Fully automated vehicle dispatching, monitoring and billing

• US 6,694,248 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2002
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Total Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Total Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Edwards, Kenneth W., Smith, Chris C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US10/195,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20020183920A1
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 701/117, 701/1, 701/201, 701/209, 701/213, 701/2, 701/118, 340/992, 340/989, 340/990, 342/357.09, 342/357.07
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A system for controlling vehicles to provide transportation services without need for human intervention. A database stores records each documenting needed transportation services. Processing circuitry (which may be one or several networked computers) reviews these records, locates records indicating a need for immediate transportation service, and instructs vehicles to provide the service. The processing circuitry also monitors vehicle activities by reviewing the records, and automatically obtained vehicle activity information, to identify transportation services which are not being adequately provided, and refer these to human dispatchers for special attention. A variety of methods for obtaining and updating vehicle activity information are disclosed, as are various applications for the system.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring use of a vehicle, comprising:

communication circuitry receiving vehicle activity information without human intervention, and

processing circuitry performing a monitoring process without human intervention, said monitoring process causing the communication circuitry to control the vehicle'"'"'s propulsion system without human intervention.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein a vehicle reports information on its activities by radio communications to said communications circuitry.

3. A system for monitoring use of a vehicle, comprising:

communication circuitry receiving vehicle activity information without human intervention, and

processing circuitry performing a monitoring process without human intervention, wherein said monitoring process determines from said vehicle activity information whether said vehicle is being used appropriately.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said vehicle activity information indicates one or more of:

whether said vehicle is moving,

the velocity of said vehicle,

whether said vehicle is braking,

fuel usage of said vehicle,

whether emergency signals of said vehicle are operating, and

whether an engine of said vehicle is idling.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said monitoring process determines from said vehicle activity information whether said vehicle is stalled in traffic.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein said communication circuitry transmits an instruction to control the vehicle'"'"'s propulsion system without human intervention.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said communication circuitry receives said activity information and transmits said instruction by radio communications.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein said instruction is to disable an engine in the vehicle.

9. A method for monitoring use of a vehicle, comprising:

receiving vehicle activity information without human intervention, and

performing a monitoring process without human intervention, said monitoring process causing the communication circuitry to control the vehicle'"'"'s propulsion system without human intervention.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising receiving information on activities of a vehicle by radio communications.

11. A method for monitoring use of a vehicle, comprising:

receiving vehicle activity information without human intervention, and

performing a monitoring process without human intervention, comprising determining from said vehicle activity information whether said vehicle is being used appropriately.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said vehicle activity information indicates one or more of:

whether said vehicle is moving,

the velocity of said vehicle,

whether said vehicle is braking,

fuel usage of said vehicle,

whether emergency signals of said vehicle are operating, and

whether an engine of said vehicle is idling.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising determining from said vehicle activity information whether said vehicle is stalled in traffic.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising delivering an instruction to said vehicle to control the vehicle'"'"'s propulsion system without human intervention.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said activity information and said instruction are transmitted by radio communications.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said instruction is to disable an engine in the vehicle.