VARIABLE RATE TRANSPORT FEES BASED ON VEHICLE EXHAUST EMISSIONS
First Claim
1. A method for reducing levels of harmful exhaust emissions from the exhaust system of motor vehicles, comprising:
- sensing vehicle exhaust emissions;
analyzing said emissions to determine a level of pollutants in the exhaust emissions;
transmitting exhaust emission information to a fee assessor;
calculating an amount of a vehicle use fee based on the level of pollution in said exhaust emissions; and
providing information relating to the calculated vehicle use fee to a fee collection agency.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention provides a system and method of detecting and responding to individual vehicle exhaust emissions such that a vehicle producing exhaust emissions containing pollutants in excess of required standards is assessed a higher toll or other fees than non-offending vehicles. Upon correction of the problem when emissions are determined to be within acceptable ranges, the fees are re-adjusted. Vehicle fees can be assessed on a sliding scale regardless of “acceptable thresholds” whereupon a higher levels of pollution emitted by the vehicle require payment of a higher fee than that paid by a vehicle with a lower level. Sensors may be installed within individual vehicles, or may be externally mounted to detect emissions. The use of a computer program and program code may be used for collecting and quantifying the level of pollution in the emissions and for assessing a suitable fee based on the level.
39 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for reducing levels of harmful exhaust emissions from the exhaust system of motor vehicles, comprising:
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sensing vehicle exhaust emissions; analyzing said emissions to determine a level of pollutants in the exhaust emissions; transmitting exhaust emission information to a fee assessor; calculating an amount of a vehicle use fee based on the level of pollution in said exhaust emissions; and providing information relating to the calculated vehicle use fee to a fee collection agency. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for reducing levels of harmful exhaust emissions from motor vehicles, comprising:
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a sensor to measure vehicle exhaust emissions; an analyzer for determining levels of pollutants in the exhaust emissions; a transmitter for forwarding exhaust emission information to a fee assessor; and a fee calculator for determining an amount of a vehicle use fee based on the level of pollution in said exhaust emissions. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In a computer system, a computer program, comprising:
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a computer-readable medium; and a computer executable program code stored on the computer-readable medium, the program code capable of being deployed by the system to; obtain vehicle exhaust emission information from an emission sensor; quantify the level of pollution in exhaust emission; and transmit information relating to the pollution levels to a vehicle fee collection agency responsible for the collection of a fee based on the level of pollution. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method, comprising:
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producing computer executable program code; storing the code on a computer readable medium; and executing the program code on a computer system, the program code comprising instructions which, when executed on the computer system, cause the computer system to; obtain vehicle exhaust emission information from an exhaust emission sensor; quantify a level of pollution in the exhaust emissions; transmit information relating to the pollution level to a fee collection agency; and assess a vehicle user fee based on the level of pollution in said exhaust emissions. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of providing a service of:
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collecting exhaust emission information from a vehicle in operation; quantifying a level of pollution in the exhaust emissions of said vehicle; and assessing a user-based fee on the vehicle based on the level of pollution in said exhaust emissions. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification