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Moveable object accountability systemRelated Patent Categories: Registers, Coded Record Sensors, Particular Sensor Structure, Optical, Hand-held (e.g., Portable), Wireless Link (e.g., Rf, Ir, Etc.)Moveable object accountability system description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060208087, Moveable object accountability system. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This continuation-in-part application claims the benefit of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 10/898,193, filed on Jul. 26, 2004. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The general field of the invention relates to periodic and real-time location history tracking with periodic verification of the existence or non-existence of certain predetermined conditions of moveable objects within a time period. [0004] This invention further relates to an accountability system for monitoring the status of a certain condition of a moveable object having an electronic identification device with a transmittable unique identification code. A verification station with an electronic signal transmission and reception device remotely initiates communication with the electronic identification device on the moveable object and receives the unique identification code. A database at the verification station retrieves information related to said unique identification code, and a camera captures a digital image of said moveable object while displaying the image and querying a user to input verification data to an input device. A data processing system at the verification station verifies the user's input and compiles a data record of the unique identification code, the digital image, and data input from the user into a data record and stores the compiled record in memory for later communication with a remote storage device. [0005] 2. Description of the Related Art [0006] The requirement for an accountability system for verifying and monitoring a predetermined condition on a moveable object in addition to collecting data of the location of that moveable object in a low cost and technically simple manner has long existed. One example of moveable objects could be commercial, non-commercial or fleet owned vehicles having a condition such as a displayable sign or advertisement. This invention allows an entity, such as an advertising client, to account for any such displayable sign or advertisement on any particular moveable object over a period of time, and additionally obtain data on general or specific movement of that particular moveable object over a period of time or with real-time data acquisition. [0007] The objective of this invention relates to the use of an accountability system for verifying a condition on a moveable object through the use of a hardware sub-system on the moveable object containing a unique identification code. A verification sub-system remote from the moveable object identifies the presence of the moveable object by the unique identification code and collects information regarding the condition of the moveable object for transmission to a central data processing system remote from either previous sub-system. The transmitted verification data is then processed at the central data processing system which controls communication of the processed information and other information transmitted to clients, vendors, suppliers, retailers, point of sale devices, and owner/operators of the moveable objects subject to the accountability system's verification process. [0008] Although other systems use location logging or tracking devices, no other system meets the objectives of verifying a condition on a moveable object in addition to logging or transmitting date, time and location coordinate data. [0009] Thus a moveable object accountability system solving the aforementioned problems is desired. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] A specific sub-system of a first embodiment of this invention comprises a moveable object accountability system that monitors the status of at least one condition of a moveable object. The condition is one of a visible indication of distinguishing characteristics of the moveable object, a visible licensing indicator of the moveable object, and a graphical representation on the moveable object. [0011] The moveable accountability system comprises an electronic identification device mounted on the moveable object, wherein the electronic identification device has a unique identification code and electronically transmits a signal containing information of the unique identification code. An electronic signal transmission and reception device initiates communication with the electronic identification device and receives the signal containing information of the unique identification code from the electronic identification device mounted on the moveable object. A local database has stored information related to at least one of the unique identification code, the moveable object and the at least one condition of the moveable object. A camera captures a first image of the moveable object, wherein the first image includes a representation of the at least one condition of the moveable object. A display device displays information contained in the first image, and displays a query or information including or related to the unique identification code. An input device allows the inputting of data related to the moveable object or inputting a response to the query displayed at the display device. A data processing sub-system coupled to the electronic signal transmission and reception device, the local database, the camera, the display device and the input device, the data processing sub-system: 1) compares the signal containing information of the unique identification code with related information in the local database; 2) displays, at the display device, graphical information contained in the first image and a query to validate information related to the moveable object and the unique identification code; and 3) compares input data received from the input device in response to the query to data stored in the local database. The data processing sub-system compiles data received from the unique identification code received from the electronic signal transmission and reception device, the camera, and the input device into a data record, and a memory location within the local database stores the data record. Finally, a communication link between the local database and a remote storage device transmits at least one stored data record to the remote storage device. [0012] The electronic identification device in the above sub-system embodiment may comprise a radio frequency identification device, and the system may include an output device for outputting information related to the moveable object, wherein the output device may comprise a coupon printer device. [0013] A method of collecting accountability data for a moveable object in the first embodiment of the invention comprises the steps of: determining the presence of an electronic identification device; querying the electronic identification device to output a unique identification code; receiving the output unique identification code; comparing the received unique identification code with information related to the received unique identification code in a local database; capturing a digital image of a moveable object including a representation of at least one condition, wherein the at least one condition comprises one of a visible indication of distinguishing characteristics of the moveable object, a visible licensing indicator of the moveable object, and a graphical representation on the moveable object; displaying at a display device the representation of the at least one condition of the moveable object from the step of capturing and a verification query based on the step of comparing; receiving input based on the step of displaying; comparing the received input with related data stored in the local database; assembling a data record comprising information contained in the unique identification code, the captured digital image of the moveable object including a representation of at least one condition, and the received input, based on the step of comparing; storing the assembled data record in a local database; and transmitting the stored data record to a remote database [0014] A specific apparatus of the first embodiment of the invention comprises an electronic signal transmission and reception device that initiates communication with a remote electronic identification device and receives a signal containing information of a unique identification code from the remote electronic identification device mounted on a moveable object. A local database stores information related to at least one of the unique identification code, the moveable object and information of at least one condition of the moveable object. A camera captures a first image of the moveable object, wherein the first image includes a representation of the at least one condition of the moveable object, the at least one condition comprising one of a visible indication of distinguishing characteristics of the moveable object, a visible licensing indicator of the moveable object, and a graphical representation on the moveable object. A display device displays information contained in the first image, and displays a query or information including or related to the unique identification code. An input device allows the input of data related to the moveable object or a response to the query displayed at the display device. A data processor is coupled to the electronic signal transmission and reception device, the local database, the camera, the display device and the input device, and a memory within the local database stores a data record compiled by the data processor from information received from the electronic signal transmission and reception device, the camera, and the input device. Finally, a communication link between the local database and a remote storage device transmits at least one stored data record to the remote storage device. [0015] The remote electronic identification device of the above specific embodiment may comprise of a radio frequency identification device, and the apparatus may further comprises an output device for outputting information related to the unique identification code, wherein the output device comprises a coupon printer device for printing coupons related to the unique identification code. [0016] A general system of the first embodiment of the moveable object accountability system monitors the status of at least one condition of a moveable object, wherein the at least one condition comprises one of a visible indication of distinguishing characteristics of the moveable object, a visible licensing indicator of the moveable object, and a graphical representation on the moveable object. The moveable accountability system comprises an electronic identification device mounted on the moveable object, wherein the electronic identification device has a unique identification code and the device is able to electronically transmit a signal containing information of the unique identification code. An electronic signal transmission and reception device initiates communication with the electronic identification device and receives the signal containing information of the unique identification code from the electronic identification device mounted on the moveable object. A local database stores information related to at least one of the unique identification code, the moveable object and the at least one condition of the moveable object. A camera captures a first image of the moveable object, wherein the first image includes a representation of the at least one condition of the moveable object. A display device displays graphical information contained in the first image, and displays a query or information including or related to the unique identification code. An input device allows inputting of data related to the moveable object or responses to the query regarding information displayed at the display device. A data processing sub-system coupled to the electronic signal transmission and reception device, the local database, the camera, the display device and the input device, compares the signal containing information of the unique identification code with related information in the local database, displays, at the display device, graphical information contained in the first image and a query to validate information related to the moveable object and the unique identification code, and compares input data received from the input device in response to the query to data stored in the local database. The data processing sub-system compiles data received from the unique identification code received from the electronic signal transmission and reception device, the camera, and the input device into a data record, and a memory within the data processing sub-system stores the data record. A remote central processing data system having a central storage database is connected via a communication link between the local database to transmit information between the remote central data processing system and the local database for processing the at least one stored data record at the remote central processing data system. [0017] The electronic identification device of the above general embodiment comprises a radio frequency identification device, and the system further comprises an output device for outputting information related to the unique identification code, wherein the output device may comprises a coupon printer device for printing coupons related to the unique identification code. [0018] A first specific apparatus of a second embodiment of this invention comprises a data logging apparatus for use with a moveable object accountability system having a unique identification code specific only to the apparatus, a date and clock signal generator for outputting current date and clock data, a location identification device for determining the geographic location of the apparatus and outputting corresponding location data, a motion detection sensor for detecting when the apparatus is in motion, and a central processing unit for data logging activated when the motion detection sensor detects motion. The data logging function assembles data from the unique identification code, the date and clock data, and the location data at predetermined period time intervals and a memory stores the assembled data from the central processor. A transmitter and receiver that transmits and receives data between the apparatus and a moveable object accountability system, wherein the transmitted data comprises at least one of the unique identification code, and the stored assembled data. Additionally included is a power source for supplying power to the apparatus. [0019] The location identification device of the above first specific apparatus comprises one of a global positioning system (GPS) output device, a cellular telephone location system device, and an accelerometer or inertial positioning device, and the unique identification code and the transmitter and receiver comprises a radio frequency identification device. [0020] A first specific sub-system of a second embodiment of this invention comprises a data logging system for logging the position of a moveable object, wherein the data logging system comprises a motion detection sensor outputting a signal when motion is detected of the data. logging system, a location identification signal generator determining the geographic coordinates of the data logging system and outputting geographic coordinates as location data, a date and clock signal generator outputting current date and time data, and a unique identification code specific to and stored in the data logging system. A data processing sub-system is coupled to the outputs of the motion detection sensor, the location identification sensor, the date and clock signal generator, and the unique identification code, wherein the data processing sub-system determines a motion detected signal from the motion detector sensor output, and thereby retrieves: 1) the unique identification code of the data logging system; 2) the location data from the location identification signal generator output; and 3) the current date and time data from the data and clock signal generator. The data processing central processor assembles the retrieved data into a single data record, stores the data record into a next available memory register. A transmitter and receiver that transmits the contents of the memory register including the stored data record from the data logging system to a remote storage device. [0021] The location identification signal generator of the first specific sub-system above, comprises one of a global positioning system (GPS) output device, a cellular telephone location system device, and an accelerometer or inertial positioning device. Continue reading about Moveable object accountability system... Full patent description for Moveable object accountability system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Moveable object accountability system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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