Network and connected devices for emergency response and roadside operations

• US 10,548,173 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2019
• Issued: 01/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Jackson, Cole, Garrett, Caleb
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Justin Y
• Application Number:
  US16/291,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20190200402A1
• Time in Patent Office: 330 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/247 for illuminating the close surroundings of the vehicle, e.g. to facilitate entry or exit for reverse drive B60Q1/22; by opening a side door B60Q1/323
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/525 automatically indicating risk of collision between vehicles in traffic or with pedestrians, e.g. after risk assessment using the vehicle sensor data
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/47 Direct command from other road users, i.e. the command for switching or changing the beam is sent by other vehicles or road devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/006 indicating risk of collision between vehicles or with pedestrians
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0446 worn on the body to detect changes of posture, e.g. a fall, inclination, acceleration, gait
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0453 worn on the body to detect health condition by physiological monitoring, e.g. electrocardiogram, temperature, breathing detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/002 Distress signalling devices, e.g. rescue balloons vehicle optical signalling for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/006 Portable traffic signalling devices G08B5/004 takes precedence; emergency signalling devices to be placed on roads or vehicles B60Q7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0955 transportable
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/38 for collecting sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/44 for communication between vehicles and infrastructures, e.g. vehicle-to-cloud [V2C] or vehicle-to-home [V2H]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 : Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 : Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 : for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 : Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A self-assembling network is configured to automatically and dynamically connect devices used in operations carried out on or near roads bearing vehicle and pedestrian traffic. An automatic, ad hoc network connecting existing and new devices can be used to enhance safety by gathering and exchanging safety critical information. In some cases, existing equipment can be augmented with a network controller and radio frequency communications to permit the devices to join a wireless local network and exchange information over the network. New devices, including wearable devices, can be configured to act as nodes on the wireless local network. Establishing the relative position of vehicles, sensors, wearables, and other nodes on the disclosed ad hoc wireless network allows the coordination of functions based on position.

Claims

1. A system for managing a plurality of warning devices associated with emergency vehicles, comprising:

a first warning device for a first emergency vehicle having a first plurality of warning functions controlled by a first controller, the first controller communicating over a wireless network via a first transceiver;

a first sensor providing a position of the first emergency vehicle;

a second warning device for a second emergency vehicle having a second plurality of warning functions controlled by a second controller, the second controller communicating over the wireless network via a second transceiver;

a second sensor providing a position of the second emergency vehicle;

wherein the first and second transceivers communicate data with one another via the wireless network to indicate relative positions of the first and second emergency vehicles, and each of the first and second controllers controls a respective warning function in response to the relative positions of the first and second emergency vehicles.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and the second warning devices include warning lights, wherein each of the first and the second plurality of warning functions include light patterns, wherein the first controller activates a light pattern in the first warning device different from a light pattern activated in the second warning device in response to the relative positions.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the light pattern activated in the first warning device complements the light pattern activated in the second warning device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first controller activates one of the first plurality of warning functions and the second controller deactivates one of the second plurality of warning functions in response to the relative positions.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and the second warning devices include a front-facing row of warning lights and a rear-facing row of warning lights, wherein the first controller deactivates one of the front-facing or the rear-facing rows of warning lights in the first warning device in response to the relative positions.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the data communicated over the wireless network includes a status of at least one of the first or the second emergency vehicle.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first controller further controls a warning function of the first warning device in response to the status of the second emergency vehicle.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the status includes at least one of a speed, a heading, or a braking status of the at least one of the first or the second emergency vehicle.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and the second sensors is a GPS sensor.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a third warning device independent from any emergency vehicle having a third plurality of warning functions controlled by a third controller, the third controller communicating over the wireless network via a third transceiver;

wherein the third transceiver communicates data with at least one of the first or second transceivers via the wireless network to indicate a relative position of the third warning device to at least one of the first or second emergency vehicles, and the third controller controls a respective warning function in response to the relative position of the third warning device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the third warning device is one of a traffic cone or a traffic barrier.

12. A warning system for an emergency vehicle, comprising:

at least one warning device having a plurality of warning functions;

a controller controlling the plurality of warning functions of the at least one warning device and communicating over a wireless network via a transceiver;

the controller receiving data from at least one sensor, the data including a position and a status of the emergency vehicle;

the transceiver communicating the data, and receiving data concerning at least one of a position and a status of a second emergency vehicle, over the wireless network to indicate relative positions of the emergency vehicle and the second emergency vehicle, the controller controlling a warning function of the at least one warning device in response to the relative positions.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the controller further controls a warning function of the at least one warning device in response to the status of the second emergency vehicle.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the status includes at least one of a speed, a heading, or a braking status.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one warning device includes a visual warning device and an audio warning device.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the controller activates a warning function of the at least one warning device different from a warning function activated in a warning device of the second emergency vehicle in response to the relative positions.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one warning device include warning lights and the plurality of warning functions include light patterns, wherein the controller activates a light pattern in the at least one warning device different from a light pattern activated in a warning device of the second emergency vehicle in response to the relative positions.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the light pattern activated in the first warning device complements the light pattern activated in the warning device of the second emergency vehicle.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the controller deactivates one of the first plurality of warning functions in response to the relative positions.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one warning device include a front-facing row of warning lights and a rear-facing row of warning lights, wherein the controller deactivates one of the front-facing or the rear-facing rows of warning lights in response to the relative positions.