Notification systems and methods with notifications based upon prior stop locations

• US 20030195696A1
• Filed: 05/12/2003
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1993
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shipping & Transit, LLC
• Original Assignee: Arrivalstar SA
• Inventors: Jones, M. Kelly
• Granted Patent: US 6,763,299 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/201
• 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

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for maintaining a delivery list having a plurality of stop locations, for monitoring travel data associated with a vehicle in relation to the delivery list, and for, when the vehicle approaches, is at, or leaves a stop location, sending a communication to a party associated with a subsequent stop location to notify the party of impending arrival at the subsequent stop location.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

maintaining a delivery list having a plurality of stop locations;

monitoring travel data associated with a vehicle in relation to the delivery list;

when the vehicle approaches, is at, or leaves a stop location, sending a communication to a party associated with a subsequent stop location to notify the party of impending arrival at the subsequent stop location.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the following steps:

determining the subsequent stop location on the delivery list;

determining user defined preferences data associated with the stop location;

sending the communication in accordance with the user defined preferences data.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the steps are controlled by a computer system and further comprising the steps of:

permitting establishment of a first communication link between the user and the computer system; and

permitting the user to define the user defined preferences data during the first communication link.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the user defined preferences data includes distance between the vehicle and the subsequent stop that corresponds to when the party wishes to receive the communication.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the user defined preferences data includes a time period for the vehicle to reach the subsequent stop that corresponds to when the party wishes to receive the communication.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the user defined preferences data includes a time of day for the vehicle to reach the subsequent stop that corresponds to when the party wishes to receive the communication.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the user defined preferences data includes a geographical region about the subsequent stop that, when the vehicle enters, corresponds to when the party wishes to receive the communication.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the user defined preferences data includes one of the stop locations that corresponds to when the party wishes to receive the communication.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the user defined preferences data includes a predetermined number of stop locations along the vehicle'"'"'s route that will occur prior to the subsequent stop location, the predetermined number corresponding to when the party wishes to receive the communication.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a message in the communication that indicates travel status of the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the travel status includes the number of stop locations before the vehicle will arrive at the subsequent location.

12. The method of claim 3, wherein the computer system is a single computer or comprises a distributed architecture comprising a plurality of computers that are communicatively coupled.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

receiving a signal from the vehicle indicating that the vehicle is approaching, is at, or has left the stop location.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the signal is generated by scanning an object that enters or leaves the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the signal is generated by actuation of a manually operated switch that is associated with the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the signal is generated by actuation of an automatically operated switch that is associated with the vehicle and that indicates that the vehicle has been stopped or started.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the signal is generated by a computer associated with the vehicle.

18. A system comprising:

means for maintaining a delivery list having a plurality of stop locations;

means for monitoring travel data associated with a vehicle in relation to the delivery list;

means for, when the vehicle approaches, is at, or leaves a stop location, sending a communication to a party associated with a subsequent stop location to notify the party of impending arrival at the subsequent stop location.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

means for determining the subsequent stop location on the delivery list;

means for determining user defined preferences data associated with the stop location;

means for sending the communication in accordance with the user defined preferences data.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

means for permitting establishment of a first communication link between the user and the computer system; and

means for permitting the user to define the user defined preferences data during the first communication link.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the user defined preferences data includes distance between the vehicle and the subsequent stop that corresponds to when the party wishes to receive the communication.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the user defined preferences data includes a time period for the vehicle to reach the subsequent stop that corresponds to when the party wishes to receive the communication.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the user defined preferences data includes a geographical region about the subsequent stop that, when the vehicle enters, corresponds to when the party wishes to receive the communication.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the user defined preferences data includes one of the stop locations that corresponds to when the party wishes to receive the communication.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein the user defined preferences data includes a predetermined number of stop locations along the vehicle'"'"'s route that will occur prior to the subsequent stop location, the predetermined number corresponding to when the party wishes to receive the communication.

26. The system of claim 18, further comprising the step of providing a message in the communication that indicates travel status of the vehicle.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the travel status includes the number of stop locations before the vehicle will arrive at the subsequent location.

28. The system of claim 18, wherein the system is implemented in a single computer or in a distributed architecture comprising a plurality of computers that are communicatively coupled.