Integrated vehicular sensor and messaging system and method

• US 7,548,961 B1
• Filed: 09/14/2001
• Issued: 06/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fernandez & Associates LLP
• Original Assignee: Fernandez & Associates LLP
• Inventors: Hu, Irene Y., Fernandez, Dennis S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vaughn, Jr., William C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Serrao, Ranodhi N
• Application Number:
  US09/952,754
• Time in Patent Office: 2,832 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/219
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0625 Directed, with specific intent or strategy
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

Internet-based software and associated database provide group analysis overlay to monitor client-server web traffic and provide direct marketing to client group. Client car, patient, office or school sensor and interface provides overlay attribute for database comparison to classify usage pattern, location, timing, or family for targeted messaging for enhanced service from server source. Database group registry tracks client classification and provides adaptive context mapping according to set attribute relative to targeted on-line transaction.

Claims

1. Interactive digital television method for automotive car, truck or other vehicle group integrated sensing and billing service comprising steps of:

configuring a server to communicate via a wireless network to one or more mobile automotive car, truck or other vehicle client classified in a network client group, wherein the network client group comprises the at least one vehicle client and a residential interactive digital television device associated with the at least one vehicle client; and

servicing the network client group by accessing electronically one or more sensor embedded in at least one of said one or more mobile automotive car, truck or other vehicle client via the wireless network when the accessed client is moving;

wherein the server runs software for billing the network client group and sending a message according to the classification of the at least one accessed client via a wired network to the residential interactive digital television device associated with the at least one accessed client, the network client group comprising the sensed mobile automotive car, truck or other vehicle client and the billed residential device associated with the sensed mobile vehicle client, wherein the server automatically provides integrated sensing and billing services to said network client group respectively via wireless network access to sense said mobile vehicle client and wired network access to bill the associated residential interactive digital television device, whereby such integrated services enable real-time access to a database that commonly registers both the wirelessly sensed mobile automotive car, truck or other vehicle client as well as the residentially billed interactive digital television device associated with such particular wirelessly sensed vehicle client, such that both the registered wirelessly sensed mobile automotive car, truck or other vehicle client and the residentially billed interactive digital television device commonly registered therewith are thus each classified automatically in real-time by the software according to the database common registration as accessible collectively within the same network client group for providing the integrated wireless sensing and residential billing services.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the server accesses one or more sensor provided in the at least one accessed client.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein:

at least one of the accessed sensor comprises a pressure sensor or accelerometer for indicating an airbag deployment or emergency impact condition.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the server compares one or more electro/mechanical sensor values with one or more associated values stored in a database.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the message comprises a vehicle diagnostic report of the accessed client.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein:

the server receives a feedback signal from at least one of the accessed sensor, such that the server sends adaptively a control signal to control one or more electro-mechanical transducer provided in the at least one accessed client.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the network client group is serviced by the server providing to the at least one accessed client or residential device access electronically to an expert resource service for facilitating automotive defect detection for repair, upgrade or recall thereof.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the network client group comprises a family covered under a group insurance coverage for enabling service of the network client group.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the software comprises a real-time task manager for using multi-member group data to generate informative response to one or more automotive client query via an interactive audio media interface.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein:

the media interface communicates GPS navigational information.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the server accesses a registry storing representation of each mobile automotive client and associated residential device belonging to the network client group.

12. Interactive digital television system for automotive car, truck or other vehicle group integrated sensing and billing service comprising:

a server comprising a processor and a memory unit;

said server configured to communicate via a wireless network to one or more mobile automotive car, truck or other vehicle client classified in a network client group, wherein the network client group comprises the at least one vehicle client and a residential interactive digital television device associated with the at least one vehicle client;

the server servicing the network client group by accessing electronically one or more sensor embedded in at least one of said one or more mobile automotive car, truck or other vehicle client via the wireless network when the accessed client is moving;

the server running software for billing the network client group and sending a message according to the classification of the at least one accessed client via a wired network to the residential interactive digital television device associated with the at least one accessed client;

the network client group comprising the sensed mobile automotive car, truck or other vehicle client and the billed residential device associated with the sensed mobile vehicle client;

wherein the server automatically provides integrated sensing and billing services to said network client group respectively via wireless network access to sense said mobile vehicle client and wired network access to bill the associated residential interactive digital television device, whereby such integrated services enable real-time access to a database that commonly registers both the wirelessly sensed mobile automotive car, truck or other vehicle client as well as the residentially billed interactive digital television device associated with such particular wirelessly sensed vehicle client, such that both the registered wirelessly sensed mobile automotive car, truck or other vehicle client and the residentially billed interactive digital television device commonly registered therewith are thus each classified automatically in real-time by the software according to the database common registration as accessible collectively within the same network client group for providing the integrated wireless sensing and residential billing services.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein:

the server accesses one or more sensor provided in the at least one accessed client.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein:

at least one of the accessed sensor comprises a pressure sensor or accelerometer for indicating an airbag deployment or emergency impact condition.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein:

the server compares one or more electro/mechanical sensor values with one or more associated values stored in a database.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein:

the message comprises a vehicle diagnostic report of the accessed client.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein:

the server receives a feedback signal from at least one of the accessed sensor, such that the server sends adaptively a control signal to control one or more electro-mechanical transducer provided in the at least one accessed client.

18. The system of claim 12 wherein:

the network client group is serviced by the server providing to the at least one accessed client or residential device access electronically to an expert resource service for facilitating automotive defect detection for repair, upgrade or recall thereof.

19. The system of claim 12 wherein:

the network client group comprises a family covered under a group insurance coverage for enabling service of the network client group.

20. The system of claim 12 wherein:

the software comprises a real-time task manager for using multi-member group data to generate informative response to one or more mobile automotive client query via an interactive audio media interface.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein:

the media interface communicates GPS navigational information.

22. The system of claim 12 wherein:

the server accesses a registry storing representation of each mobile automotive client and associated residential device belonging to the network client group.