METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPLEMENTING A VEHICLE INSPECTION WAIVER PROGRAM
First Claim
1. A method of administering a vehicle inspection program, utilizing inspection stations, on an enrolled vehicle that produces vehicle operational data, comprising:
- determining that the enrolled vehicle is within a catchment area for an inspection station;
analyzing the vehicle operational data, thereby creating analysis results; and
making a determination as to whether to permit the vehicle to bypass inspection, based at least in part on the analysis results.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Position data received wirelessly from a vehicle enrolled in an inspection waiver program are employed to determine when the enrolled vehicle is approaching an inspection station. After determining that the enrolled vehicle is approaching an inspection station, and if the enrolled vehicle has a valid inspection waiver, a bypass confirmation can selectively be provided to the vehicle operator, authorizing the operator to bypass the inspection station. The task of determining when an enrolled vehicle is approaching the location of an inspection station can be performed using a processor disposed in the vehicle, or at a remote location separate from both the vehicle and the inspection station, or at the inspection station. The inspection stations can be mobile so that their locations are varied to prevent operators from intentionally avoiding an inspection, as may occur with fixed inspection stations.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method of administering a vehicle inspection program, utilizing inspection stations, on an enrolled vehicle that produces vehicle operational data, comprising:
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determining that the enrolled vehicle is within a catchment area for an inspection station; analyzing the vehicle operational data, thereby creating analysis results; and making a determination as to whether to permit the vehicle to bypass inspection, based at least in part on the analysis results. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 22)
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15. A system for granting bypass permission to an enrolled vehicle that produces vehicle operational data, the method comprising:
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a mechanism for determining that the enrolled vehicle is within a catchment area for an inspection station; and a data processing assembly, configured to analyze the vehicle operational data, thereby creating analysis results and to make a determination as to whether to permit the vehicle to bypass inspection, based at least in part on the analysis results. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23)
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24. A method for administering a vehicle inspection waiver program in which enrolled vehicles can be authorized to bypass an inspection station, comprising the steps of:
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(a) automatically determining a geographical location for an enrolled vehicle while the vehicle is being operated; (b) automatically collecting vehicle operational data for the enrolled vehicle while the vehicle is being operated; (c) based upon a current geographical location for the enrolled vehicle, automatically determining if the enrolled vehicle is approaching the inspection station; and (d) if the enrolled vehicle is approaching the inspection station, using a computing device to analyze the vehicle operational data for an indication of a vehicle fault, and if so, providing an indication to an operator of the enrolled vehicle to stop at the inspection station, even though the vehicle is enrolled in the vehicle inspection waiver program. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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- 29. The method of claim 24, wherein using the computing device to analyze the vehicle operational data for an indication of a vehicle fault comprises determining if a fault related to a pollution control system associated with the vehicle, and if so, providing the indication to an operator of the enrolled vehicle to stop at the inspection station.
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29-1. A method for administering a vehicle inspection waiver program in which enrolled vehicles can be authorized to bypass an inspection station, comprising the steps of:
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(a) automatically determining a geographical location for an enrolled vehicle while the vehicle is being operated; (b) automatically collecting vehicle operational data for the enrolled vehicle while the vehicle is being operated; (c) based upon a current geographical location for the enrolled vehicle, automatically determining if the enrolled vehicle is approaching the inspection station; and (d) if the enrolled vehicle is approaching the inspection station, using a computing device to analyze the vehicle operational data for an indication of whether the vehicle has violated any regulation in a predetermined time period before the vehicle approaches the inspection station, and if so, providing an indication to an operator of the enrolled vehicle to stop at the inspection station, even though the vehicle is enrolled in the vehicle inspection waiver program.
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Specification