Method and apparatus for providing a hazardous material alert

• US 20050057344A1
• Filed: 09/16/2003
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnitracs LLC (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Davis, Steven J., Rusnak, Scott, Patrick, Lynne, Harvey, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,115,608 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/425.500
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

System for providing a hazardous materials hazardous material alert. The system includes a method for transmitting a hazardous material alert for use with a vehicle that is transporting hazardous material. The method comprises steps of detecting a hazard event, and transmitting the hazardous material alert in response to the hazard event, wherein the hazardous material alert includes information relating to the hazardous material.

Claims

1. A method for providing a hazardous material alert for use with a vehicle that is transporting hazardous material, the method comprising steps of:

detecting a hazard event; and

transmitting the hazardous material alert in response to the hazard event, wherein the hazardous material alert includes information relating to the hazardous material.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the hazard event is detected from a condition of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the hazard event is detected from an input received from a vehicle operator.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the hazard event is detected from a message received from a remote location.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the hazardous material alert has a range of less than 1000 feet from the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting further comprises a step of transmitting the hazardous material alert using one or more transmitters selected from AM, FM, CB, and Police band transmitters.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of activating one or more vehicle systems in response to the hazard event.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of adjusting a transmission power of the hazardous material alert based on the hazard event.

9. Apparatus for providing a hazardous material alert for use with a vehicle that is transporting hazardous material, the apparatus comprising:

means for detecting a hazard event; and

means for transmitting the hazardous material alert in response to the hazard event, wherein the hazardous material alert includes information relating to the hazardous material.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means for detecting the hazard event comprises means for detecting the hazard event from a condition of the vehicle.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means for detecting the hazard event comprises means for detecting the hazard event from an operator input.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means for detecting the hazard event comprises means for detecting the hazard event from a message received from a central station.

13. Apparatus for providing a hazardous material alert for use with a vehicle that is transporting hazardous material, the apparatus comprising:

detection logic for receiving an indication that a hazard event has occurred; and

transmission logic coupled to the detection logic, the transmission logic operating to transmit the hazardous material alert in response to hazard event, wherein the hazardous material alert includes information relating to the hazardous material.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the detection logic comprises input logic to receive an operator input, and wherein the hazard event is detected from the operator input.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the detection logic comprises input logic to receive vehicle sensor input, and wherein the hazard event is detected from the vehicle sensor input.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the detection logic comprises input logic to receive a message from a central station, and wherein the hazard event is detected from the message from the central station.

17. A computer-readable media comprising instructions for execution by a hazard detection system that is used with a vehicle transporting hazardous material, the instructions, when executed by the hazard detection system, cause a hazardous material alert to be transmitted, the computer-readable media comprising:

instructions for detecting a hazard event; and

instructions for transmitting the hazardous material alert in response to the hazard event, wherein the hazardous material alert includes information relating to the hazardous material.