Patents by Inventor William L. Hoag

William L. Hoag 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: 5987377
    Abstract: A system (10) for determining an expected time of arrival of a vehicle (40) equipped with a mobile unit (42) includes a dispatch (20) remotely located from the vehicle (40). The dispatch (20) generates destination information for the vehicle (40), the destination information specifying at least one destination. The mobile unit (42) includes a mobile communications device (90) to receive the destination information for the vehicle (40) generated by the dispatch (20). The mobile unit (42) also includes a positioning receiver (80) to determine a vehicle position. In response to the destination information received from the dispatch (20) and the vehicle position, the mobile unit (42) determines the expected time of arrival of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: HighwayMaster Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Westerlage, William C. Kennedy, III, William C. Saunders, Dale E. Beasley, William L. Hoag
  • Patent number: 5970481
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining a tax for a vehicle (20) includes a positioning device (80) operable to determine a plurality of vehicle positions along a route traveled by the vehicle (20). A memory (102) stores geographic information defining a plurality of taxing regions through which the route of the vehicle (20) passes. An odometer (109) measures the distance traveled by the vehicle (20). A processor (100) is coupled to the positioning device (80), the memory (102), and the odometer (109). The processor (100) receives vehicle positions from the positioning device (80), geographic information from the memory (102), and optionally the measured distance from the odometer (109). The processor (100) determines the tax for the vehicle (20) in at least one taxing region through which the route of the vehicle (20) passes in response to the vehicle positions, the geographic information, and the measured distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: HighwayMaster Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Westerlage, William C. Kennedy, III, William L. Hoag
  • Patent number: 5724243
    Abstract: A system (10) for determining an expected time of arrival of a vehicle (40) equipped with a mobile unit (42) includes a dispatch (20) remotely located from the vehicle (40). The dispatch (20) generates destination information for the vehicle (40), the destination information specifying at least one destination. The mobile unit (42) includes a mobile communications device (90) to receive the destination information for the vehicle (40) generated by the dispatch (20). The mobile unit (42) also includes a positioning receiver (80) to determine a vehicle position. In response to the destination information received from the dispatch (20) and the vehicle position, the mobile unit (42) determines the expected time of arrival of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: HighwayMaster Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Westerlage, William C. Kennedy, III, William C. Saunders, Dale E. Beasley, William L. Hoag
  • Patent number: 5694322
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining a tax for a vehicle (20) includes a positioning device (80) operable to determine a plurality of vehicle positions along a route traveled by the vehicle (20). A memory (102) stores geographic information defining a plurality of taxing regions through which the route of the vehicle (20) passes. An odometer (109) measures the distance traveled by the vehicle (20). A processor (100) is coupled to the positioning device (80), the memory (102), and the odometer (109). The processor (100) receives vehicle positions from the positioning device (80), geographic information from the memory (102), and optionally the measured distance from the odometer (109). The processor (100) determines the tax for the vehicle (20) in at least one taxing region through which the route of the vehicle (20) passes in response to the vehicle positions, the geographic information, and the measured distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Highwaymaster Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Westerlage, William C. Kennedy, III, William L. Hoag