Method and apparatus for providing a hazardous material alert

• US 8,115,608 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2003
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnitracs LLC (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Davis, Steven J., Harvey, John, Patrick, Lynne, Rusnak, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunnings, Travis R
• Application Number:
  US10/663,405
• Publication Number:
  US 20050057344A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,073 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/471, 340/988, 340/539.26
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

System for providing a hazardous materials hazardous material alert. The system includes a method for transmitting a hazardous material alert for use with a vehicle that is transporting hazardous material. The method comprises steps of detecting a hazard event, and transmitting the hazardous material alert in response to the hazard event, wherein the hazardous material alert includes information relating to the hazardous material.

Claims

1. A method for providing a hazardous material alert for use with a vehicle that is transporting hazardous material, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a hazard event;

transmitting the hazardous material alert in response to the hazard event, wherein the hazardous material alert comprises information relating to the hazardous material and wherein transmitting the hazardous material alert comprises sending a transmission from the vehicle that can be directly received by emergency personnel responding to the hazard event; and

receiving a reply transmission at the vehicle in response to transmitting the hazardous material alert, wherein the reply transmission comprises instructions for controlling a system of the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the hazard event is detected from a condition of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the hazard event is detected from an input received from a vehicle operator.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the hazard event is detected from a message received from a remote location.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the hazardous material alert has a range of less than 1000 feet from the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting further comprises a step of transmitting the hazardous material alert using one or more transmitters selected from AM, FM, CB and Police band transmitters.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of activating one or more additional systems of the vehicle in response to the hazard event.

8. An apparatus for providing a hazardous material alert for use with a vehicle that is transporting hazardous material, the apparatus comprising:

means for detecting a hazard unit;

means for transmitting the hazardous material alert in response to the hazard event, wherein the hazardous material alert comprises information relating to the hazardous material and wherein transmitting the hazardous material alert comprises sending a transmission from the vehicle that can be directed received by emergency personnel responding to the hazard event; and

means for receiving a reply transmission at the vehicle in response to transmitting the hazardous material alert, wherein the reply transmission comprises instructions for controlling a system of the vehicle.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the means for detecting the hazard event comprises means for detecting the hazard event from a condition of the vehicle.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the means for detecting the hazard event comprises means for detecting the hazard event from a message received from an operator input.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the means for detecting the hazard event comprises means for detecting the hazard event from a message received from a central station.

12. An apparatus for providing a hazardous material alert for use with a vehicle that is transporting hazardous material, the apparatus comprising:

detection logic for receiving an indication that a hazard event has occurred;

transmission logic coupled to the detection logic, the transmission logic operating to initiate a transmission of the hazardous material alert in response to the hazard event, wherein the hazardous material alert comprises information relating to the hazardous material and wherein the transmission comprises a transmission from the vehicle that can be directly received by emergency personnel responding to the hazard event; and

a receiver for receiving a reply transmission at the vehicle in response to initiating the transmission of the hazardous material alert, wherein the reply transmission comprises instructions for controlling a system of the vehicle.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the detection logic comprises input logic to receive an operator input, and wherein the hazard event is detected from the operator input.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the detection logic comprises input logic to receive vehicle sensor input, and wherein the hazard event is detected from the vehicle sensor input.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the detection logic comprises input logic to receive a message from a central station, and wherein the hazard event is detected from the message from the central station.

16. A computer-readable medium comprising instruction for execution by a hazard detection system that is used with a vehicle transporting hazardous material, the instructions, when executed by the hazardous detection system, cause a hazardous material alert to be transmitted, the computer-readable media comprising:

instructions for detecting a hazard event; and

instructions for transmitting the hazardous material alert in response to the hazard event, wherein the hazardous material alert comprises information relating to the hazardous material and wherein transmitting the hazardous material alert comprises sending a transmission from the vehicle that can be directly received by emergency personnel responding to the hazard event; and

instructions for receiving a reply transmission at the vehicle in response to transmitting the hazardous material alert, wherein the reply transmission comprises instructions for controlling a system of the vehicle.