Automotive emergency awareness system
First Claim
1. A computer system for use in a vehicle, comprising:
- (a) one or more signal sensors configured to receive a source signal from an external source external to the vehicle and transmit an input signal corresponding to the source signal;
(b) a signal processing unit comprising a memory containing stored signal data representing a plurality of ambient driving conditions and coupled to the one or more signal sensors, wherein the signal processing unit is configured to perform the steps of;
(i) receiving the input signal;
(ii) comparing the input signal to the stored signal data; and
(iii) selectively producing an output signal; and
(c) one or more output devices coupled to the signal processing unit and configured to provide a warning output to an operator of the vehicle upon receiving the output signal.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicular emergency awareness system and method is provided. A vehicle is provided with an onboard computer system adapted to receive and process signals generated at an external source. Under predetermined conditions, the emergency awareness system alerts the driver of the vehicle of a proximal hazard or emergency, such as hazardous road conditions, nearby emergency vehicles and the like. In one embodiment, a program product is provided which, when executed by the computer, causes the computer or other devices to process the received signal, determine whether a warning should be provided to the driver and, if so, provide a signal to one or more output devices disposed on the vehicle.
26 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A computer system for use in a vehicle, comprising:
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(a) one or more signal sensors configured to receive a source signal from an external source external to the vehicle and transmit an input signal corresponding to the source signal;
(b) a signal processing unit comprising a memory containing stored signal data representing a plurality of ambient driving conditions and coupled to the one or more signal sensors, wherein the signal processing unit is configured to perform the steps of;
(i) receiving the input signal;
(ii) comparing the input signal to the stored signal data; and
(iii) selectively producing an output signal; and
(c) one or more output devices coupled to the signal processing unit and configured to provide a warning output to an operator of the vehicle upon receiving the output signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
(i) the stored signal data;
(ii) trigger condition data which, when read and executed by the computer system, determines whether the output signal is produced at step (b)(iii); and
(iii) an action record containing information about which of the one or more output devices are selected to provide the warning signal.
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8. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the stored signal data contains analog signal information and digital signal information.
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9. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the signal processing unit is configured to determine at least one of a distance between the computer system and the external source and the direction of the external source relative to the computer system.
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10. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the memory contains a Global Positioning System (GPS) program which, when executed by the computer system, determines a position of the computer system.
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11. An appartus, comprising:
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(a) a vehicle; and
(b) a computer system disposed on the vehicle, comprising;
(i) one or more sensors adapted to receive a source signal from an external source external to the vehicle and transmit an input signal corresponding to the source signal;
(ii) a signal processing unit coupled to the one or more signal sensors and configured to receive the input signal and generate and output signal in the event the input signal is recognizable as one of a plurality of driving conditions external to the vehicle; and
(iii) one or more output devices coupled to the signal processing unit and configured to receive the output signal and provide a warning output to a vehical operator indicating a condition external to the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A signal-bearing medium containing a program which, when executed by one or more processors, performs the steps of:
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(a) processing a signal to provide signal information therefrom;
(b) determining a relationship between the signal information and stored information contained in a data structure, wherein the stored information represents a plurality of driving conditions external to a vehicle; and
(c) outputting a warning signal to one or more output devices to alert a person operating the vehicle of a driving condition in an external environment of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. The signal-bearing medium of 17, wherein the stored information identifies one or more signal sources selected from the group comprising vehicles, road hazard sites, school zones and combinations thereof.
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26. A method of alerting a driver of a vehicle to a condition in an environment external to the vehicle, comprising:
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(a) providing a computer system comprising a data structure containing signal-type information representing a plurality of driving conditions external to the vehicle;
(b) receiving a signal from a source external to the vehicle;
(c) processing the signal to provide signal information; and
(d) determining whether a relationship between the signal information and the signal-type information exists;
(e) outputting a warning signal to one or more output devices disposed in the vehicle in order to alert the driver of the vehical to the condition. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of detecting a condition in an environment of a vehicle, comprising:
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(a) training a computer system to recognize one or more signal types identifying conditions selected from the group of emergency vehicles, road hazard areas, school zones and combinations thereof;
(b) receiving a signal from a source;
(c) determining whether the signal is sufficiently similar to one or more of the signal types; and
(d) if the signal is sufficiently similar in (c), outputting a warning signal to one or more output devices in order to alert an operator of the vehicle of the condition.
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31. The method 30, further comprising, prior to (d), the step of:
if the signal is sufficiently similar in (c), determining whether one or more trigger conditions contained in a data structure on the computer system are satisfied.
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32. The method of 30, wherein training the computer system comprises storing data samples on the computer system.
Specification