SOFTWARE APPLICATION PRODUCT, TRAFFIC SIGNALLING KIT AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING TRAFFIC SIGNALLING

• US 20170313238A1
• Filed: 11/26/2015
• Published: 11/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Poc Sweden AB
• Original Assignee: Poc Sweden AB
• Inventors: YTTERBORN, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 9,994,145 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2673 on parts worn by the driver, e.g. clothes, gloves or bags, specially adapted to provide auxiliary vehicle signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/34 for indicating change of drive direction B60Q1/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/5037 the display content changing automatically, e.g. depending on traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/30 Lamps commanded by wireless transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/055 Electrical means, e.g. lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/057 Automatic activation, e.g. by sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0407 for flashing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0008 Clothing or clothing accessories, e.g. scarfs, gloves or belts

Abstract

A software application product executable on a mobile device (110) for traffic signalling using a screen (111) of the device (110), in combination with remote activation means (120,130) providing a user interface. The invention further relates to a pocket for accommodating the a device (110) during such signalling. The invention further relates to a kit comprising such a soft-ware application product and optionally such a pocket, as well as to a method for traffic signalling.

Claims

1. Software application product stored by a non-transitory computer readable medium and arranged to be activated and executed on a mobile telephone, which mobile telephone comprises a screen display, which software product is arranged to, when executed, display graphical signalling information on the said screen display, which signalling information is arranged to be visible to other road users when the mobile telephone is fastened to a user or on the user'"'"'s vehicle with the display screen visible to other road users, wherein the software product is arranged to detect an activation signal which is incoming to the mobile telephone device via an interface comprised in the mobile telephone, which signal originates in a remote activation means, arranged to communicate with the mobile telephone and arranged to allow the user to activate the remote activation means without touching the mobile telephone and to communicate the activation signal to the mobile telephone via the interface and in a way which is detectable to the software product, and wherein the software product is arranged to change the visible state of the signalling information from a base state to an activated state as a reaction to said detection.

2. Software application product according to claim 1, wherein the base state comprises a graphical field of stable or flashing colour, and wherein the activated state comprises a graphical field arranged to signal an anticipated change of motion of the user or the user'"'"'s vehicle.

3. Software application product according to claim 2, wherein the anticipated change of motion is a turn, and wherein the activated state comprises an arrow indicating the anticipated turning direction.

4. Software application product according to claim 1, wherein the interface is a standard wireless connection supported by the mobile telephone, such as a Bluetooth or NFC connection, or a headset audio cable connection.

5. Software application product according to claim 4, wherein the remote activation means comprises a separate mobile telephone, arranged with a user interface arranged to be activated by the user and, in reaction to such user activation, send a signal via said interface to the mobile telephone, and wherein the software product is arranged to detect the user activation by detecting the reception of said signal.

6. Software application product according to claim 5, wherein the separate mobile telephone comprises a microphone, and wherein the separate mobile telephone is either arranged to send an analogue audio signal via a headset audio cable to the mobile telephone, or that the separate mobile telephone is arranged to digitally record a sound and then to either send the recorded sound digitally to the mobile telephone or to apply a sound recognition algorithm in the separate mobile telephone and to send to the mobile telephone digital data representing information carried by the recorded sound.

7. Software application product according to claim 1, wherein the software product is furthermore arranged to read data from at least one motion and/or posture and/or geolocation sensor comprised in the mobile telephone, and wherein the software product is arranged to automatically change the state of the signalling information as a reaction to certain predetermined information read from said at least one sensor, in addition to the said state change as a reaction to the said detected user activation.

8. Software application product according to claim 7, wherein the said predetermined information is an indication of retardation of a certain minimum magnitude of the mobile telephone, and wherein the signalling information is changed to a visual representation of a break light, such as a stable red light, in reaction to the reading by the software product of the said information.

9. Software application product according to claim 7, wherein the said predetermined information is an indication of a transition between a turning and a non-turning motion state of the mobile telephone, and wherein the signalling information is changed to the said base state in reaction to the reading by the software function of the said information in case the current state of the signalling information currently comprises a field arranged to signal an anticipated change of motion of the user or the user'"'"'s vehicle.

10. Traffic signalling kit comprising a software application product according to claim 1, which can be executed on, from or via a mobile phone, wherein the kit further comprises the said remote activation means.

11. Traffic signalling kit according to claim 10, wherein the kit further comprises a wearable article, such as a garment, a backpack or a belt, which article comprises a back pocket, which pocket comprises a first flexible pocket side and a second flexible pocket side together forming the pocket, which pocket is furthermore fastened to the article along an attachment line and can be reversed so that the interior of the pocket protrudes from the article with the first side exposed, wherein the pocket is of a size and shape suitable for completely accommodating the mobile telephone, and wherein the said first pocket side is at least partly transparent, such that a screen display of the mobile phone can be read through the exposed first pocket side when the mobile phone is accommodated in the reversed pocket, and wherein the mobile phone can be controlled by the remote activation means and display graphical signalling information which is visible to road users through the said transparent first side of the pocket.

12. Traffic signalling kit according to claim 11, wherein the pocket is arranged to accommodate the mobile phone in a way so that the mobile phone cannot shift its general orientation inside the pocket when accommodated therein.

13. Traffic signalling kit according to claim 11, wherein the pocket is arranged to hang downwards from the said attachment line when reversed.

14. Traffic signalling kit according to claim 11, wherein the second pocket side is waterproof.

15. Traffic signalling kit according to claim 11, wherein the pocket comprises a closing means accessible from the exterior of the reversed pocket, arranged to removably seal the accommodated mobile telephone in the reversed pocket.

16. Traffic signalling kit according to claim 15, wherein the closing means is a zip lock with a handle arranged inside the pocket when the pocket is not reversed.

17. Traffic signalling kit according to claim 11, wherein the first pocket side is made from transparent but coloured material, or comprises a piece of material which is transparent but coloured.

18. Traffic signalling kit according to claim 17, wherein the said material is a plastic material or a sparsely woven textile material with coloured threads.

19. Traffic signalling kit according to claim 17, wherein the graphical signalling information comprises a white-coloured field, and wherein the said transparent but coloured material is arranged to cause the graphical signalling information to appears to be coloured in another colour than white.

20. Method for performing traffic signalling, wherein a software application product according to claim 1 is activated and executed on, from or via a mobile telephone in the form of a mobile telephone, wherein the mobile telephone is fastened to a user or to a vehicle on or by which the user is transported, with a screen display of the mobile telephone being visible for other road users than the said user, and wherein the user performs said traffic signalling by activating the remote activation means so that the mobile telephone performs visual signalling.

21. Method according to claim 20, wherein the mobile telephone is placed in a reversible pocket in a wearable article, such as a garment, a backpack or a belt, which article comprises a back pocket, which pocket comprises a first flexible pocket side and a second flexible pocket side together forming the pocket, which pocket is furthermore fastened to the article along an attachment line and can be reversed so that the interior of the pocket protrudes from the article with the first side exposed, wherein the pocket is of a size and shape suitable for completely accommodating the mobile telephone, and wherein the said first pocket side is at least partly transparent, wherein the mobile phone is placed in the pocket so that a screen display of the mobile phone can be read through the exposed first pocket side, wherein the article is worn by the user, and wherein the mobile telephone performs visual signalling through the said transparent first side of the pocket.