System and method for monitoring and communicating the actions of riders of group transportation

• US 20110084825A1
• Filed: 09/08/2010
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: American Gardens Management Company
• Original Assignee: American Gardens Management Company
• Inventors: John, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US12/877,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20110084825A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/123 indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, tramstransmission of navigation instructions to vehicles G08G1/0968

Abstract

In accordance with one embodiment, a system and method for monitoring and communicating the actions of riders of a group transportation vehicle includes an identifying device that is uniquely associated with and uniquely identifies one rider and a device, such as a reader, that is part of the vehicle and reads information stored on the identifying device. The vehicle includes a controller/wireless communication module that communicates wirelessly with remote devices, such as hand-held units, like cell phone and PDAs and personal computers, etc. The controller communicates with a GPS module and therefore the system keeps track of passengers as they enter and exit the vehicle as a means to ensure that all passengers have exited the vehicle at the end of the route before the vehicle is stored for the night, etc. In addition, the system provides an effective alert system that allows a third party, such as a parent, to receive communication, such as a message, that the child or adult of interest the passenger) has left the point of origin and an estimated time of arrival for the passenger at the specific drop off location.

Claims

1. A system and method for monitoring and communicating the actions of riders of a group transportation vehicle comprising:

an identification device that is associated with and uniquely defines one specific rider;

a reader that is configured to read information stored on the identification device, the reader being proximate an entrance to the vehicle;

a controller that is in wireless communication with a remote device, wherein the controller is associated with the vehicle, the controller includes a counter that detects when each rider enters and exits the vehicle and stores a value of the total number of riders that are in the vehicle at any one time, wherein at any time, the controller is configured to know the identities of the riders currently in the vehicle; and

a global positioning system (GPS) associated with the vehicle for detecting a location of the vehicle, wherein the controller is configured to store location data relating to location where each rider enters and exits the vehicle;

wherein the controller is configured to generate an alert when a prescribed event occurs, wherein the prescribed event is selected from the group consisting of;

the counter displays a positive value after the vehicle has completed a route and a rider exits at a different location than an exit location that is part of the information stored on the identification device.