New Zealand No 299896 International No PCT/
TO BL ENTERED AFTER ACCEPTANCE AND PUBLICATION
Priority dates 06 12 1996
Complete Specification Filed 23 06 1997
Classification (6) G06F17/60/0, G05F19/00
Publication date 29 April 1999
Journal No 1439
NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Title of Invention
Apparatus and methods for the provision of services
Name, address and nationality of applicant(s) as in international application form
PATRICIA MARY JERVIS, a New Zealand citizen of 217 Glenbrook-Waiuku Road, Waiuku, Auckland, New Zealand, PETER COLIN JERVIS, a New Zealand citizen of 217 Glenbrook-Waiuku Road, Waiuku, Auckland, New Zealand, SELWYN KEITH RICHARDSON, a New Zealand citizen of 50 Wiltshire Place, Howick, Auckland, New Zealand, LYNNE DOROTHY RICHARDSON, a New Zealand citizen of 50 Wiltshire Place, Howick, Auckland, New Zealand
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Patents Act 1953
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COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
TITLE Apparatus and Methods for the Provision of Services
APPLICATION # 299896 FILING DATE 6 December 1996
We, 1) Patricia Mary Jervis 2) Peter Colin Jervis
3) Selwyn Keith Richardson 4) Lynne Dorothy Richardson
Address I) 217 Glenbrook-Waiuku Road, Waiuku, Auckland, New Zealand
2) 217 Glenbook-Waiuku Road, Waiuku, Auckland, New Zealand
3) 50 Wiltshire Place, Howick, Auckland, New Zealand
4) 50 Wiltshire Place, Howick, Auckland, New Zealand Nationality l)New Zealand 2)Ne\v Zealand 3)Ne\v Zealand 4)New Zealand hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement
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APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR THE PROVISION OF SERVICES FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to apparatus and methods for the provision of services BACKGROUND
Often a potential purchaser of a service is offered the option of choosing between two or more different levels of service, at a different price or charging rate for each service level
A typical example is motor vehicle insurance where a potential insuree is offered the choice of comprehensive cover, or third party fire and 'heft only, or third party only The potential insuree can choose which level is most suitable to their needs, the value 2q of their vehicle and its usage
However, such a pre-chosen constant level of insurance is sometimes inappropriate and inequitable Such a situation occurs , for example, with a vehicle such as a vintage or classic car which has a relatively high monetary value, is normally locked safely in a
secure garage and is used on the road only on rare occasions While such a vehicle is in the garage, the insurance risk is very low and a low level of insurance cover is very adequate As soon as the vehicle is taken out on the road a higher level, more expensive insurance, is required, such as comprehensive insurance
At present, the facility to change easily and virtually instantly from one level of insurance to another level is not available Other examples of product to which an optional, instantly changeable alternative level of insurance would be appropriate are motor cycles, hobby and recreational boats normally kept in marinas or securing moorings, private aeroplanes and the like
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Furthermore, there may be buildings to which there is comparatively little risk when they are not <n use and to which the risk level rises when they are brought into occasional use
OBJECT
It is one object of the present invention to provide an improved service
STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for the 15 provision of a service including a first recording means to record a first parameter on which a first level of charge rate is appropriate, a second recording means to record a second parameter on which a second level of charge rate is appropriate, means to detect a change between the first and second parameters and to change the recording between 2q the first and second recording means
Preferably, the first recording means is adapted to piovide an output which is, at leasi m part, an addition or integration of the first parameter and the second recording means is adapted to provide an output, which is, at least in part, an addition or integration of the
second parameter
Conveniently, the output of the first recording means represents the addition or integration of the first parameter multiplied by the charge rate for the first parameter, 30 and the output of the second recording means represents the addition or integration of the second parameter multiplied by the charge rate for the second parameter
When the first and second parameters are time, the first and second recording means 55 may represent the addition or integration of the time at the first or second levels of charge rates respectively
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One of said times may be obtained from the difference between a continuous running clock and the other of said times
Conveniently, the apparatus is adapted to provide a first output representing the addition or integration of the time spent at the higher of said change rates multiplied by the difference between said charge rates and adds said first output as a surcharge to the product of total elapsed time multiplied by the lower of the charge rates
Alternatively, the apparatus may be adapted to provide a second output representing the addition or integration of the time spent at the lower of said charge rates multiplied by the difference between said charge rates and subtracts said second output as a discount 15 from the product of total elapsed time multiplied by the higher of the charge rates
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an insurance provision apparatus, adapted to make s charge for insurance of a person or an object, in which the 2Q first and second levels of charge are related to difference levels of insurance risk due to different conditions of activity or the person or object
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided an insurance provision apparatus including a unit comprising a geographic position information receiver to be
carried on or affixed to a person or an objcct, a controller means connected to the receiver and adapted to pass a location signal from the receiver when the object is removed fiom a authorised location, a radio transmitter connected to the controller and adapted to transmit a radio signal including the location signal when passed by the 30 controller
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Various embodiments of the invention are described, by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are in the form of block diagrams, and
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i if in which
Figure 1 illustrates diagrammatically various embodiments of the invention, and Figure 2 illustrates diagrammatically an alternative to Figure 1
DESCRIPTION
In Figure 1 a series of alternative input devices 10, 11, 12 13, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 represent respectively a telephone, a magnetic card reader, an input personal computer, 15 a key holder, a bar code reader, door opener, car remote locking device, vehicle immobilizer or alarm or global position indicator The input devices feed to a first modem 14, if such a modem is required The first modem 14 feeds through a lire 15, such as a telephone line or a radio link, to a second modem 16, again if such a modem 2q is required and into an output personal computer 17 or other recording, summing multiplying and displaying device If required, a signal emitter 18 such as an audible signal generator or a light can be provided
A typical use for the apparatus which is described in principle above, is fo* the
provision of vehicle insurance at two selected levels of protection and in which a different rate of charge is levied at the two levels
In a first method of calculating the overall charge, for example, when the vehicle is in 3® the garage no signal is sent from any of the input devices 10, 11, 12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 so that the output computer 17 records the elapsed time during which the vehicle is in the garage and multiplies !hat elapsed Urne by the low charge rate relevant for third party fire and theft only
When the car is to be taken out on the road, one of the input devices 10, 11, 12, 13, 19,
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, 21, 22, 23 is operated This can be by use of the telephone 10 to send an identification such as a personal identification number and a switching signal This reaches the output computer 17, connects to the recorder for the insuree's relevant data and switches over from the recorder operating at the low charge rate to the recorder for that insuree, operating at the high charge rate The high charge rate recorder measures the elapsed time at the high charge rate, multiplies that elapsed time by the high charge rate to produce a total charge at the high rate
When the high charge rate recorder is switched on, the low charge rate recorder is switched off The signal emitter 18 indicates when the high charge rate is operative
At the end of the journey, when the vehicle is returned to its garage, the telephone 10 is again used to send the personal identification number and a switching signal to switch off the high charge rate recorder and to switch on the low charge rate recorder
2Q Instead of the telephone 10 a magnetic personal caid can be used in the reader 11 to send an identification signal and a switching signal to the output computer 17 so as to record the elapsed times at the low or high charge rates, as appropriate
Similarly, and particularly where many vehicles are involved, such as a fleet or vehicle
hire establishment, the personal computer 12 may be used to send the relevant identification signals and switching signals to the output computer 17
For some applications it may be convenient to hold the vehicle key or other security 30 device in the special holder 13 which emits an identification signal and recorder change-over signal whenever the key is removed from or returned to the holder 13
For some applications the bar code reader 19 is affixed to some suitable stationary 35 structure, such as a garage doorway, marina entrance and exit passage, gate post, floor, roof or the like The vehicle, which may be wheeled, a boat or an aeroplane is provided
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with a suitable bar code positioned to be readable by the bar code reader 19 as the vehicle passes it
This indicates that the vehicle has left or returned to its base and the bar code/reader combination must be capable of detecting th^ direction of vehicle movement
Remote opening and closing of garage doors is well known, in which a transmitter held ^ by the vehicle driver or carried on the vehicle is operated by the driver as the door is approached The transmitter may emit a radio, infra-red or ultrasonic signal to a fixed receiver which initiate power opening of the door Alternatively, the driver can operate a stationary switch as it is passed by the vehicle
Closing of the garage door can be effected by the driver operating the transmitter or stationary switch as the vehicle departs from the garage or a time delay may operate to send a signal to initiate power closing of the door
The signals to initiate the power opening or power closing of the door can be used to inform the computer 17 of the vehicle movement through the input device 20
In another embodiment, the computer 17 is notified when the vehicle is locked or
unlocked, and the insurance rate adjusted accordingly Remote locking and unlocking is well known, in which the driver operates a hand held transmitter which emits a coded signal to a receiver on the vehicle
The coded signal could be also used to cause the input device 21 to inform the computer 17 when the vehicle is locked or unlocked in an authorised manner
Vehicle immobilizers are widely used to disable the engine, fuel supply or in some 35 other way, so that unauthorized driving of the vehicle is prevented, delayed or is limited in time or distance The input device 22 is connected to or is part of the vehicle
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immobilizer
The input device 23 sends to the computer 17 a signal derived from the actual geographic position of the vehicle Thus, when the vehicle is at its base station or at one of a plurality of autnonsed base stations, the lower insurance rate is applied
The input device 23 is conveniently a global position system receiver of the kind which ^ receives geographic co-ordinates of the device 23 in real time from a geostationary satellite system
Figure 2 illustrates diagrammatically a use of part of the system illustrated 15 diagrammatically in Figure 1 The system shown in Figure 2 can be installed initially m the system shown in Figure 1, or it can be installed as an addition, either at the same time as the system of Figure 1 or at a later date
2Q Alternatively the system of Figure 2 can be used independently of the system of Figure 1 for other purposes
In Figure 2, radio signal 30 from a global position satellite system (GPS) is received by a receiver 31 The signal 30 is representative of the geographic coordinates of the
receiver 31 The receiver 31 is connected to a transmission controller 32 which is connected in turn to a further transmitter 33 When required, the transmitter 33 emits a radio signal 34 to a base station 35 The receiver 31, controller 32 and transmitter 33 preferably comprise a compact self-contained unit 36 having an internal auxiliary 30 power pack
When the unit 36 is fitted to a vehicle, such as car, lorry, motorcycle, boat, aeroplane or any other mobile device, the controller 32 is connected to be actuated by a means which 35 detects unauthorized entry of the vehicle or removal of the vehicle from its intended location Such a detection means, may be a vehicle alarm system or part of the vehicle
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lgnition or fuel system having a secret over-ride switch
The detection means may be connected to any of the input devices 10, 11, 12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and would then cause the transmitter 33 to emit the signal 34 whenever the vehicle moves and at the same time there is or has been no cancelling signal from the input devices
^ The signal 34 preferably contains the geographical co-ordinate signal 30, either continuously or repeated periodically, a coded signal identifying the vehicle, and any other relevant data
On receipt at the base station 35, it will be possible for the recipient to alert the owner, security forces, police or the like
Since the unit 36 can be quite small, it can be fitted to any equipment of value, whether 2Q carried on the vehicle or not Such equipment, for example, includes stereo equipment or outboard engines, provided a suitable detection means is incorporated in the controller 32 to detect when the equipment is removed from its authorised location Such a detection means could be a hidden switch or the detection of a supply voltage fed through a power supply lead to the equipment
The unit 36 can be used on a person to detect, for example, kidnapping In this case the person at risk, or their bodyguard, could operate a switch on the unit 36 in an emergency The unit 36 is also usable, by means of the switch, when the person 30 realises that they are lost
In a second method of calculating the overall charge, the insuree pays the usual pre-paid annual or six monthly fee for the low charge rate insurance only ic third party fire and 35 theft In this method, when any of the input devices 10, 11, 12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 are used to inform the output computer 17 that the vehicle is being taken out on the
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29 £ e ■
road, the computer 17 records the elapsed time at the high charge rate and multiplies that elapsed time by the difference between the low and the high charge rates The product represents a surcharge onto the pre-paid fee
In a third method of calculating the overall charge, the insuree payr the usual pre-paid annual or six monthly fee for the high charge rate insurance le for comprehensive cover When use of the input devices 10, 11, 12, 13 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 informs the ^ output computer 17 that the vehicle is secure in the garage, the computer 17 multiplies the elapsed time in the garage by the difference between the low and the high charge rates The product represents a discount on the pre-paid fee
Instead of the input devices 10, 11, 12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 described above any suitable device can be used which detects when the > Jncle is secure in the garage Although the usual parameter for the overall charge calculation is time, it could, for example be vehicle mileage
Instead of using the radio link or telephone line 15, the information derived from the inputs 10, 11,12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 can be fed to the computer 17 by other media For example, the information, including relevant time or distance records can be entered onto a floppy disc, smart card, magnetic tape or a similar medium The
medium can then be sent by mail or by hand to the office containing the computer 17 Information relating to vehicle usage time, distance or location can be derived from a tachograph or similar vehicle-carried equipment
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