Fuel and vehicle monitoring system and method

• US 20030195676A1
• Filed: 04/15/2002
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Andrew Jeffrey Kelly, Steven Kenneth Bradford
• Original Assignee: Andrew Jeffrey Kelly, Steven Kenneth Bradford
• Inventors: Kenneth Bradford, Steven, Kelly, Andrew Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US10/122,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20030195676A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0042 for hiring of objects
• 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

Abstract

A fuel and vehicle monitoring system for use with one or more vehicles of a business, which includes a computer system; a system for monitoring vehicle location and distance traveled by the vehicle; a system for monitoring fuel usage of the vehicle; a system for entering user information into the computer; and a system for downloading information from the computer to a remote business site.

Claims

1. A fuel and vehicle monitoring system for use with one or more vehicles of a business, comprising

a) a computer system;

b) a vehicle fuel flow sensor;

c) a system for monitoring for vehicle location and distance traveled by the vehicle;

d) a system for entering user information into the computer; and

e) a system for downloading information from the computer to a remote business site.

2. The fuel and vehicle monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the computer has a touch-screen for entering information or responding to queries on the computer.

3. The fuel and vehicle monitoring system of claim 1, wherein a global positioning system is used to monitor vehicle location and distance traveled.

4. The fuel and vehicle monitoring system of claim 1, wherein information about the distance traveled and fuel flow is used to calculate vehicle fuel usage.

5. The fuel and vehicle monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a connection to an onboard computer system of the vehicle.

6. The fuel and vehicle monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the fuel flow sensor comprises a fuel flow meter.

7. The fuel and vehicle monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the distance traveled by a vehicle is monitored by a connection to an odometer of the vehicle.

8. The fuel and vehicle monitoring system of claim 1, wherein information obtained from the vehicle fuel flow sensor is used to calculate vehicle fuel usage, and wherein the amount of fuel used is used to determine how much fuel an operator of the vehicle may purchase.

9. The fuel and vehicle monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a system for restricting vehicle use.

10. The fuel and vehicle monitoring system of claim 9, wherein the system for restricting vehicle use comprises instructions from said computer causing the vehicle to cease operating at the end of a preselected time period.

11. The fuel and vehicle monitoring system of claim 9, wherein the system for restricting vehicle use comprises instructions from said computer causing the vehicle to cease operating when a preselected distance has been traveled by the vehicle.

12. The fuel and vehicle monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the distance traveled by a vehicle is verified by comparison of readings obtained from an odometer on the vehicle and readings obtained by a global positioning system.

13. The fuel and vehicle monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the system for entering user information into the computer comprises a card reader/encoder attached to the computer and a card used by a user of the vehicle.

14. The fuel and vehicle monitoring system of claim 13, wherein the card contains information enabling communication with the remote business site.

15. The fuel and vehicle monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a solenoid that is activated by the computer when the user is authorized to start the vehicle.

16. The fuel and vehicle monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the system for downloading information from the computer to a remote business site comprises an interface to a digital cellular telephone.

17. The fuel and vehicle monitoring system of claim 1, wherein:

a) a global positioning system is used to monitor vehicle location and distance traveled;

b) the fuel flow sensor comprises a fuel flow meter,

c) information about the distance traveled and fuel flow is used to calculate fuel usage of the one or more vehicles,

d) the system for entering user information into the computer comprises a card reader/encoder attached to the computer and a card used by the user, and the card contains information enabling communication with the remote business site, and

e) the system for downloading information from the computer to a remote business site comprises an interface to a digital cellular telephone.

18. A method of monitoring vehicle use, comprising providing a fuel and vehicle monitoring system according to claim 1.

19. A method of monitoring vehicle use, comprising providing a fuel and vehicle monitoring system according to claim 17.