Emergency warning system for vehicles

Emergency Warning System for Vehicles Telematics technologies are self-orientating open network architecture structure of variable programmable intelligent beacons developed for application in the development of intelligent vehicles - with target intent to accord (blend, or mesh) warning information with surrounding vehicles in the vicinity of travel, intra-vehicle, and infrastructure. Emergency warning system for vehicles telematics particularly developed for international harmonisation and standardisation of vehicle-to-vehicle – infrastructure-to-vehicle – and vehicle-to-infrastructure real-time Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC) systems.

Telematics most commonly relate to computerised systems that update information at the same rate as they receive data, enabling them to direct or control a process such as an instantaneous autonomous warning notification in a remote machine or group of machines. By use of telematics as applied to intelligent vehicle technologies, instantaneous direction travel cognizance of a vehicle may be transmitted in real-time to surrounding vehicles traveling in the local area of vehicles equipped (with EWSV) to receive said warning signals of danger.

A Telematics Mobile Network Neighborhood of Vehicles

:an "Intelligent Radio beacon Communications System".

Emergency warning system for vehicles intelligent beacons relate to intelligent vehicle technologies, where key functional benefits include in-vehicle and intra-vehicular visual/aural severe braking early warning emergency notification capabilities. For example, remotely installed intelligent beacon modules provide for early warning information to motorists about to encounter potentially hazardous scenarios (such as a car accident) on the road, whereby distinct early warning alerts are generated by the in-vehicle system to assist the driver in (preventive) car safety. For example, the microprocessor of the warning system may be programmed to read signals transmitted from a remote beacon transmitter installed on a remote carrier, such as, for example, a non-motorized vehicle (e.g. bicycle or child's ride-on toy), an emergency vehicle (e.g. ambulance, fire truck, police vehicle), or a potentially hazardous site (e.g. off-road and on-road construction sites, school zones, hospital zones, accident sites, etc.).

Remotely installed intelligent beacon transmitter devices are designed to transmit signals employing the same message structure employed between the warning systems installed on decelerating (severe braking) moving vehicles and surrounding motorized vehicles. Additionally, such signals may be broadcast on the same frequency band as the (emergency warning system for vehicles) transceiver of the warning system installed on the motor vehicles. The transmitted signals from the remote transmitter would correspond to the presence or location of the transmitter (through range limiting of the beacon) as well as the type of potentially hazardous situation (i.e. a bicycle versus a road construction zone) by use of the Unit Identification message segment to designate the type of alert condition. The emergency warning system for vehicles microprocessor then activates the alerting device to warn the drivers of the presence and/or type of potential danger on the road ahead. The alert generated by the alerting device, in turn corresponds to the particular potentially hazardous situation. Moreover, the type of alert generated could be different from the alert generated in response to a decelerating moving vehicles as described above.

The Emergency warning system for vehicles beacon system inherently serves as an information system for vehicles, providing precision (targeted to the specific travel lane transmission, including magnetic orientation angular range desired window) notification of road signs such as maximum and minimum speed limit, curve ahead, crossing, uneven pavement, merge, deer crossing, slow down, resume normal speed, etc, etc.

In-vehicle beacon and remote beacon emergency warning information is tactically transmitted via radio frequency signal alerts provided to the approaching, following, and drivers of surrounding vehicles traveling in the same general direction, or heading (magnetic orientation), and within short range communication radio frequency coverage area. key intent of system is to provide motorist convenient in-vehicle aural visual early warning alerts information notification to the driver of any on or off road encountered potential hazards and imminent warnings of danger information.

The system designed and equipped with extended capabilities include deciphering distinct emergency warning signals from remote beacons installed at or near construction zones, hospital sites, firehouses, accident sites, police stations, non-motorized carriers - - everywhere - - scenario specific identification beacon signals provide advanced in-vehicle warning notice to the drivers of a potentially hazardous condition ahead, or just common situations motorists normally encounter and are in need of additional awareness or advanced notice.

Most commonly, beacon system program access flexibility allows for self-contained beacon units to be accessed remotely via radio frequency handheld console transmitter module, laptop, and/or cellular remote transmission for programming to provide updated modification of refreshed data including beacon transceiver identification code, range, and desired transmission orientation variables for information alert transmission to surrounding vehicles on a given travel route.

Emergency Warning (Intelligent Beacon) System for Vehicles

;The Speed Limit Sign Beacon:A self-contained intelligent smart radio technology beacon module may be installed on a speed limit sign (or in lieu of) to reflect current or recommended speed limit (in-vehicle signing) based on weather conditions, ice, rain, potential hazards, etc.

;Fog Zone Beacon:Self-contained intelligent beacons may be installed throughout the road and in known fog zone areas where during foggy conditions motorists are alerted of the fog zone condition ahead.

;Freezing Bridge Surface Beacon:Self-contained intelligent beacon/s may be installed on the surface of the bridge/s that transmits early warning to approaching motorists of potentially freezing slippery surfaces.

;Freezing Road Surface Sign Beacon:Self-contained intelligent beacon transmitters may be installed throughout the road surface (similar to the current reflector modules in use) for early in-vehicle early warning to approaching vehicles of icy conditions.

;Safety Sign Beacon:A self-contained intelligent beacon may be installed on a sign or the surface of the road for in-vehicle warning reminder to drivers to Stay Awake, Arrive Alive, Drive Safely!

;Rest Area Sign Beacon:A self-contained intelligent beacon may be installed on a sign or the surface of the road for in-vehicle reminder of the services provided at the rest area ahead.

;Rail Road Crossing Beacon:The approaching train may utilize the self-contained intelligent beacon for in-vehicle early warning that the train is approaching and in the vicinity of the immediate vehicle/s (heading, or earth magnetic orientation) with potential to cross the railroad tracks.

;Hazardous Materials Vehicle Transporter Beacon:
Hazmat vehicles may intermittently, continuously, or on command, transmit (with or without driver consent) content of cargo, driver authentication and identification, etc. With the application of Beacon Interface (Beacon to Beacon bi-directional communications) the vehicle may be safely disabled and brought to a stop before entering a restricted zone such as a tunnel, bridge or restricted area.

;School Bus Beacon:A self-contained intelligent smart radio beacon may be installed on a school bus for the purpose of alerting drivers of the impending danger surrounding the vehicles. Transmission signals may be intelligently programmed and transmitted in the forward (parallel) and/or reverse direction of the bus, or surrounding (up to 360 degree radius) the bus as needed to alert approaching vehicles in the vicinity of the potential danger.

;Work Zone Beacon:Multiple self-contained intelligent beacons may be installed in every critical area as deemed to provide for continued warnings of workers present in the immediate work zones. In the future, in-vehicle alerts may include self-controlled speed limitation of vehicle and autonomous deceleration in such areas.

;Construction Zone Beacon:Self-contained intelligent beacons may be installed on a sign post, cone, drum, barricades, construction vehicles, towers, or on the surface of the road for surrounding (or variable, preprogrammed directed heading target transmission) in-vehicle warning communication reminder of potential dangers on the road ahead.

;Accident Site Beacon:The first responder, or police officer may easily program and activate the self-contained intelligent beacon (installed on the emergency vehicle or remote unit) which in turn transmits specific commands directed exclusively to the approaching drivers (or all affected motorists as appropriate) of the vicinity of the accident site. Such commands may include, and are not limited to instructions to detour, or safely maintain a specific speed on a specific lane or lanes, enforcing strict 'no rubbernecking' instructions on command.

;Emergency Vehicle Beacon:A first responder, or law enforcement officer rushing to an emergency scene or on call to an accident site may activate the self-contained high-power directional intelligent beacon to alert drivers traveling on the road ahead of the approaching emergency vehicle commanding right-of-way use of traffic lanes.

;Amber Alert Beacon:Smart radio intelligent beacons wirelessly couple to in-vehicle graphical user interface (similar to the displays of navigation systems currently deployed in newer vehicles), motorists traveling on the highway randomly receive amber alert warnings including victim information, picture, and identification data to assist the general public traveling in the general vicinity of the reported incident locate the missing person.

;Traffic Light Beacon:In combination with a smart radio intelligent beacon, a sender receiver directional sensor unit may be installed at or near a traffic signal, where the sensor picks up the speed of an approaching vehicle to the intersection - - the traffic light beacon transmits back to the vehicle a distinct warning signal (including directional heading magnetic orientation) alert of unacceptable vehicle speed approach towards a red light. Due to intelligent radio transmission, signal alerts are directed exclusively to be received by the potential violator.

;The Bicycle Beacon:Road sharing equipment, including non-motorized carriers, may also make safety use of the self-contained intelligent beacon system. The purpose and intent of the system is to make the approaching drivers in the general area aware of the potential danger surrounding the vehicle.

References

* [http://research.microsoft.com/~zhao/pubs/yang_x_v2v.pdf A Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication Protocol for Cooperative Collision Warning]
* [http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=6714127 Variable Programmable Intelligent Beacons (Emergency Warning System for Vehicles)]
* [http://crypto.stanford.edu/portia/papers/Zimmer.pdf Personal Information and the Design of Vehicle safety Communication Technologies: An Application of Privacy as Contextual Integrity]

Related Applications

* [http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=6249219 Severe Braking Warning System for Vehicles]
* [http://www.mytoday.at/servlets/servlet/microsite.showMicrosite;jsessionid=C32371A8AB83C87AC6CCA55C7D6D4F83?kdnid=230&micid=194&visid=0&bhcp=1 COOPERS]
* COOPERS - Co-operative Systems for Intelligent Road Safety

External links

* [http://intelligentvehicletechnologies.com Intelligent Vehicle Technologies home page]
* [http://www.ewh.ieee.org/tc/its/ IEEE Intelligent Transportation Systems Society]
* [http://www.standards.its.dot.gov/Documents/advisories/dsrc_advisory.htm Intelligent Transportation Systems standards on Dedicated Short Range Communications]
* [http://www.its.dot.gov/index.htm United States Department of Transportation Intelligent Transportation systems]
* [http://sie-solutions.com Simple Intelligent Electronic Solutions | Intra-vehicular interaction and travel direction cognizance]