US6714859B2 — System and method for an advance notification sys…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 135 words

A system for monitoring vehicle travel and for reporting vehicle status information, comprising: a storage mechanism configured to store travel data transmitted from communications devices associated with vehicles being monitored by said system; a data manager configured to receive a request transmitted by a user, said request including information sufficient for identifying one of said vehicles, said data manager further configured to retrieve travel data associated with said one vehicle from said storage mechanism in response to said request; and a first communications device configured to transmit a message to a second communications device, said second communications device located remotely from said first communications device and associated with said user, said message based on said travel data retrieved by said data manager and indicative of a proximity of said one vehicle from a particular location.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 135 words

A system for monitoring vehicle travel and for reporting vehicle status information, comprising: a storage mechanism configured to store travel data transmitted from communications devices associated with vehicles being monitored by said system; a data manager configured to receive a request transmitted by a user, said request including information sufficient for identifying one of said vehicles, said data manager further configured to retrieve travel data associated with said one vehicle from said storage mechanism in response to said request; and a first communications device configured to transmit a message to a second communications device, said second communications device located remotely from said first communications device and associated with said user, said message based on said travel data retrieved by said data manager and indicative of a proximity of said one vehicle from a particular location.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 29 words

The system of claim 1 , wherein one of said communications devices associated with said one vehicle transmits said travel data via a control channel of a cellular network.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 13 words

The system of claim 1 , wherein said proximity is defined in time.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 13 words

The system of claim 1 , wherein said proximity is defined in distance.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 24 words

The system of claim 1 , wherein said second communications device is utilized by said user to submit said request to said data manager.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 43 words

The system of claim 1 , wherein said data manager is further configured to analyze said travel data stored in said storage mechanism and to automatically transmit a notification message when said one vehicle is within a specified proximity of a particular location.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 36 words

The system of claim 1 , wherein one of said communications devices associated with said one vehicle transmits a portion of said travel data in response to a determination that said one vehicle is off schedule.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 43 words

The system of claim 1 , further comprising a mapping system configured to produce mapping data based on said travel data retrieved by said data manager, said mapping data defining a graphical map, said graphical map indicating said proximity of said one vehicle.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 67 words

The system of claim 1 , wherein said data manager is further configured to receive preference data transmitted by said user and to compare said preference data to travel data associated with said one vehicle, said data manager configured to automatically transmit a notification message to said second communications device based upon a comparison of said preference data to said travel data associated with said one vehicle.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 47 words

The system of claim 9 , wherein said travel data associated with said one vehicle indicates a location of said one vehicle and said data manager is configured to transmit said notification message based on said location of said one vehicle relative to a predefined reference point.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 54 words

The system of claim 1 , wherein said vehicle comprises: a sensor configured to determine a location of said one vehicle relative to a predefined reference point; and a third communications device associated with said one vehicle and configured to transmit travel data indicating said location of said one vehicle to said storage mechanism.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 29 words

The system of claim 11 , wherein said third communications device is configured to transmit said travel data indicating said location of said one vehicle through a cellular network.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 44 words

The system of claim 1 , wherein said data manager is further configured to retrieve contact information associated with said user, wherein said first communications device is further configured to transmit said travel data retrieved by said data manager based on said contact information.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 25 words

The system of claim 13 , wherein said contact information includes data enabling said first communications device to establish communication with said second communications device.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 30 words

The system of claim 14 , wherein said contact information indicates a preferred medium of communication for said user and at least one alternate medium of communication for said user.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 67 words

The system of claim 14 , wherein said data manager is further configured to receive preference data transmitted from said user and to compare said preference data to travel data associated with said one vehicle, said data manager configured to automatically transmit a notification message to said second communications device based upon a comparison of said preference data to said travel data associated with said one vehicle.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 43 words

The system of claim 14 , further comprising a mapping system configured to produce mapping data based on said travel data retrieved by said data manager, said mapping data defining a graphical map, said graphical map indicating said proximity of said one vehicle.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 38 words

The system of claim 17 , wherein said mapping system is further configured to transmit said mapping data to said second communications device, wherein a device at said second remote location is configured to render said graphical map.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 126 words

A system for monitoring vehicle travel and for reporting vehicle status information, comprising: means for receiving travel data transmitted from a plurality of vehicles; means for storing said travel data; means for receiving, at a first location, a request transmitted by a user at a second location, said first location remotely located from said second location; means for identifying one of said vehicles based on said request; means for retrieving travel data associated with said one vehicle in response to said received request; means for forming a message corresponding with said travel data retrieved by said retrieving means, said message indicative of a proximity of said one vehicle from a particular location; and means for transmitting said message to a communications device at said second location.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 126 words

A system for monitoring vehicle travel and for reporting vehicle status information, comprising: means for receiving travel data transmitted from a plurality of vehicles; means for storing said travel data; means for receiving, at a first location, a request transmitted by a user at a second location, said first location remotely located from said second location; means for identifying one of said vehicles based on said request; means for retrieving travel data associated with said one vehicle in response to said received request; means for forming a message corresponding with said travel data retrieved by said retrieving means, said message indicative of a proximity of said one vehicle from a particular location; and means for transmitting said message to a communications device at said second location.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 30 words

The system of claim 19 , further comprising a means for transmitting a portion of said travel data in response to a determination that said one vehicle is off schedule.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 27 words

The system of claim 19 , further comprising a means for transmitting a portion of said travel data via a data channel associated with a cellular network.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 42 words

The system of claim 19 , further comprising: means for receiving preference data transmitted by said user; means for comparing said preference data with said travel data associated with said one vehicle; and means for transmitting a notification message to said user.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 53 words

The system of claim 19 , further comprising: means for producing mapping data based on said travel data retrieved by said retrieving means, said mapping data defining a graphical map that indicates said proximity of said one vehicle; and means for transmitting said mapping data to a graphics device associated with said user.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 41 words

The system of claim 19 , further comprising: means for forming data indicating a location of said one vehicle; and means for transmitting said data to a base station, wherein each of said receiving means is located at said base station.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 37 words

The system of claim 24 , further comprising: means for retrieving predefined contact information; and means for establishing communication between said transmitting means and said communications device at said second location based on said predefined contact information.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 38 words

The system of claim 25 , further comprising a means for determining, based on said contact information, a preferred medium of communication for communicating said message and at least one alternate medium of communication for communicating said message.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 52 words

The system of claim 25 , further comprising: means for receiving preference data transmitted by said user; means for comparing said preference data with said travel data associated with said one vehicle; and means for automatically transmitting a notification message to said user in response to a comparison by said comparing means.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 64 words

The system of claim 25 , further comprising: means for producing mapping data based on said travel data retrieved by said retrieving travel data means, said mapping data defining a display map that indicates said location of said one vehicle; and means for transmitting said mapping data to a graphics device associated with said user, said graphics device configured to render said display map.

Claim 31

Independent Claim 122 words

A method for monitoring vehicle travel and for reporting vehicle status information, comprising the steps of: receiving travel data transmitted from a plurality of vehicles; storing said travel data; receiving, via a communications device located at a first location, a request transmitted by a user located at a second location, said first location remotely located from said second location; identifying one of said vehicles based on said request; retrieving travel data associated with said one vehicle in response to said received request; forming a message corresponding with said travel data retrieved in said retrieving step and indicating, via said message, a proximity of said one vehicle from a particular location; and transmitting said message to a communications device at said second location.

Claim 32

Independent Claim 122 words

A method for monitoring vehicle travel and for reporting vehicle status information, comprising the steps of: receiving travel data transmitted from a plurality of vehicles; storing said travel data; receiving, via a communications device located at a first location, a request transmitted by a user located at a second location, said first location remotely located from said second location; identifying one of said vehicles based on said request; retrieving travel data associated with said one vehicle in response to said received request; forming a message corresponding with said travel data retrieved in said retrieving step and indicating, via said message, a proximity of said one vehicle from a particular location; and transmitting said message to a communications device at said second location.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 29 , further comprising the step of receiving said request from said communications device located at said second location.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 44 words

The method of claim 29 , further comprising the steps of: analyzing said travel data stored in said storing step; and automatically transmitting, based on said analyzing step, a notification message when said one vehicle is within a specified proximity of a particular location.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 29 , further comprising the step of transmitting a portion said travel data via a control channel associated with a cellular network.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 32 , further comprising the steps of: forming data indicating a location of said one vehicle; transmitting said data to a base station; and performing said receiving steps at said base station.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method of claim 33 , further comprising the steps of: retrieving predefined contact information; and establishing communication between a communications device associated with said base station and said communications device at said second location based on said predefined contact information.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 34 , further comprising the step of determining, based on said contact information, a preferred medium of communication for communicating said message and at least one alternate medium of communication for communicating said message.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 46 words

The method of claim 34 , further comprising the steps of: receiving preference data transmitted by said user; comparing said preference data with said travel data associated with said one vehicle; and automatically transmitting a notification message to said user in response to said comparing step.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 53 words

The method of claim 34 , further comprising the steps of: forming mapping data based on said travel data retrieved in said retrieving travel data step, said mapping data defining a map that indicates a current location of said vehicle; and transmitting said mapping data to a graphics device associated with said user.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 46 words

The method of claim 29 , further comprising the steps of: receiving preference data transmitted by said user; comparing said preference data with said travel data associated with said one vehicle; and automatically transmitting a notification message to said user in response to said comparing step.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 49 words

The method of claim 29 , further comprising the steps of: assuming that said one vehicle is traveling at a predetermined rate; and communicating travel data from said one vehicle in response to a determination that said one vehicle is traveling at a rate different from said predetermined rate.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 52 words

The method of claim 29 , further comprising the steps of: forming mapping data based on said travel data retrieved in said retrieving step, said mapping data defining a map that indicates a current location of said one vehicle; and transmitting said mapping data to a graphics device associated with said user.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2007-03-30	2007-09-29	2008-03-30	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2011-03-30	2011-09-29	2012-03-30	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2015-03-30	2015-09-29	2016-03-30	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

System and method for an advance notification system for monitoring and reporting proximity of a vehicle

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