Event warning system and method thereof

• US 9,202,374 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2014
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Proxisafe Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Proxisafe Ltd.
• Inventors: Gauger, Derek K., Coldwell, Christopher R., Heath, Thomas D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lau, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US14/146,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20140159888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 17/003 for fork-lift trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/0755 Position control; Position detectors
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/14 the means being photocells or other devices sensitive without mechanical contact
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/147 using electro-magnetic technology, e.g. tags or radar
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/16 with feeling members moved by the machine
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0275 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tag technology used for parent or child unit, e.g. same transmission technology, magnetic tag, RF tag, RFID
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages

Abstract

An event warning system is provided. The innovation can provide real time, personalized and meaningful alert warnings to either or both a machine operator/driver and pedestrians who are in harm'"'"'s way, or are potentially approaching harm'"'"'s way. Different from generic warnings such as backup alarms and flashing lights, the innovation'"'"'s personalized alarm and notification functionality minimizes alarm complacency and maximizes their effectiveness.

Claims

1. An event warning system, comprising:

an application configuration interface that enables identification and definition of one or more zones, wherein each of the zones defines a region within a facility or associated with at least one moveable machine;

at least one asset;

a dynamic zone identification component that facilitates the establishment and automatic and real time control of one or more dynamic zones, wherein each dynamic zone is associated with a distinct moveable machine, and wherein a shape and a size of each dynamic zone continuously vary in real time based at least in part on a velocity and a direction of travel of the associated distinct moveable machine and also based at least in part on a proximity to one or more static zones of the distinct moveable machine, wherein the static zones are associated with a fixed area of the facility; and

an event recognition component that monitors each of the regions in real time and generates a notification based at least in part upon encroachment of one of the assets into one or more zones.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the event warning system is computer executable.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the application configuration interface is executable by software.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the event warning system comprise a real time location system that comprises a plurality of sensors that facilitate identification of the precise location of one or more tag identification components, wherein each tag identification component is associated with an associated asset of the at least one asset within the facility or an associated moveable machine of the at least one moveable machine within the facility, wherein two way radio frequency communication with the tag identification components facilitates two-way data packet communication with the tag identification components and identification of the location of the tag identification components.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the system receives a verification of an alert sent to an asset or a moveable machine and automatically resends the alert if the verification of the alert is not received by the system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the event warning system comprise a static zone identification component that facilitates establishment of one or more static zones overlaid upon the facility and associated with a fixed area of the facility.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the one or more static zones comprise a protected work zone that allows a worker to enter the region in a “

normal”

position and to not receive alerts.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the one or more static zones comprise an intersection zone that causes the dynamic zone identification component to change the size and shape of a first dynamic zone of the one or more dynamic zones to include the static intersection zone when the moveable machine comes in proximity to the static intersection zone.

9. The system of claim 6, further comprising a speed control static zone wherein speed of one or more of the at least one moveable machines can be remotely regulated.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the one or more static zones comprise a driving aisle zone and the location of a moveable machine within or overlapped to the driving aisle zone causes the dynamic zone identification component to change the shape of the dynamic zone to include at least the full width of the driving aisle zone.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the one or more static zones comprise a speed limit zone and the presence of a moveable machine within or overlapped to the speed limit zone that is moving at a velocity higher than a designated speed causes the system to send an alert to the moveable machine within or overlapped to the speed limit zone.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the dynamic zone identification component establishes further automatic and real time control without intervention of an asset of one or more dynamic zones each associated to a moveable machine the shape and size of which is continuously variable in real time based on velocity, acceleration, direction, predicted path or position of the moveable machine.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a tag identification component that facilitates association of a unique tag to the asset or moveable machine, wherein the unique tag identifies authorizations, credentials and identity of the asset and wherein the unique tag facilitates generation of the notification.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a monitoring component that tracks a plurality of assets in relation to the one or more zones, wherein the monitoring component facilities determination of encroachment on the one or more zones.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a pairing component that associates an operator to a paired machine of the at least one moveable machine via tag identification and disables alerts caused by that operator'"'"'s encroachment to the paired machine and to other machines of the at least one moveable machine while the operator remains in close proximity to the paired machine.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the event recognition component predicts a zone encroachment of the asset based upon velocity, direction, predicted path or position of the asset.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the encroachment defines an asset approaching a machine that is stationary and wherein the system facilitates active control of the machine'"'"'s ignition circuit to disable the machine from moving.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the notification is one or more of an audible, vibratory or visual notification.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein an alert level of the notification corresponds with a severity of circumstance surrounding the event.

20. A computer-implemented method of event warning, comprising:

employing a processor that executes computer executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium to implement the following acts;

employing an application configuration interface that enables identification and definition of one or more zones, wherein each of the zones defines a region within a facility or associated with at least one moveable machine;

attaching a tag identification component to each of at least one asset and to each of the at least one moveable machine;

employing a dynamic zone identification component that facilitates the establishment and automatic and real time control without intervention of an asset of one or more dynamic zones, wherein each dynamic zone is associated with a distinct moveable machine, and wherein a shape and a size of each dynamic zone continuously vary in real time based at least in part on a velocity, a direction of travel and a proximity to static zones of the associated distinct moveable machine; and

employing an event recognition component that monitors each of the one or more zones in real time based at least in part upon encroachment of one of the assets into one or more zones all to generate a notification based at least in part upon encroachment of one of the one or more zones.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising employing a real time location system that comprises a plurality of sensors that facilitate identification of the precise location of one or more of the tag identification components, wherein each tag identification component is associated with an associated asset of the at least one asset within the facility or an associated moveable machine of the at least one moveable machine within the facility, wherein two way radio frequency communication with the tag identification components facilitates two-way data packet communication with the tag identification components and identification of the location of the tag identification components.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising employing a static zone identification component that facilitates establishment of one or more static zones overlaid upon the facility and associated with a fixed area of the facility.