Device, method and system for selecting emergency vehicles

• US 6,311,124 B1
• Filed: 08/29/2000
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Maeda, Koichi, Mukai, Akio
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Donnelly, Arthur D.
• Application Number:
  US09/649,066
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/204, 701/200, 340/902, 340/994, 455/404, 379/45, 702/5
• US Class Current: 701/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A device for selecting vehicles to be sent to a site of a fire is provided. The device includes a storage unit provided with a vehicle table and a fire-spreading condition table. Fire-extinguishing ability data and arrival time data for each vehicle are stored in the vehicle table as numerical data. Initial fire power data and fire-spreading rate data are stored in the fire-spreading condition table as numerical data. The device also includes a vehicle organizing part deriving a relationship between total fire-extinguishing ability of vehicles and total fire-spreading power of the fire with respect to time, and selecting vehicles to be sent to the fire site based on the relationship.

Claims

1. A device for selecting vehicles to be sent to a site of a fire, said device comprising:

first means provided with a first table in which fire-extinguishing ability data and arrival time data for each vehicle are stored as numerical data, said arrival time data representing time required for said vehicle to arrive at the fire site, and a second table in which initial fire power data and fire-spreading rate data are stored as numerical data; and

second means for deriving a relationship between total fire-extinguishing ability of vehicles and total fire-spreading power of the fire with respect to time, and for selecting vehicles to be sent to the fire site based on said relationship.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising third means for producing a command for said fire and sends said command to a fire station to which the selected vehicle belongs.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second table is organized such that said initial fire power data and said fire-spreading rate data are provided for each type of affected object.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second table is organized such that said initial fire power data and said fire-spreading rate data are provided for each severity level.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second means derives a fire-extinguishing time based on the total fire-extinguishing ability of vehicles at the fire site and the total fire-spreading power of the fire so that any vehicle arriving at the fire site during a predetermined period before the fire-extinguishing time is excluded from selection as a vehicle to be sent to the fire site.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a third table in which are stored a total fire-extinguishing power of vehicles not presently sent to the fire site from the fire station, an upper limit value of total fire-extinguishing power above which vehicles can be sent to a site outside the region covered by the present station, and a lower limit value of total fire-extinguishing power below which assistance is required from a site outside the region covered by the present station,

wherein if said total fire-extinguishing power is below said lower limit, assistance is demanded from another station having a total fire-extinguishing power which exceeds said upper value.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a fourth table in which are stored a total fire-extinguishing power of vehicles not presently sent to the fire site from the fire department, an upper limit value of total fire-extinguishing power above which vehicles can be sent to a site outside the region covered by the present fire department, and a lower limit value of total fire-extinguishing power below which assistance is required from a site outside the region covered by the present fire department,

wherein if said total fire-extinguishing power is below said lower limit, assistance is demanded from another fire department having a total fire-extinguishing power which exceeds said upper value.

8. A method comprising the steps of:

a) reading a vehicle table to obtain fire-extinguishing ability data of a vehicle and arrival time data representing time required for the vehicle to arrive at a site of a fire;

b) reading a fire-spreading condition table to obtain initial fire power data of said fire site and fire-spreading rate data;

c) deriving a relationship between total fire-extinguishing ability of vehicles at the fire site and total fire-spreading power of the fire based on data read out from said vehicle table and from said fire-spreading condition table; and

d) selecting vehicles to be sent to the fire site based on said relationship.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said step d) further includes the steps of:

deriving a fire-extinguishing time based on the total fire-extinguishing ability of vehicles at the fire site and the total fire-spreading power of the fire; and

excluding any vehicle arriving at the fire site during a predetermined period before the fire-extinguishing time from the selection of the vehicles to be sent to the fire site.

10. A system comprising:

a vehicle-selecting device which selects vehicles to be sent to a site of a fire by estimating a condition of the fire using a vehicle table in which fire-extinguishing ability data and arrival time data for each vehicle are stored as numerical data and a fire-spreading condition table in which initial fire power data and fire-spreading rate data are stored as numerical data;

a transmitting device which transmits a command to said selected vehicles or to a station to which said selected vehicles belong; and

an output device which outputs said command.

11. A device for selecting vehicles to be sent to a location of a disaster, said device comprising:

storage means provided with a vehicle table in which disaster-handling ability data and arrival time data for each vehicle are stored as numerical data, said arrival time data representing time required for said vehicle to arrive at the location of the disaster, and a disaster condition table for each affected object in which change of condition of the disaster is stored as numerical data; and

a vehicle organizing part deriving a relationship between total disaster-handling ability of vehicles and total change of condition of the disaster with respect to time, and selecting vehicles to be sent to the location of the disaster based on said relationship.