Systems and methods for monitoring, managing, and facilitating transactions involving vehicles

• US 8,781,958 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2012
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph Michael
• Original Assignee: Joseph Michael
• Inventors: Michael, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Lemieux, Jessica
• Application Number:
  US13/405,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20120323772A1
• Time in Patent Office: 871 Days
• Field of Search: 705/39
• US Class Current: 705/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

A method for monitoring, managing, and facilitating transactions involving a vehicle includes: accessing information including one or more inputs and/or parameters for a transaction involving a vehicle, at least one of the inputs and/or parameters identifying the vehicle or being associated with or established in association with the vehicle; and facilitating or initiating a process of charging an account depending upon the one or more inputs and/or parameters.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring, managing, and facilitating transactions involving a vehicle, the method comprising:

utilizing a process, shared between an electronic device and an auxiliary NFC-enabled electronic device, of generating signals including code identifying a vehicle equipped with the electronic device, one or more inputs and/or parameters for a transaction involving usage of a transportation infrastructure by the vehicle being established utilizing the auxiliary device in operative communication with one or more near-field communication (NFC) devices of the transportation infrastructure, the one or more inputs and/or parameters for said transaction including information and/or data pertaining to a determination that excessive levels of emissions or greenhouse gases are being generated by the vehicle, the auxiliary device utilizing the information and/or data to generate or transmit the code in association with said determination; and

facilitating or initiating a process of charging an account depending upon the one or more inputs and/or parameters for said transaction including the information and/or data pertaining to said determination.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes a RFID device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the signals include information relating to or identifying a passenger of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction further involves usage or utilization by the vehicle of, and/or custody or transportation of the vehicle by, one or more of

a parking facility or space,

a storage facility or space,

an impound facility or lot,

a vehicle transport vehicle,

a ship or other vehicle transport vessel or watercraft, and

an airplane or other vehicle transport aircraft.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the transaction includes charging an account associated with one or more of the vehicle, an owner, a driver, a custodian, or a passenger of the vehicle, a person, an animal, or an object within, secured to, or transported by the vehicle, and a person, an entity, an object, a status, a condition, an event, an indication, or an interrupt associated with the vehicle to one or more other accounts.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said usage of a transportation infrastructure by a vehicle includes driving on a toll road.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

utilizing an auxiliary device mode in which the electronic device communicates indirectly with the auxiliary device via one or more of a network and a processing center.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

utilizing an auxiliary device mode in which a source or device other than the electronic device communicates with the auxiliary device to provide the auxiliary device with the information and/or data.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

processing the signals to identify in association with the vehicle a circumstance that satisfies criteria for facilitating, controlling, or initiating an action or a process involving one or more of

providing information,

providing a notification,

transferring funds, and

issuing a ticket, a citation, a bill, an invoice, a warning, or other communication.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

presenting a visual representation of one or more of

the vehicle and/or the circumstance,

information and/or instructions,

a notification,

a warning, and

a prompt.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the circumstance is an identification, a determination, and/or a prediction of one or more of a parking violation and a moving violation associated with one or more of the vehicle, an owner, a driver, a custodian, or a passenger of the vehicle, and a person within or transported by the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the circumstance is an identification, a determination, and/or a prediction that one or more of a registration, a driver'"'"'s license, and an insurance policy associated with one or more of the vehicle, an owner, a driver, a custodian, or a passenger of the vehicle, and a person within or transported by the vehicle is, or will be, expired, out-of-state, canceled, revoked, and/or suspended.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the circumstance is an identification, a determination, and/or a prediction that one or more of an account, a tax, an assessment, a charge, a surcharge, a fee, a fine, and a penalty associated with one or more of the vehicle, an owner, a driver, a custodian, or a passenger of the vehicle, a person, an animal, or an object within, secured to, or transported by the vehicle, and a person, an entity, an object, a status, a condition, an event, an indication, or an interrupt associated with the vehicle is, or will be, late, overdue, unpaid, delinquent, and/or in default.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the circumstance is a crime, reported, detected or suspected criminal activity, or an identification, a determination, and/or a prediction of a crime or criminal activity associated with one or more of the vehicle, an owner, a driver, a custodian, or a passenger of the vehicle, a person, an animal, or an object within, secured to, or transported by the vehicle, and a person, an entity, an object, a status, a condition, an event, an indication, or an interrupt associated with the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the circumstance is an identification, a determination, and/or a prediction of a status associated with one or more of the vehicle, an owner, a driver, a custodian, or a passenger of the vehicle, a person, an animal, or an object within, secured to, or transported by the vehicle, and a person, an entity, an object, a condition, an event, an indication, or an interrupt associated with the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the circumstance is an identification, a determination, and/or a prediction of one or more of a condition, an indication, and an interrupt associated with one or more of the vehicle, an owner, a driver, a custodian, or a passenger of the vehicle, a person, an animal, or an object within, secured to, or transported by the vehicle, a person, an entity, an object, a status, or an event associated with the vehicle, and a location, an area, a region, or an environment within which the vehicle is located, or that the vehicle is approaching or departing from.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the circumstance is an event for or during which a location of the vehicle or a person, an animal, or an object within, secured to, or transported by the vehicle presents or potentially raises a concern in relation to the event.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein the circumstance is an identification, a determination, and/or a prediction that a location of the vehicle is within, approaching, or departing from an area, a region, or an environment designated as prohibited, unlicensed, limited, restricted, or cautionary access in relation to one or more of the vehicle, an owner, a driver, a custodian, or a passenger of the vehicle, a person, an animal, or an object within, secured to, or transported by the vehicle, and a person, an entity, an object, a status, a condition, an event, an indication, or an interrupt associated with the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 9, wherein the circumstance is an identification, a determination, and/or a prediction that a location of the vehicle is outside, departing from, or returning to an area, a region, or an environment designated as allowed, permitted, licensed, unlimited, unrestricted, or safe access in relation to one or more of the vehicle, an owner, a driver, a custodian, or a passenger of the vehicle, a person, an animal, or an object within, secured to, or transported by the vehicle, and a person, an entity, an object, a status, a condition, an event, an indication, or an interrupt associated with the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 9, wherein providing information includes

providing information pertaining to one or more of the vehicle, an owner, a driver, a custodian, or a passenger of the vehicle, a person, an animal, or an object within, secured to, or transported by the vehicle, a person, an entity, an object, a status, a condition, an event, an indication, or an interrupt associated with the vehicle, the circumstance, and a location, an area, a region, or an environment within which the vehicle is located, or that the vehicle is approaching or departing from, to one of more of

a law enforcement agency,

a government agency,

a state, a county, a city, a town, or a municipality,

a company or other private-sector entity or organization,

an individual or a group provided with an authorized or approved device,

an owner or a registered owner of the vehicle, and

a person authorized or approved by the owner and/or the registered owner.

21. The method of claim 9, wherein the notification pertains to one or more of

a parking violation and/or a moving violation associated with one or more of the vehicle, an owner, a driver, a custodian, or a passenger of the vehicle, and a person within or transported by the vehicle,

a crime, criminal activity, illegal action, prohibited substance, criminal record or notice and/or conviction associated with one or more of the vehicle, an owner, a driver, a custodian, or a passenger of the vehicle, a person, an animal, or an object within, secured to, or transported by the vehicle, and a person, an entity, an object, a status, a condition, an event, an indication, or an interrupt associated with the vehicle,

a location and/or a movement of the vehicle,

locations and/or movements of one or more vehicles associated with a person, persons, entity, object, group, organization, event, enterprise, and/or circumstance,

an event for or during which a location of the vehicle or a person, an animal, or an object within, secured to, or transported by the vehicle presents or potentially raises a concern in relation to the event,

an area, a region, or an environment designated as prohibited, unlicensed, limited, restricted, or cautionary access in relation to one or more of the vehicle, an owner, a driver, a custodian, or a passenger of the vehicle, a person, an animal, or an object within, secured to, or transported by the vehicle, and a person, an entity, an object, a status, a condition, an event, an indication, or an interrupt associated with the vehicle,

an area, a region, or an environment designated as allowed, permitted, licensed, unlimited, unrestricted, or safe access in relation to one or more of the vehicle, an owner, a driver, a custodian, or a passenger of the vehicle, a person, an animal, or an object within, secured to, or transported by the vehicle, and a person, an entity, an object, a status, a condition, an event, an indication, or an interrupt associated with the vehicle,

a registration, a driver'"'"'s license, and/or an insurance policy associated with one or more of the vehicle, an owner, a driver, a custodian, or a passenger of the vehicle, a person, an animal, or an object within, secured to, or transported by the vehicle, and a person, an entity, an object, a status, a condition, an event, an indication, or an interrupt associated with the vehicle,

vehicle registration requirements for new residents of the state, and

information and/or updates to information in a law enforcement database, a DMV database, an insurance database, and a lienholder database, a transportation infrastructure database, a parking facility database, a storage facility database, an impound facility database, and a vehicle transport service database, or other database.

22. The method of claim 9, wherein transferring funds includes

transferring funds from an account associated with one or more of the vehicle, an owner, a driver, a custodian, or a passenger of the vehicle, a person, an animal, or an object within, secured to, or transported by the vehicle, and a person, an entity, an object, a status, a condition, an event, an indication, or an interrupt associated with the vehicle to one or more other accounts.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the one or more other accounts are associated with one or more of an owner or operator of, or an authorized person or entity associated with, a transportation infrastructure, a parking facility or space, a storage facility or space, an impound facility or lot, a vehicle transport vehicle, a ship or other vehicle transport vessel or watercraft, and/or an airplane or other vehicle transport aircraft, an entity authorized to receive or collect funds in relation to a parking or moving violation associated with the vehicle, a state agency, a city, a municipality, a court, a lienholder, and an insurance company.

24. The method of claim 9, wherein the ticket, citation, bill, invoice, warning, or other communication is electronically issued.

25. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

adding information pertaining to one or more of the vehicle, one or more transactions involving the vehicle, an owner, a driver, a custodian, or a passenger of the vehicle, a person, an animal, or an object within, secured to, or transported by the vehicle, a person, an entity, an object, a status, a condition, an event, an indication, or an interrupt associated with the vehicle, the circumstance, and a location, an area, a region, or an environment within which the vehicle is located, or that the vehicle is approaching or departing from, to a database and/or using the information to update a database.

26. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

adding to or modifying the information, the circumstance, and/or the criteria in response to an input or inputs provided by one or more of

an owner or operator of, or an authorized person or entity associated with, a transportation infrastructure, a parking facility or space, a storage facility or space, an impound facility or lot, a vehicle transport vehicle, a ship or other vehicle transport vessel or watercraft, and/or an airplane or other vehicle transport aircraft,

a state, a county, a city, a town, or a municipality,

a court,

a government agency,

a law enforcement agency,

a department of motor vehicles,

a parking and/or traffic enforcement agency,

a company or other private-sector entity or organization,

authorized operators and users of a system for monitoring and managing transportation infrastructure and locations of vehicles therein,

an individual or a group provided with one or more authorized or approved devices, the use of which results in input(s) being provided,

a person or an entity authorized or approved to receive or collect funds in relation to a parking or moving violation associated with the vehicle,

an owner or a registered owner of the vehicle,

a person or persons authorized or approved by the owner and/or the registered owner of the vehicle,

a lienholder,

a person or entity authorized or approved to repossess the vehicle,

an insurance company,

an authorized or approved source or device,

a processor or controller,

a biometric data acquisition device,

a user-input mechanism,

a RFID device,

a NFC device,

a camera,

a code reader or generator, and

a parking meter.