Schoolchildren transportation management systems, methods and computer program products

• US 20050131625A1
• Filed: 11/15/2004
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Everyday Solutions, Inc. (CalAmp Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Everyday Solutions, Inc. (CalAmp Corporation)
• Inventors: Birger, Alexander B., Zwirblia, Thomas G., Turner, James C., Ivanov, Dmitry
• Application Number:
  US10/988,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20050131625A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/123 indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, tramstransmission of navigation instructions to vehicles G08G1/0968

Abstract

Millions of schoolchildren take a ride to and from school on buses every day. Quite frequently we hear about multiple problems with the school buses. The school bus did not arrive on time, the bus did not show up at all, or the time or place of a bus stop has changed without notification—all these problems are unfortunately very common. Today'"'"'s School Transportation systems do not always work as fast and as reliably as it is reasonably expected. These systems use phone or fax-based communication. These methods are slow, inefficient, and can be catastrophic since children'"'"'s safety is on the line. Online Schoolchildren Transportation Management Method, System, and Computer Program Products, store data and provide real-time communication between the main participants of the schoolchildren transportation process: school transportation officers, district, county and/or state transportation management, schoolchildren and/or parents, and/or school bus drivers via a Web based network. Embodiments of the present invention allow efficient and streamlined communications between the main participants of the School Children Transportation Process to solve the following: Student'"'"'s Transportation Change Request and Response; Transportation Information Lookup and Reporting in Real-Time; Transportation Emergencies and Exceptions; Bus Stop Location Change/Addition; Automatic Request/Response Notification Flow; Bus Arrival/Departure information; Management Reporting; Field Trips Request; Special Needs/Handicapped, Front Desk/Call Center Operator and etc. The new system (method, computer program) provides a framework for uniform and standardized information exchange between System Participants, thus guarantying uniform data collection, processing and reporting and opening numerous additional benefits to further utilization of the collected data.

Claims

1. A method of online schoolchildren transportation management, storing data and providing real-time communication between main participants of schoolchildren transportation process, such as (but not limited to) school transportation officers, district, county and/or state transportation management, schoolchildren and/or parents, and/or school bus drivers via a Web based network, comprising at least one or combination of the following parts:

Transportation Change Request and Response part, which provides a framework for information flow between the main participants of transportation process about changes in bus schedules, bus routes, bus stops and assignments of students to busses;

Bus Schedule, Bus Routes, Bus Stop and Students Assignment Lookup part, which provides a framework for regular bus related information to flow between the main participants of transportation process;

Transportation Emergencies and Exceptions part which provides a framework for information about buses emergency situations to flow between the main participants;

Bus Stops Location Change/Additions part, which provides a framework for information, for the optimization of bus route and stop locations, to satisfy requests received to flow between main participants of transportation process;

Automatic Request/Response Notification part, providing a framework for automatic request/response notification of transportation changes to subscribed users;

Bus Arrival/Departure Information part, which provides a framework for information about arrival/departure times to/from a point on the route, for a chosen bus number to flow to subscribed participants of transportation process;

Management/Executive Reporting part, which provides a framework for information about performance data of chosen schools, routes, bus drivers, and districts managers to flow to subscribed participants of transportation process;

Field Trips Request/Response part, which provides a framework for information about field trip requests, and their status, to flow to the main participants of transportation process;

Special Needs/Handicapped part, which provides a framework for information about special needs/handicapped transportation requests, and their status, to flow to the main participants of transportation;

Front desk/Call Center Operator part, which provides a framework for incoming information about emergency/exceptions, miscellaneous requests, and complaints, to flow to the prescribed participants of transportation process;

wherein each part consists of functional sections combining steps (operations), that are performed on computer system.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein all communications between participants are automatically monitored and reported to the management when the replies are past due.

3. An Online Schoolchildren Transportation Management System for implementation of Method according to claim 1, comprising at least the following interacting blocks:

A schoolchildren transportation management Network Server that is connected to a plurality of terminal devices of school transportation officers, district, county and/or state transportation management, schoolchildren and/or parents, and/or school bus drivers via a network,

Plurality of Terminal Devices, including;

Terminal Devices of school children or school children'"'"'s parents [TDSP];

Terminal Devices of school transportation officers-Assistant Principals [TDAP];

Terminal Devices of district, county, state transportation management, such as School District Transportation Manager [TDDM] or County'"'"'s School transportation Administrator or Superintendent [TDDA];

Terminal Devices of school bus drivers [TDBD];

Terminal device of Front Desk or Call Center Operator [TDFO];

Special Needs/Handicapped Special Needs Coordinator [TDSNC].

Network, providing real time communication between Network Server and Terminal Devices.

4. A Method according to claim 1 wherein the Transportation Change Request and Response part comprises at least one or combination of the following sections:

General Request, New Student Request, Existing Student Request, Request Status Check, Request Modification or Cancellation, Request Approval/Denial, Request Approval.

5. A Method according to claim 4 wherein General Request section consists of the following steps (operations):

Transportation Change Request (TCR) for student is created either by TDSP or TDAP or TDDM. TDSP may route request to TDAP or directly to TDDM. If TDAP receives the TCR from TDSP, TDAP adds information and routes it to TDDM.

TCR changes status after being opened by TDDM.

TCR is prioritized and queued.

TDDM also can generate TCR for students based on phone call, fax email etc. This TCR is prioritized and queued the same way as previous one.

TDDM is processing TCR;

TCR may be assigned one of the following statuses;

Approved, Denied or Postponed/Pending.

If TCR is approved, TDDM adds comments and routes Response to originator(s);

appropriate changes are stored in the database;

originator(s) receives and reviews the Response, TCR is archived.

If TCR is denied, TDDM adds comments and routes Response to Originator.

Originator(s) receives and reviews the Response. If the request was denied, originator can appeal the decision. In that case originator generates Appeal Request and routes it to the TDDM, where the Appeal Request will be prioritized and queued.

TCR is automatically archived when TCR reaches a status of Approved or Declined and maintains that status for a time set by the user.

6. A Method according to claim 4 wherein New Students Request section consists of the following steps:

New Student request (NSR) is created either by TDSP, or TDAP, or TDDM.

TDSP fills in/imports New Student Information, adds comment and submits (routs) the Request to TDAP or directly to TDDM.

NSR is saved to Database Server.

If Request was routed to TDAP, TDAP adds comments and routes Request to TDDM. TDDM saves Request to Database Server.

Next continue with claim 10.

If NSR is created by TDDM, TDDM fills in/imports information and saves NSR to database.

After that NSR is placed into the queue along with all other requests.

7. A Method according to claim 4 wherein Existing Students Request section consists of the following steps:

Existing Student Request (ESR) is created either by TDSP, or TDAP, or TDDM. User searches database for existing student.

ESR is created based on existing student records, additional data and comment are entered by user.

TDSP submits ESR to TDAP or directly to TDDM. ESR will be saved to Server automatically.

TDAP adds comments and additional information to ESR. Then ESR is submitted to TDDM.

TDDM receives ESR (from TDSP or TDAP) and saves to database on Server.

If ESR is created by TDDM, it also is saved to database on Server.

Next continue with Claim item 9.

8. A Method according to claim 4 wherein Request Status Check section consists of the following steps:

Status of any request for transportation may be checked by TDSP, or TDAP, or TDDM. In all cases list of requests is retrieved from database on Server. Then user locates the request in the list, or uses “

Find”

feature to locate request, or uses filters to narrow down request list and then locate request in the list.

Request details are retrieved from database on Server.

Request information is displayed to user. User reviews status and details.

9. A Method according to claim 4 wherein Request Comments, Changes or Cancellations section consists of the following steps:

List of Requests is retrieved by any authenticated user from database on Server.

Then user locates the request in the list, or uses “

Find”

feature to locate request, or uses filters to narrow down request list and then locates request in the list.

Request details are retrieved from database on Server.

Request information is displayed to user.

If current Request status allows changes or cancellations, user makes changes or deletes Request. User adds comment(s). Changes are saved to database on Server.

If current Request status does not allow changes or cancellations, user can add a comment to Request. All comments are also saved to database on Server.

10. A Method according to claim 4 wherein Request Approval, Denial or Pending section consists of the following steps:

TDDM retrieves list of Requests from Database on Server.

Then user locates the request in the list, or uses “

Find”

feature to locate request, or uses filters to narrow down request list and then locate request in the list.

Request details are retrieved from database on Server.

Request information is displayed to user.

TDDM approves, or denies or postpones the request for bus stop location change/addition, student assignment to a stop or route, student removal from stop or route, or student movement from one stop or route to another

If Request is approved, user marks request as Approved and adds comments, after that the changes are saved to database on Server.

If Request is denied user marks request as Denied and adds comments.

Request and comments are routed to originator for review.

If user postpones with Request, request remains in the TDDM queue for processing later.

11. A Method according to claim 4 wherein Request Appeal section consists of the following steps:

TDSP or TDAP retrieves list of Requests from database on Server.

Then user locates the request in the list, or uses “

Find”

feature to locate request, or uses filters to narrow down request list and then locate request in the list.

Request details are retrieved from database on Server.

Appeal request is created based on the request information. Comment is added.

Appeal request is saved to database on server.

Appeal request is routed to TDDM.

12. A Method according to claim 1 wherein the Bus Related Information Lookup part comprises the following sections:

Bus Route and Schedule Lookup, Bus Stops and Students Assignment Lookup by Route, Bus Stops and Student Assignment Lookup by Student Name, Bus Status/Delays/Emergencies Lookup.

13. A Method according to claim 12 wherein Bus Route and Schedule Lookup section consists of the following steps:

TDSP or TDAP or TDBD retrieves a list of Bus Routes from database on Server.

TDSP or TDAP or TDBD selects a specific Route.

Bus routes and schedule detailed information is retrieved from database on Server.

Bus route and schedule information is displayed to the user. Optionally, it can be printed.

14. A Method according to claim 12 wherein Bus Stops and Student Assignment Lookup by Route section consists of the following steps:

TDSP or TDAP or TDBD retrieves a list of Bus Routes from database on Server.

TDSP or TDAP or TDBD selects a specific Route.

TDSP or TDAP or TDBD retrieves Stops and Students for the selected Route from database on Server.

TDSP or TDAP or TDBD selects a specific Student or Stop.

Bus stop detailed information is displayed. Information about students assigned to selected stop is displayed. Optionally can be printed.

15. A Method according to claim 12 wherein Bus Stops and Student Assignment Lookup by Student Name section consists of the following steps:

TDSP or TDAP or TDBD retrieves list of names allowed for viewing by business rules from database on Server.

Then user can locate student'"'"'s name in the list, or use “

Find”

feature to locate student'"'"'s name, or use filters to narrow down student'"'"'s name list and then locate student'"'"'s name in the list.

Bus schedule, routes, bus stops and student assignment information for selected student is retrieved from database on Server.

Bus route and bus stop assignment for given student is displayed. Optionally can be printed.

16. A Method according to claim 12 wherein Bus Status/Delays/Emergencies Lookup section consists of the following steps:

TDSP or TDAP or TDDM retrieves bus route listing for given school from database on Server. (TDDM should preliminary select school.)

Then user can locate bus route in the list, or use “

Find”

feature to locate bus route, or use filters to narrow down bus route list and then locate bus route in the list.

Detailed information about bus status, delays, and emergencies for selected bus route is retrieved from database on Server.

Detailed information about bus status, delays, and emergencies for selected bus route is displayed. Optionally, it can be printed.

17. A Method according to claim 1 wherein the Transportation Emergencies and Exceptions part comprises the following sections:

Bus Delay or Break down Information Entry, Bus Unexpected Detour Information Entry, and School Bus Involved in Traffic Accident Information Entry.

18. A Method according to claim 17 wherein Bus Delay or Break down Information Entry section consists of the following steps:

TDBD or TDDM or TDAP enters route number or selects route number from the list of routes.

User enters information about delay or brake down of the bus. Optionally, substitute bus number is entered.

The anticipated delay is entered by the TDBD or TDDM or TDAP.

In an automated mode, the bus position in route is automatically detected by Data Acquisition System. Time and position of bus in route is compared with expected time and position. Bus unexpected detour status is automatically detected by software sue to a difference in expected position and time and actual position and time.

Information is saved to database on Server.

19. A Method according to claim 17 wherein Bus Unexpected Detour Information Entry section consists of the following steps:

TDBD or TDDM or TDAP enters route number or selects route number from the list of routes.

User enters information about unexpected detour of the bus. Optionally, substitute bus number is entered.

The anticipated delay is entered by the TDBD or TDDM or TDAP.

Information is saved to database on Server.

In an automated mode, the bus position in route is automatically detected by Data Acquisition System. Time and position of bus in route is compared with expected time and position. Bus unexpected detour status is automatically detected by software sue to a difference in expected position and time and actual position and time.

Information is saved to the same database on Server.

20. A Method according to claim 17 wherein Bus School Bus Involved in Traffic Accident Information Entry section consists of the following steps:

TDDB or TDDM or TDAP enters route number or selects route from the list of routes.

User enters information about school bus involved into traffic accident. Optionally, substitute bus number is entered.

Information is saved to database on Server.

21. Method according to claim 1 wherein the Bus Stop Location Change/Addition part comprises the following sections:

Bus Stop Location Change/Addition Selection, Bus Schedule/Student Assignment Change Automatic Notification.

22. Method according to claim 21 wherein the Bus Stop Location Change/Addition Selection section consists of the following steps:

This section starts just after request information was displayed to user (TDDM). (See claim

     10)

User optimizes bus stop location (change or addition) base on analysis of all bus routes, bus stops, schedules and student assignments.

System picks the best solution. Suggested solution is displayed to user.

Information is saved to database on Server.

If user uses Alternative Data System, user transfers or exports request data to this Alternative Data System and uses this System to create bus stop/change bus stop location and assign student to a stop.

Changed data imported from Alternative Data System to database on Server and saved.

Request and Comments are routed to Originator for Review.

23. A Method according to claim 21 wherein the Bus Schedule/Student Assignment Change Automatic Notification section consists of the following steps:

Software on Server automatically detects bus stop location change, new bus stop creation, bus stop deletion, student to stop assignment change or bus route schedule change.

If there are any users subscribed for Notifications for this District, School, Route or Stop, Notification Server generates automatic Notification to all subscribed users.

Automatic Notification is routed to TDDSP, TDAP, TDDM, TDBD and/or additional devices, like phone, pager, email, fax etc.

24. A Method according to claim 1 wherein the Bus Automatic Request/Response Notification part comprises the following sections:

Automatic Request Notification, Automatic Response Notification to TDAP, TDSP, TDBD.

25. A Method according to claim 24 wherein the Automatic Request Notification section consists of the following steps:

Software on Server Automatically Detects Creation of New Submitted Transportation Change Request or Addition of Comment to Previously Created Request.

If there are any users, subscribed for Request Notifications for this District or School, Notification Server generates automatic Notification to all users, subscribed for Notification.

Automatic Notification is routed to TDDM and/or Additional Devices, Like Phone, Pager, Email, Fax etc.

26. A Method according to claim 24 wherein the Automatic Response Notification to TDAP, TDSP, and TDBD section consists of the following steps:

Software on Server automatically detects the Response to submitted Transportation Change Request or Addition of Comment to previously created request.

If there are any users, subscribed for Response Notifications for this District or School, Notification Server generates automatic Notification to all users, subscribed for Notification for this District, School, route, and stop.

Automatic Notification is routed to TDSP, TDAP, TDDM and/or Additional Devices, Like Phone, Pager, Email, Fax etc.

27. A Method according to claim 1 wherein the Bus Arrival/Departure Information part comprises the following sections:

Bus Arrival/Departure Information Entry, Bus Arrival/Departure Information Lookup.

28. A Method according to claim 27 wherein Bus Arrival/Departure Information Entry section consists of the following steps:

TDSP or TDBD or TDDM or TDAP enters bus number and bus arrival/departure time to/from a point of route. Alternatively, time is entered automatically.

Information is saved to database on server.

In automated mode, the bus arrival/departure time to/from a point on a route is automatically detected by Data Acquisition System and saved to database on Server.

29. A Method according to claim 27 wherein Bus Arrival/Departure Information Lookup section consists of the following steps:

TDSP or TDBD or TDDM or TDAP retrieves the list of routes for given school/district from database on Server.

User selects route(s) from the list or enters route(s). User enters time frame(s) of information lookup.

Bus arrival/departure information for specified route(s) and time frame(s) is retrieved from database on Server.

User selects point(s) of route(s) from the list, or enters point(s) of route(s).

Bus arrival/departure information for selected points is displayed to user.

30. A Method according to claim 1 wherein the Management/Executive Reporting part comprises the following sections:

Bus Driver/Bus Route Performance Reporting, District Management Performance Reporting.

31. A Method according to claim 30 wherein Bus Driver/Bus Route Performance Reporting section consists of the following steps:

TDBD or TDDM or TDAP retrieves the list of bus drivers/routes for given school/district/county from database on Server.

User selects bus driver(s) or route(s) from the list, or enters bus driver(s) name(s) or route number(s). User enters time frame(s) of Information Lookup.

Performance data for specified bus driver(s), route(s) and time frame(s) is retrieved from database on Server.

Bus driver(s)/route(s) Performance Report is compiled and displayed to user.

32. A Method according to claim 30 wherein District Management Performance Reporting section consists of the following steps:

TDDM or TDDA (Terminal Device of District Administrator) or TDAP retrieves the list of district(s) for given County/State from database on Server.

User selects district(s) from List or enters the name of District. User enters reporting period(s).

Performance data for specified district(s) is retrieved from database on Server.

District Management Performance Report is compiled and displayed to user.

33. A Method according to claim 1 wherein the Field Trip Request and Response part comprises the following sections:

Field Trip Request;

Field Trip Request Approval, Denial or Pending Status;

Field Trip Request Status Check.

34. A Method according to claim 33 wherein Field Trip Request section consists of the following steps:

TDAP fills in Field Trip Request Information Form, adds a Comment to Field Trip Request and Submit the Request (Routing to TDDM).

Request is saved to Database on Server.

35. A Method according to claim 33 wherein Field Trip Request Approval, Denial or Pending Status section consists of the following steps:

TDDM opens list of Field Trip Requests (Retrieves from Database on Server).

Then User locates Field Trip request in the List or uses “

Find”

feature to locate Field Trip Request or uses filters to Narrow dawn Request List (and then locate Field Trip). In all cases Field Trip Request details are retrieved from Database on Server and displayed to User.

If User approves Field Trip Request, TDDM marks it as approved, enters additional information/comments and saves Field Trip request to Database on server. Request and comments are routed to Originator for review.

If User denies Field Trip Request, the Request is marked as Denied;

Additional comments are added to Request. Changes and comments are saved to database on Server. Request and comments are routed to Originator for review.

If User (TDDM) postpones/cancel Request, it remains in the queue for later processing.

36. A Method for the System according to claim 33 wherein Field Trip Request Status Check section consists of the following steps:

Originator (TDAP) retrieves List of Field Trip Requests from Database on Server.

User locates Field Trip Request in the List or uses “

Find”

feature to locate Field Trip Request or uses filters to narrow down Request List;

then locates the Field Trip Request in the List.

Field Trip Request details are retrieves from Database on Server.

Field Trip Request Information is displayed to User. User reviews status and details.

37. A Method according to claim 1 wherein Special Needs/Handicapped Transportation Request and Response Part comprises of the following sections:

Special Needs/Handicapped Transportation Request, Special Needs/Handicapped Transportation Approval, Denial or Pending Status, Special Needs/Handicapped Transportation Request Status Check and Special Needs/Handicapped Special Needs Coordinator Approval, Denial or Pending Status.

38. A Method according to claim 37, wherein Special Needs/Handicapped Transportation Request section consists of the following steps:

TDAP fills in Special Needs/Handicapped Transportation Request Information Form, adds comment and routes it to Special Needs Coordinator(s) and/or to TDDM for approval.

Electronic approval signature is saved to Database.

Submit the Request (routing) to TDDM.

Request saved to database on Server.

39. A Method according to claim 37, wherein section Special Needs/Handicapped Transportation Approval, Denial or Pending Status consists of the following steps:

TDDM retrieves the list of Special Needs/Handicapped Transportation Requests from Database on Server.

TDDM locates the Special Needs/Handicapped Transportation Requests, or uses “

Find”

feature to locate Special Needs/Handicapped Transportation Requests, or uses filters to narrow down Request List and then chooses desired Request. In all cases Special Needs/Handicapped Transportation Requests details are retrieves from Database and displayed to User.

If User approves this Special Needs/Handicapped Transportation Request, user marks it as approved and enters additional information and comments;

Changes are saved to database on Server.

If User denies Request, he/she marks it as denied and adds comments.

Changes are saved to Database on Server.

Request and comments are routed to Originator for review.

If User (TDDM) postpones/cancels the Request, it remains in the queue for later processing.

40. A Method according to claim 37, wherein section Special Needs/Handicapped Transportation Request Status Check consists of the following steps:

TDAP retrieves from Database on Server the list of Special Needs/Handicapped Transportation Requests and then either locates the desired Request in the list, or uses “

Find”

feature to locate the desired Request, or uses filters to narrow down Request list to locate the desired Special Needs/Handicapped Transportation Request in the list.

The details of Request are retrieved from Database to Server.

Special Needs/Handicapped Transportation Request Information are displayed to User. User reviews status and details.

41. A Method according to claim 37, wherein section Special Needs/Handicapped Special Needs Coordinator [TDSNC] Approval, Denial or Pending Status consists of the following steps:

TDAP or TDSNC retrieves list of Special Needs/Handicapped transportation requests from Database on Server.

Then either locates the desired request in the list, or uses “

Find”

feature to locate the desired Request, or uses filters to narrow down Request list and locate the desired Special Needs/Handicapped Transportation Request in the list.

Special Needs/Handicapped Transportation Request details are retrieved from database on Server.

Request information is displayed to the User.

If User approves this Special Needs/Handicapped Transportation Request, user marks it as approved, applies electronic signature. User enters additional information and comments;

Changes are saved to database on Server.

If User denies Request, he/she marks it as denied and adds comments.

Changes are saved to Database on Server.

Request and comments are routed to TDDM.

If User denies Request he/she marks Request as Denied. User adds comments.

Changes are saved to Database on Server.

Request and Comments are routed to request Originar.

If User (TDDM) postpone/cancel the Request, it remains in the queue for later processing.

42. A Method according to claims 1 wherein Front Desk Operator or Call Center part consists of the following steps:

Front Desk Operator or Call Center may receive Incoming Phone Call, or Incoming Fax, or Incoming E-mail, or Incoming Postage.

Incoming call or miscellaneous Request is logged into TDFO and saved into the database.

Emergency or exception information is sent to all involved transportation participants according to current business rules via notification Server.

Other miscellaneous request is routed to appropriate party, prioritized and queued for processing.

Complaint is routed to appropriate party for the follow-up. Logged to the database for audits.

43. Online Schoolchildren Transportation Management System according to claim 3 wherein the Network Server includes at least one computer running a set of server applications such as but not limited to:

Web Server, such as Microsoft Internet Information Server 5.0, that configured to support two way communications, for example via HTTP or secure HTTPS protocols to the browsers on client terminal devices.;

Database Server, such as Microsoft SQL Server 2000 or Oracle 8, that is responsible for storing information used by system, such as the data about transportation process participants, transportation changes requests, schools, school bus routes and runs, bus stops, student assignments to bus stops, schedules;

Notification Server, that is configured to support messaging and notification activities, such as emails, SMS messages, messages to pager or generate postal correspondence delivered via US Mail or other commercial mail carriers;

Application Server will run miscellaneous support and delivery programs which include but are not limited to the applications that display the information received from the database server on the [TDSP], [TDAP], [TDDM], [TDDA], applications that track Bus position, and applications that monitor request status changes.

Interactive Voice response (1VR) Server, is responsible for two-way communication via public telephone lines with clients using phones as terminal devices;

the IVR server can use text-to-speech technology for outbound information and speech recognition or touch tone for inbound information;

Reporting Server is used to generate reports and deliver them to recipients.

44. A Computer Program Product for the implementation of a Method according to claim 1, comprising a computer usable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied in the medium, wherein the computer readable program code comprises of at least one or a combination of the following:

Computer readable program code that stores, retrieves and displays a plurality of Schoolchildren Transportation Management System User'"'"'s data, including Schools, School officials, District and County Transportation Officers, Logins, and Passwords;

Schoolchildren data (personal and assignment to bus stops);

School bus run and route data including bus stops, time of arrival/departure to every stop.

Computer readable program code that permits selected users to create and process transportation change requests/responses for new students, existing students, request status check, request comments, changes or cancellations.

Computer readable program code that permits selected users to create and process requests/responses for special needs/handicapped students transportation, check and appeals.

Computer readable program code that permits selected users to create and process field trip requests/response, check and appeals.

Computer readable program code that offers user either to locate student name in the list, or use “

Find”

feature to locate student name in the list, or use filters to narrow down student name list and then locate student name in the list.

Computer readable program code that permits TDDM to accept, decline or postpone Transportation Change Request and Response.

Computer readable program code that permits Request Originator to create a Request or Request Appeal.

Computer readable program code that automatically detects in real time bus positions in the routs and bus delay and compare it with expected time and position and send appropriate messages to certain users according to mailing list.

Computer readable program code that creates the special forms for users to enter information about bus detour, delays, involvement into traffic accident, substitute bus number and send this information to certain users according to mailing list.

Computer readable program code that automatically detects creation of new submitted transportation change requests or addition of comments to previously created requests and routes automatic notification to all users subscribed for notification for this district or school.

Computer readable program code that automatically detects the response to submitted transportation change request or addition of comments to previously responded response to requests and sends automatic notification to all users subscribed for notification for this school, routes and sops.

Computer readable program code that electronically sends E-mails to inform parents about an incoming School bus.

Computer readable program code that automatically detects bus stop location changes, new bus stop creation, bus stop deletion, students to bus stop assignment change, bus route schedule change and sends automatic notification to all users subscribed for notification (TDDM, TDAP, TDSP, TDBD and/or additional devices like phone, pager, Email, fax etc.) for this district, school, route and stop.

Computer readable program code that according to request of subscribed users retrieves, compiles and displays performance data (report) for selected bus drivers, routes or district managements for chosen district, county, school.

Computer readable program code that logs incoming calls or miscellaneous requests (incoming faxes, incoming Emails, incoming postages to TDFO, saves them into the Database and permits operator to separate emergency/exception information, from other miscellaneous requests, or complaints). All information is routed to appropriate party according to current business rules via notification server, prioritized and queued for processing.