Device, system and method for controlling speed of a vehicle using a positional information device

• US 9,291,475 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2015
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures II LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Intellectual Ventures II LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Rothschild, Leigh M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US14/618,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20150153198A1
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• Field of Search: 701/93, 701/117, 701/119, 701/29.2, 701/29.3, 455/404.2, 455/418, 340/466, 340/539.13, 340/905, 340/995.13, 370/252, 705/41
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/185 connected to the speedometer display, e.g. by sensors or switches responsive to the position of the indicator needle arrangement of pointers in automobile speedometers for indicating predetermined speeds by the detection of the position of the indicator needle G01P1/11
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/60 Traffic rules, e.g. speed limits or right of way
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/02 Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 3/00 Traffic control systems for marine craft marking of navigational route B63B22/16, B63B51/00

Abstract

A device, system and method for controlling speed of a vehicle are provided. The device includes a locational information module for determining location information and speed; a storage module for storing at least one geographic map including at least one route and a speed limit for the at least one route; a processing module configured to receive the location information, retrieve at least one geographic map based on the location information, determine a speed limit based on the location information, and compare the speed of the device to the determined speed limit; and a display module for alerting a user if the speed of the device exceeds the determined speed limit. The system and method can be for communicating a subject vehicle'"'"'s speed to a central server where it can be utilized to analyze traffic congestion patterns or notify selected companies or individuals.

Claims

1. A method of notifying a recipient of a violation by a driver of a vehicle, the method comprising:

determining, by a computing device located within a vehicle, information about the vehicle;

determining, by the computing device located within the vehicle, that the vehicle committed a violation based on the information about the vehicle; and

sending, from the computing device located in the vehicle to a remote computing system, an indication of the violation;

wherein the remote computing device is configured to notify a recipient about the violation committed by the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information about the vehicle comprises one or more of a location of the vehicle, a time that the vehicle was at a location, or a speed of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the violation committed by the vehicle comprises a speed of the vehicle exceeding a posted speed limit.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote computing device is configured to notify the recipient about the violation committed by the vehicle by permitting the recipient to view the indication of the violation via a browser.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote computing device is configured to notify the recipient about the violation committed by the vehicle by sending a communication to the recipient in response to receiving the indication of the violation from the computing device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the communication comprises one or more of an e-mail message, an instant message, or a phone call.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device is configured to send the indication of the violation in response to determining that the vehicle committed the violation.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for notifying a recipient of a violation by a driver of a vehicle, the computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, in response to being executed by a computing device in a vehicle, cause the computing device to:

determine, from within the vehicle, information about the vehicle;

determine, from within the vehicle, that the vehicle committed a violation based on the information about the vehicle; and

send, from within the vehicle to a remote computing system, an indication of the violation;

wherein the remote computing device is configured to notify a recipient about the violation committed by the vehicle.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the information about the vehicle comprises one or more of a location of the vehicle, a time that the vehicle was at a location, or a speed of the vehicle.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the violation committed by the vehicle comprises a speed of the vehicle exceeding a posted speed limit.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the remote computing device is configured to notify the recipient about the violation committed by the vehicle by permitting the recipient to view the indication of the violation via a browser.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the remote computing device is configured to notify the recipient about the violation committed by the vehicle by sending a communication to the recipient in response to receiving the indication of the violation from the computing device.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the communication comprises one or more of an e-mail message, an instant message, or a phone call.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions that cause the computing device to send the indication of the violation comprise instructions that, in response to execution by the computing device, cause the computing device to send the indication of the violation in response to determining that the vehicle committed the violation.

15. A device for notifying a recipient of a violation by a driver of a vehicle, the device comprising:

an information module configured to determine, while the device is located within a vehicle, information about the vehicle;

a processing module configured to determine, while the device is located within the vehicle, that the vehicle committed a violation based on the information about the vehicle; and

a transmission module configured to send, to a remote computing system while the device is located within the vehicle, an indication of the violation;

wherein the remote computing device is configured to notify a recipient about the violation committed by the vehicle.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the information about the vehicle comprises one or more of a location of the vehicle, a time that the vehicle was at a location, or a speed of the vehicle.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the violation committed by the vehicle comprises a speed of the vehicle exceeding a posted speed limit.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the remote computing device is configured to notify the recipient about the violation committed by the vehicle by permitting the recipient to view the indication of the violation via a browser.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the remote computing device is configured to notify the recipient about the violation committed by the vehicle by sending a communication to the recipient in response to receiving the indication of the violation from the device.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein the transmission module is configured to send the indication of the violation in response to the processing module determining that the vehicle committed the violation.