SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING VEHICLES AND COLLECTING FEES FOR VEHICLE USES OF LAND-WAYS, SEA-WAYS AND AIR-WAYS

• US 20080129548A1
• Filed: 04/27/2007
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dr. Paul A. Firestone
• Original Assignee: Dr. Paul A. Firestone
• Inventors: Firestone, Paul A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,600,683 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/993
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G

Abstract

A method for identifying and tracking vehicles and for monitoring vehicular regulatory compliance and collecting vehicle related fees includes the steps of implanting a plurality of passive bar-code or active transponder-type signaling devices on every vehicle, including cars, boats and aircrafts, registered in the United States, Canada and Mexico and those of foreign registry allowed to operate within the tri-national borders by regional or international treaty agreement; issuing a mandatory unique VIN ID vehicle identification code for each vehicle by a central registration agency, said code associated identically with the vehicle'"'"'s VIN vehicle identification number and with the registered owner/owners of the vehicle; associating said VIN ID code with said signaling devices; inputting information concerning said vehicle to said central agency, said information comprising vehicle title, insurance, driver license information, accident history, vehicular inspection and emissions; establishing an account at said central agency, said account not requiring a subscription; providing vehicle VIN code scanner/readers in selected areas in the sky and on the ground near the entry of a transportation pathway; reading said VIN ID identification code with said vehicle code scanner/readers; communicating said identification VIN ID code and a date and time and geographical location to said central agency; using said VIN ID code to charge said account with a relevant fee incurred by said vehicle during a period of time; and issuing a periodic report to the title owner/owners of the vehicle containing identifications of the time, the place, the fee charges and the account balance.

Claims

1. A method for identifying and tracking vehicles and collecting vehicle related tolls and fees and for monitoring vehicular regulatory compliance, comprising the steps of:

(a) establishing a regional or international treaty, including at least the United States, Canada and Mexico;

(b) implanting a plurality of active and/or passive signaling devices on every vehicle, to include cars, boats and aircrafts, that operate or enter into the territory governed by the United States, Canada, Mexico or other participating countries;

(c) issuing a mandatory unique (VIN) vehicle identification code for each vehicle by a central registration agency, said code associated with at least the vehicle'"'"'s VIN vehicle identification number and with the registered owner/or owners of said vehicle;

(d) associating said VIN code with said signaling devices;

(e) inputting information concerning said vehicle to said central agency, said information including vehicle title, insurance, driver'"'"'s license information, vehicle safety inspection, exhaust emissions control, and a chronology of accident reports;

(f) establishing an account at said central agency, said account not requiring a subscription;

(g) providing vehicle identification code scanner or readers in satellite scanners equipped with global positioning systems in sky and on-ground scanners positioned on transportation pathways;

(h) reading said identification code with said vehicle code readers at periodic intervals when vehicle is stationary and each time the vehicle passes the scanner on the transportation pathway;

(i) communicating said identification code with a date, a time and a vehicle geographical location to said central agency;

(j) using said code to charge relevant fees against said account incurred by said vehicle for transportation pathways'"'"' use during a period of time; and

(k) issuing a periodic report of said account to the title owner of the vehicle containing identifications of time, place, fee charges and account balances.

2. A method for collecting vehicle related fees and for monitoring vehicular regulatory compliance of claim 1, further comprising:

equipping traffic managers with mobile vehicle code readers.

3. A method for collecting vehicle related fees and for monitoring vehicular regulatory compliance of claim 1, further comprising:

said relevant fee may include additional fees according to the type of vehicle and vehicle weight.

4. A method for collecting vehicle related fees and for monitoring vehicular regulatory compliance of claim 1, further comprising:

using said code to monitor and verify vehicular regulatory compliance relating to insurance, emissions, registration and title matters; and

issuing a periodic report to the title owner/owners of said vehicle containing regulatory compliance issues.