Intelligent selectively-targeted communications systems and methods

• US 7,212,134 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2004
• Issued: 05/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Lance G. Taylor
• Inventors: Taylor, Lance G.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US10/961,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20050046594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 340/901, 340/903, 340/905, 340/435, 340/436, 340/438, 340/601, 340/539.1, 340/539.28, 340/870.17, 340/945, 340/995.1, 340/539.13, 701/300, 701/301, 701/208, 701/213, 701/214, 701/202, 701/209, 700/300, 700/301, 702/2, 702/3, 342/26, 342/104
• US Class Current: 340/901
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/00 Traffic control systems for road vehicles arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00 ; automatic vehicle control B62D
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle

Abstract

There is disclosed a system and method wherein precise geographical location information such as Global Positioning System coordinate data is utilized as a principal criterion for implementing other wireless transmitted instructions and communications advising vehicles, and others, of an approaching emergency vehicle, the proximity of a hazardous condition, or virtually any other situation which is relevant to the intended recipient because of their location. The system and method further can involve intervention and control of a vehicle, such as an aircraft or automobile, which comes into a predetermined location or area, or under other circumstances. The system and method use transmitting units and receiving units, both of which can receive geographical positioning information and which may sound or otherwise output an appropriate advisory, warning or other communication selected based on their positions, heading, and/or speed.

Claims

1. A method for providing a public safety advisory, comprising:

tracking a weather event;

calculating a target footprint based upon a geographical position of the weather event and at least one of a speed and heading of the weather event;

transmitting data about the target footprint and weather event using a transmitting unit;

receiving the data transmitted by the transmitting unit using a receiving unit;

determining whether the receiving unit is in the target footprint, the receiving unit making the determination of whether the receiving unit is in the target footprint; and

outputting a weather advisory if the receiving unit is in the target footprint.

2. A system for providing a public safety advisory, comprising:

a tracking subsystem for tracking a weather event;

a processor for calculating a target footprint based upon a geographical position of the weather event and at least one of a speed and heading of the weather event;

a transmitting unit for transmitting data about the target footprint and weather event; and

at least one receiving unit, each receiving unit receiving the data transmitted by the transmitting unit, determining whether the receiving unit is in the target footprint, and outputting a weather advisory if the receiving unit is in the target footprint.

3. A system wherein geographical location information is utilized to manipulate output of weather-related advisory information, comprising:

a transmitting unit for receiving geographical location information from a source of such information, and for transmitting weather-related advisory information, the transmitting unit including;

a receiver for receiving the geographical information;

a transmitter for transmitting weather-related advisory data to a geographical target footprint of interest in a broadcast area, the target footprint being a geographical area that is smaller than the broadcast area; and

a processor for controlling accessing of the geographical information and transmission of the advisory data; and

a plurality of receiving units, each of the receiving units including;

a receiver for receiving geographical location information for determining the geographical location of the receiving unit;

a second receiver for receiving the weather-related advisory data from the transmitting unit; and

an output device for selectively outputting advisory information based on the weather-related advisory data and the target footprint.

4. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein a receiving unit in the target footprint determines whether to output the advisory information based in part on a heading and speed of at least one of the transmitting unit and the receiving unit.

5. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein the transmitting unit determines which of the receiving units in the target footprint output the advisory information based in part on a heading and speed of at least one of the transmitting unit and the receiving unit.

6. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein the transmitting unit is at a stationary location, wherein the transmitting unit transmits advisory information to receiving units coming into the target footprint.

7. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein the transmitting unit calculates the target footprint, wherein receiving units within the target footprint output the advisory information.

8. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein the target footprint is periodically determined as a function of the heading, speed, and position of the transmitting unit.

9. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein the target footprint is periodically determined by a user.

10. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein each of the receiving units determines whether it is in the target footprint based in part on its location.

11. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein each of the receiving units determines whether it is in the target footprint based in part on a heading and speed of at least one of the receiving unit and the transmitting unit.

12. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein each of the receiving units includes a storage medium for storing output data, the advisory information received from the transmitting unit being used to select output data from the storage medium.

13. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein the controller of each receiving unit calculates the target footprint, the output device of the receiving unit outputting information if the receiving unit is in the target footprint.

14. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein the receiving unit further includes logic for receiving and outputting voice data.

15. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein the advisory information is repeatedly output at predetermined intervals.

16. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein the advisory information is at least one of audible, visual, and tactile.

17. A method for providing a weather-related public safety advisory, comprising:

receiving data transmitted by a transmitting unit, the data including data about a weather event;

determining whether the receiving unit is in the target footprint based on the received data, the target footprint being based on a geographical position of the weather event and at least one of a speed and heading of the weather event, the receiving unit determining whether the receiving unit is in the target footprint; and

outputting a weather advisory if the receiving unit is in the target footprint.