Method, apparatus, and system for securing areas of use of vehicles

• US 20070030122A1
• Filed: 07/31/2006
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Performance Polymers Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Performance Polymers Incorporated
• Inventors: Rickrode, C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,525,435 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.720
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user

Abstract

This invention is substantially a method, apparatus and system for securing (protecting and/or controlling) areas of use of vehicles (i.e. mobile entities of any type). A new and useful system and method for recognizing a vehicle which has a pre-identified and readable “Onboard Identity” (OI) for creating a system defined “Signature” (SI) used to secure this specific vehicle in a storage/parking area or zone of activity. Additionally and/or alternately the invention may be specifically for characterizing a non-OI equipped vehicle and creating a useable “Characteristic Identity” (CI) based upon the entering vehicle'"'"'s physical characteristics captured and stored during entry to a secured or securable area. Using the system captured CI details, a system defined SI is also created to secure this specific vehicle in a storage/parking area or zone of activity. A Ticket/Tag encoded with the vehicle unique SI is provide to the vehicle operator for reclaiming/removing the vehicle at a later time. The invention further relates to features which provide for identification of the vehicle which entered as authorized to exit, primarily based upon confirmation of the identical nature of the exiting vehicle and the OI and/or CI identity codes and SI created for that vehicle upon entry plus the proper/authorized use by the exiting vehicle operator of the T/T issued at the time of vehicle entry. The invention is able to effectively identify, monitor and potentially control vehicle access to and exit from a secured area such as a parking lot, staging/storage area or a public, private or government facility of any type or configuration where security can be reasonably exercised for “definable areas/zones” of any type accessed by vehicles (mobile entities) including but not limited to towns, cities, tunnels, bridges, terminals of any type (bus stations, train stations, airports, subways, depots and the like).

Claims

1. A system for protecting, controlling and securing a region entered and exited by vehicles, said system comprising:

means for obtaining vehicle identification information relative to an entering vehicle, wherein said vehicle indentification information being an onboard-identity/signature; and

means for comparison and review of said obtained identification information of said entering vehicle with stored information, said stored information being information entered by or from other locations for identification and/or tracking purposes of any type such as securing/quarantining/isolating potentially problem vehicles of any type.

2. The system for protecting, controlling and securing a region entered and exited by vehicles according to claim 1 further comprising:

means for identifying upon exit passage of said entering vehicle by exit reviewing of said vehicle identification information;

means for determination of acceptable exiting of said entering vehicle based upon acceptable nature of said comparison and review; and

means for inhibiting exit of said entering vehicle should results of said means for determination be of a non-acceptable nature.

3. The system for protecting, controlling and securing a region entered and exited by vehicles according to claim 1 further comprising:

means for creating an identity reference and random code for said entering vehicle;

means for forming an encoded Ticket/Tag, said encoded Ticket/Tag encoded with vehicle identification information; and

means for providing to operator of said entering vehicle said encoded Ticket/Tag for reclaiming/removing of said entering vehicle at a later time.

4. The system for protecting, controlling and securing a region entered and exited by vehicles according to claim 2 further comprising:

means for creating an identity reference and random code for said entering vehicle;

means for forming an encoded Ticket/Tag, said encoded Ticket/Tag encoded with vehicle identification information; and

means for providing to the vehicle operator for reclaiming/removing of said entering vehicle at a later time.

5. The system for protecting, controlling and securing a region entered and exited by vehicles according to claim 4 further comprising means to include entry time and date of said entering vehicle into said encoded Ticket/Tag.

6. A system for protecting, controlling and securing a region entered and exited by vehicles, said system comprising:

means for obtaining a vehicle identification information relative to an entering vehicle, wherein said vehicle indentification information being a non-onboard-identity;

means for characterizing said non-onboard-identity vehicle as a characteristic identity, said characteristic identity being at least one readable feature of said entering vehicle selected from the group of physical size, color, shape and registration/license tag;

means for comparison and review of said obtained identification information of said entering vehicle with stored information, said stored information being information entered by or from other locations for identification and/or tracking purposes of any type such as securing/quarantining/isolating potentially problem vehicles of any type.

7. The system for protecting, controlling and securing a region entered and exited by vehicles according to claim 6 further comprising:

means for identifying upon exit passage of said entering vehicle by exit reviewing of said identification information;

means for determination of acceptable exiting of said entering vehicle based upon acceptable nature of said comparison and review; and

means for inhibiting exit of said entering vehicle should results of said means for determination be of a non-acceptable nature.

8. The system for protecting, controlling and securing a region entered and exited by vehicles according to claim 6 further comprising:

means for creating an identity reference and random code for said entering vehicle

means for forming an encoded Ticket/Tag, said encoded Ticket/Tag encoded with vehicle identification information; and

means for providing to the vehicle operator for reclaiming/removing of said entering vehicle at a later time.

9. The system for protecting, controlling and securing a region entered and exited by vehicles according to claim 7 further comprising:

means for creating an identity reference and random code for said entering vehicle;

means for forming an encoded Ticket/Tag, said encoded Ticket/Tag encoded with vehicle identification information; and

means for providing to the vehicle operator for reclaiming/removing of said entering vehicle at a later time.

10. The system for protecting, controlling and securing a region entered and exited by vehicles according to claim 9 further comprising means to include entry time and date of said entering vehicle into said encoded Ticket/Tag.

11. A method for protecting, controlling and securing a region entered and exited by vehicles, said method comprising the steps of:

obtaining vehicle identification information relative to an entering vehicle, wherein said vehicle indentification information being an onboard-identity/signature; and

comparing and reviewing of said obtained identification information of said entering vehicle with stored information, said stored information being information entered by or from other locations for identification and/or tracking purposes of any type such as securing/quarantining/isolating potentially problem vehicles of any type.

12. The method for protecting, controlling and securing a region entered and exited by vehicles according to claim 11 further comprising:

identifying upon exit passage of said entering vehicle by exit reviewing of said vehicle identification information;

determination of acceptable exiting of said entering vehicle based upon acceptable nature of said comparison and review; and

inhibiting exit of said entering vehicle should results of said means for determination be of a non-acceptable nature.

13. The method for protecting, controlling and securing a region entered and exited by vehicles according to claim 11 further comprising:

creating an identity reference and random code for said entering vehicle;

forming an encoded Ticket/Tag, said encoded Ticket/Tag encoded with vehicle identification information; and

providing to operator of said entering vehicle said encoded Ticket/Tag for reclaiming/removing of said entering vehicle at a later time.

14. The method for protecting, controlling and securing a region entered and exited by vehicles according to claim 12 further comprising:

creating an identity reference and random code for said entering vehicle;

forming an encoded Ticket/Tag, said encoded Ticket/Tag encoded with vehicle identification information; and

providing to the vehicle operator for reclaiming/removing of said entering vehicle at a later time.

15. The method for protecting, controlling and securing a region entered and exited by vehicles according to claim 14 further comprising including entry time and date of said entering vehicle into said encoded Ticket/Tag.

16. A method for protecting, controlling and securing a region entered and exited by vehicles, said method comprising the steps of:

obtaining a vehicle identification information relative to an entering vehicle, wherein said vehicle indentification information being a non-onboard-identity;

characterizing said non-onboard-identity vehicle as a characteristic identity, said characteristic identity being at least one readable feature of said entering vehicle selected from the group of physical size, color, shape and registration/license tag;

comparing and reviewing of said obtained identification information of said entering vehicle with stored information, said stored information being information entered by or from other locations for identification and/or tracking purposes of any type such as securing/quarantining/isolating potentially problem vehicles of any type.

17. The method for protecting, controlling and securing a region entered and exited by vehicles according to claim 16 further comprising:

identifying upon exit passage of said entering vehicle by exit reviewing of said identification information;

determination of acceptable exiting of said entering vehicle based upon acceptable nature of said comparison and review; and

inhibiting exit of said entering vehicle should results of said means for determination be of a non-acceptable nature.

18. The method for protecting, controlling and securing a region entered and exited by vehicles according to claim 16 further comprising:

creating an identity reference and random code for said entering vehicle;

forming an encoded Ticket/Tag, said encoded Ticket/Tag encoded with vehicle identification information; and

providing to the vehicle operator for reclaiming/removing of said entering vehicle at a later time.

19. The method for protecting, controlling and securing a region entered and exited by vehicles according to claim 17 further comprising:

creating an identity reference and random code for said entering vehicle;

forming an encoded Ticket/Tag, said encoded Ticket/Tag encoded with vehicle identification information; and

providing to the vehicle operator for reclaiming/removing of said entering vehicle at a later time.

20. The method for protecting, controlling and securing a region entered and exited by vehicles according to claim 19 further comprising including entry time and date of said entering vehicle into said encoded Ticket/Tag.