Computer system and method for statewide or other jurisdiction registering and monitoring of vehicle locations

• US 7,996,258 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2008
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christine M. Hembury
• Original Assignee: Christine M. Hembury
• Inventors: Hembury, Christine M.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALLEN, AKIBA KANELLE
• Application Number:
  US12/315,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20100145759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/30, 701/32, 701/300, 701/1, 705/13
• US Class Current: 705/13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/26 Government or public services business processes related to the transportation industry G06Q50/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0141 for traffic information dissemination
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/207 with respect to certain areas, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas with possible alerting when inside or outside boundaries

Abstract

A computer system and a method as a part of the registration and/or inspection system of a state or other jurisdiction results in the assignment of a vehicle identification code to each vehicle and notification to the registrant to take the vehicle to an inspection/installation facility wherein a GPS receiver and transmitter are either installed, updated or checked for operability on a regular basis, such as yearly. Each registered vehicle in a state or other jurisdiction, as a result of the regular registration process or as the result of a temporary registration process when the vehicle enters the state temporarily, has a GPS receiver and transmitter transmit in real time location data of the vehicle via a wireless communication system such a WiFi, cellular, satellite or other system to an electronic storage subsystem which stores for each vehicle identification code the location data and time in real time and maintains it for a predetermined period of time, such as twelve months. This data may be accessed by authorized users for various purposes including law enforcement, emergency responses and/or roadway planning studies and the like. The data may also be used in settlement of negligence or criminal complaints. An alarm detection system detects either the loss of signal or a tampering signal transmitted to the state computer system.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising;

means for inputting into a computer an application for registration for substantially each vehicle in a jurisdiction;

means in said computer for processing each said application and as a result of processing said application, notifying each applicant to take each vehicle for which registration was applied to an inspection/installation facility;

means for notifying in response to said processing of said application at least one of a plurality of vehicle inspection/installation facilities of a vehicle identification code for each vehicle for which registration was applied for;

means for inputting data into said computer from a notified vehicle inspection/installation facility when a GPS receiver with a wireless transmitter instantaneously transmitting current location information of said vehicle derived from said GPS receiver along with said vehicle identification code are installed on said vehicle for which registration was applied and is operating properly;

means for receiving from each said wireless transmitter mounted on said vehicle information in the form of a vehicle identification code and current location information generated by said GPS receiver mounted on said vehicle;

means for storing in said computer said vehicle information code and related location information for each instant in time in substantially real time for a predetermined period of time;

means for inputting into said computer selectively a request for vehicle location information for one or more particular times from an authorized user;

means for processing by said computer said inputted request for information and providing a response to said authorized user in response to said request.

2. A computer system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for inputting into a computer applications includes means for inputting an application for each vehicle registered in a jurisdiction.

3. A computer system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for selectively inputting a request from an authorized user includes a request inputted to said computer for information about a particular vehicle.

4. A computer system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said request includes requests for information about vehicles in a particular area at a particular time.

5. A computer system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said request includes information with respect to the number of vehicles passing a point in a particular direction over a selected period of time.

6. A computer system in accordance with claim 1 wherein an alarm detection system detects a loss of signal from a transmitter of said vehicle.

7. A computer system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said computer system includes an alarm system for detecting a signal indicating tampering with a GPS receiver and/or transmitter located on said vehicle.

15. A computer system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said means for inputting into a computer an application for registration for substantially each vehicle in a jurisdiction includes means for inputting into said computer system an application for temporary registration of a vehicle entering at a border point.

8. A method, comprising the steps of:

inputting into a computer system one of a plurality of applications for registration of a vehicle in a jurisdiction;

processing by said computer system said application and as a result of processing said application, notifying an applicant of said application to take the vehicle for which registration was applied to an inspection/installation facility;

said computer system notifying in response to said processing of said application at least one of a plurality of vehicle inspection/installation facilities of a vehicle identification code for said registration applied for vehicle;

inputting data into said computer system from a notified inspection/installation facility when a GPS receiver and wireless transmitter are installed on said vehicle for which registration was applied for and said transmitter is transmitting the vehicle identification code for said vehicle and location information derived from said GPS receiver on said vehicle;

providing a memory in said computer system for storing data relating to the location of said vehicle identification code;

storing in said memory in said computer system time and location data for said vehicle identification code in at least substantially real time for a predetermined period of time;

inputting into said computer system selectively a request for vehicle location information for a particular time or times from an authorized user,

processing by said computer system said inputted request for information and said computer system providing a response to the authorized user in response to said request; and

repeating the aforesaid steps of inputting an application into said computer system, processing by said computer system, notifying by said computer system, inputting data to said computer system, and storing in said memory in said computer system for substantially all vehicles registered in a jurisdiction.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said authorized users include law enforcement and emergency services personnel as confirmed by said computer system.

10. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said step of inputting into said computer system selectively a request for vehicle location information includes a request processed by said computer system for other information stored in said memory of said computer system relating to the vehicle or its registrant.

11. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said step of inputting into said computer system selectively a request for vehicle location information includes a request processed by said computer system for identification of vehicles located in a particular area at a particular time stored in said memory in said computer system.

12. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said step of inputting into said computer system selectively a request for vehicle location information includes a request processed by said computer system for the number of vehicles passing a particular point in a particular direction during a selected period of time as stored in said memory in said computer system.

13. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said method includes the step of energizing an alarm by said computer system as a result of the detection by said computer system of a loss of signal from said vehicle transmitter.

14. A method in accordance with claim 8 including the step of detecting by said computer system a tampering signal generated as a result of tampering with said GPS receiver and/or wireless transmitter located on said vehicle and energizing an alarm by said computer system.

16. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said step of inputting into a computer system one of a plurality of applications for registration of a vehicle in a jurisdiction includes inputting into said computer system an application for temporary registration of a vehicle at a border point.

17. A computer system, comprising;

means for inputting into a computer an application for registration for substantially each vehicle entering a jurisdiction at a border point;

means for processing each said application and as a result of processing said application, notifying an applicant of said application to take each vehicle for which registration was applied to an inspection/installation facility;

means for notifying in response to said processing of said application at least one of a plurality of vehicle inspection/installation facilities of a vehicle identification code for each vehicle for which registration was applied for;

means for inputting data to said computer from an inspection/installation facility when a GPS receiver with a wireless transmitter instantaneously transmitting current location information of said vehicle derived from said GPS receiver along with said identification code are installed on said vehicle for which registration was applied and is operating properly;

means for receiving from each said wireless transmitter mounted on said vehicle information in the form of a vehicle identification code and current location information generated by said GPS receiver mounted on said vehicle;

means for storing in said computer said vehicle information code and related location information for each instant in time in substantially real time for a predetermined period of time;

means for inputting into said computer selectively a request for vehicle location information for one or more particular times from an authorized user;

means for processing in said computer said inputted request for information and providing a response to said authorized user in response to said request.

18. A computer system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said means for selectively inputting into said computer a request from an authorized user includes a request for information about a particular vehicle.

19. A computer system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said request includes requests for information about vehicles in a particular area at a particular time.

20. A computer system in accordance with claim 17 including an alarm detection system which detects a loss of signal from a transmitter of said vehicle.

21. A computer system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said computer system includes an alarm system for detecting a signal indicating tampering with a GPS receiver and/or transmitter located on said vehicle.

22. A method, comprising the steps of:

inputting into a computer one of a plurality of applications for registration of a vehicle entering a jurisdiction at a border point;

processing by said computer said application and as a result of processing said application, notifying an applicant of said application to take the vehicle for which registration was applied to an inspection/installation facility;

notifying in response to said processing of said application at least one of a plurality of vehicle inspection/installation facilities of a vehicle identification code for said registration applied for vehicle;

inputting data into said computer from an inspection/installation facility when a GPS receiver and wireless transmitter instantaneously transmitting current location information of said vehicle derived from said GPS receiver along with said vehicle identification code are installed on said vehicle for which registration was applied for and said transmitter is transmitting vehicle identification code and location information properly;

providing a memory in said computer for storing data relating to the location as generated by said GPS receiver mounted on said vehicle and transmitted by said transmitter for the vehicle assigned said vehicle identification code;

storing in said memory time and location data for said vehicle identification code in at least substantially real time for a predetermined period of time;

inputting into said computer selectively a request for vehicle location information for a particular time or times from an authorized user,

processing by said computer said inputted request for information and providing a response to the authorized user in response to said request; and

repeating the aforesaid steps of inputting an application into said computer, processing by said computer, notifying by said computer, inputting data into said computer, and storing in said computer for substantially all vehicles entering said jurisdiction at a border point.

23. A method in accordance with claim 22 wherein said authorized users include law enforcement and emergency services personnel.

24. A method in accordance with claim 22 wherein said step of inputting selectively a request for vehicle location information includes a request for other information relating to the vehicle or its registrant.

25. A method in accordance with claim 22 wherein said step of inputting selectively a request for vehicle location information includes a request for identification of vehicles located in a particular area at a particular time.

26. A method in accordance with claim 22 wherein said method includes the step of energizing an alarm as a result of the detection of a loss of signal from said vehicle transmitter.

27. A method in accordance with claim 22 including the step of detecting a tampering signal generated as a result of tampering with said GPS receiver and/or wireless transmitter located on said vehicle and energizing an alarm.