Automated system for issuing and managing offence tickets

• US 6,911,133 B1
• Filed: 11/24/1998
• Issued: 06/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paul Grison
• Original Assignee: Paul Grison
• Inventors: Grison, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Pwu, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): FULTS, RICHARD C
• Application Number:
  US09/555,128
• Time in Patent Office: 2,408 Days
• Field of Search: 705 35- 45
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

The invention concerns a system for issuing and managing offence tickets comprising a portable input device provided to the policeman for recording therein data concerning the contravening vehicle, a ticket medium to be issued to the vehicle owner and adapted to be inserted in the input device for recording therein input data from the input device, and an accession device provided with a display screen and means for inserting the tickets medium to enable the vehicle owner to access data concerning the offence displayed on the screen. The ticket medium consists of an unalterable tamper-resistant smart card and clipping means enabling the policeman to clip the card on the wiper arm, such that the card is not damaged by rain and cannot be easily removed after it has been clipped.

Claims

1. A system for issuing and managing offence tickets comprising:

an electronic portable input device provided to a police officer in charge of ticketing a contravening vehicle for recording therein data concerning said vehicle,

a ticket medium to be issued to the owner of said vehicle and adapted to be inserted in said input device for recording therein input data from said input device by the police officer, and

an electronic viewing device provided with a display screen and means for inserting the ticket medium in said viewing device to enable the vehicle owner to access data concerning the offence displayed on said screen;

wherein said ticket medium comprises an unalterable tamper-resistant electronic smart card in which the information entered by the police officer are recorded and clipping means enabling the police officer to clip the card on the wiper arm, such that said card is not damaged by rain and cannot be easily removed after it has been clipped.

2. A system according to claim 1 in which said viewing device is at the same time a payment device enabling the vehicle owner to pay the fine, the information relative to which were recorded in the ticket card.

3. A system according to claim 2, further including a data acquisition terminal to which said portable input device is connected in order to transfer into said acquisition terminal the information relative to the offences previously recorded in said input device.

4. A system according to claim 3, further including a collection center connected directly to said data acquisition terminal and having a follow-up file designed to record the information transmitted by said data acquisition terminal during a predetermined time prior to processing.

5. A system according to claim 4, in which the payments of said offence tickets made with said viewing device are transmitted to said follow-up file located in said collection center.

6. A system according to claim 5, further including a processing unit connected to said collection center and designed to process the offence tickets, the information of which was transferred to it by said collection center.

7. A system according to claim 1 in which the clipping means of the ticket medium comprise an opening prolonged by a slot terminated on the edge of the card by a special notch enabling the wiper arm to be inserted into the slot until it penetrates said opening.

8. A system according to claim 1, in which said clipping means of the ticket medium comprise a tab with a rounded head at its end and an opening and a slot enabling the introduction of said rounded head in said opening after the tab has been placed around the wiper arm, said rounded head being blocked as it is larger than the diameter of said opening.

9. A system according to claim 1, in which said clipping means of the ticket medium comprise a tab having a triangular head and two flat sections at its tip and a V-shaped slot enabling the insertion of said triangular head in said slot after said tab has been placed around the wiper arm, and its locking owing to said flat sections of the triangular head.

10. A system according to claim 8, in which said tab includes a frangible zone having perforations enabling the ticket card to be separated from the tab remaining around the wiper arm by exerting a certain pulling force.