Patent Publication Number: US-2003236723-A1

Title: Automatic billing system for a lawn mowing service using GPS

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The invention relates to a billing system for cutting lawns or otherwise periodically traversing a plot of land with a machine wherein the pattern of traverse is programmed and guided by a global positioning satellite (GPS).  
       [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art  
       [0004] The prior is replete with machines that follow pre-programmed paths and that navigate via GPS. In this category are numerous systems for guiding a lawnmower over a lawn for cutting the lawn. With the advent of automatic lawnmowers and their use by lawn mowing services, there remains a need for further automation of the method of delivering such services.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES  
       [0005] Accordingly, the invention provides a method comprising the steps of traversing a geographical plot with a machine, communicating with a positioning system from a transceiver on the machine to determine the geographical location of the plot, and transmitting the location from the transceiver to a programmer. These steps are combined with the steps of assigning an account code to the location, assigning a billing address for the location, transmitting from the transceiver to the programmer upon each occurrence of traversing the plot with the machine, generating a billing statement in response to a predetermined number of traverses of the plot, and sending the billing statement to the billing address.  
       [0006] The method is performed by an assembly that includes a machine for traversing the plot, a positioning receiver on the machine for determining the geographical location of the plot, a programmer for storing an account code and address for the plot location, a transmitter for transmitting the location from the machine to the programmer, and a statement generator for generating a billing statement in response to a predetermined number of traverses of the lawn. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0007] Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the subject invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0008] Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, a method and assembly for mowing a lawn and billing therefor is shown schematically in FIG. 1.  
     [0009] The assembly for mowing a lawn and billing therefor includes a machine  10  or lawnmower  10  for traversing a plot, e.g., cutting a lawn  12 . A global positioning satellite receiver  14  is disposed on the lawnmower  10  for determining the geographical location of the lawn or plot  12  by communicating with one or more satellites  16 . Alternatively, the positioning system may comprise a laser system as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,426,584 or the radio frequency systems shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,911,670 and 6,009,358.  
     [0010] The assembly includes a programmer  18  for storing an account code and address for the lawn  12  location. This may be in the form of an account number and a street address or other mailing or email address. The programmer may store the identification of the plot so that the operator inserts or picks the location from the memory of the programmer. A location transmitter  20  is disposed on the lawnmower  10  for transmitting the location from the lawnmower  10  to the programmer  18 . The transceiver  14 ,  20  and the programmer  18  include antennas  21  for establishing the radio transmission of signals.  
     [0011] Also included is a statement generator  22  driven by the programmer  18  for generating a billing statement in response to a predetermined number of cuttings of the lawn  12 , one or more, depending upon the billing frequency.  
     [0012] Accordingly, the invention provides a method comprising the steps of cutting a lawn or plot  12  with the lawnmower  10 , or traversing the plot  12  with another machine, communicating with the global positioning satellite  16  from the transceiver  14 ,  20  on the lawnmower  10  to determine the geographical location of the lawn  12 , and transmitting the location from the transceiver  14 ,  20  to the programmer  18 . These steps are combined with the steps of assigning an account code to the location, assigning a billing address for the location, transmitting from the transceiver  14 ,  20  to the programmer  18  upon each occurrence of cutting the lawn  12  with the lawnmower  10 , generating  22  a billing statement in response to a predetermined number of cuttings of the lawn  12 , and sending the billing statement to the billing address. The programmer  18  assigns the account code and registers the address. The programmer keeps track or memorizes the mowing of the lawn  12  by date, time of start and finish, and cutting pattern. By programming a cutting pattern for the lawn  12  and memorizing the pattern, an alarm  24  can be generated in response to the lawnmower  10  deviating from the programmed pattern. As alluded to, the programmer  18  includes a timer  26  for recording the period of time for mowing the lawn  12 .  
     [0013] As will be appreciated, the method may include cutting a plurality of lawns  12  with the same lawnmower  10 , transmitting from the transceiver  14 ,  20  to the programmer  18  upon each occurrence of the cutting of each lawn  12 , generating  22  a separate billing statement for each lawn  12  in response the cutting of each lawn  12 , and sending the billing statements to the respective billing addresses. In addition the method may include the steps of cutting a plurality of lawns  12  with a plurality of lawnmowers  10 , transmitting from the transceiver  14 ,  20  of each lawnmower  10  to the programmer  18  upon each occurrence of cutting each lawn  12 , generating  22  a separate billing statement for each lawn  12  in response to the cutting of each lawn  12 , and sending the billing statements to the respective billing addresses.  
     [0014] Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described within the scope of the appended claims, wherein that which is prior art is antecedent to the novelty set forth in the “characterized by” clause. The novelty is meant to be particularly and distinctly recited in the “characterized by” clause whereas the antecedent recitations merely set forth the old and well-known combination in which the invention resides. These antecedent recitations should be interpreted to cover any combination in which the incentive novelty exercises its utility. In addition, the reference numerals in the claims are merely for convenience and are not to be read in any way as limiting.