(12, UK Patent Application (19)GB (11) 2 143 978 A
`
`(43) Application published 20 Feb 1985
`
`
`
`(51) INT CL3
`
`BSOK 28/00 G08B 19/00 (21) Application No 8319438
`(22) Date of filing 19 Jul 1983
`
`(74) Agent and/or Address for Service
`M'Caw Er Co.
`41-51 Royal Exchange, Cross Street. Manchester
`M2 7BD
`
`
`
`
`(54) Vehicle safety device
`
`(57) A vehicle safety device comprises a switch (18) controlled sensor (10) operable to detect the
`movement due to fatigue, illness or the like of a vehicle driver from a normal driving position, and to
`activate a warning device (11,12,13) either audible (11) and/or visual (12,13). If the normal position
`is restored within a predetermined time the sensor (10) detects this and deactivates the warning device
`(11,12,13). If not the clutch (22) may be disengaged, vehicle brakes (15,17) applied, and/or engine
`stopped by interruption of fuel supply (27) or electrical supply (24). A programmable activating device
`(48) for the solenoid operated locks (47) of the vehicle (43) may immobilise the vehicle (43) and/or
`activate the warning device (1 1,12,13), the activating device (48) being operable in response to
`selection of predetermined digits stored in a memory of the activating device (48).
`
`
`
`V8L6817LZElE)
`
`The drawings originally filed were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.
`The nl:-Iirns warn filed Iamr than thn lilinn data within the nnrind nrnscrihnrl bv Flnln 25(1) of the Patents Rules 1982.
`
`Page 001774
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`(52) Domestic classification
`G4N 1P 1X 2A 4E 5A 5B 5C16E CA
`U15 1820 G4N
`
`(56) Documents cited
`GBA2119574 GBA2115196
`,
`(58) Field of search
`G4N
`
`EPAO011087
`
`
`
`(71) Applicant
`William David Devine.
`40 Rostherne Road, Sale, Cheshire M33 ZRX
`
`(72) Inventor
`William David Devine
`
`

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`Page 001775
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`2143978
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`GB 2 143 978A
`
`1
`
`SPECIFICATION
`
`Vehicle safety device
`
`This invention relates to vehicle safety de-
`vices.
`Many accidents occur as a result of a driver
`of a vehicle losing control of that vehicle due
`to a personal disability such as a heart attack,
`dizziness, fainting, sleep or the like or due to
`a vehicle disability such as brake or steering
`failure. In many instances of personal disabil-
`ity, and in most cases of vehicle disability,
`there is little or no warning of the onset of the
`trouble, which can occur at any time. It is an
`object of the present invention to provide
`means whereby the repercussions usually as-
`sociated with the occurrence of any of the
`abovementioned disabilities are avoided or at
`least substantially mitigated.
`The invention provides a vehicle safety de-
`vice comprising a warning device, and a sen-
`sor operable to detect the movement of a
`vehicle driver from a normal driving position
`and to initiate operation of said warning de-
`vice.
`The warning device may comprise an audi-
`ble and/or a visual warning device. In the
`former case it may comprise a horn of the
`vehicle or an independent audible device. In
`the latter case it may include hazard warning
`flashing lights and/or rear braking indicator
`lights.
`The sensor may also be operable to inter-
`rupt the normal driving operation of the
`vehicle, and may be operable to apply braking
`to the vehicle and/or interruption of the
`vehicle driving system. In the former case the
`braking may be effected by a normally driver
`operated braking system or by braking means
`independent of the normally driver operated
`system. In the latter case the interruption of
`the vehicle driving system may be by disen-
`gagement of a clutch and also by stopping the
`engine, for example, by interruption of fuel
`flow to the engine or by interruption of the
`ignition circuit.
`The sensor may be operable to interrupt the
`normal driving operation of the vehicle a
`predetermined period after initiating operation
`of the warning device. The sensor may also
`be operable to detect the movement of the
`vehicle driver back into a normal driving posi-
`tion and to cause cessation of operation of the
`warning device and non-interruption of the
`normal driving operation of the vehicle.
`A plurality of sensors may be provided,
`each operable to detect the movement of a
`respective part of the vehicle driver from its
`normal position during driving different from
`that part of the vehicle driver whose position
`is sensed by the or each other sensor. In this
`case operation of the warning device may be
`effected only in response to signals from all of
`the sensors.
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`Switch means may be provided whereby
`said sensor or sensors may be in an opera-
`tional or non-operational condition. The switch
`means may be operable by an ignition circuit
`of the vehicle, or by movement of a hand-
`brake lever to brake-off position.
`By means of the invention it is believed that
`loss of life, serious injury and damage to
`vehicles and other property as a result of the
`occurrence of a personal or vehicle disability
`can be prevented or substantially mitigated.
`However, another cause for concern is that of
`the number of vehicles stolen or othenivise
`taken without the owner's consent. It is
`another object of the present invention to
`provide means whereby such theft or unau-
`thorised removal may be prevented or the risk
`thereof substantially reduced.
`The invention provides a vehicle safety de-
`vice comprising vehicle locking means and
`actuating means therefor, said actuating
`means being operable to activate said vehicle
`locking means and to interrupt the normal
`driving operation of the vehicle. The normal
`driving operation of the vehicle may be inter-
`rupted by engagement of brakes to the
`vehicle and/or interruption of the vehicle driv-
`ing system. Interruption of the vehicle driving
`system may be by disengagement of a clutch
`of the vehicle and/or by prevention of fuel
`and/or ignition supply to the engine. The
`vehicle safety device may also include a warn-
`ing device and a second actuating means
`operable to activate said warning device,
`which may be an audible and/or visual warn-
`ing device. Said second actuating means may
`be operable in response to opening of said
`vehicle whilst said vehicle locking means is
`actuated.
`Preferably said actuating means is operable
`in response to the selection of a predeter-
`mined plurality of digits, and said actuating
`means may include a programmable device
`having memory means in which said predeter-
`mined plurality of digits may be stored.
`Embodiments of safety device in accordance
`with the invention will now be described with
`reference to the accompanying drawings in
`which:—
`Figure 1 is a schematic layout of a first
`embodiment,
`Figure 2 is a schematic layout of a second
`embodiment.
`Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of
`part of a vehicle inporating the safety device
`of Fig.
`1 or Fig. 2,
`Figure 3a is a scrap section of the steering
`wheel of Fig. 3, and
`Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of
`a vehicle incorporating a third embodiment of
`safety device.
`1 there is shown a
`Referring now to Fig.
`sensor 10 which when activated causes oper-
`ation of warning devices in the form of a horn
`1 1, hazard warning flashing lights 12 and
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`Page 001779
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`

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`GB2 143 978A 2
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`rear braking indicator lights 13 of a vehicle
`(not shown). in order that there may not be
`an undue drain of the vehicle's battery (not
`shown) the sensor 10 provides a pulsed signal
`to the warning devices 1 1, 12 and 13 so that
`these devices operate intermittently. The sen-
`sor 10 is operable to detect movement of a
`driver of the vehicle from a normal driving
`position but is only operable when a switch
`18 is switched to an on-position by movement
`of the hand-brake lever 14 to the brakes-off
`position. In this way activation of the warning
`devices 11, 12, 13 is prevented when the
`driver gets out of the vehicle or simply moves
`about whilst the vehicle is parked. As an
`alternative the sensor 10 may be operable
`only when the ignition circuit of the vehicle is
`switched on, or for added security when both
`handbrake lever 14 is in the brakes-off posi-
`tion and the ignition circuit of the vehicle is
`switched on.
`If the movement of the driver from his
`normal driving position is due to drowsiness,
`he may be aroused by the operation of the
`horn 1 1 and/or by an indicator light (not
`shown) usually provided on the dashboard of
`the vehicle to indicate operation of the hazard
`warning lights. In such circumstances he will
`probably return rapidly to the normal driving
`position, in which case the sensor 10 will
`sense the same and cease activation of the
`warning devices 1 1, 12, 13. By this means
`an accident as a consequence of the drowsi-
`ness of the vehicle driver may be avoided.
`If the driver does not return to the normal
`driving position within a predetermined time
`interval, for example 2 second, the sensor 10
`is then operable to interrupt the normal driv-
`ing operation of the vehicle. In this case the
`sensor 10 causes activation of a stepping
`motor 19 to apply the front and rear brakes
`15, 17. The stepping motor 19 is connected
`to the piston (not shown) of the master cylin-
`der 20 and brake fluid reservoir by means of
`a screwed and slotted shaft 26 whilst the
`lever carrying the brake pedal 16 is slidable in
`the slot of shaft 26. By this means rotation of
`the shaft 26 by stepping motor 19 does not
`affect the position of brake pedal 16 and
`operation of the brake pedal 16 does not
`affect the shaft 26 or stepping motor 19. A
`brake servo unit 25 of conventional form and
`having a vacuum inlet 23 may be provided as
`shown if required.
`At the same time the sensor 10 is operable
`to open circuit a relay 24 in the ignition
`circuit of the vehicle and/or close a valve 27
`to interrupt the fuel supply to the engine in
`the case of petrol driven engines, or close
`valve 27 to interrupt the fuel supply to the
`engine in the case of diesel engined vehicles.
`In addition, the sensor 10 energises a sole-
`noid 28 to open a valve 21 in a hydraulic
`fluid supply line 29 from the master cylinder
`20 to the clutch operating cylinder 22,
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`thereby causing disengagement of the clutch.
`Such disengagement of the clutch would not
`occur on normal operation of the brake pedal
`16 since valve 21 would be closed.
`By means of the above, if the driver does
`not return to his normal driving position a
`predetermined time after actuation of the
`warning devices 1 1, 12, 13, the vehicle is
`brought to rest with the brakes 15, 17 on, the
`engine stopped and clutch disengaged.
`Referring now to Fig. 2 there is shown an
`arrangement which is similar in many respects
`to that shown in Fig. 1 and like parts are
`indicated by the same reference numerals in
`the two cases. In the case of the embodiment
`of Fig. 2 the brakes 15, 17 are applied
`normally by means of brake pedal 16 operat-
`ing through brake servo unit 25 and master
`cylinder 20 and the clutch disengaged nor-
`mally by operation of the clutch cylinder 22
`under pressure in the normal hydraulic fluid
`supply line 31. However, in each hydraulic
`fluid supply line 32 to the brakes 15, 17 and
`line 31 to the clutch cylinder 22 is provided a
`separator valve 30. Each valve 30 comprises
`a cylinder having inlets at opposed ends
`thereof and an outlet disposed centrally, and a
`valve member slidable within the cylinder so
`as to seal a low pressure inlet and provide a
`fluid flow path between the outlet and a high
`pressure inlet. One of the inlets is connected
`to a normal supply line 32 or 31 whilst the
`other inlet is connected to an auxiliary supply
`line 33. The outlet is connected to a brake 15
`or 17 or the clutch cylinder 22 as appropri-
`ate. By this means operation of the normal
`brake or clutch mechanisms does not affect
`the fluid in the auxiliary supply system and
`vice-versa. The auxiliary supply system com-
`prises a second master cylinder and fluid
`reservoir 34 to which the auxiliary supply line
`33 is connected. The auxiliary supply system
`is activated by the sensor 10 a predetermined
`time interval after activation of the warning
`devices 11, 12, 13 as in the previous em-
`bodiment, and interruption of the fuel supply
`to the engine and/or open circuiting of the
`ignition circuit may occur as described in
`respect of the previous embodiment.
`Referring now to Figs. 3 and 3a there is
`shown two sensors 10a and 10b. As previ-
`ously mentioned the sensors 10a, 10b are
`only operable when the switch 18 is switched
`to the on position by means of handbrake
`lever 14 being moved to the brake-off position
`shown in Fig. 3. Sensor 10a is located in the
`back of the driver's seat 35 and is responsive
`to pressure thereon by the driver when he is
`in a normal driving position. To avoid actua-
`tion of the warning devices 1 1, 12, 13 by
`sensor 10a in the event that a driver leans
`fonrvard deliberatly whilst driving, a second
`sensor 10b is provided in the steering wheel
`36. Only when both sensors 10a and 10b
`detect movement of the driver from his nor-
`
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`Page 001780
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`

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`GB2 143 978A 3
`
`mal driving position are the warning devices
`11, 12, 13 activated. The sensor 10b com-
`prises sensor strip contacts 37, 38, contact
`37 being secured to the core 39 of the wheel
`36 whilst contact 38 is embedded in a resili-
`ently flexible outer sheath 40.
`So as to avoid either unduly harsh braking
`when a vehicle is moving slowly or insufficient
`braking when the vehicle is moving at high
`speed the braking effort applied to the vehicle
`may be dependent upon the vehicle's speed.
`For this purpose a speed sensor 41 incorpor-
`ated in the speed indicator 42 of the vehicle
`is connected in circuit with the sensor 10. The
`speed sensor 41 comprises a potentiometer
`operable so that at high speed a relatively
`large current output from sensors 10 and 41
`is transmitted to the stepper motor 19 or
`auxiliary master cylinder 34 to provide heavy
`braking, whilst at low speed a relatively small
`current output is transmitted to provide only
`light braking.
`Referring now to Fig. 4 there is shown a
`vehicle 43 of conventional form having a
`bonnet 44, doors 45 and boot 46, each of
`which has a solenoid operated lock 47. All of
`the locks 47 are operated by a programmable
`controller 48 located within the vehicle 43,
`for example under the bonnet 44 as shown in
`Fig. 4. Mounted on the side of vehicle 43 is a
`keyboard 49 connected with the controller 48
`and the controller 48 is programmed so that
`the input of a predetermined selection of
`digits on the keyboard 49 causes unlocking of
`locks 47 whilst the input of any other selec-
`tion of digits activates one or more of the
`warning devices 11, 12, 13, in particular the
`horn 1 1 and hazard warning flashing lights
`12. Such an arrangement is preferably addi-
`tional to the conventional key-operated looks
`so that the vehicle may be used by persons
`other than the owner, for example at a garage
`during servicing or repair, without revealing
`the predetermined digit selection. To facilitate
`such security a module, programmed by the
`vehicle owner himself may be inserted in the
`controller 48 after purchase of the vehicle so
`that only the vehicle owner can known the
`correct digit selection. By this means vehicle
`theft may be prevented or the risk thereof
`substantially reduced, possibly leading to
`lower insurance premiums for the vehicle
`owner.
`
`The solenoid operated locks 47 are prefera-
`bly of the mechanically latched type so that
`there is no undue loss of current to run down
`the vehicle's battery.
`
`CLAIMS
`1. A vehicle safety device comprising a
`warning device and a sensor operable to de-
`tect the movement of a driver of a vehicle
`from a normal driving position and to initiate
`operation of said warning device in response
`to such movement.
`
`10
`
`15
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`20
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`25
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`30
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`35
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`2. A vehicle safety device according to
`claim 1 wherein said warning device com-
`prises audible warning means.
`3. A vehicle safety device according to
`claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said warning
`device comprises visual warning means.
`4. A vehicle safety device according to
`any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said sensor
`is operable to interrupt the normal driving
`operation of a vehicle in response to such
`movement.
`
`5. A vehicle safety device according to
`claim 4 wherein said sensor is operable to
`interrupt the normal driving operation of a
`vehicle a predetermined period after initiating
`operation of said warning device.
`6. A vehicle safety device according to
`claim 5 wherein said sensor is operable to
`detect the return movement of a driver of a
`vehicle to a normal driving position and to
`cause cessation of operation of said warning
`device and non-interruption of the normal
`driving operation of a vehicle in response to
`said return movement.
`7. A vehicle safety device according to
`any one of claims 4 to 6 comprising a plural-
`ity of sensors, each operable to detect the
`movement of a respective part of a driver of a
`vehicle from its normal driving position differ-
`ent from that part of said driver whose posi-
`tion is sensed by the or each other sensor.
`8. A vehicle safety device according to
`claim 7 wherein operation of said warning
`device is effected only in response to signals
`from all of said sensors.
`9. A vehicle safety device according to
`any one of claims 4 to 8 comprising switch
`means operable to put said sensor or sensors
`in an operational condition.
`10. A vehicle safety device according to
`claim 9 when fitted to a vehicle having an
`ignition circuit wherein said switch means is
`operable on activation of said ignition circuit.
`1 1 . A vehicle safety device according to
`claim 9 or claim 10 when fitted to a vehicle
`having a hand operated brake means wherein
`said switch means is operable on release of
`said hand operated brake means.
`12. A vehicle safety device according to
`any one of claims 1 to 1 1 comprising vehicle
`locking means and actuating means therefor,
`said actuating means being operable to actu-
`ate said vehicle Iocking means and to inter-
`rupt the normal driving operation of a vehicle.
`13. A vehicle safety device according to
`claim 12 wherein said locking means com-
`prises a plurality of solenoid operated locks.
`14. A vehicle safety device according to
`claim 13 wherein each of said locks has a
`mechanical latch operable to retain said lock
`in a locked position after actuation of said
`solenoid thereof.
`15. A vehicle safety device according to
`any one of claims 12 to 14 comprising an
`activating device operable to initiate operation
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`Page 001781
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`

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`GB2 143 978A 4
`
`of said warning device in response to opening
`of said vehicle whilst said locking means is
`actuated.
`16. A vehicle safety device according to
`any one of claims 12 to 15 wherein said
`actuating means is operablerin response to the
`selection predetermined plurality of digits.
`1 7. A vehicle safety device according to
`claim 16 wherein said actuating means com-
`prises a programmable device having memory
`means in which said predetermined plurality
`of digits may be stored.
`18. A vehicle safety device according to
`any one of claims 4 to 17 when fitted to a
`vehicle having brake means wherein said in-
`terruption comprises activation of said brake
`means.
`
`19. A vehicle safety device according to
`claim 18 comprising a vehicle speed sensor
`operable to detect the speed of said vehicle
`and to adjust the activation of said brake
`means in accordance with the detected speed.
`20. A vehicle safety device according to
`any one of claims 4 to 19 when fitted to a
`vehicle having a drive transmission operable
`to drivingly engage drive wheels with an en-
`gine of said vehicle wherein said interruption
`comprises interruption of said drive transmis-
`sion to disengage said drive wheels from said
`engine.
`21. A vehicle safety device according to
`claim 20 wherein said drive transmission
`If
`means includes a clutch and said interruption
`comprises disengagement of said clutch.
`22. A vehicle safety device according to
`any one of claims 4 to 21 when fitted to a
`vehicle having an engine and a fuel supply
`therefor wherein said interruption comprises
`interruption of said fuel supply to said -engine.
`23. A vehicle safety device according to
`any one of claims 4 to 22 when fitted to a
`vehicle having an engine and an electrical
`supply therefor wherein said interruption com-
`prises interruption of said electrical supply to
`said engine.
`24. A vehicle safety device according to
`any one of claims 1 to 23 wherein said sensor
`is operable to transmit a pulsed signal to said
`warning device.
`25. A vehicle safety device substantially
`as hereinbefore described with reference to
`and as illustrated in Fig. 1 or Fig. 2, Figs. 3
`and 3a, or Fig. 4 of the accompanying draw-
`Ings.
`
`Printed in the United Kingdom for
`Her Majesty's Stationery Office, Dd 8818935, 1985, 4235.
`Published at The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings,
`London. WC2A 1AY, from which copies may be obtained,
`
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`Page 001782
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`

`
`
`
`UK Patent Application
`
`GB
`
`2 225 461..s.A
`
`(43) Date of A publication 30.05.1990
`
`
`
` (51) INT CL‘
`
`(21) Application No 8924007.1
`GOGF 15/21
`
`(22) Date of filing 25.10.1989
`
`(30) Priority data
`(31) 3327
`
`(32) 04.11.1988
`
`(33) IE
`
`(71) Applicant
`Stellar International Limited
`
`(h-‘cal-parated in Ireland)
`Pan Atlantic House, Quincentennlal Drive, Galway,
`Ireland
`
`(72)
`
`Inventors
`Anthony O'Donovan Johnstone
`Mary Veronica Lonergan
`
`(52) UK CL (Edition J)
`G4A AUX
`U1S $1820
`
`(56) Documents cited
`None
`
`(58) Field of search
`UK CL (Edition J) No search possible
`
`
`
`
`(74) Agent and/or Address for Service
`Serjeants
`25 The Crescent, King Street, Leicester, LE1 ERX,
`United Kingdom
`
`
`
`(54) Computer system for car insurance
`
`(57) The invention provides for computing a range of car insurance premiums in response to data being entered into the
`computer 2, by means of terminals 3, in a predetermined data entry format. The entry format and entered data are
`displayed on the left hand side of a visual display screen 6 simultaneously with the display of premiums on the right hand
`side of the screen. Specific data fields are provided on the screen for data to be entered and for the premiums. Data is
`entered sequentially in the data fields, and sub routines control the entry and reading of the data, and validation of the
`entered data using look-up tables 10.
`
`VL917933Z89
`
`Page 001783
`
`

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`Page 001784
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`:9‘/2;
`
`Display data entry format
`
`1
`
`Set data Held N = I
`
`2.
`
`Cali up Subroutine of Fig 5
`
`5
`
`5
`
`T
`
`6
`
`Yes
`
`Cali up data validate
`Subroutine of Fig 6
`
`
`
`
`Increment X to number
`or next data -Field to be
`validated .
`
`N = N + I
`
`No
`
`up subroutine to calculate
`Call
`monetary values of premiums
`
`/C
`
`Dispiqu premiums «!R ii
`
`Page 001786
`
`

`
`art
`
`40
`
`Initialise data field N
`
`
`
`data Field N
`
`to be skippe
`
`42
`
`
`
`a carriage
`return
`
`reposition
`
`
`cursor
`
` character a valid
`
`
`C
`Ye.
`
`character
`
`50
`
`.
`
`m
`
`a
`
`/
`
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`
`
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`a
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`position by
`
`field
`
`5’
`
`NO
`
`.
`I5
`character position
`greater than last
`in
`character ,ccs."cio.r.-
`the acts £’e.:'a N. \
`
`52
`
`Move characters
`in work field
`
`_
`i
`
`5 D/soiau cr.:zracter<‘
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`on screen
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`
`v~
`
`Page 001787
`
`

`
`Sle
`
`Call up Look up Table I0 corresponding
`to data in data -Field X,
`
`Compare entered data with each piece
`of data in Look up Table 10 sequentially
`
`30
`
`2!
`
`Val i do be
`entered
`
`data.
`
`
`
`Entered data = a piece 025 data
`Look up Table
`10
`in
`
`No
`
`25
`
`Displag message on right side
`of screen ——
`" Invalid data"
`
`J
`
`{
`
`Return to
`block 7 of
`
`
`
`
`
`subroutine
`of Fig 4
`
`
`
`
`Display all data in Look up Table
`10 on right side of screen.
`
`26
`
`24
`
`to Hrst character
`Move cursor
`position of data «Field N=X
`
`,
`
`3-7’
`
`Return to block 4-
`07‘ subroutine on‘ F79 4.
`
`Page 001788
`
`

`
`Page 001789
`
`

`
`...l_
`
`A method for programming a computer
`
`The present
`
`invention relates to a method for
`
`operating a computer, and in particular for operating
`
`a computer to compute premiums of different types of
`
`insurance policies for vehicle insurance in response
`
`to data being entered into the computer in respect of
`
`an individual and a vehicle.
`
`The invention also
`
`relates to a computer programme operating according to
`
`the method of the invention and to a computer
`
`operating under the control of the computer programme.
`
`Computers under the control of a computer programme
`
`are used to compute premiums for insurance policies in
`
`respect of motor vehicles and the like.
`
`In general,
`
`data in respect of the motor vehicle and the
`
`individual,
`
`the owner of the motor vehicle is entered
`
`into the computer through a keyboard.
`
`The entered
`
`data is displayed on a visual display screen, normally
`
`in a predetermined format and is accordingly entered
`
`in that format. Data fields are set aside for each
`
`piece of data to be entered and each piece of data is
`
`entered in the appropriate data field in response to a
`
`cursor appearing at
`
`the beginning of the field on the
`
`visual display screen.
`
`The premiums for different
`
`types of
`
`insurance,
`
`for example, comprehensive,
`
`third
`
`party
`
`fire and theft and the like, are then computed
`
`and subsequently displayed on the screen.
`
`Unfortunately.
`
`in all cases it has been necessary to
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`Page 001790
`
`

`
`.1 _
`
`use a number of pages of data to display all the
`
`entered data and the premiums. Thus, one has to
`
`switch from page to page on the visual display screen
`
`to review the entered data and the premiums. This it
`
`will be appreciated causes considerable inconvenience
`
`for an individual operating the computer.
`
`If the
`
`operator is dealing directly with a client while
`
`entering the data, after having the premiums displayed
`
`on the screen if the operator wishes to check a
`
`10
`
`particular piece of data which has been entered, it is
`
`necessary to switch back to another page on the
`
`computer screen. This is time consuming and in many
`
`cases can lead to embarrassment.
`
`There is therefore a need for a method for programming
`
`a computer to compute premiums for vehicle insurance
`
`which overcomes these problems. There is also a need
`
`for a computer programme operating according to the
`
`method of the invention which overcomes the problems
`
`of the prior art. Further,
`
`there is a need for a
`
`20
`
`computer operating under the control of the computer
`
`programme.
`
`According to the invention,
`
`there is provided a method
`
`for programming a computer for computing the premiums
`
`of different types of vehicle insurance in response to
`
`data being entered into the computer
`
`in a
`
`Page 001791
`
`

`
`....3...
`
`predetermined data entry format, and displaying the
`
`entered data and premiums on a display means, wherein
`
`the method comprises the step of displaying the
`
`entered data and the premiums simultaneously on the
`
`display means,
`
`the entered data being displayed in the
`
`predetermined data entry format and the premiums also
`
`being displayed in a predetermined format.
`
`Preferably,
`
`the data to be entered comprises details
`
`of an individual and of a vehicle to be insured.
`
`Advantageously,
`
`the data displayed in respect of the
`
`premiums includes a plurality of costs for each type
`
`of premium based on certain predetermined loadings and
`
`reductions.
`
`In one embodiment of the invention,
`
`the data entry
`
`format
`
`together with the entered data is displayed
`
`substantially on one side of
`
`the display means, and
`
`the premiums displayed substantially on the other side
`
`of the display means. Preferably,
`
`the display means
`
`is a visual display screen.
`
`In a further embodiment of the invention,
`
`the data to
`
`be entered is entered in fields of predetermined
`
`lengths and positions in the data entry format.
`
`In a further embodiment of
`
`the invention.
`
`the method
`
`comprises the step of Validating at least some of
`
`tie
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`Page 001792
`
`

`
`-._L|___
`
`data entered by comparing a piece of entered data with
`
`corresponding data in a look up table and stored in
`
`the computer, and if the entered data compares with
`
`any of the data in the look up table, displaying the
`
`valid status of the entered data on the display means,
`
`and in the event of the entered data not comparing
`
`with any of the data in the look up table, displaying
`
`the invalid status of the entered data on the display
`
`means. Advantageously,
`
`the method comprises the step
`
`10
`
`of displaying the data in the look up table
`
`corresponding to the piece of entered data on the
`
`display means in the event of the entered data not
`
`comparing with any of the data in the look up table.
`
`15
`
`20
`
`In a still further embodiment of the invention,
`
`the
`
`method comprises the additional step of computing the
`
`premiums from the entered data.
`
`Advantageously,
`
`the method for computing the premiums
`
`comprises the step of retrieving the appropriate
`
`premiums from look up tables stored in the computer in
`
`response to the entered data, and computing additional
`
`loadings or reductions to be respectively added to or
`
`deducted from the premiums by multiplying the premiums
`
`by predetermined percentage points retrieved from look
`
`up tables stored in the computer
`
`in respect of the
`
`loadings or the reductions selected in response to the
`
`Page 001793
`
`

`
`entered data.
`
`Addtionally,
`
`the invention provides a computer
`
`programme comprising the method of the invention.
`
`Further,
`
`the invention provides a medium carrying the
`
`computer programme of the invention.
`
`Additionally,
`
`the invention provides a computer
`
`comprising and operating under the control of the
`
`computer programme of the invention.
`
`The invention will be more clearly understood from the
`
`TO
`
`following description of a preferred embodiment
`
`thereof, given by way of example only, with reference
`
`to the accompanying drawings,
`
`in which:
`
`Fig.
`
`1
`
`is a diagrammatic representation of a
`
`computer system according to the invention,
`
`Fig.
`
`2
`
`is a representation of data displayed on a
`
`screen of a visual display unit of the computer
`
`system of Fig. 1,
`
`Fig 3 is a representation of data displayed on
`
`portion of a screen of a visual display of the
`
`20
`
`computer system of Fig. 1,
`
`Page 001794
`
`

`
`-5-».
`
`Fig. 4 illustrates a flow chart of a sub routine of
`
`a computer programme for use in the computer system
`
`of Fig. 1,
`
`Fig.
`
`5 illustrates a flow chart of another sub
`
`routine of the computer programme of the computer
`
`System of Fig. 1,
`
`Fig. 6 illustrates a flow chart of another sub
`
`routine of the computer programme of the computer
`
`system of Fig. 1, and
`
`Fig. 7 is a representation of a typical
`
`look up
`
`table stored in the computer system of Fig. 1.
`
`Referring to the