Automated vehicle tracking and service provision system

• US 20010018639A1
• Filed: 01/17/2001
• Published: 08/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 21ST CENTURY GARAGE LLC
• Original Assignee: Frank E. Bunn
• Inventors: Bunn, Frank E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,584,403 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/214
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/02 taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24; car rental systems per se G07B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

An automated vehicle tracking and service provision system including a central controller, a local controller located in each vehicle, the central controller and the local controller including a wireless communication interface for communication of information between the central controller and the vehicle decision making software based on fuzzy logic algorithms. In a preferred embodiment, the local controller includes a processor. A global positioning systems (GPS) sensor coupled to the processor for providing vehicle location in terms of latitude and longitude, a memory coupled to the processor, a plurality of sensors coupled to the processor and adapted to provide information on a plurality of parameters related to the vehicle such as fuel level, collision status, brakes and such like, a user interface coupled to the processor for providing user input from input devices such as a credit card reader, smart card reader or keyboard, a wireless transceiver is coupled to the processor for communicating data from the processor to the central controller and for receiving data from the central controller, and a display.

A further embodiment provides for a voice or audio input/output interface coupled to the user interface for providing voice activation of the processor or voice transmission via the wireless transceiver to the central controller.

Claims

1. An automated vehicle service provisioning system comprising:

(a) a central controller;

(b) a local controller located in a vehicle, said central controller and said local controller including respective wireless communication interfaces for communication of information therebetween;

(c) a processor including fuzzy logic decision making software associated with said local controller, for presenting a user with specific information tailored to a user input;

(d) and a user interface coupled to the processor for providing user input, and a display for displaying said information.

2. A system as defined in

claim 1

, said vehicle including,

a global positioning systems (GPS) sensor coupled to the processor for providing vehicle location,

a plurality of sensors coupled to the processor for providing information on a plurality of parameters related to the vehicle operation.

3. A system as defined in

claim 2

, said sensors including a plurality of impact sensors for monitoring body damage.

4. A system as defined in

claim 2

, including a mapping function for providing directions to a desired destination by said information, based on the vehicle'"'"'s current location.

5. A system as defined in

claim 2

, said local controller including a display;

a voice I/O interface and a card reader interface.

6. A system is defined in

claim 5

, said local controller utilized for initiating and concluding a point of sale transaction.

7. A system as defined in

claim 3

, wherein said body includes a chassis and a windshield.