Information system

• US 20030218551A1
• Filed: 04/18/2003
• Published: 11/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Frank M. Bishop, John D. Brandwood, Timothy R. Crocker
• Original Assignee: Frank M. Bishop, John D. Brandwood, Timothy R. Crocker
• Inventors: Brandwood, John D., Crocker, Timothy R., Bishop, Frank M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,327,282 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/905
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09675 where a selection from the received information takes place in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096758 where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle

Abstract

An information system is provided for transmitting data into a local area surrounding the transmitter. The transmitter may be used to provide information to pedestrians, or to passing road traffic. Data is stored in a local memory 64 associated with the transmitter such that data stored in the memory can be repeatedly and frequently transmitted to users 70 having suitable reception apparatus 18 in the vicinity of the transmitter.

Claims

1. A vehicle information system comprising a receiver responsive to local data transmissions from roadside transmitters and a communications device for providing at least one of audio and visual communication for communicating information to an occupant of a vehicle.

2. A vehicle information system as claimed in claim 1, in which the roadside transmitters store data and broadcast it to passing vehicles.

3. A vehicle information system as claimed in claim 2, in which the data is indicative of a local speed limit.

4. A vehicle information systems as claimed in claim 3, in which the speed limit data is compared with data representing the vehicle'"'"'s speed and the result of the comparison is indicated to an occupant of the vehicle.

5. A vehicle information system as claimed in claim 4, in which a warning is given to a driver of the vehicle when the vehicle is exceeding the speed limit.

6. A vehicle information system as claimed in claim 3, in which the vehicle information system provides data to at least one of the vehicle'"'"'s engine management system and a cruise control system so as to cause the vehicle to stay within the speed limit until such time as the driver intervenes to exceed the speed limit.

7. A vehicle information system as claimed in claim 1, in which the receiver looks forward from the vehicle.

8. A vehicle information system as claimed in claim 7, in which the receiver has a narrow acceptance aperture such that it is responsive substantially only to signal coming from a predetermined direction with respect to the vehicle.

9. A vehicle information system as claimed in claim 8, in which the receiver'"'"'s acceptance aperture is restricted in the horizontal plane and can view from the horizontal towards the vertical in the vertical plane.

10. A vehicle information system as claimed in claim 1, in which the system employs at least one of radio and microwaves for transmission of data.

11. A vehicle information system as claimed in claim 10, in which all the roadside transmitters transmit at the same frequency.

12. A vehicle information system as claimed in claim 1, in which the data transmitted by a transmitter includes the distance to the next transmitter.

13. A vehicle information system as claimed in claim 12, in which a data processor compares the distance travelled from a previous transmitter to the vehicle'"'"'s present location with the indication of distance given by the last transmitter and asserts a warning if the distance travelled exceeds the distance indicated by the last transmitter as the distance to the next transmitter.

14. A vehicle information system as claimed in claim 1, in which each transmitter has a identity code.

15. A vehicle information system as claimed in claim 1, in which the transmitters transmit information relating to distances to other roads and speed limits on the road.

16. A vehicle information system as claimed in claim 1, in which the transmitter signals include one of the direction indicating signals and carriageway encoding such that the receiver can distinguish between multiple transmissions to select the one appropriate for the vehicle.

17. A vehicle information system as claimed in claim 14, in which each transmitter transmits the identity code of the next transmitter in the direction of travel of the vehicle.

18. A vehicle information system as claimed in claim 14, in which the receiver analyses the transmitter identity codes to determine the position of the vehicle.

19. A vehicle information system as claimed in claim 1, in which the data transmitted from the transmitters includes at least one of messages from local authorities, emergency services, local services, retailers and traders.

20. A vehicle information system as claimed in claim 1, in which each transmitter has a memory in which it caches data to be transmitted.

21. A vehicle information system as claimed in claim 1, in which a vehicle carries a transmitter such that the vehicle can transmit data to a telecommunication network via road side receivers associated with the roadside transmitters.

22. A vehicle information system as claimed in claim 21, in which a vehicle system is responsive to the vehicle information system such that the vehicle system can act on instructions to limit the vehicle'"'"'s speed or to disable the vehicle.

23. A vehicle information system as claimed in claim 21, in which the information system is arranged to perform at least one command selected from a list comprising:

asserting a panic signal in response to actuation of a driver operated input device;

asserting an alert signal in the event that vehicle systems determine that the vehicle has been involved in an accident;

negotiating with road toll systems; and

alerting authorities when a driver commits a traffic offence.

24. A vehicle information system as claimed in claim 1, in which the data communication to a vehicle occurs via a infrared link.

25. A vehicle information system as claimed in claim 1, in which a vehicle data communication to a vehicle occurs via a magnetic link.

26. A vehicle information system as claimed in claim 1, in which a vehicle carries a rear facing transmitter such that it can transmit messages to a following vehicle.

27. A vehicle information system as claimed in claim 26, in which said messages include at least one of daisy chained messages received by the vehicle, messages generated by the vehicle warning of severe braking and messages generated by vehicle warning of adverse conditions.

28. A vehicle information system as claimed in claim 26, in which vehicles impose their own identity code on the data they transmit.

48. A vehicle information system as claimed in claim 1, in which at least one transmitter transmits data defining the position of the transmitter.

49. A vehicle information system as claimed in claim 48, in which the receiver is responsive to the data defining the transmitter position.

29. A transmitter for use in association with a vehicle data system, in which the transmitter is arranged to transmit local road data to passing vehicles.

30. A transmitter as claimed in claim 29, further including a receiver for receiving data from passing vehicles.

31. A transmitter as claimed in claim 29, further including a data processor for controlling the exchange of data with a remote site via a telecommunications network.

32. A local area information system, comprising at least one transmitter having a memory for storing information relating to the local area and a plurality of user devices for receiving the information from the transmitters and presenting the information to a user.

33. A local area information system as claimed in claim 32, wherein the data includes at least one of advertisements and local information.

34. A local area information system as claimed in claim 32, wherein a transmitter is attached to one of a post, a building and street furniture.

35. A local area information system as claimed in claim 32, wherein each transmitter serves a cell of the order of tens of meters from side to side.

36. A local area information system as claimed in claim 32, wherein a user device comprises a display device co-operating with a data processor.

37. A local area information system as claimed in claim 36, in which the user device comprises a portable data processor.

38. A local area information system as claimed in claim 32, wherein each user device includes a transmitter such that a user can access a data network via a local transmitter to request information.

39. A local area information system as claimed in claim 32, wherein the data is organised in a browsable from such that a user can search through the information to select items of interest.

40. A local area information system as claimed in claim 32, wherein the user device supports at least one of bi-directional audio and video data transmission to the at least one transmitter.

41. A receiver for use with a local area information system, said receiver arranged to receive information from a local area transmitter and to present selected parts of it to a user.

42. A receiver as claimed in claim 41, wherein the receiver also interfaces with the receiver of an in-vehicle data system so as to act as a communications device for communicating information to an occupant of the vehicle.

43. A receiver as claimed in claim 41, wherein the receiver comprises a memory for caching data received from the transmitter and a browser for browsing said data.

44. A receiver as claimed in claim 41, wherein the receiver further includes a transmitter for establishing bi-directional communications with a local area information system.

45. A receiver as claimed in claim 44, wherein the receiver supports at least one of bi-directional voice, video and information communication with the local area information system.

46. A receiver as claimed in claim 43, wherein the receiver selects portions of the data from the transmitters of the local area information system for storage.

47. A receiver as claimed in claim 46, wherein the receiver is responsive to identifiers included within the information transmitter by the local area information system in order to select the information for storage on the basis of the identifiers.

50. A method of making data available to at least one user, the method comprising the steps storing data in a memory associated with a transmitter arranged to transmit data into a region adjacent the transmitter, and repeatedly transmitting said data into said region such that a suitable receiver within said region can make said data available to a user.