System and method for notification of arrival of bus or other vehicle
First Claim
1. A vehicle-arrival detection system, comprising:
- a transmitter attached to a vehicle, the transmitter sending a broadcast signal; and
a receiver configured to detect the broadcast signal when the receiver is within the broadcast range of the transmitter, the receiver further configured to alert a user that the broadcast signal has been detected.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for detecting the proximity of a bus or other transportation. Each bus is equipped with a transmitter, typically radio-frequency (RF), that broadcasts as the bus travels. As the bus and transmitter come within range of corresponding receivers, the receivers will detect the transmitter and will indicate that the bus is approaching. The receivers can be placed at the bus stop, and can also be carried by passengers so that they can be notified of the approaching bus before actually having to go to the bus stop. In various embodiments, the transmitters are implemented using radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags, Bluetooth, and other known RF technologies. Preferably, the transmitters will transmit an identifier that indicates the bus route or specific bus, and the receivers are programmed to only indicate the presence of selected buses.
33 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle-arrival detection system, comprising:
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a transmitter attached to a vehicle, the transmitter sending a broadcast signal; and
a receiver configured to detect the broadcast signal when the receiver is within the broadcast range of the transmitter, the receiver further configured to alert a user that the broadcast signal has been detected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A vehicle-arrival detection system, comprising:
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a location unit attached to a vehicle, the location unit including a global-positioning-satellite receiver and a location transmitter for transmitting the location of the vehicle as determined by the global-positioning-satellite receiver;
a vehicle-arrival indicator, the vehicle arrival indicator including a location receiver for receiving the location of the vehicle from the location transmitter, calculating means for determining a time-to-arrival of the vehicle based on the location of the vehicle, and a transmitter for sending a broadcast signal when the time-to-arrival is below a specified threshold; and
a receiver configured to detect the broadcast signal when the receiver is within the broadcast range of the transmitter, the receiver further configured to alert a user that the broadcast signal has been detected. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20)
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16. A method for detecting the arrival of a vehicle, comprising:
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detecting, by a receiver, a signal broadcast from a transmitter attached to a vehicle when the receiver is within broadcast range of the transmitter; and
alerting a user that the broadcast signal has been detected. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification