Event warning system and method thereof

• US 8,648,709 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2011
• Issued: 02/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Proxisafe Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Proxisafe Ltd.
• Inventors: Gauger, Derek K., Coldwell, Christopher R., Heath, Thomas D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lau, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US13/106,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20110279261A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 17/003 for fork-lift trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/0755 Position control; Position detectors
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/14 the means being photocells or other devices sensitive without mechanical contact
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/147 using electro-magnetic technology, e.g. tags or radar
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/16 with feeling members moved by the machine
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0275 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tag technology used for parent or child unit, e.g. same transmission technology, magnetic tag, RF tag, RFID
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages

Abstract

An event warning system is provided. The innovation can provide real time, personalized and meaningful alert warnings to either or both a machine operator/driver and pedestrians who are in harm'"'"'s way, or are potentially approaching harm'"'"'s way. Different from generic warnings such as backup alarms and flashing lights, the innovation'"'"'s personalized alarm and notification functionality minimizes alarm complacency and maximizes their effectiveness.

Claims

1. A computer executable event warning system, comprising:

a software application configuration interface that enables identification and definition of one or more zones, wherein each of the zones defines a region within a facility or associated with at least one moveable machine;

at least one asset wherein the at least one asset comprises a human;

a real time location system that comprises a plurality of sensors that facilitate identification of the precise location of one or more tag identification components, wherein each tag identification component is associated with an associated asset of the at least one asset within the facility or an associated moveable machine of the at least one moveable machine within the facility, wherein two way radio frequency communication with the tag identification components facilitates two-way data packet communication with the tag identification components and identification of the location of the tag identification components;

a static zone identification component that facilitates establishment of one or more static zones overlaid upon the facility and associated with a fixed area of the facility;

a dynamic zone identification component that facilitates the establishment and automatic and real time control of one or more dynamic zones, wherein each dynamic zone is associated with a distinct moveable machine, and wherein a shape and a size of each dynamic zone continuously vary based at least in part on a velocity, a direction of travel and a proximity to static zones of the associated distinct moveable machine; and

an event recognition component that monitors each of the regions in real time and generates a notification based at least in part upon encroachment of one of the assets into one or more zones.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more static zones comprise a protected work zone that allows a worker to enter the region in a “

normal”

position and to not receive alerts.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more static zones comprise an intersection zone that causes the dynamic zone identification component to change the size and shape of a first dynamic zone of the one or more dynamic zones to include the static intersection zone when the moveable machine comes in proximity to the static intersection zone.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more static zones comprise a parking zone that facilitates storage of the tag identification components during non-use and the tag identification components are automatically configured to change to a sleep mode for conservation of battery power.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a speed control static zone wherein speed of one or more of the at least one moveable machines can be remotely regulated.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the dynamic zone identification component establishes further automatic and real time control without intervention of an asset of one or more dynamic zones each associated to a moveable machine the shape and size of which is continuously variable based on velocity, acceleration, direction, predicted path or position of the moveable machine.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a tag identification component that facilitates association of a unique tag to the asset, wherein the unique tag identifies authorizations, credentials and identity of the asset and wherein the unique tag facilitates generation of the notification.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a monitoring component that tracks a plurality of assets in relation to the one or more zones, wherein the monitoring component facilities determination of encroachment on the one or more zones.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising a pairing component that associates an operator to a paired machine of the at least one moveable machine via tag identification and disables alerts caused by that operator'"'"'s encroachment to the paired machine and to other machines of the at least one moveable machine while the operator remains in close proximity to the paired machine.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the event recognition component predicts a zone encroachment of the asset based upon velocity, direction, predicted path or position of the asset.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the encroachment defines an asset approaching a machine that is stationary and wherein the system facilitates active control of the machine'"'"'s ignition circuit to disable the machine from moving.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the notification is one or more of an audible, vibratory or visual notification.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the static zone is a mixed use zone wherein the real time location system sends an alert to a first moveable machine of the at least one moveable machine if an asset encroaches within the mixed use zone regardless of whether the asset has encroached within the dynamic zone associated with the first moveable machine.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein an alert level of the notification corresponds with a severity of circumstance surrounding the event.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the notification is an indication of an asset leaving a facility.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more static zones comprise a driving aisle zone and the location of a moveable machine within or overlapped to the driving aisle zone causes the dynamic zone identification component to change the shape of the dynamic zone to include at least the full width of the driving aisle zone.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the system receives a verification of an alert sent to tag identification components through the two way data packet communication facilitated by the real time positioning system and automatically resends the alert if the verification of the alert is not received by the system.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more static zones comprise a facility sound level zone and the location of an asset within the sound level zone causes the system to send an alert corresponding to a particular sound level or vibration appropriate for known environmental sound characteristics of the sound level zone.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more static zones comprise a speed limit zone and the presence of a moveable machine within or overlapped to the speed limit zone that is moving at a velocity higher than a designated speed causes the system to send an alert to the moveable machine within or overlapped to the speed limit zone.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the real time location system employs Ultra Wide Band radio transmissions to facilitate communication between the tag identification components and the sensors.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the real time location system employs time delay of arrival and angle of arrival methods to calculate the precise location of one or more of the tag identification components.

13. A computer-implemented method of event warning, comprising:

employing a processor that executes computer executable instructions stored on a computer readable storage medium to implement the following acts;

employing an application configuration interface that enables identification and definition of one or more zones, wherein each of the zones defines a region within a facility or associated with at least one moveable machine;

attaching a tag identification component to each of at least one asset, wherein the at least one asset comprises a human, and to each of the at least one moveable machine;

employing a real time location system that comprises a plurality of sensors that facilitate identification of the precise location of one or more of the tag identification components, wherein each tag identification component is associated with an associated asset of the at least one asset within the facility or an associated moveable machine of the at least one moveable machine within the facility, wherein two way radio frequency communication with the tag identification components facilitates two-way data packet communication with the tag identification components and identification of the location of the tag identification components;

employing a static zone identification component that facilitates establishment of one or more static zones overlaid upon the facility and associated with a fixed area of the facility; and

,

employing a dynamic zone identification component that facilitates the establishment and automatic and real time control without intervention of an asset of one or more dynamic zones, wherein each dynamic zone is associated with a distinct moveable machine, and wherein a shape and a size of each dynamic zone continuously vary based at least in part on a velocity, a direction of travel and a proximity to static zones of the associated distinct moveable machine; and

,

employing an event recognition component that monitors each of the one or more zones in real time based at least in part upon encroachment of one of the assets into one or more zones all to generate a notification based at least in part upon encroachment of one of the one or more zones.