VERIFYING COMPLETION OF A CIRCUIT TO QUALIFY A VEHICLE

• US 20140067189A1
• Filed: 09/06/2012
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: James I. Smith
• Original Assignee: James I. Smith
• Inventors: Smith, James I.
• Application Number:
  US13/604,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20140067189A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/04 Systems determining presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 15/00 Tags attached to, or associated with, an object, in order to enable detection of the object record carriers for use with machines having a detectable tag or marker G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to verifying the completion of a circuit around a vehicle. A location of an individual can be detected in relation to a vehicle within a time period to determine whether a circuit around the vehicle was properly completed by the individual. Upon determining completion of a proper circuit, the vehicle can be qualified.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for verifying completion of a circuit with respect to a vehicle for qualifying the vehicle, the computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a first indication of a presence of an individual with respect to a first area associated with the vehicle, the first indication associated with a first time;

receiving a second indication of a presence of the individual with respect to a second area associated with a vehicle, the second indication associated with a second time subsequent to the first time;

receiving a third indication of a presence of the individual with respect to the first area, the third indication associated with a third time subsequent to the second time; and

causing a processor to determine a time difference between the first time and the third time and verify whether a circuit has been completed by the individual within a predetermined time interval to qualify the vehicle when the time difference is at least one of substantially equal to or less than the predetermined time interval.

2. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, further comprising receiving a fourth indication of a presence of the individual with respect to a third area associated with the vehicle and positioned generally between the first area and the second area along the circuit, the fourth indication associated with a fourth time subsequent to the first time and prior to the second time.

3. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the individual comprises an operator of the vehicle, the first area comprises a first area associated with at least one of an exterior or an interior of the vehicle, and the second area comprises a second area associated with the at least one of the exterior or the interior of the vehicle.

4. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first indication, the second indication, or the third indication is received as the result of detecting a mobile device associated with the individual.

5. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 4, wherein the mobile device comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

6. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, further comprising allowing activation of a vehicle based upon the verification of whether the circuit has been completed by the individual within the predetermined time interval.

7. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, further comprising initiating at least one of a prolonged sounding of a vehicle'"'"'s horn, communication to a remote monitoring authority, or a visible signal when the vehicle is started without verification of whether the circuit has been completed by the individual within the predetermined time interval.

8. A computer-readable storage medium having computer executable instructions for verifying completion of a circuit with respect to a vehicle for qualifying the vehicle, the computer executable instructions comprising:

receiving a first indication of a presence of an individual with respect to a first area associated with a vehicle, the first indication associated with a first time;

receiving a second indication of a presence of the individual with respect to a second area associated with the vehicle, the second indication associated with a second time subsequent to the first time;

receiving a third indication of a presence of the individual with respect to the first area, the third indication associated with a third time subsequent to the second time;

determining a time difference between the first time and the third time; and

verifying whether a circuit has been completed by the individual within a predetermined time interval to qualify the vehicle when the time difference is at least one of substantially equal to or less than the predetermined time interval.

9. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 8, wherein the computer executable instructions further comprise receiving a fourth indication of a presence of the individual with respect to a third area associated with the vehicle and positioned generally between the first area and the second area along the circuit, the fourth indication associated with a fourth time subsequent to the first time and prior to the second time.

10. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 8, wherein the individual comprises an operator of the vehicle, the first area comprises a first area associated with at least one of an exterior or an interior of the vehicle, and the second area comprises a second area associated with the at least one of the exterior or the interior of the vehicle.

11. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 8, wherein at least one of the first indication, the second indication, or the third indication is received as the result of detecting a mobile device associated with the individual.

12. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 11, wherein the mobile device comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

13. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 8, wherein the computer executable instructions further comprise allowing activation of a vehicle based upon the verification of whether the circuit has been completed by the individual within the predetermined time interval.

14. The computer-readable storage medium as recited in claim 8, wherein the computer executable instructions further comprise initiating at least one of a prolonged sounding of a vehicle'"'"'s horn, communication to a remote monitoring authority, or a visible signal when the vehicle is started without verification of whether the circuit has been completed by the individual within the predetermined time interval.

15. A system for verifying completion of a circuit with respect to a vehicle for qualifying the vehicle, the system comprising:

a first sensor configured to determine at least one of a presence or an absence of an individual with respect to a first area associated with a vehicle;

a second sensor configured to determine at least one of a presence or an absence of the individual with respect to a second area associated with the vehicle;

a processor communicatively coupled with the first sensor for receiving an indication of the at least one of the presence or the absence of the individual with respect to the first area, the processor communicatively coupled with the second sensor for receiving an indication of the at least one of the presence or the absence of the individual with respect to the second area; and

a memory having computer executable instructions stored thereon, the computer executable instructions configured for execution by the processor to;

associate a time with the indication of the at least one of the presence or the absence of the individual with respect to the first area received from the first sensor;

associate a time with the indication of the at least one of the presence or the absence of the individual with respect to the second area received from the second sensor; and

verify whether a circuit has been completed by the individual within a predetermined time interval to qualify the vehicle when a first time is associated with a presence of the individual with respect to the first area, a second time subsequent to the first time is associated with a presence of the individual with respect to the second area, a third time subsequent to the second time is associated with a presence of the individual with respect to the first area, and a time difference between the first time and the third time is at least one of substantially equal to or less than the predetermined time interval.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, further comprising a third sensor configured to determine at least one of a presence or an absence of the individual with respect to a third area associated with the vehicle and positioned generally between the first area and the second area along the circuit, the processor communicatively coupled with the third sensor for receiving an indication of the at least one of the presence or the absence of the individual with respect to the third area.

17. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the individual comprises an operator of the vehicle, the first area comprises a first area associated with at least one of an exterior or an interior of the vehicle, and the second area comprises a second area associated with the at least one of the exterior or the interior of the vehicle.

18. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein at least one of the first sensor or the second sensor is configured to sense a mobile device associated with the individual to determine the at least one of the presence or the absence of the individual.

19. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the mobile device comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.

20. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the system is configured to couple with a starter of a vehicle, and the computer executable instructions are further configured for execution by the processor to allow activation of the vehicle based upon the verification of whether the circuit has been completed by the individual within the predetermined time interval.