Systems and devices for assessing fines for traffic disturbances

• US 7,884,739 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2008
• Issued: 02/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kreiner, Barrett, Reeves, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Phung
• Application Number:
  US12/123,499
• Publication Number:
  US 20080221916A1
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 340/933, 340/910, 340/917, 340/937, 340/438, 340/466, 382/104, 348/118
• US Class Current: 340/933
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0104 Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions

Abstract

Traffic disturbances are detected and data is collected by various sensors where the data reflects the entity that is responsible for the disturbance and the number of vehicles that are impacted by the disturbance. The data is analyzed to determine whether a traffic violation has occurred and to then assess a fine based at least on the number of vehicles that have been impacted as a result of the traffic violation. The fine may then be collected by notifying the entity that is responsible, such as by sending a message to an electronic device of the entity. The notification may provide for an automated payment of the fine or an option to appeal the fine. Additionally, those affected by the traffic disturbance may be identified and granted a portion of the fine that has been imposed and collected.

Claims

1. A method for assessing fines for traffic disturbances comprising:

(a) collecting data regarding a cause of a traffic disturbance and data reflecting an impact of the traffic disturbance;

(b) using a processor, comparing the collected data regarding the cause to a traffic violation rule set to detect whether the data regarding the cause represents a traffic violation; and

(c) computing a total fine based on the data reflecting the impact of the traffic disturbance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the impact of the traffic disturbance reflects a number of vehicles impacted.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising computing the total fine based on the particular traffic violation.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying an entity responsible for the traffic disturbance from the data regarding the cause.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising presenting the total fine to the entity identified as being responsible for the traffic disturbance.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising presenting an option to the entity identified as being responsible to pay the total file or appeal the fine.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising at least one of transferring an electronic message to an electronic device of the entity responsible for the traffic disturbance and generating a paper ticket addressed to the entity responsible for the traffic disturbance.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying those affected by the traffic disturbance and determining a portion of the total fine to grant to those affected.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising capturing an image of a vehicle of the entity responsible for the traffic disturbance and capturing an image of a group of vehicles impacted.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising performing pattern recognition on a number of vehicles present in the image of the group of vehicles impacted.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising determining an amount of the fine to remit to each of the vehicles that are impacted.