Computer-based transportation-safety system

• US 20060173721A1
• Filed: 02/02/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jerry E. Gregg
• Original Assignee: Jerry E. Gregg
• Inventors: Gregg, Jerry E.
• Application Number:
  US11/049,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20060173721A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/6
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

Disclosed is a transportation safety system which is used to identify potential dangers surrounding shipments of goods and/or humans. The system is automated. Initially, the shipment is inspected. The inspection involves the use of digital sensors (e.g., visual, audio, olfactory, chemical) which are used to create an electronic fingerprint which includes the digital readings taken. The fingerprint includes information regarding the cargo and the vehicle. The fingerprint is maintained in a database which is accessible by interested organizations, such as the FBI, port authority, inter alia. The system also utilizes detection points. These detection points take new digital readings. These new readings are then compared with the fingerprint to determine whether dangers exist.

Claims

1. One or more computer-readable media, having computer-usable instructions embodied thereon for performing a method comprising:

receiving an original data set from a client, said original data set including information regarding a shipment being made from an original location by a mode of transportation (MOT);

maintaining said original data set in a database;

receiving new data from a first sensor at a detection-point location;

comparing said new data with said original data set;

determining whether said comparing step reveals trouble; and

automatically notifying one of an interested person and entity if said determining step reveals trouble.

2. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein said receiving said original data set comprises:

sensing a value of an original property of said shipment using an origination sensor at said original location; and

incorporating said value into said original data set.

3. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein said receiving said original data set comprises:

manually entering a value of an original property of said transportation shipment; and

incorporating said value into said original data set.

4. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein said receiving said original data set comprises:

receiving bill of lading information regarding said shipment.

5. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein said receiving said original data set comprises:

receiving historical information regarding a shipper of said shipment.

6. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein said step of receiving new data from a sensor at detection-point location method further comprises:

including at least one of olfactory information, visual information, sound information, and temperature information in the received information.

7. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein said step of receiving new data from a sensor at detection-point location method further comprises method further comprises:

using a plurality of sensors to detect information at said detection-point location.

8. A transportation safety system, comprising:

an introduction station, said station being located outside a protected geographical area, said station further including a first plurality of sensors, said first plurality of sensors being adapted to receive at least one of visual, temperature, audio, olfactory, and vibration information from a shipment upon said shipments introduction into said protected geographical area;

a detection point located within said protected geographical area, said detection point including a second plurality of sensors, said second plurality of sensors being adapted to receive at least one of visual, temperature, audio, olfactory, and vibration information from the shipment;

a computing system including a database, said computing system adapted to compare said information from said first plurality of sensors with said information received from said second plurality of sensors and employ said comparison for safety purposes.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said computing system is adapted to automatically contact an interested organization if danger is indicated in said comparison.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said introduction point is on or about a highway at a location on our about a border of said protected area.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said detection point is located on or about a highway at a location inside said protected area.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said interested organization comprises a highway patrol.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein said introduction point is on or about a railway at a location on our about a border of said protected area.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said detection point is located on or about a railway at a location inside said protected area.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said interested organization comprises a railroad authority.

16. The system of claim 9 wherein said introduction point is on or about an airport inside said protected area.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said interested organization comprises an airport authority.

18. The system of claim 9 wherein said introduction point is on or about a sea port on our about a border of said protected area.

19. The system of claim 19 wherein said interested organization comprises a port authority.