Intelligent selectively-targeted communications systems and methods

• US 20030169181A1
• Filed: 03/05/2003
• Published: 09/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Lance G. Taylor
• Inventors: Taylor, Lance G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,113,107 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/902
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/00 Traffic control systems for road vehicles arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00 ; automatic vehicle control B62D
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle

Abstract

There is disclosed a system and method wherein precise geographical location information such as Global Positioning System coordinate data is utilized as a principal criterion for implementing other wireless transmitted instructions and communications advising vehicles, and others, of an approaching emergency vehicle, the proximity of a hazardous condition, or virtually any other situation which is relevant to the intended recipient because of their location. The system and method further can involve intervention and control of a vehicle, such as an aircraft or automobile, which comes into a predetermined location or area, or under other circumstances. The system and method use transmitting units and receiving units, both of which can receive geographical positioning information and which may sound or otherwise output an appropriate advisory, warning or other communication selected based on their positions, heading, and/or speed.

Claims

1. A system wherein geographical location information is utilized to manipulate output of advisory information, comprising:

a transmitting unit for receiving geographical location information from a source of such information, and for transmitting advisory information, the transmitting unit including;

a receiver for receiving the geographical information;

a transmitter for transmitting advisory data to at least a geographical target footprint of interest; and

a processor for controlling accessing of the geographical information and transmission of the advisory data; and

a plurality of receiving units, each of the receiving units including;

a receiver for receiving geographical location information for determining the geographical location of the receiving unit;

a second receiver for receiving the advisory data from the transmitting unit; and

an output device for selectively outputting advisory information based on the advisory data.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein a receiving unit in the target footprint determines whether to output the advisory information based in part on a heading and speed of at least one of the transmitting unit and the receiving unit.

3. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the transmitting unit determines which of the receiving units in the target footprint output the advisory information based in part on a heading and speed of at least one of the transmitting unit and the receiving unit.

4. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein the transmitting unit is at a stationary location, wherein the transmitting unit transmits advisory information to receiving units coming into the target footprint.

5. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the transmitting unit calculates the target footprint, wherein receiving units within the target footprint output the advisory information.

6. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the target footprint is periodically determined as a function of the heading, speed, and position of the transmitting unit.

7. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the target footprint is periodically determined by a user.

8. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the receiving units determines whether it is in the target footprint based in part on its location.

9. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the receiving units determines whether it is in the target footprint based in part on a heading and speed of at least one of the receiving unit and the transmitting unit.

10. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the receiving units includes a storage medium for storing output data, the advisory information received from the transmitting unit being used to select output data from the storage medium.

11. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller of each receiving unit calculates the target footprint, the output device of the receiving unit outputting information if the receiving unit is in the target footprint.

12. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the receiving unit further includes logic for receiving and outputting voice data.

13. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the advisory information relates to at least one of:

movement of a vehicle.

a heading of the vehicle;

a condition on a roadway;

road construction;

roadway intersection signaling;

a weather condition; and

a railroad crossing.

14. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the advisory information relates to an uncontrolled railroad crossing.

15. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the advisory information relates to roadway intersection signaling, wherein the advisory information is output if it is determined that a vehicle housing the receiving unit will violate an intersection signal.

16. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the advisory information includes a voice transmission.

17. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the advisory information is repeatedly output at predetermined intervals.

18. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the advisory information is at least one of audible, visual, and tactile.

19. A method for transmitting data to a receiving unit, comprising:

reading positioning data using a positioning system;

determining at least one of a location, heading, and speed of the positioning system using the positioning data;

determining a target footprint using the at least one of the location, heading, and speed of the positioning system; and

transmitting data about the target footprint to at least one receiving unit, wherein each receiving unit in the target footprint outputs information based in part on a heading and speed of at least one of the transmitting unit and the receiving unit.

20. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein each receiving unit in the target footprint determines whether to output the advisory information based in part on the heading and speed of at least one of the transmitting unit and the receiving unit.

21. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein each receiving unit determines whether it is in the target footprint.

22. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the target footprint is periodically determined as a function of the heading, speed, and position of the transmitting unit.

23. A method as recited in claim 19, further comprising determining whether a turn is anticipated, wherein the target footprint is modified if a turn is anticipated.

24. A method as recited in claim 19, further comprising transmitting voice data.

25. A method as recited in claim 24, wherein the voice data is directed to selected receiving units only.

26. A method as recited in claim 19, further comprising reading an inertial positioning device if current positioning data is unavailable.

27. A method as recited in claim 19, further comprising enabling a stationary mode if the positioning system has not geographically moved for a predetermined amount of time.

28. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the information relates to at least one of:

movement of a vehicle.

a heading of the vehicle;

a condition on a roadway;

road construction;

roadway intersection signaling;

a weather condition; and

a railroad crossing.

29. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the information includes a voice transmission.

30. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the information is repeatedly output at predetermined intervals.

31. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the information is at least one of audible, visual and tactile.

32. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the advisory information relates to roadway intersection signaling, wherein the advisory information is output if it is determined that a vehicle housing the receiving unit will violate an intersection signal.

33. A system for transmitting data to a receiving unit, comprising:

a positioning system for reading positioning data and determining at least one of a location, heading, and speed of the positioning system using the positioning data;

a processor for determining a target footprint using the at least one of the location, heading, and speed of the positioning system; and

a transmitter for transmitting data about the target footprint to at least one receiving unit, wherein receiving units in the target footprint output information.

34. A system as recited in claim 33, wherein the information relates to at least one of:

movement of a vehicle.

a heading of the vehicle;

a condition on a roadway;

road construction;

roadway intersection signaling;

a weather condition; and

a railroad crossing.

35. A method for outputting advisory information, comprising:

reading positioning data using a positioning system;

determining at least one of a location, heading, and speed of the positioning system using the positioning data;

receiving information about a target footprint;

determining whether the positioning system is in the target footprint; and

outputting advisory information if the positioning system is in the target footprint.

36. A method as recited in claim 35, wherein the determination of whether the receiving unit is in the target footprint is based in part on a heading and speed of the transmitting unit.

37. A method as recited in claim 35, wherein updated information about the target footprint is periodically received.

38. A method as recited in claim 35, further comprising receiving and outputting voice data.

39. A method as recited in claim 35, further comprising reducing a volume of an audio system prior to outputting the advisory information.

40. A method as recited in claim 35, further comprising reading an inertial positioning device if current positioning data is unavailable.

41. A method as recited in claim 35, wherein the information relates to at least one of:

movement of a vehicle.

a heading of the vehicle;

a condition on a roadway;

road construction;

roadway intersection signaling;

a weather condition; and

a railroad crossing.

42. A method as recited in claim 35, wherein the advisory information includes a voice transmission.

43. A method as recited in claim 35, wherein the advisory information is repeatedly output at predetermined intervals.

44. A method as recited in claim 35, wherein the advisory information is at least one of audible, visual, and tactile.

45. A method as recited in claim 35, wherein the determination of whether the receiving unit is in the target footprint is based in part on a heading and speed of the transmitting unit.

46. A method as recited in claim 35, wherein updated information about the target footprint is periodically received.

47. A method as recited in claim 35, wherein the advisory information relates to roadway intersection signaling, wherein the advisory information is output if it is determined that a vehicle housing the receiving unit will violate an intersection signal.

48. A system for outputting advisory information, comprising:

a positioning system for reading positioning data and determining at least one of a location, heading, and speed of the positioning system using the positioning data;

a receiver for receiving information about a target footprint;

a processor for determining whether the positioning system is in the target footprint; and

an output device for outputting advisory information if the positioning system is in the target footprint.

49. A system as recited in claim 48, wherein the advisory information relates to at least one of:

movement of a vehicle.

a heading of the vehicle;

a condition on a roadway;

road construction;

roadway intersection signaling;

a weather condition; and

a railroad crossing.

50. A method for selectively distributing information based on positional factors, comprising:

receiving geographical locations of a plurality of receiving units, the geographical locations having been determined using a global positioning system;

determining at least one of a speed and heading of each receiving unit;

selecting the receiving units that should output information based on the geographical locations of the receiving units and the at least one of the speed and heading of each of the receiving units;

transmitting the information to the receiving units, the information including an indicator of which receiving units are selected receiving units, the selected receiving units outputting the information.

51. A method as recited in claim 50, further comprising requesting the geographic information from the receiving units.

52. A method as recited in claim 50, further comprising determining at least one of a speed and heading of the transmitting unit, wherein the selection of the receiving units that should output information is based in part on the geographical locations of the transmitting unit and the at least one of the speed and heading of the transmitting unit.

53. A method as recited in claim 50, wherein the information relates to at least one of:

movement of a vehicle.

a heading of the vehicle;

a condition on a roadway;

road construction;

roadway intersection signaling;

a weather condition; and

a railroad crossing.

54. A method for selectively distributing information based on positional factors, comprising:

receiving geographical locations of a plurality of receiving units, the geographical locations having been determined using a global positioning system;

determining at least one of a speed and heading of each receiving unit;

selecting the receiving units that should output information based on the geographical locations of the receiving units and the at least one of the speed and heading of each of the receiving units;

transmitting the information to the selected receiving units.

55. A method for selectively outputting information based on positional factors, comprising:

receiving a target footprint from a transmitting unit;

determining at least one of a current position, speed and heading of travel;

determining whether the receiving unit is in a target footprint based on the current geographic location; and

determining whether to output information based on at least one of the current speed and heading.

56. A method as recited in claim 55, further comprising determining at least one of a speed and heading of the transmitting unit, and determining whether the transmitting unit is in a target footprint based on the geographic location and at least one of the speed and heading of the transmitting unit.

57. A system for geographically selective vehicle to vehicle communication, comprising:

a positioning system circuit in a first vehicle for determining a geographical location of the first vehicle;

a transmitting unit in the first vehicle, the transmitting unit being for transmitting data;

a positioning system circuit in a second vehicle for determining a geographical location of the second vehicle;

a receiving unit in the second vehicle, the receiving unit being for receiving the data from the transmitting unit of the first vehicle;

a computing circuit in the second vehicle for determining whether the second vehicle is in a target footprint of the first vehicle based at least in part on the geographic locations of the first and second vehicles; and

an output device in the second vehicle, the output device being for outputting information if the second vehicle is in the target footprint of the first vehicle.

58. A system as recited in claim 57, wherein the computing circuit determines whether the second vehicle is in the target footprint of the first vehicle based in part on at least one of a heading and speed of the first vehicle.

59. A system as recited in claim 57, wherein the computing circuit determines whether the second vehicle is in the target footprint of the first vehicle based in part on at least one of a heading and speed of the first vehicle.

60. A system as recited in claim 57, wherein the computing circuit determines whether the second vehicle is in the target footprint of the first vehicle based in part on at least one of a heading and speed of the second vehicle.

61. A system as recited in claim 57, wherein the target footprint is periodically updated as a function of the heading, speed and position of the second vehicle.

62. A system as recited in claim 61, wherein the target footprint is periodically updated based in part on whether the first vehicle is moving, turning, or stationary.

63. A system as recited in claim 61, wherein the target footprint is periodically updated based in part on at least one of a roadway network near the transmitting unit, a geographical feature near the transmitting unit, and a type of development near the transmitting unit.

64. A system as recited in claim 61, wherein the target footprint is periodically updated based on a distance traveled by the transmitting unit.

65. A system as recited in claim 57, wherein the target footprint is selected from a data store of target footprints based on a geographic position of the transmitting unit.

66. A system as recited in claim 57, wherein the target footprint is modifiable by a system operator.

67. A system as recited in claim 57, further comprising a circuit in the second vehicle for reducing a volume of an audio system in the second vehicle prior to outputting the information.

68. A system as recited in claim 57, wherein the output device in the second vehicle is an audio system of the second vehicle.

69. A system as recited in claim 57, wherein the output device outputs at least one of audible, visual, and tactile information to a driver of the second vehicle.

70. A system as recited in claim 57, wherein the output device transmits a signal to the first vehicle, the signal including the geographic position of the second vehicle.

71. A system as recited in claim 70, wherein the signal further includes at least one of a heading and speed of the second vehicle.

72. A system as recited in claim 57, wherein the information relates to movement of a vehicle.

73. A system as recited in claim 72, wherein the information indicates a heading of the vehicle.

74. A system as recited in claim 57, wherein the information relates to a condition on a roadway.

75. A system as recited in claim 74, wherein the advisory information relates to road construction.

76. A system as recited in claim 57, wherein the information relates to a weather condition.

77. A system as recited in claim 57, wherein the information relates to a railroad crossing.

78. A system as recited in claim 57, wherein the information includes a voice transmission.

79. A system as recited in claim 57, wherein the information is repeatedly output at predetermined intervals.

80. A system as recited in claim 57, wherein the target footprint is determined by the transmitting unit and sent to the receiving unit.

81. A system as recited in claim 57, wherein the transmitting unit sends data to assist the receiving unit to calculate the target footprint.

82. A system as recited in claim 57, wherein the target footprint is modified if a turn is anticipated.

83. A system as recited in claim 57, wherein the output device graphically displays a relative location of the first vehicle with respect to the location of the second vehicle.

84. A system as recited in claim 57, wherein inertial positioning is used by one of the vehicles for determining the location of the vehicle.

85. A method for providing a public safety advisory, comprising:

tracking a weather event;

calculating a target footprint based upon a geographical position of the weather event and at least one of a speed and heading of the weather event;

transmitting data about the target footprint and weather event using a transmitting unit;

receiving the data transmitted by the transmitting unit using a receiving unit;

determining whether the receiving unit is in the target footprint; and

outputting a weather advisory if the receiving unit is in the target footprint.

86. A system for providing a public safety advisory, comprising:

a tracking subsystem for tracking a weather event;

a processor for calculating a target footprint based upon a geographical position of the weather event and at least one of a speed and heading of the weather event;

a transmitting unit for transmitting data about the target footprint and weather event; and

at least one receiving unit, each receiving unit receiving the data transmitted by the transmitting unit, determining whether the receiving unit is in the target footprint, and outputting a weather advisory if the receiving unit is in the target footprint.

87. A method for providing a public safety advisory, comprising:

determining a target footprint based upon a geographical position of at least one of an object, event and condition associated with a roadway; and

transmitting data about the target footprint to at least one receiving unit;

wherein a determination is made as to whether the receiving unit is in the target footprint;

wherein a safety advisory is output by the receiving unit if the receiving unit is in the target footprint.

88. A method as recited in claim 87, wherein whether a receiving unit outputs the advisory information is further based on a geographical location, heading and speed of the receiving unit.

89. A method as recited in claim 87, wherein the system in claim 87 is one of many systems controlled by a control station.

90. A method as recited in claim 87, further comprising tracking a speed of a receiving unit, and sending an instruction with a second advisory to the receiving unit if the speed is above a predetermined threshold.