US6700507B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Advance notification system and method utilizing vehicle signaling
Assignee: SHIPPING AND TRANSIT LLP
•
Filing: 2001-11-06
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Granted: 2004-03-02
•
Expires: 2021-11-06
Abstract
Abstract An advance notification system and method notifies passengers of the impending arrival of a transportation vehicle, for example, a school bus, at a particular vehicle stop. The system generally includes an on-board vehicle control unit for each vehicle and a base station control unit for making telephone calls to passengers in order to inform the passengers when the vehicle is a certain predefined time period and/or distance away from the vehicle stop. The VCU compares elapsed time and/or traveled distance to the programmed scheduled time and/or traveled distance to determine if the vehicle is on schedule. If the vehicle is behind or ahead of schedule, the VCU calls the BSCU, 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 18:59
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/123; G08G1/127; G08G1/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A method, comprising the steps of: monitoring travel of a vehicle; contacting a user communications device associated with a user before the vehicle reaches a vehicle stop; informing the user that the vehicle will be delayed in reaching the vehicle stop and informing the user of the vehicle proximity from the vehicle stop to thereby indicate impending arrival of the vehicle at the vehicle stop; making a notification call to the user when the vehicle is within a predetermined proximity from the vehicle stop to thereby further indicate impending arrival of the vehicle at the vehicle stop; and providing a report regarding travel status of the vehicle during the notification call.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
111 words
A method, comprising the steps of: monitoring travel of a vehicle; contacting a user communications device associated with a user before the vehicle reaches a vehicle stop; informing the user that the vehicle will be delayed in reaching the vehicle stop and informing the user of the vehicle proximity from the vehicle stop to thereby indicate impending arrival of the vehicle at the vehicle stop; making a notification call to the user when the vehicle is within a predetermined proximity from the vehicle stop to thereby further indicate impending arrival of the vehicle at the vehicle stop; and providing a report regarding travel status of the vehicle during the notification call.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the contact and the notification call originate from a base station computer system that is remotely located with respect to said vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of monitoring a distance traveled by the vehicle and wherein the predetermined proximity is a distance between the vehicle to the vehicle stop.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of monitoring time as the vehicle travels and wherein the predetermined proximity is time information indicating when the vehicle will reach the vehicle stop.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the user communications device uses a telephone system to communicate.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
109 words
A method, comprising the steps of: monitoring travel of the vehicle; comparing planned timing of the vehicle along a route to updated vehicle status information; contacting a user communications device before the vehicle reaches a vehicle stop along the route; informing the user of the vehicle delay with respect to the vehicle stop and of updated impending arrival of the vehicle at the vehicle stop, based upon the updated vehicle status information and the planned timing; and making a notification call to the user when the vehicle is within a predetermined proximity from the vehicle stop to thereby further indicate impending arrival of the vehicle at the vehicle stop.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
109 words
A method, comprising the steps of: monitoring travel of the vehicle; comparing planned timing of the vehicle along a route to updated vehicle status information; contacting a user communications device before the vehicle reaches a vehicle stop along the route; informing the user of the vehicle delay with respect to the vehicle stop and of updated impending arrival of the vehicle at the vehicle stop, based upon the updated vehicle status information and the planned timing; and making a notification call to the user when the vehicle is within a predetermined proximity from the vehicle stop to thereby further indicate impending arrival of the vehicle at the vehicle stop.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the contact and the notification call originate from a base station computer system that is remotely located from the vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 6 , further comprising the step of providing a report regarding travel status of said vehicle during the notification call.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 6 , further comprising the steps of monitoring a distance traveled by the vehicle and wherein the proximity is a distance between the vehicle to the vehicle stop.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 6 , further comprising the step of monitoring time as the vehicle travels and wherein the proximity is time information indicating when the vehicle will reach the vehicle stop.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the user communications device uses a telephone system to communicate.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
115 words
A system, comprising: means for monitoring travel of the vehicle; means for contacting a user communications device before the vehicle reaches a vehicle stop; and means for informing the user that the vehicle will be delayed in reaching the vehicle stop and informing the user of the vehicle proximity from the vehicle stop to thereby indicate impending arrival of the vehicle at the vehicle stop; means for providing a report regarding travel status of the vehicle during the notification call; and means for making a notification call to the user when the vehicle is within a predetermined proximity from the vehicle stop to thereby further indicate impending arrival of the vehicle at the vehicle stop.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
115 words
A system, comprising: means for monitoring travel of the vehicle; means for contacting a user communications device before the vehicle reaches a vehicle stop; and means for informing the user that the vehicle will be delayed in reaching the vehicle stop and informing the user of the vehicle proximity from the vehicle stop to thereby indicate impending arrival of the vehicle at the vehicle stop; means for providing a report regarding travel status of the vehicle during the notification call; and means for making a notification call to the user when the vehicle is within a predetermined proximity from the vehicle stop to thereby further indicate impending arrival of the vehicle at the vehicle stop.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 12 , wherein the contact and the notification call originate from a base station computer system that is remotely located with respect to said vehicle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 12 , further comprising means for monitoring a distance traveled by the vehicle and wherein the proximity is a distance between the vehicle to the vehicle stop.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 12 , further comprising means for monitoring time as the vehicle travels and wherein the proximity is time information indicating when the vehicle will reach the vehicle stop.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 12 , wherein the user communications device is a telephone.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of monitoring is accomplished by reviewing data associated with movement of the vehicle.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the steps of contacting and informing are performed when it is determined that the vehicle will be delayed by at least a predetermined time period.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of monitoring is accomplished by reviewing data associated with movement of the vehicle.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the steps of contacting and informing are performed when it is determined that the vehicle will be delayed by at least a predetermined time period.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
116 words
A system, comprising: means for monitoring travel of the vehicle; means for comparing planned timing of the vehicle along a route to updated vehicle status information; means for contacting a user communications device before the vehicle reaches a vehicle stop along the route; means for informing the user of the vehicle delay with respect to the vehicle stop and of updated impending arrival of the vehicle at the vehicle stop, based upon the updated vehicle status information and the planned timing; and means for making a notification call to the user when the vehicle is within a predetermined proximity from the vehicle stop to thereby further indicate impending arrival of the vehicle at the vehicle stop.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
116 words
A system, comprising: means for monitoring travel of the vehicle; means for comparing planned timing of the vehicle along a route to updated vehicle status information; means for contacting a user communications device before the vehicle reaches a vehicle stop along the route; means for informing the user of the vehicle delay with respect to the vehicle stop and of updated impending arrival of the vehicle at the vehicle stop, based upon the updated vehicle status information and the planned timing; and means for making a notification call to the user when the vehicle is within a predetermined proximity from the vehicle stop to thereby further indicate impending arrival of the vehicle at the vehicle stop.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein the means for contacting resides in a base station computer system that is remotely located from the vehicle.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 21 , further comprising a means for providing a report regarding travel status of the vehicle during the notification call.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 21 , further comprising a means for monitoring a distance traveled by the vehicle and wherein the proximity is a distance between the vehicle to the vehicle stop.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 21 , further comprising a means for monitoring time as the vehicle travels and wherein the proximity is time information indicating when the vehicle will reach the vehicle stop.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 21 , wherein the user communications device uses a telephone system to communicate.
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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) | 2007-03-02 | 2007-09-01 | 2008-03-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-03-02 | 2011-09-01 | 2012-03-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-03-02 | 2015-09-01 | 2016-03-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |