Vehicle Communication System

• US 20110210864A1
• Filed: 02/26/2010
• Published: 09/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark Tremonti
• Original Assignee: Mark Tremonti
• Inventors: Tremonti, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,604,940 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/902
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/46 for giving flashing caution signals during drive, other than signalling change of direction, e.g. flashing the headlights or hazard lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/503 using luminous text or symbol displays in or on the vehicle, e.g. static text
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/544 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle occupants, e.g. for indicating disabled occupants
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 to a central station ; Indicators in a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

A vehicle communication system including a communications link and optionally a vehicle position indicator provided at a medical facility. A visual indicator is provided that is temporarily attachable to or usable in a non-official passenger vehicle to alert other road users that a vehicle is traveling in an emergency situation. A communications link and optionally a vehicle position locator are also temporarily attachable to or usable in a non-official passenger vehicle to communicate with the medical facility to alert the medical facility that the vehicle is traveling to the medical facility in an emergency situation. The visual indicator may be a flashing light, or a lighted warning message or symbol, and may be a one-time use light or may be operable only after receipt of an activation code from the medical facility.

Claims

1. A vehicle communication system comprising:

at least one of a communications link and a vehicle position indicator provided at a medical facility;

a visual indicator temporarily attachable to or usable in a non-official passenger vehicle to alert other road users that a vehicle is traveling in an emergency situation;

at least one of a communications link and a vehicle position locator temporarily attachable to or usable in a non-official passenger vehicle to communicate with the at least one of a communications link and a vehicle position indicator provided at the medical facility to alert the medical facility that the vehicle is traveling to the medical facility in an emergency situation.

2. The vehicle communication system according to claim 1, wherein the visual indicator is at least one of a flashing light, a lightable written message, and a lightable warning symbol.

3. The vehicle communication system according to claim 2, wherein the visual indicator comprises at least one of OLED and LED light bulbs.

4. The vehicle communication system according to claim 2, wherein the visual indicator comprises chemiluminescent materials.

5. The vehicle communication system according to claim 1, wherein the visual indicator is a one-time use indicator.

6. The vehicle communication system according to claim 1, wherein the visual indicator is in communication with the communications link, and is operable only after receipt of an activation code from the medical facility.

7. The vehicle communication system according to claim 6, wherein the visual indicator is activatable by a user at any time after receipt of the activation code from the medical facility.

8. The vehicle communication system according to claim 6, wherein the visual indicator is activatable by the medical facility while the user is traveling.

9. The vehicle communication system according to claim 1, wherein the visual indicator, the communications link and the vehicle position locator are provided in a single unit.

10. The vehicle communication system according to claim 1, wherein the visual indicator is provided separately from the communications link and vehicle position locator.

11. The vehicle communication system according to claim 8, wherein the communications link and vehicle position indicator are provided on a smart phone.

12. A method of communicating to road users comprising the steps of:

providing at least one of a communications link and a vehicle position indicator provided at a medical facility;

providing at least one of a communications link and a vehicle position locator temporarily attachable to or usable in a non-official passenger vehicle to communicate with the at least one of a communications link and a vehicle position indicator provided at the medical facility to alert the medical facility that the vehicle is traveling to the medical facility in an emergency situation;

providing a visual indicator temporarily attachable to or usable in a non-official passenger vehicle to alert other road users that a vehicle is traveling in an emergency situation; and

activating the visual indicator such that the vehicle user can only use the visual indicator once before either obtaining another visual indicator or receiving an activation code from the medical facility.