Universal vehicle management system

• US 20130006722A1
• Filed: 08/08/2011
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: World Moto, Inc.
• Original Assignee: World Moto, Inc.
• Inventors: Ziomkowski, Christopher Louis, Giles, Paul Anthony
• Application Number:
  US13/137,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20130006722A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/13
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 13/00 Taximeters measuring distance travelled G01C; measuring time G04

Abstract

A universal vehicle management apparatus that can be installed on any means of conveyance, including means of conveyance where installation would result in significant exposure to environmental hazards, and including a rating system that can handle complex fare calculations from a plurality of sensors.

Claims

1. A fare calculation apparatus for installation on any means of conveyance, including open air means of conveyance, used in for hire transport services, said means of conveyance controlled by an operator, said apparatus consisting of:

a. an enclosure means consisting of a first side and a second side that mates with said first side, and

b. a sealing means in contact with said first side and said second side to seal said enclosure means against environmental hazards, and

c. a plurality of sensing means for sensing rating parameters, and

d. a first processing means located inside said enclosure means, said first processing means programmed with a rating algorithm, said rating algorithm including the ability to calculate fares based on said plurality of rating parameters, and

e. a tamper prevention means to prevent unauthorized access to said first processing means, and

f. a display means

whereby said operator can use said apparatus to price services in real time according to a defined algorithm.

2. The apparatus in item 1, where said plurality of rating parameters is taken from the group consisting of transit distance, transit duration, time of day, day of week, day of year, interval of operation below a specified speed, operating surcharges, geographic location, weather during transit, type of terrain, type of conveyance and operator defined events.

3. The apparatus in item 2, where said defined algorithm includes one or more surcharge tariffs that are mapped to events associated with said rating parameters where said events initiate programmable actions that calculate the price.

4. The apparatus in item 3, where said defined algorithm is digitally signed.

5. The apparatus in item 1, additionally including a mounting means consisting of

a. a first attachment means to said enclosure means and

b. a second attachment means to said means of conveyance and

c. a quick disconnect means to detach said enclosure means from said means of conveyance.

6. The apparatus in item 5, where said second attachment means is located on the mirror assembly of said means of conveyance.

7. The apparatus in item 5, where said first attachment means consists of a mounting plate in contact with said enclosure means and a pivot assembly to adjust the angle of said enclosure means relative to said means of conveyance.

8. The apparatus in item 5, where said quick disconnect means consists of

a. a clamping means in contact with first attachment means and second attachment means and

b. a quick disconnect screw that can be adjusted by hand

whereby said enclosure means can be removed from said means of conveyance.

9. The apparatus in item 5, additionally including a memory means coupled to said processing means to store calibration profiles of a plurality of means of conveyance.

10. The apparatus in item 9, additionally including an identification means for determining a unique identifier of said attached means of conveyance.

11. The apparatus in item 10, where said processing means loads a calibration profile for said attached means of conveyance by matching said unique identifier with stored calibration profiles in said memory means.

12. The apparatus in item 11, where said identification means is a serial communication line to a storage means including a unique ID code permanently attached to said means of conveyance.

13. The apparatus in item 12, where said serial communication line runs an encrypted protocol to read said unique ID code from said storage means.

14. The apparatus in item 5, additionally including a communication means coupled to said processing means, where said communication means is used to communicate with a storage means on said attached means of conveyance, said storage means containing a calibration profile of the means of conveyance.

15. The apparatus in item 14, where said communication means is a serial communication line.

16. The apparatus in item 15, where said storage means is a processing means in communication with a memory.

17. The apparatus in item 16, where said serial line runs an encrypted protocol to read said calibration profile from said storage means.

18. The apparatus in item 1, where said plurality of sensing means includes one or more sensing means that receive data from an event data recorder installed on an open air means of conveyance comprising

a. a second processing means, and

b. a communication means in contact with said first processing means, and

c. a plurality of second sensing means.

19. The apparatus in item 18, where said plurality of second sensing means is selected from the group consisting of acceleration sensing means, speed sensing means, sound sensing means, video sensing means, rotation sensing means, time sensing means, passenger presence sensing means, turn signal sensing means, steering sensing means, headlight sensing means, clutch sensing means, transmission sensing means, brake sensing means, engine speed sensing means and proximity sensing means.

20. The apparatus in item 19, where said event data recorder additionally stores a calibration profile of said means of conveyance.

21. The apparatus in item 20, where said event data recorder additionally includes an encrypting means for encrypting data on said communication means.

22. The apparatus in item 1, additionally including a queueing means comprising

a. a wireless communication means in communication with said first processing means, where said wireless communication means transmits its presence and listens for transmissions from additional apparatus in a predetermined region, and

b. an ordering algorithm running on said first processing means to update in real time the priority number of said apparatus within a population of said additional apparatus, and

c. a notification means for notifying said operator in real time of said priority number.

23. The apparatus in item 22 where said notification means is an alphanumeric display on said display means and said ordering algorithm is a simple sort algorithm based on arrival time of said apparatus and each said additional apparatus in said predetermined region.

24. A system for calculating the fare in for hire services, said for hire services selected from the group consisting of passenger transport, non passenger transport, and errands, said system comprising:

a. a distance tracking means for generating events based on distance traveled

b. a rating means comprising

1. a storage means to store tariff information, said tariff information including charges in a plurality of currencies

2. a converter means to convert said distance events into charges in a plurality of currencies using said tariff information

3. a calculating means to track simultaneous total charges in a plurality of currencies where said currencies are selected from the group consisting of local currencies, ISO currencies, discount coupons and ration coupons

c. a display means for displaying simultaneous total charges in a plurality of currencies where said fare is the aggregate total of all the charges displayed in the plurality of currencies.

25. The system in item 24, additionally comprising one or more sensing means for generating rating events, said sensing means selected from trip duration, time of day, day of week, day of year, interval of operation below a specified speed, operating surcharges, geographic location, weather, terrain, type of conveyance and operator defined events.

26. The system in item 24, said rating means additionally comprising one or more converter means to convert said sensing events into charges, said charges to be added to total charges.

27. The system in item 24, where said charges in a plurality of currencies may be positive or negative.

28. A method for providing for hire transport services comprising:

a. providing a means of conveyance that is controlled by an operator and can transport one or more passengers

b. providing a portable fare calculation device that can be installed temporarily in said means of conveyance

c. providing a portable display means in communication with said portable fare calculation device

d. providing advertisements to said passengers during a journey

whereby said operator can offer for hire transport services to passengers in any means of conveyance, including means of conveyance that are not primarily used for hired passenger transport, charge according to a predetermined algorithm sensitive to both distance and time, and subsidize the cost through advertising without requiring a permanent fare metering installation in the means of conveyance.