Process and device for avoiding fraud in a taxi equipped with a taximeter of extractable type

• US 6,474,552 B1
• Filed: 12/08/1999
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Claude Ricard
• Original Assignee: Claude Ricard
• Inventors: Ricard, Claude
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Uyen-Chau N.
• Application Number:
  US09/457,345
• Time in Patent Office: 1,063 Days
• Field of Search: 235/381, 235/384, 235/30.R, 235/33, 235/45, 235/382, 346/15, 705/417
• US Class Current: 235/382
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 13/02 Details; Accessories

Abstract

This invention relates to a process and device for avoiding fraud in a taxi equipped with a taximeter of extractable type, and consequently generally provided with a male/female coupling connector.

It consists in providing, on each taxi receiving an extractable taximeter, a circuit memory which contains data for identifying the taximeter when it is connected to this taxi. This taximeter is prevented from functioning if such identification reveals that the taximeter is not the one which was calibrated for this taxi.

Claims

1. Process for avoiding fraud in a taxi equipped with an extractable taximeter, by preventing the extractable taximeter from being used on another taxi, wherein the process comprises a step of providing, on at least one taxi receiving an extractable taximeter, a circuit memory which contains data identifying a specific taximeter.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the taximeter is prevented from functioning if such identification proves that the taximeter is not the one which was calibrated for the taxi.

3. The process of claim 2, wherein an error message is, in addition, displayed.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein the identification data contained in said circuit memory includes, directly or encoded, a characteristic coefficient K of the taximeter.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein the identification data contained in said circuit memory includes, directly or encoded, a secret code of the taximeter.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein the identification data contained in said circuit memory is rendered secure.

7. The process of claim 6, wherein such securization is effected by using a cyclic redundant code.

8. Device for carrying out the process of claim 1, applied to a taxi equipped to receive said extractable taximeter, wherein said circuit memory is wired on that part which remains permanently fixed on the taxi, and at least one connection of this circuit memory is connected to the taximeter.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the circuit memory is protected by a box sealed on the taxi.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein said connection of the circuit memory is connected to a central processing unit, or “

C.P.U.”

of said taximeter.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the circuit memory is connected to the taximeter by an optoelectronic linkage.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein said circuit memory is connected to the taximeter by an electromagnetic linkage.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein said circuit memory is connected to the taximeter via a connector which, on removably receiving the extractable taximeter, enables the taximeter to be connected to a battery of the taxi, and/or to a distance sensor, and/or to a roof sign.

14. The device of claim 8, wherein said circuit memory is an E²PROM memory.

15. The device of claim 8, wherein said circuit memory is another processing unit which is different from the central processing unit of the taximeter.

16. The device of claim 8, wherein the circuit memory is produced by one or more electronic circuits each having a particular characteristic.

17. The device of claim 8, wherein electrical wires which connect the circuit memory to said taximeter are wires which already exist for other purposes in the electrical circuit of the vehicle, in connection with functioning of the taximeter.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein said electrical wires are the wire or wires used for controlling lamps of the roof sign, and/or a wire or wires coming from a distance sensor.