Ulllted States Patent [19]
`Gehlot
`
`US006163277A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`6,163,277
`Dec. 19, 2000
`
`[54] SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SPEED LIMIT
`ENFORCEMENT
`
`[75] Inventor: Narayan L_ Gehlot, sayerv?le, Nl
`
`5,717,606
`2/1998 Hara et al. ........................ .. 340/439 X
`5,745,031
`4/1998 Yamamoto ..
`340/439
`5,815,070
`9/1998 Yoshikawa .... ..
`.. 340/439
`5,821,860 10/1998 Yokoyama et al. ................... .. 340/576
`5,847,661 12/1998 Ricci ..................................... .. 340/902
`
`-
`.
`-
`-
`[73] Asslgnee' lljluJcent Technologles Inc" Murray H111’
`
`5,874,892
`5,878,156
`
`2/1999 Antonellis et al.
`. 340/438
`3/1999 Okumura .............................. .. 382/117
`
`_
`[21] Appl' NO" 09/177’839
`
`Primary Examiner—Daryl Pope
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP
`
`7
`[51] Int. Cl. ..................................................... .. G08G 1/09
`[52] US. Cl. ........................ .. 340/905; 340/902; 340/936;
`340/539; 701/117
`[58] Field Of Search ................................... .. 340/902, 905,
`340/904> 933> 936> 539> 82506; 701/117
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U_S_ PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5/1986 Horvat .............................. .. 340/905 X
`4,591,823
`5’465’O79 11/1995 BouFhard et a1‘
`340/576
`5,546,311
`8/1996 Sekine ......... ..
`340/902 X
`5,570,087 10/1996 Lemelson ........ ..
`340/870.05
`5,574,641 11/1996 Kawakami et al.
`340/575 X
`5,694,116 12/1997 Kojima .................................. .. 340/576
`
`Asystem for enforcing highway Speed limits Comprising an
`antenna and one or more sensors positioned on a vehicle, the
`antenna capable of receiving data indicative of a speed limit
`for a roadway, the one or more Sensors Capable of gathering
`data indicative of a driving pattern of the vehicle, and a
`processing unit in communication With the antenna and the
`one or more sensors, the processing unit receiving the speed
`limit data from the antenna and the'dr'iving pattern data ‘from
`the sensors, analyzing the speed limit data and the driving
`pattern data to asses Whether a predetermined action Should
`be initiated and initiating a predetermined action in response
`to the assessment
`'
`
`20 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`42
`F—%
`
`12\‘
`m/"B
`
`14
`
`15
`
`14
`
`J_\ 25
`45/5
`q)
`30
`50
`
`18 J/
`
`4H
`E"
`
`"I
`'
`20
`J I
`I’!
`"'1
`
`
`,I ‘I ’ l3r481,’ 22
`
`\/< 38
`I
`l
`@111:
`
`35
`
`45 \
`
`1"
`I’
`
`I
`\_| r
`
`v ' J gj
`44
`
`I
`
`,
`
`18 f
`
`I’
`
`I’
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1005 Page 1
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 19, 2000
`
`Sheet 1 0f 3
`
`6,163,277
`
`FIG.
`
`1 P
`
`etitioners Ex. 1005 Page 2
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1005 Page 2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 19,2000
`
`Sheet 2 of3
`
`6,163,277
`
`FIG. 2
`
`ANTENNA INPUT /
`DRIVER LICENSE
`SWIPE TO UNLOCK
`CAR. VALIDATE
`IDENTIFICATION.
`HELP
`
`--—--
`
`45 —u-
`
`COMMUNICATE WITH
`INTELLIGENT
`HIGHWAY SIGN BOARD‘
`
`OR USE GPS +
`DATA BASE
`
`—-I-
`
`COMMUNICATE
`WITH HIGHWAY
`PATROL COP-VIN.
`CAR MAKE MODEL .
`COLOR, DRIVER
`INFORMATION ETC ,
`<—--
`
`K
`5N1
`
`ADD/REMOVE DRIVER
`CAR. SELL/BUY A CAR,
`CAR LOANED TO A DRIVER
`DRIVER PROFILE
`UPDATED WHILE DRIVING
`0R OBTAINED FROM
`DATA BASE
`
`GO
`%
`VISUAL DISPLAY-THE
`AMOUNT OF INSURANCE
`SURCHARGE. SPEEDING
`TICKET. PROBABILITY OF
`ACCIDENT. FAMILY MEMBERS
`PHOTOS WITH CAPTION- "WE
`ALL LOVE YOU. PLEASE
`SLOW DOWN’
`—c
`
`AUDIO OUTPUT-THE
`AMOUNT OF INSURANCE
`SURCHARGE. SPEEDING
`TICKET, PROBABILITY OF
`ACCIDENT , FAMILY MEMBERS
`VOICES REPEAT - ‘WE
`ALL LOVE YOU. PLEASE
`SLOW DOWN‘
`'
`
`CONTINUOUS/REPEATED
`SPEEDING-AUTO DIAL
`Bil/CAR INSURANCE
`COMPANY WITH CAR
`INFORMATION
`FOR PENALTY
`I»
`
`/
`56
`
`I0 OYEBRIDE FALSE
`commons. POLICE
`CHECK F0“ AUTO
`THEFT AND VEHICLE
`ID WITHOUT STOPPING
`AN AUTOMOBILE
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1005 Page 3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 19,2000
`
`Sheet 3 of3
`
`6,163,277
`
`A
`
`33HEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHZ. 2;
`
`
`
`E: E5 .. Hz: " 25: E522
`
`8 . m; u E
`
`
`
`a H H + OH; THTHHHHZHHHHH
`
`
`
`:2: Emma /
`
`
`
`E23 HHEA M H Hm
`
`
`
`2H2: HHEA m H
`
`2% Hz: 0 m m Hm
`
`2H2: Hz: A H m Hm H
`
`2% H50 H H H. H H H
`
`223 HHEA H H H
`
`2% H50 m H HM mm H H
`
`
`
`K 83m 55265.4
`
`QT
`
`5:: ES
`
`m .EM
`
`:2: 53
`
`2 H
`
`2 +
`
`:2: E5
`
`2:: E3
`
`:2: $5
`
`:22 E3
`
`0 v
`
`:2: E3
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1005 Page 4
`
`

`

`1
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SPEED LIMIT
`ENFORCEMENT
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates to a system and method for enforc
`ing speed limits, and, in particular, to a system and method
`for enforcing speed limits on highways by utilizing Wireless
`communications and digital signal processing technology.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention is directed at improving highWay
`safety by enabling a more efficient use of laW enforcement
`resources, and more accurate and equitable distribution of
`vehicle insurance costs. The present invention relates to a
`system and method for enforcing speed limits on highWays
`by utiliZing Wireless communications and digital signal
`processing technology.
`Nearly every highWay in the World has a posted speed
`limit. HoWever, anyone Who drives a car knoWs that the
`posted speed limits are ignored by a large number of drivers.
`These speeding drivers often drive recklessly at a speed Well
`over the posted speed limit. These speeding drivers are the
`cause of countless accidents each year, resulting in a sub
`stantial number of injuries and fatalities. The only system in
`place today to catch or stop such speeding drivers is the
`presence of police of?cers, Whether on the highWay in their
`cars, overhead in helicopters or in some countries, the use of
`?xed cameras or the like. The police often use doppler radar
`or laser guns to check the speed of cars. HoWever, the
`number of speeding drivers far outnumber the number of
`laW enforcement of?cials dedicated to enforcing the posted
`speed limits. Furthermore, the speeders are often equipped
`With laser or doppler radar detectors, and are thus often able
`to evade police detection.
`The prior art systems for enforcing speed limits have a
`number of de?ciencies. First, the prior art systems are
`expensive and an inef?cient use of limited laW enforcement
`resources. The police spend much of their time hiding from
`speeding motorists in an effort to catch them. Also, if the
`police do detect a speeding car they may need to engage in
`a high speed chase in order to catch the speeder, Which can
`result in a more dangerous atmosphere for other innocent
`drivers. The police may also catch innocent drivers, Who
`merely speed up for a limited short time in order to pass a
`sloWer moving vehicle. The prior art systems have no means
`to provide a speeding driver With any real-time feedback of
`the consequences of his speeding.
`The prior art system of reliance on police presence is
`inadequate to meet the demands of enforcing the speed limit.
`The present invention is directed at overcoming the short
`comings of the prior art and is directed at a system and
`method for enforcing speed limits.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention relates to system and method for
`enforcing speed limits, and, in particular, to a system and
`method for enforcing speed limits on highWays by utiliZing
`Wireless communications and digital signal processing tech
`nology.
`The system generally includes an antenna mounted or
`otherWise installed on a vehicle. The antenna is capable of
`both receiving and outputting data to a source external to the
`vehicle. The antenna also communicates With a processing
`unit mounted or otherWise installed on the vehicle. The
`processing unit also communicates With sensors or other
`instrumentation or equipment Within the vehicle.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`6,163,277
`
`2
`In a preferred embodiment, While the vehicle is traveling
`on a highWay, the antenna receives speed limit data from an
`external source. The speed limit data may comprise, by Way
`of a non-limiting example, the highWay road identi?cation
`number, the state the vehicle is traveling in, the speed limit
`for that stretch of road, Whether that stretch of road is in a
`construction Zone, etc. In a preferred embodiment the speed
`limit data comprises the speed limit of the current stretch of
`roadWay. In alternative embodiments, the speed limit may be
`derived from other received data or the system may derive
`the speed limit from an onboard database exclusively or in
`combination With received data. In any event, the speed limit
`data is communicated to or otherWise accessible to the
`processing unit. The processing unit also receives driving
`pattern data from the onboard sensors. The driving pattern
`data may comprise, by Way of a non-limiting example, the
`speed the vehicle is currently traveling at, and the elapsed
`time the auto has been at that speed and other speeds. At a
`minimum, the driving pattern data should comprise the
`current speed of the vehicle. The processing unit compares
`the speed limit data With the driving pattern data, analyZes
`the tWo sets of data, and determines Whether a predeter
`mined action should be initiated. The predetermined actions
`may range in severity from, for example, initiating an audio
`or visual Warning, to automatically sloWing the vehicle
`doWn to the posted speed limit and/or notifying the police or
`the driver’s insurance company that the vehicle is speeding.
`As used herein, the term vehicle is meant to have a broad
`meaning and meant to encompass any type of vehicle such
`as, by Way of a non-limiting example, automobiles, trucks,
`trains, boats, motorcycles, etc.
`The present invention also provides a system Whereby the
`police can establish direct communication With a speeding
`vehicle and the driver therein. For example, if the police
`detect a speeding vehicle, the police can use the system of
`the present invention to access the other auto’s processing
`unit to retrieve the driving pattern data as Well as data on the
`vehicle itself, the driver, the driver’s long term driving
`history, the driver’s short term driving pattern, or any other
`information stored or otherWise accessible in the other
`auto’s processing unit. The system provides for a direct
`communication betWeen the police and the speeding driver
`Which Will enable the police to have more ?exibility and
`options in attempting to stop the speeding vehicle, including
`for example, a direct communication With the other auto’s
`processing unit to control the speed or other functions of the
`vehicle in appropriate circumstances.
`It is envisioned that the system and method of the present
`system Would be desirable to many different entities or
`individuals, such as, for example, shippers, couriers, police
`agencies, insurance companies and parents, to name a feW.
`For example, an insurance company faced With insuring a
`driver Who has previously been found speeding, may require
`a system designed in accordance With the instant invention
`be installed in that drivers vehicle. Also, an insurance
`company and/or state and federal agencies may offer incen
`tives such as discounts to those Who voluntarily install the
`system of the present invention.
`Other objects and features of the present invention Will
`become apparent from the folloWing detailed description,
`considered in conjunction With the accompanying draWing
`?gures. It is to be understood, hoWever, that the draWings,
`Which are not to scale, are designed solely for the purpose
`of illustration and not as a de?nition of the limits of the
`invention, for Which reference should be made to the
`appended claims.
`DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
`In the draWing ?gures, Which are not to scale, and Which
`are merely illustrative, and Wherein like reference numerals
`depict like elements throughout the several vieWs:
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1005 Page 5
`
`

`

`3
`FIG. 1 is a top vieW of a civilian vehicle, police vehicle,
`and external source in accordance With the present inven
`tion;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the digital signal processor
`of the present invention; and
`FIG. 3 is a chart depicting an example of a different
`response provided by the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`The present invention relates to a system and method for
`enforcing speed limits, and, in particular, to a system and
`method for enforcing speed limits on roadWays by utiliZing
`Wireless communications and digital signal processing tech
`nology. As used herein, the term roadWay is intended to
`include any passable road, street, highWay or other path over
`Which a moving vehicle may travel.
`In a preferred embodiment, as seen in FIG. 1, the system
`generally includes a police vehicle, generally indicated as
`10, Which is capable of sending data to, and receiving data
`from, a civilian vehicle, generally indicated as 12, and vice
`versa. Vehicles 10 and 12 generally include front and rear
`Wheels 14, an engine compartment 16, a driver section 18,
`a passenger section 20, a rear seat section 22 and a trunk
`section 24. Driver section 18, passenger section 20 and rear
`seat section 22 comprise a passenger cabin 62. Engine
`compartment 16, driver section 18, passenger section 20,
`rear seat section 22 and trunk section 24 are de?ned for
`purposes of the present invention as sections Within vehicle
`10 and 12. Police vehicle 10 has a driver or policeman 28
`positioned behind steering column 26, and civilian vehicle
`12 has a driver 30 positioned behind steering column 26. The
`features described herein as associated With police vehicle
`10 may also be deployed at distributed locations along a
`roadWay, and/or deployed in part along a roadWay and in
`part in a police vehicle, as a matter of design choice.
`Police vehicle 10 and/or civilian vehicle 12 also have a
`number of sensors 48 installed or otherWise mounted on the
`respective vehicles to detect conditions both Within the
`vehicle and conditions outside the vehicle. That is, sensors
`48 are designed, constructed and positioned so as to detect
`one or more conditions Within any one or more of engine
`compartment 16, driver section 18, passenger section 20,
`rear seat section 22 and trunk section 24. The sensors are
`also designed, constructed and positioned so as to detect one
`or more conditions outside of engine compartment 16, driver
`section 18, passenger section 20, rear seat section 22 and
`trunk section 24, i.e., outside the vehicle.
`By Way of a non-limiting example, the type of sensors
`utiliZed can be selected from any number of commercially
`available sensors such as motion sensors, infrared sensors,
`position sensors, audio sensors, video sensors, chemical
`sensors, sound sensors, touch sensors or radio frequency
`sensors, or any combination thereof. One of skill in the art
`Will recogniZe that a specially designed sensor may also be
`utiliZed Without departing from the spirit of the invention.
`One of skill in the art Will also recogniZe that the number,
`type, position and function of the speci?c sensors indicated
`is in no Way limiting to the present invention, and that any
`number of additions, subtractions, substitutions or modi?
`cations could be made Without departing from the spirit of
`the invention.
`Sensors 48 are designed, constructed and positioned so as
`to sense and gather driving pattern data, including, by Way
`of a non-limiting example, the current speed of vehicle 12
`and the elapsed time at that speed, as Well as past speeds and
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`6,163,277
`
`4
`elapsed times at those speeds. Sensors 48 are designed,
`constructed and positioned so as to communicate With a
`processing unit 60. That is, sensors 48 on police vehicle 10
`communicate With processing unit 60 on police vehicle 10,
`and sensors 48 on civilian vehicle 12 communicate With
`processing unit 60 on civilian vehicle 12. One of skill in the
`art Will recogniZe that the sensors 48 and processing unit 60
`on police vehicle 10 are not essential to the operation of the
`present invention. Processing units 60 may be located any
`Where Within vehicle 10 or 12. The sensors 48 sense and/or
`gather data to be communicated With their respective pro
`cessing units 60. Processing unit 60 may be a Digital Signal
`Processor or any other comparable type unit for receiving
`and analyZing data, and controlling controllable devices to
`initiate pre-programmed responses as a result of analyZing
`data, such as, for example a programmable microprocessor,
`micro computer, mini-computer PLC controller, or the like.
`In a preferred embodiment processing units 60 utiliZes
`parallel processing or neural netWork/fuZZy logic. Process
`ing units 60 are also capable of receiving data and/or
`instructions from sources other than sensors 48, i.e., an
`external source 42, as Well as from other external sources
`such as remote control devices, cellular telephone signals,
`paging signals, radio or infrared signals, or externally posi
`tioned push buttons or keypads (not shoWn).
`As seen in FIG. 1, external source 42 may be a road sign
`or any other structure along the side of the road or proximate
`the road, and may comprise, by Way of non-limiting
`example, a base 44 for holding a pole 46 Which supports a
`sign board 36 and antenna 38. External source 42 is capable
`of sending speed limit data to vehicles 10 and 12 either
`directly to the sensors 48 or directly to the processing units
`60, and external source 42 is capable of and receiving data
`to and from both police vehicle 10 and civilian vehicle 12,
`either directly from sensors 48 or directly from the process
`ing units 60. One of skill in the art Will recogniZe that
`external source 42 may also have its oWn processing unit 60.
`External source 42 may be any device capable of performing
`the functions described herein Without departing from the
`spirit of the invention, such as, for example, a satellite
`system such as a global positioning system, or a data base
`With infrared sensors or bar codes on the sign post 36.
`As seen in FIG. 2, driving pattern data is gathered from
`the different sensors 48 and communicated to processing
`unit 60. Processing unit 60 has a number of predetermined
`or stored responses or actions. As described more fully
`beloW, processing unit 60 analyZes the driving pattern data
`and the speed limit data and determines Whether a response
`is necessary, and if so, Which speci?c response or action.
`Such actions may include, by Way or a non-limiting
`example, nothing, an audio signal, a visual signal, reducing
`the speed of the vehicle, automatically dialing the police or
`another party, generating a traffic ticket, disabling the
`vehicle, or any combination thereof. One of skill in the art
`Will recogniZe that additions, subtractions, substitutions or
`modi?cations to the stored predetermined actions may be
`provided Without departing from the spirit of the invention.
`As seen in FIG. 2, processing unit 60 may also comprise
`portals or input ports 54 and 56, Which are capable of
`receiving data and/or instructions from sources other than
`the onboard sensors via metallic or optical signal conduc
`tors. For example, the folloWing type of information may be
`stored, added, subtracted or modi?ed in processing unit 60:
`information about the vehicle, i.e., vehicle identi?cation
`number, the oWner of the vehicle, authoriZed drivers, rental
`car information, authoriZed driver pro?les including driving
`histories, history about the vehicle, etc. Other data and/or
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1005 Page 6
`
`

`

`6,163,277
`
`5
`instructions may also be stored, added, subtracted or modi
`?ed in processing unit 60, such as: the police may be capable
`of overriding the predetermined actions and/or providing
`other non-predetermined actions. One of skill in the art Will
`recogniZe that any number of additional portals or input
`ports could be provided to processing unit 60 Without
`departing from the spirit of the invention. Further, While the
`term antenna, portals and/or input ports have been described
`above, any type of communication With processing unit 60
`is envisioned Without the need for a particular or speci?c
`type of antenna or other type of receiving device or physical
`connection. That is, processing unit 60 is also capable of
`receiving data and/or instructions from sources other than
`the sensors such as remote control devices, cellular tele
`phone signals, paging signals, radio or infrared signals, or
`externally positioned push buttons or keypads (not shoWn).
`Thus, the term antenna is used broadly to mean any type of
`device or means for receiving any type of data carrying
`signal.
`As seen in the exemplary table of FIG. 3, processing unit
`60 may analyZe the driving pattern data and the speed limit
`data and determine Whether a response is necessary, and if
`so, Which response or combination of responses should be
`initiated based on numerous parameter permutations. As
`seen in FIG. 3, determining Whether a response should be
`initiated, and What response should be initiated, can depend
`in part upon on elapsed time, speed of the vehicle and the
`speed limit of the highWay. Thus, the system of the present
`invention preferably utiliZes a Weighting scheme or algo
`rithm to determine the appropriate response. For eXample,
`depending on the driver’s history and/or the speed in eXcess
`of the speed limit, the responses vary in degree such as
`merely giving audio or visual Warnings to actually taking
`control of the vehicle.
`The operation of a preferred embodiment of the present
`invention Will noW be described. In a preferred embodiment,
`in order to unlock the door to vehicle 12, driver 30 ?rst must
`sWipe their driver’s license or other data-containing-type
`card or device through a reader (not shoWn) located on the
`vehicle 12. Processing unit 60 is updated With current driver
`information upon sWiping the card. Processing unit 60 may
`also check to con?rm Whether driver 30 is an authoriZed
`driver of vehicle 12. When vehicle 12 is started, the system
`is initialiZed to begin recording the driving pattern of driver
`30 for the current run. By Way of a non-limiting eXample, a
`current run may be de?ned as the starting of vehicle 12, a
`drive of more than 10 miles, and the turning off of vehicle
`12. Driver 30’s driving pattern data may be stored for
`several days or several runs, as a matter of design choice.
`Vehicle 12’s odometer reading is digitiZed and input into
`processing unit 60.
`As seen in FIG. 1, as vehicle 12 is moving doWn the
`highWay, signboard 36 transmits burst of speed limit data at
`regular intervals, or as an alternative, signboard 36 may be
`probed by approaching vehicle 12 to gather the speed limit
`data. Signboard 36 may also be turned on by approaching
`vehicle 12 by the vibrations, acoustic Waves or direct or
`re?ected electromagnetic or optical Waves given off by
`approaching vehicle 12. In any event, by Way of a non
`limiting eXample, processing unit 60 receives speed limit
`data, Which, in a preferred embodiment, comprises the speed
`limit for the current stretch of roadWay, but may also
`comprise other information such as, National/State name
`code (i.e., What state are We in), the highWay/road/street
`identi?cation number, normal/construction/school Zone, etc.
`Alternatively, the same type of data may be derived by
`processing unit 60 based on data supplied via a global
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`6
`positioning system (not shoWn), an onboard database (not
`shoWn), or vehicle 12 may gather the data from signpost 36
`via an infrared sensor or other optical reading bar codes on
`signpost 36. In any event, as seen in FIG. 2, the speed limit
`data is gathered and communicated to processing unit 60.
`Processing unit 60 is also receiving driving pattern data from
`sensors 48. The driving pattern data preferably comprises at
`a minimum the speed the vehicle is traveling at, but may also
`comprise data indicative of hoW long that speed has been
`maintained as Well as past speeds and the elapsed time
`associated With those speeds. That is, sensors 48 sense
`and/or gather data indicative of a driving pattern for a period
`of time. Sensors 48 may gather data regarding hoW long
`driver 30 has been driving at a certain speed, and What the
`corresponding speed limit Was, or is, for that particular
`stretch of roadWay. For eXample, over the past 11 minutes
`and 30 seconds, driver 30 may have driven 5 miles per hour
`over the speed limit for a period of 15 seconds, 15 miles per
`hour over the speed limit for 8 minutes, and 10 miles per
`hour under the speed limit for 3 minutes. Sensors 48
`communicate this data to processing unit 60. Processing unit
`60 analyZes the speed limit data and driving pattern data,
`determines Whether a response is needed, and if so, initiates
`an appropriate predetermined action or response, as set forth
`beloW.
`Which predetermined action is initiated, if any, Will
`depend on a number of factors, for example, the speed of
`vehicle 12, the time at such speeds, the amount of time spent
`in each speed Zone, and the amount such speeds are over
`posted speed limits. As seen in FIG. 3, the system of the
`present invention preferably determines the amount of drive
`time spent in each speed limit Zone and the miles per hour
`over the speed limit. Cumulative penalty information may
`be displayed to Warn driver 30 of the possible penalties. If
`a construction Zone is detected, driver 30 may be noti?ed of
`the same, and the amount of the penalty may be increased as
`per local laW, or as an alternative, vehicle 12 may be
`automatically sloWed doWn by processing unit 60 to the
`speed limit. The local speeding laWs and speeding penalties
`may be stored in processing unit 60 or obtained from
`signboard 36.
`When the speed of vehicle 12 is beyond a preset limit, for
`eXample 15 miles over the posted limit, an audio and/or
`visual display may be activated. Such displays may include
`information such as, the cost of the speeding ticket, amount
`of the insurance surcharge, the probability of an accident,
`and/or a display of family member pictures With a caption or
`audio message stating, “We all love you, please sloW doWn”.
`If vehicle 12 speeds beyond another preset limit, for
`eXample, 20 miles per hour over the limit for a certain time,
`i.e., 10 minutes, vehicle 12 may automatically notify the
`police. That is, processing unit 60 on vehicle 12 may
`communicate With processing unit 60 or antenna 32 on
`police vehicle 10. Once the communication is established,
`policeman 28 can access the processing unit 60 on vehicle
`12 and obtain the previously stored and updated information
`about driver 30, the driving pattern data, and any other
`information stored on or otherWise accessible from process
`ing unit 60. Policeman 28 may also be put in direct audio
`communication With driver 30. The range of communication
`can be any number of miles, as a matter of design choice.
`Because the tWo are in direct or indirect communication,
`policeman 28 may give driver 30 the option of stopping
`someWhere up ahead along the roadWay to receive the
`speeding ticket, or may give driver 30 the option of having
`the speeding ticket sent directly to the driver’s home, or
`automatically cause a speeding ticket to be sent. The driver’s
`
`Petitioners Ex. 1005 Page 7
`
`

`

`6,163,277
`
`7
`address Would be among the information stored in process
`ing unit 60. This Would eliminate the dangerous condition of
`having vehicles stopped on the side of busy highWays, and
`eliminate the “rubber necking” associated With such stops.
`One of skill in the art Will recogniZe that in accordance With
`the instant invention, a single police officer could monitor
`any number of vehicles simultaneously. Furthermore, While
`many States alloW the use of radar detectors, such radar
`detectors Would be incapable of erasing the driving pattern
`data stored on processing unit 60. Thus, it Would become
`much more dif?cult to elude police detection, and more
`habitual speeders could be caught.
`As an alternative, the police may be able to automatically
`reduce the speed of vehicle 12 or entirely disable the car via
`remote activated vehicle control system (not shoWn). This
`Will lead to less high speed vehicle chases. Due to this
`ef?ciency, the police may be able to offer drivers Who accept
`such an option a discount on the full speeding ticket. For out
`of state drivers, the police may require the driver to pull over
`and pay the ticket immediately via a credit card. Revenue for
`the state Would be realiZed immediately. As an alternative,
`vehicle 12 may establish communication directly With the
`insurance company. Like the police, the insurance company
`could access the processing unit 60 on vehicle 12 to retrieve
`the driving pattern data or any other data stored on, or
`otherWise accessible from, the processing unit 60. The
`insurance company could automatically penaliZe the driver.
`One of skill in the art Will recogniZe that the amount and
`types of responses are limitless, and that the mere addition,
`subtraction, substitution or modi?cation of the responses
`disclosed herein Will not depart from the spirit of the present
`invention.
`By Way of an illustrative example, if the police are
`Waiting on the side of the road to catch speeders, they may
`use the folloWing protocol. The police may broadcast a burst
`requesting driving pattern data for a certain time, i.e., the
`past 5 minutes, from all the vehicles that receive the request.
`The cars Would respond via a ?rst detect ?rst response
`(FDFR) basis With the car’s Vehicle Identi?cation Number
`(VIN) as a code. One of skill in the art Will recogniZe that
`the overlap of the burst of driving pattern data from the car
`to the police can be resolved using several art-recogniZed
`approaches based on, for example, a random frequency
`offset, random delay in time to response or transmit and
`re-transmit after a random Wait protocol. Once the commu
`nication is established, the police can select a feW cars With
`certain VIN numbers to respond to. Once communication is
`established, the police can automatically obtain driver
`information, driving pattern data, car make, model, color,
`etc., or any other information stored on or otherWise acces
`sible from processing unit 60, such as data speci?c to a
`driver’s physical ability to control the vehicle, as set forth
`above. This Will alloW the police to selectively choose
`dangerous drivers. The entire system could be automated.
`The system of the present invention Will yield many
`advantages, including the effective enforcement of speed
`limits. For example, the speeder’s insurance Will go up and
`good driver’s insurance could be loWered. When an accident
`does occur, the car’s processing unit Will have stored infor
`mation regarding the driver’s speed and steering column,
`etc. movements just before the accident. This is equivalent
`to the cockpit information stored “black boxes” on aircraft.
`Thus, While there have been shoWn and described and
`pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as
`applied to preferred embodiments thereof, it Will be under
`stood that various omissions and substitutions and changes
`in the form and details of the disclosed invention may be
`
`20
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`8
`made by those skilled in the art Without departing from the
`spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be
`limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims
`appended hereto.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A system for enforcing roadWay speed limits compris
`ing:
`an antenna and one or more sensors positioned on a
`vehicle;
`said antenna capable of receiving data indicative of a
`speed limit for a roadWay;
`said one or more sensors capable of gathering driving
`pattern data comprising a current speed of said vehicle
`and an elapsed time said vehicle has been traveling at
`said current speed; and
`a processing unit in communication With said antenna and
`said one or more sensors, said processing unit receiving
`said speed limit data from said antenna and said driving
`pattern data from said sensors, analyZing said speed
`limit data and said driving pattern data to asses Whether
`a predetermined action should be initiated, and initiat
`ing a predetermined action in response to said assess
`ment;
`Wherein said antenna is also capable of receiving data
`from outside said vehicle for initiating a predetermined
`action, Wherein said predetermined action is selected
`from a group of actions consisting of: reducing the
`speed of said vehicle, turning on a ?asher signal of said
`vehicle, generating a speeding ticket, taking control of
`said vehicle, and disabling said vehicle.
`2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a
`second system, said second system