System and method for violation enforcement utilizing vehicle immobilization

• US 9,406,086 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Endeavoring, LLC
• Original Assignee: Endeavoring, LLC
• Inventors: Jackson, Scott A., Smith, Luke
• Primary Examiner(s): Johns, Andrew W
• Application Number:
  US14/213,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20140201064A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/26 Government or public services business processes related to the transportation industry G06Q50/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/625 License plates
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0175 by photographing vehicles, e.g. when violating traffic rules
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

A system for violation enforcement utilizing vehicle immobilization is provided. The system includes a database configured to store identifying information for a plurality of target vehicles subject to immobilization. The system includes a license plate recognition device configured identify a plurality of vehicles and a geographic locations associated with each vehicle. A data server receives the data identifying the plurality of vehicles and the plurality of geographic locations associated with each vehicle. An output processor is in operative communication with the data server and the database and is configured to process the received data and to compare the received data to the stored identifying information for the plurality of target vehicles. The output processor is further configured to generate and transmit a notification to a recovery vehicle when identifying information for one or more target vehicles matches the identifying information for one or more vehicles in the received data.

Claims

1. A system for violation enforcement utilizing vehicle immobilization, comprising:

a database configured to store identifying information for a plurality of target vehicles subject to immobilization;

a license plate recognition system to identify a plurality of scanned vehicles and a geographic location associated with each scanned vehicle;

a data server configured to receive the data identifying the plurality of scanned vehicles and the geographic location associated with each scanned vehicle;

an output processor in operative communication with the data server and the database configured to process the received data and to compare the received data to the stored identifying information for the plurality of target vehicles, wherein the output processor is further configured to generate and transmit a notification to a recovery vehicle when identifying information for one or more target vehicles matches the identifying information for one or more scanned vehicles in the received data;

the output processor configured to wirelessly transmit an immobilization control signal and a remobilization control signal, the remobilization control signal transmitted only after an owner of the target vehicle submits a required payment;

a transponder operatively coupled to an on-board computer system of the target vehicle, and configured to receive the immobilization and remobilization control signals from the output processor; and

wherein upon receipt of the immobilization control signal, the transponder controls the on-board computer of the target vehicle to automatically immobilize the target vehicle, and wherein upon receipt of the remobilization control signal, the transponder controls the on-board computer of the target vehicle to automatically return the target vehicle to a mobile state.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the notification contains the geographic location associated with each vehicle that was matched to the one or more target vehicles.

3. The system of claim 1, further including an immobilization boot is operatively coupled to the transponder, and is responsive to the transponder to immobilize and remobilize the target vehicle.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a communication server in operative communication with the transponder and configured to generate the immobilization signal and transmit the immobilization signal to the immobilization boot .

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the immobilization boot further comprises a keypad component and is configured to receive the immobilization signal using the keypad component.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a payment server configured to receive a payment from a vehicle owner.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the immobilization boot is deactivated and mobilization reinstated when the vehicle owner submits the payment to the payment server.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising a return container having a physical cavity to receive and retain the immobilization boot therein, the return container configured to recognize reception of a returned immobilization boot.

9. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored therein data representing instructions executable by a programmed processor for violation enforcement utilizing vehicle immobilization, the storage medium comprising instructions operative for:

storing data identifying a plurality of target vehicles subject to immobilization;

receiving the data, from a license plate recognizer, identifying a plurality of vehicles and a plurality of geographic locations associated with each vehicle;

comparing, by an output processor, the received data to the stored data to determine one or more matching vehicles having the same identifying data;

generating, by the output processor, an immobilization notification and a remobilization notification containing the geographic locations from the received data and associated with the one or more matching vehicles having the same identifying data;

transmitting, by the output processor, the notification;

receiving the notifications, by a transponder operatively coupled to an on-board computer system of the target vehicle; and

wherein upon receipt of the immobilization notification, the transponder controls the on-board computer of the target vehicle to automatically immobilize the target vehicle, and wherein upon receipt of the remobilization notification, the transponder controls the on-board computer of the target vehicle to automatically return the target vehicle to a mobile state.

10. The storage medium of claim 9, further comprising instructions operative for generating the immobilization notification to send to an immobilization device that is placed on one of the matching vehicles.

11. The storage medium of claim 10, wherein the immobilization device is configured to immobilize or reinstate mobilization of the matching vehicle upon reception of the corresponding notification.

12. The storage medium of claim 9, further comprising instructions operative for generating the remobilization notification to send the immobilization device when the payment is received from the vehicle owner.

13. A computer-implemented method using at least one processor for violation enforcement utilizing vehicle immobilization, the method comprising:

receiving, from a license plate recognizer, identification information identifying a plurality of vehicles and associated geographic locations;

comparing, by an output processor, the received identification information to stored identification information for a plurality of target vehicles subject to immobilization;

generating and transmitting, by the output processor, an immobilization alert signal and a remobilization alert signal, respectively, the alert signals containing the received identification information and associated geographic location when the received identification information matches the stored identification for one or more target vehicle subject to immobilization;

receiving, by a transponder operatively coupled to an on-board computer system of the target vehicle, the immobilization alert signal and the remobilization alert signal, respectively; and

wherein upon receipt of the immobilization alert signal, the transponder controls the on-board computer of the target vehicle to automatically immobilize the target vehicle, and wherein upon receipt of the remobilization alert signal, the transponder controls the on-board computer of the target vehicle to automatically return the target vehicle to a mobile state.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the target vehicle is immobilized by a remote signal transmitted over a telecommunications network.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the transponder comprises a telecommunication device being used by an immobilization agent.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising reinstating mobilization of the target vehicle upon payment from the owner of the immobilized target vehicle.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the output processor is coupled to an automatic license plate recognition system.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving a payment from an owner of the immobilized target vehicle.

19. A method for violation enforcement utilizing vehicle immobilization, the method comprising:

receiving a notification containing identifying information of a target vehicle subject to immobilization;

immobilizing the target vehicle using an immobilization device, wherein the immobilization device is configured to receive a signal to reinstate immobilization of the target vehicle; and

providing a recovery bin configured to recognize the placement of the immobilization device in the recovery bin.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the immobilization device is further configured to receive the signal to reinstate immobilization of the vehicle over a telecommunications network.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising reinstating mobilization of the vehicle when the signal is received over the telecommunications network.

22. A system for violation enforcement utilizing vehicle immobilization, the system comprising:

a telecommunication device configured to receive a notification containing identifying information of a vehicle subject to immobilization;

an immobilization device configured to allow immobilization of a vehicle;

a telematics device coupled to the immobilization device and configured to receive a remote mobilization signal over a wireless network, wherein the immobilization device is further configured to reinstate vehicle mobilization when the remote mobilization signal is received by the telematics device; and

a recovery bin configured to recognize placement of the immobilization device in the recovery bin.