Transit station geographical location sign with handicap access
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A destination sign comprising:
- a microcontroller with associated memory;
a wireless communication module, adapted to transmit and receive data on a wireless network, connected to the controller;
an antenna connected to the wireless communication module;
a display circuit and display panel configured for displaying display data provided by the microcontroller;
an audio amp and speaker adapted to produce audible sound in accordance with audio data provided by the microcontroller;
a single audio button connected to provide a signal to the controller when pressed a predetermined number of consecutive times by a person, wherein the controller is adapted to provide audio data to the audio amp and speaker when the single audio button is pressed, the audio data adapted to produce an audible transcription of at least part of the display data, wherein when the single audio button is pressed a first predetermined number of consecutive times then route information audio data is provided to the audio amp and speaker, and when the single audio button is pressed a second predetermined number of consecutive times then alert data associated with the destination sign'"'"'s location is provided to the audio amp and speaker; and
a GPS module configured to determine a geographic location of the destination sign;
wherein a plurality of instructions stored in the memory are configured to cause the microcontroller to perform;
storing the geographical location of the destination sign in the memory;
periodically comparing the stored geographical location of the destination sign with a present geographical location of the destination sign;
determining whether the destination sign has moved a distance greater than a predetermined distance from the stored geographical location;
transmitting, via the wireless communication module, an alarm signal along with a destination sign identification data for the destination sign and the present geographical location of the destination sign.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A transit stop destination sign is provided that communicates wirelessly with a central transit system server over a wireless network, determines its GPS location and provides the same to the central transit system server, and provides both an updated visual destination sign display as well as an audio button for visually impaired that provides updated destination information in a natural language.
11 Citations
14 Claims
-
1. A destination sign comprising:
-
a microcontroller with associated memory; a wireless communication module, adapted to transmit and receive data on a wireless network, connected to the controller; an antenna connected to the wireless communication module; a display circuit and display panel configured for displaying display data provided by the microcontroller; an audio amp and speaker adapted to produce audible sound in accordance with audio data provided by the microcontroller; a single audio button connected to provide a signal to the controller when pressed a predetermined number of consecutive times by a person, wherein the controller is adapted to provide audio data to the audio amp and speaker when the single audio button is pressed, the audio data adapted to produce an audible transcription of at least part of the display data, wherein when the single audio button is pressed a first predetermined number of consecutive times then route information audio data is provided to the audio amp and speaker, and when the single audio button is pressed a second predetermined number of consecutive times then alert data associated with the destination sign'"'"'s location is provided to the audio amp and speaker; and a GPS module configured to determine a geographic location of the destination sign; wherein a plurality of instructions stored in the memory are configured to cause the microcontroller to perform; storing the geographical location of the destination sign in the memory; periodically comparing the stored geographical location of the destination sign with a present geographical location of the destination sign; determining whether the destination sign has moved a distance greater than a predetermined distance from the stored geographical location; transmitting, via the wireless communication module, an alarm signal along with a destination sign identification data for the destination sign and the present geographical location of the destination sign. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A method of installing a destination sign in a transit system having a transit system control center, the method comprising:
-
assigning a unique identification data to the destination sign; entering the unique identification data and a predetermined geographical location data into the transit system control center; placing the destination sign at a first geographical location; determining, by a GPS module in the destination sign, a first present geographical location of the destination sign; transmitting, by the destination sign via a wireless network to the transit system control center, the unique identification data and the first present geographical location of the destination sign; and receiving, by the destination sign via the wireless network from the transit system control center, an indication of whether the first present geographical location of the destination sign is substantially similar to the predetermined geographical location; when the indication indicates that the first present geographical location is substantially similar to the predetermined geographical location, then; receiving route information by the destination sign via the wireless network; displaying the route information on the destination sign for patrons to read; and providing, by a audio module in the destination sign, an audible natural language transcription of the route information when a single button associated with the destination sign is pressed a first predetermined number of sequential times by a transit patron and providing a natural language transcription of alert information when the single button is pressed a second predetermined number of sequential times. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A destination sign adapted for installation at a transit vehicle stop, the destination sign comprising:
-
a display panel module adapted to display transit vehicle route information to transit patrons; a single audio button; an audio module configured to produce an audible natural language transcription of the transit vehicle route information; a wireless network communication module adapted to receive the transit vehicle route information; a controller module connected to the display panel module, the single audio button, the audio module and the wireless network communication module;
the controller module comprises a memory, wherein the memory is adapted to store a plurality of instructions that are configured to cause the controller module to perform;displaying transit vehicle route information, received by the wireless network communication module, by the display module; producing, by the audio module, the audible natural language transcription of the transit vehicle route information on demand when the single audio button is pressed once; and setting the state of the audio module to a paused state for a predetermined amount of time when the single audio button is pressed more than a predetermined number of substantially consecutive times; and a GPS module configured to determine a geographic location of the destination sign;
wherein the plurality of instructions are further configured to cause the controller module to perform;storing the geographical location of the destination sign in the memory; periodically comparing the stored geographical location of the destination sign with a present geographical location of the destination sign; determining whether the destination sign has moved a distance greater than a predetermined distance from the stored geographical location; transmitting, via the wireless communication module, an alarm signal along with a destination sign identification data for the destination sign and the present geographical location of the destination sign. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
-
Specification