Aware patrol vehicle

• US 7,352,290 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2002
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gregory S. Eskridge
• Original Assignee: Gregory S. Eskridge
• Inventors: Eskridge, Gregory S.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US10/065,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20040046646A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,031 Days
• Field of Search: 340/904, 340/905, 340/928, 340/933, 340/937, 340/10.1, 340/425.5, 340/426, 340/572.1, 701/9, 701/10, 701/35, 701/213, 701/301, 342/457
• US Class Current: 340/905
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 to a central station ; Indicators in a central station

Abstract

The present invention is a system installed in patrol vehicles such as highway patrol, or local police patrol. The system uses wireless technologies to scan and compare VIN (vehicle identification numbers) with license plate against the Department of Motor Vehicles database, and against the local police database for outstanding warrants. All passing cars would be processed. The system then displays the information on the patrol car'"'"''"'"'s computer system, and notifies the police officer of any outstanding warrants, if the car is stolen, and if there is a problem with the registration or tags on the vehicle.

Claims

1. A system to assist law enforcement personnel, comprising:

a radio frequency tag, wherein said radio frequency tag is passive and does not require power, and wherein at least one said radio frequency tag is placed on a vehicle to be monitored;

an antenna to receive information, from 360 degrees, from all close vehicles, from said radio frequency tag that is capable of interrogation at speeds in excess of 75 mph;

a tag reader to translate said tag information from said antenna into a readable format; and

a remote network database automatically, without user with system equipment installed in a law enforcement vehicle intervention, relays information matching the tag to said tag reader.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein said radio frequency tag is attached to vehicles at the time of tag registration or sale.

3. A system, as in claim 2, wherein said radio frequency tag contains a data chip.

4. A system as in claim 3, wherein said data chip contains read only license tag information, the registered owner'"'"'s contact information, including driver'"'"'s license number and the make and model of the car;

and wherein the read only

license tag information, the registered owner'"'"'s contact information, including driver'"'"'s license number and the make and model of the car is not updated or altered during tag reader interrogation.

5. A system as in claim 4, wherein said antenna is attached to a stationary point on the highway such as an overpass bridge or an exit sign.

6. A system as in claim 5, wherein said tag reader is installed in a patrol vehicle.

7. A system as in claim 6, wherein said tag reader is further connected to a laptop system in the patrol vehicle.

8. A system as in claim 7, wherein data from said data chip in said tag reader is transferred via said antenna to said tag reader and said laptop to said remote network database.

9. A system as in claim 8, wherein said remote network database is linked to lists of outstanding warrants, registered sex offender lists, and expired registrations.

10. A system as in claim 8, further comprising a fingerprint identification system attached to said laptop.

11. A system as in claim 10, wherein said fingerprint identification system is attached to said remote network database through said laptop.

12. A system as in claim 11, wherein a fingerprint can be transferred from said fingerprint identification system through said laptop to said remote network database.

13. A system as in claim 12, wherein said remote database sends an matching fingerprint identification to said laptop.

14. A system to assist law enforcement professionals, comprising:

a passive radio frequency tag, attached to a vehicle;

an antenna to receive information, from 360 degrees;

from said radio frequency tag, installed on stationary object on a highway or a bridge overpass;

a tag reader to receive said tag information from said antenna, installed in a patrol vehicle;

a laptop computer connected to said tag reader in a patrol vehicle;

a fingerprint identification system connected to said laptop computer; and

a remote network database, automatically, without user with system equipment installed in a law enforcement vehicle intervention, communicating with said laptop computer, in real time, through existing law enforcement data communications infrastructure.

15. A system to assist law enforcement professionals, comprising:

at least one passive radio frequency tag, attached to a vehicle;

an antenna to receive information, from 360 degrees, from said radio frequency tag, installed on stationary object on a highway or a bridge overpass;

a tag reader to receive said tag information from said antenna, installed in a patrol vehicle;

a laptop computer connected to said tag reader in a patrol vehicle;

a fingerprint identification system holding at least two fingerprints of the driver, and connected to said laptop computer; and

a remote network database, automatically, without user with system equipment installed in a law enforcement vehicle intervention, communicating in real time with said laptop computer through existing law enforcement data communications infrastructure.

16. A method to assist law enforcement professionals, comprising:

receiving information, from 360 degrees, from a radio frequency tag;

transferring the information automatically, without user with communications equipment installed in a law enforcement vehicle intervention, in real time, through existing law enforcement data communications infrastructure; and

providing an alert after the information has been transferred.