Server-based warning of hazards

• US 8,354,942 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2008
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Sthlin, Ulrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T
• Application Number:
  US12/663,927
• Publication Number:
  US 20100164752A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,728 Days
• Field of Search: 340901-905, 340/988, 340/989, 340435-439, 340/463, 340/472, 701/208
• US Class Current: 340/901
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

A hazard warning unit for a vehicle for detecting hazards and for warning about hazards is disclosed, which hazard warning unit has a plurality of sensing units for sensing measured values, and an analysis unit for analyzing the measured values. If a hazard is detected, a hazard message is transferred to a central server which can then communicate said hazard message to other vehicles. The hazard information can also be buffered by the server.

Claims

1. A hazard warning unit for a vehicle for detecting hazards and for warning about hazards, comprising:

a sensing unit in the vehicle for sensing a measured value;

an analysis unit for determining whether the sensed measured value corresponds to a hazard; and

a communication unit for transferring information data about the hazard to a control center if the sensed measured value corresponds to the hazard,

wherein additional information data determined by a processor in the vehicle, which relates to a location where the measured value was sensed and a time at which the measured value was sensed, is transferred by the communication unit to the control center together with the information data about the hazard,

wherein the communication unit is designed to receive warning data from the control center, and

wherein the warning data are based on information data received by the control center from another communication unit.

2. The hazard warning unit as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the communication unit is designed to transfer the measured value by way of GPRS, UMTS or WiMax.

3. The hazard warning unit as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the communication unit is designed to call the warning data from the control center at defined times.

4. The hazard warning unit as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an encryption unit for encrypting the information data so that a uniquely defined assignment of the encrypted information data to the hazard warning unit is possible.

5. The hazard warning unit as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the sensing unit has at least one sensor, selected from the group consisting of a GPS sensor, surroundings sensor, ESP sensor, camera, ABS sensor, traction control system sensor, driving state sensor, wheel speed sensors, steering wheel angle sensor and speed sensor.

6. The hazard warning unit as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the control center is a traffic data control center as a service provider.

7. The use of a hazard warning unit as claimed in claim 1 in a vehicle.

8. A hazard warning system for warning about hazards for a plurality of vehicles,

the hazard warning system comprising:

a hazard warning unit as claimed in claim 1;

a control center for receiving information data from the hazard warning unit and for transferring warning data to the hazard warning unit;

wherein the control center is also configured to produce the warning data on a basis of the measured values.

9. The hazard warning system as claimed in claim 8,

wherein the control center is configured to transfer first warning data to a first hazard warning unit of a first vehicle, and to transfer second warning data to a second hazard warning unit of a second vehicle;

and

wherein the first warning data are different from the second warning data.

10. The hazard warning system as claimed in claim 8,

wherein the control center is configured to receive information data from a plurality of hazard warning units of different vehicles and to generate the warning data on a basis of all the received measured values.

11. A method for warning a plurality of vehicles about a hazard, the method comprising:

sensing of a measured value by a sensing unit in a first vehicle;

determining whether the sensed measured value corresponds to a hazard;

transferring information data about the hazard to a control center if the sensed measured value corresponds to the hazard;

transferring to the control center by a communication unit together with the information data about the hazard, additional information data determined by a processor in the vehicle, the additional information relating to a location where the measured value was sensed and a time at which the measured value was sensed; and

receiving, by the communication unit, a warning data from the control center,

wherein the warning data are based on information data received by the control center from another communication unit.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

storing information of;

(i) a type of hazard, (ii) a location at which the measured value was sensed, (iii) a time at which the measured value was sensed, and (iv) an identification of a communication unit which transferred the information to the control center, in the control center; and

generating warning data on a basis of the stored data.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11 further comprising:

calling of warning data which are relevant for a second specific vehicle from the control center.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium on which a computer program product is stored which induces a processor to carry out:

sensing of a measured value by a sensing unit in a first vehicle;

determining whether the sensed measured value corresponds to a hazard;

transferring information data about the hazard to a control center if the sensed measured value corresponds to the hazard;

transferring to the control center by a communication unit together with the information data about the hazard, additional information data determined by a processor in the vehicle, the additional information relating to a location where the measured value was sensed and a time at which the measured value was sensed; and

receiving, by the communication unit, a warning data from the control center,

wherein the warning data are based on information data received by the control center from another communication unit.