Tracking system

• US 20060095277A1
• Filed: 10/29/2004
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eric D. Noonan, John Mccarthy, Spyros Saucier
• Original Assignee: Eric D. Noonan, John Mccarthy, Spyros Saucier
• Inventors: McCarthy, John, Noonan, Eric D., Saucier, Spyros
• Application Number:
  US10/976,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20060095277A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

Provided is a tracking system preferably utilized to track bus passengers as they travel. Identifying information is contained in cards carried by the passengers, and scanned upon entry or exit of a bus. The information may be transmitted to a base station and validated in real time to ensure that all passengers arrive at the appropriate destinations.

Claims

1. A tracking system comprising:

an identifying device;

a processor, wherein said processor is capable of interacting with said identifying device;

a base station, herein said base station is capable of interacting with said processor.

2. The tracking system of claim 1, wherein said identifying device includes identifying information.

3. The tracking system of claim 2, wherein said processor further comprises an input mechanism, wherein said input mechanism detects said identifying information.

4. The tracking system of claim 3, wherein said processor further comprises a storage portion.

5. The tracking system of claim 4, wherein said processor further comprises a transmitter and wherein said processor further comprises a receiver.

6. The tracking system of claim 5, wherein said transmitter sends data to said base station, and wherein said receiver receives data from said base station.

7. The tracking system of claim 6, further comprising a transportation device, wherein said processor is carried by said transportation device.

8. The tracking system of claim 7, further comprising at least one carrier, wherein said at least one carrier is assigned an identifying device.

9. The tracking system of claim 8, wherein said carrier comprises a passenger.

10. The tracking system of claim 9, wherein said identifying device includes a picture of said passenger.

11. The tracking system of claim 10, wherein said identifying information comprises a magnetic strip.

12. The tracking system of claim 10, wherein said identifying information comprises a bar code.

13. The tracking system of claim 10, wherein said identifying information comprises a proximity identifier.

14. The tracking system of claim 9, wherein said data includes chronological information.

15. The tracking system of claim 14, wherein said data includes a route identifier, and wherein said data includes a transportation device identifier.

16. The tracking system of claim 15, wherein said base station receives and transmits said data in real time.

17. The tracking system of claim 16, further comprising a data validation, wherein said identifying information is verified.

18. The tracking system of claim 17, wherein said data validation results in an alert if verification fails.

19. The tracking system of claim 18, wherein said transportation device is a bus.

20. The tracking system of claim 19, wherein said processor further comprises a hand held device.

21. The tracking system of claim 20 further comprising a plurality of buses and a plurality of students.

22. A tracking system comprising:

a transportation vehicle comprising vehicle information;

a passenger, wherein said passenger utilizes said transportation vehicle;

an identification card, wherein said identification card is assigned to said passenger;

a processor, wherein said processor resides on or within said transportation vehicle, and wherein said processor is capable of reading identifying information residing on or within said identification card; and

at least one base station, wherein said base station is capable of transmitting and receiving said identifying information and said vehicle information in real time.

23. The tracking system of claim 22, wherein said transportation vehicle is a bus.

24. The tracking system of claim 23, wherein said passenger is a student.

25. The tracking system of claim 24, further comprising a plurality of buses, and a plurality of passengers.

26. The tracking system of claim 25, further comprising a data validation, wherein said identifying information is verified.

27. The tracking system of claim 26, wherein said data validation results in an alert if verification fails.

28. The tracking system of claim 27, wherein said identifying information and said vehicle information is dynamically updated.