Vehicle occupancy verification utilizing proximity confirmation
First Claim
1. A method of verifying commuter vehicle occupancy, comprising:
- establishing communication between a server and one or more mobile devices;
determining the physical locations of each of said mobile devices;
determining that said mobile devices are co-located within a vehicle;
verifying said co-location of said mobile devices by detecting a number of Radio Frequency (RF) signals from said one or more mobile devices at a validation point, and verifying that the number of RF signals detected equals a number of said one or more mobile devices within said vehicle;
determining whether said co-location produces a proximity value that conforms to one or more pre-determined values;
a passenger located within said commuter vehicle collecting a digital photograph of all occupants in said commuter vehicle at said validation point;
transmitting said digital photograph to said server to verify that a number of occupants in said commuter vehicle is equal to or greater than the number of RF signals detected within said commuter vehicle;
delivering communications from the server to a secondary server; and
delivering communications in the form of a push notification from the server to individuals associated with said mobile devices and requiring a response from each of said individuals receiving said push notification.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a method and system to verify carpool occupancy compliance for access to High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, High Occupancy or Toll (HOT) lanes, or other vehicle-occupancy contingent rewards. The present invention uses software and hardware devices with radio-frequency transmitter modules to permit “matchmaking” between suitable drivers and riders while using GPS coordinates to confirm passenger proximity to a driver. This driver-rider co-location is performed via push notification and server analysis of driver and rider GPS data. Alternatively, co-location is performed using a combination of GPS data analysis and photographic analysis. Occupancy compliance rewards can be communicated directly to an appropriate regulatory body.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of verifying commuter vehicle occupancy, comprising:
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establishing communication between a server and one or more mobile devices; determining the physical locations of each of said mobile devices; determining that said mobile devices are co-located within a vehicle; verifying said co-location of said mobile devices by detecting a number of Radio Frequency (RF) signals from said one or more mobile devices at a validation point, and verifying that the number of RF signals detected equals a number of said one or more mobile devices within said vehicle; determining whether said co-location produces a proximity value that conforms to one or more pre-determined values; a passenger located within said commuter vehicle collecting a digital photograph of all occupants in said commuter vehicle at said validation point; transmitting said digital photograph to said server to verify that a number of occupants in said commuter vehicle is equal to or greater than the number of RF signals detected within said commuter vehicle; delivering communications from the server to a secondary server; and delivering communications in the form of a push notification from the server to individuals associated with said mobile devices and requiring a response from each of said individuals receiving said push notification. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system of verifying commuter vehicle occupancy, comprising:
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a server having a processor in wireless communication with one or more mobile devices; a user interface; a locator process residing in said server and operative to determine the physical locations of said mobile devices; the server operative to determine that said mobile devices are co-located within a vehicle; said server verifying said co-location of said mobile devices by detecting a number of Radio Frequency (RF) signals from said one or more mobile devices at a validation point, and verifying that the number of RF signals detected equals a number of said one or more mobile devices within said vehicle; delivering communications from the server to a secondary server; a passenger located within said commuter vehicle collecting a digital photograph of all occupants in said commuter vehicle at said validation point; transmitting said digital photograph to said server to verify that a number of occupants in said commuter vehicle is equal to or greater than the number of RF signals detected within said commuter vehicle; and delivering communications in the form of a push notification from the server to individuals associated with said mobile devices and requiring a response from each of said individuals receiving said push notifications. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification