Distance (e.g., Taximeter) Patents (Class 705/417)
  • Patent number: 11933623
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are disclosed for providing dynamic travel transactions. An example computer-implemented method includes receiving first device data of a first user device associated with a first user. The first device data includes first trip data of a vehicle and the first user. The example method further includes receiving travel variability data associated with the vehicle that includes one or more vehicle operating parameters that vary during travel of the vehicle. The example method also includes generating a travel transaction based upon the first device data of the first user device and the travel variability data associated with the vehicle. In some instances, the method includes determining a base transaction based upon the first device data that's effectuated at a first time and determining a modification to the base transaction based upon the travel variability data that's effectuated at a second time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
    Inventor: Chris Theodore Kalaboukis
  • Patent number: 11928713
    Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method may match transportation requestor devices to transportation provider devices pre-request by using the same matching process employed by a matching engine that is capable of predicting transportation swaps and walks. Multiple matches may be showcased on user devices, and offline transportation providers may see an exact match to a requestor, with an ability to go online and accept the pre-request match. Additional techniques disclosed include the curation and presentation of offers using constraint space partitioning and adjustment of price and/or the presentation of offers based on real-time information to improve the efficiency and/or utilization of transportation provider resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Lyft, Inc.
    Inventors: Mayank Gulati, Charles Parker Spielman
  • Patent number: 11908324
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a parking management system and a parking management method. The parking management system can comprise one or more servers in communication with one or more vehicles. The one or more vehicles can be configured to be shared and utilized by one or more users for transportation. The one or more servers can be configured to receive location data from the one or more vehicles, and determine, based on the received location data and for each vehicle, whether the vehicle is located within one or more predefined parking areas when (1) the vehicle is not in use or (2) upon completion of a transportation trip by the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Neutron Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Xi Zhang, Yuxin Zhai, Xiaotao Xiao
  • Patent number: 11874826
    Abstract: In embodiments, a computer system produces a first resource for a first dataset having a time indicator, by applying a first digital rule. A first notification can be caused to be transmitted about an aspect of the first resource to a remote device. A second dataset can be stored, which has values derived from the first dataset, and encodes a parameter of the first resource. A second digital rule may be stored to replace the first digital rule, at an updating time (Tupd). The second digital rule may have an effective time (Teff) prior to the actual updating time Tupd. A second resource may be produced by applying the second digital rule. A second notification can be caused to be transmitted about an aspect of the second resource to a remote device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: AVALARA, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory T. Kavounas, Pascal Patrice Van Dooren, Kevin James Hess, Barnabas Kendall
  • Patent number: 11734372
    Abstract: An online system receives a trip request including a location of the user requesting the trip. The online system identifies buildings or geographies based on the received location and determines location boundaries associated with the identified buildings or geographies. The online system identifies a set of hotspots representing locations that are frequently used for pickup or drop off. The online system additionally identifies a set of points of interest. The points of interest are, for example, businesses, landmarks, building names, or other visible information related to the location. The online system scores the set of points of interest based on a relative value of displaying the point of interest for orientation or navigation purposes. The online system modifies a user interface to display a map of the area including the identified location boundaries, hotspots, and one or more points of interest based on the scoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Moore
  • Patent number: 11541908
    Abstract: An information processing system includes an acquirer configured to acquire a boarding request, a deriver configured to derive, when an action schedule of an automatic driving vehicle includes a standby state based on a boarding request acquired by the acquirer, a usage charge of the automatic driving vehicle reflecting a cost generated in a traveling state in which the automatic driving vehicle carries a user and travels and a cost generated in the standby state, and an output configured to output information including the usage charge derived by the deriver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Yasui, Kentaro Ishisaka, Nobuyuki Watanabe, Kovi Ahego, Christopher Lang, Liyan Liu, Yo Ito, Hirotaka Uchitomi
  • Patent number: 11514487
    Abstract: The disclosed system may include a non-transitory memory and one or more hardware processors configured to execute instructions from the non-transitory memory to perform operations including determining online data and offline data from a mobile application, wherein the online data is determined based on the mobile application being online and the offline data is determined based on the mobile application being offline, determining travel distance data from a remote device associated with the vehicle, aggregating at least a portion of the online data, at least a portion of the offline data, and at least a portion of the travel distance data, generating data associated with the aggregation of the portion of the online data, the portion of the offline data, and the portion of the travel distance data, and causing the mobile application to display the generated data. Other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Lyft, Inc.
    Inventors: Deanna Ettidale Alwafai, Aastha Bhargava, Erin Catherine Maryak Gray, Yeshwanth Kumaraswamy, Adrian Paul McLean, Londa Fiorella Overbeck
  • Patent number: 11370450
    Abstract: A vehicle starting mechanism includes a switch box and a power switch. The switch box is provided near an operation panel or a meter panel, and has a lid that can be opened and closed. The power switch is housed inside the switch box, and is capable of switching the vehicle between a state capable of traveling and a state incapable of traveling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuchi Yamanouchi, Masaki Shitara, Ryo Hattori
  • Patent number: 11263904
    Abstract: The network system triggers registration of the start of a transport journey in response to a communication of a transport user device and a transport provider device with each other, performs a continuous coordinated proximity monitoring to verify the identity of a transport user and a transport provider vehicle, and triggers registration of the end of the transport journey through communication of the transport user device and the transport provider device with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Carma Technology Limited
    Inventor: Sean O'Sullivan
  • Patent number: 11127100
    Abstract: Systems and methods for allocating resources in a transportation system are disclosed. A vehicle of the transportation system may be dispatched by one or more processors; first and second portions of the vehicle are allocated to first and second groups of users. A parameter of the first group of users may be tracked at a first location. Part of the second portion of the vehicle may be reallocated to the first group of users, in real-time, when the tracked parameter of the first group of users exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Conduent Business Services, LLC
    Inventors: Narayanan Unny Edakunni, Kaushik Baruah
  • Patent number: 11074590
    Abstract: A card authorization method of a management server includes receiving first attribute information corresponding to a unique card number of a card from a card issuer server, extracting second attribute information corresponding to the unique card number of the card from a database, comparing the second attribute information with the first attribute information, generating fare information for billing to the card based on the comparison result, and transmitting the fare information to a card authorization terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: LG CNS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Il Woo Lim, Boohyeon Jeon
  • Patent number: 11052883
    Abstract: Driving support ECU transmits a communication connection request to a help net center HNC when a driver of a vehicle has been determined to be in an abnormal state where the driver loses an ability to drive the vehicle, and when the communication connection to the help net center HNC has been established, the driving support ECU transmits the help signal (the positional information of the vehicle) and decelerates the vehicle at a constant deceleration to make the vehicle stop. On the other hand, when the communication connection to the help net center HNC has not been established, the driving support ECU makes the vehicle travel at a constant speed. Accordingly, it is possible to make the vehicle stop under a situation where the help net center HNC recognizes the vehicle position inside which the driver who has been determined to be in the abnormal state is.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirotada Otake
  • Patent number: 10971010
    Abstract: Systems, methods and mediums to facilitate utilization of select transit entities by tracking and inducing such utilization are disclosed. In embodiments, a first signal indicating that an item utilized a select transit entity is received, wherein a quantity of units to incrementally associate with utilization by the item of the select transit entity is determined. A second signal associated with the item indicating a procurement request is then made to a select provider and reducing at least some units associated with the item and signaling the select provider that the procurement request is to transpire at a reduced rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Matias Sevi, Gabriela Daniel, Elena Zaccaria, Arturo Saldana Guevara
  • Patent number: 10957120
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing vehicle license tag numbers allows subscribers of a toll service to avoid additional charges normally associated with processing photographs of vehicle license tags by toll agencies to collect tolls. A subscriber can upload one or more license tag numbers to be associated with the subscriber's account with the toll service. The toll service provides a list of license tag numbers to the toll agency. If, for a given toll event, the toll agency does not receive a response to a wireless toll tag reader signal, the toll agency compares a license tag number obtained by processing a photo of the vehicle's license tag with the list provided by the toll service to find a match and process the toll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: GeoToll, Inc.
    Inventors: Wyatt Drake Geist, Jaime Andres Borras
  • Patent number: 10339620
    Abstract: Provided is a transit management server, system and method for managing transit fares for a transportation system. The method includes selecting, in a transit management server, at least one fare module according to a transit fare policy, the at least one fare module corresponding to a prescribed category of fare and configured to determine a fare based on the prescribed category, setting, in the transit management server, at least one parameter in the selected fare module, and transmitting, from the transit management server to at least one terminal communicatively coupled to the transit management server, the set parameter to update a corresponding fare module in the at least one terminal according to the transit fare policy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: LG CNS CO., LTD
    Inventors: Ayoung Jin, Jaehoon Kim
  • Patent number: 10339724
    Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for estimating taxes. In one embodiment, the location of a vehicle can be monitored by a variety of computing entities. By using the vehicle's location, it can be determined when the vehicle enters and/or exits defined geofences. After a determination that the vehicle has entered or exited a defined geofenced area, telematics data can be collected and used to estimate taxes, such as road use taxes and fuel use taxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Mark J. Davidson
  • Patent number: 9934619
    Abstract: The invention relates to a road toll system using a vehicle-mounted satellite navigation receiver, from which routes taken and road prices incurred are determined. A billing system bills a user in dependence on the road prices incurred. A portable activation device transmits information concerning the owner of the portable activation device to the vehicle-mounted unit, and the vehicle-mounted unit provides information to the billing system to enable identification of the owner of the portable activation device. In combination, the portable activation device and the vehicle-mounted unit can be considered to function in a similar way to a known vehicle-mounted OBU. However, by separating the data necessary to provide user-personalization into the portable activation device, the vehicle-mounted unit can become more standard, and the user is able to drive other vehicles more easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Telit Automotive Solutions NV
    Inventor: Jan Rene Brands
  • Patent number: 9715703
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium for billing based on a duration of a service period, comprises sending fleet data from a third party entity to a toll authority via a toll rental entity, matching toll data with the fleet data by the toll authority, if the toll data matches the fleet data: charging an account by the toll authority and sending the matched data to the toll rental entity, determining, by the toll rental entity, if the sent matched data is related to an opt-in for duration based tolling or an opt-out for duration based tolling, if the sent matched data is related to an opt-in for duration based tolling, charging the third party entity for the duration based tolling, and if the sent matched data is related to an opt-out for duration based tolling, applying at least one of: a fee for the duration based tolling, a toll usage amount, a service fee for the duration based tolling, and a service fee for the toll usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: ATS TOLLING LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin P. Robinson, Debbie Lemon, Sarath K. Balachandran
  • Patent number: 9665991
    Abstract: In one aspect, a tolling system is operable to perform operations, which may include: receiving, over a network and from a mobile device application operating on a mobile processing device, an identifier and road usage data collected by the mobile device application; identifying a profile based on the identifier; accessing a toll pricing model applicable to an entity associated with the identified profile; and determining a tolling charge incurred by the entity based on the road usage data collected by the mobile device application, the identified profile, and the accessed toll pricing model. In another aspect, a mobile device application is operable to perform operations that may include: collecting road usage data; communicating, over a network to a tolling system, the collected road usage data and an identifier; and receiving, from the tolling system, tolling charge data computed based on the communicated road usage data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited
    Inventors: Michael E. Simanek, Michael J. Wilson, Martin W. Glowik
  • Patent number: 9418487
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium for toll service activation using an on-board unit in a third party transport comprises, a third party entity, a toll rental entity, and an on-board unit communicably coupled to the third party entity and to the toll rental entity, wherein the on-board unit, receives a position signal, initiates a toll service request, converts the position signal to a toll usage, and stores the position signal, the toll service request and the toll usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: ATS Tolling LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin P. Robinson, Sarath K. Balachandran
  • Patent number: 8768851
    Abstract: Electronic messages may be processed using a stamp authority by receiving an electronic message, identifying a stamp associated the message, determining if the stamp is valid, and, if the stamp is determined to be valid, distinguishing the message from messages with which a valid stamp is not identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventor: Barry Appelman
  • Publication number: 20140149321
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for revenue management in multi-modal transportation networks. A corridor is constructed for each origin-destination pair of a transportation network based on one or more parameters. Monotonicity constraints and triangle constraints are generated for each origin-destination pair. An objective function is constructed and convexified using point-price elasticity for consistent price optimization. The one or more parameters and coefficients for a mathematical optimization program are then computed and the mathematical optimization problem is solved for a consistent optimal pricing scheme.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Marco Laumanns, Olivier Gallay, Jácint Szabó, Ban Hashem Khalil Kawas, Stefan Wörner, Jürgen Koehl
  • Publication number: 20140074757
    Abstract: A method, computer usable program product or system for providing an estimated taxi fare to a passenger including providing a user interface (UI) for identifying a route and the estimated taxi fare for travelling the route in a taxi from a point of origin to a destination meeting a set of criteria, and responsive to the passenger utilizing the UI with the point of origin and identifying the destination, accessing a set of databases with a set of real-time information including traveling related information and pricing information, identifying the route and the estimated taxi fare for the route based upon the point of origin, the destination, the set of criteria, and the set of real-time information, and presenting the estimated taxi fare to the passenger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven V. De Gennaro, Pamela A. Nesbitt
  • Patent number: 8515869
    Abstract: An Automated Teller Machine, ATM. Persons with physical disabilities sometimes have difficulty negotiating an ATM. Under the invention, two persons are involved in an ATM transaction. One person is equipped with a communicator, such as a cell phone, which contacts an ATM. That person enters necessary transaction data, such as a PIN, a desired cash amount, and so on, using the cell phone. The other person collects the cash dispensed, and any documents, at the ATM itself. This approach eliminates a need for one person to entrust an ATM card and PIN to another person. In another embodiment, the person located at the ATM was previously given a token or passcard by the customer. That person presents the token to the ATM, which prompts the ATM to call the cell phone of the customer, thereby initiating the transaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Gameelah Ghafoor, Ahmar Ghafoor, Marie Macintyre, Anthony S. Holmes
  • Patent number: 8429083
    Abstract: Electronic messages may be processed using a stamp authority by receiving an electronic message, identifying a stamp associated the message, determining if the stamp is valid, and, if the stamp is determined to be valid, distinguishing the message from messages with which a valid stamp is not identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventor: Barry Appelman
  • Publication number: 20130060721
    Abstract: For-hire vehicles, such as taxis, may operate with a for-hire vehicle meter (taximeter) and may be required to have a regulatory agency assigned medallion to accept passenger fares. The meter may determine if it is connected with its assigned medallion and may shut down if it is not connected to the proper medallion. In some embodiments, medallions may place conditions on the operation of the for-hire vehicle including, for example, time and location of passenger pick-up restrictions. Before engaging a passenger fare, the meter may check the conditions associated with the medallion and may not engage if the conditions are not satisfied. A central server may track the meters that have become disconnected from their medallions, or it may track the medallions that are not connected to a meter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: FRIAS TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Collins Pinkus, Mark A. James
  • Publication number: 20130031029
    Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for estimating taxes. In one embodiment, the location of a vehicle can be monitored by a variety of computing entities. By using the vehicle's location, it can be determined when the vehicle enters and/or exits defined geofences. After a determination that the vehicle has entered or exited a defined geofenced area, telematics data can be collected and used to estimate taxes, such as road use taxes and fuel use taxes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: MARK J. DAVIDSON
  • Publication number: 20120303533
    Abstract: Systems and methods of securing, distribution and enforcing for-hire vehicle operating parameters are described whereby a first computer system maintaining the parameters generates a data packet that is distributed to a second computer system which acts as a meter (such as a taximeter, limousine meter or shuttle meter) for the for-hire vehicle. The first computer system may secure or encrypt the data packet according to a security protocol associated with the second computer system. Once the second computer system receives the data packet, it may validate and extract the operating parameters contained within it. The second computer system may then store the operating parameters and operate according to the parameters by, for example, calculating fares for passengers that make use of the for-hire vehicle associated with the second computer system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventors: Michael Collins Pinkus, James Alan Wisniewski
  • Publication number: 20120290507
    Abstract: A carpool fare organizer is useful when there is at least one passenger and comprises a distance recording unit, a passenger calculating unit, a fare calculating module and at least one display device. The distance recording unit records a get-in distance, a get-out distance and an accumulated distance of each passenger. The passenger calculating unit calculates a number of passengers. The fare calculating module calculates an original fare, an accumulated discount and an economical fare. A method for generating carpool fares comprises steps of recording a get-in distance, a get-out distance and an accumulated distance of each passenger and a number of passengers, and calculating an economical fare with the get-in distance, the get-out distance, the accumulated distance and the number of passengers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: National Tsing Hua University
    Inventors: Hung-Min Sun, Bying-He Ku, Chi-ming Li, Chia Yun Cheng
  • Publication number: 20120233065
    Abstract: An automatic electronic trip receipt recording method for chauffeured vehicles combines an in-car device and a center server to automatically generate an electronic trip reports or receipts for a passenger. The center server includes a dispatch server for transmitting related dispatch data to in-car device, a communication server for wirelessly communicating with the in-car device, a trip data server for storing trip data, and a trip data inquiry server for the passenger to inquire a specified list of trip reports; the in-car device comprises an in-car device main processor for processing signals from modules, which includes a GPS module, a wireless communication module, a boarding/disembarking detecting module, a tachometer counter module, an external meter reading device and a credit/debit card charging and card ID reading device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventor: Jason Wu
  • Publication number: 20110301985
    Abstract: A system and method are described for enabling transportation to be arranged for individuals carrying handsets or mobile devices. In some embodiments, a customer can transmit a request for transport from a given customer geographic location. A service may handle the request by selecting a driver for the customer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Garrett Camp, Oscar Salazar, Travis Kalanick
  • Patent number: 8036647
    Abstract: A vehicle information communication system includes a management server 2 whereby an information terminal 4 connected to a network 1 and an on-vehicle device of the vehicle 5 are in communication with each other; wherein the management server 2 includes a contractor confirming part 12 configured to send contractor information of the vehicle information communication system to the vehicle 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Matsumura, Naoki Taki, Atsushi Watanabe, Takenori Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8027872
    Abstract: A method for obtaining tickets for journeys in a passenger transportation system (VSY) which comprises stations (S11 . . . S00) for entering and/or leaving transport means (VM1, VM2) of the system (VSY) for journeys between the stations (S11 . . . S00), wherein at least one station (S11 . . . S00) of the system (VSY) is assigned at least one contactlessly readable data carrier (T11 . . . T00) and/or at least one transport means (VM 1, VM2) of the system (VSY) is assigned at least one contactlessly readable data carrier (T10, T20), wherein the contactlessly readable data carriers (T11 . . . T00; T10, T20) contain ticket information items (IN11, IN23, INOO), and one of the contactlessly readable data carriers (T11 . . . T00; T10, T20) is read by a mobile reader (MOD) in at least one station (S11 . . . S00) and/or in at least one transport means (VM1, VM2), and the corresponding ticket information item or items (IN11, IN23, IN00) is/are stored in the mobile reader (MOD).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Frank Graeber
  • Patent number: 7988046
    Abstract: A PDA device is used to record the ID of a vehicle boot RFID tag and to transmit to the tag and to a host entity violation data such as summons number, license number, time and date stamp, issuing person ID, location of the vehicle, scofflaw data and so on. This data may be entered into the PDA electronically via a communication network such as the internet or LAN system or manually via a keyboard. The host entity has a data base which is uploaded with this information and has correlation of RFID tag numbers to an unlock combination number for each boot. When the boot is attached to a vehicle this PDA data is transmitted to the host entity whose contact telephone number is attached to the vehicle being booted. The driver contacts the entity to pay the fine and receive in return the unlock combination. The driver thus can release and remove the boot within minutes of returning to the vehicle and can return the boot at his leisure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: IPT, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Moynihan, Larry Berman, Cory Marchasin, Josiah Johnson
  • Patent number: 7956768
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for metering vehicular traffic. Specifically, the system uses a computer to prevent delays as vehicles transition from a greater number of toll lanes to a lesser number of travel lanes. Toll collection devices are used to send a ready signal to a computer to indicate a vehicle is ready to leave a start point. The computer receives ready signals from the toll collection devices and uses a pre-programmed departure schedule to queue the vehicles. After the vehicles are queued, the computer uses time delay variables to ensure efficient traffic flow between the toll lanes of the plaza and the travel lanes of the bridge or tunnel. An indicator signal responsive to a departure signal sent by the computer is employed to direct vehicles from a start point towards a travel lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Inventor: Howard H. Roberts
  • Patent number: 7950570
    Abstract: A system and method for managing a permit-based parking environment governed by a parking program. The permit-based parking environment includes a number of parking permits each including a unique RFID tag and tag number. One or more RFID readers are used to scan the vehicles parked in the parking environment to determine if a RFID tag is associated with the parked vehicle. The results of the scan along with information related to the parked vehicle are provided to a permit management system to determine if the vehicle is parked within the scope of privileges pre-defined for that vehicle, pursuant to the parking program governing the parking environment. The permit management system stores, manages, and monitors data related to the permits controlled under the parking program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: IPT, LLC
    Inventors: Cory D. Marchasin, Patrick J. Moynihan, Josiah D. Johnson, Lawrence Berman
  • Patent number: 7940181
    Abstract: Product availability can be determined using radio frequency identification (RFID) by determining whether a RFID tag is detectable by a RFID reader and setting a product availability condition, where the RFID tag is not attached to the product, and where distance between the RFID tag and the RFID reader changes as quantity of the product changes. A system for determining availability of products using RFID can comprise a product display unit, a RFID reader, a RFID tag associated with the product display unit, and a computing device configured to set product availability conditions. In the system, distance between the RFID tag and the RFID reader changes as quantity of the product changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Infosys Technologies Ltd.
    Inventor: Girish A. Ramachandra
  • Publication number: 20110082797
    Abstract: A client-side on-board computing device is partitioned into a trusted computing module, and a private computing platform. When a metric report is required, the private computing platform retrieves an original data file and transfers the original data file to the trusted computing module. The original data file includes a global positioning system coordinate stream and time information. Communication between the private computing platform and the trusted computing module is via an unencrypted serial link. The private computing platform applies at least one billing algorithm to the original data file to determine a billing charge. The private computer platform signs and hashes the billing charge using a private key of a public-private endorsement key pair to create a signed metric report. The private computer platform forwards the signed metric report to the trusted computing module via the unencrypted serial link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mathieu Joseph Robert Glachant, Rick Allen Hamilton, II, Naveen Lamba, Gary Paul Noble, Brian Marshall O'Connell, James Wesley Seaman
  • Publication number: 20110047037
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic electronic trip receipt system and method for chauffeured vehicles, and more particularly, to an automatic electronic trip receipt system which combines an in-car device and a center server to automatically generate a electronic trip reports or receipts for a passenger; wherein the center server comprises a dispatch server for transmitting related dispatch data to in-car device, a communication server for wirelessly communicating with the in-car device, a trip data server for storing trip data, and a trip data inquiry server for the passenger to inquire a specified list of trip reports; the in-car device comprises an in-car device main processor for processing signals from modules, which comprise a GPS module, a wireless communication module, a boarding/disembarking detecting module, a tachometer counter module, an external meter reading device and a credit/debit card charging and card ID reading device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventor: Jason WU
  • Patent number: 7869940
    Abstract: A method for processing road use data. A first moving vehicle has an encounter with vehicles in motion. An apparatus in the first vehicle generates and stores encounter records for the encounters. Each encounter record includes a location of the first moving vehicle and a location and identifier of a corresponding vehicle in motion, and is stored in the apparatus. A first encounter record for an encounter between the first moving vehicle and a second moving vehicle is sent by the first moving vehicle to a charging system of a road use charging authority having a data store. If the charging system determines that the data store includes a second encounter record of the encounter received from the second moving vehicle, then the second encounter record is not used in a charging process and/or is deleted from the data store; otherwise, the first encounter record is stored in the data store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Peter Roy Dare
  • Patent number: 7783536
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for determining taxes that is configurable for local jurisdictions. The system includes a tax knowledge base that provides the facility to store data pertaining to taxes in local jurisdictions, and a tax rule base that provides the facility to store rules for applying taxes in local jurisdictions. The system also includes a tax determination manager that determines the tax for a transaction using the tax knowledge base and, optionally, the tax rule base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Isaac J. William, Alexander O. Fiteni, Paulo Back, Harshavardhan Takle
  • Patent number: 7778941
    Abstract: A position recognition device for deciding a zone where a moving object takes a position. The device comprises: a travel distance decider for deciding whether or not the moving object has traveled a predetermined distance corresponding to the detection error of the position of the moving object; and a zone decider for deciding the zone where the moving object takes a position, if the travel distance decider decides that the moving object has traveled the predetermined distance. According to the invention, therefore, “the decision of the zone where the moving object exists” is not made, in case the position of the moving object cannot be precisely detected. Therefore, the precision in the decision of the zone where the moving object exists is improved, and it is unnecessary to set a buffer zone that “the decision of the zone where the moving object exists is not made if the moving object takes a position in the neighborhood” as the reference for deciding the existing zone of the moving object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaki Kakihara, Yasuyuki Aoki
  • Publication number: 20100191675
    Abstract: A system for determining a distance a vehicle transits within a road system has a mobile device and a main processing unit. The mobile device has a device identification signature and a processing unit to process wireless communication signals received from a network of base stations having positional coordinates, each base station having a base stations identity signature. The processing unit creates data sets containing the base stations identity signatures, and a base station transmits the sequence of data sets. The main processing unit is configured to receive the sequence of data sets and to associate the base stations identification signatures to the positional coordinates of the base stations, to perform trend analysis upon the positional coordinates, to determine a change in trend, to set route positional coordinates at a change in trend, and to determine the distance taking the set route positional coordinates and the road system into account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventor: Walter Steven Rosenbaum
  • Publication number: 20100161392
    Abstract: Methods, including service methods, articles of manufacture, systems, articles and programmable devices are provided for charging travel fees or awarding benefits as a function of vehicle occupancy. Variable travel fee schedules include a plurality of different rate values, each rate value associated with ride-sharing service points of a vehicle infrastructure and vehicle occupancy counts. Occupants within a vehicle traveling via a vehicle infrastructure are counted, the counting generating discrete occupant counts correlated with the ride-sharing service points. Subsets of variable travel fee schedule rate values are selected as a function of association with discrete occupant counts and correlated ride-sharing service points. Owners, occupants or other parties associated with the vehicle are accordingly charged a travel fee or awarded a benefit as a function of the rate value subset and an amount of the vehicle traveling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Duncan Ashby, Rick A. Hamilton, II, Naveen Lamba, Colin Fung Wan Lim, James W. Seaman, Vinodh K Swaminathan
  • Patent number: 7711592
    Abstract: A system is configured by a movement record acquiring unit that acquires a cargo movement record through data communication with a communication apparatus included in a transportation means to store the cargo movement record into a cargo movement record database, a load amount identifying unit that identifies cargos having the overlapping periods between the loading time and unloading time and transported by the same transportation means among the cargos to store a load record into a load record database, an average load amount calculating unit that calculates an average value of the past load amount in the loading period as an average load amount, an energy consumption calculating unit that calculates the energy consumption of each cargo, and an output processing unit that outputs the energy consumption of each cargo to an output interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yohei Kawabe, Yoshiaki Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20100100507
    Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for assigning parameters to a geographic area to provide more accurate cost and fee estimates associated with a delivery vehicle visit (e.g., a package pickup/delivery) to a location within the geographic area. For example, a geographic area may be defined and information collected that is associated with the geographic area. After defining the geographic area and collecting relevant information, an estimated cost associated with a delivery vehicle visit to a location within the geographic area can be determined, based, for example, at least in part on the information gathered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventors: Mark J. Davidson, John A. Olsen, III
  • Publication number: 20100094780
    Abstract: A signal processing apparatus for a taxi meter comprises a processor (108) and a plug (122). The plug (122) connects to a vehicle's (100) diagnostic system (116) and receives an incoming electrical signal from the vehicle's diagnostic system (116). The signal passes to the processor (108), the processor which convert the signal to distance data indicative of a distance travelled. The processor (108)interprets the distance data into a form suitable for reading by a taximeter and transmits the interpreted distance data to a taximeter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventor: Jan Trzcinski
  • Publication number: 20100017275
    Abstract: An apparatus configured for transit application and methods for utilizing the apparatus for transit application is disclosed. One embodiment of the invention is directed to a mobile communication device comprising a processor, a computer readable medium coupled to the processor, wherein the computer readable medium comprises code for receiving a first transit location, code for displaying options to select a second transit location, code for receiving a selection for a second transit location, and code for sending an authorization request message to an issuer associated with the mobile communication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventors: Mark Carlson, Patrick Stan
  • Patent number: 7630918
    Abstract: A charging device (BEV) on an vehicle (FAR), for a dual toll system (SYS), is capable of receiving positional data from a position determining system (PES), concerning the actual location of the vehicle (FAR) and to calculate location co-ordinates (OKO) for the vehicle (FAR). Said charging device (BEV) is further capable of calculating a characteristic signature (SIG) for the stretch of road (STR) traveled by the vehicle (FAR) by means of location co-ordinates (OKO) for the vehicle (FAR) and transmitting the same to an accounting centre (ABZ), outside the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Janos Gila, Wolfgang Konrad
  • Publication number: 20090259528
    Abstract: A method for determining toll routes, using a filter unit and a vehicle onboard unit onboard unit in communication with one another, the filter unit having map material so that toll routes are determinable on the basis of a position data, includes transmitting, by the onboard unit, the position data to the filter unit so that the position data is checkable for toll relevance without revealing an identity of the onboard unit. The transmitted position data is checked for toll relevance. Toll collection data is transmitted to the onboard unit for charge calculation and billing. The toll routes are stored by the onboard unit. The toll routes are transmitted to a toll collection point for the charge calculation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG
    Inventors: Georg Ebersberger, Bernd Guenther