Creation and monitoring of variable buffer zones
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring operation of a movable entity at an activity site, the method comprising the steps of:
- determining the location of a designated movable entity at an activity site, using location determination (LD) signals received from two or more LD signal sources;
when the designated movable entity becomes involved in one or more of a selected group of restricted activities, determining a restricted activity variable buffer zone that surrounds at least one scheduled location or present location of the designated movable entity, and transmitting restricted activity information including at least one of (1) an indicium identifying the designated movable entity, (2) present location of the designated movable entity, (3) an anticipated location of the designated movable entity when a restricted activity is scheduled to occur, (4) physical extent of the restricted activity exclusion zone, (5) a time at which the designated movable entity will first become involved in the restricted activity, (6) a time after which the designated movable entity will no longer be involved in the restricted activity, and (7) any special precaution that should be taken during at least one time when a restricted activity occurs, where at least one of the buffer zone location and buffer zone size can vary with time;
transmitting said restricted activity information to a second movable entity at said activity site;
determining a location and present activity of said second movable entity;
determining a priority associated with a present activity of said movable entity, and comparing the movable entity priority with a priority associated with said restricted activity; and
transmitting a signal indicating that said second movable entity should be moved to outside said buffer zone, only if the location of said second movable is within said buffer zone and the movable entity priority is not greater than the restricted activity priority.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for monitoring operation and location of a movable entity, such as a person, vehicle, movable equipment item or movable structure, at an activity site, such as a construction or mining site, that carries a location determination (LD) signal module to determine the entity'"'"'s present location. When a restricted or hazardous activity occurs without warning (emergency) or is scheduled to occur at a selected location (fixed or moving) and selected time interval on the site, a buffer zone surrounding the restricted activity location is determined, and any movable entity that is within or will come within the buffer zone is advised to move or be moved elsewhere during the time the restricted activity occurs, unless the movable entity has an associated priority that is greater than an associated priority for the restricted activity. The buffer zone may vary with time in size, location and other characteristics. Complex buffer zones, resulting from overlap of two or more activated buffer zones, can also be created and monitored. Signals can be received by the LD module from sources such as GPS, GLONASS and LEO satellites, or from ground-based signal sources such as Loran signal towers.
134 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring operation of a movable entity at an activity site, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining the location of a designated movable entity at an activity site, using location determination (LD) signals received from two or more LD signal sources; when the designated movable entity becomes involved in one or more of a selected group of restricted activities, determining a restricted activity variable buffer zone that surrounds at least one scheduled location or present location of the designated movable entity, and transmitting restricted activity information including at least one of (1) an indicium identifying the designated movable entity, (2) present location of the designated movable entity, (3) an anticipated location of the designated movable entity when a restricted activity is scheduled to occur, (4) physical extent of the restricted activity exclusion zone, (5) a time at which the designated movable entity will first become involved in the restricted activity, (6) a time after which the designated movable entity will no longer be involved in the restricted activity, and (7) any special precaution that should be taken during at least one time when a restricted activity occurs, where at least one of the buffer zone location and buffer zone size can vary with time; transmitting said restricted activity information to a second movable entity at said activity site; determining a location and present activity of said second movable entity; determining a priority associated with a present activity of said movable entity, and comparing the movable entity priority with a priority associated with said restricted activity; and transmitting a signal indicating that said second movable entity should be moved to outside said buffer zone, only if the location of said second movable is within said buffer zone and the movable entity priority is not greater than the restricted activity priority. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of monitoring operation of an activity structure at an activity site, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving the location of a selected activity structure at an activity site, using location determination (LD) signals received from two or more LD signal sources; when the activity structure becomes involved in one or more of a selected group of restricted activities, determining a restricted activity variable buffer zone that surrounds the activity structure and transmitting restricted activity information including at least one of (1) an indicium identifying a first movable entity, (2) location of the activity structure, (3) physical extent of the buffer zone, (4) a time at which the first movable entity will first become involved in the restricted activity, (5) a time after which the first movable entity will no longer be involved in the restricted activity, (6) any special precaution that should be taken during at least one time when a restricted activity occurs, for use by a least one movable entity at the activity site, (7) whether the first movable entity is excluded from the buffer zone; and
(8) whether the first movable entity may continue its present activities within the buffer zone, where at least one of the buffer zone location and buffer zone size can vary with time;transmitting said restricted activity information to a second movable entity at said activity site; determining a location and present activity of said second movable entity; determining a priority associated with a present activity of said movable entity, and comparing the movable entity priority with a priority associated with said restricted activity; and transmitting a signal indicating that said second movable entity should be moved to outside said buffer zone, only of the location of said second movable is within said buffer zone and the movable entity priority is not greater that the restricted activity priority. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. Apparatus for monitoring operation of a movable entity at an activity site, the apparatus comprising:
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a location determination (LD) signal module for receiving LD signals and determining the present location of the LD module using the LD signals, attached to a movable entity a communication module for receiving restricted activity information on a restricted activity that will occur is occurring on an activity site, including at least one location at which the restricted activity will occur or is occurring; and a computer that is programmed; to receive the LD module present location and the restricted activity information; to determine at least one restricted activity buffer zone that surrounds the at least one location at which the restricted activity is scheduled to occur or is occurring, where at least one of the buffer zone location and buffer zone size is allowed to vary with time; to determine whether the LD module present location is within the at least one restricted activity buffer zone; and when the LD module present location is within the at least one restricted activity exclusion zone, to transmit a signal indicating that the movable entity to which the LD module is attached is within the at least one restricted activity buffer zone;
wherein said computer is further programmed;to determine a priority associated with a present activity of said movable entity, and to compare the movable entity priority with a priority associated with said restricted activity; and to transmit a signal indicating that said movable entity should be moved to outside said buffer zone, only if the location of said movable is within said buffer zone and the movable entity priority is not greater than the restricted activity priority. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification