METHOD, ALERT CONTROL DEVICE, STREET LIGHT, COMPUTER PROGRAM AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR ALERTING TRAFFIC

• US 20160163194A1
• Filed: 07/26/2013
• Published: 06/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: DAUNERIA, Ankur
• Granted Patent: US 10,109,188 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/07 Controlling traffic signals
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/087 Override of traffic control, e.g. by signal transmitted by an emergency vehicle

Abstract

It is provided a method for alerting traffic. The method is performed in an alert control device connected to a street light and comprises the steps of: detecting the presence of a radio frequency identification device using a radio frequency identification reader; and controlling the street light to go from a normal state to an alert state, wherein the lighting of the street light in the alert state differs from the lighting of the street light in the normal state. Alert control devices, a street light, a computer program and a computer program are also presented.

Claims

1. A method for alerting traffic, the method being performed in an alert control device connected to a street light and comprising the steps of:

detecting the presence of a radio frequency identification device using a radio frequency identification reader; and

controlling the street light to go from a normal state to an alert state, wherein the lighting of the street light in the alert state differs from the lighting of the street light in the normal state.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting comprises detecting a radio frequency identification device with an identifier being within a predefined range.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein in the step of controlling, the alert state involves an altered colour compared to the normal state.

4. The method according to of claim 1, wherein in the step of controlling, the alert state involves an altered light intensity compared to the normal state.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

detecting an absence of any radio frequency identification devices using the radio frequency identification reader; and

controlling the street light to go from the alert state to the normal state.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of detecting an absence of any radio frequency identification devices comprises detecting an absence of any radio frequency identification devices during a configurable time period.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert control device is connected to two street lights on either side of a road and wherein the step of controlling the street light controls both street lights the same way.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the presence of a radio frequency identification device comprises detecting, using a near field communication reader, the presence of a radio frequency identification device comprised in a near field communication compliant wireless communication device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the presence of a radio frequency identification device comprises detecting the presence of a battery powered radio frequency identification device which is activated by a user.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

storing log data regarding when the step of controlling the street light to go from a normal state to an alert state has occurred.

11. An alert control device for alerting traffic, the alert control device being arranged to be connected to a street light, the alert control device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the alert control device to;

detect a presence of a radio frequency identification device using a radio frequency identification reader; and

control the street light to go from a normal state to an alert state, wherein the lighting of the street light in the alert state differs from the lighting of the street light in the normal state.

12. The alert control device of claim 11, wherein the instructions to detect comprise instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the alert control device to detect a radio frequency identification device with an identifier being within a predefined range.

13. The alert control device of claim 11, wherein the alert state involves an altered colour compared to the normal state.

14. The alert control device of claim 11, wherein the alert state involves an altered light intensity compared to the normal state.

15. The alert control device of claim 11, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the alert control device to:

detect an absence of any radio frequency identification devices using the radio frequency identification reader; and

control the street light to go from the alert state to the normal state.

16. The alert control device of claim 15, wherein the instructions to detect an absence of any radio frequency identification devices comprise instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the alert control device to detect an absence of any radio frequency identification devices during a configurable time period.

17. The alert control device of claim 11, wherein the alert control device is connected to two street lights on either side of a road and the alert control device is arranged to control both street lights the same way.

18. The alert control device of claim 11, wherein the instructions to of detect the presence of a radio frequency identification device comprise instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the alert control device to detect, using a near field communication reader, the presence of a radio frequency identification device comprised in a near field communication compliant wireless communication device.

19. The alert control device of claim 11, wherein the instructions to detect the presence of a radio frequency identification device comprise instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the alert control device to detect the presence of a battery powered radio frequency identification device which is activated by a user.

20. The alert control device of claim 11, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the alert control device to:

store log data regarding when the street light is controlled to go from a normal state to an alert state has occurred.

21. A street light comprising the alert control device of claim 11.

22. A computer program comprising computer program code which, when run on a alert control device connected to a street light, causes the alert control device to:

detect a presence of a radio frequency identification device using a radio frequency identification reader; and

control the street light to go from a normal state to an alert state, wherein the lighting of the street light in the alert state differs from the lighting of the street light in the normal state.

23. A computer program product comprising a computer program of claim 22 and a computer readable means on which the computer program is stored.