System and method for an advance notification system for monitoring and reporting proximity of a vehicle

• US 20030093218A1
• Filed: 12/18/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1993
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shipping & Transit, LLC
• Original Assignee: Melvino Technologies Limited
• Inventors: Jones, Martin Kelly
• Granted Patent: US 7,089,107 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/201
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/008 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/123 indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, tramstransmission of navigation instructions to vehicles G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 to a central station ; Indicators in a central station

Abstract

Generally, the present invention monitors and communicates travel data transmitted from vehicles being monitored by the system to users requesting travel information on a particular vehicle. A travel data storage unit receives and stores the travel data. When a user desires to view some or all of this travel data, the user submits a request to a data manager. In response, the data manager retrieves the appropriate information from the travel data stored in the travel data storage unit and transmits this information to the user. The data manager may communicate the information in a variety of mediums and preferably contact information is predefined that enables the data manager to determine which medium is preferable and how to establish communication once the medium is determined.

Claims

1. An advance notification method, comprising the steps of:

establishing communication with a remote communication device;

receiving data from said remote communication device;

identifying a notification time or notification time period based on said data;

monitoring travel of a vehicle in relation to a vehicle stop;

determining, based on said monitoring step, whether said vehicle has reached said notification time or is within said notification time period from said vehicle stop; and

establishing communication with said remote communication device or another remote communication device at said notification time or when said vehicle is within said notification time period from said vehicle stop.

2. A method to be performed by a base station computer system in an advance notification system, comprising the steps of:

establishing communication between a base station computer system and a remote communication device;

receiving at the base station computer system notification time data from said remote communication device;

monitoring travel of a vehicle in relation to a vehicle stop; and

establishing communication between said base station computer and said remote communication device or another remote communication device at a particular notification time before said vehicle arrives at said vehicle stop, based upon said notification time data that was received by said base station computer system from said remote communication device.

3. An advance notification system, comprising:

means for establishing communication with a remote communication device;

means for receiving data from said remote communication device;

means for identifying a notification time or notification time period based on said data;

means for monitoring travel of a vehicle in relation to a vehicle stop;

means for determining, based on said monitoring step, whether said vehicle has reached said notification time or is within said notification time period from said vehicle stop; and

means for establishing communication with said remote communication device or II another remote communication device at said notification time or when said vehicle is within said notification time period from said vehicle stop.

4. A base station computer system in an advance notification system, comprising:

means for establishing communication between a base station computer system and a remote communication device;

means for receiving at the base station computer system notification time data from said remote communication device;

means for monitoring travel of a vehicle in relation to a vehicle stop; and

means for establishing communication between said base station computer and said remote communication device or another remote communication device at a particular notification time before said vehicle arrives at said vehicle stop, based upon said notification time data that was received by said base station computer system from said remote communication device.