AUDIBLE DRIVING ALERT

• US 20110012754A1
• Filed: 07/15/2009
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Naquib U. Hatami
• Original Assignee: Naquib U. Hatami
• Inventors: Hatami, Naquib U.
• Granted Patent: US 8,207,866 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/905
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages

Abstract

A system for advising the operator of a transportation vehicle to impending travel conditions responsive to proximity to the area affected by the travel conditions. The system has location determination capability such as a GPS system and a source of travel condition advisory messages. When a travel condition advisory message is received and the vehicle is in the affected area, an audible signal is delivered within the transportation vehicle. Apparatus of the system may be self-contained and located aboard the transportation vehicle or alternatively may comprise message transmission apparatus located externally of the transportation vehicle.

Claims

1. An advisory system for providing an audible signal to the operator of a transportation vehicle, wherein the audible signal is indicative of a travel condition which may affect operation of the transportation vehicle, the system comprising:

a travel condition monitoring system disposed to store and transmit advisory messages as advisory signals indicative of a travel condition which actively affects operation of transportation vehicles and which pertain to a predetermined geographic area; and

a travel condition annunciating system carried aboard the transportation vehicle for receiving advisory signals corresponding to advisory messages which are transmitted by the travel condition monitoring system, the travel condition annunciating system comprising

a location determining arrangement disposed to determine location of the transportation vehicle,

a signal receiver disposed to receive advisory signals transmitted by the travel condition monitoring system,

a data processor disposed to issue an annunciation signal indicative of the travel condition communicated by the travel condition monitoring system, and

a sound generator disposed to emit an audible signal within the transportation vehicle when at least one advisory message transmitted by the travel condition monitoring system is received by the signal receiver and when the location determining arrangement determines that the vehicle is within a predetermined proximity of the geographic area to which the advisory message pertains.

2. The advisory system of claim 1, wherein the transportation vehicle is a passenger vehicle licensed to drive on public roadways.

3. The advisory system of claim 1, wherein the location determining arrangement comprises a GPS enabled subsystem located aboard the transportation vehicle.

4. The advisory system of claim 1, wherein the travel condition annunciating system comprises a radio frequency transmitter disposed to transmit the advisory messages by radio frequency, and the signal receiver of the transportation vehicle comprises a radio frequency receiver disposed to receive radio frequency signals.

5. The advisory system of claim 1, wherein the travel condition monitoring system comprises data storage capability which is able to be loaded with data pertaining to travel conditions, wherein the advisory system is self-contained and located entirely within the transportation vehicle.

6. The advisory system of claim 5, wherein the data storage capability is able to be provided with updated data pertaining to travel conditions, whereby the data storage capability may be maintained such that the stored data reflects updated, current travel conditions.

7. The advisory system of claim 6, wherein the travel condition monitoring system comprises communications apparatus capable of wireless connection to the internet and programming disposed to receive data corresponding to travel conditions automatically when passing through a geographic area provided with wireless internet service.

8. The advisory system of claim 1, wherein the travel condition annunciating system is disposed to transmit advisory messages pertaining to at least two dissimilar travel conditions.

9. The advisory system of claim 8, wherein the data processor is disposed to identify different travel conditions and to issue different annunciation signals for each one of the different travel conditions, and the sound generator is disposed to emit audible signals of different auditory characteristics corresponding to the different annunciation signals.

10. A method of alerting the operator of a transportation vehicle of a potentially significant travel condition, comprising the steps of:

providing a travel condition monitoring system disposed to store and transmit advisory messages as advisory signals indicative of a travel condition which may affect transportation vehicles and which pertain to a predetermined geographic area;

providing a location determining arrangement disposed to determine location of the transportation vehicle;

providing aboard a transportation vehicle a travel condition annunciating system for receiving advisory signals corresponding to advisory messages which are transmitted by the travel condition monitoring system and a sound generator; and

causing the sound generator to emit a sound within the transportation vehicle automatically and responsively to the travel condition monitoring system transmitting at least one advisory message indicative of a travel condition which actively affects vehicle operation when the location determining arrangement determines that the vehicle is within a predetermined proximity of the geographic area to which the advisory message pertains.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the travel condition monitoring system monitors official speed limits and generates advisory messages annunciating changes of official speed limits on the road being negotiated by the transportation vehicle.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the travel condition monitoring system monitors establishment of lane restrictions which may restrict use of at least one lane by a particular transportation vehicle and generates advisory messages annunciating lane restrictions on the road being negotiated by the transportation vehicle.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the travel condition monitoring system monitors roadways for transient slippery conditions which have been identified and signaled by governmental authorities responsible for the monitored roadways, and generates advisory messages annunciating transient slippery conditions which have been identified and signaled by the governmental authorities.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the travel condition monitoring system monitors progress of traffic on the monitored roadways, has means for determining expected progress of traffic on the monitored roadways, and generates advisory messages when monitored progress of traffic is less than expected progress of traffic.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the travel condition monitoring system monitors roadway warning signs which have been posted by governmental authorities responsible for the monitored roadways and generates advisory messages corresponding to the roadway warning signs.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the travel condition monitoring system monitors the roadway for proximity to recreational and cultural facilities, and historical and geographic attractions which may be accessed from the monitored roadway, and generates advisory messages corresponding to the recreational and cultural facilities and the historical and geographic attractions.