Visual and audible bus routing system

• US 6,915,209 B1
• Filed: 05/19/2003
• Issued: 07/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David I. Spann
• Original Assignee: David I. Spann
• Inventors: Spann, David I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Application Number:
  US10/440,978
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 701/117, 701/213, 340/691.6, 340/425.5, 340/463, 340/464, 340/468, 340/472, 340/433, 340/460, 340/692
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/50 for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/5037 the display content changing automatically, e.g. depending on traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/123 indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, tramstransmission of navigation instructions to vehicles G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/04 by land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 27/00 Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address

Abstract

A visual and audible bus routing system for providing hearing and visually impaired riders to automatically receive the information they need for arriving at their intended destinations. The visual and audible bus routing system includes a bus having windows, side and front walls and a front windshield; and also included an information processing assembly including a microprocessor being disposed in the bus, and also including display screens being securely and conventionally attached to the side and front walls of the bus for a visual display of route information including location of the bus; and further includes speakers being disposed internally and externally of the bus for providing audible messages of route information including location of the bus.

Claims

1. A visual and audible bus routing system comprising:

a bus having windows, side and front wall,; and

a front windshield;

an information processing assembly including a microprocessor being disposed in said bus, and also including display screens being attached to said side and front walls of said bus for a visual display of route information including location of said bus, said information processing assembly further including a global positioning system being connected to said microprocessor for providing present information concerning location of said bus on a designated route for said bus, said display screens including a digital display screen being attached to an outer side of said front wall above said windshield of said bus for digitally displaying the route of said bus, said digital display screen having light-emitting diodes disposed therein, said display screens also including a map display screen being attached to one of said side walls of said bus for displaying a map of the route being taken by said bus, said map display screen having light-emitting diodes disposed therein; and

speakers being disposed internally and externally of said bus for providing audible messages of route information including location of said bus.

2. The visual and audible bus routing system as described in claim 1, wherein said speakers include a first speaker being disposed inside said bus, and also include a second speaker being disposed externally of said bus for providing audible messages concerning route information and location of said bus.

3. A method of providing u visual and audible bus routing system includes the steps of:

providing a bus having windows, side and front walls and a front windshield, and also providing a microprocessor being disposed in said bus and display screens being attached to said side and front walls of said bus for a visual display of route information including current location of said bus, and further providing speakers being disposed internally and externally of said bus for providing audible messages of route information including location of said bus;

receiving constant updated information as to current location of said bus on its designated route by said microprocessor from said global positioning system, and also including transmitting location of said bus from said global positioning system to said microprocessor;

displaying said constant updated information by said microprocessor upon said display screens displaying maps of the route of said bus, the step of displaying said information also includes the step of and creating a map of the route of said bus upon said display screens and providing a blinking light-emitting member Upon said map indicating present location of said bus along the route of said bus; and

providing audible messages of said information from said microprocessor through said speakers for visually impaired riders of said bus to accurately know the route information of said bus.

4. The method of providing a visual and audible bus routing system as described in claim 3, wherein the step of providing audible messages also includes the step of providing a sound chip identifying selected locations on said bus route.

5. The method of providing a visual and audible bus routing system as described in claim 4, wherein the step of providing a sound chip further includes the step of said sound chip being automatically activated by said microprocessor upon reaching said selected locations as identified by said global positioning system.