Inter vehicle communication system

• US 20060059229A1
• Filed: 11/03/2005
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Events.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: BUMP Network, Inc.
• Inventors: Bain, David, Paseur, John Ray
• Granted Patent: US 8,307,037 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A method and network for transmitting a message from a sender to a recipient wherein the sender has no previous knowledge of the recipient'"'"'s identity. A method is provided for registering a user with a web-enabled database service by providing correlating data on the user'"'"'s identity and vehicle license plate number and/or other vehicle identifying information. A sender observing a vehicle can send a message to the recipient by logging onto the service and sending a message including the license plate number of the vehicle or other vehicle identifying information. The service will forward the message to the recipient by looking up the vehicle information, discerning the most appropriate communications method(s), and causing the message to be transmitted to the recipient or stored for later delivery.

Claims

1. A method for directing real time and stored message communications from a sender to a recipient comprising the steps of:

a. receiving a message from a sender including a license plate corresponding to the vehicle of the recipient;

b. matching the license plate of the recipient with a unique identifier (IVCS-ID) assigned to the recipient and with any corresponding delivery method preferences of the recipient without the need for payment per-message or personal observation of the physical characteristics of the recipient

c. constructing a message addressed to the recipient;

d. sending the message to the recipient.

e. storing messages when real-time communications are unavailable.

2. A method and system of providing third parties with an application programming interface (API) to such a real time and stored message communications system that enables insertion, retrieval, and data mining of messages and corresponding profiles via an automated process.

3. A method of using the IVCS-API in conjunction with Bluetooth or RFID vehicle identification to enable mobile or stationary senders to provide automatic messaging to vehicles in radio-proximity to the sender.