Patent ID: 8282163

Claim:
A seat system for a mass transit vehicle configured to provide at least one seating position, comprising: a seat cushion configured to support at least one occupant; a seat back configured to support at least one occupant; one seat belt device for each seating position configured to provide restraint to an occupant; wherein each seat belt device includes a webbing, a buckle mechanism, a tongue mechanism configured to detachably couple to the buckle mechanism, and a first sensing mechanism configured to detect and output a first signal indicating whether the seat belt device is configured in one of a first unbuckled position and a second buckled position; an electronic control unit having at least one input connection, at least one output connection, a microprocessor configured to process data received through the at least one input connection, and a memory device configured to store the data processed by the microprocessor; wherein the electronic control unit is coupled to a vehicle voltage source; at least one communication device coupled to the electronic control unit and configured to communicate externally to the seat system; and a second sensing mechanism configured to determine whether the seat is configured in one of a first unoccupied position and a second occupied position; wherein the second sensing mechanism outputs a second signal representative of the one of the first unoccupied position and the second occupied position; wherein the microprocessor is configured to monitor the first and second signals; and wherein the memory device is configured to record the first and second signals.