Abstract: A vehicular route optimization system and method changes the order that a vehicle is expected to arrive at a plurality of destinations based on requests from users so that the vehicle arrives at the plurality of destinations at more opportune times for the users. The system includes memory, a first communications device, and a data manager. The memory stores data indicating an order that a mobile vehicle is expected to arrive at the plurality of destinations. The first communications device receives a request transmitted from a remote communications device, and the data manager, in response to the request, defines a new order that the mobile vehicle is expected to arrive at the plurality of destinations. The data manager also identifies one of the destinations and a particular time period based on the request and determines whether the vehicle is expected to arrive at the one destination during the particular time period, if the vehicle travels a route based on the new order.

Abstract: A vehicle monitoring and notification system includes memory and logic. The memory stores data indicating when notification messages are scheduled for transmission to remote communications devices to warn users of impending arrivals of at least one vehicle. The logic is configured to determine that at least one of the notification messages is scheduled for transmission during a particular time period and to determine a number of notification messages that are scheduled for transmission during the particular time period. If the number exceeds a threshold number, the logic changes when the one notification message is scheduled for transmission.

Abstract: An automated computer-based apparatus includes a communications device and a base station manager located at a base station. The base station manager tracks locations of a vehicle traveling along a predetermined route by communicating with a vehicle computer-based apparatus on the vehicle. The vehicle computer-based apparatus determines the current location of the vehicle as the vehicle travels and transmits information pertaining to the vehicle's location to the base station manager via the communications device. The base station manager determines when the vehicle is a predefined proximity relative to a predetermined location and transmits a notification message to a user so that the user is notified in advance of an impending arrival of the vehicle at the predetermined location. The predefined proximity can be a predefined time that the vehicle is from the predetermined location, can a predetermined distance from the predetermined location, or can be a specific location on earth.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and reporting vehicle status information includes a database, a communication interface, and a system manager. The database stores status information associated with a vehicle, and the communication interface is designed to communicate with communication devices remotely located from the system. The system manager receives a message transmitted from the vehicle and updates the status information stored in the database based on the received message. When a remote communication device establishes communication with the communication interface, the communication interface receives caller identification information automatically transmitted to the communication interface. The system manager analyzes this caller identification information and automatically retrieves status information from the database based on the caller identification information. The system manager then transmits, via the communication interface, the retrieved status information to the remote communication device.

Abstract: Generally, the present invention monitors and communicates travel data transmitted from vehicles being monitored by the system to users requesting travel information on a particular vehicle. A travel data storage unit receives and stores the travel data. When a user desires to view some or all of this travel data, the user submits a request to a data manager. In response, the data manager retrieves the appropriate information from the travel data stored in the travel data storage unit and transmits this information to the user. The data manager may communicate the information in a variety of mediums and preferably contact information is predefined that enables the data manager to determine which medium is preferable and how to establish communication once the medium is determined.

Abstract: An advance notification system and method notifies users of the impending arrival of a transportation vehicle, for example, a school bus, at a particular vehicle stop. The system generally includes an on-board vehicle control unit (VCU) for each vehicle and a base station control unit (BSCU) for transmitting notification messages to users in order to inform the users when the vehicle is a certain predefined time period away from the vehicle stop. The VCU compares elapsed time and/or traveled distance to the programmed schedule time and/or traveled distance to determine if the vehicle is on schedule. If the vehicle is behind or ahead of schedule, the VCU calls the BSCU, which then adjusts its calling schedule accordingly.

Abstract: An advance notification system and method notifies passengers of the impending arrival of a transportation vehicle, for example, a school bus, at a particular vehicle stop. The system generally includes an on-board vehicle control unit for each vehicle and a base station control unit for making telephone calls to passengers in order to inform the passengers when the vehicle is a certain predefined time period and/or distance away from the vehicle stop. The VCU compares elapsed time and/or traveled distance to the programmed scheduled time and/or traveled distance to determine if the vehicle is on schedule. If the vehicle is behind or ahead of schedule, the VCU calls the BSCU, which then adjusts its calling schedule accordingly.

Abstract: A vehicle tracking system includes a sensor (e.g., a GPS sensor) and a vehicle control unit (VCU) attached to a vehicle. The sensor determines the vehicle's location based on positioning signals received from a plurality of satellites. The VCU compares the vehicle's location to a predefined schedule. The predefined schedule includes a plurality of entries where each entry corresponds to a location along the vehicle's route of travel. Furthermore, each entry includes a location value indicating the location that corresponds with the entry and a time value indicating when the vehicle should be at the location. The VCU determines whether the vehicle is on schedule or off schedule by comparing the current location of the vehicle (as determined by the sensor) and the amount of time elapsed since the start of the route with the entries in the predefined schedule.

Abstract: A tracking system determines the global coordinates of a vehicle being monitored by a monitoring mechanism located at a base station. The global coordinates are translated into coordinate values relative to a local reference point selected by the system. The translated coordinate values are transmitted to the monitoring mechanism in lieu of the global coordinates initially determined by the system. The monitoring mechanism is aware of the local reference point selected so that the monitoring mechanism can determine the vehicle's location relative to the local reference point selected, another reference point, or a global reference point used to define the global coordinates. The local reference point selected to translate the global coordinates can be changed as long as the translation mechanism and the monitoring mechanism are aware of the change.

Abstract: A vehicle monitoring and notification system includes a route handler, a schedule monitor, and a communication handler. The schedule monitor determines when users should receive notification messages based on data that indicates when vehicles are expected to arrive at certain locations. The route handler communicates with vehicle control units on board vehicles to determine whether and how much any of the vehicles are off schedule. If any of the vehicles are off schedule, the route handler updates the data monitored by the schedule monitor to change when the schedule monitor determines that notification messages should be received by the users. Once the schedule monitor determines that a user should receive a notification message, the schedule monitor transmits a notification request to the communication handler. The communication handler then establishes communication with a communication device associated with the user and transmits a notification message to the user.

Abstract: An advance notification system and method notifies passengers of the impending arrival of a transportation vehicle, for example, a school bus, at a particular vehicle stop. The system generally includes an on-board vehicle control unit (VCU) for each vehicle and a base station control unit (BSCU) for making telephone calls to passengers in order to inform the passengers when the vehicle is a certain predefined time period and/or distance away from the vehicle stop. Significantly, the telephone call to advise of the impending arrival preferably exhibits a distinctive ring so that the call recipient need not answer the telephone in order to receive the message. The VCU compares elapsed time and/or travelled distance to the programmed scheduled time and/or travelled distance to determine if the vehicle is on schedule. If the vehicle is behind or ahead of schedule, the VCU calls the BSCU, which then adjusts its calling schedule accordingly.

Abstract: Generally, the present invention monitors and communicates travel data transmitted from vehicles being monitored by the system to users requesting travel information on a particular vehicle. A travel data storage unit receives and stores the travel data. When a user desires to view some or all of this travel data, the user submits a request to a data manager. In response, the data manager retrieves the appropriate information from the travel data stored in the travel data storage unit and transmits this information to the user. The data manager may communicate the information in a variety of mediums and preferably contact information is predefined that enables the data manager to determine which medium is preferable and how to establish communication once the medium is determined.

Abstract: An advance notification system (10) and method notifies passengers of the impending arrival of a transportation vehicle (19), for example, a school bus, at a particular vehicle stop. The system (10) generally includes an on-board vehicle control unit (VCU) (12) for each vehicle (19) and a base station control unit (BSCU) (14) for making telephone calls to passengers in order to inform the passengers when the vehicle (19) is a certain predefined time period and/or distance away from the vehicle stop. The VCU (12) compares elapsed time and/or travelled distance to the programmed scheduled time and/or travelled distance to determine if the vehicle (19) is on schedule. If the vehicle (19) is behind or ahead of schedule, the VCU (12) calls the BSCU (14), which then adjusts its calling schedule accordingly.

Abstract: An advance notification system (10) and method notifies passengers of the impending arrival of a transportation vehicle (19), for example, a school bus, at a particular vehicle stop. The system (10) generally includes an on-board vehicle control unit (VCU) (12) for each vehicle (19) and a base station control unit (BSCU) (14) for making telephone calls to passengers in order to inform the passengers when the vehicle (19) is a certain predefined time period and/or distance away from the vehicle stop. The VCU (12) compares elapsed time and/or travelled distance to the programmed scheduled time and/or travelled distance to determine if the vehicle (19) is on schedule. If the vehicle (19) is behind or ahead of schedule, the VCU (12) calls the BSCU (14), which then adjusts its calling schedule accordingly.