US6888445B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle identification system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 2003-05-20
•
Granted: 2005-05-03
•
Expires: 2023-05-20
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle identification system. The system includes an electronic access card for storing information associated with a user of the electronic access card, a card reader for receiving the electronic access card and for reading the associated information and a display for receiving at least a portion of the associated information from the card reader and for displaying the portion of associated information when the user operates a vehicle. The display is located on the vehicle, and the displayed information includes at least a unique identifier assigned to the user of the electronic access card. In one arrangement, the unique identifier assigned to the user of the electronic access card can be transferrable to other vehicles such that the identifier can be displayed on any vehicle having the card reader and the display when the user operates such vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 Bradley L. Gotfried
- 👤 Benjamin Gotfried
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:38
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/01; G08G1/017; B; B60; B60R; B60R25/00; B60R25/01; B60R25/04; B60R25/10; B60R25/102; B60R25/20; B60R25/25; B60R25/252; B60R25/255; B60R25/257; G07; G07C; G07C5/00; G07C5/008; G07C9/00; G07C9/00174; G07C9/00563; G07C2009/00753; G07C2209/00; G07C2209/60; G07C2209/62
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A vehicle identification system, comprising: an electronic access card for storing information associated with a user of said electronic access card; a card reader for receiving said electronic access card and for reading said associated information; and a display for receiving at least a portion of said associated information from said card reader and for displaying said portion of associated information when the user operates a vehicle; wherein said display is located on the vehicle and said displayed information includes at least a unique identifier assigned to the user of said electronic access card.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
A vehicle identification system, comprising: an electronic access card for storing information associated with a user of said electronic access card; a card reader for receiving said electronic access card and for reading said associated information; and a display for receiving at least a portion of said associated information from said card reader and for displaying said portion of associated information when the user operates a vehicle; wherein said display is located on the vehicle and said displayed information includes at least a unique identifier assigned to the user of said electronic access card.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system according to claim 1 , wherein said unique identifier is transferrable to other vehicles, whereby said identifier is displayed on any vehicle having said card reader and said display when said card reader reads said associated information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system according to claim 1 , wherein said electronic access card includes a biometric identifier for identifying the user and transmits an authorizing signal to said card reader when the user is biometrically identified; wherein said card reader reads said associated information in response to said authorizing signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system according to claim 3 , wherein said biometric identifier generates digitized images of fingerprints.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system according to claim 1 , wherein said electronic access card includes at least one electrical contact to permit the transfer of said associated information to said card reader.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system according to claim 1 , wherein said electronic access card includes a transceiver for transmitting said associated information to said card reader.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system according to claim 1 , wherein said associated information stored on said electronic access card further includes at least one of a name, an address and a driving history of the user.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system according to claim 1 , wherein said card reader includes a tracking device and said tracking device receives navigational data concerning the vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system according to claim 8 , further comprising at least one of a monitoring station and a portable unit and the vehicle further comprises a vehicle transceiver; wherein said vehicle transceiver transmits said navigational data to at least one of said monitoring station and said portable unit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system according to claim 9 , wherein said vehicle transceiver transmits at least a portion of said information associated with the user of said electronic access card to at least one of said monitoring station and said portable unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system according to claim 10 , wherein said vehicle transceiver transmits said navigational data and at least a portion of said associated information to at least one of said monitoring station and said portable unit using at least one communications satellite.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system according to claim 10 , wherein said vehicle transceiver transmits said navigational data and at least a portion of said associated information to at least one of said monitoring station and said portable unit using a wireless communications network.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system according to claim 10 , wherein said vehicle transceiver transmits said navigational data and at least a portion of said associated information to at least one of said monitoring station and said portable unit in accordance with a predetermined interval.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system according to claim 9 , wherein the vehicle further includes an ignition system coupled to said card reader; wherein said card reader further includes an enabling circuit for enabling said ignition system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system according to claim 14 , wherein said ignition system starts an engine of the vehicle and locks and unlocks at least one door lock of the vehicle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system according to claim 15 , wherein an enabling signal is transmitted to said vehicle transceiver from said monitoring station and forwarded to said card reader; wherein said enabling circuit enables said ignition system and said ignition system starts the engine of the vehicle in response to the receipt of said enabling signal by said card reader.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
63 words
The system according to claim 15 , wherein an enabling signal is transmitted to said vehicle transceiver from said monitoring station and forwarded to said card reader; wherein said enabling circuit enables said ignition system and said ignition system unlocks at least one of the door locks of the vehicle in response to the receipt of said enabling signal by said card reader.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
85 words
The system according to claim 9 , wherein the vehicle further includes an ignition system coupled to said card reader; wherein said card reader further includes an enabling circuit for disabling said ignition system; wherein a disabling signal is transmitted to said vehicle transceiver from said monitoring station and forwarded to said card reader; wherein said enabling circuit disables said ignition system and said ignition system stops an engine of the vehicle in response to the receipt of said disabling signal by said card reader.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system according to claim 9 , wherein the portable unit is a law enforcement mobile unit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle further includes a biometric identifier for identifying the user and transmits an authorizing signal to said card reader when the user is biometrically identified; wherein said card reader reads said associated information in response to said authorizing signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system according to claim 20 , wherein said biometric identifier is positioned in the interior of the vehicle.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system according to claim 20 , wherein the vehicle further includes at least one door and said biometric identifier is mounted on said door.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
79 words
The system according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one toll booth having at least one sensor and at least one gate for controlling the flow of traffic through said toll booth; wherein the vehicle includes a vehicle transceiver for transmitting to said sensor at least a portion of said associated information read from said electronic access card; wherein said portion of associated information includes at least information about the user's account with a toll collection agency.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
80 words
The system according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one toll booth having at least one sensor and at least one gate for controlling the flow of traffic through said toll booth; wherein said electronic access card includes a transceiver for transmitting to said sensor at least a portion of said associated information stored on said electronic access card; wherein said portion of associated information includes at least information about the user's account with a toll collection agency.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system according to claim 9 , wherein the vehicle further includes a panic button; wherein when said panic button is pressed, said vehicle transceiver transmits a distress signal to at least one of said monitoring station and said portable unit.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system according to claim 25 , wherein said distress signal includes at least an emergency message and said navigational data.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 1 , wherein said display is located on an exterior of the vehicle.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system according to claim 1 , wherein said unique identifier is a license plate number.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for identifying a vehicle, comprising the steps of: providing an electronic access card and a display unit mountable on a first vehicle; assigning a unique identifier to a user of the card; storing at least the unique identifier on the card; reading the unique identifier; and displaying on the display unit the unique identifier when the user operates the vehicle.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for identifying a vehicle, comprising the steps of: providing an electronic access card and a display unit mountable on a first vehicle; assigning a unique identifier to a user of the card; storing at least the unique identifier on the card; reading the unique identifier; and displaying on the display unit the unique identifier when the user operates the vehicle.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 29 , further comprising the step of displaying on a display unit of a second vehicle the identifier when the user operates the second vehicle.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 29 , further comprising the step of biometrically identifying the user of the card; and when the user is biometrically identified, performing said reading and displaying steps.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 29 , wherein the unique identifier is a license plate number.
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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) | 2008-05-02 | 2008-11-01 | 2009-05-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-05-02 | 2012-11-01 | 2013-05-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-05-02 | 2016-11-01 | 2017-05-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |