GB2496367A

GB2496367A - Alerting a vehicle driver to the presence of an emergency services vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2496367A
Application number: GB201116607A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Victor Welford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-09-26
Filing date: 2011-09-26
Publication date: 2013-05-15
Also published as: GB201116607D0

Abstract

Alerting a vehicle driver to emergency services vehicular presence by means of scanning and receiving equipment for determining said presence and relaying it to the driver. The presence may be detected by means of sound or light sensors. Alternatively a radio frequency receiver may receiving receive a RF warning signal emitted by the emergency vehicle. Such a device 2 may be integrated with the vehicles audio system 1 such that the warning may be issued thereon, e.g. by muting it and then playing a warning sound or message (optionally including distance or direction). The system may be integrated with a satellite navigation module

Description

INTELLECTUAL

*. . PROPERTY OFFICE Applicalion No. GB 1116607.1 RTM Date:11 March 201 The following terms are registered trademarks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document: Bluetooth Intellectual Properly Office is an operaling name of Ihe Patent Office www.ipo.gov.uk

A DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ALERTING A VEHICLE DRIVER TO EMERGENCY

SERVICES VEHICLUAR PRESENCE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device and method for alerting a vehicle driver to emergency services vehicular presence; more particularly for fit or retrofit to at least one vehicle and emergency services vehicle.

Background

Increasing urbanisation and higher traffic volumes are a subject of many studies and much innovation, and bring problems as well as solutions.

A particular and well-recognised problem is that of congestion. Roads become crowded and full, and it is believed that construction of more roads merely replicates and even augments this problem.

Accordingly many drivers, road or vehicle users are resigned to periods of congestion that blocks their way with relative frequency.

Unfortunately this cannot be accepted in all situations andior in relation to all vehicles.

Despite ever increasing miniaturisation and advancing technology mobile emergency services can never replace fixed or premises based services, such as hospitals; and it can be of vital importance even once a patient is stabilised by a mobile service such as a paramedic, that the patient is admitted to the hospital in short time.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem, including the following: International patent application WO 2010 033 062 (BERGQVIST) discloses a method in a network controller node for transmitting an emergency message to a mobile station within a cell of an access point (AP) connected to the network controller node within a telecommunications network. The network controller node receives information of the mobile station and determines location of the mobile station based on the received information. In addition, the network controller node receives an emergency notification comprising an indicator indicating affected area and determines that the mobile station is within the indicated affected area based on the determined location. That being the case, the network controller node then transmits the emergency message, via the access point (AP), to the mobile station in the cell.

Granted United States patent US 7 675 431 (CAOUETTE) discloses an apparatus to detect a sound frequency signal emitted by a warning device of vehicles comprising: a sensor to sense a selected sound frequency signal spectrum is in communication with an initial detection stage to detect a frequency of approximately 600 Hz and frequency of approximately 1400 Hz within a specified time interval; a signal identification stage in communication with said initial detection stage wherein said signal identification stage has a digital signal processor programmed to identify a wail and a yelp warning signal and to compare said wail and said yelp warning signal to a histogram stored in a memory to estimate the distance from said sound frequency signal; wherein said signal identification stage is placed in a power save mode on application of electrical power and is maintained in said power save mode until activated by said initial detection stage to process a gain output signal upon detection of said frequency of approximately 600 Hz and said frequency of approximately 1400 Hz within said specified time interval; sampling said gain output signal in 0.5 second increments for processing by a fast fourier transform algorithm and for conversion to a polar coordinate output representation; filtering the polar coordinate output representation for removal of background noise and storing the filtered signal in a memory in the form of a histogram; scanning the stored histogram on a first-in-last-out basis and comparing the histogram to a siren sound characteristic signal stored in the memory to identify a siren sound; and a user warning indicator controlled by said digital signal processor and an electronic power source.

Granted United States patent US 7 671 732 (SENNETT et al) discloses a method for providing information indicative of an emergency, the method comprising: receiving a notification via a network enabled portable device of the occurrence of an emergency broadcast; rendering, via the portable device, the notification in accordance with a potential disability of the user; determining a source of at least one video image of a sign language as one of the portable device or a network storage location: obtaining the at least one video image of a sign language from the determined source; and rendering, via the portable device, an emergency alert message indicative of at least a portion of the emergency broadcast, wherein the emergency alert message is formatted as the at least one video image of a sign language.

European patent application EP 2 020 648 (MODI et al) discloses a method of providing an emergency alert event notification in a digital cable ready device, comprising the steps of: configuring at least one of a plurality of emergency alert message notification options; storing into a memory the at least one of a plurality of configured notification options; receiving emergency alert event information; generating an emergency alert message corresponding to the emergency alert event information; and transmitting the emergency alert message according to the at least one of a plurality of configured notification options.

Japanese patent application JP 2008 245 110 (OZAKI) discloses an emergency notification apparatus is provided with an emergency situation detection means for detecting an emergency situation and a communication means for automatically trying communication with a plurality of previously registered contact communication terminals when the emergency situation is detected by the emergency situation detection means, and continuing automatic communication trial until communication with the plurality of contact communication terminals is established.

Granted Australian patent AU 2006 203 590 (BOSCACCI) discloses a system to provide a warning to a person in a vehicle when the vehicle is proximal or in a danger area to an emergency services vehicle or a hazard area, the system comprising an emitter on the emergency services vehicle or in or adjacent the hazard area, a radio associated with the vehicle, the radio having a receiver to receive the signal from the emitter, a speaker, a decoder to send a warning signal to the speaker when the receiver receives a signal from the emitter, and an interrupter to interrupt the radio output when the warning signal is sent.

In contrast the present invention provides a system for alerting a vehicle driver to emergency services, in order that the driver may react appropriately and autonomously and emergency services are minimally impeded in vital work.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a device and method for alerting a vehicle driver to emergency services vehicular presence; comprising scanning and receiving equipment which is capable of determining said vehicular presence and relaying the presence to the vehicle's driver.

The device and method in preferred embodiments are operable through wireless connectivity, typically via low frequency radio waves, in that a plurality of devices may operate with this method, wherein vehicles have equipment included constituting these devices that allow the vehicles to become immediately aware of any approaching presence, typically by inclusion of a unit in the emergency services vehicle.

Further embodiments may include sensors mounted to a vehicle rear or elsewhere that are configured to detect predefined and calibrated variables, which variables will indicate the presence.

These sensors may include noise sensors, and/or light sensors. Noise sensors may be able to identify between varying siren sounds and/or calculate estimated distance variables.

The scanning equipment ideally is therefore permanently connected to the vehicle's power supply, and engaged whenever the vehicle is running, and/or whenever the vehicle is in motion, The receiver device is ideally configured to only read or register signals as are predefined to indicate the vehicular presence of emergency services.

In order to complete or form the method, emergency services must carry units that transmit their presence.

Typically the relay comprises an audible and/or visual alert on or in the vehicle. In this way preferably even a less attentive or distracted driver is alerted to the presence and may act accordingly, such as pulling over, slowing down or driving carefully.

According to a second aspect of the present invention the device includes means to coordinate with or cancel the vehicle's radio, music or multimedia system, in order to alert the driver.

Typically the equipment is supplied as standard in vehicles at manufacture, and is hard wired into the system.

Further embodiments may be retrofit to existing vehicles, wherein they may for example function on wireless connectivity, capable of connection in a similar fashion to BLUETOOTH (Trade Mark) enabled cellular telephone operation through the system.

In this way a BLUETOOTH enabled radio, music or audiovisual system will allow interruption of the system's sounds where appropriate in order to relay the presence.

The device as ideally fitted to the user vehicle will additionally include means to generate sounds, and play recorded messages.

In this way, on detection of a presence the device would play a recorded message to relay or advise of the presence. Further embodiments may select, choose, form or relay a message that includes distance, direction or other variable as appropriate.

Yet further embodiments may be formed by or incorporated in systems that may be used to replace existing audio or other systems.

Further embodiments may be formed by or incorporated in satellite navigation modules.

Advantages of use of such modules are that the presence may be detected via a plurality of means, including, in preferred embodiments global positioning system; wherein the module may be enabled to display location of the presence, in relation to the vehicle and/or roads the vehicle is travelling upon.

Ideally the presence may be capable of being activated or deactivated, at or by the emergency services. For example, whereby the presence is activated and/or transmitted in emergency situations only.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows isometric views of a preferred embodiment of the device and emergency services unit for formation of the method; Figure 2 shows top views of a preferred embodiment of the device; And Figure 3 shows bottom views of a preferred embodiment of the device.

Detailed Description of Figures

In preferred embodiments the device (1) will relay the presence, as indicated by the unit (2) by means of a recording that will be played over or instead of what the audio system is playing such as: EMERGENCY VEHICLE APPROACHING, PLEASE PULL OVER With the device installed, the vehicle stereo mutes and alerts the driver to the presence of the emergency vehicle.

The method includes a unit fitted to the emergency services vehicle that sends a signal to the vehicles nearby alerting the driver to its presence. Such a unit may in some embodiments include global positioning capabilities and said signal may include data relevant to position.

The method therefore comprises of a chip set that communicates between the emergency services and obstructing vehicle ahead so that the vehicle may move.

The signal is sent from the emergency vehicle and received by a chip housed in the stereo of the obstructing vehicle.

This chip controls the stereo and could for example play any of the following recordings, dependent upon inclusion of global positioning or geo-location capabilities: EMERGENCY VEHICLE 250 YARDS, PLEASE PULL OVER; And/or: EMERGENCY VEHICLE 50 YARDS, PLEASE PULL OVER.

The preferred embodiments therefore include: Stereo RF Receiver Chip Obstructing Vehicle Stereo Emergency Vehicle RF Sender Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Emergency Vehicle PCB Housing

Claims

<claim-text>Claims 1. A device and method for alerting a vehicle driver to emergency services vehicular presence; comprising scanning and receiving equipment which is capable of determining said vehicular presence and relaying the presence to the vehicle's driver.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A device or method according to claim 1 including use of noise sensors.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A device or method according to claims I or 2 including use of sound sensors.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A device or method according to a preceding claim, including satellite navigation.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A device according to a preceding claim for attachment to an audio system.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A device according to a preceding claim for attachment to a satellite navigation system.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A method according to any of preceding claims 1 to 3 for inclusion in an audio system.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. A device according to any of preceding claims ito 3 for inclusion in a satellite navigation system.</claim-text>