GB2539073A

GB2539073A - Speaking intersection controller

Info

Publication number: GB2539073A
Application number: GB1605540.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cox Paul; Retallack Mark
Original assignee: Siemens PLC
Current assignee: Siemens PLC
Priority date: 2015-04-02
Filing date: 2016-04-01
Publication date: 2016-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 2036-04-01
Also published as: GB201505758D0; GB2539073B

Abstract

An intersection controller IC comprises a monitoring device, an event recorder ER, a converting device CD for converting text related to the recorded event into an audio file, and a communication device COM for communicating the audio file to a mobile device MD. A user of the mobile device who may be an engineer configuring or maintaining the controller may define the event to be monitored. The controller may send a text file relating to the recorded event to the mobile device for conversion to an audio file, which may be a speech file, for outputting to the user. The system may be used where an engineer is monitoring the functionality of a controller e.g. to determine if vehicles ahead of traffic lights are being detected. The engineer does not need to visually monitor the sequence of events at the IC; instead the mobile device displays or announces the data directly.

Description

Intellectual Property Office Application No. GII1605540.2 RTM Date:21 September 2016 The following terms are registered trade marks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document: WiFi JavaScript Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.gov.uk /ipo

Description

Speaking Intersection Controller The present invention relates to an intersection controller and methods for converting event related text recorded in the intersection controller into audio files which are made available to a user, for example an engineer of the controller's manufacturer or local authority, tasked with the commissioning, configuration or maintenance of the intersection controller.

The present invention may for example be implemented in the ST950 Intersection Controller from Siemens. Further information on this controller may be found via the following links: http://www.siemens.co.uk/traffic/en/index/productssolutionsse rvices/signalsandcontrollers/st950.htm, and http://www.siemens.co.uk/traffic/pool/documents/brochure/st95 0-intersection.pdf This type of intersection controller provides an easy to use user interfaces, simplifying the interaction of an engineer with the controller. For example, a web browser interface which is accessible by a mobile device of the engineer either locally, for example via a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port on the controller's CPU (Central Processing Unit), or remotely via for example Ethernet or WIFi (IEEE 802.11) is provided.

At present, however, usually two engineers are required for the commissioning and maintenance of the intersection controller, wherein one of the engineers monitors the intersection controller status, for example on a mobile device connected to the controller, while the other engineer monitors and reports on the actual traffic conditions on the intersection.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an intersection controller and methods for easier status monitoring and configuring of an intersection controller.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an intersection controller is provided which comprises at least a monitoring device for monitoring at least one event, an event recorder for recording the at least one event, a converting device for converting text related to the recorded event into an audio file, and a communication device for communicating the audio file to a mobile device for outputting the audio file to a user of the mobile device.

The intersection controller according to the present invention provides a single engineer with the ability to monitor local traffic conditions and obtain real time updates on the intersection controller status without the need to both look at the traffic and a display on a mobile device connected to the traffic controller.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a method for monitoring events in an intersection controller is provided, wherein the intersection controller monitors an event and, when the monitored event has been recorded, converts a text related to the recorded event into an audio file and transmits the audio file to a mobile device for outputting the audio output to a user of the mobile device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a method for monitoring events in an intersection controller is provided, wherein the intersection controller monitors an event and records an event related text, and the text is transmitted by the intersection controller to a mobile device of a user, converted by the mobile device into an audio file and provided as an audio output to the user of the mobile device (MD).

Generally, the intersection controller and methods according to the present invention support engineers carrying out commissioning or maintenance of an intersection controller. It allows the engineer to visually monitor traffic while receiving verbal notification of events that the controller has noticed. This may for example be used in a scenario where an engineer visually monitors traffic over a detection point while wanting to be notified when the controller has noticed activity at that detection point. This allows engineers to diagnose or analyse situations more easily, and with their hands free if required, while at the same time being able to remain visually aware of their surroundings, which not only enhances the safety of the engineer but also allows for just one engineer to fulfil the task for which previously the presence of two engineers was required.

An example of the system and processes according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the figure which illustrate a block diagram of an intersection 20 controller in communication with a mobile device of a user.

The exemplary intersection controller IC and mobile device both are shown with only those elements which are required to carry out the invention. The controller IC thereby comprises a number of input and output ports I/O via which the controller receives signals from for example detectors arranged at or in the vicinity of traffic signals and transmits signals to traffic signals, thereby for example controlling the signal output of a traffic signal. The above mentioned intersection controller ST950 from Siemens, for example, supports up to 240 I/O lines allowing up to a maximum of 240 digital inputs or up to 96 isolated digital outputs to be provided, depending on the controller configuration.

Related to these input and output ports I/O, input and output processes IP, OP, or other processes PX, PY, PZ may be defined. These processes are in communication with an event recorder ER which monitored events are recorded. The event recorder in turn is connected to a communication module COM which provides the web browser interface accessed by the mobile device and via which information and messages may be exchanged between the controller and the mobile device. In the given example, communication between the controller IC and the mobile device is realised via a radio interface, based on for example the well-known WiFi (IEEE 802.11) standard, using antennas A arranged at both the controller and the mobile device. As mentioned above, other types of wireless or wired interfaces such as USB may also be used to connect a mobile device to a controller. The event recorder is furthermore connected to a conversion device CD which converts text related to the event recorded in the event recorder into an audio file, which is then transmitted via the communication module and the radio interface to the mobile device. For the audio file, the format ".WAV" may for example be used, while for the conversion of text to speech, the open source code "eSpeak" (http://espeak.sourceforge.net/) may be employed. HTML5 may for example be used in the mobile device's browser to play audio files.

The mobile device, on the other hand, comprises a communication module COM which is adapted to the controller's communication module. Furthermore, the mobile device MD comprises a man-machine-interface MMI which allows the visual displaying of the web browser and content provided by the controller, outputting of audio files to the engineer, using for example one or several loudspeakers or an interface for a headset, and inputting of data by the engineer, using for example a separate or on-display keyboard. Generally, such a mobile device may be realised as a mobile phone, smart phone, tablet or laptop computer.

In an alternative arrangement to the conversion of the event related text into an audio file in the controller, the controller may also provide the event text to the mobile device which converts the event text into an audio file and outputs it to the engineer. In this case, the conversion device for converting text into audio files is realised in the mobile device.

The intersection controller allows to assign specific names to signals and processes running in the controller. In the example of the figure, such a signal is a detector, for example a loop detector for detecting vehicles arranged ahead of a traffic signal. The detector is connected to a specific input port, for example port X, and a line, for example bit zero, of that port, and controlled by an input process IP. The status of the detector, active or inactive, is thereby represented by the status '0', '1' of bit zero. The signal may also be assigned a text name, for example "High Street A". An exemplary output process OP for a specific traffic signal is for example assigned the text name "Phase A", so that a red signal output for the traffic movement controlled by this traffic signal is for example assigned the text name "Phase A Red".

The intersection controller publishes web pages, using for example Javascript, which allow the engineer to access data related to these processes using the mobile device. The web pages published by the controller and run by the mobile device's browser also allow the engineer to identify one or several specific signals and to request these to be monitored for an event which may also be specified by the engineer. Such a specified event, which is communicated to the event recorder in the controller, is for example the activation of the detector named "High Street A". The controller then monitors for this specified event and records it converting event text into an audio file. If, for example, the above exemplary "High Street A" detector changes to active, an audio file is created with the content "High Street A Active" and transmitted to the mobile device where it is output to the engineer. The engineer may thus move to the location of that detector and "listen" to its actual status in real time, with the controller providing audible status updates to the engineer via the mobile device and advise when the loop input is active, enabling the engineer to focus on observing vehicles moving over the loop rather than trying to view the traffic and data on the mobile device at the same time.

Event monitoring may be set up for multiple signals, processes and events in the same way. Also state changed, including changes of phase states of traffic signal aspects, 10 in the web browser are thereby considered as events.

The Javascript published by the controller and running in the browser of the mobile device may also regularly poll the intersection controller for events. In response to such polls, the controller returns audio files it has generated based on the events recorded in the time period between individual polls. This allows the controller to verbalise those events that it has noticed. With a relatively high poll rate defined on the browser, with for example a poll is sent by the mobile device every 100ms, this becomes a close to real-time verbalisation of the events.

Claims

Claims 1. Intersection controller (IC), wherein the controller comprises at least: a monitoring device for monitoring at least one event, an event recorder (ER) for recording the at least one event, a converting device (CD) for converting text related to the recorded event into an audio file, and a communication device (COM) for communicating the audio file 10 to a mobile device (MD) for outputting the audio file to a user of the mobile device.
2. Intersection controller (IC) according to claim 1, wherein the mobile device (MD) is used by the user for configuring 15 and/or maintaining the intersection controller (IC).
3. Intersection controller (IC) according to claim 2, wherein the event to be monitored by the monitoring device is defined or selected by the user and communicated to the intersection 20 controller (IC).S. Intersection controller (IC) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the intersection controller (IC) controls traffic signals 25 located at an intersection.6. Method for monitoring events in an intersection controller (IC), wherein the intersection controller (IC) monitors an event and, when the monitored event has been recorded, converts a text related to the recorded event into an audio file and transmits the audio file to a mobile device (MD) for outputting the audio output to a user of the mobile device (MD).7. Method for monitoring events in an intersection controller (IC), wherein the intersection controller (IC) monitors an event and records an event related text, and the text is transmitted by the intersection controller to a mobile device (MD) of a user, converted by the mobile device into an audio file and provided as an audio output to the user of the mobile device (MD).8. Method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the user defines the at least one event to be monitored by the intersection controller (IC).