Brinton, WA
Brett Brinton, Burien, WA US
Patent application number | Description | Published |
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20090237245 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO AUTOMATE DATA COLLECTION DURING A MANDATORY INPSECTION - A system and method for verifying that an operator was sufficiently close to one or more items to be inspected during an inspection to actually inspect the components, and storing an indication to that effect in a memory accessible via a computer network. In addition to the indication, the memory can store other inspection related data, such as a starting time or ending time of the inspection, or maintenance information about the item that was input during the inspection. The system and method enable a third party application, such as an accounting program or a maintenance program, to access any of the inspection related data. | 09-24-2009 |
20130176124 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO AUTOMATE DATA COLLECTION DURING A MANDATORY INSPECTION - A system and method for verifying that an operator was sufficiently close to one or more items to be inspected during an inspection to actually inspect the components, and storing an indication to that effect in a memory accessible via a computer network. In addition to the indication, the memory can store other inspection related data, such as a starting time or ending time of the inspection, or maintenance information about the item that was input during the inspection. The system and method enable a third party application, such as an accounting program or a maintenance program, to access any of the inspection related data. | 07-11-2013 |
Brett Brinton, Bellevue, WA US
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20100185479 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO ANALYZE GPS DATA TO DETERMINE IF A VEHICLE HAS ADHERED TO A PREDETERMINED ROUTE - System and method for analyzing position data from a vehicle equipped with a geographical position system to determine if the vehicle has adhered to a predetermined schedule, where the vehicle is scheduled to arrive at each one of a plurality of predetermined locations during a corresponding predetermined time window, the position data identifying a specific geographical location of the vehicle at a specific point in time. Position data from the vehicle is collected as the vehicle travels to the plurality of different locations, the position data identifying a specific geographical location of the vehicle at a specific point in time. Then the position data is analyzed to determine whether the vehicle was at each predetermined location during the corresponding predetermined time window. An exception report is automatically generated for each instance that the vehicle was not at one of the plurality of predetermined locations during the corresponding time window. | 07-22-2010 |
20100280734 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO ENCODE FUEL USE DATA WITH GPS DATA AND TO ANALYZE SUCH DATA - System and method for analyzing position data and fuel injector data from a vehicle equipped with a geographical position system (GPS) and fuel injector sensors to enable fuel use patterns of the vehicle to be analyzed. Data defining a flow of fuel through the vehicle's fuel injectors is combined with temporal data and GPS data to produce fuel use encoded GPS data that is transmitted to a remote computer. The fuel use encoded GPS data can be analyzed to determine how much fuel was used by the vehicle during off road use to enable proper fuel tax computations to be performed. The data can also be used to evaluate the mechanical condition of a vehicle. By monitoring fuel use for a trip repeated numerous times, a decrease in fuel efficiency may indicate a mechanical problem (dirty injectors, fouled spark plugs, etc). | 11-04-2010 |
Brett Brinton, Seattle, WA US
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20110022248 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF VEHICLE INSPECTIONS BY ENABLING REMOTE ACTUATION OF VEHICLE COMPONENTS - A handheld, portable device is used to facilitate inspection of vehicles, by wirelessly conveying an activation command to the vehicle to actuate a vehicle component, to facilitate inspection of the actuated component. The activation command is received by a wireless data link in the vehicle, which is electrically/logically coupled to either a switch that controls actuation of the component, an actuator configured to manipulate the component, and/or a vehicle processor configured to selectively convey an actuation command to the component. In some embodiments, in response to conveying the activation command, the handheld device enables the user to input a condition of the actuated component, which is added to an inspection record. In some embodiments, the handheld device sends a query to the vehicle, which results in the handheld device providing an indication to a user of each component in the vehicle that is capable of remote actuation. | 01-27-2011 |
20110068954 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO COLLECT OBJECT IDENTIFICATION DATA DURING OPERATION OF A VEHICLE AND ANALYSIS OF SUCH DATA - System and method for collecting object identification data from a plurality of objects that interact with a vehicle during operation of the vehicle, where the vehicle interacts with specific objects at specific geographical positions. An identification sensor is coupled to a geographical position sensor, and whenever an object is identified a record is generated, the record including the identification of the object, the position of the vehicle when the interaction between the object and the vehicle occurs, and the time of the interaction. Exemplary objects include passengers, containers, and documents. Exemplary interactions include loading/unloading an object from the vehicle, boarding a passenger, unloading a passenger, transferring a bulk material from the vehicle into a specific container, and/or transferring a bulk material from a specific container to the vehicle. The record may also include additional data about a parameter of the object (such as the object's weight, volume, or temperature). | 03-24-2011 |
20120010774 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO ENHANCE THE UTILITY OF VEHICLE INSPECTION RECORDS BY INCLUDING ROUTE IDENTIFICATION DATA IN EACH VEHICLE INSPECTION RECORD - A handheld, portable device is used to facilitate inspection of vehicles, by generating an electronic vehicle inspection record that can be used by fleet operators to provide evidence of complying with required vehicle inspections. When the vehicle inspection record is generated, route identification data is added to the inspection record. The route identification data defines which of a plurality of predefined routes the vehicle has serviced, or will service, during a time period proximate the inspection of the vehicle. Fleet operators can thus use archived inspection records as evidence of compliance with inspection requirements, and to document what route a vehicle serviced at a particular time. | 01-12-2012 |
20120095920 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FUEL ISLAND AUTHORIZATION FOR TRUCKING INDUSTRY - A fuel authorization system enables data to be exchanged between vehicles and a fuel vendor, to verify that the vehicle is authorized to receive fuel. In an exemplary embodiment, each fuel island is equipped with a motion detector, a short range radio frequency (RF) component, and an infrared (IR) receiver. Participating vehicles are equipped with an IR transmitter and a RF component that can establish a data link with the fuel island's RF unit. When the motion detector senses a vehicle in the fuel lane, an RF query is sent to the vehicle. Participating vehicles respond with an IR transmission. An RF data link is then established between the enrolled vehicle and the fuel vendor to verify that the vehicle is authorized to receive fuel. Once the verification is complete, the fuel dispenser is enabled. If the motion detector senses that the vehicle leaves, the fuel dispenser is disabled. | 04-19-2012 |
20120136527 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OBTAINING COMPETITIVE PRICING FOR VEHICLE SERVICES - In order to obtain competitive pricing for vehicle servicing, a pricing service provider is used to obtain pricing data from a plurality of service vendors. In at least some embodiments, one or more of the following types of additional information for each vendor will be provided along with the pricing data, to enable the consumer (the owner or operator of the vehicle) to make an informed selection: a rating of the vendor, a relative distance between the consumer (or known vehicle location) and the vendor, and a time period defining when the vendor will be able to accommodate the service. In at least some embodiments, a pricing service provider hosts a reverse auction for the benefit of the consumer. In at least some embodiment, the pricing service provider hosts a webpage upon which results of the service requests from the plurality of vendors are displayed. | 05-31-2012 |
20120136743 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OBTAINING COMPETITIVE PRICING FOR VEHICLE SERVICES - In order to obtain competitive pricing for vehicle servicing, a pricing service provider is used to obtain pricing data from a plurality of service vendors. In at least some embodiments, one or more of the following types of additional information for each vendor will be provided along with the pricing data, to enable the consumer (the owner or operator of the vehicle) to make an informed selection: a rating of the vendor, a relative distance between the consumer (or known vehicle location) and the vendor, and a time period defining when the vendor will be able to accommodate the service. In at least some embodiments, a pricing service provider hosts a reverse auction for the benefit of the consumer. In at least some embodiment, the pricing service provider hosts a webpage upon which results of the service requests from the plurality of vendors are displayed. | 05-31-2012 |
20120136802 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE INCLUDING REMOTE DIAGNOSIS AND REVERSE AUCTION FOR IDENTIFIED REPAIRS - Vehicle performance data is collected from an input by an operator, a portable device used during an inspection, or at least one sensor. The performance data (or a request for quotes or a reverse auction by repair vendors transmitted by the operator) is conveyed in real-time to a remote computing device that monitors the data to determine if a mechanical fault has occurred in the vehicle, and also automatically responds to operator requests for service. In response, the remote computing device automatically requests repair quotes from vendors interested in repairing the vehicle and located within a predefined distance of a desired location. The operator of the vehicle is automatically informed of the mechanical fault and the repair quotes. In at least one embodiment, the repair quotes are generated using a reverse auction hosted by the monitoring service operating the remote computer or a third party. | 05-31-2012 |
20120139696 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPLEMENTING A VEHICLE INSPECTION WAIVER PROGRAM - Position data received wirelessly from a vehicle enrolled in an inspection waiver program are employed to determine when the enrolled vehicle is approaching an inspection station. After determining that the enrolled vehicle is approaching an inspection station, and if the enrolled vehicle has a valid inspection waiver, a bypass confirmation can selectively be provided to the vehicle operator, authorizing the operator to bypass the inspection station. The task of determining when an enrolled vehicle is approaching the location of an inspection station can be performed using a processor disposed in the vehicle, or at a remote location separate from both the vehicle and the inspection station, or at the inspection station. The inspection stations can be mobile so that their locations are varied to prevent operators from intentionally avoiding an inspection, as may occur with fixed inspection stations. | 06-07-2012 |
Brett A. Brinton, Bellevue, WA US
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20080316007 | SYSTEM AND PROCESS TO ENSURE PERFORMANCE OF MANDATED INSPECTIONS - A method and apparatus to provide evidence that a person who is intended to make a required inspection was actually physically present at a predefined location associated with the inspection, so that the inspection could have been done, and if not, to provide an indication of the failure to perform the inspection. This invention is particularly well suited to determine if required pre/post-trip inspections of vehicles have been performed. Detecting a triggering condition, such as powering on (or off) equipment, indicates the beginning of a period of time during which the inspection is to be performed. The monitoring system waits for a predetermined event to occur, which indicates the period of time has expired and determines if data corresponding to the inspection have been received. If not, it is concluded that the inspection has not been performed. | 12-25-2008 |
Brett A. Brinton, Burien, WA US
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20090248362 | SYSTEM AND PROCESS TO ENSURE PERFORMANCE OF MANDATED SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS - A handheld, portable device is used to store data that indicates an operator was sufficiently close to each of a plurality of components during a safety inspection to actually inspect the components. The portable device includes a sensor that detects tokens, such as radio frequency identification tags, which are affixed adjacent to the components. Messages appearing on a display of the portable device prompt the operator to proceed to each checkpoint, determine a state of the component disposed there, and if the component is not operating properly, indicate a plurality of predefined conditions from which the operator can choose to identify the observed condition of the component. The state and condition of each component entered during the safety inspection are stored as data that are subsequently transferred to a remote data storage site over a wire or wireless link. | 10-01-2009 |
20090256693 | SYSTEM AND PROCESS TO VALIDATE INSPECTION DATA - Techniques are disclosed for validating that an operator has moved a portable device sufficiently close to an inspection point to enable the operator to perform an inspection. A first exemplary technique employs a first portable device that includes a sensor for detecting the inspection point, a speaker, and stored audible prompts to facilitate the inspection, but no display on which visual prompts for facilitating the inspection can be provided. An alternative second exemplary technique employs a second portable device having a sensor for detecting the inspection point, and a wireless transmitter. This second portable device generates and immediately transmits a signal to a remote receiver indicating that the operator has moved the portable device sufficiently close to the inspection point to enable the operator to perform the inspection. Accordingly, the second portable device need not include a memory for storing the signal. | 10-15-2009 |
James F. Brinton, Redmond, WA US
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20150269551 | MONITOR TRACKING OF PAYMENT COMPLIANCE - A system includes a transaction-processing kiosk located in a predefined retail space. The kiosk is configured to enable a first human user to execute a current purchase transaction involving at least one of a set of retail items selected from the predefined retail space. The current purchase transaction is executed without participation by a second human, such as a cashier. The system further includes at least one display device having a screen and in signal communication with the kiosk. The at least one display device is configured such that the screen simultaneously displays a predetermined number of descriptions of retail items the subject of purchase transactions with the kiosk that were executed prior to execution of the current purchase transaction by a plurality of different human users. The at least one display device is positioned such that the screen is viewable by all parties present in the retail space. | 09-24-2015 |
William Brinton, Kent, WA US
Patent application number | Description | Published |
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20130176124 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO AUTOMATE DATA COLLECTION DURING A MANDATORY INSPECTION - A system and method for verifying that an operator was sufficiently close to one or more items to be inspected during an inspection to actually inspect the components, and storing an indication to that effect in a memory accessible via a computer network. In addition to the indication, the memory can store other inspection related data, such as a starting time or ending time of the inspection, or maintenance information about the item that was input during the inspection. The system and method enable a third party application, such as an accounting program or a maintenance program, to access any of the inspection related data. | 07-11-2013 |