Systems and methods for variable collision avoidance

• US 8,576,065 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2010
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: B.I. Incorporated (Geo Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: B.I. Incorporated (Geo Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Buck, James J., Newell, Joseph P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T
• Application Number:
  US12/917,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20110133928A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/539.26, 340/435, 340/436, 340/348, 340/441, 340901-905, 340/8.1, 701/70, 701/93, 701/117, 701/119
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0283 via a telephone network, e.g. cellular GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and method for collision avoidance. As an example, a system for collision avoidance is disclosed that includes: a first monitoring device, a second monitoring device, and a monitoring system. The monitoring system is operable to: receive information from the first monitoring device and the second monitoring device, identify a first zone around the first monitoring device and a second zone around the second monitoring device, and identify an intersection of the first zone and the second zone.

Claims

1. A collision avoidance system, the system comprising:

a first monitoring device;

a second monitoring device; and

a monitoring system operable to;

receive information from the first monitoring device and the second monitoring device;

identify at least a first zone around the first monitoring device, wherein the first zone moves in relation to the first monitoring device;

identify at least a second zone around the second monitoring device, wherein the second zone moves in relation to the second monitoring device; and

identify an intersection of the first zone and the second zone.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first zone and the second zone is variable in size.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first zone is variable based upon inferred intent of an entity associated with the first monitoring device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the inferred intent is based upon proximity of the first monitoring device to a location known to be frequented by an entity associated with the second monitoring device.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the first zone is variable based upon a speed of an entity associated with the first monitoring device.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the second zone is variable based upon a speed of an entity associated with the second monitoring device.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the first zone is variable based upon a direction of an entity associated with the first monitoring device relative to a location of the second monitoring device.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the monitoring system is operable to communicate a warning to an entity associated with the first monitoring device upon identifying an intersection of the first zone and the second zone.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the warning indicates a direction for the entity associated with the first monitoring device to pursue to avoid contact with an entity associated with the second monitoring device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring system is further operable to send an alert to a law enforcement agency.

11. A monitoring system, the monitoring system comprising:

a computer;

a computer readable medium, wherein the computer readable medium includes instructions executable by the computer to;

receive information from a first monitoring device associated with a first entity and a second monitoring device associated with a second entity;

identify a first zone around the first monitoring device;

identify a second zone around the second monitoring device, wherein the second zone is variable in size; and

identify an intersection of the first zone and the second zone.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions are further executable by the computer to vary the size of the second zone.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the size of the second zone is varied based upon inferred intent of the second entity.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the inferred intent is based upon proximity to a location known to be frequented by the first entity.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the size of the second zone is varied based upon a speed of the second entity.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the size of the second zone is varied based upon a direction of the second entity relative to a location of the first entity.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the instructions are further executable by the computer to communicate a warning to at least one of the first entity and the second entity upon identifying an intersection of the first zone and the second zone.

18. A method for collision avoidance, the method comprising:

receiving information from a first monitoring device associated with a first entity and a second monitoring device associated with a second entity;

defining a first zone around the first monitoring device, wherein the first zone moves in relation to the first monitoring device;

defining a second zone around the second monitoring device, wherein the second zone moves in relation to the second monitoring device;

increasing a probability of interaction based at least in part on an intersection between the first zone and the second zone; and

reporting the probability of interaction between a first individual associated with the first monitoring device and a second individual associated with the second monitoring device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein reporting the probability of interaction includes one or more reporting actions selected from a group consisting of:

reporting to a victim'"'"'s advocate, reporting to a law enforcement person, reporting to a victim, reporting to a court person, reporting to a corrections person, reporting to a monitoring contractor, reporting to an employer, and reporting to a family member.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises:

defining a third zone around the second monitoring device; and

further increasing the probability of interaction based at least in part on an intersection between the first zone and the third zone.