WO2018047048A2

WO2018047048A2 - System and method for determining a route based on air pollution levels

Info

Publication number: WO2018047048A2
Application number: PCT/IB2017/055293
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yosef Romano
Original assignee: Brizi Limited
Priority date: 2016-09-06
Filing date: 2017-09-03
Publication date: 2018-03-15
Also published as: GB201615131D0; GB2553375A; WO2018047048A3

Abstract

Aspects of the invention are directed to a method and system for determining a route based on air pollution levels. An indication of an origin and a destination is received, a plurality of navigation routes between the origin and the destination is received, real time signals indicative of an air quality is received from a plurality of portable sensors, local air pollution levels for locations along each of the plurality of navigation routes is determined based on the received real time signals, and an air pollution level is determined for each navigation routes, based on the local air pollution levels appropriate navigation route.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING

A ROUTE BASED ON AIR POLLUTION LEVELS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[001] Air pollution in cities and roads is harmful to all living things, in particular young children, unhealthy adults and pets. Air pollution includes toxic gases and particles that are usually heavier than air, thus may form a layer of highly polluted air closed to the ground. This phenomenon is accelerated by the exhaust gases from automobiles which are released directly into the polluted air layer. This layer of toxic gases and particles is the one inhaled by toddlers and babies in buggies, handicap people in wheelchairs, injured people carried by a stretcher and pets.

[002] Air pollution affects different beings in different ways, especially the more sensitive ones. For example, babies, particularly in the first weeks of their life, are more sensitive than toddlers. People with breathing disabilities are more sensitive than other people and smaller pets are more sensitive than larger ones. Additionally, other environmental parameters such as temperature and humidity may affect the air pollution.

[003] Currently, information regarding air pollution levels in various places in a city is gathered by local authorities and institutes, using stationary monitoring stations, located at various places in the city, a town or a district.

[004] Global Positioning System based on navigation systems are known that use stored maps to do route planning based on different parameters such as distance, speed limits. Such systems are capable of providing routes alternatives based upon the starting point and destination entered by a user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[005] In one aspect, a method for determining a route based on air pollution levels is provided. The method may include: receiving an indication of an origin and a destination, receiving from a plurality of navigation routes between the origin and the destination, receiving from a plurality of portable sensors located along each one of the plurality of navigation routes, real time signals indicative of the air quality, determining local air pollution levels for locations along each of the plurality of the navigation routes, based on the received real time signals and determining for each one of said plurality of the navigation routes, an air pollution level associated to the appropriate navigation route, based on said local air pollution levels.

[006] In another aspect, a computer system for determining a route based on air pollution levels may be provided. A system according to embodiments of the invention may include one or more processors and a memory for storing program instructions carried out by the one or more processors. The program instructions may include: program instructions to receive an indication of an origin and a destination, program instructions to receive from a plurality of navigation routes between the origin and the destination, program instructions to receive from a plurality of portable sensors located along each one of the plurality of navigation routes, real time signals indicative of the air quality, program instructions to determine local air pollution levels for locations along each of the plurality of the navigation routes, based on the received real time signals and program instructions to determine for each one of said plurality of the navigation routes, an air pollution level associated to the appropriate navigation route, based on said local air pollution levels.

[007] In another aspect, a system for determining a route based on air pollution levels may be provided. The system may include a plurality of portable sensors for sensing a quality of an air, a navigation system and a controller. The controller may be configured to: receive an indication of an origin and a destination, receive from a plurality of navigation routes between the origin and the destination from the navigation system, receive from a plurality of portable sensors located along each one of the plurality of navigation routes, real time signals indicative of the air quality, determine local air pollution levels for locations along each of the plurality of the navigation routes, based on the received real time signals and determine for each one of said plurality of the navigation routes, an air pollution level associated to the appropriate navigation route, based on said local air pollution levels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[008] The subject matter regarded as the invention is described in detail and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawings in which:

[009] Figure 1 is a high level block diagram of a system for determining a route based on air pollution levels according to some embodiments of the present invention;

[0010] Figure 2 is a high level block diagram of a portable sensor according to some embodiments of the present invention;

[0011] Figure 3 is a flowchart of a method of determining a route based on air pollution levels according to some embodiments of the present invention; and

[0012] Figure 4 is a high level block diagram of a portable system for supplying clean air to a user according to some embodiments of the present invention. [0013] It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0014] In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well- known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention.

[0015] Although embodiments of the invention are not limited in this regard, discussions utilizing terms such as, for example, "processing," "computing," "calculating," "determining," "establishing", "analyzing", "checking", or the like, may refer to operations) and/or process(es) of a computer, a computing platform, a computing system, or other electronic computing device, that manipulates and/or transforms data represented as physical (e.g., electronic) quantities within the computer's registers and/or memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer's registers and/or memories or other information non-transitory storage medium that may store instructions to perform operations and/or processes. Although embodiments of the invention are not limited in this regard, the terms "plurality" and "a plurality" as used herein may include, for example, "multiple" or "two or more". The terms "plurality" or "a plurality" may be used throughout the specification to describe two or more components, devices, elements, units, parameters, or the like. The term set when used herein may include one or more items. Unless explicitly stated, the method embodiments described herein are not constrained to a particular order or sequence. Additionally, some of the described method embodiments or elements thereof can occur or be performed simultaneously, at the same point in time, or concurrently.

[0016] Some embodiments of the invention may include gathering information regarding air pollution levels in a predetermined area (e.g., a city) received from a plurality of portable sensors. The portable sensors may be carried out by different individuals walking in the city (e.g., a jogger running in the street) or attached to different carriers (e.g., buggies, wheelchairs, etc.) or vehicles traveling (e.g., by car, using bicycles, etc.) in the city. The gathered information may be displayed to the different individuals or to other users on demand. The gathered information may be used for selecting an optimal way for traveling in the city, in order to avoid areas with high pollution levels. Some embodiments of the present invention may include forming a social network for providing real-time information of air quality levels for all the individuals included in the social network.

[0017] In some embodiments, a person (e.g., a parent pushing a buggy carrying a toddler) when walking in the street of a city may activate an application for displaying air quality levels at different parts (e.g., playgrounds, parks, etc.) and different streets in the city. The application may receive updated real-time information from a main server in communication with a plurality of portable sensors. Each sensor may be carried by an individual traveling in the city, attached to a vehicle (e.g., a car), attached to a carrier, such as for example, the buggy, or the like. In some embodiments, at least some of the individuals may both be associated (e.g., carry) with a portable sensor and use the application for receiving air quality levels. For example, a portable sensor may be attached to the buggy pushed by the parent, sending (via a network interface) measurements of the air pollution levels in the location of the buggy to a main server. In the same time, the application on the parent's mobile phone may show the parent air pollution levels from other areas in the city, received from other portable sensors (e.g., sensors attached to other buggies). In some embodiments, the application may further suggest to the person a preferred traveling route with lower pollution levels (higher air quality levels).

[0018 ] Reference is made to Figure 1 which is a high level block diagram of a system for determining a route based on air pollution levels according to some embodiments of the invention. System 100 may include a plurality of portable sensors 102 (discussed below), a server computer 104 and a navigation server computer 106.

Server computer 104 may include a main controller 120 that may be, for example, a central processing unit processor (CPU), a chip or any suitable computing or computational device, an operating system 130, a memory 140 and an executable code, such as, air pollution program 150.

Server computer 104 may be in communication with a storage 160, input devices 170 and an output device 180. Input device 170 may be, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a keypad or any other suitable input device. Output devices 180 may include one or more displays or monitors, speakers and/or any other suitable output device. Input devices 170 may be, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a keypad or any other suitable input device. Output devices 180 may include one or more displays or monitors, speakers and/or any other suitable output devices.

[0019] Main controller 120 may be configured to carry out methods described herein.

[0020] In some embodiments, system 100 may further include a network interface 185 for communicating with portable sensors 102 and with the navigation server 106 via a communication network 108. Network 108 may include different types of networks such as intranet, a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN). [0021] In some embodiments, portable sensors 102 may be configured to communicate via intermediate client devices 112. According to some embodiments, client devices 112, such as a smartphone, a laptop computer, a tablet or the like, may be also in active communication with one or more portable sensors 102 and/or server computer 104. It should be appreciated that such client devices 112 may serve as an input/output device for portable sensors 102 and/or server computer 104. Client devices 112 may include a display, such as a screen or a touchscreen.

[0022] In some embodiments, client devices 112 may be configured to store thereon and execute an application for displaying air pollution levels (further described) on its display.

[0023] In some embodiments, client devices 112 may include a positioning system (not shown), such as a Global Positioning System (GPS) included in a smartphone. In some embodiments, client devices 112 may be associated with a specific portable sensor 102 that may be configured to send to main controller 120 an indication to the location of specific portable sensor 102 in the predetermined area (e.g., a city).

[0024] Air pollution program 150 may be any executable code, e.g., an application, a program, a process, task or script. Air pollution program 150 may be executed by main controller 120 possibly under control of operating system 130. For example, air pollution program 150 may be a program that performs methods as further described herein, for example, instructions for to determining a route based on air pollution levels according to some embodiments of the invention. A system according to embodiments of the invention may include a plurality of executable program instructions that may be loaded into memory 140 and cause main controller 120 to carry out methods described herein.

[0025] Storage 160 may be or may include, for example, a hard disk drive, a universal serial bus (USB) device or other suitable removable and/or fixed storage unit.

Storage device 160 may store information regarding air pollution levels in locations in the predetermined area. The information may be received from a remote database for example, via the internet, or from historical air pollution levels (described further) previously calculated and stored in storage 160. In some embodiments, the information may be related to air pollution levels measured at various places in a city, at different hours during a day and at different temperature and humidity levels.

[0026] Navigation server 106 includes a map database 110. Map database 110 may be a database for storing map information therein. The map information may include information related to geographical aspects of certain areas, for example, roadway network in specific geographic regions, locations (e.g., parks) within the geographic regions and the like. The Navigation server 106 may be configured to calculate alternative routes between two locations in a geographic area. [0027] Reference is made to Figure 2 which is a high level block diagram of a portable sensor 102 according to some embodiments of the present invention. A portable sensor 102 may include one or more sensors 210 for sensing a quality of an air, at the location of the sensor. For example, the sensor may be at least one of: a dust sensor, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) sensor, SO_x sensor, carbon monoxide (CO) sensor, hydrogen (H2) sensor, ammonia (HN3) sensor, methane (CH4), propane (C3¾) sensor, iso-butane (43H10) and the like. The portable sensor 102 may be located in proximity or attached to a vehicle traveling in the city, carried by a person walking/running in the city (e.g., a jogger), attached to a carrier carrying a user (e.g., a buggy or a wheelchair), attached to a device (e.g., a mobile device) carried by the user or a person in close proximity to the user (e.g., a parent pushing the buggy).

[0028] In some embodiments, portable sensor 102 may further include a controller 215 that may be, for example, a central processing unit processor (CPU), a chip or any suitable computing or computational device and a network interface 220. In some embodiments sensor 210 may be configured to send controller 215 a signal indicative of the quality of the air. The signal may include at least one of: the amount of toxic gases (e.g., each type of gas in ppm) and the amount of particles in the location of the sensor. In some embodiments, sensing either the amount of toxic gas or the amount of particles may indicate the existence of the other. For example, sensing the presence of NO_x pollution emission from cars may indicate the existence of particles, since both are products of the burning of fossil fuels.

[0029] In some embodiments, the portable sensor 102 may communicate with remote devices (e.g., client device 112 and the like) through a network interface 220. Network interface may include for example, a Bluetooth network interface, a Wi-Fi network interface, an infrared (IR) network interface or the like.

[0030] In some embodiments, portable sensor 102 may include or may be in communication with a positioning system 230. Positioning system 230 may include, for example, a Global Positioning System (GPS) for determining the position or location of portable sensor 102. In some embodiments, positioning system 230 may be configured to send controller 215 an indication to the location of portable sensor 102 and controller 215 may be configured to send the location to a remote device (e.g., server computer 104and/or client device 112) via network interface 220. In some embodiments positioning system 230 may be included or associated with a client device 112 (illustrated in Figure 1) associated with portable sensor 102.

[0031] Reference is now made to Figure 3 which is a flowchart of method of determining a route based on air pollution levels according to some embodiments of the present invention. Method 300 may be executed by a main controller such as main controller 120 of system 100 or by any other suitable computing device. [0032] At step 310, an indication of an origin and a destination may be received. For example, the origin and destination may be received from a client device 112, such as, a mobile device. The origin and destination may be selected, by a user, using an application running on his client device 112. For example, the user may point on a map displayed on client device 112 a required origin and destination. In some embodiments, the origin may be determined as the client device current location and the user may only select the destination.

[0033] At step 320, a route request may be sent to a navigation server. For example, the air pollution program may send to navigation server 106 a route search request that may include information required in a route search, e.g. an origin, a destination, a transportation mode (e.g. walking, bus, flight, etc.).

[0034] At step 330, a plurality of navigation routes between the origin and the destination is received. Upon receiving the route search request, the navigation server 106 may identify a plurality of navigation routes between the origin and the destination and responds to the air pollution program by sending the plurality of routes to it.

[0035] At step 340, real time signals indicative of the air quality may be received from a plurality of portable sensors located along each one of said navigation routes. For example, the air pollution program may include receiving from a plurality of portable sensors (e.g., sensors 102) real time signals indicative of the air quality at a location of each sensor, located along each one of the navigation routes. The real time signal may include measurements of the amount of toxic gases such as VOCs, NOx, SO_x, NH3 in the air (e.g., in ppm) and/or the amount of particles in the air.

In some embodiments, sensing either the amount of toxic gas or the amount of particles may indicate the existence of the other. For example, sensing the presence of NO_x pollution emission from cars may indicate the existence of particles, since both are products of the burning of fossil fuels.

According to some embodiments, at least some of portable sensors 102 from the plurality of portable sensors may be on the move when measuring the real-time signals. For example, carried by user walking in the street and/or attached to vehicles driving in the city.

[0036] At step 345, each of the received real time signals may be associated with a corresponding real-time location. Main controller 120 may be configured to receive from positioning system 230 and/or from client device 112 associated with portable sensor 102 information related to the current location of portable sensor 102 (e.g., real time GPS coordinates).

In some embodiments, controller 215 of portable sensor 102 may be configured to send main controller 120 a signal comprising, the location of portable sensor 102, a signal indicative of the air quality at the location, and the time at which the signal and the location were measured. In some embodiments, controller 215 may be configured to send to client device 212 the signal indicative of the air quality at the location of the portable sensor and the client device 112 may associate the received signal with a time and a location of the client device (when client device 112 is placed closed to portable sensor 102, for example, both are carried by the same person).

[0037] At step 350, local air pollution levels for locations along each of the plurality of navigation routes may be determined based on the received real time signals. For example, the air pollution program 300 may include determining local air pollution levels for locations along each of the plurality of navigation routes, based on the received real time signals.

According to some embodiments, the determining of local air pollution levels for locations along each of the plurality of navigation routes, may include the use of various known interpolation and/or extrapolation methods to provide complete local air pollution profile for the entirety of the predetermined area, such in case the local air pollution determination extends beyond the locations of the portable sensors 102.

[0038] In some embodiments, each local air pollution level may include local particle pollution level and/or local gas pollution level (received from portable sensor 102 and/or other portable sensors located along the navigation routes). Controller 120 may aggregate the amount of at least some of the measured gases into a single local gas pollution level or may determine a plurality of local gas pollution levels for each type of gas. The local particles pollution levels may be determined based on the measured particles amount and the local gas pollution level may be determined based on the measurement of at least one type of gas (e.g., CO).

[0039] At step 355, an air pollution level along said plurality of navigation routes may be determined for each one of said plurality of navigation routes, based on said local air pollution levels. For example, the air pollution program may determine for each of the plurality of the navigation routes, air pollution level associated to this navigation route. According to some embodiments, the air pollution level program may determine the air pollution level of the associated navigation route, based on local air pollution levels at one or more locations along the navigation route. The controller 120 may be configured to associate at least some of the coordinates with local air pollution levels (e.g. pollution levels, particles pollution levels and/or combined air pollution levels). According to some embodiments, the pollution level for each one of the plurality of the navigation routes, may include at least one of: a set of local air pollution levels at locations along the navigation route, a mean of at least some of the local air pollution levels along the navigation route, an integral over at least some of the local air pollution levels along the navigation route and a median of at least some of the local air pollution levels along the navigation route.

[0040] In some embodiments, the air pollution level program may further receive from a remote database (not shown), information regarding local air pollution levels in one or more locations included in the navigation route, such that determining the air pollution level of the navigation route is based on the received information. For example, controller 120 may receive through the network interface local air pollution levels from institutes such as municipalities or universities gathering air pollution measurements from around the city, for example, from stationary monitoring stations placed at various locations. If one of the stationary monitoring stations is located on the navigation route, controller 120 may use the measured air pollution level when determining the air pollution level for this navigation route.

[0041] At step 360, the plurality of navigation routes may be sorted. In some embodiments, the plurality of navigation routes may be sorted based on the air pollution level, e.g. the optimal navigation route is the one with the lowest air pollution level.

In some embodiments, the plurality of navigation routes may be sorted also based on the traveling time..

[0042] In some embodiments, local air pollution levels may be displayed. The displayed local air pollution levels may correspond to a predetermined time interval, at said locations along each one of the plurality of the navigation routes.

[0043] In some embodiments, controller 120 may be configured to send, via network interface 185, the sorted plurality of navigation routes, together with the information related to the local air pollution levels at locations along each of the navigation routes and the air pollution level corresponding to this navigation route, to a display associated with a user, for example, the display of client device 112.

For example, a parent walking with a toddler from his/her home to a specific park in the city would like to know which is the cleaner route he/she should take in order minimize the exposure to the toddler to polluted air. The user (e.g., the parent) may send to the controller 120 the location of his/her home (first location) and the location of the specific park (second location). The controller 120 may then receive from the navigation server two or more alternative routes for traveling (e.g., walking) from the first point to the second point within the predefined area. The controller 120 may then determine route air pollution levels for all the alternative routes, sort them and send back them to the client device 112. The client device 112 may store thereon and execute an application configured to receive from controller 120 the sorted plurality of navigation routes together with the local air pollution levels and the air pollution level associated to each navigation route, and instructions to display them on the display of the client device.

In some embodiments, the air pollution level may be given a number, a letter, a color or any other sign related to the direct amount or relative amount of pollution in the air.

In some embodiments, different types of pollutions may be associated with a different marking (e.g., different icon), for example, local gas pollution may be marked with a circle and local particles pollution level may be marked with a triangle. In some embodiments, the marking may further be assigned with a color representing the amount (e.g., absolute or relative) of the particles pollution level and/or gas pollution level. For example, air pollution levels may be divided into a plurality of air pollution ranges from the highest (e.g., above the allowed range) to the lowest, and each range may be associated with a color, from dark red for the highest range (e.g., above the allowed range) to dark green for the lowest range. In some embodiments, intermediate ranges may be associated with yellow. For example, the allowed pollution range for CO is 1-1000 ppm (according to the European Commission air quality standard). Accordingly, local gas pollution levels that include only CO measurements may be marked with icons (e.g., a circles) having different colors corresponding to various pollution ranges. Air pollution levels above 1000 ppm may be marked with dark red circle, levels between 800- 1000 ppm with light red circle, levels between 600-800 with an orange circle, levels between 400-600 with a yellow circle, levels between 200-400 with a light green circle and levels between 1-200 with a dark green circle.

[0044] In some embodiments, the controller 120 may display the entire route as a colored line (running along the route). Accordingly, a user looking at the map of his/her client device 112 may see colored routes running from the first location (e.g., home) to the second location (e.g., the park) of all the alternative routes. The user than may choose which route to take based on the displayed air pollution levels.

[0045] Air pollution may change with changes in wind condition, temperature and humidity. Air pollution may further change at different hours in the day, for example, air pollution levels may rise dramatically during the morning and afternoon rush hours. Older air pollution levels may be deleted or saved in storage 160 for further use.

[0046] In some embodiments, it may be further required to clean the air near portable sensor 102, for example, when portable sensor 102 is attached to a buggy carrying a baby. In some embodiments, the method may further include activating an air cleaning unit to clean the air near the portable sensor based on the local air pollution level at the location of the sensor.

[0047] Reference is made to Figure 4, which is a high level block diagram of a portable system for supplying clean air to a user according to some embodiments of the present invention. A system 400 may include an air cleaning system 410, at least one sensor 210 and a controller 440. The system may further include, a network interface 455 to support the network communication with a client device 112, a user interface 460, a database 470 and an additional sensor(s) 210. System 400 may be portable and may be attached, connected or included in a device that carries the user, such as a buggy or a wheelchair or may be carried by the user. [0048] In some embodiments, system 400 may include a power source 480 for supplying electric power to various elements of system 400.

[0049] Air cleaning system 410 may include a filter 420 for filtering toxic gases and/or particles and a fan 430. Fan 430 may be any device that is configured to supply air to filter 420. For example, fan 430 may be fan, a compressor or the like. Fan 430 may include an electric motor, a shaft and blades. The electric motor may rotate the shaft and the blades. In some embodiments, the rotation speed of the shaft and the blades may be adjusted, for example, by adjusting the amount of power supplied to the motor from power source 480. In some embodiments, fan 430 may further include a hosing for holding the electric motor, the shaft and the blades. The housing may include an adjustable intake, configured to adjust the amount of air capable of entering the housing, and an outlet in a gas communication with filter 430 for supplying the air to filter 420.

[0050] Filter 420 may include one or more filters for filtering both toxic gases and/or particles. For example, the filter may include one or more of a polypropylene layer for trapping carbon dust, activated carbon cloth with copper salt impregnation for filtering VOCs, NO_x, SO_x, NH3 and a nano metric woven cloth for filtering particles. As it may be understood by a person skilled in the art, filter 420 may be configured to filter particles alone. Filter 420 may be configured to filter one type of toxic gas, two types of toxic gases or more. In some embodiments, filter 420 may have a multilayered structure configured to filter both particles and one or more toxic gases.

[0051] At least one sensor 210 may be configured to sense a quality of an air in an environment near the user. In some embodiments, portable sensor 102 may be included in portable system 400. Sensor 210 (or portable sensor 102) may be located in proximity or attached to air cleaning system 410, anywhere on a carrier carrying the user (e.g., a buggy or a wheelchair), attached to the user or to a device (e.g., a mobile device) carried by the user or a person in close proximity to the user (e.g., a parent pushing the buggy). Sensor 210 may be configured to send controller 440 a signal indicative of the quality of the air. The signal may include at least one of: an amount of toxic gases and an amount of particles in the air in the environment near the user. In some embodiments, sensing either the amount of toxic gas or the amount of particles may indicate the existence of the other. For example, sensing the presence of NO_x pollution emission from cars may indicate the existence of particles, since both are products of the burning of fossil fuels.

[0052] Controller 440 may include a processor 445 and a memory 450. Processor 445 may include a central processing unit (CPU), a chip or any suitable computing or computational device and an operating system. Processor 445 may be configured to carry out methods according to embodiments of the present invention by for example executing instructions stored in a memory such as memory 450. [0053] Memory 450 may include, for example, a Random Access Memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a Dynamic RAM (DRAM), a Synchronous DRAM (SD-RAM), a double data rate (DDR) memory chip, a Flash memory, a volatile memory, a non- volatile memory, a cache memory, a buffer, a short term memory unit, a long term memory unit, or other suitable memory units or storage units. Instructions stored in memory 532 may include methods of controlling a portable system for supplying clean air to a user according to some embodiments of the invention.

[0054] Controller 440 may be configured to receive from sensor 210 a signal indicative of the quality of the air in the environment near the user, for example, a signal related to the amount of particles and/or NO_x in the air. In some embodiments, controller 440 may be configured to control air cleaning system 410 to remove at least one of: a portion of the toxic gases and a portion of the particles from the air supplied to air cleaning system 410 based on the received signal. For example, the controller may turn on and turn off system 410, control the amount of air supplied to filter 420 by controlling the size of the intake in fan 430 and/or controlling the rotation speed of the blades of fan 430. Filter 420 may be configured to filter a portion the toxic gases (e.g., when include an active carbon layer) and/or configured to filter a portion of the particles (e.g., when including a nano metric woven cloth).

[0055] System 400 may further include a network interface 455 to communicate with a client device 112, for example, a mobile device of a parent pushing the buggy or the mobile device of the user sitting in the wheelchair. System 400 may wirelessly communicate with client device 112 using any known communication method. System 400 may receive information from controller 440 and sent information to client device 112 or any other external controller. In some embodiments, controller 440 may receive input data from the client device or the external controller via the network interface 455. The input data may include at least one of: an age of the user, a type of a device carrying the portable system and a medical condition of the user. In some embodiments, the input data may be related to the quality of air in the open air environment near the user and may be received from a remote database (e.g., a database comprising geographical data related to weather reports, air pollution levels and the like).

[0056] In some embodiments, system 400 may further include a user interface 460. User interface 460 may be located in proximity or attached to air cleaning system 410, anywhere on the carrier (e.g., a buggy or a wheelchair) carrying the user, attached to the user or to a device carried by the user or a person in close proximity to the user (e.g., a parent pushing the buggy). User interface 460 may include a screen (e.g., a monitor, a display, a CRT, etc.), a pointing device and an audio device. User interface 460 may include or be associated with other input devices such as, buttons. User device 460 may be, a touch screen or a pad or any other suitable device that allows a user to control (e.g., by hand or finger movements) a pointing indicator (e.g., a cursor) located on a screen. User interface 460 may include an audio device such as one or more speakers, earphones and/or any other suitable audio devices.

[0057] In some embodiments, system 400 may include a database 470 or may communicate remotely with database 470, for example, via network interface 455. Database 470 may include any data storing device removable and/or fixed storage unit for storing data. Database 470 may store data related to the quality of air in various locations (e.g., various streets, parks, playgrounds, etc.) during different times of the year. The data related to the quality of air may include a correlation between the environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity, to the amount of pollution (e.g., air quality).

[0058] In some embodiments, system 400 may include additional sensors 210. For example, one or more sensors 210 may be located in proximity to the user's face and may be configured to sense the quality of the air supplied to the user from air cleaning system 410.

[0059] In some embodiments, sensor 210 may be located in filter 420 and may be configured to sense filtering quality of the sensor. In some embodiments, the method may further include activating an air cleaning unit (e.g., air cleaning unit 410) to clean the air near the sensor.

[0060] While certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents will now occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A method of determining a route based on air pollution levels, the method comprising:

receiving an indication of an origin and a destination;

receiving a plurality of navigation routes between the origin and the destination;

receiving from a plurality of portable sensors located along each one of said navigation routes, real time signals indicative of the air quality;

determining local air pollution levels for locations along each of the plurality of navigation routes, based on the received real time signals; and

determining for each one of said plurality of navigation routes, an air pollution level along said plurality of navigation route based on said local air pollution levels.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising,

sorting the plurality of navigation routes.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the sorting is based on the air pollution level of each one of said plurality of navigation routes.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the sorting is also based on the traveling time of each one of said plurality navigation routes.

5. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

automatically sending to a client device, associated with a user traveling in a first route from said plurality of navigation routes, a suggestion to change the traveling route to a second of said plurality of navigation routes, if said second navigation route air pollution level is lower that said first route air pollution level.

6. The method according to 1 , wherein the real time signals include measurements of the amount of at least one of: toxic gases in the air and amount of particles in the air.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the route air pollution level along each one of said plurality of navigation routes includes at least one of: a set of local air pollution levels at locations along each one of said plurality of navigation routes, a mean of at least some of the local air pollution levels at locations along each one of said plurality of navigation routes, an integral over at least some of the local air pollution levels at locations along each one each one of said plurality of navigation routes and a median of at least some of the local air pollution levels at locations along each one of said plurality of navigation routes.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving from a remote database information regarding air pollution levels in two or more locations included in each one of said plurality of navigation routes, and wherein determining each of said plurality of navigation routes air pollution level is also based on the received remote database information.

9. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

sending to a user interface, the sorted plurality of navigation routes together with the local air pollution levels at locations of each one of the sorted plurality of navigation routes and the air pollution level corresponding to it;;

displaying the sorted plurality of navigation routes together with the air pollution level of each of the sorted plurality of navigation routes.

10. The method according to according to claim 9, wherein each said portable sensor is associated with a client device, and wherein displaying is on the display of the mobile device.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least some of the portable sensors from the plurality of portable sensors are in communication with mobile devices comprising positioning systems.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the portable sensors from the plurality of portable sensors are on the move when measuring the real time signals.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

activating an air cleaning system to clean the air near the portable sensor based on the air pollution level at the location of the portable sensor,

wherein the air cleaning system comprises a fan and a filter.

14. A computer system for determining a route based on air pollution levels, the computer system comprising:

one or more one or more processors;

a memory for storing program instructions carried out by the one or more processors, the program instructions comprising:

program instructions to receive an indication of an origin and a destination; program instructions to receive a plurality of navigation routes between the origin and the destination;

program instructions to receive from a plurality of portable sensors located along each one of said navigation route, real time signals indicative of the air quality;

program instructions to determine local air pollution levels for locations along each of the plurality of navigation routes, based on the received real time signals;

program instructions to determine for each one of said plurality of navigation routes, an air pollution level along said plurality of navigation route based on said local air pollution levels.

15. The computer system according to claim 14, further comprising program instructions to sort the plurality of navigation routes.

16. The computer system according to claim 14, further comprising program instructions to automatically send to a client device, associated with a user traveling in a first route from said plurality of navigation routes, a suggestion to change the traveling route to a second of said plurality of navigation routes, if said second navigation route air pollution level is lower that said first route air pollution level.

17. The computer system according to claim 14, wherein the real time signals include measurements of the amount of toxic gases in the air and/or amount of particles in the air.

18. The computer system according to claim 14, wherein the air pollution level along each one of said plurality of navigation routes includes at least one of: a set of local air pollution levels at locations along each one of said plurality of navigation routes, a mean of at least some of the local air pollution levels at locations along each one of said plurality of navigation routes, an integral over at least some of the local air pollution levels at locations along each one each one of said plurality of navigation routes and a median of at least some of the local air pollution levels at locations along each one of said plurality of navigation routes.

19. The computer system according to claim 14, further comprising program instructions to receive from a remote database information regarding air pollution levels in two or more locations included in each one of said plurality of navigation routes, and wherein the program instruction to determine each of said plurality of navigation routes air pollution level is also based on the received remote database information.

20. The computer system according to claim 15, further comprising:

program instructions to send to a user interface, the sorted plurality of navigation routes together with the local air pollution levels at location of each one of the sorted plurality of navigation routes and the air pollution level associated to the appropriate navigation route; and, program instructions to display the sorted plurality of navigation routes together with the air pollution level associated to the appropriate navigation route.

21. The computer system according to claim 20, wherein each said portable sensor is associated with a client device, and wherein displaying is on the display of the client device.

22. The computer system according to claim 14, wherein at least some of the portable sensors from the plurality of portable sensors are on the move when measuring the real time signals.

23. A system for determining a route based on air pollution levels, the system comprising:

a plurality of portable sensors for sensing a quality of an air, each including a network interface;

a navigation system;

a controller configured to:

receive an indication of an origin and a destination;

receive a plurality of navigation routes between the origin and the destination from the navigation system;

receive from a plurality of portable sensors located along each one of said navigation route, real time signals indicative of the air quality;

determine local air pollution levels for locations along each of the plurality of navigation route, based on received real time signals; determine for each one of said plurality of navigation routes, an air pollution level associated to the appropriate navigation route, based on said local air pollution levels.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein the controller is further configured to

sort the plurality of navigation routes.

25. The system according to claim 23, further comprising:

an air cleaning system comprising a fan and a filter; and,

a local controller configured to:

receive a signal indicative of the air quality at the location of the portable sensor; and, activate the air cleaning system to clean air near the sensor based on the received signal.