Alert device

• US 8,669,882 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2010
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Freestyle Technology Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Freestyle Technology Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Donaghey, Andrew Paul, McDonald, Ian Kenneth Francis, Beard, David Lewis
• Primary Examiner(s): CROSLAND, DONNIE L
• Application Number:
  US12/757,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20100194594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• Field of Search: 340/905
• US Class Current: 340/905
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/063 related to remote communication
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/10 using digital techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/091 Traffic information broadcasting broadcasting communication H04H
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/092 Coding or decoding of the information
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

An alert device for a vehicle including a communications receiver for receiving file fragments for the device, a positioning data receiver for providing vehicle location data, a microcontroller system including a microcontroller and a programmable non-volatile memory system, for building and storing application and data files from the fragments, and executing an alert application of the device by processing at least one application file and associated data identified by configuration instructions included in at least one of the fragments to provide alert data for the vehicle corresponding to the location of the vehicle determined by the application on the basis of the vehicle location data.

Claims

1. An alert device, including:

a wireless communications receiver for receiving fragments of alert application files for said device;

a positioning unit for providing location data representing the location of said device; and

a microcontroller system for

processing and identifying said fragments for said device to build alert application files based on the fragments of the alert application files and to store said alert application files, and

selectively performing an alert application defined by said alert application files and using said location data to provide alert data corresponding to the location of said device, the alert application being performed automatically by the device without any user intervention or interaction with said device.

2. An alert device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a vehicle includes the device and said alert data generates notification of travel features, such as speed limits, accidents, traffic conditions or infringement detection devices.

3. An alert device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said alert data activates a component of a vehicle such as at least one light or an immobiliser.

4. An alert device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fragments include location items, representing travel features, and location data for the items.

5. An alert device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the alert application monitors said location items within a range of the location of said device based on the number of items within said range to selectively provide said alert data.

6. An alert device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the alert application monitors said location items within a range of the location of said device and said range is adjusted based on the speed of said device.

7. An alert device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the alert application monitors said location items within a range of the location of said device based on relative movement of said device to said location items.

8. An alert device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said range is defined by regions of a hierarchical region tree, and the position of said regions in a region stack maintained by said alert application, said position being determined by said location data.

9. An alert device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said relative movement is determined as one of approaching, receding and indeterminate.