IP Library Granted Patent US 9,547,797
Granted Patent B2
US 9,547,797 · App. 14/255,856 · Granted Jan 17, 2017

Managing vehicular traffic on a roadway

Inventors: James Vincent Kokal (Plano, TX); Mark Alan Smith (Colleyville, TX); Ron Natinsky (Dallas, TX); James Alan Chase (Plano, TX)
Assignee: HOVTag LLC
G06K9/00838G07B15/063
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,547,797
App. No.
14/255,856
Granted
Jan 17, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for managing vehicular traffic on a roadway includes a sensing unit positioned within a vehicle traveling on the roadway. The sensing unit is configured to determine occupancy data based on the number of passengers within the vehicle. An ambient light sensor is operatively associated with the sensing unit such that upon sensing an intensity of ambient light, an adjustment is made to the system to aid in the determination of occupancy data. The occupancy data is configured to be communicated to one or more receiving units positioned above or proximate the roadway.

Claims (15)

1. A system configured to manage vehicular traffic on a roadway, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor and storing instructions that when executed by the at least one processor performs operations comprising:

determining data based on the number of passengers within the vehicle;

storing the data in the at least one memory;

reporting the stored data to a first receiving unit;

clearing the at least one memory to a cleared state after reporting to the first receiving unit; and

determining battery status when a second receiving unit detects the at least one memory in the cleared state.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the data is occupancy data.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising the first and second receiving units.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the receiving unit further comprises an activator unit that activates a passive portion of the system to access and return the stored occupancy data.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the activator unit provides the power necessary to place the at least one memory in the cleared state.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the system further comprises an active portion that is capable of determining the occupancy data and storing the occupancy data in the at least one memory.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein upon determination of the low battery status, the operations further comprise notifying a user of the sensing unit of the low battery status.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the user is notified by at least one of Short Message Service (SMS), electronic mail, telephony, common carrier, and mail.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 22, 2014
From: KOKAL, JAMES VINCENT; SMITH, MARK ALAN; NATINSKY, RON; CHASE, JAMES ALAN
To: HOVTAG LLC
Reel/Frame 032952/0009 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61812722 · Apr 17, 2013
Related Publication 20140313057A1 · Oct 23, 2014