“/0 00/1780!)
`
`PCT/US99/22020
`
`-12-
`
`U1
`
`10
`
`20
`
`3O
`
`the components ofthe financial product for the insured. The ‘respond to risk‘ process
`
`400 is invoked b_v the ‘respond to risk’ procedure 329 and initiates at a ‘start‘ terminal
`401.
`
`The ‘respond to risk‘ process 400 then continues to a ‘risk change‘ decision
`
`procedure 403 that determines whether
`
`the current
`
`insured—against
`
`risk has
`
`sufiiciently changed from the existing insured—against risk retrieved from the database
`
`121.
`
`If the insured—against risk has not sufficiently changed, the ‘responded to risk‘
`
`process 400 completes through an ‘end’ terminal 405. Otherwise, the ‘respond to
`
`risk’ process 400 continues to an ‘allocate benefits’ procedure 407 that reallocates the
`
`cost to the insured between the components of the financial product to correspond to
`
`the new
`the new insured—against risk. Where the insured-against risk is reduced,
`allocation rewards the insured. However, if the insured—against risk has increased, the
`
`insured is penalized. Next, an ‘inform’ procedure 409 generates information that will
`
`be provided to the insured and/or the caregiver either using postal mail or as
`
`information provided to the insured by the ‘present feedback information‘ procedure
`
`335. This procedure also provides the new allocations to an accounting database
`
`and/or the payout system for the financial product. Next,
`
`the ‘respond to risk’
`
`process 400 completes through the ‘end’ terminal 405.
`
`In a financial product that has at least two components (such as a long-term
`
`car component and a life insurance component) the ‘allocate benefits’ procedure 407
`
`determines a cost for the long-term car component and allocates a first payment to
`
`that component of the financial product. The ‘allocate benefits’ procedure 407 then
`
`allocates a second payment to the life insurance component of the financial product,
`
`to any annuity. or to another benefit for the insured (such as a refund). The second
`
`payment is a function of the first payment, T his payment allocation is structured to
`
`provide an incentive to the insured to conform to the currently suggested medical
`regimen.
`
`Fig. 5 illustrates a ‘determine feedback information’ process,
`
`indicated by
`
`general reference character 500, used to assemble the feedback information, The
`
`“determine feedback information‘ process 500 is invoked by the ‘determine feedback
`
`information‘ procedure 331 and initiates at a ‘start‘
`
`terminal 501. A ‘correlate
`
`regimen with risk factors‘ procedure 503 uses the risk factors determined by the
`
`‘reassess risk‘ procedure 327 to select one or m ore medical regimens that can be
`
`provided to the insured. An ‘evaluate regimen history procedure 505 then uses the
`
`history of medical regimens suggested to the insured and stored on the database 121
`
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`
`to determine the preferred selection of medical regimens. Then a ‘modify regimen‘
`
`procedure 507 modifies the existing medical regimen if the existing medical regimen is
`
`different from the preferred medical regimen. The ‘modify regimen‘ procedure 507
`
`may change the data collection protocol used by the client device 110. These
`
`procedures 503, 505, and 507 are all dynamic in that they use historical information
`
`collected from the insured and are responsive to the progressive nature of the
`
`information collected about the insured.
`
`This is particularly important for those
`
`having a progressive condition or degenerative disease (for example, diabetes, and
`CHD).
`
`Next, a ‘select feedback language’ procedure 509 selects the language used to
`
`present the feedback information to the insured. Ofien, the selected language is a
`
`natural language such as English. However, the ‘select feedback language‘ procedure
`509 can also control how much technical jargon is to be included. Thus, the language
`
`can be customized for the educational and experience level of the insured and/or the
`
`caregiver. A ‘ prepare feedback information‘ procedure 511 assembles the feedback
`
`information including the suggested medical regimens coded for the language of the
`
`insured. The ‘determine feedback information’ process 500 completes through an
`‘end’ terminal 513.
`
`The ‘correlate regimen with risk factors’ procedure 503 evaluates the risk
`
`factors, the insured’s progression and the information gathered from the insured to
`
`identify medical regimens best suited to gather additional information from the insured
`
`or to help the insured to reduce the insured-against risk. One embodiment of the
`
`invention uses Bayesian statistical techniques to perform this correlation.
`
`Alternative Embodiments
`
`Although preferred embodiments are disclosed herein, many variations are
`
`possible which remain within the concept, scope, and spirit of the invention, and these
`
`variations would become clear to those skilled in the art alter perusal of this
`
`application.
`
`U:
`
`10
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
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`Page 001439
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`VVO 00/17800
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`PCT/US99/22020
`
`-14-
`
`Claims
`
`What is claimed is:
`
`1.
`
`A method including steps of:
`
`U:
`
`Dynamically determining an insured-against risk associated \\lIh an
`
`insured;
`
`Providing feedback information to said insured responsive to said
`
`insured-against risk; and
`
`Providing an incentive to said insured to reduce said insured-against
`
`10
`
`risk.
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`2.
`
`The computer controlled method of claim 1 wherein the step of
`
`providing an incentive finther includes steps of:
`
`Dynamically determining a cost for a first component of a financial
`
`product responsive to said insured-against risk;
`
`Allocating a first payment to said first component in response to said
`
`cost; and
`
`Allocating a second payment, responsive to said first payment,
`
`to a
`
`second component of said financial product.
`
`Whereby said first component and second component have dilferent
`values to said insured.
`
`3.
`
`The computer controlled method of claim 1 wherein the step of
`
`dynamically determining further includes steps of:
`
`Determining one or more risk factors associated with said insured at a
`
`plurity oftimes; and
`
`Re-determining said insured—against risk associated with said insured
`
`responsive to the step of determining one or more risk factors.
`
`4.
`
`The computer controlled method of claim 3 wherein the step of
`
`determining one or more risk factors fiirther includes steps of:
`
`SUBSTII U I E SHEET (RULE 26)
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`Gathering; at a client device, medical information of said insured at a
`
`said plurality of times;
`
`Sending said medical information from said client device to a server
`
`device remote from said insured; and
`
`5
`
`Comparing, at said server device, said medical information with a risk
`assessment model.
`
`5.
`
`The computer controlled method of claim 3 wherein the step of
`
`providing feedback information fiirther includes steps of:
`
`Associating, at said server device, a medical regimen with at least one
`
`10
`
`of said one or more risk factors;
`
`Sending said medical regimen from said server device to said client
`
`device; and
`
`Presenting said medical regimen at said client device.
`
`6.
`
`An apparatus including:
`
`15
`
`A client-server system having a client device and having a server
`
`device that is logically remote from an insured;
`
`Wherein said client device is configured for collecting medical
`
`information regarding said insured and for sending said medical information to
`
`said service device;
`
`20
`
`Wherein said server device is configured to dynamically assess a risk
`
`value associated with said insured in response to said medical information, and
`
`to allocate an incentive responsive to said risk value;
`Whereby said ificentive is
`responsive to said medical
`
`information
`
`regarding said insured.
`
`25
`
`7.
`
`A financial product including:
`
`A first component having a cost responsive to a dynamic assessment of
`
`risk associated with an insured, said first component having a first benefit
`
`associated with said insured; and
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
`
`Page 001441
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`

`
`VVO 00/17800
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`PCT/US99/22020
`
`_ 1 6-
`
`A second component having a second benefit associated with said
`
`insured. said second benefit responsive to said cost:
`
`Whereby changes in said dynamic assessment of risk determine a
`
`relative allocation of said first benefit and said second benefit.
`
`3
`
`8.
`
`The financial product of claim 7 wherein the first component includes
`
`long-term care policy having a long-term care benefit.
`
`9.
`
`The financial product of claim 7 wherein the second component
`
`includes a life insurance policy having a life insurance benefit.
`
`10.
`
`A method including:
`
`10
`
`Providing a financial product that includes a first component and a
`
`second component,
`
`said first component having a cost
`
`responsive to a
`
`dynamic assessment of risk associated with an insured, said first component
`
`having a first benefit associated with said insured, said second component
`
`having a second benefit associated with said insured, said second benefit
`
`1:
`
`responsive to said cost;
`
`Obtaining medical information about said insured;
`
`Determining said dynamic assessment of risk using said information;
`
`and changing said first benefit and said second benefit responsive to said
`
`dynamic assessment of risk.
`
`20
`
`11.
`
`The method of claim 10 wherein the first component includes a long-
`
`term care policy having a long-term care benefit.
`
`12.
`
`The method of claim 10 wherein the second component includes a life
`
`insurance policy having a life insurance benefit.
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
`
`Page 001442
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`

`
`wo 00/17300
`
`PCT/US99/22020
`
`1/7
`
`110
`
`
`
`fig 1,4
`
`12 I
`
`SER VER
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DA TABASE
`
`121
`
`/z;a. 13
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
`
`Page 001443
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`

`
`“/0 00/1780()
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`PCT/U599/22020
`
`2/7
`
`118
`
`
`
`BLOOD
`GL UCOSE
`METER
`
`
`
`
`PERSONAL
`COMPUTER
`
`/go. /c’
`
`132
`
`/«'z;o. ID
`
`SUBSTII U I E SHEET (RULE 26)
`
`Page 001444
`
`

`
`wo ()0/17300
`
`PCT/US99/22020
`
`3/7
`
`201
`
`239 203
`
`ACCOIHVTING
`
`205
`
`207
`
`200 J
`
`
`
`SER
`
`
` 235
`
`WORK
`STA TION
`
`PROFESSIONAL
`
`1z;,o:2
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
`
`Page 001445
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`

`
`VVO 00/17800
`
`PCT/US99/22020
`
`4/7
`
`301
`
`
`
` GA THER
`
`PA TIENT
`INFORJIJA TION
`
`E VAL UA TE
`PATIENT
`INFORMA TION
`
`
`
`
`
`DELA Y
`COMPLE TE
`
`3001
`
`/2;»: 34
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
`
`Page 001446
`
`

`
`VVO 00/17800
`
`PCT/US99/22020
`
`5/7
`
`321
`
`SEND DA TA
`T0 SERVER
`
`323
`
`STORE DATA
`
`DETERMINE
`FEEDBA CK
`INFORMA TION
`
`SEND FEEDBACK
`INF0R_MA TION T0 CLIENT
`
`PRESENT FEEDBACK
`INFORMA TI0N T0 CLIENT
`
`
`
`REASSESS
`RISK
`
`RESPOND
`T0 RISK
`
`32 7
`
`329
`
`IL 320
`
`/2;,a. 35
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
`
`Page 001447
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`

`
`VVO 00/17800
`
`PCT/US99/22020
`
`6/7
`
`ALLOCA TE BENEFITS
`BETWEENLONG TER./ll
`CARE & LIFE INSURANCE
`
`INFORA! INSURED OF
`CHANGE OF BENEFITS
`
`‘L400
`
`fig. 4
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
`
`Page 001448
`
`

`
`VVO 00/17800
`
`PCT/US99/22020
`
`7/7
`
`501
`
`
`
`CORRELA TE REGIMEN
`WITIIRISKFACTORS
`
`503
`
`505
`
`507
`
`509
`
`
`
`
`E VAL UA TE
`REGIMEN HISTOR Y
`
`MODIFY REGIMEN
`
`IF REQ UIRED
`
`SELECT LANGUA GE
`FOR FEEDBA CK
`
`PREPARE FEEDBACK
`
`511
`
`513
`
`1- 500
`
`fig;
`
`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)
`
`Page 001449
`
`

`
`INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT
`
`Intel
`. No
` anal Applica.
`
`PCT/US 99/22020
` CLASSIFICATION OF S BJECT MATTER
`
`'i‘i=c 7
`
`G06F17 so
`
`
`
`
`
`According to intematlonal Patent Classification (IPC) or to both national classification and IPC
`B. FIELDS SEARCHED
`
`
`
`
`Minimum documentation searched (classification system lollowed by classification symbols)
`IPC 7
`G06F
`
`Documentation searched other than minimum documentation to the extent that such documents are included in the fields searched
`
`
`
`
`Electronic data base consulted during the international search (name of data base and, where practical, search terms used)
`
`
`
`C. DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT
`
`
`
`Category °
`
`Citation of document. with indication, where appropriate, of the relevant passages
`
`Relevant to claim No‘
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1,3-6
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`"Using the world wide
`BAEHRING T U ET AL:
`Neb—-a new approach to risk identification
`of diabetes meliitus"
`INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICAL
`INFORMATICS,IR,ELSEVIER SCIENTIFIC
`PUBLISHERS, SHANNON,
`vol. 46, no. 1,
`1 August 1997 (1997—08—O1), pages 31-39,
`XP004085528
`ISSN: 1386-5056
`page 34, column 2,
`1,
`line 12
`
`line 1 —page 35, column
`
`US 5 752 236 A (SEXTON FRANK M
`12 May 1998 (1998-05-12)
`column 4,
`line 18 -column 6,
`
`line 19
`
`ET AL)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`-/—’
`___
`
`
`
`
`“S
`
`
`
`
`Patent family members are listed in annex.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Further documents are listed in the continuation of box C.
`I
`t
`'
`f
`it d
`:
`‘
`Dacia ca egones 0 C e documems
`"T" later document published after the intematlonal filing date
`or prionty date and not in conflict with the application but
`"A" document defining the general state of the art which is not
`-
`-
`-
`den -
`considered to be or pamcular relevance
`fi‘n\e:'l1::):nderstand the principle or theory un
`ying the
`"E" efalrlier document but published on or after the international
`..X.. document 0' particular relevance; me maimed invention
`""9 dam
`cannot be considered novel or cannot be considered to
`
`
`"L" document which may throw doubts on priority claim(s) or
`involve an inventive step when the document is taken alone
`.
`.
`.
`.
`particular relevance, the claimed invention
`which is cited to establish the publication date of another
`..Y.. documem 0'
`I
`.
`-
`-
`-
`
`
`citation or other special reason (as specified)
`cannot be considered to involve an inventive step when the
`"O" document referring to an oral disclosure, use, exhibition or
`document is combined with one or more other such docu-
`
`
`other means
`ments, such combination being obvious to a person skilled
`in the an.
`filing date but
`"P" document published prior to the international
`
`
`later than the priority date claimed "8." document member of the same patent family
`
`Date of the actual completion of the intematlonal search
`Date of mailing of the international search report
`
`
`
`
`15 February 2000
`Name and mailing address of the ISA
`European Patent Office. P.B. 5616 Patentlaen 2
`NL —- 2280 HV Rl]swl|l<
`Tel. (+31—70) 340-2040. TX, 31 651 epo nl.
`Fax: (+31-70) 340-3016
`
`25/02/2000
`Authorized officer
`
`
`
` Pedersen, N
`
`Form PCT/ISA/210 (second sheet) (July 1992)
`
`page 1 of 2
`
`Page 001450
`
`

`
`INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT
`
`
`C.(ConIinuation) DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT
`
`lme
`
`anal Applica
`
`. No
`
`PCT/US 99/22020
`
`Category °
`
`Citation 0! document, with indication,where appropriate, or the relevant passages
`
`Relevant to claim No,
`
`EP 0 700 009 A (MINGUIJON PEREZ SALVADOR)
`6 March 1996 (1996-03-06)
`column 1, Tine 55 -co1umn 2,
`
`line 54
`
`"Repeated insurance
`PALFREY T R ET AL:
`contracts and learning"
`RAND JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS, AUTUMN 1985,
`USA,
`vol. 16, no. 3,
`XP000878736
`ISSN: 0741-6261
`page 356,
`line 17 —page 357, Tine 6
`
`pages 356-367,
`
`the
`
`"Information
`CLEMONS E K ET AL:
`techno1ogy and information asymmetry:
`future of private individual heaith
`insurance"
`PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRTIETH HAWAII
`INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SYSTEM
`SCIENCES (CAT. NO.97TB100234), PROCEEDINGS
`OF THE THIRTIETH HAWAII
`INTERNATIONAL
`CONFERENCE ON SYSTEM SCIENCES, HAILEA, HI,
`USA, 7-10 JAN. 1997, pages 240-248 vo1.3,
`XP002130528
`
`IEEE Comput.
`1997, Los Alamitos, CA, USA,
`Soc. Press, USA ISBN: 0-8186-7743-0
`page 240, coiumn 2, Tine 40 -page 241,
`coiumn 1, Tine 27
`page 242, column 1,
`
`line 9 - Tine 27
`
`GB 2 231 420 A (AGENCY MANAGEMENT SERVICES
`INC) 14 November 1990 (1990-11-14)
`page 8,
`line 18 -page 9,
`line 5
`
`Form PCT/ISA/210 (continuation at second sheet) (July 1992)
`
`page 2 of 2
`
`Page 001451
`
`

`
`INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT
`Inmrmntlon on patent family members
`
`Into:
`
`Aznal Appllca
`
`talc
`
`PCT/US 99/22020
`
`Patent document
`cited in search report
`
`Publication
`date
`
`Patent family
`member(s)
`
`Publication
`date
`
`US 5752236
`
`EP 0700009
`
`GB 2231420
`
`A
`
`A
`
`A
`
`12-05-1998
`
`NONE
`
`06-03-1996
`
`ES
`
`2108613 A
`
`16-12-1997
`
`14-11-1990
`
`NONE
`
`Form PCTIISA/210 (patam family annex) (July 1992)
`
`Page 001452
`
`

`
`(12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)
`
`(19) World Intellectual Property Organization
`International Bureau
`
`(43) International Publication Date
`4 October 2001 (04.10.2001)
`
` |l||||||l||||||||l||||||ll|||||Illlllllllllllllllllllllll|l|||l|l|||l|||||||||l|
`
`(10) International Publication Num ber
`
`(51) International Patent Classiflcati0n7:
`G07F 7/00
`
`G07B 15/02,
`
`(21) International Application Number:
`
`PCT/ILO1/00155
`
`(72) Inventors; and
`(75) Inventors/Applicants (for US only): DAR, Yair [IL/IL];
`House 69, 76885 Moshav Gealia (IL). DAR, Ofer [IL/IL];
`House 233, 76885 Moshav Gealia (IL).
`
`(22) International Filing Date: 19 February 2001 (19.02.2001)
`
`(25) Filing Language:
`
`(26) Publication Language:
`
`English
`
`English
`
`(30) Priority Data:
`60/192,199
`140047
`09/731,643
`
`27 March 2000 (27.03.2000)
`3 December 2000 (03.12.2000)
`7 December 2000 (07.12.2000)
`
`US
`IL
`US
`
`(74) Agents: COLB, Sanford, T. et al.; Sanford T. Colb & Co.,
`P.O. Box 2273, 76122 Rehovot (IL).
`
`(81) Designated States (national): AE, AG, AL, AM, AT, AU,
`AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, BZ, CA, CH, CN, CR, CU, CZ,
`DE, DK, DM, DZ, EE, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR,
`HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR,
`LS, LT, LU, LV, MA, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MZ,
`NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM.
`TR, TI‘, '12, UA, UG, US, UZ, VN, YU, ZA, ZW.
`
`(71) Applicant (for all designated States except US): GOOD
`SPACE LTD. [BZ/BZ]; c/o Intrepid Services Ltd., 99 Al-
`bert Street, Belize City (BZ).
`
`(84) Designated States (regional): ARIPO patent (GH, GM,
`KE, LS, MW, MZ, SD. SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ZW), Eurasian
`patent (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), European
`
`[Continued on next page]
`
`
`(54) Title: VEHICLE RELATED SERVICES SYSTEM AND METHODOLOGY
`
`(57) Abstract: A vehicle-related services system and method-
`ology employing at least one sensor automatically sensing at
`least one of the time during which a vehicle is not being op-
`erated and where the vehicle is located when it is not being
`operated and at least one data processor receiving information
`sensed by the sensor, indicating at least one of the time during
`which the vehicle is not being operated and where the vehicle
`is located when it is not being operated and providing a billing
`data output in respect of a vehic1e—related service which is de-
`pendent on at least one of the time during which the vehicle is
`not being operated and where the vehicle is located when it is
`not being operated.
`
`
`
`WO01/73693A2|||||||||||||l|l|l||||||||||l|lI|||l|l||||||||||||l||||||l||||I|||||||||l|||l|||
`
`
`
`E9its
`
`Page 001453
`
`

`
`
`
`WO 01/73693 A2 |||||||||||||||l|l||H||||l|||I|||||||||||||||||l||||I||I|||||||||||l|l|||||||||
`
`patent (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE,
`IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE, TR), OAPI patent (BF, BJ, CF,
`CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG).
`Published:
`— without international search report and to be republished
`upon receipt ofthat report
`
`For two-letter codes and other abbreviations, refer to the "Guid-
`once Notes on Codes andAbbreviations” appearing at the begin-
`ning ofeach regular issue ofthe PCT Gazette.
`
`Page 001454
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`

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`W0 01/73693
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`PCT/IL01/00155
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`VEHICLE RELATED SERVICES SYSTEM AND METHODOLOGY
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`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
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`The present invention relates to systems and methodologies for providing, and
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`effecting payment for, vehicle-related services in general and particularly for Vehicle
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`parking services.
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`BACKGROUND 017 THE INVENTION
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`The U.S. patent literature contains a great number of patents related to systems
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`a11d methodologies for providing and c1‘l‘eeting payment for vehicle-related services.
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`The following U.S. patents and published PCT applications are believed to
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`represent the state 01‘ the art with regard to systems and methodologies for providing
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`a11d eliliecling payment for vehicle parking services:
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`4,555,618;
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`4,876,540;
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`4,908,500;
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`4,958,064;
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`5,029,094;
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`5,034,739;
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`5,072,380;
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`5,153,559;
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`5,173,833;
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`5,266,947;
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`5,283,622;
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`5,339,000;
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`5,351,187;
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`5,414,624;
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`5,432,508;
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`5,442,348;
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`5,659,306;
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`5,710,557;
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`5,710,743;
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`5,737,710;
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`5,745,052;
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`5,748,107;
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`5,751,973;
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`5,796,084;
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`5,809,480;
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`5,819,234;
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`5,845,268;
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`5,877,704;
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`5,905,247;
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`5,910,782;
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`5,914,654;
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`5,926,546;
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`5,940,481;
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`5,980,185;
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`5,991,749;
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`6,028,550;
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`6,037,880
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`6,061,002;
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`6,085,124.
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`WO 93/20539; WO 97/13222A1.
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`The following U.S. Patents are believed to represent the state of the art with
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`regard to systems and methodologies for providing and effecting payment for other
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`types of vehicle-related services:
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`4,533,962;
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`4,843,463:
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`5,210,702:
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`5,223,844;
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`5,319,374;
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`5,359,528;
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`5,422,624;
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`5,499,181;
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`5,499,182;
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`5,550,551;
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`5,583,765;
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`5,612,875;
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`5,621,166;
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`5,635,693;
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`5,642,484;
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`5,694,322;
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`5,717,374;
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`5,742,915;
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`5,797,134;
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`5,831,742;
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`5,862,500;
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`5,864,831;
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`5,914,654;
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`5,954,773;
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`5,963,129;
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`5,970,481;
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`5,974,356;
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`5,995,898;
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`6,006,148;
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`6,064,970;
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`6,067,008; 6,112,152.
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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`The present invention seeks to provide improved, simplified and highly cost
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`effective systems and methodologies
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`for providing and effecting payment
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`for
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`vehicle-related services.
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`There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
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`invention a vehicle-related services system including:
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`at least one sensor automatically sensing at least one of the time during which a
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`vehicle is not being operated and where the vehicle is located when it is not being
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`operated; and
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`at least one data processor receiving information sensed by the at least
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`one sensor, indicating at least one of the time during which the vehicle is not being
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`operated and where the vehicle is located when it is not being operated and providing a
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`billing data output in respect of a vehicle-related service which is dependent on at least
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`one of the time during which the vehicle is not being operated and where the vehicle is
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`located when it is not being operated.
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`The data processor may include a vehicle insurance billing data processor. In such
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`a case,
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`the billing data includes vehicle insurance billing data wherein the only
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`variables, sensed by the on—board vehicle sensor, which are considered in the billing
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`data are duration of vehicle operation and time of day or night of vehicle operation. The
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`billing data may include vehicle insurance billing data wherein the billing data is not
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`dependent on vehicle speed.
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`In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the at least
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`one sensor automatically senses the time during which a vehicle is not being operated
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`and where the vehicle is located when it is not being operated and the at least one data
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`processor receives information sensed by the sensor, indicating the time during which
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`the vehicle is not being operated and where the vehicle is located when it is not being
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`operated and provides a billing data output in respect of a vehicle-related service which
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`is dependent on the time during which the vehicle is not being operated and where the
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`vehicle is located when it is not being operated.
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`Preferably, the at least one sensor automatically senses the time during which a
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`vehicle is parked and where the vehicle is located when it is parked and the at least one
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`data processor receives information sensed by the at least one sensor, indicating the time
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`during which the vehicle is parked and where the vehicle is parked and provides a
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`parking data output in respect of parking, which is dependent on the time during which
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`the vehicle is parked and where the vehicle is parked.
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`In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. the at least
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`one sensor and the at least one data processor are operative without vehicle operator
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`initiative to provide an indication of at least one of the time during which the vehicle is
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`parked and where the vehicle is parked.
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`Preferably, the sensor is on-board the vehicle.
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`In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
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`invention,
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`the
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`vehicle—related services system also includes:
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`at least one communicator on—board the vehicle providing an output indicating the
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`time during which vehicle is parked and where the vehicle is parked; and
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`a receiver associated with the at
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`least one data processor for
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`receiving a
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`communication from the at least one communicator and employing the communication
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`for providing the information to the at least one data processor.
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`Preferably, the communicator communicates with the receiver at least partially
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`not in real time.
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`In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
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`invention,
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`the
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`communicator communicates with an intermediate storage and communication unit only
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`when a vehicle in which the communicator is located is at one of a plurality of
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`predetermined locations.
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`Preferably,
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`the intermediate storage and communication unit
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`is located at a
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`vehicle fueling station. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
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`invention, the information includes identification of a street parking location in which
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`the vehicle is stationary for at least a predetermined amount of time.
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`Preferably, the sensor is operative to sense the time during which a vehicle is not
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`being operated without
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`requiring interaction with an indicating device fixed in
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`propinquity to the location.
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`In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the at least
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`one sensor is operative using triangulation to determine where a vehicle is parked.
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`In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the data
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`processor may include a vehicle insurance billing data processor. In such a case, the
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`billing data includes vehicle insurance billing data wherein the only variables, sensed by
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`the at least one on-board vehicle sensor, which are considered in the billing data are
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`duration of vehicle operation and time of day or night of vehicle operation. The billing
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`data may include vehicle insurance billing data wherein the billing data is not dependent
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`on vehicle speed.
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`Preferably,
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`the vehicle-related services system also includes an at
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`least one
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`on-board vehicle potential additional parking space sensor which is operative when a
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`vehicle is stationary at a street parking place for indicating whether at least one potential
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`additional adjacent parking place is unoccupied.
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`Preferably, the at least one on—board vehicle sensor provides an output indicating
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`the existence of at least one potential unoccupied additional adjacent parking place, the
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`system also includes
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`a street parking map database indicating legal street parking spaces;
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`a correlator receiving the output indicating existence of at least one potential
`unoccupied additional adjacent parking place and correlating it with the legal street
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`parking spaces; and
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`an available parking communicator providing information regarding unoccupied
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`legal street parking places to at least one driver.
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`There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
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`invention a vehicle—related services system including:
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`a plurality of on-board potential additional parking space sensors located on a
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`plurality of vehicles, which sensors each provide an output indicating existence of at
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`least one potential unoccupied additional adjacent parking place adjacent a vehicle
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`located in a street parking location; and an available parking communicator employing
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`information received from the plurality of sensors and providing information regarding
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`unoccupied street parking places to at least one driver.
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`Preferably, the vehicle—related services system also includes:
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`a street parking map database indicating legal street parking spaces; and
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`a correlator receiving the output indicating existence of at least one potential
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`unoccupied additional adjacent parking place and correlating it with the legal street
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`parking spaces.
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`There is additionally provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
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`present invention a vehicle—related services system including:
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`WO 01/73593,
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`PCT/IL01/00155
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`at least one sensor on—board a vehicle and automatically sensing at least one of the
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`time during which the vehicle is being operated and where the vehicle is located when it
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`is being operated;
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`at least one communicator on—board the vehicle providing an output indicating at
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`least one of the time during which the vehicle is being operated and where the vehicle is
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`located when it is being operated; and
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`at
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`least one data processor receiving a communication from the at
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`least one
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`communicator, indicating at least one of the time during which the vehicle is being
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`operated and where the vehicle is located when it is being operated and providing a
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`billing data output in respect of a vehicle-related service which is dependent only one of
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`the time during which the vehicle is being operated and where the vehicle is located
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`when it is being operated.
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`There is further provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
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`present invention a vehicle-related services system including:
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`at least one sensor on—board a vehicle and automatically sensing only at least one
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`of the time during which the vehicle is being operated and where the vehicle is located
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`when it is being operated;
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`at least one communicator on—board the vehicle providing an output indicating at
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`least one of the time during which the vehicle is being operated and where the vehicle is
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`located when it is being operated; and
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`at
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`least one data processor receiving a communication from the at
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`least one
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`communicator, indicating at least one of the time during which the vehicle is being
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`operated and where the vehicle is located when it is being operated and providing a
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`billing data output in respect of a vehicle-related service which is dependent on at least
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`one of the time during which the vehicle is being operated and where the vehicle is
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`located when it is being operated.
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`Preferably, the sensor on—board a vehicle automatically sensing only at least one
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`of the time during which the vehicle is being operated and where the vehicle is located
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`when it is being operated.
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`Preferably, the data processor includes a vehicle insurance billing data processor.
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`In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
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`invention,
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`the
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`communicator communicates with an intermediate storage and communication unit only
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`WO 01/73693
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`PCT/IL01/00155
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`when a vehicle in which the communicator is located is at one of a plurality of
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`predetermined locations.
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`Preferably,
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`the intermediate storage and communication unit
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`is located at a
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`vehicle fueling station.
`
`In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the billing
`
`data includes vehicle insurance billing data wherein the only variables, sensed by the
`
`on—board vehicle sensor, which are considered in the billing data are duration of vehicle
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`operation and time of day or night of vehicle operation.
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`Alternatively, the billing data may include vehicle insurance billing data wherein
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`the only variables, sensed by the on-board vehicle sensor, which are considered in the
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`billing data are duration of vehicle operation and location of the vehicle during the
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`vehicle operation.
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`As a further alternatively, the billing data may include vehicle insurance billing
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`data wherein the only variables sensed by the on-board vehicle sensor, which are
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`considered in the billing data are duration of vehicle use and time of day or night of
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`vehicle use.
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`Preferably, the vehicle-related services system includes:
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`at least one sensor on-board a vehicle and automatically sensing at least one of the
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`time during which the vehicle is being operated and the distance traveled by the vehicle
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`while it is being operated;
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`at least one communicator on—board the vehicle providing an output indicating at
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`least one of the time during which the vehicle is being operated and the distance
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`traveled by the vehicle while it is being operated; and
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`at least one data processor receiving a communication from the at least one
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`communicator, indicating at least one of the time during which the vehicle is being
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`operated and/or the distance traveled by the vehicle while it is being operated; and
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`providing a billing data output in respect of a vehicle-related service which is
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`dependent only on at least one of the time during which the vehicle is being operated
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`and the distance traveled by the vehicle while it is being operated.
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`Preferably, the at least one data processor includes a vehicle insurance billing data
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`processor.
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`wo 01/73593
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`PCT/IL01/00155
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`In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the billing
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`data includes vehicle