RU2582045C2 - Method of informing disabled persons on availability of nearest stationary objects and determining required direction of movement to said objects and system therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: medicine.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to means of communication and orientation of visually impaired people when they are moving around urban area. Method consists in placing on stationary objects stationary radio informers and placed on disabled portable subscriber units, automatic transmission wearable subscriber unit in a radio broadcast request signal on receipt of which each stationary radio informer, currently in subscriber unit coverage area, according to radio response containing personal data and subscriber unit alternately receives and stores responses from all stationary radio informers that are currently in zone of action of user device, and automatically sends a signal to request transfer of information to stationary radio informer, that upon receipt of request signal transmits a radio broadcast message a stationary object to which it is fitted, and subscriber unit reproduces resulting from said stationary radio informer information in form of sound repetitive messages. Stationary radio informer of stationary object sounds an orientation signal to which disabled person defines necessary direction to selected stationary object. Request signal comprises a subscriber unit's personal data. Each stationary radio informer transmits radio answer with a random delay and a subscriber unit automatically sends a request signal to a stationary radio informer, answer of which was obtained first, while in absence of need for a disabled person in stationary object its subscriber device for a disabled command sends a signal to transfer request radio informer stationary information, answer of which was obtained by second. Alternately command invalid transfer request signals to all stationary radio informer that are currently in zone of subscriber unit is performed as long as disabled will not be made a choice required stationary object, after which subscriber unit for disabled command sends a radio broadcast select signal of stationary radio informer. In system for informing and orientation of disabled persons for implementing method, stationary radio informers are mounted on stationary objects and have portable subscriber devices. Each of stationary radio informers includes a storage unit of compressed audio files, generating unit, handling and storage of information reception unit from subscriber interrogation signal devices enable signals to transfer information and call signalling, block forming sound orientation signal, a radio antenna and a transceiver, and each wearable subscriber device comprises means for tactile feedback, processing unit and storing information forming unit transmitted stationary radio informer request signals, enable signals to transfer information, call signals and selecting a stationary radio informer signal conversion unit derived from stationary radio informer digital information into an analogue voice message, means reproducing voice information, radio antenna and a transceiver.

EFFECT: use of invention allows to widen range of information and orientation for visually disabled.

2 cl, 1 dwg

Description

The invention relates to technologies and means that enable patients with visual impairments to replace direct visual perception with auditory perception, and can be used to inform and orient people with visual impairments when moving around the city to objects of interest to them.

Known devices for the orientation of the blind, built on the principle of location. These devices use either radar to detect obstacles that blind people face when moving in space (see patents RU No. 588350, 2299052, 2299053) or acoustic sonar (patent RU No. 2085162).

Such devices differ in the type of impact on a person when determining an obstacle (acoustic or vibrational), reaction to one or several obstacles, and the possibility of orientation in space using a magnetometer and GPS, however, all these devices cannot provide information to a blind person about urban infrastructure, which is so necessary for orienteering in the city.

Known devices that provide the ability to inform the blind user about the objects of urban infrastructure.

So, the device protected by patent RU No. 43161 contains an information unit permanently installed at the urban infrastructure facility and a wearable voice alert unit that the user has with him. Essentially, this device is a system for informing and orienting the blind. The information block of the system contains information about the object. The block radio transmitter with the frequency set by the timer sends an encoded message containing the indicated information to the air. Due to the applied narrow directivity characteristics, the user is given the opportunity to determine the direction to the object. The transmitted message is reproduced by the wearable unit as a voice message listened by a person in real time.

The specified system allows a blind person to obtain information about an object of urban infrastructure in real time, however it has a number of drawbacks, however, to determine the direction of movement to an object, the user needs to perform a complex maneuver. Another disadvantage of the system is the need to place several information blocks on one object, which significantly increases the cost of acquiring, installing and maintaining such a system. A significant drawback of this is also the lack of a tactile way of attracting the attention of a blind person when he falls into the coverage area of an information block. Since the system is designed for operation in conditions of increased noise in an urban environment, a visually impaired person may miss an object of interest to him simply by not hearing a voice message due to loud noise.

Known communication system for informing and orienting the blind (patent RU No. 97918), selected as a prototype. This system, comprising an information unit installed on an object, including a first digital storage device, a first encoder and a first radio transmitter connected in series, as well as a first timer control circuit, the corresponding outputs of which are connected to the control inputs of the first digital storage device, the first encoder and the first radio transmitter, also comprising a wearable unit including serially connected a first radio receiver, a first decoder, a second digital storage device and a qi The analog-to-analog converter, the first amplifier and the first electro-acoustic transducer connected in series, as well as the second control circuit, the corresponding outputs of which are connected to the control inputs of the first radio receiver, the first decoder, the second digital storage device and the digital-to-analog converter, are characterized by the fact that a digital clock is inserted into the information block a calendar, a second radio receiver and a second decoder connected in series, and a generator connected in series, p the first digital volume control, the second amplifier and the second electro-acoustic transducer, while the control inputs of the digital calendar clock, second radio, second decoder, generator and the first digital volume control are connected to the corresponding outputs of the first control circuit, and the information outputs of the second decoder and digital clock the calendar is connected to the corresponding information inputs of the first control circuit, and a manual control device is inserted into the wearable unit and connected in series the second encoder and the second radio transmitter, as well as a tactile device and a manual volume control, while the output of the manual control device is connected to the corresponding input of the second control circuit, the corresponding outputs of which are connected to the control inputs of the second encoder, second radio transmitter and tactile device, and the output the digital-to-analog converter is connected to the input of a manual volume control, the output of which is connected to the input of the first amplifier.

This system contains an information unit (hereinafter referred to as the radio informant) permanently installed on the urban infrastructure object, which transmits with a specified frequency in digital form messages about the object on which it is installed, and a wearable voice alert unit that reproduces these messages in voice form (hereinafter referred to as the subscriber unit) . If the user needs to determine the direction of movement to the object, information about which he hears, then by means of the subscriber device, he sends a special encoded package to the radio informer. Upon receipt of this package, the radio informer for a fixed time gives a sound orientation signal, allowing the user to accurately determine the direction of movement to the object. A tactile action device has been introduced into the subscriber’s device, with which the user's attention is attracted when he enters the coverage area of the radio informer. It is also possible, if necessary, to install one radio informator on one object with additional devices for supplying a sound orientation signal placed above the entrances to various premises of the object.

However, the known system has a significant drawback due to the fact that all the radio informants permanently installed on the objects of the city infrastructure are constantly working and constantly transmit messages about the object on which they are installed, regardless of whether the user needs to search for or use this object . At the same time, subscriber devices of users are also constantly in operation, regardless of the need for this.

The invention solves the problem of creating a new technology for informing and orienting the visually impaired and an improved system for its implementation, the work of which begins and depends primarily on the desire of the user of this system, i.e. the system begins to work with a specific user only when he has a need for its services. The disabled subscriber’s device automatically transmits a request signal to the radio air and only after that the stationary radio informers transmit with a random delay the response to the received request signal, and the subscriber’s device receives and remembers received replies from all stationary radio informants that are currently in the coverage area of this subscriber’s device, and automatically sends a request signal for information transfer only to a stationary radio informant, the answer from which was received first, Subsequently, without the need for a disabled person in this stationary object, the subscriber unit only acts on command invalid steered request signal burst stationary radioinformatoru from which a response has been received second, etc.

The essence of the first independent object of the claimed invention as a technical solution is expressed in the following set of essential features, sufficient to solve the problem.

A method of informing people with disabilities about the presence of nearby stationary objects and determining the necessary direction of movement to these objects, which consists in placing stationary radio informants on stationary objects and placing wearable subscriber devices on people with disabilities, automatically transmitting a request signal from the wearable subscriber device to the radio, upon receipt of which each stationary radio informant currently in range of the subscriber unit, transmits to the radio a response containing it personal data, and the subscriber device alternately receives and stores the received responses from all stationary radio informants that are currently in the coverage area of this subscriber device, and automatically sends a request signal for transmitting information to the stationary radio informant, which, upon receipt of this request signal, transmits a message on the radio stationary object on which it is installed, and the subscriber device reproduces the information received from this stationary radio informer in the form of audible repeating messages, while the stationary radio informator of the stationary object gives an orientation sound signal, according to which the disabled person determines the necessary direction of movement to the stationary object chosen by him, characterized in that the request signal of the subscriber device contains his personal data, each stationary radio informator transmits a response from random delay, and the subscriber device automatically sends a request signal to that stationary radio informant, the answer t of which was received first, while in the absence of the need for a disabled person in this stationary object, his subscriber unit sends a request signal for transmitting information to a stationary radio informant at the command of the disabled person, the response from which was received second, which are transmitted alternately by request of the disabled person to transmit request signals to all stationary radio informants, currently located in the coverage area of the subscriber unit, they are carried out until the disabled person makes the choice of the stationary volume he needs that, after which the subscriber unit on an invalid command transmits the radio signal selecting radioinformatora stationary.

This is the totality of the essential features of the first independent object of the claimed invention, which provides a technical result in all cases to which the requested amount of legal protection applies.

The essence of the second independent object of the claimed invention as a technical solution is expressed in the following set of essential features, sufficient to solve the problem.

A system for informing and orienting people with disabilities to implement the method according to claim 1, comprising stationary radio informants installed on stationary objects and wearable subscriber devices, each of the stationary radio informants including a storage unit for compressed audio files, a unit for generating, processing and storing information, a receiving unit from subscriber devices request signals, permission signals for transmitting information and call signals, a unit for generating an audio orientation signal, a radio antenna and a receiver a transmitter, and each wearable subscriber unit includes tactile means, an information processing and storage unit, a unit for generating request signals transmitted by a stationary radio informator, permission signals for transmitting information, call signals and a stationary radio informator selection signal, a unit for converting digital information received from the stationary radio informant to analog voice message, means for reproducing voice information, a radio antenna and a transceiver.

The technical result that can be obtained by implementing the set of essential features of the claimed invention is the creation of a new technology for orienting the visually impaired and a holistic system that provides, and the subscriber’s device that is located with the visually impaired when moving around the city, receives and reproduces stable information about those of interest its stationary facilities at the option of the disabled person.

The invention is illustrated in the drawing, which shows a functional diagram of the claimed system.

The information and orientation system for the visually impaired, implementing the above method, contains radio informants (RI) installed on stationary objects (CO), and a set of wearable subscriber devices (AU), which are in the hands of the visually impaired.

Each radio informer includes a unit 1 for storing compressed audio files, a unit 2 for generating and storing a digital data packet, a unit 3 for processing and storing information, a unit 4 for receiving request signals, permission signals for transmitting information and call signals from subscriber units, an audio generating unit 5 orientation signal, as well as a radio antenna and a transceiver 6.

Each wearable subscriber device includes tactile means 7, an information processing and storage unit 8, a unit 9 for generating request signals transmitted to radio informers, permission signals for transmitting information and call signals, a unit 10 for converting digital information received from radio informers into an analog voice message, means 11 reproduction of voice information, as well as a radio antenna and a transceiver 12

The claimed method using the claimed system is implemented as follows.

A subscriber’s device of a disabled person, using block 9 and a radio transmitter 12, automatically transmits a request signal containing the personal data of this subscriber device to the radio air. Each stationary radio informator, which is currently in the coverage area of the subscriber unit, upon receipt of the request signal processes this signal in block 4 and, in response to the received request signal using the radio transmitter 6, transmits to the radio, with a random delay, a response to the received request signal containing personal data of this stationary radio informant. The subscriber unit alternately receives and stores the received responses from all stationary radio informants that are currently in the coverage area of this subscriber device, while the subscriber device automatically sends a request signal for transmitting information to the stationary radio informant, using the unit 9, the first response from which was received. Upon receipt of this signal of a request for information transmission, this radio informer processes the information in block 4 and transmits to the radio broadcast a message about the stationary object on which it is installed. The subscriber unit, using block 11, reproduces the information received from this stationary radio informer in the form of repeated sound messages, after which, if there is no need for the disabled person in this stationary object, his subscriber device sends a request signal for transmitting information to the stationary radio informant at the command of the disabled person, the response from which was received second. This radio informer also transmits to the radio broadcast a message about the stationary object on which it is installed, and the subscriber device, using block 11, reproduces the information received from this radio informer in the form of sound repeating messages. These alternate commands of the disabled person to transmit request signals to all stationary radio informants that are currently in the coverage area of this subscriber unit, as well as receive and reproduce the information received from them, until the disabled person chooses the stationary object he needs after whereupon the subscriber’s device, upon the command of the disabled person, transmits a special signal to the radio air, after receiving which a stationary radio informant of a stationary object selected by the disabled person The block 5 gives a sound orientation signal, according to which the disabled person determines the necessary direction of movement to the stationary object of his choice.

All blocks of the structural diagram of the claimed system are known in the art and are mass-produced. For example, control units, units for generating and storing digital data packets, units for processing and storing information and devices for generating sound orientation signals are based on Atmel single-chip microcontrollers manufactured by Atmel, transceivers based on Si4421 single-chip transceivers manufactured by Silicon Labs, and compacted sound storage units files - based on the ATmel Flash memory chip AT25DF321 manufactured by Atmel, an electro-acoustic transformer of radio informers and additional blocks cottages orientation sound signal is a piezo W-25 manufactured by EAST, electroacoustic transducer subscriber unit - dynamic head YD 50-02 manufactured by Zhenglong Electronic, tactile feedback device - vibration motor QX-6A-1, manufactured by QX Motor.

The claimed technology and the system for informing and orienting the visually impaired, which implements it, is convenient for use, since it is initiated by the person with a disability, provides stable reception of messages necessary for the person with disabilities at the right time for him, and is protected from mutual radio interference created by several radio informants located along the route of the person with disabilities, eliminates the possibility of his disorientation, provides an opportunity for a visually impaired person to move much more freely around the city and use those of interest its stationary objects of urban infrastructure.

Claims (2)

1. A method of informing people with disabilities about the presence of nearby stationary objects and determining the necessary direction of movement to these objects, which consists in placing stationary radio informants on stationary objects and placing wearable subscriber devices on people with disabilities, automatically transmitting a request signal from the wearable subscriber device to the radio, upon receipt of which each stationary the radio informer, which is currently in the coverage area of the subscriber device, transmits a response containing e personal data, and the subscriber device alternately receives and stores the received responses from all stationary radio informants that are currently in the coverage area of this subscriber device, and automatically sends a request signal for transmitting information to the stationary radio informant, which, upon receipt of this request signal, transmits a message on the radio stationary object on which it is installed, and the subscriber device reproduces the information received from this stationary radio informer in the form of audible repeating messages, while the stationary radio informator of the stationary object gives an orientation sound signal, according to which the disabled person determines the necessary direction of movement to the stationary object chosen by him, characterized in that the request signal of the subscriber device contains his personal data, each stationary radio informator transmits a response to the radio broadcast with a random delay, and the subscriber unit automatically sends a request signal to that stationary radio informant from whom he was the first to receive, while in the absence of the need for the disabled person in this stationary facility, his subscriber unit sends a request signal for transmitting information to the stationary radio informant upon the command of the disabled person, the second response from which was received, transmitting request signals in turn to all the stationary radio informants according to the commands of the disabled person currently located in the coverage area of the subscriber unit, they are carried out until a disabled person makes the choice of the stationary volume he needs project, after which the subscriber unit, upon the command of a disabled person, transmits to the radio air a signal for selecting a stationary radio informer. 2. A system for informing and orienting people with disabilities to implement the method according to claim 1, comprising stationary radio informants installed on stationary objects and wearable subscriber devices, each of the stationary radio informants including a storage unit for compressed audio files, a unit for generating, processing and storing information, a unit for receiving request signals, permission signals for transmitting information and call signals from subscriber devices, a unit for generating an audio orientation signal, a radio antenna and receiving a transmitter, and each wearable subscriber unit includes tactile means, an information processing and storage unit, a unit for generating request signals transmitted by a stationary radio informator, permission signals for transmitting information, call signals and a stationary radio informator selection signal, a unit for converting digital information received from the stationary radio informant to analog voice message, means for reproducing voice information, a radio antenna and a transceiver.

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