Method of signalling traffic-relevant status information

• US 6,452,506 B2
• Filed: 10/06/1999
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Wilhelm, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US09/413,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20010003440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• Field of Search: 340/901, 340/902, 340/904, 340/905, 340/906, 455/404, 455/556, 455/557, 455/550, 455/345, 455/344, 455/346
• US Class Current: 340/905
• 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

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of signaling traffic-relevant status information (5), in particular warning signals, to road users. In order to convey warning signals in a simple and reliable manner to road users when these are distracted by terminal equipment, it is provided that the terminal equipment, in particular mobile telephone, audio device, computer, is used for acoustic and/or optical and/or mechanical signaling, during which time the normal function of the terminal is suppressed.

Claims

1. A method of signaling traffic-relevant status information to a road user, wherein the traffic-relevant status information comprises warning signals, the method comprising steps of:

sensing one of optical, environmental, engine function-, and body function signals via at least one sensor located in or on a vehicle of the road user; and

temporarily suppressing normal functions of an existing terminal located in or on the vehicle of the road user while outputting at least one of acoustical, optical and mechanical signals via the existing terminal, wherein the at least one outputted acoustical, optical and mechanical signal output from the existing terminal is based on a sensed one of the optical, environmental, engine function-, and body function signals, wherein the environmental signals correspond to ambient environmental conditions data that includes pollutant levels, atmospheric temperature and atmospheric pressure and the environmental data signals do not include acoustic signals, the engine function signals correspond to engine conditions of the vehicle of the road user, and the body function signals correspond to the road user'"'"'s body functions, wherein said normal functions comprise two-way communication in both reception and transmission directions of communication.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

wirelessly transmitting the traffic-related status information from the vehicle of the road user to at least one remote central station.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said road user'"'"'s body functions comprise heart frequency.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said traffic-relevant status information comprises hazard signals and police car lights.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said mechanical signal comprises a vibration.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said engine conditions comprise at least one of wheel bearing noise, excessive engine speed, low fuel and high temperature.

25. A system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one terminal signal output device comprises at least one of a loudspeaker, a display, and a vibration element.

26. A system according to claim 2, wherein the at least one terminal is a mobile telephone, and wherein the at least one terminal signal output device, formed as part of the mobile telephone, comprises a speech memory for automatic announcements, wherein the speech memory has an input connected to the processing- and control unit and an output connected to a loudspeaker of the mobile telephone.

7. A system for signaling traffic-relevant status information to a road user, comprising:

at least one terminal located in or on a vehicle of the road user, wherein the terminal is a two-way communication device, wherein the normal two-way communication functions of the at least one terminal are temporarily suppressed in both reception and transmission directions of communication during the output by the system of at least one of acoustical, optical and mechanical signals via the terminal;

at least one status information detecting device operable to detect the traffic-relevant status information;

a processing- and control unit, having an input connected to the status information detecting device; and

at least one terminal signal output device, formed as part of the at least one terminal and operable to output a traffic-relevant status information signal from the at least one terminal, wherein the at least one terminal signal output device has an input connected to the processing- and control unit.

8. A system according to claim 7, further comprising:

a transmitter, connected to the processing- and control unit, operable to wirelessly transmit the status information from the vehicle of the road user to at least one remote central station.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the at least one remote central station is one of a weather service station and a disaster control service station.

10. A system according to claim 7, wherein the at least one status information detecting device is a sensor operable to sense at least one of acoustical, optical, environmental, engine function-, and body function signals, wherein the environmental signals correspond to environmental conditions data, wherein the engine function signals correspond to engine conditions of the vehicle of the road user, and wherein the body function signals correspond to the road user'"'"'s body functions.

11. A system according to claim 7, wherein the processing- and control unit comprises:

at least one of input-end interfaces and signal converters operable to receive a traffic-relevant status information signal from the at least one status information detecting device;

a signal processor operable to process the traffic-relevant status information signal; and

a selection device, located in or on the vehicle of the road user, operable to select which sensorially-determined status information is forwarded to the at least one terminal, wherein the selection device makes the selection based on threshold value criteria, and wherein the selection device further operates to prioritize the sensorial-determined status information, thereby controlling which sensorial-determined status information is forwarded to the at least one terminal in a prioritized manner.

12. A system according to claim 7, wherein the at least one terminal signal output device comprises at least one of a loudspeaker, a display, and a vibration element.

13. A system according to claim 7, wherein the at least one terminal signal output device further comprises a return-transmission element operable to transmit information from the at least one terminal to the processing-and control unit.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the information transmitted to the processing- and control unit includes whether the at least one terminal is on or off.

15. A system according to claim 7, wherein the at least one terminal is a mobile telephone, and wherein the at least one terminal signal output device, formed as part of the mobile telephone, comprises a speech memory for automatic announcements, wherein the speech memory has an input connected to the processing- and control unit and an output connected to a loudspeaker of the mobile telephone.

16. The system of claim 7, further comprising an on-board computer that performs said two-way communication, wherein a mobile telephone is not used.

17. A system for signaling traffic-relevant status information to a road user, comprising:

at least one terminal located in or on a vehicle of the rod user, wherein the normal functions of the at least one terminal are temporarily suppressed during the output by the system of the at least one of acoustical, optical and mechanical signals via the terminal;

at least one status information detecting device, located in or on vehicle of the road user, operable to detect the traffic-relevant status information;

a processing and control unit, having an input connected to the status information detecting device;

at least one terminal signal output device, formed as part of the at least one terminal and operable to output a traffic-relevant status information signal from the at least one terminal, wherein the at least one terminal signal output device has an input connected to the processing and control unit.

at least one remote central station operable to wirelessly receive the traffic-relevant status information transmitted from the vehicle of the road user; and

a transmitter, connected to the processing and control unit, operable to wirelessly transmit the traffic-relevant status information from the vehicle of the road user to the at least one remote central station, wherein the traffic-relevant status information includes environmental condition parameters comprising pollutant levels, atmospheric pressure and atmospheric temperature, wherein said normal functions comprise tow-way communication in both reception and transmission directions of communication.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein the processing- and control unit comprises:

at least one of input-end interfaces and signals converters operable to receive a traffic-relevant status information signal from the at least one status information detecting device;

a signal processor operable to process the traffic-relevant status information signal; and

a selection device, located in or on the vehicle of the road user, operable to select which sensorial-determined status information is forwarded to the at least one terminal, wherein the selection device makes the selection based on threshold value criteria, and wherein the selection device further operates to prioritized the sensorially-determined status information, thereby controlling which sensorial-determined status information is forwarded to the at least one terminal in a prioritized manner.

19. A system according to claim 18, further comprising:

a transmitter, connected to the processing- and control unit, operable to wirelessly transmit the status information from the vehicle of the road user to at least one remote central station.

20. A system according to claim 18, wherein the at least one terminal signal output device comprises at least one of a loudspeaker, a display, and a vibration element.

21. A system according to claim 18, wherein the at least one terminal signal output device further comprises a return-transmission element operable to transmit information from the at least one terminal to the processing-and control unit.

22. A system according to claim 21, wherein the information transmitted to the processing- and control unit includes whether the at least one terminal is on or off.

23. A system according to claim 18, wherein the at least one terminal is a mobile telephone, and wherein the at least one terminal signal output device, formed as part of the mobile telephone, comprises a speech memory for automatic announcements, wherein the speech memory has an input connected to the processing- and control unit and an output connected to a loudspeaker of the mobile telephone.

24. A system according to claim 18, wherein the at least one status information detecting device is a sensor operable to sense at least one of acoustical, optical, environmental, engine function-, and body function signals, wherein the environmental signals correspond to environmental conditions data, wherein the engine function signals correspond to engine conditions of the vehicle of the road user, and wherein the body function signals correspond to the road user'"'"'s body functions.

27. A system according to claim 17, wherein the at least one terminal signal output device further comprises a return-transmission element operable to transmit information from the at least one terminal to the processing-and control unit.

28. A system according to claim 27, wherein the information transmitted to the processing- and control unit includes whether the at least one terminal is on or off.

29. A system according to claim 17, wherein the at least one terminal is a mobile telephone, and wherein the at least one terminal signal output device, formed as part of the mobile telephone, comprises a speech memory for automatic announcements, wherein the speech memory has an input connected to the processing- and control unit and an output connected to a loudspeaker of the mobile telephone.

30. A system according to claim 17, wherein the at least one status information detecting device is a sensor operable to sense at least one of acoustical, optical, environmental, engine function-, and body function signals, wherein the environmental signals correspond to environmental conditions data, wherein the engine function signals correspond to engine conditions of the vehicle of the road user, and wherein the body function signals correspond to the road user'"'"'s body functions.

31. The system of claim 17, said traffic-relevant status information further comprising human condition data that includes heart rate, and engine function data that includes wheel bearing noise.

32. The system of claim 18, wherein said at least one central remote station initiates data transmission from said vehicle to receive said traffic-relevant status information that further comprises human condition data that includes heart rate, and engine function data that includes wheel bearing noise.

33. A system for signaling traffic-relevant status information to a road user, comprising:

at least one terminal located in or on a vehicle of the road user, wherein the normal functions of the at least one terminal are temporarily suppressed during the output by the system of at least one of acoustical, optical and mechanical signals via the terminal, wherein said normal functions comprise two-way communication in both reception and transmission directions of communication;

at least one status information detecting device, located in or on the vehicle of the road user, operable to detect the traffic-relevant status information;

a processing- and control unit, having an input connected to the status information detecting device; and

at least one terminal signal output device, formed as part of the at least one terminal and operable to output a traffic-relevant status information signal from the at least one terminal, wherein the at least one terminal signal output device has an input connected to the processing- and control unit;

wherein the at least one status information detecting device is a sensor operable to sense at least one of optical, environmental, engine function-, and body function signals, wherein the environmental signals correspond to ambient environmental conditions data that includes pollutant levels, atmospheric temperature and atmospheric pressure and the environmental signals do not include acoustic signals, the engine function signals correspond to engine conditions of the vehicle of the road user, and the body functions signals correspond to the road user'"'"'s body functions.

34. A system according to claim 33, further comprising:

a transmitter, connected to the processing- and control unit, operable to wirelessly transmit the status information from the vehicle of the road user to at least one remote central station.

35. A system according to claim 34, wherein the at least one remote central station is one of a weather service station and a disaster control service station.

36. A system according to claim 33, wherein the processing- and control unit comprises:

at least one of input-end interfaces and signal converters operable to receive a traffic-relevant status information signal from the at least one status information detecting device;

a signal processor operable to process the traffic-relevant status information signal; and

a selection device, located in or on the vehicle of the road user, operable to select which sensorial-determined status information is forwarded to the at least one terminal, wherein the selection device makes the selection based on threshold value criteria, and wherein the selection device further operates to prioritize the sensorial-determined status information, thereby controlling which sensorial-determined status information is forwarded to the at least one terminal in a prioritized manner.

37. A system according to claim 33, wherein the at least one terminal signal output device comprises at least one of a loudspeaker, a display, and a vibration element.

38. A system according to claim 33, wherein the at least one terminal signal output device further comprises a return-transmission element operable to transmit information from the at least one terminal to the processing-and control unit.

39. A system according to claim 38, wherein the information transmitted to the processing- and control unit includes whether the at least one terminal is on or off.

40. A system according to claim 33, wherein the at least one terminal is a mobile telephone, and wherein the at least one terminal signal output device, formed as part of the mobile telephone, comprises a speech memory for automatic announcements, wherein the speech memory has an input connected to the processing- and control unit and an output connected to a loudspeaker of the mobile telephone.

41. A system according to claim 33, further comprising a sensor having an output connected to the processing- and control unit and operable to sense acoustical signals.

42. The system of claim 33, wherein said road user'"'"'s body functions comprise heart frequency, said traffic-relevant status information comprises hazard signals and police car lights, and said mechanical signal comprises a vibration.

43. A system for signaling traffic-relevant status information to a road user, comprising:

at least one terminal located in or on a vehicle of the road user, wherein the normal functions of the at least one terminal are temporarily suppressed during the output by the system of at least one of acoustical, optical and mechanical signals via the terminal;

at least one status information detecting device, located in or on the vehicle of the road user, operable to detect the traffic-relevant status information;

a processing- and control unit, having an input connected to the status information detecting device; and

at least one terminal signal output device, formed as part of the at least one terminal and operable to output a traffic-relevant status information signal from the at least one terminal, wherein the at least one terminal signal output device has an input connected to the processing- and control unit;

wherein the at least one terminal signal output device further comprise a return-transmission element operable to automatically transmit information from the at least one terminal to the processing- and control unit and provide a feedback mechanism for said system, and wherein said normal functions comprise an on-board computer that performs two-way communication, wherein a mobile telephone is not used and reception and transmission functions are suppressed during said output.

44. A system according to claim 43, further comprising:

a transmitter, connected to the processing- and control unit, operable to wirelessly transmit the status information from the vehicle of the road user to at least one remote central station.

45. A system according to claim 44, wherein the at least one remote central station is one of a weather service station and a disaster control service station.

46. A system according to claim 43, wherein the processing- and control unit comprises:

at least one of input-end interfaces and signal converters operable to receive a traffic-relevant status information signal from the at least one status information detecting device;

a signal processor operable to process the traffic-relevant status information signal; and

a selection device, located in or on the vehicle of the road user, operable to select which sensorial-determined status information is forwarded to the at least one terminal, wherein the selection device makes the selection based on threshold value criteria, and wherein the selection device further operates to prioritize the sensorial-determined status information, thereby controlling which sensorial-determined status information is forwarded to the at least one terminal in a prioritized manner.

47. A system according to claim 43, wherein the at least one terminal signal output device comprises at least one of a loudspeaker, a display, and a vibration element.

48. A system according to claim 43, wherein the information transmitted to the processing- and control unit includes whether the at least one terminal is on or off.

49. A system according to claim 43, wherein the at least one terminal is a mobile telephone, and wherein the at least one terminal signal output device, formed as part of the mobile telephone, comprises a speech memory for automatic announcements, wherein the speech memory has an input connected to the processing- and control unit and an output connected to a loudspeaker of the mobile telephone.

50. A system according to claim 43, wherein the at least one status information detecting device is a sensor operable to sense at least one of acoustical, optical, environmental, engine function-, and body function signals, wherein the environmental signals correspond to environmental conditions data, wherein the engine function signals correspond to engine conditions of the vehicle of the road user, and wherein the body function signals correspond to the road user'"'"'s body functions.

51. A method of signaling traffic-relevant status information to a road user, wherein the traffic-relevant status information comprises warning signals, the method comprising the steps of:

sensing environmental and body function signals via at least one sensor located in or on a vehicle of the road user; and

temporarily suppressing normal two-way communication functions of an existing terminal in both reception and transmission directions of communication, said existing terminal located in or on the vehicle of the road user while outputting at least one of acoustical, optical and mechanical signals via the existing terminal, wherein the at least one acoustical, optical and mechanical signal outputted from the existing terminals is based on a sensed one of the environmental and body function signals, wherein the environmental signals correspond to ambient environmental conditions data and comprises pollutant levels and the environmental signals do not comprise acoustic signals and the body function signals correspond to the road user'"'"'s body functions and comprise heart frequency information.

52. A system for signaling traffic-relevant status information to road user, comprising:

at least one terminal located in or on a vehicle of the road user, wherein the terminal is a two-way communication device, wherein the normal two-way communication functions of the at least one terminal are temporarily suppressed in both reception and transmission directions of communication during the output by the system of at least one of acoustical, optical and mechanical signals via the terminal;

at least one status information detecting device operable to detect the traffic-relevant status information that comprises environmental and body function signals;

a processing- and control unit, having an input connected to the status information detecting device; and

at least one terminal signal output device, formed as part of the at least one terminal and operable to output a traffic-relevant status information signal from the at least one terminal, wherein the at least one terminal signal output device has an input connected to the processing- and control unit, the environmental signals correspond to ambient environmental conditions data and comprise pollutant levels, atmospheric temperature and atmospheric pressure, and the environmental signals do not comprise acoustic signals, and the body function signals correspond to the road user'"'"'s body functions and comprise heart frequency information.