Vehicle communication network
First Claim
1. A communication network for integrating record management and collection for vehicles located over a geographical area that is divided into a plurality of radio coverage areas or cells, comprising:
- a plurality of electronic tags installed in each of said vehicles, each of said plurality of electronic tags including first wireless means for selectively transmitting and receiving vehicular data for an associated vehicle in response to radio frequency signals, each of said plurality of electronic tags having static and dynamic memories for storing permanent and variable vehicular data;
at least one portable interrogator including second wireless means for communicating with and querying said plurality of electronic tags so as to selectively update, transmit, and retrieve vehicular data in said dynamic memory, each of said plurality of electronic tags also having means in response to a specific query from said at least one portable interrogator for selectively transmitting to and receiving from said at least one portable interrogator only desired vehicular data stored in said static and dynamic memories for the associated vehicles of said plurality of electronic tags;
a plurality of vehicle base stations, each associated with one of said plurality of radio coverage areas or cells, said vehicle base stations each including third wireless means for receiving and transmitting vehicular data from said at least one portable interrogator obtained from said electronic tags when said at least one portable interrogator is within the radio coverage area or cell of the corresponding vehicle base station; and
a control center coupled through data links to said plurality of vehicle base stations for establishing communication with said at least one portable interrogator through the corresponding vehicle base station associated with the location of said least portable interrogator for processing vehicular data received from said plurality of vehicle base stations so as to effect record management and collection for the vehicular data contained within the electronic tags of the associated vehicles.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a bi-directional vehicle communication network which has the ability for record management and collection, including updating registration, insurance, inspection and/or maintenance records, as well as for collecting for the transaction fee or cost thereof. Additionally, the present vehicle communication network readily affords the ability of ticketing drivers for traffic violations. Importantly, vehicles are equipped with an electronic tag containing records associated therewith. In response to radio frequency signals from a portable interrogator, vehicular records may be selectively retrieved from the electronic tag. Updated records are then transmitted to the electronic tag for storage. Similarly, those updated records may be also transmitted to a centralized control center for archival purposes, as well as for effecting collection.
188 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A communication network for integrating record management and collection for vehicles located over a geographical area that is divided into a plurality of radio coverage areas or cells, comprising:
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a plurality of electronic tags installed in each of said vehicles, each of said plurality of electronic tags including first wireless means for selectively transmitting and receiving vehicular data for an associated vehicle in response to radio frequency signals, each of said plurality of electronic tags having static and dynamic memories for storing permanent and variable vehicular data;
at least one portable interrogator including second wireless means for communicating with and querying said plurality of electronic tags so as to selectively update, transmit, and retrieve vehicular data in said dynamic memory, each of said plurality of electronic tags also having means in response to a specific query from said at least one portable interrogator for selectively transmitting to and receiving from said at least one portable interrogator only desired vehicular data stored in said static and dynamic memories for the associated vehicles of said plurality of electronic tags;
a plurality of vehicle base stations, each associated with one of said plurality of radio coverage areas or cells, said vehicle base stations each including third wireless means for receiving and transmitting vehicular data from said at least one portable interrogator obtained from said electronic tags when said at least one portable interrogator is within the radio coverage area or cell of the corresponding vehicle base station; and
a control center coupled through data links to said plurality of vehicle base stations for establishing communication with said at least one portable interrogator through the corresponding vehicle base station associated with the location of said least portable interrogator for processing vehicular data received from said plurality of vehicle base stations so as to effect record management and collection for the vehicular data contained within the electronic tags of the associated vehicles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A communication system for managing vehicular records for vehicles located over a geographical area that is divided into a plurality of radio coverage areas or cells, comprising:
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a control center having a database for storing vehicular records;
vehicle base stations, each associated with one of said plurality of radio coverage areas or cells;
communication links interconnecting said vehicle base stations to said control center, each of said vehicle base station including means for transmitting and receiving vehicular records to and from said control center; and
bidirectional wireless communication links including a portable interrogator interconnecting said vehicle base stations with electronic tags installed on vehicles, said portable interrogator including first wireless means for selectively receiving and transmitting vehicular data between said electronic tags and a corresponding vehicle base station associated with the radio coverage area or cell that the portable interrogator resides within, and each of said electronic tags having static and dynamic memories for storing permanent and variable vehicular data, and having second wireless means for selectively transmitting and receiving vehicular data for an associated vehicle in response to radio frequency signals from said portable interrogator. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of managing records for vehicles equipped with electronic tags that transmit data associated with the vehicles over a radio communication link, comprising the steps of:
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interconnecting vehicle base stations with a control center, said vehicle base stations each associated with a predetermined radio coverage area;
using a portable interrogator, selectively querying and retrieving from said electronic tags vehicular records for desired vehicles, said electronic tags having static and dynamic memories for storing permanent and variable vehicular data;
using said portable interrogator, selectively transmitting updated vehicular data to said electronic tags;
transmitting retrieved vehicular records from said electronic tags to a corresponding vehicle base station associated with the radio coverage area that the portable interrogator is located within; and
using said portable interrogator, selectively updating, if necessary, the vehicular records and then selectively transmitting the vehicular records to said electronic tags and the control center for record management through the corresponding vehicle base station associated with the radio coverage area that the portable interrogator is located within. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification