a further portion for enabling the computer to account for the transferred information.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as in claim 1 , and further comprising a step of displaying in the vehicle at least some of the stored information in a human perceptible format.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 1 , and further comprising a step of storing at least some of the transferred information onto a removable data storage medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein the stored information is comprised of a plurality of groups of related information, and further comprising a step of displaying in the vehicle a selected group of related information.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method as in claim 27 , wherein the step of displaying is comprised of an initial step of displaying a list of identifiers, individual ones of which are associated with one of the plurality of groups of related information, and a step of selecting one of the identifiers from the displayed list of identifiers for selecting the group of related information to be displayed.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for inputting information to a vehicle, comprising the steps of: providing a vehicle that comprises a memory capable of storing information; coupling the vehicle to a dispenser of a consumable vehicle energy source; transferring a message from the vehicle to a computer via the dispenser and a data communications network, the message comprising a portion for requesting that specified information be downloaded to the memory; in response to a receipt of the message, accessing a file with the computer and downloading the specified information from the computer to the memory via the data communications network and the dispenser; and storing the downloaded information into the memory.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for inputting information to a vehicle, comprising the steps of: providing a vehicle that comprises a memory capable of storing information; coupling the vehicle to a dispenser of a consumable vehicle energy source; transferring a message from the vehicle to a computer via the dispenser and a data communications network, the message comprising a portion for requesting that specified information be downloaded to the memory; in response to a receipt of the message, accessing a file with the computer and downloading the specified information from the computer to the memory via the data communications network and the dispenser; and storing the downloaded information into the memory.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as in claim 8 , wherein the stored information is comprised of navigation information.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 8 , wherein the message includes a further portion for enabling the computer to account for the downloaded information.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as in claim 8 , and further comprising a step of displaying in the vehicle at least some of the downloaded information in a human perceptible format.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 8 , and further comprising a step of storing at least some of the downloaded information onto a removable data storage medium.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as in claim 8 , wherein the downloaded information is comprised of a plurality of groups of related information, and further comprising a step of displaying in the vehicle a selected group of related information.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method as in claim 13 , wherein the step of displaying is comprised of an initial step of displaying a list of identifiers, individual ones of which are associated with one of the plurality of groups of related information, and a step of selecting one of the identifiers from the displayed list of identifiers for selecting the group of related information to be displayed.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
211 words
A system for inputting data to a vehicle, comprising: a dispenser of a consumable vehicle energy source, said dispenser being bidirectionally coupled to a data communications network to which is also coupled at least one computer, said dispenser comprising first data connector means for bidirectionally coupling said dispenser to a second data connector means of a vehicle; and a vehicle that comprises a data storage memory and said second data connector means for coupling said vehicle to said first data connector means of said dispenser for transferring data into said data storage memory from said computer through said data communications network, said vehicle further comprising a controller for transmitting a message from said vehicle to said computer via said first and second data connector means and said data communications network, the message comprising a portion for specifying data to be transferred into said data storage memory; wherein said computer is responsive to a receipt of the message for accessing a data store and for transferring the specified data to said data storage memory via said data communications network, said dispenser, and said first and second data connector means; and wherein said controller is responsive to a receipt of the transferred data for storing the transferred data into said data storage memory.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
211 words
A system for inputting data to a vehicle, comprising: a dispenser of a consumable vehicle energy source, said dispenser being bidirectionally coupled to a data communications network to which is also coupled at least one computer, said dispenser comprising first data connector means for bidirectionally coupling said dispenser to a second data connector means of a vehicle; and a vehicle that comprises a data storage memory and said second data connector means for coupling said vehicle to said first data connector means of said dispenser for transferring data into said data storage memory from said computer through said data communications network, said vehicle further comprising a controller for transmitting a message from said vehicle to said computer via said first and second data connector means and said data communications network, the message comprising a portion for specifying data to be transferred into said data storage memory; wherein said computer is responsive to a receipt of the message for accessing a data store and for transferring the specified data to said data storage memory via said data communications network, said dispenser, and said first and second data connector means; and wherein said controller is responsive to a receipt of the transferred data for storing the transferred data into said data storage memory.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as in claim 15 , wherein the specified data is comprised of navigation information.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as in claim 15 , wherein the message includes a further portion for enabling said computer to account for the transferred data.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as in claim 15 , and further comprising a display means in said vehicle for presenting at least some of the transferred data in a human perceptible format.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system as in claim 15 , wherein the stored data is comprised of a plurality of groups of related data, and further comprising a display means in said vehicle for presenting, in said vehicle, at least one selected group of related data in a human perceptible format.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
75 words
A system as in claim 19 , wherein said controller causes said display means to display a list of identifiers, individual ones of which are associated with one of the plurality of groups of related data, and wherein said vehicle further comprises user interface input means for enabling a user to select at least one of the identifiers from the displayed list of identifiers for selecting the associated group of related data to be presented.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as in claim 20 , wherein said user interface input means is comprised of a manually operated input device.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as in claim 20 , wherein said user interface input means is comprised of a voice recognition device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as in claim 15 , wherein said first and second data connector means are each comprised of a wired connector.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as in claim 15 , wherein said first and second data connector means are each comprised of a wireless connector.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as in claim 15 , wherein said dispenser is comprised of a liquid fuel dispenser.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
42 words
A system as in claim 25 , wherein said controller is further operable for transferring indicia from said vehicle to said dispenser via said first and second data connector means for enabling an amount of dispensed liquid fuel to be accounted for.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as in claim 15 , wherein said dispenser is comprised of an electrical energy dispenser.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
42 words
A system as in claim 27 , wherein said controller is further operable for transferring indicia from said vehicle to said dispenser via said first and second data connector means for enabling an amount of dispensed electrical energy to be accounted for.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system as in claim 15 , wherein said dispenser further comprises display means for presenting at least some of the transferred data in a human perceptible format.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as in claim 15 , wherein said dispenser further comprises a printer for printing at least some of the transferred data.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for retrieving data from a computer, comprising the steps of: coupling a vehicle to a dispenser of a consumable vehicle energy source; transferring a data request message from the vehicle to a computer via the dispenser and a data communications network that is bidirectionally coupled to the dispenser and to the computer, the data request message comprising a portion for requesting that specified data be retrieved; and in response to a receipt of the data request message, accessing a file with the computer to retrieve the specified data and transmitting the retrieved data from the computer to the data communications network.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for retrieving data from a computer, comprising the steps of: coupling a vehicle to a dispenser of a consumable vehicle energy source; transferring a data request message from the vehicle to a computer via the dispenser and a data communications network that is bidirectionally coupled to the dispenser and to the computer, the data request message comprising a portion for requesting that specified data be retrieved; and in response to a receipt of the data request message, accessing a file with the computer to retrieve the specified data and transmitting the retrieved data from the computer to the data communications network.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 31 , wherein the specified data is comprised of vehicle navigation system data.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as in claim 31 , wherein the data request message includes a further portion for specifying an account number for enabling the computer to account for transmitting the specified data.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method as in claim 31 , and further comprising steps of: inputting to the vehicle the transmitted data from the data communications network via the dispenser; storing the inputted data within a memory; and presenting, in the vehicle, at least some of the stored data in a human perceptible format.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 33 , and further comprising a step of further storing at least some of the stored data onto a removable data storage medium.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as in claim 33 , wherein the inputted data is comprised of a plurality of groups of related data, and wherein the step of presenting presents a selected group of related data.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
71 words
A method as in claim 35 , wherein the step of presenting is comprised of an initial step of presenting a list of identifiers, individual ones of which are associated with one of the plurality of groups of related data, and a step of employing a user input means for selecting one of the identifiers from the displayed list of identifiers for selecting the group of related data to be presented.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as in claim 31 , and further comprising steps of: inputting to the dispenser the transmitted data from the data communications network; and presenting, with the dispenser, at least some of the inputted data in a human perceptible format.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 31 , wherein the dispenser is comprised of a dispenser of fuel.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 31 , wherein the dispenser is comprised of a dispenser of electrical current.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4263945A
Cited
US4532511A
Cited
US4309644A
Cited
US4383210A
Cited
US4347472A
Cited
US4404641A
Cited
US4532418A
Cited
US4528643A
Cited
US4876540A
Cited
US4800328A
Cited
US4965574A
Cited
US4983984A
Cited
US4967895A
Cited
US4880097A
Cited
US5003520A
Cited
US4804937A
Cited
US5053774A
Cited
US4861971A
Cited
EP0306088A1
Cited
US5159556A
Cited
US5003476A
Cited
US4977509A
Cited
US5058044A
Cited
US5115398A
Cited
US5479157A
Cited
US5049802A
Cited
US5170352A
Cited
US5359522A
Cited
US5111401A
Cited
US5072380A
Cited
US5307278A
Cited
US5204819A
Cited
US5208756A
Cited
US5184303A
Cited
US5353023A
Cited
US5365449A
Cited
US5157319A
Cited
US5202617A
Cited
US5353034A
Cited
US5351052A
Cited
US5451755A
Cited
US5263565A
Cited
US5557268A
Cited
US5487002A
Cited
US5422624A
Cited
US5499181A
Cited
US5327066A
Cited
US5717374A
Cited
US5742229A
Cited
US5806018A
Cited
US5914654A
Cited
US6018293A
Cited
US6067008A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-02-06 | 2004-08-07 | 2005-02-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-02-06 | 2008-08-07 | 2009-02-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-02-06 | 2012-08-07 | 2013-02-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |