System for registering and tracking vehicles

• US 20050088320A1
• Filed: 10/08/2004
• Published: 04/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Aram Kovach
• Original Assignee: Aram Kovach
• Inventors: Kovach, Aram
• Application Number:
  US10/961,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20050088320A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/933
• 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: G07C 2011/02 related to amusement parks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence

Abstract

A system for registering and tracking vehicles. The system comprises an RFID tag affixed to a vehicle and a scanner, wherein the scanner is adapted to query the RFID tag when proximate the RFID tag, effective to obtain information relating to at least one of the vehicle and an owner of the vehicle. In another embodiment the system may be employed with parking meters to detect parking violations and issue citations. In other embodiments the system may be employed to track the speed of vehicles, halt traffic to allow emergency vehicles to pass, provide pass code access to objects and secured areas, and track the location of objects and personnel. A method employs the system.

Claims

9. A system for tracking vehicles, comprising:

an RFID tag affixed to a vehicle; and

a parking meter having a scanner,

wherein the scanner is adapted to query the RFID tag when proximate thereto, effective to obtain information relating to at least one of the vehicle and an owner of the vehicle,

and wherein the parking meter generates a citation if the vehicle remains proximate the scanner after a predetermined period of time has elapsed.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the citation information is transmitted to a remote site using a telecommunication link.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the owner of the vehicle receives the citation via the telecommunication link.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the owner of the vehicle pays a fine associated with the citation via the communication link.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the fine is automatically debited from a financial account held by the owner of the vehicle.

14. A method for registering and tracking vehicles, comprising the steps of:

coding an RFID tag with a unique identifier;

integrating the RFID tag with a vehicle;

creating a database with a record of information relating to at least one of the vehicle and an owner of the vehicle;

associating the record with the unique identifier;

querying the vehicle'"'"'s RFID tag with a scanner to obtain the unique identifier;

using the unique identifier to obtain the record from the database; and

responding to the query with information in the record.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of populating the database with information of interest to a political subdivision.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of displaying information for visual verification.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of providing warnings and additional instructions.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of undertaking remedial action.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of updating the database.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein:

the vehicle is an emergency vehicle,

the RFID tag is queried as the emergency vehicle approaches a traffic signal, and

the traffic signal is caused to halt traffic and allow the emergency vehicle to pass.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of using the RFID tag and scanner to track the location of the emergency vehicle.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of disabling the RFID tag with the scanner.

23. A system for tracking objects, comprising:

an RFID tag affixed to an object; and

a scanner,

wherein the scanner is adapted to query the RFID tag when proximate the RFID tag, effective to obtain information relating to the object.

1. A system for registering and tracking vehicles, comprising:

an RFID tag affixed to a vehicle; and

a scanner,

wherein the scanner is adapted to query the RFID tag when proximate the RFID tag, effective to obtain information relating to at least one of the vehicle and an owner of the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the scanner is mounted in a second vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the scanner is mounted proximate a road, effective to query RFID tags affixed to vehicles passing the scanner.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the information is transmitted and stored in a database.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the system further comprises a processor and a telecommunication link effective to permit the processor to send information to, and receive information from, a remotely-located database via the telecommunication link.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a second processor coupled to the telecommunication link.

7. The system of claim 5, further comprising a second database proximate the processor.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a second processor coupled to the telecommunication link.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the object is a bar-code label.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the object is clothing.

26. The system of claim 23 wherein the RFID tag includes a pass code.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the pass code is effective to activate equipment.

28. The system of claim 23 wherein the system is used to locate a person carrying the object.

29. The system of claim 23 wherein the system is used to identify the person carrying the object.

30. The system of claim 23 wherein the system is used to track the location of the object.

27-1. The system of claim 26 wherein the pass code is effective to provide access to a secured area.

31. A method for displaying targeted information, comprising the steps of:

coding an RFID tag with a unique identifier;

integrating the RFID tag with a vehicle;

creating a database with a record of information relating to at least one of the vehicle and an owner of the vehicle;

associating the record with the unique identifier;

querying the vehicle'"'"'s RFID tag with a scanner to obtain the unique identifier;

using the unique identifier to obtain the record from the database;

comparing information in the record with related information in an algorithm;

selecting display data relevant to at least one of the vehicle and the owner based on the comparison; and

displaying the selected data on a display visually perceivable by the owner.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising the steps of:

querying a plurality of vehicles'"'"' RFID tags with the scanner to obtain the unique identifiers;

using the unique identifiers to obtain a plurality of records;

accumulating information in the records; and

comparing the accumulated information with the related information in the algorithm to select the display data.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of accumulating statistical information relating to display of the selected display data.

34. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of accumulating statistical information relating to the amount of time the selected display data is viewed by occupants of the vehicle.

35. The method of claim 31 wherein the selected display data is advertising.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein the selected display data is displayed on an electronic billboard.

37. The method of claim 31, further including the step of directly contacting the owner of the vehicle.