Patent US6759972B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6759972B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tour group notification method
Assignee: Digicomp Research Corp
•
Filing: 2001-11-27
•
Granted: 2004-07-06
•
Expires: 2021-11-27
Abstract
Abstract The invention is a method of calling a group of tourists back to their conveyance, in which each passenger is given a portable alerting device when they leave the conveyance. When the conveyance is ready to leave, a transmitter on the conveyance transmits a wireless signal which causes the alerting device to vibrate or give off a light or sound signal, alerting the passenger to return to the conveyance for departure.
Inventors
- 👤 Om P. Gupta
- 👤 James Elkins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:30
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B27/00; G08B27/008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of alerting passengers of a tour conveyance of an upcoming departure of the conveyance from a tour stop comprising the steps of: a) prior to departure from an area around the conveyance, providing a plurality of passengers with a plurality of portable wireless alerting devices, one alerting device for each passenger or group of passengers; b) at a selected time prior to departure of the conveyance, transmitting a wireless signal from a transmitter on the conveyance, causing all of the plurality of the portable wireless alerting devices to emit an alert signal, such that the passengers of the tour conveyance are warned of an upcoming departure of the conveyance.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of alerting passengers of a tour conveyance of an upcoming departure of the conveyance from a tour stop comprising the steps of: a) prior to departure from an area around the conveyance, providing a plurality of passengers with a plurality of portable wireless alerting devices, one alerting device for each passenger or group of passengers; b) at a selected time prior to departure of the conveyance, transmitting a wireless signal from a transmitter on the conveyance, causing all of the plurality of the portable wireless alerting devices to emit an alert signal, such that the passengers of the tour conveyance are warned of an upcoming departure of the conveyance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 , in which the wireless alerting device is a radio receiver, and the transmitter is a radio transmitter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The meth of claim 2 , in which the wireless signal contains information addressed to the plurality of wireless alerting devices associated with a particular tour conveyance.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 1 , in which at least one of the plurality of wireless alerting devices can be individually addressed, the wireless signal contains information addressed to the individually addressed wireless alerting device and step b is performed to recall the individually addressed wireless alerting device at a selected time separate from the selected time for the plurality of wireless alerting devices.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 , in which the alert signal is a vibration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 in which the alert signal is a light.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 4 , in which the alert signal is a sound.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 in which the alert signal is an alphanumeric message.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 8 in which the message is a count-down time to departure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , in which the selected time is determined manually by manually activating the transmitter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 , in which the selected time is automatically set by a timer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , in which step b is repeated for multiple selected times prior to departure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4290143A
Cited
US4325057A
Cited
US5021780A
Cited
US5144301A
Cited
US5736940A
Cited
US5400020A
Cited
US5483234A
Cited
US6006159A
Cited
US6097317A
Cited
US6127917A
Cited
US6097106A
Cited
US6127922A
Cited
US6573824B1
Cited
US6308160B1
Cited
US6542751B1
Cited
US6603397B2
Cited
US6529131B2
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-07-06 | 2008-01-05 | 2008-07-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-07-06 | 2012-01-05 | 2012-07-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-07-06 | 2016-01-05 | 2016-07-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |