Abstract:
The invention is directed to a mandate compliance system, apparatuses, computer-readable media, and methods which strongly encourage a mandatee or probationer under order from a court to comply with the terms of the mandate. If the mandatee fails to comply with terms of a court order, then the mandatee loses the use of a controlled device. The controlled device can be his/her automobile or television set, for example. In some embodiments, a compliance device, such as a code-activated ignition lock, is installed into an automobile as the controlled device. Activation codes effective for limited periods of time are provided to the mandatee or probationer sequentially over time as long as such person meets milestones or scheduled performance under the mandate. The immediacy of deprivation of use of a controlled device motivates the mandatee to comply with the terms of the mandate.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This patent application is a U.S. nonprovisional application filed pursuant to Title 35, United States Code §§100 et seq. and 37 C.F.R. Section 1.53(b) claiming priority under Title 35, United States Code §119(e) to U.S. provisional application No. 60/573,073 filed May 21, 2004 naming Ian O&#39;Brien, W. Phillip McCurdy and James A. Walker as inventors. U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/573,073 is incorporated by reference into this application as if set forth in full hereinafter. Both the subject application and its provisional application have been or are under obligation to be assigned to the same entity. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     This invention relates to a mandate compliance system that can be used to strongly encourage a mandatee or probationer under a mandate from a court to comply with the terms of the mandate.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     In the administration of justice, courts often require a civil or criminal defendant to comply with terms of a mandate of the court. As used herein, one who is subject to a court mandate is referred to herein as a ‘mandatee’. The civil or criminal defendant normally consents to the terms of the mandate in lieu of harsher penalty or fine, thereby becoming a mandatee subject to the court order. For example, the court may require the mandatee under the terms of the mandate or probation agreement to do one or more of the following: (1) report to a probation officer at specified dates and times; (2) pay a probation supervision fee; (3) abstain from alcohol and/or drug use; (4) do not enter establishments where alcohol is served; (5) perform prescribed hours of community service; (6) appear for an alcohol and/or drug evaluation; (7) attend drug or alcohol counseling; (8) attend anger management counseling sessions. All too often, however, some mandatees will fail to comply with the terms of the mandate to which they are subject. Once the mandatee has left the courthouse, the threat of immediate punishment or deprivation of privileges can diminish to the point that the mandatee fails to comply with the terms of his/her mandate. Although the mandatee is generally aware that law enforcement authorities may eventually arrest the mandatee at which time they will be subject to harsher penalties and fines for noncompliance, mandatees in many cases run that risk. It would be desirable to provide a system and method that can force a mandatee to comply with the terms of a mandate to which they are subject through more immediate deprivation of privileges in the event of noncompliance with a mandate.  
         [0006]     Also related to this invention are ignition lock devices that have been used in the car rental and sales industry. To obtain payment from lessees/purchasers of automobiles, especially those who are at high risk of default on lease or purchase agreements involving financing, the vehicles are provided with code-activated ignition lock devices. Such devices are commercially available from numerous sources. For example, Pacific Insights, Inc. produces a device sold under the PastTime trademark, Pay Teck, Inc. produces a payment control device, and Payment Protection Systems, Inc. produces a device sold under the OnTime trademark. When the purchaser makes a payment each month, the purchaser is provided with the code that will operate the car for the next month. Thus, because the purchaser/lessee does not have use of the car if a payment is not made, the user is particularly motivated to make payments because loss of use of the car is relatively immediate as compared to the alternative process of repossession. It would be desirable if the incentive to take action made possible with the code-activated ignition lock device could be applied to other contexts to produce beneficial results.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The disclosed system, apparatuses, computer-readable media, and methods, in their various embodiments, each overcome one or more of the above-mentioned problems, and achieve additional advantages and benefits as hereinafter set forth.  
         [0008]     This invention is a mandate compliance system, apparatuses, computer-readable media, and methods that can be used to strongly encourage a mandatee or probationer under order from a court to comply with the terms of the mandate. More particularly, if the mandatee fails to comply with terms of a court order, then the mandatee loses the use of a controlled device such as his/her automobile or television set, for example. The immediacy of deprivation of use of a controlled device motivates the mandatee to comply with the terms of the mandate. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a mandate compliance system and method in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a view of a code-activated compliance device installed in a vehicle to ensure compliance with a court-ordered mandate in accordance with the invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an installer computer enabling an installer to program a compliance device with activation codes and corresponding dates during which respective activation codes can be used to operate the compliance device.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a compliance authority computer for administering a mandate.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart of a general method of the invention for enforcing compliance with a mandate through the use of a compliance device.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a general flow diagram of a method performed by an installer of a compliance device.  
         [0016]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  are a relatively specific flow diagram of a method for enforcing compliance with a court order through the use of a code-activated compliance device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]     The present inventions now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, these inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.  
       Definitions  
       [0018]     ‘And/or’ means ‘one, some, or all’ of the things immediately preceding and succeeding this phrase. Thus, ‘A, B and/or C’ means ‘any one, some or all of A, B and C.’ 
         [0019]     “Computer” can be any device capable of receiving input data, processing that data, and generating output data. The computer can be a personal computer, laptop computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), server, mainframe, minicomputer, or any other computing device. Examples are commercially available from numerous vendors, including Dell® Corporation, Round Rock, Tex.; Hewlett-Packard® Corporation, Palo Alto, Calif., IBM® Corporation, Armonk, N.Y., Sun Microsystems, Inc., Sunnyvale, Calif., and numerous others.  
         [0020]     “Input Device” can be a keyboard, mouse, pen, stylus or other device used to input data into a computer.  
         [0021]     ‘Mandate’ refers to a court order that provides a set of compliance actions and a schedule of due dates and optionally times for each action to be taken by a mandatee in order to comply with the mandate.  
         [0022]     ‘Mandatee’ refers to a person who is subject to a court mandate with compliance terms.  
         [0023]     ‘Memory’ or ‘computer-readable medium’ refers to virtually any element capable of storing data and/or code that can be read by a processor. “Memory’ or ‘computer-readable medium’ includes within its meaning a random-access memory (RAM) such as synchronous dynamic access RAM (SDRAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, compact disc (CD), digital video disc (DVD), hard disk drive unit, disk storage unit, magnetic tape, etc.  
         [0024]     “Network” is a group of computers and associates devices connected to communicate with on another, and can refer to a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), metropolitan area network (MAN), Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, SONET, the Internet I and II, etc.  
         [0025]     ‘Operating system’ enables a processor to communicate with other elements of a computing device. The operating system can be one of the systems sold under the marks Windows® CE, Palm OS, DOS, Windows® 95, Windows® 98, Windows® 2000, Windows® NT, Windows® XP, OS/2, OS/360, OS/400, iSeries, eSeries, pSeries, zSeries, UNIX, LINUX, and numerous others.  
         [0026]     “Output device” can be a monitor, browser display, light, liquid crystal display (“LCD”), light-emitting diode (LED), diode array, flat panel display, cathode ray tube (“CRT”), speakers, or other device for generating a display, sound and/or other presentation based upon the execution of a computer program by the processor.  
         [0027]     ‘Processor’ can be virtually any element capable of processing data, including a microprocessor, microcontroller, programmable gate array (PGA), field programmable gate array (FPGA), programmable logic array (PLA), programmable array logic (PAL), etc. The processor can be configured to process data in any electromagnetic-form including electrical, optical, electro-optical, or magnetic data, for example.  
         [0028]     ‘(s)’ or ‘(ies)’ means one or more of the thing meant by the word immediately preceding the phrase ‘(s)’. Thus, “key(s)” means “one or more keys.” 
       General System and Method  
       [0029]     An embodiment of the invention is now disclosed with reference to  FIG. 1 . The system  10  and method utilizing the same generally involves four entities: court  20 ; compliance authority  30 ; installer  40 ; and mandatee  50 . In this embodiment, the controlled device  60  is a vehicle. The system  10  and method utilizing same generally comprises the following steps:  
         [0030]     (1) The court  20  issues a mandate  24  with terms requiring the mandatee  50  to take certain compliance actions according to a schedule set by the court. A court officer  22  provides the mandatee with the mandate  24  including these terms. For example, these terms can include on or more of the following: report to a compliance officer at specified dates and times; pay a probation or mandate supervision fee; abstain from alcohol and/or drug use; do not enter establishments where alcohol is served; perform prescribed hours of community service; appear for an alcohol and/or drug evaluation; attend drug or alcohol counseling; and/or attend anger management counseling sessions.  
         [0031]     (2) The mandatee  50  meets with a compliance officer  32  of the compliance authority  30 . This compliance authority  30  is generally a contractor of the court  20  who is charged with administration of court-ordered mandates. The compliance officer  32  advises the mandatee  50  of the terms of compliance under the mandate  24  and instructs the mandatee  50  to take his/her vehicle to a certified installer  40  for installation of a compliance device  70 , in this embodiment a code-activated ignition lock device.  
         [0032]     (3) The compliance authority  30  advises the installer  40  of the schedule of compliance dates required by the mandate  24 , and requests the installer  40  to program a compliance device with activation codes according to the schedule of dates in the mandate.  
         [0033]     (4) The mandatee  50  takes his/her controlled device  60 , in this embodiment a vehicle, to the installer  40 . The installer  40  installs the code-activated compliance device  70 . The installer  40  further programs the compliance device  70  with activation codes that are only usable for a defined period corresponding to the schedule of compliance actions required by the mandate  24  provided through the compliance authority  30 . The compliance device  70  is such that the mandatee  50  must enter the activation code in order to use the controlled device  60 . Thus, in this embodiment, the user must enter an activation code in order to start the vehicle  60 . However, the rest of the compliance codes programmed into the compliance device  70  are not provided to the mandatee  50 . Thus, the mandatee  50  only has an activation code that is effective until the next check point in time at the end of the compliance period underway, at which the compliance authority  30  determines whether the mandatee  50  has complied with the mandate  50  for the action(s) required by the mandate  24  in the previous compliance period.  
         [0034]     (5) The installer provides the activation codes and schedule to the compliance authority  30 . The compliance authority  30  now has the activation codes needed for the mandatee  50  to operate the controlled vehicle  60 .  
         [0035]     (6) The mandatee  50  next returns to his/her everyday routine, except that the mandatee  50  must take compliance actions pursuant to the mandate  24  as prescribed.  
         [0036]     (7) The mandatee  50  takes compliance actions according to the schedule set forth in the mandate  24 . Thus, the mandatee  50  can be required to report to a compliance officer at specified dates and times; pay a probation or mandate supervision fee; abstain from alcohol and/or drug use; refrain from entering establishments where alcohol is served; perform prescribed hours of community service; appear for an alcohol and/or drug evaluation; attend drug or alcohol counseling; and/or attend anger management counseling sessions.  
         [0037]     (8) The compliance authority monitors the mandatee&#39;s compliance with the terms of the mandate  24  to ensure that the mandatee  50  has taken the necessary compliance action(s). The system can be set up so that only in the event the mandatee fails to perform a required compliance action is the compliance authority  39  notified of the mandatee&#39;s noncompliance. Such notification of noncompliance will be manifestly clear to the compliance authority  30  in many cases. For example, if the mandatee  50  fails to report to the compliance officer  32 , or fails to pay the compliance authority  30  an administration fee (e.g., for installation and use of the compliance device  70 ), then it is apparent to the compliance authority  30  that the mandatee  50  has not complied with an action required by the mandate  24 . In other cases, a third party can report noncompliance. For example, a third party entity administering community service, alcohol or drug testing, or counseling can report any failure to perform work, subject himself/herself to testing, or to attend a meeting required under the mandate  24 . In addition, law enforcement officers and others can report a failure on the part of the mandatee  50  to abstain from alcohol and/or drug use, or failure to avoid establishments where alcohol is served.  
         [0038]     (9) The compliance authority  30  provides the mandatee  50  with activation codes required to operate the controlled device  70 . This can be done through a telephone call application administered by the compliance authority  30 , into which the mandatee  50  can call to receive the next activation code for the compliance device  70  shortly prior to expiration of the activation code in use. However, this does not exclude provision of the activation code to the mandatee  50  through any known communication means, such as a telephone call, mailed notification, emailed notification, secure website, or other means. Alternatively, if the compliance authority  30  determines that the mandatee  50  has failed to take a required compliance action, the compliance authority  30  notifies the court  20  and mandatee  50  of the non-compliance with the terms of the mandate  24 . No further activation codes will be provided by the compliance authority  30  to the mandatee  50  in this circumstance, and the mandatee  50  must then return to the court  20  for any further disposition of the mandate  24 .  
         [0039]     (10) The mandatee  50 , compliance authority  30 , and any involved third parties continue the cycle of steps (7)-(9) until the last required compliance step has been taken by the mandatee  50 . The mandatee  50  then returns to the installer  40  with the vehicle  60  for extraction of the compliance device  70 . The mandatee  50  has thus completed the actions required by the mandate  24  by the required due dates, and is thus free to return to his/her normal life without the need to perform any further compliance actions under the mandate  24 .  
         [0040]     In  FIG. 2  an exemplary installation of the compliance device  70  in a controlled device, in this embodiment, a vehicle, is shown. The compliance device  70  can be mounted with a metal or plastic bracket or strap  71  to the steering column  72  to which the steering wheel  73  is attached. The compliance device  70  is connected in series with the ignition switch  74  and the remainder of the ignition system including the vehicle battery, fuse, and starter. The compliance device  70  can comprise a keypad  700 , a processor  701 , a clock  702 , a memory  703  storing data  704  and program  705 , switch  706 , program interface  707 , coupled to bus  708 . The compliance device  70  can be programmed by the compliance authority  30  using a computer (not shown) which connects to the program interface  707  of the compliance device  70 . The processor  70  receives schedule data  703  with activation codes and respective times of activation corresponding with the due dates of compliance actions to be taken by the mandatee  50 . The processor  701  executes program  705  stored in its memory  703 , causing it to store the received activation codes and corresponding activation times in its memory  703  as data  704 . Once the compliance device  70  is programmed, the mandatee  50  is provided with activation codes as the mandatee progresses through the compliance actions required under mandate  24 . If the mandatee  50  desires to operate the controlled device or vehicle  60 , the mandatee  50  operates keys  709  to enter the activation code. For example, if the activation code were “241321” then the mandatee  50  operates the keys  709  to enter this number into the  700 . In response to operation of the keypad  700  the processor  701  retrieves the activation code corresponding to the time as determined by clock  702  from the data  703  stored in the memory  703 . If the processor  701  determines that the activation code entered by the mandatee  50  using the keys  709  of the keypad  700  matches the activation code stored as data  703  in the memory  703  for the corresponding date and/or time indicated by the clock  702 , then the processor  701  activates the switch  706 , under its execution of the program  705 . This permits the mandatee  50  to activate the vehicle starter by turning key  710  in ignition switch  74 , causing the battery to power the starter to start the vehicle&#39;s engine. Conversely, if the mandatee  50  an activation code that the processor  701  does not match the corresponding activation code stored in the memory  703  corresponding to the time of entry of the activation code, the processor  701  does not activate the switch  706  to close the ignition circuit so that the mandatee  50  cannot start the vehicle even if the key  70  is turned in the ignition switch  74 . Because the mandatee  50  can only continue to receive usable activation codes by complying with compliance actions required under the mandate  24 , the mandatee  50  is highly motivated to take the required actions because noncompliance deprives him/her of the use of the controlled device, in this case, the vehicle  60 . Most mandatees  50  will prefer to take required compliance actions rather than be deprived of the use of the controlled device  70 .  
         [0041]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an installer computer  300  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The computer  300  generally comprises processor  301 , input device  302 , output device  303 , communication interface  304 , programming interface  305 , and memory  306  coupled via bus  307 . The memory  306  contains data  308  and computer program  309  that the processor  301  executes in order to perform the functions described herein. The data  308  contains a table  310  storing mandate identification (ID) data  311 , device ID data  312 , date data  313 , and activation code data  314 . The mandate ID data  311  identifies the particular mandate  24  to which the mandatee  50  is subject. The device ID data  312  Indicates the identification number of the compliance device  70  assigned to the mandatee  50 . The date data  313  indicates the start date for use of a corresponding activation code indicated by associated data  314 . These dates correspond to the schedule of compliance actions set forth in the mandate. Thus, the table  310  indicates that mandatee  50  subject to the mandate  24  identified by the data  311  having value “95719084” has been assigned the compliance device  70  having identification number “4630149873” which has activation codes “314231”, “412341”, “414321”, “1423”, “23123” indicated by data  312  which are effective for one month starting on respective dates “05-01-2004”, “06-01-2004”, “07-01-2004”, “08-01-2004”, “09-01-2004” as indicated by the data  314 . The input device  302  (such as a keyboard and/or mouse) and the output device  303  (such as a monitor or display) enable the worker  42  of the installer  40  to interact with the computer  300  to enter, modify, and/or delete the data  311 - 314  as appropriate. The communication interface  304  (such as a network interface card (NIC) or modem) enables the computer  300  to communicate with the computer of the compliance authority  30 . The communication interface  304  can be coupled to communicate with the computer of the compliance authority  30  via a network. The programming interface  305  enables the processor  301  to retrieve the compliance device ID data  312  and to program the compliance device  700  with the dates/times and corresponding activation codes indicated by data  313 ,  314 .  
         [0042]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of a compliance authority computer  400  used by the compliance authority  30  to administer the mandate  24 . The computer  400  comprises a processor  401 , an input device  402 , an output device  403 , a communication device  404 , and a memory  405 , coupled to communicate via the bus  406 . The memory  405  stores data  407  and program  408  which the processor  401  executes in order to perform the functions herein described as associated with the computer  400 . In particular the processor  401  executes the program  408  to receive the mandate ID data  410 , the mandatee data  411  (mandatee name, driver&#39;s license number, social security number, address, telephone number, email address, or other contact information), compliance date data  412  which sets the date and/or time by which the mandatee  50  must take a compliance action, compliance action data  413  which describes the nature of the compliance action required of the mandatee  50 , action taken data  414  which indicates whether the mandatee  50  took the action by the required date, date data  415  which indicates the start date for use of a corresponding activation code indicated by data  416 , and device ID data  417  indicating the particular compliance device  70  installed in the controlled device  60  of the mandatee  50 . The computer  400  can be coupled via communication interface  404  to receive the data  410 ,  411 ,  412 ,  413  from the court computer system or can be entered into the computer  400  by the compliance officer  32  according to the mandate  24  by operating the input device  402  using the output device  403 . The processor  401  receives and stores this date in the memory  405  as it executes the program  408 . The computer  400  can also interrogate and receive data  410 ,  415 ,  416 ,  417  from the installer computer  300  to obtain the activation codes  416  and effective dates  415  for use of each code once the installer  30  has programmed the compliance device  70  for installation in the controlled vehicle  60 . The data  414  can be input by the compliance officer  32  or received from third parties as the compliance authority  30  monitors the mandatee  50  to determine whether the mandatee  509  has taken the required compliance actions indicated by data  413  by the due dates indicated by the data  415 . For example, in the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the mandatee  50  is required to take three actions in the month of May 2004, namely, to attend a meeting with the compliance officer  32  on May 1, 2004, to pay a fine of US $300 by May 15, 2004, and to attend counseling for alcohol abuse on May 20, 2004. In addition, the mandatee  50  took the required compliance action of performing community service on Jun. 1, 2004 as required. The mandatee  50  has complied with all required compliance actions by the due date, so the compliance authority  30  provides the activation code “412341’ so that the mandatee  50  can continue to use the controlled device  60  in the month of June 2004. However, on Jul. 1, 2004, the mandatee  50  fails to attend a scheduled meeting with the compliance officer  32 . The compliance authority  30  thus does not provide the mandatee  50  with the activation codes  416  for the month of July 2004 and subsequent months so that the mandatee  50  can no longer activate the compliance device  70 , thereby preventing use of the controlled device  60 . The mandatee  50  is thus motivated to come back into compliance with the terms of the mandate  24  if the court  20  will so permit because the mandatee  50  cannot operate his/her vehicle  60  without the necessary activation code.  
         [0043]      FIG. 5  is a flow diagram of a method performed by the compliance authority  30  in one embodiment of the invention. In Step S 500 , the compliance authority  30  advises the mandatee  50  of the terms of the mandate  24  including the term requiring installation of a compliance device  70  in the controlled device  60  (a vehicle in this embodiment). The compliance authority  30  further provides the mandatee  50  with a schedule of compliance actions and respective due dates. In Step S 502  the compliance authority  30  obtains consent from the mandatee  50  to the terms of the mandate  24 , one of the terms including installation of the compliance device  70  in the vehicle  60 . In Step S 504  the compliance authority  30  receives the activation codes and schedule from the installer  40  after the mandatee  50  has taken the controlled vehicle  60  to the installer  40  for installation of the compliance device  70  programmed with activation codes according to the schedule of compliance actions. In Step S 506  the compliance authority  30  notifies the mandatee  50  of upcoming compliance actions and due dates. This is an optional step and need not be performed because the compliance actions were previously provided to mandatee  50  along with the mandate  24  in Step S 500 . As with other notifications herein, the compliance authority  30  can provide notification to the mandatee by any known means, including posting to a secured website accessible to the mandatee by entry of a user name and password, by email notification, by telephone notification, by mail, etc. In Step S 508  the mandatee  50  is monitored for compliance with the terms of the mandate  24 . In Step S 510  the compliance authority  30  determines whether the mandatee  50  has complied with all compliance actions required in the compliance period. If not, the compliance authority  30  records the noncompliance and in Step S 514  notifies the court of the noncompliance. In Step S 516  the compliance authority  30  withholds any further activation codes so that the mandatee  50  is deprived of the use of the controlled vehicle  50  at the end of the compliance period underway. Hence, the activation code necessary to activate compliance device  70  for the next compliance period is not be provided to the mandatee  50  by the compliance authority  30 . Conversely, if in Step S 510  it is determined that the mandatee  50  has taken the compliance actions by the due dates required under the mandate  24 , then in Step S 518  the compliance authority  30  determines whether the last compliance step required under the mandate  30  has been taken. If not, then the compliance authority  30  executes Step  508  and subsequent steps again. Conversely, if the compliance authority  30  determines that the last compliance step has been taken in Step S 518 , the compliance authority  30  notifies the mandatee  50  to return the vehicle  60  to the installer  40  for de-installation of the compliance device  70  in Step S 520 . If in Step S 522  the compliance authority  30  does not receive notice from the installer  40  within a prescribed period of time that the mandatee  50  has returned to the installer  40  with the controlled device  60  to permit the installer  40  to de-install the compliance device  70 , then the compliance authority  30  executes steps S 512 - 516  because the mandatee  50  has not complied with a necessary term of the mandate  24 , namely, to return the compliance device  70  to the installer  40 . Conversely, if the compliance authority  30  receives notification from the installer  40  that the mandatee  50  has returned to the installer  40  for de-installation of the compliance device  70 , then in Step S 524  the compliance authority  30  notifies the court  20  that the mandatee  50  has complied with all terms of the mandate  50 . The court  20  then discharges the mandatee  50  from further obligation under its mandate  24 .  
         [0044]      FIG. 6  is a method performed by an installer  40  of a compliance device  70  into a controlled device  60  such as a vehicle. In Step S 600  the method begins with the installer  40  receiving notification from the compliance authority  30  that the mandatee  50  is required under the mandate  24  to make an appointment to have the compliance device  70  installed pursuant to the mandate  24 . In Step S 602 , the mandatee  50  arrives at the installer&#39;s location and provides consent to installer receiving consent from the mandatee  50  to installation of the compliance device  70 . It is possible for the mandatee  50  to have provided the consent prior to obtaining the mandate  24  from the court  20 . In Step S 604  the installer  40  obtains payment for installation of the compliance device  70  and/or leasing or purchasing the compliance device  70  from the mandatee  50 . In Step S 606  the installer  40  installs the compliance device  70  into the controlled vehicle  60 . In Step S 608  the mandatee  50  is advised of the first activation code required to operate the compliance device  70  in order to activate the vehicle. Without the activation code, the mandatee  50  cannot start the vehicle. In Step S 610  the worker  42  of the installer  40  trains the mandatee  50  to enter the activation code into the compliance device  70  using the keys  709  of keypad  700  (see  FIG. 2 ). In Step S 612  the installer  40  provides the programmed activation codes and corresponding schedule of compliance periods for which each activation code is effective to the compliance authority  30 . In Step S 614  the installer  40  de-installs the compliance device  70  upon return of the mandatee  50  to the installer&#39;s location after completed the compliance actions required under the mandate  50 .  
         [0045]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  are flow diagrams of a relatively specific embodiment of a method in accordance with the invention. In Step S 700  a defendant is charged with a violation of law and is convicted. Generally, in lieu of harsher sentencing, the defendant is provided with a court mandate  24  to which the defendant consents to comply, thereby becoming a mandatee  50  in Step S 702 . In Step S 704  the compliance authority  30  is assigned by the court to administer the mandate  24  to which the mandatee  50  is subject. In Step S 706  the mandatee  50  consents to installation of the compliance device  70  as one of the terms under the court mandate  24 . In Step S 708 , as required by the mandate  24 , the mandatee  50  makes an appointment with the installer  40  to install the compliance device  70  in the controlled vehicle  70 . In Step S 710  the mandatee  50  brings the controlled vehicle  70  to the installer&#39;s location for installation of the compliance device  70  therein. In Step S 712  the mandatee  50  leases or purchases the compliance device  70  from the installer  40 . In step S 714  the installer  40  sets the activation codes and effective dates and/or times in the controlled device  70 . In step S 716  the installer  40  installs the compliance device  70  in the controlled vehicle  70 . In Step S 718  the installer  40  provides the mandatee  50  with the first activation code, and in Step S 720  the worker  42  of the installer  40  trains the mandatee  50  to enter this activation code into the compliance device  70 . In Step S 722  the installer  40  notifies the compliance authority  30  of the activation codes and effective dates and/or times set in the compliance device  70 . In Step S 724  the mandatee  50  is monitored to determine whether the mandatee  50  has taken the compliance actions required by the due dates and/or times applicable for each action. In Step S 726  if the mandatee  50  fails to take a compliance action by the due date and/or time, the mandatee  50  is notified to take a compliance action under a grace period. This is an optional step and need not be used because the mandatee  50  was previously provided with the mandate  24  in step S 702  including all required compliance actions and due dates and/or times. In Step S 728  a determination is made to establish whether the mandatee  50  has complied with the compliance action(s) for the compliance period underway within the dues dates and/or times, as required by the mandate  24 . If not, in Step S 730  the compliance authority  30  withholds the activation code for the next period of operation of the compliance device  70 . In Step S 732  the compliance authority  30  notifies the court and installer  40  of noncompliance with the mandate  24 . The installer  40  attempts to retrieve the compliance device  70  in Step S 734 . In Step S 734  the compliance authority  30  notifies the court  20  of nonpayment and requests a lien be placed on the controlled vehicle  60 . In Step S 738  the compliance authority  30  obtains any payment due from the mandatee  50  for use of the compliance device  70 .  
         [0046]     Conversely, if in Step S 728  the compliance authority  30  determines that the mandatee  50  has complied with all compliance actions due under the mandate  24 , the compliance authority  30  determines in Step S 740  whether the mandatee  50  has taken the last compliance action required under the mandate  24 . If not, the method proceeds to Step S 752  in which a determination is made to establish whether the end of the compliance period underway has occurred. If so, in Step S 742  the compliance authority  30  provides the mandatee  50  with the next activation code for the controlled device  70  so that the mandatee  50  will be able to use the controlled vehicle  70  in the next compliance period. After performance of Step S 758  or if the determination in Step S 756  is negative, the method progresses to Step S 724  and subsequent steps. Conversely, if the determination in Step S 740  is affirmative, then in Step S 742  the compliance authority  30  notifies the mandatee  50  to return with the controlled vehicle  60  to the installer  40 . In Step S 744  the mandatee  50  returns to the installer  40  with the controlled vehicle  60 . In Step S 746  the installer  40  removes the compliance device  70  the controlled vehicle  60 . In Step S 748  the installer  30  collects any outstanding payment due from the mandatee  50  for use of the controlled device  70 . In Step S 750  the installer  40  notifies the compliance authority of the fact that the compliance device  70  has been removed from the controlled vehicle  60  as well as any payment received from the mandatee  50 . In Step S 752  the compliance authority  30  notifies the court  20  and mandatee  50  of completion of the compliance actions by the due dates and/or times required under the mandate  24 . In Step S 754  the court  20  enters final disposition discharging the mandatee  50  from any further obligation under the mandate  24 .  
         [0047]     If in Step S 728  the determination establishes that the mandatee  50  has not complied with the terms of the mandate  24  by taking the required compliance actions, in Step S 760  the compliance authority  30  withholds any further activation codes from the mandatee  50  for the next and any subsequent compliance period. In Step S 762  the compliance authority S 762  notifies the court  20  and the installer  40  of noncompliance with the mandate  24 . In Step S 764  the compliance authority S 764  retrieves the compliance device  70  from the mandatee&#39;s controlled vehicle  60  if this is economically feasible. In Step S 766  the compliance authority  30  requests the court  20  to place a lien on the controlled device  60 , making it impossible for the defaulting mandatee  50  to receive certain government services such as vehicle registration or license renewal unless the defaulting mandatee  50  provides the compliance authority  30  with the compliance device  70  itself or restitution for the value of the compliance device  70 , together with any payment then outstanding for use of the device. In Step S 768  the compliance authority  30  receives, or at least attempts to receive, any payment due from the mandatee  50  for use of the compliance device  70 .  
         [0048]     In the foregoing description, it should be apparent that the memory  703  storing data  704  and program  705 , the memory storing and, the memory storing and, can be implemented as computer-readable media which when executed by a computer perform the functions herein described with respect to such programs and data.  
       Alternative Embodiments  
       [0049]     Although in the embodiments disclosed herein the controlled device  60  is a vehicle, the controlled device  60  could as well be other devices such as a television set to which the mandatee  50  is deprived of use if he/she fails to comply with the terms of a mandate  24 .  
         [0050]     It should be appreciated that in some implementations of the invention, the compliance authority  30  and the installer  40  can be the same entity.  
         [0051]     In addition, it is possible that the compliance authority  30  and compliance device  70  can be fitted with respective transceivers and antennas, enabling these devices to communicate with one another. The compliance authority  30  could then wirelessly program the compliance device  70  with a new activation code effective the next time the mandatee  50  attempts to use a controlled device.  
         [0052]     Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.