Network and connected devices for emergency response and roadside operations

• US 10,244,564 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2018
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Jackson, Cole, Garrett, Caleb
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Justin Y
• Application Number:
  US15/942,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20180227966A1
• Time in Patent Office: 358 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/247 for illuminating the close surroundings of the vehicle, e.g. to facilitate entry or exit for reverse drive B60Q1/22; by opening a side door B60Q1/323
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/525 automatically indicating risk of collision between vehicles in traffic or with pedestrians, e.g. after risk assessment using the vehicle sensor data
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/47 Direct command from other road users, i.e. the command for switching or changing the beam is sent by other vehicles or road devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/006 indicating risk of collision between vehicles or with pedestrians
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0446 worn on the body to detect changes of posture, e.g. a fall, inclination, acceleration, gait
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0453 worn on the body to detect health condition by physiological monitoring, e.g. electrocardiogram, temperature, breathing detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/002 Distress signalling devices, e.g. rescue balloons vehicle optical signalling for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/006 Portable traffic signalling devices G08B5/004 takes precedence; emergency signalling devices to be placed on roads or vehicles B60Q7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0955 transportable
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/38 for collecting sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/44 for communication between vehicles and infrastructures, e.g. vehicle-to-cloud [V2C] or vehicle-to-home [V2H]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 : Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 : Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 : for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 : Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A self-assembling network is configured to automatically and dynamically connect devices used in operations carried out on or near roads bearing vehicle and pedestrian traffic. An automatic, ad hoc network connecting existing and new devices can be used to enhance safety by gathering and exchanging safety critical information. In some cases, existing equipment can be augmented with a network controller and radio frequency communications to permit the devices to join a wireless local network and exchange information over the network. New devices, including wearable devices, can be configured to act as nodes on the wireless local network. Establishing the relative position of vehicles, sensors, wearables, and other nodes on the disclosed ad hoc wireless network allows the coordination of functions based on position.

Claims

1. A warning system for multiple emergency vehicles comprising:

a first warning device for an associated emergency vehicle having a first plurality of warning functions controlled by a first control module comprising a first controller and including a first processor which communicates with a first transceiver;

a second warning device for an associated emergency vehicle having a second plurality of warning functions controlled by a second control module comprising a second controller and including a second processor which communicates with a second transceiver;

wherein the transceivers of the first and second warning device function as nodes in a wireless mesh network and said processors process data from said transceivers to indicate the relative positions and speeds of said associated emergency vehicles and each said controller activates a warning function in response to the relative positions and speeds of said associated emergency vehicles.

2. The warning system of claim 1, wherein said warning functions of each said first and second warning devices each include a front facing emergency indicator function and a rear facing emergency indicator function.

3. The warning system of claim 2, wherein the controller of said first warning device activates a front emergency indicator function and the controller of the second warning device activates a rear facing emergency indicator function.

4. The warning system of claim 1, wherein a controller of one said warning device activates a collision indicator warning function.

5. The warning system of claim 1, wherein each of said control modules comprises a security key and further comprising a third warning device for an associated emergency vehicle having a plurality of warning functions controlled by a third control module having a security key wherein said third device security key is communicated to said first and second warning devices to allow said third warning device to function as a node in a wireless mesh network.

6. The warning system of claim 5, wherein said security key allows police emergency vehicle devices and fire vehicle warning devices to function as nodes in the same wireless mesh network.

7. The warning system of claim 1, wherein said warning functions comprise two or more signal modules selected from the group consisting of warning signal lights, traffic directing lights, collision avoidance indicators, front facing light signals and rear facing light signals.