WIRELESS TRAFFIC CALMING, CAUTIONING, EARLY WARNING AND EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM

• US 20110227756A1
• Filed: 05/31/2011
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autostop Technology, LLC
• Original Assignee: Autostop Technology, LLC
• Inventors: Ragosta, Michael A., Otero, Arthur R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,599,039 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/901
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09675 where a selection from the received information takes place in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

A traffic calming (broadly defined as methods and apparatus for the purpose of reducing or otherwise controlling vehicle speeds and improving safety appropriate to the state of the road), cautioning, early warning and emergency notification system using secure wireless transmitters, receivers and transceivers for localized point to point notification. Static, desktop, portable and vehicle mounted transmitters/transceivers are automatically or manually triggered to transmit cautioning, early warning or emergency alert messages within a specified range to desktop, portable or vehicular-mounted receivers/transceivers, notifying the user of the receiver/transceiver of an approaching traffic calming or cautioning situation (children crossing, train crossing, construction detour, accident scene, etc.) or emergency situation (approaching emergency responder vehicle, such as police, firefighters, ambulance, etc). The system utilizes secure, localized point-to-point wireless technology to overcome typical impediments to effective targeted traffic calming, cautioning, early warning and emergency notification at home, work and in a vehicle by allowing emergency responders and others responsible for cautioning, early warning and emergency notification, who have one or more transmitter/transceiver, to communicate directly and effectively with the immediately affected individual(s) within a specified range, who have at least one receiver/transceiver.

Claims

1. A wireless notification system comprising:

a) a transmitter and microprocessor configured to transmit at a data rate up to approximately 500 kilobits per second limited to a range up to a maximum of approximately 500 meters;

b) a codec coupled to said transmitter and microprocessor, said codec configured to convert an analog audio signal to a digital signal for transmission by said transmitter to a receiver in a vehicle configured to receive said digital signal, and generate an audio signal corresponding to said analog audio signal for playback in said vehicle,

wherein said digital signal is not compressed and said generated audio signal is played back in real time independent of vehicle speed.

4. The wireless notification system defined by claim 1 wherein said digital signal is encrypted prior to transmission by said transmitter.

5. The wireless notification system defined by claim 1 wherein said receiver when receiving said digital signal is configured to generate in addition to said audio signal, at least one of a visual signal and a vibration alert signal.

10. The wireless notification system defined by claim 1 wherein said receiver is configured to temporarily mute audio being played in said vehicle.

13. The wireless notification system defined by claim 1 wherein said receiver includes a location determination circuit.

18. The wireless notification system defined by claim 5 wherein said visual signal is one of a LCD, LED, ACTFEL and vacuum fluorescent display.

21. The wireless notification system defined by claim 5 wherein said vibration alert signal is one of a steering wheel and a floor mat mounted vibrator.

2. A wireless notification system comprising:

a) a receiver and microprocessor for use in a vehicle;

b) a codec coupled to said receiver and microprocessor, said codec configured to convert a digital signal from a transmitter received by said receiver to an analog audio signal for playback in said vehicle, and generate an audio signal corresponding to said analog audio signal for playback in said vehicle, said transmitter configured to transmit at a data rate up to approximately 500 kilobits per second limited to a range up to a maximum of approximately 500 meters,

wherein said digital signal is not compressed and said generated audio signal is played back in real time independent of vehicle speed.

11. The wireless notification system defined by claim 2 wherein said receiver is configured to temporarily mute audio being played in said vehicle.

14. The wireless notification system defined by claim 2 wherein said receiver includes a location determination circuit.

16. The wireless notification system defined by claim 2 wherein said receiver when receiving said digital signal is configured to generate in addition to said audio signal, at least one of a visual signal and a vibration alert signal.

19. The wireless notification system defined by claim 16 wherein said visual signal is one of a LCD, LED, ACTFEL and vacuum fluorescent display.

22. The wireless notification system defined by claim 16 wherein said vibration alert signal is one of a steering wheel and a floor mat mounted vibrator.

3. A wireless notification system comprising:

a) a transmitter and microprocessor pair configured to transmit at a data rate up to approximately 500 kilobits per second limited to a range up to a maximum of approximately 500 meters;

b) a first codec coupled to said transmitter and microprocessor pair, said first codec configured to convert an analog audio signal to a digital signal for transmission by said transmitter to a transceiver in a vehicle configured to receive said digital signal;

c) a second codec coupled to said transceiver and a microprocessor, said second codec configured to convert said digital signal from said transmitter received by said transceiver to an analog audio signal for playback in said vehicle, and generate an audio signal corresponding to said analog audio signal for playback in said vehicle,

wherein said digital signal is not compressed and said generated audio signal is played back in real time independent of vehicle speed.

6. The wireless notification system defined by claim 3 wherein said transmitter and microprocessor pairs disposed at said static locations are configured to initiate new messages.

7. The wireless notification system defined by claim 6 wherein said new messages are initiated by at least one of an automatic, a manual, a remote and multiple condition triggers.

8. The wireless notification system defined by claim 3 wherein said transmitter and microprocessor pairs disposed at said static locations are configured to be manually overridden by said transceiver and microprocessor pairs disposed within vehicles.

9. The wireless notification system defined by claim 3 wherein said transmitter and microprocessor pairs disposed at said static locations are configured to work in conjunction with traffic control devices.

12. The wireless notification system defined by claim 3 wherein said transceiver is configured to temporarily mute audio being played in said vehicle.

15. The wireless notification system defined by claim 3 wherein said transceiver includes a location determination circuit.

17. The wireless notification system defined by claim 3 wherein said transceiver when receiving said digital signal is configured to generate in addition to said audio signal, at least one of a visual signal and a vibration alert signal.

20. The wireless notification system defined by claim 17 wherein said visual signal is one of a LCD, LED, ACTFEL and vacuum fluorescent display.

23. The wireless notification system defined by claim 17 wherein said vibration alert signal is one of a steering wheel and a floor mat mounted vibrator.

24. The wireless notification system defined by claim 3 wherein said system includes at least said transmitter and microprocessor pair and a plurality of said transceiver and microprocessor pairs, said system forming a wireless private area network, each said transmitter and microprocessor pair and each said transceiver and microprocessor pair configured to transmit a message contained within said digital signal a predetermined number of times in order to limit a range over which said message is transmitted, and

wherein a first predetermined number of transmitter and microprocessor pairs are disposed at static locations and a second predetermined number of transceiver and microprocessor pairs are disposed within vehicles.