Speed trap information system

• US 6,118,403 A
• Filed: 08/24/1999
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: InfoMove.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: InfoMove.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Lang, Brook
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, DAO LINDA
• Application Number:
  US09/382,217
• Time in Patent Office: 385 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.06, 342/357.09, 342/357.1, 342/20, 342/27, 342/28, 342/114, 701/213
• US Class Current: 342/357.31
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/008 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/022 Road traffic radar detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds

Abstract

A system that provides information to authorized users regarding the location of speed traps via a wireless communication network connected to a computer wide area network. The system includes the use of a detector for speed detecting equipment, such as a radar detector, which detects the presence of speed detecting equipment and transmits the detection information into an electronic device in the motor vehicle. The electronic device communicates is coupled to a physical location device, such as a GPS receiver, which provides the specific location and direction of the motor vehicle when detection occurs. The electronic device is also coupled to a wireless modem that connects to a wireless communication network and to the wide area network. Connected to the wide area network is a central server that receives uploaded information from a plurality of other motor vehicle operators to create a large information database. Authorized users are then able to log into the central server and download information regarding the location of the speed detecting equipment operating in a specific roadway.

Claims

1. A speed trap information system, comprising:

a. at least one motor vehicle;

b. a wide area network;

c. an electronic device located in said motor vehicle;

d. a means for detecting speed detecting equipment, said means being connected to said electronic device;

e. physical location means to determine the specific location of said motor vehicle when a speed detection signal is produced by said means for detecting speed detecting equipment;

f. a wireless communication means coupled to said electronic device enabling said electronic device to connect to said wide area network; and

,

g. a central server connected to said wide area network, said central server capable of receiving and storing said speed detecting equipment information and physical location information from said electronic device and selectively transmitting said information over said wide area network and to authorized users.

2. The speed trap information system as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for detecting speed detecting equipment is a radar detector.

3. The speed trap information system as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for detecting speed detecting equipment is a laser detector.

4. The speed trap information system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for detecting speed detecting equipment is a manual button attached to said electronic device capable of being activated by a user when visual detection of speed detecting equipment occurs.

5. The speed trap information system as recited in claim 1, wherein said physical location detection means is a GPS receiver.

6. The speed trap information system as recited in claim 1, wherein said wireless communication means is a wireless modem connected to said electronic device.

7. The speed trap information system as recited in claim 1, wherein said central server is the network service provider for the user of said electronic device.

8. The speed trap information system as recited in claim 1, further including means for visually confirming the speed detection signal and transmitting said visual confirmation information to said central server.

9. A speed trap information system, comprising:

a. at least one motor vehicle;

b. a wide area network;

c. an electronic device located in said motor vehicle;

d. means for detecting speed detecting equipment, said means being connected to said electronic device;

e. a GPS receiver coupled to said electronic device capable of determining the physical location of said motor vehicle when speed detecting equipment is detected by said means for detecting speed detecting equipment;

f. a wireless modem coupled to said electronic device enabling said electronic device to connect to said wide area network; and

,

g. a central server connected to said wide area network, said central server capable of receiving and storing said speed detecting equipment information and physical location information from said electronic device.

10. A speed trap information system as recited in claim 9, wherein said means for detecting speed detecting equipment is a radar detector.

11. A speed trap information system as recited in claim 9, wherein said means for detecting speed detecting equipment is a laser detector.

12. A speed trap information system as recited in claim 9, wherein said means for detecting speed detecting equipment is a manual button connected to said electronic device.

13. A speed trap information system as recited in claim 9, further including a manual operated confirmation button coupled to said electronic device to verify the signal produced by said means for detecting speed detecting equipment.

14. A speed trap information system, comprising:

a. a plurality of monitoring speed trap motor vehicles each including means for detecting the operation of speed detecting equipment operated nearby and including means for determining the physical location of said motor vehicle when detection occurs, each said monitoring motor vehicle including means for transmitting detection information and physical location information to a wide area network;

b. a wide area network;

c. a central server connected to said wide area network capable of receiving said detection and location information from said monitoring motor vehicles and creating a database thereof; and

,

d. means for connecting to said wide area network and downloading selective detection and location information from said database on said central server.

15. The speed trap information system as recited in claim 14, wherein said means for detecting speed detecting equipment is a laser detector.

16. The speed trap information system, as recited in claim 15, wherein said means for detecting speed detecting equipment is a manual button attached to an electronic device capable of connecting to said wide area network.

17. The speed trap information system as recited in claim 15, wherein at least one user of said system is located in a motor vehicle and connected to said wide area network and central server through said a wireless communication network.

18. The speed trap information system as recited in claim 15, wherein at least one user of said system is located in a fixed position and connected to said wide area network and said central server through a landline communication network.

19. The speed trap location system, as recited in claim 16, wherein each said speed trap monitoring vehicle includes means to determine the time of day detection occurs.