Vehicle communication system

• US 9,159,230 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2013
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark Tremonti
• Original Assignee: Mark Tremonti
• Inventors: Tremonti, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Balaoing, Ariel
• Assistant Examiner(s): MA, KAM WAN
• Application Number:
  US14/101,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20140300493A1
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 340/901, 340/471, 340/473, 340/902, 340/463, 340/468, 340/472
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/46 for giving flashing caution signals during drive, other than signalling change of direction, e.g. flashing the headlights or hazard lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/503 using luminous text or symbol displays in or on the vehicle, e.g. static text
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/544 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle occupants, e.g. for indicating disabled occupants
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 to a central station ; Indicators in 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 vehicle communication system including a communications link and optionally a vehicle position indicator provided at a facility. A visual indicator is provided that is attachable to or usable in a non-official passenger vehicle to alert other road users that a vehicle is traveling in an emergency situation. A communications link and optionally a vehicle position locator are also attachable to or usable in a non-official passenger vehicle to communicate with the facility to alert the facility that the vehicle is traveling to the facility in an emergency situation. The visual indicator may be a flashing light, or a lighted warning message or symbol, and may be a one-time use light or may be operable only after receipt of an activation code from the facility.

Claims

1. A vehicle communication system comprising:

a communications link provided at a facility, wherein the facility is at least one of a law enforcement facility, medical facility, fire department or medical transport facility;

a visual indicator attachable to or usable in a non-official passenger vehicle to alert other road users that the vehicle is traveling in an emergency situation, wherein the visual indicator is in addition to the vehicle'"'"'s standard running lights;

a communications link attachable to or usable in the vehicle and selectively operable by a passenger in the vehicle to communicate with the communications link provided at the facility,

wherein the visual indicator is in communication with the communications link at the facility, and is activatable by the passenger in the vehicle only after receipt of an activation code transmitted via the communications link from the facility.

2. The vehicle communication system according to claim 1, wherein the visual indicator comprises at least one of OLED and LED light bulbs.

3. The vehicle communication system according to claim 1, wherein the visual indicator comprises chemiluminescent materials.

4. The vehicle communication system according to claim 1, wherein the visual indicator is a one-time use indicator.

5. The vehicle communication system according to claim 1, wherein the visual indicator is activatable by the passenger in the vehicle at any time after receipt of the activation code from the facility.

6. The vehicle communication system according to claim 1, wherein the visual indicator, and the communications link provided in or for the vehicle are provided in a single unit.

7. The vehicle communication system according to claim 1, wherein the visual indicator is provided separately from the communications link provided in or for the vehicle.

8. The vehicle communication system according to claim 1, wherein the communications link provided in or for the vehicle is provided on a smart phone.

10. The vehicle communication system according to claim 1, further comprising a vehicle position indicator provided at the facility in communication with the communications link provided in or for the vehicle to indicate the position of the vehicle to the facility.

9. A method of communicating to road users comprising the steps of:

providing a communications link at a facility, wherein the facility is at least one of a law enforcement facility, medical facility, fire department or medical transport facility;

providing a communications link attachable to or usable in a non-official passenger vehicle and selectively operable by a passenger in the vehicle to communicate with the communications link provided at the facility to alert the facility that the vehicle is traveling to the facility in an emergency situation;

providing a visual indicator attachable to the vehicle to alert other road users that the vehicle is traveling in an emergency situation, wherein the visual indicator is in addition to the vehicles standard running lights; and

activating the visual indicator, the visual indicator being selectively operable by the passenger in the vehicle, wherein the visual indicator is in communication with the communications link provided at the facility, and is activatable by the passenger in the vehicle only after receipt of an activation code transmitted via the communications link from the facility.