Method and system for remotely managing vehicle mileage

• US 20040064247A1
• Filed: 09/26/2002
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Electronic Data Systems Corporation (Perspecta, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Electronic Data Systems Corporation (Perspecta, Inc.)
• Inventors: Davis, Christopher E.
• Application Number:
  US10/259,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20040064247A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/201
• 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: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for remotely managing vehicle mileage includes receiving a signal from a computer on a vehicle over a wireless communications network and storing the mileage reading. The signal is indicative of a mileage reading for the vehicle. The mileage reading may be indicative of an odometer reading of the vehicle or a trip meter reading of the vehicle. The method may further include sending mileage information for the vehicle to a client, in which the mileage information is related to the stored mileage reading.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a signal from a computer on a vehicle over a wireless communications network, the signal indicative of a mileage reading for the vehicle; and

storing the mileage reading.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating the receiving and storing steps.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the mileage reading is indicative of an odometer reading of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the mileage reading is indicative of a trip meter reading of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating an indication of an amount chargeable for used mileage of the vehicle based, at least in part, on the stored mileage reading.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising sending the indication of the amount chargeable to a client.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the indication of the amount chargeable represents fees associated with insurance for the vehicle on a per-mile basis.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the indication of the amount chargeable represents fees associated with leasing the vehicle on a per-mile basis.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the indication of the amount chargeable represents fees associated with renting the vehicle on a per-mile basis.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the indication of the amount chargeable represents fees associated with registration of the vehicle on a per-mile basis.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein the indication of the amount chargeable represents fees associated with a road use tax for the vehicle on a per-mile basis.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein the indication of the amount chargeable represents fees associated with travel expenses for the vehicle on a per-mile basis.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a report for a time period, the report based, at least in part, on the stored mileage reading.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the report represents warranty information for the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the report represents maintenance information for the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communications network comprises a cellular telephone network.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communications network comprises a satellite-based network.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending mileage information for the vehicle to a client, the mileage information related to the stored mileage reading.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein sending comprises transmitting electronically over a communications network.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein sending comprises mailing.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein sending mileage information for the vehicle to the client comprises granting the client a permission to access a database.

22. Logic encoded in media for remotely managing vehicle mileage, the logic operable to perform the following steps:

receiving a signal from a computer on a vehicle over a wireless communications network, the signal indicative of a mileage reading for the vehicle for a respective time; and

storing the mileage reading.

23. The logic encoded in media of claim 22, wherein the logic is further operable to repeat the receive and store steps.

24. The logic encoded in media of claim 22, wherein the mileage reading is indicative of an odometer reading of the vehicle.

25. The logic encoded in media of claim 22, wherein the mileage reading is indicative of a trip meter reading of the vehicle.

26. The logic encoded in media of claim 22, wherein the logic is further operable to generate an indication of an amount chargeable for used mileage of the vehicle based, at least in part, on the stored mileage reading.

27. The logic encoded in media of claim 26, wherein the logic is further operable to send the indication of the amount chargeable to a client.

28. The logic encoded in media of claim 26, wherein the indication of the amount chargeable represents fees associated with insurance for the vehicle on a per-mile basis.

29. The logic encoded in media of claim 26, wherein the indication of the amount chargeable represents fees associated with leasing the vehicle on a per-mile basis.

30. The logic encoded in media of claim 26, wherein the indication of the amount chargeable represents fees associated with renting the vehicle on a per-mile basis.

31. The logic encoded in media of claim 26, wherein the indication of the amount chargeable represents fees associated with registration of the vehicle on a per-mile basis.

32. The logic encoded in media of claim 26, wherein the indication of the amount chargeable represents fees associated with a road use tax for the vehicle on a per-mile basis.

33. The logic encoded in media of claim 26, wherein the indication of the amount chargeable represents fees associated with travel expenses for the vehicle on a per-mile basis.

34. The logic encoded in media of claim 22, wherein the logic is further operable to generate a report for a time period, the report based, at least in part, on the stored mileage reading.

35. The logic encoded in media of claim 34, wherein the report represents warranty information for the vehicle.

36. The logic encoded in media of claim 34, wherein the report represents maintenance information for the vehicle.

37. The logic encoded in media of claim 22, wherein the wireless communications network comprises a cellular telephone network.

38. The logic encoded in media of claim 22, wherein the wireless communications network comprises a satellite-based network.

39. The logic encoded in media of claim 22, wherein the logic is further operable to electronically transmit mileage information for the vehicle to a client, the mileage information related to the stored mileage reading.

40. The logic encoded in media of claim 39, wherein the logic is further operable to grant the client a permission to access a database storing the mileage information.

41. A method, comprising:

periodically receiving a signal from a computer on a vehicle over a wireless communications network, each received signal indicative of a mileage reading for the vehicle for a respective time, the mileage reading selected from the group consisting of an odometer reading and a trip meter reading;

storing each mileage reading; and

generating mileage information related to the stored mileage readings.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising sending the mileage information to a client.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the mileage information comprises an indication of an amount chargeable for used mileage of the vehicle.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising sending the indication of the amount chargeable to a client.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein the indication of the amount chargeable represents fees associated with insurance for the vehicle on a per-mile basis.

46. The method of claim 43, wherein the indication of the amount chargeable represents fees associated with leasing the vehicle on a per-mile basis.

47. The method of claim 43, wherein the indication of the amount chargeable represents fees associated with renting the vehicle on a per-mile basis.

48. The method of claim 43, wherein the indication of the amount chargeable represents fees associated with registration of the vehicle on a per-mile basis.

49. The method of claim 43, wherein the indication of the amount chargeable represents fees associated with a road use tax for the vehicle on a per-mile basis.

50. The method of claim 43, wherein the indication of the amount chargeable represents fees associated with travel expenses for the vehicle on a per-mile basis.

51. A method, comprising:

sensing a signal by an electrical bus of a vehicle that is indicative of a mileage reading for the vehicle;

storing the signal; and

sending the signal to a computer remote from the vehicle over a wireless communications network for use in generating an indication of an amount chargeable for used mileage of the vehicle.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising repeating the sensing, storing, and sending steps.

53. The method of claim 51, wherein the mileage reading is indicative of an odometer reading of the vehicle.

54. The method of claim 51, wherein the mileage reading is indicative of a trip meter reading of the vehicle.

55. The method of claim 51, wherein the indication of the amount chargeable represents fees associated with insurance for the vehicle on a per-mile basis.

56. The method of claim 51, wherein the indication of the amount chargeable represents fees associated with leasing the vehicle on a per-mile basis.

57. The method of claim 51, wherein the indication of the amount chargeable represents fees associated with renting the vehicle on a per-mile basis.

58. The method of claim 51, wherein the indication of the amount chargeable represents fees associated with registration of the vehicle on a per-mile basis.

59. The method of claim 51, wherein the indication of the amount chargeable represents fees associated with a road use tax for the vehicle on a per-mile basis.

60. The method of claim 51, wherein the indication of the amount chargeable represents fees associated with travel expenses for the vehicle on a per-mile basis.

61. The method of claim 51, wherein the wireless communications network comprises a cellular telephone network.

62. The method of claim 51, wherein the wireless communications network comprises a satellite-based network.

63. The method of claim 51, further comprising receiving, before the sending step, a query from the computer remote from the vehicle, the query representing a request for the mileage reading of the vehicle for a desired time.