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US6683542B1
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Advanced notification system and method utilizing a distinctive telephone ring
Assignee: SHIPPING AND TRANSIT LLP
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Filing: 1996-12-09
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Granted: 2004-01-27
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Expires: 2016-12-09
Abstract
Abstract An advance notification system ( 10 ) and method notifies passengers of the impending arrival of a transportation vehicle, for example, a school bus ( 19 ), at a particular vehicle stop. The system ( 10 ) generally includes an on-board vehicle control unit (VCU) ( 12 ) for each vehicle ( 19 ) and a base station control unit (BSCU) ( 14 ) for making telephone calls to passengers in order to inform the passengers when the vehicle ( 19 ) is a certain predefined time period and/or distance away from the vehicle stop. Significantly, the telephone call to advise of the impending arrival preferably exhibits a distinctive ring so that the call recipient need not answer the telephone in order to receive the message. The VCU ( 12 ) compares elapsed time and/or travelled distance to the programmed scheduled time and/or travelled distance to determine if the vehicle ( 19 ) is on schedule. If the vehicle ( 19 ) is behind or ahead of schedule, the VCU ( 12 ) calls the BSCU ( 14 ), which then adjusts its calling schedule accordingly.
Inventors
- 👤 Martin Kelly Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 10:46
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/123
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
An advance notification method for notifying a user of an impending arrival of a vehicle at a vehicle stop, comprising the steps of: (a) monitoring travel of said vehicle; and (b) initiating a telephone call to a user telephone before said vehicle reaches said vehicle stop to thereby indicate impending arrival of said vehicle at said vehicle stop, wherein said telephone call originates from a base station remotely located with respect to said vehicle and wherein said user telephone exhibits a distinctive sound that is different than at least one other sound that is capable of being exhibited by said user telephone; and (c) upon establishing communication between said base station and said user telephone, providing a report regarding travel status of said vehicle from said base station to said user telephone.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
An advance notification method for notifying a user of an impending arrival of a vehicle at a vehicle stop, comprising the steps of: (a) monitoring travel of said vehicle; and (b) initiating a telephone call to a user telephone before said vehicle reaches said vehicle stop to thereby indicate impending arrival of said vehicle at said vehicle stop, wherein said telephone call originates from a base station remotely located with respect to said vehicle and wherein said user telephone exhibits a distinctive sound that is different than at least one other sound that is capable of being exhibited by said user telephone; and (c) upon establishing communication between said base station and said user telephone, providing a report regarding travel status of said vehicle from said base station to said user telephone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein step (a) includes the step of monitoring a distance traveled by said vehicle and wherein step (b) includes the step of initiating said telephone call to said user telephone when said vehicle is a predetermined distance from said vehicle stop.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein step (a) includes the step of monitoring a time traveled by said vehicle and wherein step (b) includes the step of initiating said telephone call to said user telephone when said vehicle is a predetermined time period from said vehicle stop.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said distinctive sound comprises a ring lasting for a predefined length of time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said distinctive sound comprises a silent period between rings, said silent period lasting for a predefined length of time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said distinctive sound comprises a plurality of rings with at least two of said rings having different time durations.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said distinctive sound comprises a plurality of silent periods with at least two of said silent periods having different time durations.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said report indicates that said vehicle will be delayed and a notification call will be forthcoming.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said report indicates alternative vehicle route information.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
123 words
An advance notification system for notifying a user of an impending arrival of a vehicle at a vehicle stop, comprising: first means for monitoring travel of said vehicle; second means for initiating a telephone call to a user telephone before said vehicle reaches said vehicle stop to thereby indicate impending arrival of said vehicle at said vehicle stop, wherein said second means is remotely located with respect to said vehicle and wherein said user telephone exhibits a distinctive sound that is different than at least one other sound that is capable of being exhibited by said user telephone interface; and third means for causing a report to be communicated to said user telephone, the report having information regarding travel status of said vehicle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
123 words
An advance notification system for notifying a user of an impending arrival of a vehicle at a vehicle stop, comprising: first means for monitoring travel of said vehicle; second means for initiating a telephone call to a user telephone before said vehicle reaches said vehicle stop to thereby indicate impending arrival of said vehicle at said vehicle stop, wherein said second means is remotely located with respect to said vehicle and wherein said user telephone exhibits a distinctive sound that is different than at least one other sound that is capable of being exhibited by said user telephone interface; and third means for causing a report to be communicated to said user telephone, the report having information regarding travel status of said vehicle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 10 , wherein said first means includes a means for monitoring a distance traveled by said vehicle and wherein said second means includes a means for initiating said telephone call to said user telephone when said vehicle is a predetermined distance from said vehicle stop.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 10 , wherein said first means includes a means for monitoring a time traveled by said vehicle and wherein said second means includes a means for initiating said telephone call to said user telephone when said vehicle is a predetermined time period from said vehicle stop.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 10 , wherein said distinctive sound comprises a ring lasting for a predefined length of time.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 10 , wherein said distinctive sound comprises a silent period between rings, said silent period lasting for a predefined length of time.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 10 , wherein said distinctive sound comprises a plurality of rings with at least two of said rings having different time durations.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 10 , wherein said distinctive sound comprises a plurality of silent periods with at least two of said silent periods having different time durations.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 10 , wherein said report indicates that said vehicle will be delayed and a notification call will be forthcoming.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 10 , wherein said report indicates alternative vehicle route information.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-01-26 | 2007-07-28 | 2008-01-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-01-26 | 2011-07-28 | 2012-01-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-01-26 | 2015-07-28 | 2016-01-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |