Automatic system for providing assistance to impaired drivers

• US 6,697,732 B1
• Filed: 10/30/2002
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bradley L. Gotfried
• Original Assignee: Bradley L. Gotfried
• Inventors: Gotfried, Bradley L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US10/284,005
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/29, 701/201, 701/207, 701/209, 701/36, 382/124, 382/115, 340/933, 340/425.5, 340/988, 180/272, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/99, 455/91
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/063 preventing starting of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/24 Drug level, e.g. alcohol
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

A system for providing assistance to impaired drivers including a substance detector for generating an impairment reading for a user based on a sample provided by the user and a notification device in communication with a transportation service in which the notification device contacts the transportation service when the impairment reading is outside a predetermined range. The notification device also provides the transportation service with navigational data when the notification device contacts the transportation service to permit the transportation service to locate the user. Additionally, a method for providing assistance to impaired drivers includes the steps of generating an impairment reading for a user based on a sample provided by the user and contacting a transportation service based on the impairment reading and providing the transportation service with navigational data to permit the transportation service to locate the user.

Claims

1. A system for providing assistance to impaired drivers, comprising:

a substance detector for generating an impairment reading for a user based on a sample provided by the user; and

a notification device in communication with a transportation service;

wherein said notification device contacts the transportation service when said impairment reading is outside a predetermined range;

wherein said notification device provides the transportation service with navigational data when said notification device contacts the transportation service to permit the transportation service to locate the user.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said impairment reading is a blood alcohol content reading.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an ignition disabling device, wherein said ignition disabling device enables an ignition system when said impairment reading is inside the predetermined range.

4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a key blocking device, wherein said key blocking device provides access to a key when said impairment reading is inside the predetermined range.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said notification device comprises a global positioning system receiver for providing the navigational data to the transportation service and a transceiver for communicating with the transportation service.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said notification device further contacts at least one of a governmental agency and an insurance agency when said impairment reading is outside the predetermined range.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the transportation service provides the user with transportation once the transportation service locates the user.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the notification device further provides the transportation service with identifying information and the transportation service automatically charges a fee to an account.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system is contained within a vehicle driven by the user and the transportation service locates the user by locating the vehicle, wherein the transportation service provides transportation to the vehicle.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the notification device further provides the transportation service with identifying information and the transportation service automatically charges a fee to an account.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the transportation service comprises at least one of a driving service and a towing service.

12. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a user interface, wherein said user interface displays at least one of operating information and said impairment reading.

13. A method for providing assistance to impaired drivers, said method comprising the steps of:

generating an impairment reading for a user based on a sample provided by the user;

contacting a transportation service when the impairment reading is outside a predetermined range; and

providing the transportation service with navigational data during said contacting step to permit the transportation service to locate the user.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of providing transportation to at least one of the user and a vehicle driven by the user.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the impairment reading is a blood alcohol content reading.

16. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

providing an ignition disabling device; and

enabling an ignition system with the ignition disabling device when the impairment reading is within the predetermined range.

17. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of:

providing a key blocking device; and

enabling a key with the key blocking device when the impairment reading is within the predetermined range.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein said contacting step further comprises the step of contacting at least one of a governmental agency and an insurance agency when the impairment reading is outside the predetermined range.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein said providing step further comprises the step providing the transportation service with identifying information;

wherein the transportation service automatically charges a fee to an account.