EP2515283B1 - Device and method for activating a noise emitter of a motor vehicle, motor vehicle and alarm system - Google Patents

Description

Embodiments of the invention relate to an apparatus and a method for activating a sound generator of a motor vehicle by a remote transmitter independent of a motor vehicle user, to a motor vehicle and an alarm system with wake-up alarm based on motor vehicle sound signals.

As a result of a comprehensive dismantling and reconstruction of the sirens after 1992, for example, in Germany no nationwide warning system with alarm effect for use to warn the civilian population longer exists. Of the original 87,000 sirens (ES) in 1992, only about 15,000 out of 39,000 remaining sirens were operational in 2000 to alert the population. A technical conversion of existing sirens to civil protection signals and additional rebuilding of a siren system is in a commissioned by the BBK (Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance) study of the market leading siren manufacturer Hörmann GmbH, Kirchseeon, due to the projected cost of approximately € 250 million discarded. ( " Technological possibilities of warning the population as early as possible ", BMI, series Zivilschutzforschung, Bd. 45, 2001 ).

However, such a warning system with wake-up effect is considered necessary (for example in Germany) by the Länder and the federal authority responsible for civil defense, BBK.

1. 1. SMS
2. 2. Telefon (Festnetz oder Mobil)
3. 3. Funkwecker und -uhren
4. 4. Rauchmelder
5. 5. Türklingeln
6. 6. Neuaufbau eines Sirenennetzes

A closed solution to create a warning system with wake-up is currently (in Germany) not available. The status of the warning technology is an insufficient residual stock of installed sirens. Various solutions have been investigated since the end of the nineties, such as alerting the population by:

1. 1. SMS
2. 2. Telephone (landline or mobile)
3. 3. Radio alarm clocks and clocks
4. 4. Smoke detector
5. 5. Doorbells
6. 6. Rebuilding a siren net

These proposals are characterized by more or less serious disadvantages and / or are not feasible. The effectiveness of some warning techniques is insufficient or questionable (1-5) or the costs are prohibitive for the state (6).

Alerting via mass SMS was already rejected in 2003, since the mobile radio technology is not designed for such capacities. Tests had shown that it took up to 24 hours to warn about 50,000 inhabitants of a city via text message.

The greatest technical supply rate can be achieved without the reconstruction of a siren network over the phone, which can also have a wake-up effect. However, landline connections are declining in favor of mobile telephony, where the technology is not designed for such capacity. In principle, landline telephony has the necessary capacity to handle several thousand calls at the same time. However, this requires installations of alarm computers in the exchanges. The costs for this are estimated at about 200 million euros.

More than 230 million euros were already calculated years ago for the reconstruction of the decommissioned siren network.

The radio clock transmitter DCF77 can also transmit warnings since 2006. The necessary connection to the satellite-based warning system SatWaS given. However, large parts of the population do not have radio clocks or alarm clocks.

Also connected to SatWaS are a variety of TV and radio stations (also in conjunction with RDS and DAB) and some Internet service providers who can spread according to current warnings. However, these media only ever reach the active users and have no wake-up effect

Further examples and a detailed description of the underlying technical problem and the aforementioned, thought-out and rejected concepts can be found, for example, under "http://www.bbk.bund.de/cln 027 / nn 399436 / DE / 02 Themen / 11 Civil Defense Technology / 04 Warnsyst / 02 Development / Development node.html nnn = true ", in the study" Problem Study: Risks for Germany, Part II, ed. BBK, AKNZ, 2005 "can be found at" http: //www.bbk. bund.de/nn 402296 / SharedDocs / Publications / Wissenschaftsforum / Risikofuer-D
Part, templateld = raw.property = publicationFile.pdf / Risikofuer-D Part 1.pdf ", in the study" Technical possibilities of earliest possible warning of the population short version, BMI, civil defense research, Neue Folge volume 45, 2001 "to be found under" http://www.bbk.bund.de/cln007/nn400298/SharedDocs/Publications/Publications 20 Research / Volume2045, templatedld = raw, property = publicationFile.pdf / Volume% 2045.pdf ", in the study" New Strategy for the Protection of the Population in Germany "in the chapter" Resources, Skills and Deficits in Hazard Identification and Prevention, BMI, Central Office for Civil Defense, Series ScienceForum, Volume 4, 2002 "can be found at http://www.bbk.bund. en / cln027 / nn398732 / SharedDocs / Publications / Science Forum / Volume-4 New Strategy.templateld = raw.property = publicationFile.pdf / Band-4 New Strategy.pdf ", under" TIME v. 01.11.2007: "Warning Systems: Wake Up!", Http://www.zeit.de/2007/45/T-Warnsysteme. ", Under" STERN v. 13.11.2007: "Civil Protection: The unwanted silence of the sirens", http://www.stern.de/computer-technik/technik/:Katastrophenschutz-Das-Schweigen-Sirenen/602513.html ", under" HEISE v. 12.05.2008: "The return of the sirens", http://www.heise.de/newsticker/Die-Rueckkehr-der-Sirenen-/meldung/107742 "and under" BERLINER ZEITUNG v. 18.01.2005: Siren in the living room ", http://www.berlinonline.de/berlinerzeitung/archiv/bin/dump.fcgi/2005/0118/wissenschaft/0017/index.html".

The DE 10 2004 044 220 A1 describes a safety device for generating a warning signal for a vehicle with a arranged on a vehicle seat child seat, wherein at least one means for detecting a busy condition of the child seat is provided, the safety device evaluates vehicle conditions and at least one signaling means for generating a warning signal drives when the vehicle states on it indicate that the vehicle has been parked, the occupants have left the vehicle and at the same time an occupancy of the child seat is displayed.

US2007252688 A1 describes a system for alerting the population. The alarm receivers can be mounted in motor vehicles.

The object of the present invention is to provide an approach to alert the population, which can be implemented easily and inexpensively.

This object is achieved by a device according to claim 1, a motor vehicle according to claim 11, an alerting system according to claim 12 and a method according to claim 13.

An embodiment according to the invention provides an apparatus for activating a sound generator of a motor vehicle by a remote transmitter independent of a motor vehicle user having a receiver and a control unit. The receiver is configured to receive an activation signal from the remote transmitter. The control unit is designed to activate the audible signal generator of the motor vehicle in response to the activation signal.

Embodiments according to the invention are based on the core idea to use the sound signal generator of motor vehicles to warn the civilian population in case of alarm. This is nothing more necessary than a recipient in the Motor vehicle to receive an activation signal and a control unit to activate the audible signal generator of the motor vehicle when needed.

Since a sound generator and a car battery for power supply already exist in every motor vehicle, the additional effort to implement the warning system is limited to the receiver and the control unit. As a result, a simple and cost-effective implementation of a warning system for the population is possible.

In addition, high efficiency can be achieved by the pronounced wake-up effect of the sound signal generator of motor vehicles by using the sound encoder. In other words, the activation of the audible signal transmitter of a motor vehicle can very easily arouse the attention of the population in the vicinity of the motor vehicle.

In addition, for example, a high accessibility can be achieved, even without any motor vehicle having the device described, since the signals are widely audible. Thus, the build-up phase could also be kept short if only new vehicles are equipped with the system. As a result, enough vehicles could be available within a very short time to ensure a nationwide warning system.

Furthermore, the described concept is independent of the power grid. As a result, warning or alerting the population can be guaranteed even in the event of power failure.

In addition, the system is virtually maintenance-free, for example, in the expected period of use (until a new vehicle is purchased) and there are no specific maintenance costs.

Furthermore, the system can be adapted inexpensively, since a constant replacement takes place by vehicle new purchases. According to the invention, the activation of the audible signal transmitter is limited to parked vehicles. On the other hand, it is possible that only the population of a particular region or area should be warned and alerted, so that only the audible signals from motor vehicles in this area should be activated.

Some other embodiments according to the invention relate to an alerting system or warning system comprising a plurality of motor vehicles each having a device for activating the audible signal transmitter of the motor vehicle, a control center and the transmitter. For example, the control center determines the information to include the activation signal and controls the transmission of the activation signal by the transmitter.

Fig. 1

ein Blockschaltbild einer Vorrichtung zur Aktivierung eines Schallzeichengebers eines Kraftfahrzeugs;

Fig. 2

ein "Schalldruckpegel vs. Entfernung zur Quelle"-Diagramm;

Fig. 3

ein "Schalldruckpegel vs. Entfernung zur Quelle"-Diagramm;

Fig. 4

ein Blockschaltbild einer Vorrichtung zur Aktivierung eines Schallzeichengebers eines Kraftfahrzeugs;

Fig. 5

ein Blockschaltbild einer Vorrichtung zur Aktivierung eines Schallzeichengebers eines Kraftfahrzeugs;

Fig. 6a

ein Flussdiagramm eines Verfahrens zur Aktivierung eines Schallzeichengebers eines Kraftfahrzeugs;

Fig. 6b

ein Flussdiagramm eines Verfahrens zur Alarmierung;

Fig. 7

eine Tabelle mit einem Codierungsschema zur Nutzung des DCF77-Senders mit grober Gitterstruktur;

Fig. 8

eine Tabelle mit einem Codierungsschema zur Nutzung des DCF77-Senders mit feiner Gitterstruktur;

Fig. 9

eine Tabelle mit einem Codierungsschema zur Nutzung des DCF77-Senders und eines GNSS-und/oder Mobilfunk-Moduls; und

Fig. 10

eine Tabelle mit einem Codierungsschema zur Nutzung von eCall-Modulen (elektronischen Rufmodulen).

Embodiments according to the invention are explained below with reference to the accompanying figures. Show it:

Fig. 1

a block diagram of a device for activating a sound encoder of a motor vehicle;

Fig. 2

a "Sound Pressure Level vs. Distance to Source"Diagram;

Fig. 3

a "Sound Pressure Level vs. Distance to Source"Diagram;

Fig. 4

a block diagram of a device for activating a sound encoder of a motor vehicle;

Fig. 5

a block diagram of a device for activating a sound encoder of a motor vehicle;

Fig. 6a

a flowchart of a method for activating a sound encoder of a motor vehicle;

Fig. 6b

a flowchart of a method for alerting;

Fig. 7

a table with a coding scheme for using the coarse grid DCF77 transmitter;

Fig. 8

a table with a coding scheme for the use of the DCF77 transmitter with fine grid structure;

Fig. 9

a table with a coding scheme for the use of the DCF77 transmitter and a GNSS and / or mobile module; and

Fig. 10

a table with a coding scheme for the use of eCall modules (electronic call modules).

Vehicles registered in Germany with a cubic capacity of more than 50 cm ³ must, according to StVZO, § 55, be equipped, for example, with a sound signaling device ("horn"). The volume (maximum 105 dB at a distance of 7 meters) and the sound of the device are uniformly regulated within Germany.

The simultaneous, massive honking of all vehicles of an area would be heard during the day and at night in all places in the A-larmierungsgebiet in which there are vehicles. Due to a vehicle density of 599 vehicles / 1000 inhabitants and an absolute number of registered vehicles (without trailers) in Germany of more than 50 million units (43 million only cars, buses, trucks) (according to Kraftfahrtbundesamt, as of 08.09.2008), is with This approach gives a high degree of coverage in the area, even in rural or sparsely populated areas, and provides some degree of coverage of dynamically-strained areas (sports and leisure facilities, parking lots in walking areas, etc.) that is otherwise difficult or impossible to reach ,

For example, in a 2001 study commissioned by the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI), accessibilities of the population of 80% by day and 45% by night are cited as international peaks. The proposed warning system is capable of achieving and outperforming these values.

The sirens of mechanical and pneumatic construction to be used as a comparison have theoretical signal ranges of about 1 km (mechanical) to about 10 km (pneumatic), based on a threshold value of 70 dB (A). This roughly corresponds to the volume of a passenger car passing by ten meters away (60-80 dB (A)). Fig. 2 shows the theoretical sound pressure level as a function of the distance to the sound source.

The theoretical sound pressure level in decibels (A-filter) is shown assuming ideal ambient conditions in logarithmic distance representation. The sound pressure level of a single vehicle (the sound of each individual vehicle) is lower than that of a mechanical siren. The graph 200 compares the sound pressure level of a sound generator of a motor vehicle 210 (car horn) with a mechanical siren of the type E57 220 and a pneumatic siren 230 (HLS, high-performance siren).

In reality, this range can not be achieved due to the environmental conditions (wind direction, temperature, soil condition, building density, etc.) and ranges of 400 - 500 m (mechanical) and 1 - 2 km (electronic high-performance sirens) are the effective limit of the signal. With the same evaluation scale, effective ranges of approx. 150 m are realistic, eg with car horns. Due to the much higher density of motor vehicles compared to siren locations in urban and rural areas, the technical level of care of the warning system despite lower range of individual sound sources is classified as very high. Fig. 3 again shows this effect under the assumption theoretical sound pressure level. Taking into account real effects, the effectiveness shifts in favor of the described system.

The theoretical sound pressure level in decibels (A-filter) assuming ideal ambient conditions is shown. Theoretical sound propagation when alarming 5 vehicles at a distance of 200m from each other is shown. The effective sound pressure level when alerting areally distributed vehicles is higher even at close range than the mechanical sirens. Diagram 300 compares the sound pressure level of car horn 210 with that of E57 220 mechanical sirens and electronic sirens 230 (e.g., ECN3000).

Opposite acoustic signals of other devices whose use as a replacement for the rebuilding of a siren warning system was considered or adopted, such as phones, doorbells of clocks with alarm function, the sound of automobiles are characterized not only by volume and frequency, but also in terms of their attention-grabbing sociological Meaning. They are as safety-related Designed and are primarily used as such, in contrast to the above-mentioned everyday utensils.

One difference between the new concept and other proposals discussed is that, other than sirens, only the warning system proposed here provides a real broadcast alarm, that is, with one sound source, can reach a variety of receivers (e.g., households).

Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of a device 100 for activating a sound encoder 130 of a motor vehicle by a remote transmitter independent of a motor vehicle user according to an embodiment of the invention. The device 100 includes a receiver 110 and a controller 120. The receiver 110 receives an enable signal 112 from the remote transmitter. The control unit 120 activates the audible signal generator 130 of the motor vehicle in response to the activation signal 112.

Since the sound signal generator 130, also called horn in colloquial speech, can be heard over a large distance of a motor vehicle (motor vehicle), for example, alarm with wake-up effect can be realized with high efficiency. In this case, a high degree of coverage can be achieved due to a high number of vehicles per household. Furthermore, the realization can be carried out after a short build-up phase, since, for example, the reproduction rate corresponds to approximately 10% of the total vehicle inventory per year.

The integration of the described device for activating the sounder 130 in motor vehicles, a high reliability of the alarm can be achieved because the system is independent of the mains, can achieve high redundancy, since vehicles are millions of times, and high technical reliability as motor vehicles are regularly inspected or renewed.

In contrast, there are low installation costs, since many existing components of a motor vehicle, such as the sound encoder or car battery for power supply, are used and only the device described must be additionally integrated. The additional costs could be negligible compared to the vehicle price and the system would be very low maintenance within the expected useful life.

Furthermore, the system could easily be upgraded to a transnational solution. In addition, the system can be adapted inexpensively, as a continuous replacement of the modules takes place by Fahrzeugneukäufe.

The effectiveness of the use of the sounder 130 or colloquially the horn of a motor vehicle can be shown, for example, compared to a siren system.

The activation of the sound generator 130 of the motor vehicle is based on an alarming area information and optionally also on an alarm information and / or a position of the motor vehicle.

The alarm information may, for example, be part of the activation signal and indicate, for example, whether an alarm is present and, for example, whether the alarm should only be restricted to official vehicles or other vehicle categories.

Furthermore, it is stipulated that the sound signaling device may only be activated by vehicles that are parked. For this, the vehicle condition is determined.

The alarming area information may be contained in the activation signal, for example, or may be transmitted by a separate alerting area information signal, for example to a mobile radio unit in the motor vehicle. The alerting area information may define a limited area in which the alert is to be triggered. For vehicles that are outside of this range, the sound encoder should not be triggered accordingly. For this, the alarming area information can be compared with a current or last known position of a vehicle and the sound generator can be activated as a function of this comparison.

Fig. 4 FIG. 12 shows a block diagram of a device 400 for activating a sounder 130 of a motor vehicle by a remote transmitter independent of a vehicle user according to an embodiment of the invention. The device comprises the receiver 110, the control unit 120, a mobile radio unit 410, a satellite navigation system 420 and a memory device 430.

The receiver 110 is connected to the control unit 120 and receives the activation signal 112.

In response to the activation signal 112, the control unit 120 may, for example, activate the connected mobile unit 410 to provide additional information, such as information. Receive area coordinates.

Furthermore, the satellite navigation system 420 is connected to the control unit 120 and can be activated to determine the current location of the motor vehicle. Alternatively, the satellite navigation system 420 may provide a last known location of the vehicle to the attached memory device 430 for storage. The control unit 120 may do this last retrieve known position from the memory device 430. The memory device 430 is connected to the control unit 120 and the satellite navigation system 420 for this purpose.

Based on the activation signal 112, the additional information from the mobile radio unit 410 and the current position or the stored position of the vehicle, as well as the state of the vehicle (vehicle parked), the control unit 120 may activate the signal emitter 130 of the motor vehicle.

Alternatively, for example, the receiver 110 may also be a mobile radio receiver and part of the mobile radio unit 420, and the storage device 430 may be part of the control unit 120 or the satellite navigation system 420.

Fig. 5 shows a block diagram of a device 500 for activating a sound encoder 11 of a motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention. Among other things, a schematic diagram of the structure of the control unit 120, also called control unit, is shown.

The controller 120 includes a power supply 20 in the form of a main switch or power connector, a microcontroller 21, a memory device 22, such as an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), a switch 23 for the sound encoder and an interface 24 for the car radio, and each one FET SSR switch 43 (FET: field effect transistor, solid state relay SSR, transistor relay), a DC-DC voltage converter (DC-DC voltage converter) 40 and an I I / O connector (input / output, input / output) for the GSM and / or UMTS module 41, a FET / SSR disconnect switch 53, a DC-DC voltage converter 50 and an I / O connector 52 for the GNSS Module 51 (Global Navigation Satellite System, Global Satellite Navigation System) and a DC-DC voltage converter 30 and an I / O connector 32 for the receiver 110, for example, a DCF77 module 31.

The main switch 20 is connected on the one hand to the car battery 10 and on the other hand to the voltage converter 30 of the receiver 110, the voltage converter 40 of the mobile radio unit 410, the voltage converter 50 of the satellite navigation system 420 and the circuit breaker 23 of the horn 11. Through the main switch 20, the total power of the system can be controlled.

The voltage converter 30 of the receiver 110 is connected to the DCF77 module 31 and the microcontroller 21 and, in addition to the receiver 110, can also supply the microcontroller 21 with the desired voltage. Alternatively, the power supply of the microcontroller 21 can also be realized via its own voltage converter.

The I / O connector 32 of the receiver 110 is connected to the DCF77 module 31 and the microcontroller 21 and serves to transmit the signals received from the DCF77 module 31 (activation signal) from the receiver 110 to the microcontroller 21.

The FET / SSR disconnect switch 23 is connected to the horn 11 and serves to activate the horn 11 and the associated acoustic signal.

The optional I / O connector 24 is connected to a possibly existing car radio 14 and the microcontroller 21. The microcontroller 21 can, for example, in the event of an alarm, turn on the car radio 14 or the car radio 14 can transmit RDS data (radio data system) to the microcontroller 21.

The memory device 22 is connected to the microcontroller 21 and may, for example, a last known position of the motor vehicle, by the satellite navigation system 420 has been determined, store and provide the microcontroller 21 when needed.

The I / O connector of the mobile radio unit 410 is connected to the microcontroller 21 and the GSM and / or UMTS module 41 and serves as an interface for data exchange between these two modules.

The voltage converter 40 of the mobile radio unit 410 is connected to the circuit breaker 43, which in turn is connected to the GMS / UMTS module 41. The voltage converter 40 serves to supply power to the mobile radio unit 410, which can be controlled by the disconnector 43.

Accordingly, the I / O connector 52, the voltage converter 50 and the circuit breaker 53 are connected to the GNSS module 51 and have the corresponding functionality.

Furthermore, the microcontroller 21 is connected to the disconnect switch 23 of the horn 11, the disconnect switch 43 of the mobile radio unit 410 and the disconnect switch 53 of the satellite navigation system 420 and can activate and control them accordingly.

Alternatively, the power supply 40, the interface 42 and the switch of the mobile radio module 43 may be integrated directly into the mobile radio unit 410, as well as the power supply 50, the interface 52 and the switch 53 of the GNSS module directly into the satellite navigation system 420.

Furthermore, the power supply 30 and the interface 32 of the DCF77 module may be part of the receiver 110.

In the example shown, the vehicle components 510, such as the vehicle battery 10, the sounder 11 and optionally the car radio 14, the control unit components, such as the power supply 20, the microcontroller 21, the memory module 22, the switch 23 of the sounder 11 and optionally the interface 24 of the car radio 14, and the DCF77 components, such as the power supply 30, the DCF77 module 31 and the interface 32 of the DCF77 module are considered as basic components.

The mobile components, such as the power supply 40, the mobile radio module 41, the interface 42 of the mobile radio module and the switch 43 of the mobile radio module, as well as the GNSS components, such as e.g. the power supply 50, the GNSS module 51, the interface 52 of the GNSS module and the switch 53 of the GNSS module are considered as additional components.

Fig. 6a shows a flowchart of a method 600a for activating a sound encoder of a motor vehicle by a remote transmitter independent of a motor vehicle user according to an embodiment of the invention. The method 600a includes receiving 610 an activation signal from the remote transmitter and activating 620 the auditory sensor of the motor vehicle in response to the activation signal.

Fig. 6b shows a flowchart of a method 600b for alerting and / or warning according to an embodiment of the invention. Two possible variants are shown. On the one hand, only the use of DCF77 (basic components) or extended use using mobile radio and / or GNSS modules (additional components).

If, in the event of an emergency, a major loss event occurs, a message is sent to a reporting and situation center 630, which is connected, for example, to the DCF77 transmitter 632 and optionally to a GSM / UMTS transmitter 634 and / or SatWas 636 (satellite-based warning system) , Controlled by the reporting and situation center 630, an alert is sent out by the device according to what has been described Concept with the receiver 110 is received. The control unit or the control unit 120 processes the alarm reception (the activation signal) and activates the sound generator of the motor vehicle via a switch 23, after checking whether, for example, an alarm is present, the vehicle is in the target area and the vehicle is not in operation.

Optionally, the controller 120 may activate the optional GSM module 410, which may receive additional alarm information via the GSM antenna 412 and forward it to the controller 120. In addition, the controller 120 may, if desired, determine the current position of the vehicle via an optional GPS module 420 (Global Positioning System).

If all the criteria are met, the control unit 120 can activate the acoustic signal generator and generate a warning signal in the form of a sound signal 640, which causes an alarm message 642.

In addition, the controller 120 may turn on an RDS radio 14 to receive further warnings 652 about the radio. The warnings for the radio may be received, for example, from an RDS transmitter 650 which is controlled via SatWas 636 (satellite-based warning system).

Some embodiments according to the invention relate to a system for alerting the population by the activation of acoustic signals of motor vehicles.

The sound signaling devices (colloquial designation "horn"), for example, the authorized vehicles in Germany in the case of a large-scale damage or danger situation of a competent reporting and situation center (MLZ) at the state or federal level or subordinate Authorities are triggered centrally and simultaneously. In other words, the transmission of the activation signal may be controlled by a control center such as a notification and situation center or other central or remote (eg, a police station directly) facility.

In order to remotely trigger a warning by vehicle audio signals, for example, two technical requirements must be met. A central transmitter or a group of decentralized transmitters (for example, electromagnetic signal) must be available, for example, to the MLZ, and a receiving unit in a motor vehicle, for example, must trigger the warning signal as a function of various parameters.

As a transmitter, for example, the central long-wave transmitter DCF77 in Mainflingen (time signal transmitter of the Physico-technical Federal Institute in Braunschweig, PTB), or comparable stations, the nationwide distributed transmitters of mobile operators or communications satellites serve. Long-wave signals such as the DCF77 (signals from the DCF77) can also penetrate buildings (parking garages etc.) and compact buildings well. The DCF77 transmitter was already technically converted in 2003 so that it can be used for the targeted activation of radio clocks in the event of a disaster.

Basically, all analog as well as digital, public (GSM, DCF77, RDS, etc.) may be like nonpublic radio techniques, such as paging techniques (such as pagers and other devices using, for example, the POCSAG protocol) and trunked radio (TETRA et al.).

As a radio receiver, for example, DCF77 modules or mobile radio modules can be used. The carrier signal of the German time signal transmitter DCF77 at the PTB has already been used in a test with suitable receiver modules as already mentioned, to alert radio clocks for the civil defense use.

If a receiving module (consisting for example of receiver / antenna and control unit / control unit), which reads the entire signal record of the DCF77 including alarm sequence, installed in vehicles according to, for example, the STVZO (Road Traffic Licensing Regulations), the sound generator of the vehicle can be triggered accordingly targeted.

The coding of the DCF77 signal initially contained in the first 15 bits of operating information via the DCF77 control device, which are not utilized by commercially available radio clocks, since the time signal is transmitted exclusively in the following bits. Since the changeover in 2003, the first 14 bits are available for the transmission of information for the warning of the population and can, for example, already be evaluated by radio clock receivers by complete readout of the signal data record and forwarded to the control unit. A corresponding use for the activation of sound markers of motor vehicles is easily feasible.

In addition to evaluating the signal, the control unit can also be assigned additional tasks. For this purpose, for example, can include the determination of the vehicle condition in order to trigger a signal for reasons of road safety only in such vehicles, which are turned off. The signal sequence and duration of the sound signals may depend on parameters set in the control unit. A far-reaching synchronicity of the sound signals between all alarmed vehicles can be ensured by the highly accurate DCF77 time signal from the control unit. Other features, such as activating a car radio to receive alerts or enabling visual warning signs, such as a hazard warning light system or a turn signal of the vehicle, are possible as a functional scope of the device.

The invention offers the possibility of being able to limit the alerting of the population to affected areas. In other words, the activation of the audible signal generator of a motor vehicle is based on an alarm area information indicating for which area an alarm is provided. The alerting area information may be included in, for example, the activation signal or a separate alerting area information signal.

The definition of the target area can be coded, for example, in the first 14 bits of the radio clock data record. With regard to the coding of the target area, different variants are possible, depending on the number of permitted passes of the alarm code, the possible usability of the control bit 15 of today's DCF77 signal, or any future variants in which the coding of the radio character briefly beyond the 15-bit alarm information could contain. In the first place, the requirements of the Civil Protection Authorities regarding the spatial resolution accuracy of the alerting zones with regard to position and extent are relevant.

The triggering of an alarm may then depend on the positive check of the signal in the control unit as to whether the parked vehicle is in the alerting area. For this purpose, the control unit, also called control unit, needs information on their own whereabouts. For example, in a study commissioned by the federal civil defense agency (in Germany) regarding the use of radio clocks and alarm clocks with DCF77 receivers, it was assumed that users would enter a four-digit location code into the clocks when purchasing and change this code when changing locations ( for holidays or traveling). That appears against the background of a possible high spatial resolution and in terms of handling as unrealistic.

The self-localization of the vehicle may be a central issue in achieving high spatial resolution and thus efficiency of the warning system. In other words, the position of the motor vehicle at the time of the alarm should be known as accurately as possible, for example, to activate the sound sensors of only those vehicles which at that time are in the area determined by the alerting area information.

One possibility is the evaluation of the signal strength of long-wave radio transmitters. This may require, for example, either an interface of the control unit to a possibly present in the vehicle RDS / digital radio or an additional antenna for the corresponding waveband and permanently reliable existing transmitter. The achievable resolution accuracy is low and moreover depends on the quality of the information on the received transmitter sites.

Another possibility is the evaluation of the signal strength of mobile masts. This variant requires the additional installation of a standard mobile radio module (eg GSM or UMTS standard, GSM: global system for mobile communication, UMTS: universal mobile telecommunications system). When the mobile radio module is switched on, the relative position of the vehicle to transmission towers can be determined from the signal strengths received from surrounding mobile radio masts. For example, if the Cell-ID of the received transmission towers can be related to location coordinates, the global position of the vehicle can be determined. This may require a table stored in the control unit of the coordinates of all transmission towers in the area to be covered (eg Germany, Europe). In densely spaced transmission towers (such as in urban areas), the self-locating on some hundred meters or better. An increase of the Cell-ID based accuracy is possible, for example, in rural areas by runtime trilateration between module and transmitters. A simplification of the method could be achieved if, for example, a method of the operator 0 ₂ would be generally applied, in which the cell Gauss Krüger coordinates of the received transmission towers are transmitted over a channel by means of cell broadcast to all mobile radio receivers.

The mobile modules would have to be permanently booked for location either without the use of cell broadcast, or at least switched on, with available sender coordinates in the cell broadcast method. Alternatively, activation of the mobile radio module can take place downstream of the activation of the DCF77 receiver. The alarm triggered by the DCF77 transmitter first causes the activation of the mobile radio modules by the control unit. In a second step, the triggering of the warning signal is carried out by the control unit depending on the location supplied by the mobile radio module.

Another possibility is the use of a GNSS module (Global Navigation Satellite System). The highest spatial accuracy and fastest determination of the location thus achievable. The self-localization (determination of the position of the motor vehicle) can be done to a few meters accurate. However, signal availability may be lower than in terrestrial radio. This circumstance can be avoided, for example, if a cyclic storage of the last determined coordinate of the GNSS module according to the FIFO principle (first in first out, first in first out) takes place in the control unit or a separate memory device. If no GNSS signal can be received over a certain distance, for example when entering a car park, in tunnels or in narrow valleys, the alarm can be triggered - in addition to the test for driving - of it depending on whether the last known vehicle position falls into the target area. When the vehicle is parked, the GNSS module can be turned off, reducing power consumption.

This variant allows an accuracy with respect to the determination of the vehicle position, which is about one to two orders of magnitude higher than, for example, the possible determination of the target area based on the 14-bit data set of the DCF77 signal. If a self-localization comparable accuracy of the definition of the target area is to take place, this can be achieved, for example, by a larger number of alarm cycles - ie several successive 14-bit signal sequences at minute intervals - or by combined use of a GNSS and a mobile module. Since the time delay of the former method can be large, beyond the error probability of signal reception may increase, a higher-resolution target area definition, for example, based on the parallel use of GNSS and mobile modules, if the use of the DCF77 signal or comparable transmitter on a smaller amount of data, such as the first 15 bits, remains limited.

When using a GNSS and a mobile module, the control unit can first evaluate the DCF77 signal, which may contain only a rough area specification, but also omitting all of the target area information only other control parameters can transmit (such as which types of vehicles to respond to the alarm , eg only public authority vehicles or similar). If an alarm is given and the vehicle is in the coarse target area as compared to the last stored GNSS coordinate (or a currently determined position), the control unit activates the mobile radio module. The mobile radio module receives via a - for example, coded in the DCF77 signal - defined cell broadcasting channel (cell broadcast channel), for example, an ASCII code message, the content, for example contains the exact destination coordinate of the alarm area and the exact extent of the area.

Alternatively, in the case of loss of spatial resolution, the method can be simplified in that, for example, only the transmission towers contained in the initially roughly predefined target area emit an identifier via the defined cell broadcasting channel in whose reception area all vehicles are to issue a warning signal.

There are various other variants conceivable, including the activation of the mobile module after a DCF77 alarm reception, subsequent reception of a cell broadcast message and further processing in the control unit (control unit). Furthermore, a self-localization can take place, for example, by means of WLAN-based methods (wireless local area network, wireless local area network). However, their reliable, nationwide availability is not foreseeable in the long run. The expected in the future in connection with new telematics systems carto-car communication capability (car-to-car) theoretically has a potential for improvement with regard to harmful local conditions for the DCF77 reception. However, the reception rate of DCF77 receivers nationwide is 99%.

The choice of a specific design of the system may depend on the accuracies to be achieved and the different costs of the associated equipment components. If, as a cost-benefit-base for a comparison to the solutions proposed so far, the proposals for the mass equipment of households with new radio clocks and clocks rate, the cost of each modified DCF77 receiving unit under 15 € are estimated, this can cost the Retrofitting the vehicles with a DCF77 receiver module correspond, with a simultaneous performance of the vehicle-based warning system comparable to the rebuilding of the siren network. The additional costs of the DCF77 module compared to the total price of a new vehicle are extremely low.

As more and more new equipment is fitted out, especially with regard to electronic components in the telematics and security field (safety systems such as airbags, future eCall (electronic paging), stability programs and other assistance systems, navigation systems, multimedia services), the modules proposed for the warning system are becoming increasingly ex-works will be present, the additional costs caused by the warning system are considered to be low. For example, in the vast majority of EU countries, including Germany, it is planned to equip each new vehicle ex works with an eCall unit as of 2010 (details of the regulation - including a possible optional form - are still pending). Thus, each vehicle would have a GSM / UMTS and a GNSS module and it would normally be considered only the installation of the DCF77 receiver or another receiver and a suitable control unit as additional work.

ECall is the introduction of an automatic emergency call system for motor vehicles planned by the European Union. These devices are intended to report a traffic accident to the single European emergency number 112 and to help reduce the number of road deaths and reduce the severity of road traffic injuries through more rapid rescue measures.

In this case, an emergency call (eCall) should be triggered in an accident that sends a so-called minimum data set directly to an emergency call center, but at the same time establishes a voice connection in case an occupant of the accident car can still speak. eCall can be triggered automatically and manually.

The minimum data set can i.a. the time of the accident, the exact coordinates of the accident location, the direction of travel, vehicle ID, etc. contain. Optionally, data transmission from on-board safety systems is possible, such as the severity of the accident event and the number of occupants, whether the seat belts were worn, whether the vehicle has overturned, etc.

The introduction of eCall requires i.a. The equipment of vehicles with a GPS and GSM module, an antenna and an additional control unit, in which the eCall function is implemented.

Since no nationwide warning system with wake-up effect currently exists in Germany, the advantages of the system described can be compared, for example, with the various potential methods that have already been the subject of investigations.

For example, the efficiency of the system may be due to a high efficiency with wake-up effect (at least comparable to the previous network of mechanical sirens, see Annex), a high degree of coverage (vehicles / household), a high degree of accessibility (already a low coverage of equipped vehicles is sufficient for the Reach the population because the signals are widely audible) and a short build-up phase (reproduction rate approx. 10% of the total vehicle population per year). In addition, the system can be precisely spatially selective and at the same time distortion-free.

Reliability can be ensured, for example, by independence from the power grid, a high degree of redundancy (millions of vehicles) and high technical reliability, as vehicles are regularly inspected or renewed.

There would be no installation costs for the state if the system uses, for example, imported components (car battery, sound generator, telematics modules) and the pure additional expense is included in the vehicle price (estimated additional expenditure <15, - € / vehicle). In addition, the system can be virtually maintenance-free within the expected service life. No specific maintenance costs would be expected for the state and consumers.

The viability can be ensured, for example, as the system can easily be upgraded to a Europe-wide adapted solution and, for example, further developed into a traffic management system in the event of mass evacuation. The system can be easily adjusted, as a continuous replacement of the modules can be done by Fahrzeugneukäufe.

The system can realize a warning system with effective wake-up function for the population and at the same time minimal installation and virtually no maintenance.

For example, because the functionality of the system is based on the coded alert by a government agency, a workaround can be ruled out.

Some further embodiments according to the invention relate to a warning system for alerting the population. The warning system can be used to alert the population with alarm by acoustic signals.

Further uses are, for example, in use as warning means for flowing traffic, such as an official leadership system at mass evacuations by managing the traffic flows by alerts or local warnings to vehicle occupants approaching a danger point, such as an accident, impassability of the road o.ä.

Some embodiments according to the invention relate to different variants for alerting.

Several variants of the system are possible, for example.

For example, a local unrestricted triggering of an alarm can be realized by means of DCF77 and / or GSM / UMTS.

Alternatively, for example, a locally limited triggering of an alarm by means of DCF77 and / or GSM / UMTS be made possible.

Furthermore, satellite communication can be used.

A variant for locally limited resolution of an alarm using DCF77 would be for example: 1. emergency Admission of a spatially limited major loss event Second report Accumulation of the damage report at a reporting and location center Third alarming Trigger alarming for a restricted area using DCF77 transmitter for given region code. At the same time forwarding a warning message to the radio stations cooperating with SatWas. 4th ARCs Receipt of the alarm message via DCF77 antenna (receiver) in the vehicle. Processing of the signal in the control unit: 1. Check for alarm sequence Second Check on area specification Third Checking the vehicle condition 5th warning Conditioned reaction of the system. If: 1. Alarm sequence found Second Area specification applicable Third Vehicle condition "switched off since [default value] minutes" Then: 4th Signal generation according to preset signal scheme Otherwise: 5th no signal generation during vehicle operation 6th Automatic switching on / off of an RDS radio on a SatWas cooperating transmitter when the current GPS coordinate is in the target area 6th warning Alarmed persons receive alerts from broadcasters

A variant for locally limited resolution of an alarm by means of DCF77 and GSM / UMTS would be for example: 1. emergency As before Second report As before Third alarming Trigger alerting for a restricted area using DCF77 transmitters and via GSM / UMTS transmitters in cell broadcasting for given coordinates and / or extension areas. At the same time forwarding a warning message to the radio stations cooperating with SatWas. 4th ARCs Receipt of alarm message via DCF77 module. Activation of the GSM antenna. Processing of the GSM signal in the control unit: 1. Checking the GSM signal for alarm (= 2-fold protection) Second Check for area specification by last saved GPS coordinate Third Checking the vehicle condition 5th warning As before 6th warning As before

Some further embodiments according to the invention relate to a possible structure of the activation signal, also called alarm signal. For the transmission of information to warn the population there is already (in Germany) a coding scheme of 2003, with which a distinction can be made between alarms at federal, state and county level. The following schemes are alternatives to this.

A possible content 700 using only the PTB's DCF77 transmitter (binary data structure, 14-bit information content) for a coarse grid structure is in Fig. 7 shown. An area extent of Germany (WxH, width by height) of 650 x 900 km, a physical cell size of 25 x 25 km with a number of 936 cells and a cell size with correction of 12.5 x 12.5 km in a number of 1,872 cells assumed.

If the correction bit 4 is set, for example, the center of the alarming area can be offset by half a cell width to the south and east, with respect to the cell addressed in bits 5-14 becomes. This can double the area resolution.

A possible content 800 with exclusive use of the DCF77 transmitter of the PTB with fine grid structure is in Fig. 8 shown. In this case, an area extent of Germany (BxH) of 1,000 x 1,000 km and a physical cell size of 250 x 250 m is assumed for a number of more than 16 x 10 ⁶ cells.

Here, two passes of the time signal are awaited before the alarm is triggered.

In this case, for example, the first coordinate of the time signal, the x-coordinate and the radii group and the second pass the y-coordinate and the radius are transmitted.

A possible content 900 of the DCF77 signal of the PTB transmitter when using GNSS and / or mobile radio modules (binary data structure) is in Fig. 9 shown.

Furthermore, a possible content 1000 of an alerting signal for exclusive use of eCall modules by cell broadcasting in accordance with applicable technical standards (ASCII data structure) in Fig. 10 shown.

Information on the DCF77 transmitter and its coding can be found, for example, on the homepage of PTB: "http://www.ptb.de/de/org/4/44/443/dcf77bbk.htm".

Some embodiments according to the invention relate to a system for alerting the population by means of the sound signal generator of motor vehicles.

The sound signal generator (colloquial designation "horn"), for example, the motor vehicles registered in Germany in the case of a large-scale damage or Dangerous situation triggered centrally and simultaneously by the competent reporting and situation center (MLZ) at regional or federal level, in order to alert the population by synchronous, loud honking - with wake-up effect (!) - and thus the switching on of radios (TV , Radio, internet), so that the population carries out the warning announcements of the disaster control authorities.

As a triggering transmitter, the central long-wave transmitter DCF77 in Mainflingen (time signal transmitter of the Physico-Technical Federal Institute in Braunschweig, PTB), or comparable transmitters, the nationwide distributed transmitters of mobile operators or communications satellites serve.

As a radio receiver, DCF77 modules or else e.g. Mobile radio modules are used.

There are several variants conceivable (see the already filed invention disclosure). The most powerful variant is the coupling of a receiving module to the eCall modules to be equipped into each EU vehicle from 2010, which will include a mobile radio (GSM / UMTS) and a navigation unit (GNSS, e.g., GPS, Galileo).

Some embodiments according to the invention include the following components of a wake-up warning system based on car audio encoders. The described method of warning the population, a system based on this method, and a device controlling the system.

In the present application, the same reference numerals are sometimes used for objects and functional units that have the same or similar functional properties.

In particular, it should be noted that, depending on the circumstances, the inventive scheme can also be implemented in software. The implementation may be on a digital storage medium, in particular a floppy disk or a CD with electronically readable control signals that can interact with a programmable computer system such that the corresponding method is executed. In general, the invention thus also consists in a computer program product with program code stored on a machine-readable carrier for carrying out the method according to the invention when the computer program product runs on a computer. In other words, the invention can thus be realized as a computer program with a program code for carrying out the method when the computer program product runs on a computer.

Claims (14)

1. A device (100, 400, 500) for activating an acoustic signaler (130) of a motor vehicle for alarming the civilian population by a remote transmitter independent of a motor vehicle user, comprising:

   a receiver (110) which is implemented to receive an activation signal (112) from the remote transmitter; and

   a control unit (120) which is implemented to activate the acoustic signaler (130) of the motor vehicle in response to the activation signal (112),

   wherein the control unit (120) is implemented to determine whether the motor vehicle is parked, and is implemented to only activate the acoustic signaler (130) of the motor vehicle when the motor vehicle is parked, and

   wherein the control unit (120) is additionally implemented to activate the acoustic signaler (130) of the motor vehicle based on alarming area information, wherein the alarming area information is contained in the activation signal or in an alarming area information signal.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the activation signal (112) includes alarm information, wherein the control unit (120) is implemented to activate the acoustic signaler of the motor vehicle based on the alarm information.
3. The device according to claims 1 or 2, comprising a mobile radio unit (410) which is implemented to receive the alarming area information signal.
4. The device according to one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a mobile radio unit (410) which is implemented to determine a position of the motor vehicle.
5. The device according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control unit (120) is implemented to determine a position of the motor vehicle responsive to the activation signal.
6. The device according to one of claims 1 to 5, having a satellite navigation system (420) which is implemented to determine a position of the motor vehicle.
7. The device according to one of claims 1 to 6, including a memory means (430) for storing a last known position of the motor vehicle.
8. The device according to one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the control unit (120) is implemented to activate the acoustic signaler (130) of the motor vehicle based on a comparison of the alarming area information and the position of the motor vehicle.
9. The device according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the motor vehicle comprises a radio and the control unit (120) is implemented to switch on the radio based on the activation signal.
10. The device according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the motor vehicle comprises an optical signaler and the control unit (120) is implemented to switch on the optical signaler based on the activation signal.
11. A motor vehicle having a device for activating an acoustic signaler of the motor vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 10.
12. A system for alarming the civilian population, comprising:

    a motor vehicle according to claim 11;

    a remote transmitter which is implemented to transmit the activation signal; and

    a control center which is implemented to control the transmission of the activation signal by the remote transmitter.
13. A method (600a) for activating an acoustic signaler of a motor vehicle for alarming the civilian population by a remote transmitter independent of a vehicle user, comprising:

    receiving (610) an activation signal from the remote transmitter;

    determining whether the motor vehicle is parked; and

    activating (620) the acoustic signaler of the motor vehicle in response to the activation signal and only when the motor vehicle is parked, and based on alarming area information, wherein the alarming area information is contained in the activation signal or in an alarming area information signal.
14. A computer program having a program code for executing the method according to claim 13, when the computer program is executed on a computer or microcontroller.

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