Patents by Inventor Mary K. DePrez

Mary K. DePrez has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7099751
    Abstract: Drive-by-wireless vehicle control techniques use a wireless connection between a sensor module and a control module. An action by the driver of the vehicle is detected by the sensor module and communicated to the control module using a message sent using a wireless communication pathway. The control module directs the appropriate vehicle component based on the wireless message received. The vehicle identification number (VIN) that uniquely identifies the vehicle is used to identify a wireless message has been sent from a sensor module that is part of the vehicle. The use of the VIN to identify a wireless message that applies to a particular vehicle that has been assigned the same VIN may help ensure that the particular vehicle is directed only based on actions by the driver of the particular vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Electronic Data Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Mary K. DePrez, Rommel H. Racelis, Michael A. Crowder, Lawrence C. Wehner
  • Patent number: 6791471
    Abstract: Wireless communication between vehicles may permit position information about one vehicle to be communicated directly to another vehicle. Such an information exchange between vehicles may increase the awareness of an operator of a vehicle to other vehicles in the surrounding environment and may help a vehicle operator operate the vehicle more safely. Vehicles may share through the use of wireless communications position, direction, speed, or other information, such as the deployment of safety devices or the presence of particular types of vehicles (e.g., an emergency vehicle or school bus). The vehicle that receives a wireless communication compares the position, direction, and speed of incoming information from another vehicle to the vehicle's own speed, direction, and position to determine whether action is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Electric Data Systems
    Inventors: Lawrence C. Wehner, Mary K. DePrez, Michael A. Crowder
  • Publication number: 20040061600
    Abstract: Wireless communication between vehicles may permit position information about one vehicle to be communicated directly to another vehicle. Such an information exchange between vehicles may increase the awareness of an operator of a vehicle to other vehicles in the surrounding environment and may help a vehicle operator operate the vehicle more safely. Vehicles may share through the use of wireless communications position, direction, speed, or other information, such as the deployment of safety devices or the presence of particular types of vehicles (e.g., an emergency vehicle or school bus). The vehicle that receives a wireless communication compares the position, direction, and speed of incoming information from another vehicle to the vehicle's own speed, direction, and position to determine whether action is required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Lawrence C. Wehner, Mary K. DePrez, Michael A. Crowder
  • Publication number: 20040064221
    Abstract: Drive-by-wireless vehicle control techniques use a wireless connection between a sensor module and a control module. An action by the driver of the vehicle is detected by the sensor module and communicated to the control module using a message sent using a wireless communication pathway. The control module directs the appropriate vehicle component based on the wireless message received. The vehicle identification number (VIN) that uniquely identifies the vehicle is used to identify a wireless message has been sent from a sensor module that is part of the vehicle. The use of the VIN to identify a wireless message that applies to a particular vehicle that has been assigned the same VIN may help ensure that the particular vehicle is directed only based on actions by the driver of the particular vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Mary K. DePrez, Rommel H. Racelis, Michael A. Crowder, Lawrence C. Wehner