STOEL RIVES LLP

ATTORNEYS AT LAW
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COMPLAINT FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT-
DEMAND FOR J URY TRIAL

76097933.2 0099865-10005
EDWARD C. DUCKERS (SB #242113)
ecduckers@stoel.com
CARISSA M. BEECHAM (SB #254625)
cmbeecham@stoel.com
STOEL RIVES LLP
Three Embarcadero Center, Suite 1120
San Francisco, CA 94111
Telephone: (415) 617-8900
Facsimile: (415) 617-8907

DAVID V. CARLSON (WSBA No. 17643)
DaveC@Seedip.com
(Pro Hac Vice Application Pending)
THOMAS J . SATAGAJ (WSBA No. 38988)
TomS@Seedip.com
(Pro Hac Vice Application Pending)
WILLIAM O. FERRON, J R. (WSBA No. 11813)
BillF@Seedip.com
(Pro Hac Vice Application Pending)
SEED IP Law Group PLLC
701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 5400
Seattle, WA 98104-7092
Telephone: (206) 622-4900

Attorneys for Plaintiff
ZONAR SYSTEMS, INC.


UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SACRAMENTO DIVISION

Zonar Systems, Inc., a Washington corporation,
Plaintiff,
v.
Synovia, Inc., an Indiana corporation;
Synovia Solutions LLC, an Indiana company;
Synovia Acquisition, LLC, an Indiana
company,
Defendants.
Case No.
COMPLAINT FOR PATENT
INFRINGEMENT

DEMAND FOR J URY TRIAL



STOEL RIVES LLP
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COMPLAINT FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT-
DEMAND FOR J URY TRIAL
-1-
76097933.2 0099865-10005
Zonar Systems, Inc. for its Complaint herein, alleges as follows:
NATURE OF ACTION
1. This action arises under the Patent Laws of the United States, 35 U.S.C. 100 et
seq.
THE PARTIES
2. Plaintiff Zonar Systems, Inc. (Plaintiff or Zonar) is a Washington corporation
having a principal place of business at 18200 Cascade Avenue South, Suite 200, Seattle,
Washington 98188.
3. Upon information and belief, Defendants Synovia, Inc., Synovia Solutions LLC,
and Synovia Acquisitions, LLC (Defendants or Synovia) are Indiana corporations or limited
liability companies. Upon information and belief Defendants all have the same principal place of
business address at 9190 Priority Way West Drive, Suite 115, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240.
Defendants are doing business and infringing Zonars patent in California and elsewhere in the
United States.
J URISDICTION AND VENUE
4. The Court has original jurisdiction of the federal claims raised herein pursuant to
28 U.S.C. 1331, 1332, and 1338(a).
5. Venue in this judicial district is proper under 28 U.S.C. 1391(b), (c), and/or
1400(b). Both the Plaintiff and the Defendants are currently doing business in this judicial
district. On information and belief, Defendants have sold, continue to sell and offer to sell
infringing products and services in this judicial district in direct competition with the Plaintiff. In
addition, Defendants and/or their customers conduct acts in this judicial district that constitute
carrying out an infringing method. Events giving rise to the claims herein occurred in this
judicial district. Further, substantial damage to Plaintiff Zonar has occurred and continues to
occur in this judicial district.
PLAINTIFF AND ITS RIGHTS
6. On December 31, 2002, the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued
United States Patent No. 6,502,030, entitled WEB BASED VEHICLE TRACKING AND USER
STOEL RIVES LLP
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COMPLAINT FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT-
DEMAND FOR J URY TRIAL
-2-
76097933.2 0099865-10005
ON_BOARD STATUS SYSTEM, and subsequently certified a Certificate of Correction on
February 17, 2004, (hereinafter the 030 Patent). The 030 Patent has been assigned to and is
fully owned by Plaintiff. A true and correct copy of the 030 Patent is attached hereto as Exhibit
A. The 030 Patent is valid, enforceable, and subsisting.
7. In 2007, Zonar obtained an exclusive license to the 030 Patent. Zonar began
development of a school bus passenger tracking system bearing the trade name, Z PASS. The Z
PASS system is designed specifically for school transportation to track and monitor student
ridership in a safe, non-intrusive way. The Z Pass system includes electronic devices inside the
school bus to track bus location and to collect on-board status information as students board and
disembark the bus. Collected data is communicated to a remote computing device for processing,
and the on-board status data is available through a cell phone or computer browser. Zonar first
sold Z PASS products in 2009.
8. In 2009, one or more employees of Synovia visited Zonar to discuss Z PASS
product technologies. Synovia thus gained specific knowledge of the Zonar product and how it
worked. Synovia also had specific knowledge of the 030 Patent and what the claims covered,
and at that time, Synovia requested license to the 030 Patent. In 2009, Zonar informed Synovia
that they would not partner with them and would not grant Synovia a license to the 030 Patent
but would prefer to sell products under the 030 Patent themselves. Zonar has continued to
develop Z PASS products since 2009, sell Z PASS products since 2009, and study bus passenger
tracking products in the national marketplace since 2009. In 2013, Zonar purchased the 030
Patent and became the sole owner.
9. Synovia had specific knowledge of the 030 Patent based on the discussions in
2009. Despite knowing of the 030 Patent and knowing they did not have a license, Synovia
knowingly and intentionally began selling and continues to sell products that infringe the 030
Patent.
FIRST COUNT - PATENT INFRINGEMENT - 030 Patent
10. Plaintiff repeats and realleges each of the allegations contained in paragraphs 1
through 9 of this Complaint.
STOEL RIVES LLP
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COMPLAINT FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT-
DEMAND FOR J URY TRIAL
-3-
76097933.2 0099865-10005
11. Upon information and belief, Defendants have been, and are, directly infringing
one or more of claims 1 to 11 of the 030 Patent by using, offering to sell, selling, and/or causing
to be used, offered for sale or sold, infringing bus passenger tracking products, including
electronic devices and software, and services in this judicial district.
12. Upon information and belief, Defendants have been, and are, indirectly infringing
one or more of claims 1 to 11 of the 030 Patent by contributing to and inducing its customer to
directly infringe by the customers using infringing bus passenger tracking products, including
electronic devices and software, and services in this judicial district. Because of Defendants
actions, one or more of their customers are direct infringers of the 030 patent.
13. Upon information and belief, at least one of Defendants offers on its website at
http://www.synoviasolutions.com/student-ridership/ in this judicial district and elsewhere in the
United States, bus passenger tracking products that infringe one or more claims of the 030
Patent.
14. On December 7, 2012, Plaintiff sent Defendants a letter informing Defendants of
Plaintiffs exclusive rights in the 030 Patent and requesting Defendants cease infringing
behavior.
15. On information and belief, Defendants infringement has been willful. Even after
knowledge of the existence of the 030 Patent since 2009, knowing it did not have a license, and
knowing that it had imitated significant portions of the Z PASS products and publications,
Defendants continued to infringe the 030 Patent and continues to do so today.
16. Plaintiff Zonar has been, and will continue to be, damaged by such infringement in
an amount to be proven at trial in excess of the amount for diversity jurisdiction, and in a manner
and amount that cannot be fully measured or compensated in economic terms and for which there
is no adequate remedy at law. The patent infringement actions of Defendants have damaged, and
will continue to damage, Plaintiffs business, market, reputation, and goodwill unless Defendants
acts of patent infringement complained of herein are enjoined.

STOEL RIVES LLP
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COMPLAINT FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT-
DEMAND FOR J URY TRIAL
-4-
76097933.2 0099865-10005
PRAYER FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff Zonar respectfully demands judgment:
1. That Defendants be found to have willfully, deliberately, and actively infringed the
030 Patent, both directly and indirectly.
2. That Defendants, and their respective officers, agents, servants, employees,
attorneys, and all other persons in active concert or participation with any of them, be enjoined
and restrained and permanently thereafter from all acts that infringe the 030 Patent directly,
contributorily, or by inducement, including being enjoined from manufacturing, importing, using,
offering for sale and/or selling bus passenger tracking products and services, including software,
that infringe the 030 Patent.
3. That Defendants be required to prepare and deliver to the Court a complete list of
entities to whom such Defendants have sold bus passenger tracking products and services.
4. That Defendants be required to prepare and deliver to the Court a full accounting
of all bus passenger tracking products and services sold, including the price at which they were
sold, the date sold and a profit and loss statement for each year in which any infringing activities
took place.
5. That Defendants be required to prepare and deliver to the Court a complete list of
entities to whom such Defendants have sold bus passenger tracking products and services.
6. That Defendants be required to prepare and deliver to the Court a full accounting
of all bus passenger tracking software sold, including the price at which such software was sold,
the date sold and a profit and loss statement for each year in which any infringing activities took
place.
7. That Defendants, within thirty days after receiving notice of entry of judgment, be
required to file with the Court and serve upon Plaintiffs counsel a written report under oath
setting forth in detail the manner in which Defendants have complied with Paragraphs 1 through
5, immediately above.
8. That Defendants account for and pay over to Plaintiff damages sustained by
Plaintiff, directly and indirectly, by reason of Defendants patent infringement.
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COMPLAINT FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT-
DEMAND FOR J URY TRIAL
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76097933.2 0099865-10005
9. That Defendants infringement of the 030 Patent be found willful and that treble
damages, together with interest and costs, be awarded under 35 U.S.C. 284, or as otherwise
permitted by law.
10. That Plaintiff be awarded all costs and expenses in this action under 28 U.S.C.
1920 and under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 54(d).
11. That the present case be found exceptional and that attorney fees be awarded to
Plaintiff under 35 U.S.C. 285, or as otherwise permitted by law.
12. That Plaintiff have such other and further relief as the Court may deem equitable.
DEMAND FOR J URY TRIAL
Plaintiff hereby demands a trial by jury of all issues in this case.
Dated: May 8, 2014

STOEL RIVES LLP
/s/ Edward C. Duckers
EDWARD C. DUCKERS (SB #242113)
ecduckers@stoel.com
CARISSA M. BEECHAM (SB #254625)
cmbeecham@stoel.com
STOEL RIVES LLP
Three Embarcadero Center, Suite 1120
San Francisco, CA 94111
Telephone: (415) 617-8900
Facsimile: (415) 617-8907

DAVID V. CARLSON (WSBA No. 17643)
DaveC@Seedip.com
(Pro Hac Vice Application Pending)
THOMAS J . SATAGAJ (WSBA No. 38988)
TomS@Seedip.com
(Pro Hac Vice Application Pending)
WILLIAM O. FERRON, J R. (WSBA No.
11813)
BillF@Seedip.com
(Pro Hac Vice Application Pending)
SEED IP Law Group PLLC
701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 5400
Seattle, WA 98104-7092
Telephone: (206) 622-4900

Attorneys for Plaintiff
ZONAR SYSTEMS, INC.




EXHIBIT
A
United S ta tes P a tent
US 006502030B2
( 1 2) ( 1 0) P a tent N 0. : US 6, 502, 030 B2
H il l ea r y ( 4 5) D a te o f P a tent: D ec . 31 , 2002
( 54 ) WEB BAS ED VEH ICLE TRACKIN G AN D 6, 24 0, 362 B1 * 5/ 2001 Ga s p a r d, II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 0/ 9 9 1
US ER ON -BOARD S TATUS S YS TEM 6, 330, 4 9 9 B1 1 2/ 2001 Cho u et a 1 .
*
( 7 5) Inv ento r : Tho ma s N - H il l ea r y , Ches ter f iel d, MO 6, 331 , 8 25 B1 1 2/ 2001 La dner et a 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 0/ 9 8 8
( Us ) 6, 339 , 39 7 B1 * 1 / 2002 Ba ker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 2/ 357 . 07
6, 34 7 , 7 39 B1 * 2/ 2002 Ta ma m . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235/ 38 4
( 7 3) As s ig nee: La Ba r g e, Inc . , Cl a y to n, MO ( US )
* . .
( * ) N o tic e: S ub j ec t to a ny dis c l a imer , the ter m o f this c ued b y exa mmer
p a tent is extended o r a dj us ted under 35
U. S . C. 1 54 b b 0d .
( ) y a y s P r ima r y Exa miner Mic ha el J . Z a nel l i
( 21 ) AP P L N o : 09 / 7 69 , 537 ( 7 4 ) Atto r ney , Ag ent, o r F ir m Ar ms tr o ng Tea s da l e LLP
( 22) F il ed: J a n. 25, 2001 ( 57 ) ABS TRACT
( 65) P no r P ub hc a tl o n D a ta A Web b a s ed v ehic l e tr a c king s y s tem inc l udes a p a s s eng er
Us 2002/ 009 9 501 A1 J ul - 25 2002 identi? c a tio n dev ic e tha t r eg is ter s When a p a s s eng er b o a r ds
( 51 ) Int. Cl . 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G08 G 1 / 1 23; G01 S 5/ 00 a nd dis emb a r ks the v ehic l e. The Web b a s ed v ehic l e tr a c king
( 52) [ 1 5- Cl - --------------------- -- 7 01 / 207 ; 7 01 / 21 3; 34 0/ 9 9 2; s y s tem util iZ es a v ehic l e inf o r ma tio n s y s tem, tha t inc l udes
34 2/ 357 ' 09 the p a s s eng er identi? c a tio n dev ic e, a nd a b a s e s ta tio n net
( 58 ) F iel d o f S ea r c h . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 01 / 207 , 1 1 7 , . . . .
7 01 / 21 3_ 34 0/ 9 8 9 9 9 2 34 2/ 357 07 357 09 Wo r k a dm1 n1 s tr a to r to mo nito r the tr a v el o f a v ehic l e a nd the
, , , i , 35' 7 1 , o n-b o a r d s ta tus o f a p a s s eng er . Us ing , a us er c o mmunic a
tio ns inter f a c e, a us er a c c es s es the Inter net to quer y p a s s en
( 56) Ref er enc es Cl ted g er o n-b o a r d s ta tus inf o r ma tio n.
U. S . P ATEN T D OCUMEN TS
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WEB BASED VEHICLE TRACKING AND
USER ON-BOARD STATUS SYSTEM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Th i s i n v e n t i o n r e l a t e s g e n e r a l l y t o a v e h i c l e t r a v e l i n f o r
ma t i o n s y s t e m, a n d mo r e p a r t i c u l a r l y t o a We b-ba s e d v e h i c l e
t r a v e l i n f o r ma t i o n s y s t e m.
In s i t u a t i o n s Wh e r e v e h i c l e s a r e u t i l i z e d t o t r a n s p o r t
p e o p l e , p r o du c t , o r p a c k a g e s , a p r e v a l e n t p r o bl e m i s t h e
u n p r e di c t a bi l i t y o f t h e a r r i v a l o f t h e v e h i c l e a t a s p e c i ? c
l o c a t i o n . Fa c t o r s c o n t r i bu t e t o t h e t i me l i n e s s o f v e h i c u l a r
t r a v e l s u c h a s i n c l e me n t We a t h e r , t r a f ? c ? o W, v e h i c l e ma i n
t e n a n c e a n d o t h e r u n e x p e c t e d de l a y s a n d c a n e f f e c t t h e
s c h e du l e o f t h e v e h i c l e . Fo r e x a mp l e , s c h o o l c h i l dr e n Wh o
r i de bu s e s t o s c h o o l o f t e n h a v e t o Wa i t a t t h e i r bu s s t o p s f o r
e x t e n de d l e n g t h s o f t i me be c a u s e s c h o o l bu s e s a r r i v e a t
p a r t i c u l a r bu s s t o p s a t s u bs t a n t i a l l y di f f e r e n t t i me s f r o m o n e
da y t o t h e n e x t . Th e a r r i v a l t i me s o f s c h o o l bu s e s c a n be
s i g n i ? c a n t l y a f f e c t e d by ma n y f a c t o r s s u c h a s ma i n t e n a n c e
p r o bl e ms , r u s h h o u r t r a f ? c , a n d c o n g e s t e d u r ba n / s u bu r ba n
c o n di t i o n s . As a r e s u l t , s c h o o l c h i l dr e n a r e f o r c e d t o Wa i t a t
t h e i r bu s s t o p s f o r l o n g p e r i o ds o f t i me , o f t e n t i me s i n
a dv e r s e We a t h e r c o n di t i o n s , o n u n l i t s t r e e t c o r n e r s , o r n e a r
bu s y o r s e c l u de d s t r e e t s .
It i s k n o Wn t o u t i l i Z e a s y s t e m t h a t e mp l o y s t h e u s e o f a
t r a n s mi t t e r o n t h e v e h i c l e a n d a r e c e i v e r i n t h e h o me o r o f ? c e
o f t h e u s e r s u c h t h a t Wh e n t h e v e h i c l e c o me s Wi t h i n a c e r t a i n
r a n g e o f t h e r e c e i v e r , t h e r e c e i v e r s i g n a l s t h e u s e r t h a t t h e
v e h i c l e i s a p p r o a c h i n g . Addi t i o n a l l y i t i s k n o Wn t o u t i l i Z e a
s y s t e m t h a t e mp l o y s a s a t e l l i t e t r a c k i n g s y s t e m, s u c h a s a
g l o ba l p o s i t i o n i n g s y s t e m ( GP S) , t o t r a c k t h e v e h i c l e , a
t r a n s mi t t e r l o c a t e d o n t h e v e h i c l e , a n d a ba s e s t a t i o n c a p a bl e
o f r e c e i v i n g t r a n s mi s s i o n s a n d s e n di n g a me s s a g e t o t h e
u s e r s l o c a t i o n s n o t i f y i n g t h e u s e r o f t h e i mp e n di n g a r r i v a l
o f t h e v e h i c l e . Wh i l e s u c h s y s t e ms Wo r k s a t i s f a c t o r i l y u n de r
c e r t a i n c i r c u ms t a n c e s , t h e y a r e l i mi t e d i n t h e t y p e o f i n f o r
ma t i o n a n d ? e x i bi l i t y t h e y p r o v i de t h e u s e r .
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a n e x e mp l a r y e mbo di me n t , t h e We b ba s e d v e h i c l e
t r a c k i n g s y s t e m i n c l u de s a p a s s e n g e r i de n t i ? c a t i o n de v i c e
t h a t r e g i s t e r s Wh e n a p a s s e n g e r bo a r ds a n d di s e mba r k s a
v e h i c l e . Th e We b ba s e d v e h i c l e t r a c k i n g s y s t e m i n c l u de s a
v e h i c l e i n f o r ma t i o n s y s t e m t h a t i s c o u p l e d t o t h e v e h i c l e a n d
i n c l u de s t h e p a s s e n g e r i de n t i ? c a t i o n de v i c e . Th e We b ba s e d
v e h i c l e t r a c k i n g s y s t e m a l s o i n c l u de s a ba s e s t a t i o n n e t Wo r k
a dmi n i s t r a t o r , l o c a t e d a t a r e mo t e s i t e , Wh i c h mo n i t o r s t h e
o n -bo a r d s t a t u s o f a p a s s e n g e r , a n d c o mmu n i c a t e s Wi t h a
u s e r c o mmu n i c a t i o n s i n t e r f a c e . Us i n g , t h e u s e r c o mmu n i
c a t i o n s i n t e r f a c e , l o c a t e d a t a u s e r p r e mi s e , a u s e r a c c e s s e s
t h e In t e r n e t t o qu e r y p a s s e n g e r o n -bo a r d s t a t u s i n f o r ma t i o n .
Du r i n g o p e r a t i o n , a v e h i c l e i n f o r ma t i o n s y s t e m p r o c e s s o r
r e c e i v e s v e h i c l e l o c a t i o n da t a a n d t r a n s mi t s s u c h da t a t o a
ba s e s t a t i o n c o mp u t e r . Th e ba s e s t a t i o n c o mp u t e r u t i l i Z e s t h e
v e h i c l e l o c a t i o n da t a a n d ma p p i n g s o f t Wa r e t o g e n e r a t e a
c u r r e n t g r a p h i c a l r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t h e v e h i c l e l o c a t i o n . A
u s e r u t i l i Z e s t h e u s e r c o mmu n i c a t i o n i n t e r f a c e t o a c c e s s t h e
In t e r n e t a n d v i e W t h e g r a p h i c a l r e p r e s e n t a t i o n . As a p a s s e n
g e r bo a r ds t h e v e h i c l e a p a s s e n g e r bo a r di n g i de n t i ? c a t i o n i s
i n p u t t o t h e p a s s e n g e r i de n t i ? c a t i o n de v i c e . Th e bo a r di n g
i de n t i ? c a t i o n i s c o mmu n i c a t e d t o t h e v e h i c l e i n f o r ma t i o n
s y s t e m p r o c e s s o r t h a t t r a n s mi t s t h e bo a r di n g i de n t i ? c a t i o n t o
a ba s e s t a t i o n c o mp u t e r . Th e ba s e s t a t i o n c o mp u t e r a c c e s s e s
a da t a ba s e a n d r e t r i e v e s p a s s e n g e r i n f o r ma t i o n t h a t c o r r e
s p o n ds t o t h e bo a r di n g i de n t i ? c a t i o n . Si mi l a r l y , Wh e n a
1 0
1 5
2 0
2 5
3 0
3 5
40
45
5 5
6 0
6 5
2
p a s s e n g e r di s e mba r k s , t h e ba s e s t a t i o n c o mp u t e r r e c e i v e s a
di s e mba r k i n g i de n t i ? c a t i o n a n d r e t r i e v e s t h e c o r r e s p o n di n g
i n f o r ma t i o n . Th e ba s e s t a t i o n c o mp u t e r mo n i t o r s t h e
o n -bo a r d s t a t u s o f a p a s s e n g e r a n d c o mmu n i c a t e s t h e s t a t u s
t o a u s e r u p o n r e qu e s t f r o m a u s e r , v i a t h e u s e r c o mmu n i
c a t i o n s i n t e r f a c e .
BRIEF DESCRIP TION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 i s a bl o c k di a g r a m o f a v e h i c l e t r a v e l i n f o r ma t i o n
s y s t e m i n a c c o r da n c e Wi t h a n e x e mp l a r y e mbo di me n t o f t h e
p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n ;
FIG. 2 i s a Ho w c h a r t o f a me s s a g i n g c o mp o n e n t o f t h e
v e h i c l e t r a v e l i n f o r ma t i o n s y s t e m s h o Wn i n FIG. 1 ;
FIG. 3 i s a Ho w c h a r t o f t h e v e h i c l e t r a c k i n g c o mp o n e n t
o f t h e v e h i c l e t r a v e l i n f o r ma t i o n s y s t e m s h o Wn i n FIG. 1 ;
FIG. 4 i s a Ho w c h a r t o f t h e e me r g e n c y me s s a g i n g
c o mp o n e n t o f t h e v e h i c l e i n f o r ma t i o n s y s t e m s h o Wn i n FIG.
1 ; a n d
FIG. 5 i s a bl o c k di a g r a m o f a dr i v e r c o mp u t e r i n t e r f a c e
f o r t h e v e h i c l e t r a v e l i n f o r ma t i o n s y s t e m s h o Wn i n FIG. 1 .
DETAILED DESCRIP TION OF THE
INVENTION
Th e f e a t u r e s a n d p r i n c i p l e s o f t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n Wi l l
n o W be de s c r i be d r e l a t i v e t o a n e x e mp l a r y e mbo di me n t
t h e r e o f . It Wi l l be a p p a r e n t t o t h o s e s k i l l e d i n t h e a r t t h a t
n u me r o u s v a r i a t i o n s 0 r mo di ? c a t i o n s ma y be ma de t o t h e
e x e mp l a r y e mbo di me n t Wi t h o u t de p a r t i n g f r o m t h e s p i r i t
a n d s c o p e o f t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n . Th e s y s t e m a n d me t h o d
a r e n o t l i mi t e d t o t h e s p e c i ? c e mbo di me n t s de s c r i be d h e r e i n .
Co mp o n e n t s o f e a c h s y s t e m a n d me t h o d c a n be p r a c t i c e d
i n de p e n de n t a n d s e p a r a t e f r o m o t h e r c o mp o n e n t s a n d me t h
o ds . Ea c h s y s t e m a n d me t h o d a l s o c a n be u s e d i n c o mbi
n a t i o n Wi t h o t h e r c o mp o n e n t s a n d me t h o ds .
FIG. 1 de p i c t s a v e h i c l e t r a v e l i n f o r ma t i o n s y s t e m I o f t h e
p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n . Ve h i c l e t r a v e l i n f o r ma t i o n s y s t e m 1 0
c o mp r i s e s a t l e a s t o n e v e h i c l e i n f o r ma t i o n s y s t e m ( VIS) 1 4
c o u p l e d t o a t l e a s t o n e v e h i c l e ( n o t s h o Wn ) , a ba s e s t a t i o n
n e t Wo r k a dmi n i s t r a t o r ( BSNA) 1 8 l o c a t e d a t a r e mo t e s i t e ,
a n d a t l e a s t o n e u s e r c o mmu n i c a t i o n s i n t e r f a c e 2 2 .
Ve h i c l e In f o r ma t i o n Sy s t e m
VIS 1 4 i n c l u de s a VIS p r o c e s s o r 2 4, a l o c a t i o n de t e r mi
n a t i o n de v i c e 2 6 , s u c h a s a g l o ba l p o s i t i o n i n g s y s t e m ( GP S)
r e c e i v e r , a Wi r e l e s s c o mmu n i c a t i o n s de v i c e 3 0 , a VIS, a n d
a dr i v e r c o mp u t e r i n t e r f a c e 3 4. In o n e e mbo di me n t , l o c a t i o n
de t e r mi n a t i o n de v i c e 2 6 r e c e i v e s v e h i c l e p o s i t i o n da t a f r o m
a GP S s a t e l l i t e n e t Wo r k 3 6 , i n c l u di n g a t l e a s t o n e s a t e l l i t e ,
a n d de t e r mi n e s t h e v e h i c l e s l o c a t i o n . Fo r e x a mp l e , P S
s a t e l l i t e n e t Wo r k 3 6 , h a v i n g 3 s a t e l l i t e s , t r a n s mi t s p o s i t i o n
da t a t o l o c a t i o n de t e r mi n a t i o n de v i c e 2 6 Wh i c h u t i l i Z e s t h e
p o s i t i o n da t a t o r e s o l v e a v e h i c l e l o c a t i o n . Al t h o u g h t h e
e x e mp l a r y e mbo di me n t u t i l i Z e s GP S t o mo n i t o r v e h i c l e
l o c a t i o n , o t h e r s u i t a bl e p o s i t i o n t r a c k i n g s y s t e ms ma y be
u s e d.
VIS p r o c e s s o r 2 4 c o n t r o l s t h e o v e r a l l o p e r a t i o n o f VIS 1 4.
In t h e e x e mp l a r y e mbo di me n t , VIS p r o c e s s o r 2 4 i n t e r a c t s
Wi t h VIS Wi r e l e s s c o mmu n i c a t i o n de v i c e 3 0 , l o c a t i o n de t e r
mi n a t i o n de v i c e 2 6 , a n d dr i v e r c o mp u t e r i n t e r f a c e 3 4. Fo r
e x a mp l e , VIS p r o c e s s o r 2 4 i n t e r a c t s Wi t h VIS Wi r e l e s s
c o mmu n i c a t i o n de v i c e 3 0 t o c o mmu n i c a t e Wi t h BSNA 1 8
v i a a Wi r e l e s s s e r v i c e p r o v i de r 3 8 . In f o r ma t i o n f r o m VIS
p r o c e s s o r 2 4 i s t r a n s mi t t e d Wi r e l e s s l y o v e r a n e t Wo r k t o a
Wi r e l e s s s e r v i c e p r o v i de r 3 0 , c o mp r i s i n g a Wi r e l e s s s Wi t c h
( n o t s h o Wn ) , Wh i c h t r a n s l a t e s i n f o r ma t i o n a n d p u t s i t o n a
l i n e de v i c e , s u c h a s a p h o n e l i n e , Wh i c h t h e n c o n n e c t s t o
US 6 , 5 0 2 , 0 3 0 B2
3
BSNA 1 8 . VIS p r o c e s s o r 2 4 a l s o i n t e r a c t s W i t h d r i v e r
c o mp ut e r i n t e r f a c e 3 4 t o p r o v i d e o r r e c e i v e i n f o r ma t i o n t o o r
f r o m t h e d r i v e r . D r i v e r c o mp ut e r i n t e r f a c e 3 4 r e c e i v e s a n d
d i s p l a y s i n f o r ma t i o n i n p ut s f r o m t h e v e h i c l e d r i v e r , VIS
p r o c e s s o r 2 4 a n d BSNA 1 8 .
In o n e e mbo d i me n t , VIS p r o c e s s o r 2 4 r e c e i v e s v e h i c l e
l o c a t i o n d a t a f r o m l o c a t i o n d e t e r mi n a t i o n d e v i c e 2 6 , mo n i
t o r s t h e v e h i c l e s l o c a t i o n a n d t r a n s mi t s t h e v e h i c l e l o c a t i o n
d a t a t o BSNA 1 8 up o n o c c ur r e n c e o f c e r t a i n p r o mp t i n g
e v e n t s . Up o n t h e o c c ur r e n c e o f c e r t a i n P r o mp t s , VIS
p r o c e s s o r 2 4 t r a n s mi t s up d a t e d v e h i c l e l o c a t i o n d a t a t o
BSNA 1 8 , v i a VIS W i r e l e s s c o mmun i c a t i o n d e v i c e 3 0 a n d
W i r e l e s s s e r v i c e p r o v i d e r 3 8 . T h e P r o mp t s i n c l ud e s t a r t i n g
t h e v e h i c l e s e n gi n e , p ut t i n g t h e v e h i c l e i n d r i v e , o p e n i n g a
d o o r , a n a bs e n c e o f v e h i c l e mo v e me n t f o r p r e s e t t i me
p e r i o d , t h e v e h i c l e t r a v e l i n g a p r e s e t n umbe r o f mi l e s , a
p r e s e t t i me e l a p s i n g, up o n r e q ue s t f r o m BSNA 1 8 , t h e
v e h i c l e e x c e e d i n g a p r e s e t s p e e d , t h e e n gi n e f un c t i o n i n g
i mp r o p e r l y , a t p r e d e t e r mi n e d W a y p o i n t s , o r t h e d r i v e r
d e p r e s s i n g a n As s i s t but t o n 40 . T h e o c c ur r e n c e o f a n y
o t h e r e v e n t , i n a d d i t i o n t o t h o s e l i s t e d a bo v e , c o ul d be
ut i l i Z e d a s a P r o mp t . BSNA 1 8 mo n i t o r s t h e v e h i c l e l o c a t i o n
d a t a a n d c o mp i l e s v e h i c l e t r a v e l i n f o r ma t i o n .
As s h o W n i n F IG . 5 , d r i v e r c o mp ut e r i n t e r f a c e 3 4 i n c l ud e s
a n As s i s t but t o n 40 . As s i s t but t o n 40 s e n d s a n e me r ge n c y
s i gn a l t o ba s e s t a t i o n c o mp ut e r 42 v i a VIS W i r e l e s s c o m
mun i c a t i o n d e v i c e 3 0 a n d W i r e l e s s s e r v i c e p r o v i d e r 3 8 . If t h e
v e h i c l e be c o me s d i s a bl e d o r i n d e ? n i t e l y d e l a y e d t h e v e h i c l e
d r i v e r d e p r e s s e s As s i s t but t o n 40 , W h i c h c a us e s VIS p r o
c e s s o r 2 4 t o s e n d a n e me r ge n c y s i gn a l a n d t h e c ur r e n t
v e h i c l e l o c a t i o n t o ba s e s t a t i o n c o mp ut e r 42 . Up o n r e c e i v i n g
t h e e me r ge n c y s i gn a l , ba s e s t a t i o n c o mp ut e r 42 ge n e r a t e s a n
e me r ge n c y me s s a ge t o a n e me r ge n c y r e s p o n s e t e r mi n a l 46
a n d us e r c o mmun i c a t i o n s i n t e r f a c e 2 2 . T h e e me r ge n c y me s
s a ge t o e me r ge n c y r e s p o n s e t e r mi n a l 46 n o t i ? e s a n e me r
ge n c y r e s p o n s e d i s p a t c h e r t h a t t h e v e h i c l e n e e d s i mme d i a t e
a s s i s t a n c e a n d gi v e s t h e d i s p a t c h e r t h e v e h i c l e l o c a t i o n . In
o n e e mbo d i me n t , t h e e me r ge n c y me s s a ge t o t h e us e r n o t i ? e s
t h e us e r t h a t t h e v e h i c l e h a s i n c ur r e d a p r o bl e m, W i l l be
d e l a y e d , a n d t h e a p p r o x i ma t e l e n gt h o f t h e d e l a y .
In t h e e x e mp l a r y e mbo d i me n t As s i s t but t o n 40 n o t i ? e s t h e
e me r ge n c y r e s p o n s e t e r mi n a l 46 t h a t t h e v e h i c l e h a s
i n c ur r e d me c h a n i c a l p r o bl e ms s uc h a s e n gi n e p r o bl e ms o r a
? a t t i r e . In a n a l t e r n a t i v e e mbo d i me n t , As s i s t but t o n 40 i s
us e d t o s e n d n o t i ? c a t i o n o f o t h e r e me r ge n c y s i t ua t i o n s s uc h
a s t h e v e h i c l e be i n g i n v o l v e d i n a n a c c i d e n t , a me d i c a l
p r o bl e m W i t h a p e r s o n i n t h e v e h i c l e , a d i s t ur ba n c e o n t h e
v e h i c l e , e t c . Af ur t h e r a l t e r n a t i v e e mbo d i me n t i n c l ud e s mo r e
t h a n o n e As s i s t but t o n . A ? r s t As s i s t but t o n 40 s i gn a l s
me c h a n i c a l o r o t h e r p r o bl e ms a n d r e q ue s t s t h e e me r ge n c y
r e s p o n s e d i s p a t c h e r t o s e n d a n e me r ge n c y a s s i s t a n c e c r e W t o
e v a l ua t e a n d ma ke r e p a i r s , a n d d i s p a t c h a r e p l a c e me n t
v e h i c l e . A s e c o n d but t o n i n f o r ms t h e d i s p a t c h e r t o s e n d a n
e me r ge n c y me d i c a l t e a m (EMT ), o r t h e p o l i c e . T h e a f o r e
me n t i o n e d f un c t i o n s a n d a p p l i c a t i o n s o f As s i s t but t o n 40 a r e
e x e mp l a r y o n l y . O t h e r f un c t i o n s a r e p o s s i bl e a n d c a n be
ut i l i Z e d i n c o n n e c t i o n W i t h p r a c t i c i n g t h e s y s t e m a n d me t h o d
d e s c r i be d h e r e i n .
Ba s e St a t i o n Ne t wo r k Ad mi n i s t r a t o r
In a n e x e mp l a r y e mbo d i me n t , BSNA 1 8 i n c l ud e s , ba s e
s t a t i o n c o mp ut e r 42 , a n d a W e b s e r v e r 48 . BSNA 1 8 c o m
mun i c a t e s W i t h VIS 1 4, s t o r e s us e r d e ? n e d v e h i c l e t r a v e l
i n f o r ma t i o n me s s a ge t r i gge r s , a n a l y Z e s v e h i c l e t r a v e l i n f o r
ma t i o n a n d ma p p i n g d a t a , d o W n l o a d s a c ur r e n t gr a p h i c a l
r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f a v e h i c l e s l o c a t i o n , a n d ge n e r a t e s me s
s a ge s t o us e r c o mmun i c a t i o n s i n t e r f a c e 2 2 . W i r e l e s s s e r v i c e
p r o v i d e r 3 8 c o mmun i c a t e s W i t h VIS W i r e l e s s c o mmun i c a
1 0
1 5
2 0
2 5
3 0
3 5
40
45
5 5
6 0
6 5
4
t i o n d e v i c e 3 0 , a n d i s e l e c t r o n i c a l l y i n t e r f a c e d W i t h ba s e
s t a t i o n c o mp ut e r 42 . Ve h i c l e l o c a t i o n d a t a , v e h i c l e d r i v e r
i n p ut s a n d o t h e r i n f o r ma t i o n i s t r a n s mi t t e d by VIS 1 4 t o
BSNA 1 8 , a l l o W i n g ba s e s t a t i o n c o mp ut e r 42 t o mo n i t o r t h e
v e h i c l e s t r a v e l , a d h e r e n c e t o t i me s c h e d ul e , v e h i c l e o p e r a
t i o n a l s t a t us , a n d o t h e r p e r t i n e n t i n f o r ma t i o n . Ba s e s t a t i o n
c o mp ut e r 42 a l s o c o n t a i n s us e r s p e c i ? e d v e h i c l e t r a v e l
i n f o r ma t i o n me s s a ge t r i gge r s d e ? n i n g W h e n , W h e r e , a n d
h o W t h e us e r d e s i r e s t o be n o t i ? e d o f v e h i c l e t r a v e l i n f o r
ma t i o n . Ba s e s t a t i o n c o mp ut e r 42 c o mp a r e s t h e v e h i c l e
t r a v e l i n f o r ma t i o n , a n d o t h e r d a t a t r a n s mi t t e d by VIS 1 4, t o
t h e v e h i c l e t r a v e l i n f o r ma t i o n me s s a ge t r i gge r s . W h e n a
ma t c h o c c ur s ba s e s t a t i o n c o mp ut e r 42 s e n d s a v e h i c l e t r a v e l
i n f o r ma t i o n me s s a ge t o us e r c o mmun i c a t i o n s i n t e r f a c e 2 2
i n f o r mi n g t h e us e r t h e v e h i c l e h a s r e a c h e d a p a r t i c ul a r
l o c a t i o n o r i s a s p e c i ? e d n umbe r o f mi n ut e s f r o m a p a r t i c ul a r
l o c a t i o n .
Ba s e s t a t i o n c o mp ut e r 42 a l s o ge n e r a t e s a c ur r e n t gr a p h i
c a l r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f a v e h i c l e l o c a t i o n o n a W e b s i t e t h a t c a n
be a c c e s s e d by us e r c o mmun i c a t i o n s i n t e r f a c e 2 2 v i a t h e
In t e r n e t . Ba s e s t a t i o n c o mp ut e r 42 i n t e r p r e t s t h e v e h i c l e
l o c a t i o n d a t a r e c e i v e d f r o m VIS 1 4 t h e n e mp l o y s a ma p p i n g
p r o gr a m t o c r e a t e a c ur r e n t v e h i c l e l o c a t i o n ma p p i n g d i s p l a y
t h a t c a n be v i e W e d o n us e r c o mmun i c a t i o n s i n t e r f a c e 2 2 .
T h e ma p p i n g p r o gr a m h a s a p p r o p r i a t e i n f o r ma t i o n s uc h a s
p e r t i n e n t s t r e e t l o c a t i o n s , v e h i c l e s p e e d l i mi t s , a n d t r a f ? c
? o W p a t t e r n s . In a n e x e mp l a r y e mbo d i me n t , ba s e s t a t i o n
c o mp ut e r 42 c o mmun i c a t e s W i t h us e r c o mmun i c a t i o n s i n t e r
f a c e 2 2 , v i a t h e In t e r n e t . Us i n g t h e In t e r n e t , t h e us e r v i e W s
t h e W e b s i t e ut i l i Z i n g us e r c o mmun i c a t i o n s i n t e r f a c e 2 2 .
In a d d i t i o n , ba s e s t a t i o n c o mp ut e r 42 t r a n s mi t s i n f o r ma
t i o n t o VIS 1 4 i n s t r uc t i n g VIS p r o c e s s o r 2 4 t o p e r f o r m
c e r t a i n o p e r a t i o n s o r d i s p l a y a me s s a ge t o t h e v e h i c l e d r i v e r
o n d r i v e r c o mp ut e r i n t e r f a c e 3 4. Ba s e s t a t i o n c o mp ut e r 42
a l s o i n t e r f a c e s W i t h d e v i c e s s uc h a s , but n o t l i mi t e d t o , a
c a bl e c o n t e n t i n t e r f a c e 5 8 , a d i s p a t c h e r 6 2 , a n d / o r a r e mo t e
c l i e n t s y s t e m 6 6 . C a bl e c o n t e n t i n t e r f a c e 5 8 c o mmun i c a t e s
W i t h a us e r t e l e v i s i o n 70 v i a a c a bl e t e l e v i s i o n s e r v i c e
p r o v i d e r . T h e r e f o r e , a us e r s e t s us e r t e l e v i s i o n 70 t o a
s p e c i ? c c h a n n e l a n d v i e W s a c ur r e n t gr a p h i c a l r e p r e s e n t a t i o n
o f o n e o r mo r e v e h i c l e l o c a t i o n s . D i s p a t c h e r 6 2 t r a c ks
v e h i c l e l o c a t i o n a n d a us e r c a l l s ba s e s t a t i o n c o mp ut e r 42 ,
us i n g a t e l e p h o n e i n t e r f a c e , t o o bt a i n c ur r e n t i n f o r ma t i o n
a bo ut t h e v e h i c l e l o c a t i o n . Ba s e s t a t i o n c o mp ut e r 42 a l s o
c o mmun i c a t e s W i t h a r e mo t e c l i e n t s y s t e m 6 6 v i a W e b s e r v e r
48 a n d t h e In t e r n e t .
In o n e e mbo d i me n t , r e mo t e c l i e n t s y s t e m 6 6 i s a c o mp ut e r
i n c l ud i n g a W e b br o W s e r . Re mo t e c l i e n t s y s t e m 6 6 i s i n t e r
c o n n e c t e d t o t h e In t e r n e t t h r o ugh a t l e a s t o n e i n t e r f a c e s uc h
a s a l o c a l a r e a n e t W o r k (LAN), a W i d e a r e a n e t W o r k (W AN),
d i a l - i n - c o n n e c t i o n s , c a bl e mo d e ms , a n d p h o n e l i n e s .
Re mo t e c l i e n t s y s t e m 6 6 i s a n y d e v i c e c a p a bl e o f i n t e r c o n
n e c t i n g t o t h e In t e r n e t i n c l ud i n g a W e b ba s e d p h o n e o r o t h e r
W e b ba s e d c o n n e c t a bl e e q ui p me n t . By c o mmun i c a t i n g W i t h
W e b s e r v e r 48 , v i a t h e In t e r n e t , r e mo t e c l i e n t s y s t e m 6 6
r e t r i e v e s v e h i c l e t r a v e l i n f o r ma t i o n f r o m ba s e s t a t i o n c o m
p ut e r 42 a n d d o W n l o a d s t h e i n f o r ma t i o n t o a W e b s i t e
a l l o W i n g t h e us e r t o ut i l i Z e a n a l t e r n a t e In t e r n e t W e b s i t e o r
o t h e r In t e r n e t a c c e s s i bl e me a n s t o v i e W a c ur r e n t gr a p h i c a l
r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t h e v e h i c l e l o c a t i o n .
Us e r C o mmun i c a t i o n s In t e r f a c e
Us e r c o mmun i c a t i o n s i n t e r f a c e 2 2 i n c l ud e s a t l e a s t o n e
o f , but i s n o t l i mi t e d t o , a p e r s o n a l c o mp ut e r 74, a r e s i d e n t i a l
ga t e W a y 78 , a h o me In t e r n e t a p p l i a n c e 8 2 , a W i r e l e s s In t e r
n e t a c c e s s d e v i c e 8 6 , a p a ge r 9 0 , a t e l e p h o n e i n t e r f a c e 9 2 ,
a n d us e r t e l e v i s i o n 70 . By c o n ? gur i n g p e r s o n a l c o mp ut e r 74
t o a c c e s s t h e In t e r n e t , t h e us e r c a l l s up a W e b p a ge a n d v i e W s
US 6 , 5 0 2 , 0 3 0 B2
5
a c u r r e n t g r a p h i c a l d i s p l a y o f t h e v e h i c l e l o c a t i o n , i n p u t s
u s e r d e ?n e d v e h i c l e t r a v e l i n f o r m a t i o n m e s s a g e t r i g g e r s ,
a n d r e c e i v e s v e h i c l e t r a v e l i n f o r m a t i o n m e s s a g e s .
Ho m e I n t e r n e t a p p l i a n c e 8 2 i s a n a p p l i a n c e t h a t l a c k s t h e
p r o c e s s i n g c a p a b i l i t i e s o f a p e r s o n a l c o m p u t e r b u t a l l o W s t h e
u s e r a c c e s s t o t h e I n t e r n e t , v i e W a W e b s i t e , a n d i n p u t
i n f o r m a t i o n . R e s i d e n t i a l g a t e W a y 78 i s a d e v i c e t h a t c o n
n e c t s a n e x t e r n a l n e t W o r k , o r t h e I n t e r n e t , W i t h a n i n t e r n a l
h o m e n e t W o r k . Th e i n t e r n a l h o m e n e t W o r k i n c l u d e s s u c h
d e v i c e s a s a p e r s o n a l c o m p u t e r , a t e l e v i s i o n , a n d a h o m e
I n t e r n e t a p p l i a n c e . Us i n g r e s i d e n t i a l g a t e W a y 78 a s a u s e r
c o m m u n i c a t i o n s i n t e r f a c e 2 2 t h e u s e r b e n e ?t s f r o m t h e
f e a t u r e s o f a h o m e n e t W o r k s y s t e m W h i l e u t i l i Z i n g t h e
I n t e r n e t t o a c c e s s a W e b p a g e . Th u s , p e r s o n a l c o m p u t e r 74 ,
r e s i d e n t i a l g a t e W a y 78 a n d h o m e I n t e r n e t a p p l i a n c e 8 2
p r o v i d e a m e d i u m b y W h i c h t h e u s e r v i e W s a c u r r e n t
g r a p h i c a l d i s p l a y o f t h e v e h i c l e l o c a t i o n , r e c e i v e s v e h i c l e
t r a v e l i n f o r m a t i o n m e s s a g e s , r e c e i v e s o t h e r v e h i c l e i n f o r
m a t i o n m e s s a g e s , a n d i n t e r f a c e s W i t h BSNA 18 t o r e q u e s t
i n f o r m a t i o n a n d p r e s e t v e h i c l e t r a v e l i n f o r m a t i o n m e s s a g e
t r i g g e r s .
W i r e l e s s I n t e r n e t a c c e s s d e v i c e 8 6 i n c l u d e s a t l e a s t o n e o f
a h a n d h e l d c o m p u t e r a n d a p e r s o n a l d a t a a s s i s t a n t (PDA).
Th e s e d e v i c e s a r e e q u i p p e d W i t h W i r e l e s s m o d e m s t h a t
a c c e s s t h e I n t e r n e t v i a a t h i r d p a r t y W i r e l e s s I n t e r n e t p r o
v i d e r 9 4 . I n o n e e m b o d i m e n t , W i r e l e s s I n t e r n e t a c c e s s d e v i c e
8 6 i s i n i t i a l i Z e d a s u s e r c o m m u n i c a t i o n s i n t e r f a c e 2 2 t o
c o m m u n i c a t e W i t h b a s e s t a t i o n c o m p u t e r 4 2 a n d u t i l i Z e t h e
f e a t u r e s o f s y s t e m 10 . W h e n u s e r c o m m u n i c a t i o n s i n t e r f a c e
2 2 i s a p a g e r 9 0 , b a s e s t a t i o n c o m p u t e r 4 2 c o m m u n i c a t e s
m e s s a g e s t o t h e u s e r u t i l i Z i n g a t e l e p h o n e i n t e r f a c e , s t a n d a r d
p u b l i c s W i t c h e d t e l e p h o n e n e t W o r k (PSTN), a n d a c o m m e r
c i a l p a g i n g s y s t e m , o r a n I n t e r n e t a c c e s s i b l e p a g i n g a p p l i
c a t i o n .
W h e n t h e u s e r c o m m u n i c a t e s W i t h b a s e s t a t i o n c o m p u t e r
4 2 v i a a PSTN, u s i n g t e l e p h o n e i n t e r f a c e 9 2 a s u s e r c o m
m u n i c a t i o n s i n t e r f a c e 2 2 , t e l e p h o n e i n t e r f a c e 9 2 r i n g s t o
p r o v i d e t h e u s e r n o t i ?c a t i o n r e g a r d i n g t h e l o c a t i o n o f a
v e h i c l e . Ad d i t i o n a l l y , t e l e p h o n e i n t e r f a c e 9 2 c a n b e u t i l i Z e d
t o p r o g r a m m e s s a g e t r i g g e r s . I m p l e m e n t i n g a n i n t e r a c t i v e
v o i c e r e s p o n s e s y s t e m t h e u s e r p r e s e t s t h e v e h i c l e t r a v e l
i n f o r m a t i o n m e s s a g e t r i g g e r s u s i n g t e l e p h o n e i n t e r f a c e 9 2
t h a t i n c l u d e s a t o u c h t o n e p h o n e .
V e h i c l e t r a v e l i n f o r m a t i o n m e s s a g e t r i g g e r s a r e p r e s e t b y
t h e u s e r u t i l i Z i n g u s e r c o m m u n i c a t i o n s i n t e r f a c e 2 2 t o c o m
m u n i c a t e W i t h b a s e s t a t i o n c o m p u t e r 4 2 . Th e v e h i c l e t r a v e l
i n f o r m a t i o n m e s s a g e t r i g g e r s t o b e p r e s e t i n c l u d e W h e n a
m e s s a g e i s t o b e g e n e r a t e d , t h e c o n t e n t o f t h e m e s s a g e , a n d
W h e t h e r t o r e c e i v e a v i s u a l m e s s a g e , a n d / o r a n a u d i b l e
m e s s a g e . I n a n e x e m p l a r y e m b o d i m e n t t h e c o n t e n t a n d
p r e s e n t a t i o n o f m e s s a g e s d i s p l a y e d o n u s e r c o m m u n i c a t i o n
i n t e r f a c e 2 2 a r e n o t l i m i t e d t o s h o W i n g t h e v e h i c l e l o c a t i o n
o n a m a p , o r d i s p l a y i n g m e s s a g e s i n f o r m i n g t h e u s e r o f t h e
i m p e n d i n g a r r i v a l o f t h e v e h i c l e . I n a d d i t i o n , b a s e s t a t i o n
c o m p u t e r 4 2 r e s p o n d s t o u s e r r e q u e s t s o r p r e s e t t r i g g e r s a n d
g e n e r a t e s m e s s a g e s i n f o r m i n g t h e u s e r t h a t t h e v e h i c l e i s
p a s s i n g u s e r s e l e c t e d m i l e p o s t s , t h e v e h i c l e i s a p p r o x i m a t e l y
W i t h i n a u s e r s e l e c t e d n u m b e r o f m i l e s f r o m a p r e d e t e r m i n e d
l o c a t i o n , t h e v e h i c l e r a t e o f p r o g r e s s i s v a r y i n g f r o m n o r m a l
p r o g r e s s p a t t e r n s d u e t o r e a s o n s s u c h a s W e a t h e r o r t r a f ?c
d e l a y s , t h e v e h i c l e s s u b s e q u e n t d e s t i n a t i o n , W h e n t h e
v e h i c l e r e a c h e d a s p e c i ?c l o c a t i o n , W h e n t h e v e h i c l e
d e p a r t e d f r o m a s p e c i ?c l o c a t i o n , a n d a s d e s c r i b e d a b o v e ,
W h e n t h e v e h i c l e e n c o u n t e r s a n e m e r g e n c y .
I n o n e e m b o d i m e n t u s e r c o m m u n i c a t i o n s i n t e r f a c e 2 2
i n c l u d e s a u d i o a n d v i d e o d i s p l a y c a p a b i l i t i e s . Th e u s e r
s e l e c t s m i l e p o s t s a l o n g a v e h i c l e r o u t e s o t h a t W h e n t h e
10
15
2 0
2 5
3 0
3 5
4 0
4 5
5 5
6 0
6 5
6
v e h i c l e p a s s e s a m i l e p o s t b a s e s t a t i o n c o m p u t e r 4 2 g e n e r a t e s
a n a u d i o , v i d e o o r t e x t m e s s a g e i n f o r m i n g t h e u s e r o f t h e
v e h i c l e s p r o g r e s s a l o n g t h a t r o u t e . I n a n a l t e r n a t e
e m b o d i m e n t , t h e u s e r r e c e i v e s a m e s s a g e W h e n t h e v e h i c l e
i s W i t h i n a n a p p r o x i m a t e n u m b e r o f m i l e s f r o m a p r e d e t e r
m i n e d l o c a t i o n , b y i n t e r f a c i n g W i t h t h e b a s e s t a t i o n c o m
p u t e r 4 2 , v i a u s e r c o m m u n i c a t i o n s i n t e r f a c e 2 2 , a n d c o n ?g
u r i n g t h e m e s s a g i n g c o m p o n e n t o f s y s t e m 10 t o g e n e r a t e
s u c h a m e s s a g e . I n a f u r t h e r a l t e r n a t e e m b o d i m e n t t h e u s e r
p r e s e t s v e h i c l e t r a v e l i n f o r m a t i o n m e s s a g e t r i g g e r s s o t h a t i f
t h e p r o g r e s s o f t h e v e h i c l e a l o n g a r o u t e i s d e l a y e d d u e t o
h e a v y t r a f ?c , i n c l e m e n t W e a t h e r , o r o t h e r c a u s e s , b a s e s t a
t i o n c o m p u t e r 4 2 i n f o r m s t h e u s e r b y s e n d i n g a m e s s a g e
s t a t i n g t h a t t h e r e i s a d e l a y , a n d t h e a p p r o x i m a t e l e n g t h o f
t h e d e l a y . I n a n o t h e r a l t e r n a t e e m b o d i m e n t b a s e s t a t i o n
c o m p u t e r 4 2 i s c o n ?g u r e d t o g e n e r a t e a m e s s a g e t o u s e r
c o m m u n i c a t i o n s i n t e r f a c e 2 2 i n f o r m i n g t h e u s e r o f t h e
v e h i c l e s s u b s e q u e n t d e s t i n a t i o n . I n a s t i l l f u r t h e r
e m b o d i m e n t , t h e u s e r c o n ?g u r e s b a s e s t a t i o n c o m p u t e r 4 2 t o
g e n e r a t e a m e s s a g e i n f o r m i n g t h e u s e r t h e v e h i c l e h a s
r e a c h e d a p r e d e t e r m i n e d d e s t i n a t i o n , a n d t o g e n e r a t e a n o t h e r
m e s s a g e i n f o r m i n g t h e u s e r W h e n t h e v e h i c l e h a s l e f t t h a t
l o c a t i o n . I n y e t a n o t h e r a l t e r n a t e e m b o d i m e n t , m e s s a g e s
s h o W v e h i c l e d r i v e r i n f o r m a t i o n , v e h i c l e i d e n t i ?c a t i o n
i n f o r m a t i o n , v e h i c l e o p e r a t i o n i n f o r m a t i o n , t i m e
c o u n t d o W n , m i l e a g e c o u n t d o W n , c a r g o i n f o r m a t i o n , W h e t h e r
t h e v e h i c l e i s r u n n i n g b e h i n d o r a h e a d o f s c h e d u l e , e t c . Th e
a f o r e m e n t i o n e d m e s s a g e s a r e e x e m p l a r y o n l y . Th e s y s t e m
a n d m e t h o d d e s c r i b e d h e r e i n i s c a p a b l e o f g e n e r a t i n g m e s
s a g e s i n m a n y o t h e r f o r m a t s W i t h a n y c o n t e n t d e s i r e d .
M e s s a g i n g
I n a n e x e m p l a r y e m b o d i m e n t , t h e m e s s a g i n g p r o g r a m
a s s o c i a t e d W i t h s y s t e m 10 i s c o n ?g u r e d s u c h t h a t u s e r
c o m m u n i c a t i o n s i n t e r f a c e 2 2 i n c l u d e s e i t h e r p e r s o n a l c o m
p u t e r 74 , r e s i d e n t i a l g a t e W a y 78 , h o m e I n t e r n e t a p p l i a n c e
8 2 , W i r e l e s s I n t e r n e t a c c e s s d e v i c e 8 6 , o r u s e r t e l e v i s i o n 70 .
Th e r e f o r e , u s e r c o m m u n i c a t i o n s i n t e r f a c e 2 2 v i s u a l l y d i s
p l a y s i n f o r m a t i o n a n d c o m m u n i c a t e s a v e h i c l e t r a v e l i n f o r
m a t i o n m e s s a g e t o t h e u s e r i n t h e f o r m o f a n E-m a i l
m e s s a g e , a n a n i m a t e d v i d e o m e s s a g e , o r o t h e r g r a p h i c a l l y
r e n d e r e d r o u t i n e s . I n a n a l t e r n a t e e m b o d i m e n t , t h e v e h i c l e
t r a v e l i n f o r m a t i o n m e s s a g e i s c o m m u n i c a t e d t o t h e u s e r i n
t h e f o r m o f a n a u d i o m e s s a g e i n c l u d i n g a d i s t i n c t i v e a u d i o
s o u n d , o r a c o m p u t e r g e n e r a t e d l a n g u a g e m e s s a g e s o t h a t t h e
r e c i p i e n t c a n b e a W a y f r o m u s e r c o m m u n i c a t i o n s i n t e r f a c e
2 2 a n d r e c e i v e t h e m e s s a g e .
Pa r t y o r Pa c k a g e Tr a c k i n g
Ad d i t i o n a l l y , s y s t e m 10 a l l o W s a u s e r t o t r a c k a p a r t y o r
p a c k a g e t o v e r i f y t h a t t h e p a r t y o r p a c k a g e W a s p i c k e d u p
a n d / o r d e l i v e r e d t o t h e p r o p e r l o c a t i o n . F o r e x a m p l e , i n a
s c h o o l b u s c o n t e x t , s u c h a f e a t u r e W o u l d g e n e r a t e m e s s a g e s
i n f o r m i n g t h e u s e r W h e n t h e c h i l d b o a r d e d t h e s c h o o l b u s ,
W h e n t h e b u s r e a c h e d t h e o b j e c t i v e l o c a t i o n , W h e n t h e c h i l d
d i s e m b a r k e d t h e b u s , a n d W o u l d a l l o W t h e u s e r t o v e r i f y t h a t
t h e c h i l d W a s s t i l l o n t h e b u s a s t h e b u s p r o g r e s s e d a l o n g a
s c h e d u l e d r o u t e .
I n a n e x e m p l a r y e m b o d i m e n t r e l a t i n g t o t r a c k i n g a p a s
s e n g e r o f a v e h i c l e , V 15 14 i n c l u d e s a p a s s e n g e r i d e n t i ?c a
t i o n d e v i c e 9 6 , a n d b a s e s t a t i o n n e t W o r k a d m i n i s t r a t o r 18
i n c l u d e s a d a t a b a s e 10 0 . Pa s s e n g e r i d e n t i ?c a t i o n d e v i c e 9 6
r e c e i v e s e i t h e r a b o a r d i n g i d e n t i ?c a t i o n i n p u t o r d i s e m b a r k
i n g i d e n t i ?c a t i o n i n p u t f r o m a p a s s e n g e r a n d / o r a v e h i c l e
d r i v e r , a n d d a t a b a s e 10 0 c o n t a i n s p a s s e n g e r i n f o r m a t i o n .
Th e b o a r d i n g i d e n t i ?c a t i o n a n d t h e d i s e m b a r k i n g i d e n t i ?
c a t i o n i n c l u d e a p a s s e n g e r i d e n t i ?c a t i o n t h a t u n i q u e l y i d e n
t i ?e s i n d i v i d u a l p a s s e n g e r s . Th e p a s s e n g e r i n f o r m a t i o n
s t o r e d i n d a t a b a s e 10 0 i n c l u d e s i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e p a s
US 6 , 5 0 2 , 0 3 0 B2
7
s e n g e r s u c h a s t h e p a s s e n g e r i d e n t i ? c a t i o n , p a s s e n g e r s
a d d r e s s , p h o n e n u m b e r , d e s i r e d b o a r d i n g l o c a t i o n , d e s i r e d
d i s e m b a r k i n g l o c a t i o n , a n d d e s i r e d m e t h o d o f r e c e i v i n g
i n f o r m a t i o n m e s s a g e s . On c e p a s s e n g e r i d e n t i ? c a t i o n d e v i c e
9 6 r e c e i v e s a b o a r d i n g i d e n t i ? c a t i o n i n p u t o r d i s e m b a r k i n g
i n p u t , t h e i n p u t i s c o m m u n i c a t e d t o VIS p r o c e s s o r 2 4 , a n d
t h e n t r a n s m i t t e d t o b a s e s t a t i o n c o m p u t e r 4 2 . Ba s e s t a t i o n
c o m p u t e r 4 2 i n t e r p r e t s t h e p a s s e n g e r i d e n t i ? c a t i o n i n p u t ,
a c c e s s e s d a t a b a s e 1 0 0 , r e t r i e v e s t h e p a s s e n g e r i n f o r m a t i o n
c o r r e s p o n d i n g t o t h e p a s s e n g e r i d e n t i ? c a t i o n , g e n e r a t e s
n o t i ? c a t i o n m e s s a g e s t o u s e r c o m m u n i c a t i o n s i n t e r f a c e 2 2 ,
a n d m o n i t o r s t h e o n -b o a r d s t a t u s o f t h e p a s s e n g e r .
Wh e n a p a s s e n g e r b o a r d s t h e v e h i c l e e i t h e r t h e p a s s e n g e r
o r t h e v e h i c l e d r i v e r i n p u t s a b o a r d i n g i d e n t i ? c a t i o n i n t o
p a s s e n g e r i d e n t i ? c a t i o n d e v i c e 9 6 . As s t a t e d a b o v e , t h e i n p u t
i s t r a n s m i t t e d t o , a n d i n t e r p r e t e d b y , b a s e s t a t i o n c o m p u t e r
4 2 . Af t e r r e t r i e v i n g t h e c o r r e s p o n d i n g p a s s e n g e r i n f o r m a t i o n
f r o m d a t a b a s e 1 0 0 , b a s e s t a t i o n c o m p u t e r 4 2 n o t e s t h e
p a s s e n g e r h a s b o a r d e d t h e v e h i c l e a n d g e n e r a t e s a m e s s a g e
t o t h e u s e r n o t i f y i n g t h e u s e r t h e p a s s e n g e r h a s b o a r d e d t h e
v e h i c l e , a n d g i v i n g t h e l o c a t i o n o f b o a r d i n g . Up o n d i s e m
b a r k i n g t h e v e h i c l e t h e p a s s e n g e r o r d r i v e r i n p u t s a d i s e m
b a r k i n g i d e n t i ? c a t i o n i n t o p a s s e n g e r i d e n t i ? c a t i o n d e v i c e
9 6 , a n d a g a i n t h e i n p u t i s t r a n s m i t t e d t o b a s e s t a t i o n c o m
p u t e r 4 2 . Ba s e s t a t i o n c o m p u t e r 4 2 t h e n r e t r i e v e s t h e c o r
r e s p o n d i n g p a s s e n g e r i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m d a t a b a s e 1 0 0 , n o t e s
t h a t t h e p a s s e n g e r h a s d i s e m b a r k e d , a n d g e n e r a t e s a s e c o n d
m e s s a g e t o t h e u s e r n o t i f y i n g t h e u s e r t h a t t h e p a s s e n g e r h a s
d i s e m b a r k e d a n d g i v i n g t h e l o c a t i o n t h e p a s s e n g e r d i s e m
b a r k e d .
Au s e r Wi s h i n g t o c h e c k t h e o n -b o a r d s t a t u s o f a p a s s e n g e r
u t i l i Z e s u s e r c o m m u n i c a t i o n i n t e r f a c e 2 2 t o c o m m u n i c a t e
Wi t h b a s e s t a t i o n c o m p u t e r 4 2 . If a b o a r d i n g i d e n t i ? c a t i o n
Wa s n o t r e c e i v e d t h e n b a s e s t a t i o n c o m p u t e r 4 2 r e s p o n d s t o
t h e u s e r i n q u i r y t h a t t h e p a s s e n g e r d i d n o t b o a r d . If b a s e
s t a t i o n c o m p u t e r 4 2 h a s r e c e i v e d a b o a r d i n g i d e n t i ? c a t i o n
b u t n o t a d i s e m b a r k i n g i d e n t i ? c a t i o n , t h e n t h e u s e r i s
n o t i ? e d t h a t t h e p a s s e n g e r r e m a i n s o n -b o a r d t h e v e h i c l e , a n d
i s g i v e n t h e l o c a t i o n t h e p a s s e n g e r b o a r d e d . If b a s e s t a t i o n
c o m p u t e r 4 2 h a s r e c e i v e d b o t h a b o a r d i n g i d e n t i ? c a t i o n a n d
a d i s e m b a r k i n g i d e n t i ? c a t i o n , a m e s s a g e i s s e n t t o t h e u s e r
s h o Wi n g t h e p a s s e n g e r b o a r d e d , t h e b o a r d i n g l o c a t i o n , t h e
p a s s e n g e r d i s e m b a r k e d , a n d t h e d i s e m b a r k i n g l o c a t i o n . An
a l t e r n a t e e m b o d i m e n t i n c l u d e s s e c u r i t y f e a t u r e s s u c h t h a t a
p a s s e n g e r i s o n l y p e r m i t t e d t o b o a r d a t a s p e c i ? c l o c a t i o n ,
a n d o n l y p e r m i t t e d t o d i s e m b a r k a t a s p e c i ? c l o c a t i o n . Wh e n
s u c h s e c u r i t y f e a t u r e s a r e e n a b l e d , a m e s s a g e i s d i s p l a y e d o n
d r i v e r c o m p u t e r i n t e r f a c e 3 4 t o i n f o r m t h e d r i v e r o f t h e
r e s t r i c t i o n s .
In a n a l t e r n a t i v e e m b o d i m e n t s y s t e m 1 0 t r a c k s p a c k a g e s ,
p r o d u c t s , o r a n y t h i n g t r a n s p o r t e d b y a v e h i c l e . Th e a f o r e
m e n t i o n e d f u n c t i o n s a n d a p p l i c a t i o n s o f t h e p a r t y o r p a c k
a g e t r a c k i n g f e a t u r e a r e e x e m p l a r y o n l y . Ot h e r f u n c t i o n s a n d
a p p l i c a t i o n s a r e p o s s i b l e a n d c a n b e u t i l i Z e d i n c o n n e c t i o n
Wi t h p r a c t i c i n g t h e s y s t e m a n d m e t h o d h e r e i n .
G e n e r a l Op e r a t i o n
F IG . 2 s h o Ws ? o W c h a r t 1 9 6 i l l u s t r a t i n g t h e m e s s a g i n g
c o m p o n e n t o f t h e v e h i c l e t r a c k i n g a n d m e s s a g i n g s y s t e m
s h o Wn i n F IG . 1 . Sy s t e m 1 0 i s i n i t i a l i Z e d 2 0 0 u p o n t h e
o c c u r r e n c e o f a n i n i t i a l i Z a t i o n e v e n t . Th e i n i t i a l i Z a t i o n e v e n t
i n c l u d e s p r e s s i n g a n o n / o f f s Wi t c h o n VIS p r o c e s s o r 2 4 ,
e n g a g i n g t h e i g n i t i o n o f t h e v e h i c l e , t h e v e h i c l e d r i v e r
d e p r e s s i n g a s t a r t b u t t o n o n d r i v e r c o m p u t e r i n t e r f a c e 3 4 , o r
a n y o t h e r e v e n t t h a t s i g n a l s t h e v e h i c l e i s p r e p a r i n g t o b e g i n
t r a v e l a l o n g a r o u t e . Up o n i n i t i a l i Z a t i o n , c o m m u n i c a t i o n
b e t We e n BSNA 1 8 a n d VIS 1 4 i s e s t a b l i s h e d 2 0 4 . On c e
c o m m u n i c a t i o n i s e s t a b l i s h e d 2 0 4 b e t We e n BSNA 1 8 a n d
1 0
1 5
2 0
2 5
3 0
3 5
4 0
4 5
5 5
6 0
6 5
8
VIS 1 4 , VIS 1 4 t r a n s m i t s 2 0 8 v e h i c l e l o c a t i o n d a t a t o BSNA
1 8 u p o n t h e o c c u r r e n c e o f c e r t a i n P r o m p t s . Us i n g t h e
v e h i c l e l o c a t i o n d a t a , b a s e s t a t i o n c o m p u t e r 4 2 t h e n c o m
p i l e s 2 1 2 v e h i c l e t r a v e l i n f o r m a t i o n . Ba s e s t a t i o n c o m p u t e r
4 2 t h e n c o m p a r e s 2 1 6 t h e v e h i c l e t r a v e l i n f o r m a t i o n t o t h e
u s e r d e ? n e d v e h i c l e t r a v e l i n f o r m a t i o n m e s s a g e t r i g g e r s . If
b a s e s t a t i o n c o m p u t e r 4 2 d e t e r m i n e s 2 2 0 t h e r e i s a m a t c h a
v e h i c l e t r a v e l i n f o r m a t i o n m e s s a g e i s g e n e r a t e d a n d s e n t 2 2 4
t o u s e r c o m m u n i c a t i o n s i n t e r f a c e 2 2 .
F IG . 3 s h o Ws ? o W c h a r t 2 9 6 i l l u s t r a t i n g t h e v e h i c l e
t r a c k i n g c o m p o n e n t o f t h e v e h i c l e t r a c k i n g a n d m e s s a g i n g
s y s t e m s h o Wn i n F IG . 1 . Sy s t e m 1 0 i s i n i t i a l i Z e d 3 0 0 u p o n
t h e o c c u r r e n c e o f a n i n i t i a l i Z a t i o n e v e n t . Th e i n i t i a l i Z a t i o n
e v e n t i n c l u d e s p r e s s i n g a n o n / o f f s Wi t c h o n VIS p r o c e s s o r
2 4 , e n g a g i n g t h e i g n i t i o n o f t h e v e h i c l e , t h e v e h i c l e d r i v e r
d e p r e s s i n g a s t a r t b u t t o n o n t h e d r i v e r c o m p u t e r i n t e r f a c e 3 4 ,
o r a n y o t h e r e v e n t t h a t s i g n a l s t h e v e h i c l e i s p r e p a r i n g t o
b e g i n t r a v e l a l o n g a r o u t e . Up o n i n i t i a l i Z a t i o n , c o m m u n i c a
t i o n b e t We e n BSNA 1 8 a n d VIS 1 4 i s e s t a b l i s h e d 3 0 4 . In a n
e x e m p l a r y e m b o d i m e n t , a f t e r c o m m u n i c a t i o n i s e s t a b l i s h e d
3 0 4 b e t We e n BSNA 1 8 a n d VIS 1 4 , l o c a t i o n d e t e r m i n a t i o n
d e v i c e 2 6 b e g i n s t o r e s o l v e 3 0 8 a v e h i c l e l o c a t i o n f r o m G P S
s a t e l l i t e n e t Wo r k 3 6 d a t a . L o c a t i o n d e t e r m i n a t i o n d e v i c e 2 6
t h e n c o m m u n i c a t e s 3 1 2 t h e v e h i c l e l o c a t i o n d a t a t o VIS
p r o c e s s o r 2 4 . Th i s c y c l e o f r e c e i v i n g l o c a t i o n d a t a , a n d
s e n d i n g t h e v e h i c l e l o c a t i o n d a t a t o VIS p r o c e s s o r 2 4 r e p e a t s
a t p r e d e t e r m i n e d i n t e r v a l s .
Up o n t h e o c c u r r e n c e 3 1 6 o f a n y P r o m p t , d i s c u s s e d h e r e i n
a b o v e , VIS p r o c e s s o r 2 4 s e n d s 3 2 0 t h e v e h i c l e l o c a t i o n d a t a
t o VIS Wi r e l e s s c o m m u n i c a t i o n d e v i c e 3 0 Wh i c h t r a n s m i t s
3 2 4 t h e v e h i c l e l o c a t i o n d a t a t o b a s e s t a t i o n c o m p u t e r 4 2 .
Th e u s e r t h e n u t i l i Z e s u s e r c o m m u n i c a t i o n s i n t e r f a c e 2 2
c a p a b l e o f d i s p l a y i n g g r a p h i c a l r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s t o c o n n e c t
3 2 8 Wi t h t h e We b s i t e a n d r e q u e s t s a g r a p h i c a l r e p r e s e n t a t i o n
o f t h e v e h i c l e l o c a t i o n . Ba s e s t a t i o n c o m p u t e r 4 2 u t i l i z e s a
m a p p i n g p r o g r a m a n d p l o t s 3 3 2 t h e v e h i c l e l o c a t i o n d a t a o n
t h e m a p . On c e t h e v e h i c l e l o c a t i o n d a t a a r e p l o t t e d o n t h e
m a p b a s e s t a t i o n c o m p u t e r 4 2 d o Wn l o a d s 3 3 6 t h e m a p t o a
We b s i t e s h o Wi n g t h e g r a p h i c a l r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t h e l o c a t i o n
o f t h e v e h i c l e .
F IG . 4 s h o Ws a Ho w c h a r t 3 9 6 i l l u s t r a t i n g t h e e m e r g e n c y
m e s s a g i n g c o m p o n e n t o f t h e v e h i c l e i n f o r m a t i o n s y s t e m
s h o Wn i n F IG . 1 . If t h e v e h i c l e b e c o m e s d i s a b l e d o r i n d e ?
n i t e l y d e l a y e d t h e v e h i c l e d r i v e r d e p r e s s e s 4 0 0 As s i s t b u t t o n
4 0 . Up o n d e p r e s s i n g As s i s t b u t t o n 4 0 VIS p r o c e s s o r 2 4
t r a n s m i t s 4 0 4 a n e m e r g e n c y s i g n a l a n d t h e c u r r e n t v e h i c l e
l o c a t i o n t o b a s e s t a t i o n c o m p u t e r 4 2 . Up o n r e c e i v i n g t h e
e m e r g e n c y s i g n a l , b a s e s t a t i o n c o m p u t e r 4 2 c o m m u n i c a t e s
4 1 2 a n e m e r g e n c y m e s s a g e t o a n e m e r g e n c y r e s p o n s e t e r
m i n a l 4 6 . Th e e m e r g e n c y m e s s a g e n o t i ? e s a n e m e r g e n c y
r e s p o n s e d i s p a t c h e r t h a t t h e v e h i c l e n e e d s i m m e d i a t e a s s i s
t a n c e a n d g i v e s t h e d i s p a t c h e r t h e v e h i c l e l o c a t i o n . Th e
e m e r g e n c y r e s p o n s e d i s p a t c h e r t h e n t a k e s 4 1 6 a p p r o p r i a t e
m e a s u r e s , s u c h a s d i s p a t c h i n g a n e m e r g e n c y a s s i s t a n c e c r e W
a n d d i s p a t c h i n g a r e p l a c e m e n t v e h i c l e t o t h e v e h i c l e l o c a
t i o n .
Wh i l e t h e i n v e n t i o n h a s b e e n d e s c r i b e d i n t e r m s o f
v a r i o u s s p e c i ? c e m b o d i m e n t s , t h o s e s k i l l e d i n t h e a r t Wi l l
r e c o g n i Z e t h a t t h e i n v e n t i o n c a n b e p r a c t i c e d Wi t h m o d i ?
c a t i o n Wi t h i n t h e s p i r i t a n d s c o p e o f t h e c l a i m s .
Wh a t i s c l a i m e d i s :
1 . A We b b a s e d s y s t e m f o r m o n i t o r i n g t h e t r a v e l o f a
v e h i c l e , s a i d s y s t e m c o m p r i s i n g :
a v e h i c l e i n f o r m a t i o n s y s t e m c o u p l e d t o a v e h i c l e , s a i d
v e h i c l e i n f o r m a t i o n s y s t e m c o m p r i s i n g a p a s s e n g e r
i d e n t i ? c a t i o n d e v i c e ; a n d
a b a s e s t a t i o n n e t Wo r k a d m i n i s t r a t o r c o n ? g u r e d t o c o m
m u n i c a t e Wi t h s a i d v e h i c l e i n f o r m a t i o n s y s t e m , a n d t o
m o n i t o r t h e o n -b o a r d s t a t u s o f a t l e a s t o n e i d e n t i ? e d
p a s s e n g e r .
US 6 , 5 0 2 , 0 3 0 B2
9
2 . A Web ba s ed s y s t em i n a c c o r d a n c e Wi t h c l a i m 1
Wh er ei n s a i d p a s s en g er i d en t i ? c a t i o n d ev i c e c o n ? g ur ed t o :
r ec ei v e i n p ut s fr o m a v eh i c l e d r i v er ;
r ec ei v e a bo a r d i n g i d en t i ? c a t i o n o f a p a s s en g er a s t h e
p a s s en g er bo a r d s 1 h e v eh i c l e; a n d
r ec ei v e a d i s em ba r ki n g i d en t i ? c a t i o n o f a p a s s en g er a s t h e
p a s s en g er d i s em ba r ks t h e v eh i c l e.
3 . A Web ba s ed s y s t em i n a c c o r d a n c e Wi t h c l a i m 1
Wh er ei n s a i d v eh i c l e i n fo r m a t i o n s y s t em c o n ? g ur ed t o c o m
m un i c a t e Wi t h s a i d ba s e s t a t i o n n et Wo r k a d m i n i s t r a t o r , s a i d
v eh i c l e i n fo r m a t i o n s y s t em fur t h er c o m p r i s i n g a c o m m un i
c a t i o n s d ev i c e, a l o c a t i o n d et er m i n a t i o n d ev i c e, a v eh i c l e
i n fo r m a t i o n s y s t em p r o c es s o r , a n d a d r i v er c o m p ut er i n t er
fa c e.
4 . A Web ba s ed s y s t em i n a c c o r d a n c e Wi t h c l a i m 3
Wh er ei n s a i d p a s s en g er i d en t i ? c a t i o n d ev i c e fur t h er c o n ? g
ur ed t o ex c h a n g e c o m m un i c a t i o n Wi t h s a i d v eh i c l e i n fo r
m a t i o n s y s t em p r o c es s o r .
5 . A Web ba s ed s y s t em i n a c c o r d a n c e Wi t h c l a i m 3
Wh er ei n s a i d l o c a t i o n d et er m i n a t i o n d ev i c e c o n ? g ur ed t o
d et er m i n e v eh i c l e l o c a t i o n d a t a i n d i c a t i n g t h e c ur r en t l o c a
t i o n o f t h e v eh i c l e.
6 . A Web ba s ed s y s t em i n a c c o r d a n c e Wi t h c l a i m 3
Wh er ei n s a i d ba s e s t a t i o n n et Wo r k a d m i n i s t r a t o r c o m p r i s es a
ba s e s t a t i o n c o m p ut er , a d a t a ba s e, a n d a Web s er v er .
7 . A Web ba s ed s y s t em i n a c c o r d a n c e Wi t h c l a i m 6
Wh er ei n s a i d v eh i c l e i n fo r m a t i o n s y s t em p r o c es s o r fur t h er
c o n ? g ur ed t o c o m m un i c a t e Wi t h s a i d ba s e s t a t i o n c o m p ut er
v i a s a i d c o m m un i c a t i o n s d ev i c e a n d a Wi r el es s s er v i c e
p r o v i d er .
8 . A Web ba s ed s y s t em i n a c c o r d a n c e Wi t h c l a i m 7
Wh er ei n s a i d c o m m un i c a t i o n d ev i c e c o n ? g ur ed t o us e Wi r e
l es s c o m m un i c a t i o n , s a i d c o m m un i c a t i o n s d ev i c e ? ber c o n
? g ur ed t o ex c h a n g e c o m m un i c a t i o n Wi t h t h e Wi r el es s s er
v i c e p r o v i d er a n d s a i d v eh i c l e i n fo r m a t i o n s y s t em p r o c es s o r ,
s a i d ba s e s t a t i o n c o m p ut er c o n ? g ur ed t o ex c h a n g e c o m m u
n i c a t i o n Wi t h t h e Wi r el es s s er v i c e p r o v i d er .
9 . A Web ba s ed s y s t em i n a c c o r d a n c e Wi t h c l a i m 7
Wh er ei n s a i d ba s e s t a t i o n c o m p ut er fur t h er c o n ? g ur ed t o
ex c h a n g e c o m m un i c a t i o n Wi t h s a i d v eh i c l e i n fo r m a t i o n s y s
t em p r o c es s o r v i a t h e Wi r el es s s er v i c e p r o v i d er a n d s a i d
c o m m un i c a t i o n d ev i c e.
1 0 . A Web ba s ed s y s t em i n a c c o r d a n c e Wi t h c l a i m 6
Wh er ei n s a i d d r i v er c o m p ut er i n t er fa c e c o n ? g ur ed t o :
r ec ei v e a n d d i s p l a y i n p ut s fr o m a v eh i c l e d r i v er ;
r ec ei v e a n d d i s p l a y c o m m un i c a t i o n s fr o m s a i d v eh i c l e
i n fo r m a t i o n s y s t em p r o c es s o r ;
r ec ei v e a n d d i s p l a y c o m m un i c a t i o n s fr o m s a i d ba s e s t a
t i o n c o m p ut er ; a n d
r ec ei v e a n d d i s p l a y c o m m un i c a t i o n s fr o m s a i d p a s s en g er
i d en t i ? c a t i o n d ev i c e.
1 1 . A Web ba s ed s y s t em i n a c c o r d a n c e Wi t h c l a i m 6
Wh er ei n s a i d ba s e s t a t i o n c o m p ut er fur t h er c o n ? g ur ed t o
ex c h a n g e c o m m un i c a t i o n Wi t h a t l ea s t o n e o f s a i d d a t a ba s e,
a n d s a i d Web s er v er .
1 2 . A Web ba s ed m et h o d fo r m o n i t o r i n g t h e t r a v el o f a
v eh i c l e us i n g a s y s t em i n c l ud i n g a ba s e s t a t i o n n et Wo r k
1 0
1 5
2 0
2 5
3 0
3 5
4 0
4 5
5 5
1 0
a d m i n i s t r a t o r a n d a v eh i c l e i n fo r m a t i o n s y s t em , t h e v eh i c l e
i n fo r m a t i o n s y s t em i n c l ud i n g a v eh i c l e i n fo r m a t i o n s y s t em
p r o c es s o r , a l o c a t i o n d et er m i n a t i o n d ev i c e, a d r i v er c o m
p ut er i n t er fa c e, a c o m m un i c a t i o n s d ev i c e, a n d a p a s s en g er
i d en t i ? c a t i o n d ev i c e, t h e p a s s en g er i d en t i ? c a t i o n d ev i c e
c o n ? g ur a bl e t o be us ed Wi t h ei t h er o f p a s s en g er s o r c a r g o ,
s a i d m et h o d c o m p r i s i n g t h e s t ep s o f:
r ec ei v i n g v eh i c l e l o c a t i o n d a t a a t t h e v eh i c l e i n fo r m a t i o n
s y s t em fr o g a t l ea s t o n e s a t el l i t e;
c o m m un i c a t i n g t h e v eh i c l e l o c a t i o n d a t a fr o m t h e v eh i c l e
i n fo r m a t i o n s y s t em t o t h e ba s e s t a t i o n n et Wo r k a d m i n
i s t r a t o r ;
ut i l i Z i n g t h e ba s e s t a t i o n n et Wo r k a d m i n i s t r a t o r t o m o n i t o r
t h e v eh i c l e l o c a t i o n ;
d o Wn l o a d i n g v eh i c l e t r a v el i n fo r m a t i o n ; a n d
m o n i t o r i n g t h e o n - bo a r d s t a t us o f i d en t i ? ed v eh i c l e c a r g o .
1 3 . A Web ba s ed m et h o d i n a c c o r d a n c e Wi t h c l a i m 1 2
Wh er ei n c o m m un i c a t i n g t h e v eh i c l e l o c a t i o n d a t a c o m p r i s es
t h e s t ep o f ex c h a n g i n g c o m m un i c a t i o n s bet Ween t h e v eh i c l e
i n fo r m a t i o n s y s t em p r o c es s o r a n d t h e ba s e s t a t i o n n et Wo r k
a d m i n i s t r a t o r , t h e ba s e s t a t i o n n et Wo r k a d m i n i s t r a t o r i n c l ud
i n g a ba s e s t a t i o n c o m p ut er , a Web s er v er , a n d a d a t a ba s e.
1 4 . A Web ba s ed m et h o d i n a c c o r d a n c e Wi t h c l a i m 1 3
Wh er ei n s a i d s t ep o f r ec ei v i n g v eh i c l e l o c a t i o n d a t a a t t h e
v eh i c l e i n fo r m a t i o n s y s t em fr o m a t l ea s t o n e s a t el l i t e fur t h er
c o m p r i s i n g t h e s t ep s o f:
c o m m un i c a t i n g v eh i c l e l o c a t i o n d a t a fr o m t h e l o c a t i o n
d et er m i n a t i o n d ev i c e t o t h e v eh i c l e i n fo r m a t i o n s y s t em
p r o c es s o r ; a n d
c o m m un i c a t i n g v eh i c l e l o c a t i o n d a t a fr o m t h e v eh i c l e
i n fo r m a t i o n s y s t em p r o c es s o r t o t h e ba s e s t a t i o n c o m
p ut er .
1 5 . A Web ba s ed m et h o d i n a c c o r d a n c e Wi t h c l a i m 1 3
Wh er ei n s a i d s t ep o f ut i l i Z i n g t h e ba s e s t a t i o n n et Wo r k
a d m i n i s t r a t o r t o m o n i t o r t h e v eh i c l e l o c a t i o n fur t h er c o m
p r i s es t h e s t ep s o f:
ut i l i Z i n g t h e ba s e s t a t i o n c o m p ut er , a m a p p i n g p r o g r a m ,
a n d v eh i c l e l o c a t i o n d a t a Lo p l o t a v eh i c l e l o c a t i o n o n
a m a p a n d t r a c k t h e v eh i c l e l o c a t i o n ; a n d
up d a t i n g t h e v eh i c l e l o c a t i o n c o o r d i n a t es up o n o c c ur
r en c e o f p r o m p t i n g ev en t s .
1 6 . A Web ba s ed m et h o d i n a c c o r d a n c e Wi t h c l a i m 1 2
Wh er ei n s a i d s t ep o f m o n i t o r i n g t h e o n - bo a r d s t a t us o f
v eh i c l e c a r g o fur t h er c o m p r i s i n g t h e s t ep s o f:
r ec ei v i n g a bo a r d i n g i d en t i ? c a t i o n , v i a t h e p a s s en g er
i d en t i ? c a t i o n d ev i c e;
r ec ei v i n g a d i s em ba r ki n g i d en t i ? c a t i o n , v i a t h e p a s s en g er
i d en t i ? c a t i o n d ev i c e;
c o m m un i c a t i n g t h e bo a r d i n g i d en t i ? c a t i o n a n d t h e d i s
em ba r ki n g i d en t i ? c a t i o n t o t h e ba s e s t a t i o n c o m p ut er ;
a n d
d et er m i n i n g o n - bo a r d s t a t us o f v eh i c l e c a r g o , us i n g t h e
ba s e s t a t i o n c o m p ut er .
UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION
PATENT NO. : 6 , 5 0 2 , 0 3 0 B2 Pa g e 1 o f 1
DATED : De ce mbe r 3 1 , 2 0 0 2
INVENTOR(S) : Tho ma s H i l l e a ry
It i s ce rt i f i e d t ha t e rro r a ppe a rs i n t he a bo v e - i d e n t i ? e d pa t e n t a n d t ha t sa i d L e t t e rs Pa t e n t i s
he re by co rre ct e d a s sho wn be l o w:
Co l umn 2 ,
L i n e 2 9 , d e l e t e o r a n d i n se rt t he re f o r - - o r L i n e 3 7 , d e l e t e I a n d i n se rt t he re f o r - - 1 0 L i n e 5 0 , d e l e t e PS a n d i n se rt t he re f o r - - GPS
Co l umn 9 ,
L i n e 5 , d e l e t e l he a n d i n se rt t he re f o r - - t he
L i n e 3 3 , d e l e t e f i be r a n d i n se rt t he re f o r - - f urt he r Co l umn 1 0 ,
L i n e 9 , d e l e t e f ro g a n d i n se rt t he re f o r - - f ro m - - .
L i n e 4 0 , d e l e t e L o a n d i n se rt t he re f o r - - t o
Si g n e d a n d Se a l e d t hi s
Se v e n t e e n t h Da y o f Fe brua ry , 2 0 0 4
W 4 5 9 i
JON W . DUDAS
Act i n g Di re ct o r o f t he Un i t e d St a t e s Pa t e n t a n d Tra d e ma rk O? i ce