Patent ID: 8125326

Claim:
In a vehicular speed control system having a radio receiver, wherein said receiver is adapted to receive information signals from at least one radio transmitter a method comprising: detecting an information signal transmitted by a first radio transmitter; retrieving from the information signal one or more of: (a) indication of a speed limit of a speed control zone; (b) driving distance of the speed control zone; and (c) driving distance of a first signal detection zone; recording one or more of: (a) a time of an initial detection of said information signal; (b) a first identification (id) of said first transmitter; and (c) a corresponding odometer reading using displacement detection circuitry in said vehicular speed control system, at the time of said initial detection; determining a first velocity of a vehicle coupled to the receiver, wherein said receiver detects the information signal; determining whether to activate a speed notification alarm, wherein determining whether to activate a speed notification alarm further comprises: comparing said speed limit with said first velocity; when said first velocity is greater than said speed limit, activating the speed notification alarm; and when said first velocity is not greater than said speed limit, maintaining a de-activated state of said speed notification alarm; obtaining indication of an arrival of said vehicle at an entrance of the speed control zone, wherein said obtaining further comprises receiving an indication that said vehicle advances beyond the entrance of said speed control zone from one or more of: (a) detection of a sub-threshold power level of said information signal, wherein said power level is measured at one or more pre-set time intervals; (b) vehicle displacement measured by odometer readings; and (c) comparisons of vehicle displacement with the length of the speed control zone and the length of the signal detection zone; when said vehicle advances beyond the entrance of said speed control zone, recording a time corresponding to receipt of a first indication that said vehicle advances beyond the entrance of said speed control zone; determining a current velocity of said vehicle, when said vehicle has not arrived at one of: (a) the entrance of said speed control zone; and (b) an exit of a said speed control zone; when said current velocity is greater than said speed limit: (a) activating a speed notification alarm; or (b) maintaining an activated state of said speed notification alarm; and when said current velocity is not greater than said speed limit: (a) deactivating said speed notification alarm; or (b) maintaining a de-activated state of said speed notification alarm.