Advance notification system and method utilizing passenger calling report generator

• US 5,668,543 A
• Filed: 05/02/1995
• Issued: 09/16/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ammonia Casale, S.A., Shipping & Transit, LLC, Umberto Zardi
• Original Assignee: Global Research Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Jones, Martin Kelly
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US08/432,666
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 340/905, 340/988, 340/989, 340/990, 340/992, 340/994, 379/58, 379/59, 379/201, 379/204, 364/436, 455/53.1, 455/54.1
• US Class Current: 340/994
• 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

An advance notification system (10) and method notifies passengers of the impending arrival of a transportation vehicle (19), for example, a school bus, at a particular vehicle stop. The system (10) generally includes an on-board vehicle control unit (VCU) (12) for each vehicle (19) and a base station control unit (BSCU) (14) for making telephone calls to passengers in order to inform the passengers when the vehicle (19) is a certain predefined time period and/or distance away from the vehicle stop. The VCU (12) compares elapsed time and/or travelled distance to the programmed scheduled time and/or travelled distance to determine if the vehicle (19) is on schedule. If the vehicle (19) is behind or ahead of schedule, the VCU (12) calls the BSCU (14), which then adjusts its calling schedule accordingly. Significantly, a calling report generator (11) in the BSCU (14) allows a subscribing passenger to solicit a calling report from the BSCU (14) that indicates the time(s) and outcome(s) of any previous notification attempt(s) by the BSCU (14) to the passenger telephone (29).

Claims

1. A method for an advance notification system that notifies a user of an impending arrival of a vehicle at a vehicle stop, the system comprising (a) a user telephone interface, (b) a system telephone interface, and (c) a system control for monitoring travel of said vehicle in relation to the vehicle step and for initiating a telephone call with said system telephone interface to the user telephone interface before the vehicle reaches the vehicle stop to thereby indicate impending arrival of the vehicle at the vehicle stop, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) permitting said user telephone interface to solicit a report corresponding to a previous telephone call made by said system telephone interface to said user telephone interface including the following steps;

(1) permitting establishment of a telephone communication link between said user telephone interface and said system telephone interface;

(2) providing said report from said system control to said user telephone interface during said telephone communication link; and

(3) indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was busy when said system telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was answered when said system telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was not answered when said system telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said use, telephone interface.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was out of service when said system telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of indicating in said report a time when said previous telephone call was initiated by said system telephone interface to said user telephone interface.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

maintaining a reference caller identification number associated with said user telephone interface; and

when said telephone communication link is established, determining whether said telephone communication link is authorized by comparing a caller identification number associated with said telephone communication link with a reference caller identification.

7. A method for an advance notification system that notifies a user of an impending arrival of a vehicle at a vehicle stop, the system comprising (a) a user telephone interface, (b) a system telephone interface, and (c) a system control for monitoring travel of said vehicle in relation to the vehicle stop and for initiating a telephone call with said system telephone interface to the user telephone interface before the vehicle reaches the vehicle stop to thereby indicate impending arrival of the vehicle at the vehicle stop, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) permitting said user telephone interface to solicit a report corresponding to a previous telephone call made by said system telephone interface to said user telephone interface including the following steps;

(1) permitting establishment of a telephone communication link between said user telephone interface and said system telephone interface;

(2) providing said report from said system control to said user telephone interface during said telephone communication link; and

(3) indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was answered when said system telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was not answered when said system telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was out of service when said system telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of indicating in said report a time when said previous telephone call was initiated by said system telephone interface to said user telephone interface.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

maintaining a reference caller identification number associated with said user telephone interface; and

when said telephone communication link is established, determining whether said telephone communication link is authorized by comparing a caller identification number associated with said telephone communication link with a reference caller identification.

12. A method for an advance notification system that notifies a user of an impending arrival of a vehicle at a vehicle stop, the system comprising (a) a user telephone interface, (b) a system telephone interface, and (c) a system control for monitoring travel of said vehicle in relation to the vehicle stop and for initiating a telephone call with said system telephone interface to the user telephone interface before the vehicle reaches the vehicle stop to thereby indicate impending arrival of the vehicle at the vehicle stop, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) permitting said user telephone interface to solicit a report corresponding to a previous telephone call made by said system telephone interface to said user telephone interface including the following steps;

(1) permitting establishment of a telephone communication link between said user telephone interface and said system telephone interface;

(2) providing said report from said system control to said user telephone interface during said telephone communication link; and

(3) indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was not answered when said system telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was out of service when said system telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of indicating in said report a time when said previous telephone call was initiated by said system telephone interface to said user telephone interface.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

maintaining a reference caller identification number associated with said user telephone interface; and

when said telephone communication link is established, determining whether said telephone communication link is authorized by comparing a caller identification number associated with said telephone communication link with a reference caller identification.

16. A method for an advance notification system that notifies a user of an impending arrival of a vehicle at a vehicle stop, the system comprising (a) a user telephone interface associated with said user, (b) a system telephone interface, and (c) a system control for monitoring travel of said vehicle in relation to the vehicle stop and for initiating a telephone call with said system telephone interface to the user telephone interface before the vehicle reaches the vehicle stop to thereby indicate impending arrival of the vehicle at the vehicle stop, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) permitting said user telephone interface to solicit a report corresponding to a previous telephone call made by said system telephone interface to said user telephone interface including the following steps;

(1) permitting establishment of a telephone communication link between said user telephone interface and said system telephone interface;

(2) providing said report from said system control to said user telephone interface during said telephone communication link; and

(3) indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was out of service when said system telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of indicating in said report a time when said previous telephone call was initiated by said system telephone interface to said user telephone interface.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

maintaining a reference caller identification number associated with said user telephone interface; and

when said telephone communication link is established, determining whether said telephone communication link is authorized by comparing a caller identification number associated with said telephone communication link with a reference caller identification.

19. A method for an advance notification system that notifies a user of an impending arrival of a vehicle at a vehicle stop, the system comprising (a) a user telephone interface associated with said user, (b) a system telephone interface, and (c) a system control for monitoring travel of said vehicle in relation to the vehicle stop and for initiating a telephone call with said system telephone interface to the user telephone interface before the vehicle reaches the vehicle stop to thereby indicate impending arrival of the vehicle at the vehicle stop, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) permitting said user telephone interface to solicit a report corresponding to a previous telephone call made by said system telephone interface to said user telephone interface including the following steps;

(1) permitting establishment of a telephone communication link between said user telephone interface and said system telephone interface;

(2) providing said report from said system control to said user telephone interface during said telephone communication link; and

(3) indicating in said report a time when said previous telephone call was initiated by said system telephone interface to said user telephone interface.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

maintaining a reference caller identification number associated with said user telephone interface; and

when said telephone communication link is established, determining whether said telephone communication link is authorized by comparing a caller identification number associated with said telephone communication link with a reference caller identification.

21. A method for an advance notification system that notifies a user of an impending arrival of a vehicle at a vehicle stop, the method for permitting the user to solicit a report corresponding to a previous telephone call made by the system to the user, wherein the system comprises (a) a user telephone interface associated with said user;

(b) a vehicle control unit disposed on said vehicle, said vehicle control unit having;

(1) a vehicle travel monitoring means;

(2) a vehicle transmitter adapted to transmit a travel signal based upon said vehicle travel monitoring means;

(3) a vehicle processor controlling said vehicle travel monitoring means and said vehicle transmitter; and

(c) a base station control unit having;

(1) a receiver adapted to receive said travel signal from said vehicle control unit;

(2) a base station telephone interface;

(3) a base station processor controlling said receiver and said base station telephone, said base station processor for establishing a telephone connection between said base station telephone interface and said user telephone interface when said vehicle is at said preset time from said vehicle stop; and

wherein the method comprises the steps of;

(a) permitting said user telephone interface to solicit said report corresponding to said previous telephone call made by said base station telephone interface to said user telephone interface by the following steps;

(1) establishing a telephone communication link between said user telephone interface and said base station telephone interface;

(2) providing said report from said system control to said user telephone interface during said telephone communication link; and

(3) indicating in said report that said user telephone interface was busy when said base station telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was answered when said base station telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was not answered when said base station telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was out of service when said base station telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of indicating in said report a time when said previous telephone call was initiated by said base station telephone interface to said user telephone interface.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

maintaining a reference caller identification number associated with said user telephone interface; and

when said telephone communication link is established, determining whether said telephone communication link is authorized by comparing a caller identification number associated with said telephone communication link with a reference caller identification.

27. A method for an advance notification system that notifies a user of an impending arrival of a vehicle at a vehicle stop, the method for permitting the user to solicit a report corresponding to a previous telephone call made by the system to the user, wherein the system comprises (a) a user telephone interface associated with said user;

(b) a vehicle control unit disposed on said vehicle, said vehicle control unit having;

(1) a vehicle travel monitoring means;

(2) a vehicle transmitter adapted to transmit a travel signal based upon said vehicle travel monitoring means;

(3) a vehicle processor controlling said vehicle travel monitoring means and said vehicle transmitter; and

(c) a base station control unit having;

(1) a receiver adapted to receive said travel signal from said vehicle control unit;

(2) a base station telephone interface;

(3) a base station processor controlling said receiver and said base station telephone, said base station processor for establishing a telephone connection between said base station telephone interface and said user telephone interface when said vehicle is at said preset time from said vehicle stop; and

wherein the method comprises the steps of;

(a) permitting said user telephone interface to solicit said report corresponding to said previous telephone call made by said base station telephone interface to said user telephone interface by the following steps;

(1) permitting establishment of a telephone communication link between said user telephone interface and said base station telephone interface;

(2) providing said report from said system control to said user telephone interface during said telephone communication link; and

(3) indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was answered when said base station telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was not answered when said base station telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was out of service when said base station telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of indicating in said report a time when said previous telephone call was initiated by said base station telephone interface to said user telephone interface.

31. The method of claim 27, further comprising the steps of:

maintaining a reference caller identification number associated with said user telephone interface; and

when said telephone communication link is established, determining whether said telephone communication link is authorized by comparing a caller identification number associated with said telephone communication link with a reference caller identification.

32. A method for an advance notification system that notifies a user of an impending arrival of a vehicle at a vehicle stop, the method for permitting the user to solicit a report corresponding to a previous telephone call made by the system to the user, wherein the system comprises:

(a) a user telephone interface associated with said user;

(b) a vehicle control unit disposed on said vehicle, said vehicle control unit having;

(1) a vehicle travel monitoring means;

(2) a vehicle transmitter adapted to transmit a travel signal based upon said vehicle travel monitoring means;

(3) a vehicle processor controlling said vehicle travel monitoring means and said vehicle transmitter; and

(c) a base station control unit having;

(1) a receiver adapted to receive said travel signal from said vehicle control unit;

(2) a base station telephone interface;

(3) a base station processor controlling said receiver and said base station telephone, said base station processor for establishing a telephone connection between said base station telephone interface and said user telephone interface when said vehicle is at said preset time from said vehicle stop; and

wherein the method comprises the steps of;

(a) permitting said user telephone interface to solicit said report corresponding to said previous telephone call made by said base station telephone interface to said user telephone interface by the following steps;

(1) permitting establishment of a telephone communication link between said user telephone interface and said base station telephone interface;

(2) providing said report from said system control to said user telephone interface during said telephone communication link; and

(3) indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was not answered when said base station telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising the step of indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was out of service when said base station telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising the step of indicating in said report a time when said previous telephone call was initiated by said base station telephone interface to said user telephone interface.

35. The method of claim 32, further comprising the steps of:

maintaining a reference caller identification number associated with said user telephone interface; and

when said telephone communication link is established, determining whether said telephone communication link is authorized by comparing a caller identification number associated with said telephone communication link with a reference caller identification.

36. A method for an advance notification system that notifies a user of an impending arrival of a vehicle at a vehicle stop, the method for permitting the user to solicit a report corresponding to a previous telephone call made by the system to the user, wherein the system comprises (a) a user telephone interface associated with said user;

(b) a vehicle control unit disposed on said vehicle, said vehicle control unit having;

(1) a vehicle travel monitoring means;

(2) a vehicle transmitter adapted to transmit a travel signal based upon said vehicle travel monitoring means;

(3) a vehicle processor controlling said vehicle travel monitoring means and said vehicle transmitter; and

(c) a base station control unit having;

(1) a receiver adapted to receive said travel signal from said vehicle control unit;

(2) a base station telephone interface;

(3) a base station processor controlling said receiver and said base station telephone, said base station processor for establishing a telephone connection between said base station telephone interface and said user telephone interface when said vehicle is at said preset time from said vehicle stop; and

wherein the method comprises the steps of;

(a) permitting said user telephone interface to solicit said report corresponding to said previous telephone call made by said base station telephone interface to said user telephone interface by the following steps;

(1) permitting establishment of a telephone communication link between said user telephone interface and said base station telephone interface;

(2) providing said report from said system control to said user telephone interface during said telephone communication link; and

(3) indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was out of service when said base station telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising the step of indicating in said report a time when said previous telephone call was initiated by said base station telephone interface to said user telephone interface.

38. The method of claim 36, further comprising the steps of:

maintaining a reference caller identification number associated with said user telephone interface; and

when said telephone communication link is established, determining whether said telephone communication link is authorized by comparing a caller identification number associated with said telephone communication link with a reference caller identification.

39. A method for an advance notification system that notifies a passenger of an impending arrival of a vehicle at a vehicle stop, the method for permitting the passenger to solicit a report corresponding to a previous telephone call made by the system to the passenger, wherein the system comprises:

(a) a passenger telephone associated with said passenger;

(b) a vehicle control unit disposed on said vehicle, said vehicle control unit having;

(1) a vehicle travel monitoring means;

(2) a vehicle transmitter adapted to transmit a travel signal based upon said vehicle travel monitoring means;

(3) a vehicle processor controlling said vehicle travel monitoring means and said vehicle transmitter; and

(c) a base station control unit having;

(1) a receiver adapted to receive said travel signal from said vehicle control unit;

(2) a base station telephone interface;

(3) a base station processor controlling said receiver and said base station telephone, said base station processor for establishing a telephone connection between said base station telephone surface and said passenger telephone when said vehicle is at said preset lime from said vehicle stop; and

wherein the method comprises the steps of;

(a) permitting said passenger to solicit said report corresponding to said previous telephone call made by said base station telephone interface to said passenger telephone by the following steps;

(1) establishing a telephone communication link between said passenger and said base station telephone interface;

(2) providing said report from said system control to said passenger during said telephone communication link; and

(3) indicating in said report a time when said previous telephone call was initiated by said base station telephone interface to said passenger telephone.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising the steps of:

maintaining a reference caller identification number associated with said passenger telephone; and

when said telephone communication link is established, determining whether said telephone communication link is authorized by comparing a caller identification number associated with said telephone communication link with a reference caller identification.

41. An advance notification system for notifying a user of an impending arrival of a vehicle at a vehicle stop and for permitting the user to solicit a report corresponding to a previous telephone call made by the system to the user, comprising:

a user telephone interface associated with said user;

a, system control for monitoring travel of said vehicle in relation to the vehicle stop;

a system telephone interface in communication with said system control, said system telephone interface for establishing a telephone connection with said user telephone interface at a time before said vehicle reaches said vehicle stop; and

report generator associated with said system control for generating and providing said report to said user telephone interface during a telephone communication link between said user telephone interface and said system telephone interface, said report generator having a means for indicating in said report when said user telephone interface was busy when said system telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein said report generator further comprises a means for indicating in said report that said user telephone interface was answered when said system telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein said report generator further comprises a means for indicating in said report that said user telephone interface was not answered when said system telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

44. The system of claim 41, wherein said report generator further comprises a means for indicating in said report that said user telephone interface was out of service when said system telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

45. The system of claim 41, wherein said report generator further comprises the step of indicating in said report a time when said previous telephone call was initiated by said system telephone interface to said user telephone interface.

46. The system of claim 41, wherein said system control further comprises:

a means for maintaining a reference caller identification number associated with said user telephone interface; and

a means for, when said telephone communication link is established, determining whether said telephone communication link is authorized by comparing a caller identification number associated with said telephone communication link with a reference caller identification.

47. An advance notification system for notifying a user of an impending arrival of a vehicle at a vehicle stop and for permitting the user to solicit a report corresponding to a previous telephone call made by the system to the user, comprising:

a user telephone interface associated with said user;

a system control for monitoring travel of said vehicle in relation to the vehicle stop;

a system telephone interface in communication with said system control, said system telephone interface for establishing a telephone connection with said user telephone interface at a time before said vehicle reaches said vehicle stop; and

report generator associated with said system control for generating and providing said report to said user telephone interface during a telephone communication link between said user telephone interface and said system telephone interface, said report generator having a means for indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was answered when said system telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein said report generator further comprises a means for indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was not answered when said system telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

49. The system of claim 47, wherein said report generator further comprises a means for indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was out of service when said system telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

50. The system of claim 47, wherein said report generator further comprises the step of indicating in said report a time when said previous telephone call was initiated by said system telephone interface to said user telephone interface.

51. The system of claim 47, wherein said system control further comprises:

a means for maintaining a reference caller identification number associated with said user telephone interface; and

a means for, when said telephone communication link is established, determining whether said telephone communication link is authorized by comparing a caller identification number associated with said telephone communication link with a reference caller identification.

52. An advance notification system for notifying a user of an impending arrival of a vehicle at a vehicle stop and for permitting the user to solicit a report corresponding to a previous telephone call made by the system to the user, comprising:

a user telephone interface associated with said user;

a system control for monitoring travel of said vehicle in relation to the vehicle stop;

a system telephone interface in communication with said system control, said system telephone interface for establishing a telephone connection with said user telephone interface at a time before said vehicle reaches said vehicle stop; and

report generator associated with said system control for generating and providing said report to said user telephone interface during a telephone communication link between said user telephone interface and said system telephone interface, said report generator having a means for indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was not answered when said system telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein said report generator further comprises a means for indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was out of service when said system telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

54. The system of claim 52, wherein said report generator further comprises the step of indicating in said report a time when said previous telephone call was initiated by said system telephone interface to said user telephone interface.

55. The system of claim 52, wherein said system control further comprises:

a means for maintaining a reference caller identification number associated with said user telephone interface; and

a means for, when said telephone communication link is established, determining whether said telephone communication link is authorized by comparing a caller identification number associated with said telephone communication link with a reference caller identification.

56. An advance notification system for notifying a user of an impending arrival of a vehicle at a vehicle stop and for permitting the user to solicit a report corresponding to a previous telephone call made by the system to the user, comprising:

a user telephone interface associated with said user;

a system control for monitoring travel of said vehicle in relation to the vehicle stop;

a system telephone interface in communication with said system control, said system telephone interface for establishing a telephone connection with said user telephone interface at a time before said vehicle reaches said vehicle stop; and

report generator associated with said system control for generating and providing said report to said user telephone interface during a telephone communication link between said user telephone interface and said system telephone interface, said report generator having a means for indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was out of service when said system telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein said report generator further comprises the step of indicating in said report a time when said previous telephone call was initiated by said system telephone interface to said user telephone interface.

58. The system of claim 56, wherein said system control further comprises:

a means for maintaining a reference caller identification number associated with said user telephone interface; and

a means for, when said telephone communication link is established, determining whether said telephone communication link is authorized by comparing a caller identification number associated with said telephone communication link with a reference caller identification.

59. An advance notification system for notifying a user of an impending arrival of a vehicle at a vehicle stop and for permitting the user to solicit a report corresponding to a previous telephone call made by the system to the user, comprising:

a user telephone interface associated with said user;

a system control for monitoring travel of said vehicle in relation to the vehicle stop;

a system telephone interface in communication with said system control, said system telephone interface for establishing a telephone connection with said user telephone interface at a time before said vehicle reaches said vehicle stop; and

report generator associated with said system control for generating and providing said report to said user telephone interface during a telephone communication link between said user telephone interface and said system telephone interface, said report generator having a means for indicating in said report a time when said previous telephone call was initiated by said system telephone interface to said user telephone interface.

60. The system of claim 59, wherein said system control further comprises:

a means for maintaining a reference caller identification number associated with said user telephone interface; and

a means for, when said telephone communication link is established, determining whether said telephone communication link is authorized by comparing a caller identification number associated with said telephone communication link with a reference caller identification.

61. An advance notification system for notifying a user of an impending arrival of a vehicle at a vehicle stop and for permitting a user to solicit a report corresponding to a previous telephone call made by the system to the user, comprising:

(a) a user telephone surface associated with said user;

(b) a vehicle control unit disposed on said vehicle, said vehicle control unit having;

(1) a vehicle travel monitoring means;

(2) a vehicle transmitter adapted to transmit a travel signal based upon said vehicle travel monitoring means;

(3) a vehicle control means controlling said vehicle travel monitoring means and said vehicle transmitter; and

(c) a base station control unit having;

(1) a receiver adapted to receive said travel signal from said vehicle control unit;

(2) a base station telephone interface;

(3) a base station control controlling said receiver and said base station telephone, said base station control means for establishing a telephone connection between said base station telephone interface and said user telephone interface before said vehicle reaches said vehicle stop; and

(4) a report generator associated with said base station control for generating and providing said report of said previous telephone call to said user during a telephone communication link between said user telephone interface and said base station telephone interface, said report generator having a means for indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was busy when said base station telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

62. The system of claim 61, wherein said report generator further comprises a means for indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was answered when said base station telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

63. The system of claim 61, wherein said report generator further comprises a means for indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was not answered when said base station telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

64. The system of claim 61, wherein said report generator further comprises a means for indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was out of service when said base station telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

65. The system of claim 61, wherein said report generator further comprises the step of indicating in said report a time when said previous telephone call was initiated by said base station telephone interface to said user telephone interface.

66. The system of claim 61, wherein said system control further comprises:

a means for maintaining a reference caller identification number associated with said user telephone interface; and

a means for, when said telephone communication link is established, determining whether said telephone communication link is authorized by comparing a caller identification number associated with said telephone communication link with a reference caller identification.

67. An advance notification system for notifying a user of an impending arrival of a vehicle at a vehicle stop and for permitting a user to solicit a report corresponding to a previous telephone call made by the system to the user, comprising:

(a) a user telephone interface associated with said user;

(b) a vehicle control unit disposed on said vehicle, said vehicle control unit having;

(1) a vehicle travel monitoring means;

(2) a vehicle transmitter adapted to transmit a travel signal based upon said vehicle travel monitoring means;

(3) a vehicle control means controlling said vehicle travel monitoring means and said vehicle transmitter; and

(c) a base station control unit having;

(1) a receiver adapted to receive said travel signal from said vehicle control unit;

(2) a base station telephone interface;

(3) a base station control controlling said receiver and said base station telephone, said base station control means for establishing a telephone connection between said base station telephone interface and said user telephone interface before said vehicle reaches said vehicle stop; and

(4) a report generator associated with said base station control for generating and providing said report of said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface during a telephone communication link between said user telephone interface and said base station telephone interface, said report generator having a means for indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was answered when said base station telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

68. The system of claim 67, wherein said report generator further comprises a means for indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was not answered when said base station telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

69. The system of claim 67, wherein said report generator further comprises a means for indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was out of service when said base station telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

70. The system of claim 67, wherein said report generator further comprises the step of indicating in said report a time when said previous telephone call was initiated by said base station telephone interface to said user telephone interface.

71. The system of claim 67, wherein said system control further comprises:

a means for maintaining a reference caller identification number associated with said user telephone interface; and

a means for, when said telephone communication link is established, determining whether said telephone communication link is authorized by comparing a caller identification number associated with said telephone communication link with a reference caller identification.

72. An advance notification system for notifying a user of an impending arrival of a vehicle at a vehicle stop and for permitting a user to solicit a report corresponding to a previous telephone call made by the system to the user, comprising:

(a) a user telephone interface;

(b) a vehicle control unit disposed on said vehicle, said vehicle control unit having;

(1) a vehicle travel monitoring means;

(2) a vehicle transmitter adapted to transmit a travel signal based upon said vehicle travel monitoring means;

(3) a vehicle control means controlling said vehicle travel monitoring means and said vehicle transmitter; and

(c) a base station control unit having;

(1) a receiver adapted to receive said travel signal from said vehicle control unit;

(2) a base station telephone interface;

(3) a base station control controlling said receiver and said base station telephone, said base station control means for establishing a telephone connection between said base station telephone interface and said user telephone interface before said vehicle reaches said vehicle stop; and

(4) a report generator associated with said base station control for generating and providing said report of said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface during a telephone communication link between said user telephone interface and said base station telephone interface, said report generator having a means for indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was not answered when said base station telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

73. The system of claim 72, wherein said report generator further comprises a means for indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was out of service when said base station telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

74. The system of claim 72, wherein said report generator further comprises the step of indicating in said report a time when said previous telephone call was initiated by said base station telephone interface to said user telephone interface.

75. The system of claim 72, wherein said system control further comprises:

a means for maintaining a reference caller identification number associated with said user telephone interface; and

a means for, when said telephone communication link is established, determining whether said telephone communication link is authorized by comparing a caller identification number associated with said telephone communication link with a reference caller identification.

76. An advance notification system for notifying a user of an impending arrival of a vehicle at a vehicle stop and for permitting a user to solicit a report corresponding to a previous telephone call made by the system to the user, comprising:

(a) a user telephone interface associated with said user;

(b) a vehicle control unit disposed on said vehicle, said vehicle control unit having;

(1) a vehicle travel monitoring means;

(2) a vehicle transmitter adapted to transmit a travel signal based upon said vehicle travel monitoring means;

(3) a vehicle control means controlling said vehicle travel monitoring means and said vehicle transmitter; and

(c) a base station control unit having;

(1) a receiver adapted to receive said travel signal from said vehicle control unit;

(2) a base station telephone interface;

(3) a base station control controlling said receiver and said base station telephone, said base station control means for establishing a telephone connection between said base station telephone interface and said user telephone interface before said vehicle reaches said vehicle stop; and

(4) a report generator associated with said base station control for generating and providing said report of said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface during a telephone communication link between said user telephone interface and said base station telephone interface, said report generator having a means for indicating in said report whether said user telephone interface was out of service when said base station telephone interface initiated said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface.

77. The system of claim 76, wherein said report generator further comprises the step of indicating in said report a time when said previous telephone call was initiated by said base station telephone interface to said user telephone interface.

78. The system of claim 77, wherein said system control further comprises:

a means for maintaining a reference caller identification number associated with said user telephone interface; and

a means for, when said telephone communication link is established determining whether said telephone communication link is authorized by comparing a caller identification number associated with said telephone communication link with a reference caller identification.

79. An advance notification system for notifying a user of an impending arrival of a vehicle at a vehicle stop and for permitting a user to solicit a report corresponding to a previous telephone call made by the system to the user, comprising:

(a) a user telephone interface associated with said user;

(b) a vehicle control unit disposed on said vehicle, said vehicle control unit having;

(1) a vehicle travel monitoring means;

(2) a vehicle transmitter adapted to transmit a travel signal based upon said vehicle travel monitoring means;

(3) a vehicle control means controlling said vehicle travel monitoring means and said vehicle transmitter; and

(c) a base station control unit having;

(1) a receiver adapted to receive said travel signal from said vehicle control unit;

(2) a base station telephone interface;

(3) a base station control controlling said receiver and said base station telephone, said base station control means for establishing a telephone connection between said base station telephone interface and said user telephone interface before said vehicle reaches said vehicle stop; and

(4) a report generator associated with said base station control for generating and providing said report of said previous telephone call to said user telephone interface during a telephone communication link between said user telephone interface and said base station telephone interface, said report generator having means for indicating in said report a time when said previous telephone call was initiated by said base station telephone interface to said user telephone interface.

80. The system of claim 79, wherein said system control further comprises:

a means for maintaining a reference caller identification number associated with said user telephone interface; and

a means for, when said telephone communication link is established, determining whether said telephone communication link is authorized by comparing a caller identification number associated with said telephone communication link with a reference caller identification.