WO2002011100A1

WO2002011100A1 - Method for transmitting the route and location of an emergency service vehicle to motor vehicles

Info

Publication number: WO2002011100A1
Application number: PCT/DE2001/002863
Authority: WO
Inventors: Holger Kussmann
Original assignee: Robert Bosch Gmbh
Priority date: 2000-08-02
Filing date: 2001-07-28
Publication date: 2002-02-07
Also published as: EP1307868B1; ATE262205T1; EP1307868A1; DE10037572A1; JP2004505284A; DE50101728D1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for transmitting the route and location of an emergency service vehicle to motor vehicles, which forewarns the driver in good time that an emergency service vehicle is about to pass. According to said method, the location and route of the emergency service vehicle are transmitted to the motor vehicles using digital radio signals. A zone surrounding the motor vehicles is defined, to ascertain whether the location and route of the emergency service vehicle will affect the respective motor vehicle. Said location and route of the emergency service vehicle are transmitted to a control centre, either by means of digital radio signals, or an emergency service line. If a motor vehicle has been advised of the passing of an emergency service vehicle, the latter is represented by a symbol on the display of said motor vehicle.

Description

Method for transmitting a route and a location of an emergency vehicle to motor vehicles

State of the art

The invention relates to a method for transmitting a route and a location of an emergency vehicle to motor vehicles according to the type of the independent patent claim.

It is already known that the emergency vehicle use a Martinshorn, and in response to this Martinshorn, drivers make room for an emergency vehicle and drive aside or stop so that the emergency vehicle can reach its destination as quickly as possible.

Advantages of the invention

The inventive method for transmitting a route and a location of an emergency vehicle to motor vehicles with the features of the independent

Compared to this, patent claims have the advantage that the emergency vehicles can reach their destination more quickly, since the drivers in the motor vehicles are informed of the passing of an emergency vehicle earlier than is possible with the Martinshorn. The method according to the invention does not require any additional construction work, but can simply be implemented in software for a radio receiver, a car PC or a navigation device. Ultimately, the invention helps to save lives.

Another advantage is that the driver of a motor vehicle can react faster and, above all, correctly, even if the driver can already hear the Martinshorn. Because the multi-way reception of the acoustic Martinshorn signal means that the driver is often unable to determine the direction from which the signal is coming, especially in built-up areas. With the aid of the method according to the invention, however, the driver receives this direction information from the navigation.

The measures for further training listed in the dependent claims enable advantageous improvements of the method for transmitting a route and a location of an emergency vehicle to motor vehicles specified in the independent patent claim.

It is particularly advantageous that the area around a motor vehicle is defined by a circle, it being decided whether the emergency vehicle is in the area, so that the arrival of an emergency vehicle is signaled to the driver of the motor vehicle or not. Alternatively, it is advantageous that the area is defined in such a way that a distance on the roads around the motor vehicle is taken. This leads to a more precise assessment of whether the emergency vehicle is in the vicinity of the motor vehicle. By using this geographical filter, it is possible that only emergency vehicles that are located in the area around the vehicle are shielded from the driver. A Information overload of the driver is thereby advantageously avoided.

In addition, it is advantageous that the emergency vehicle transmits its current position and the planned route to a control center by means of digital radio signals, so that this current position and the route are communicated to the motor vehicles via further digital radio signals, so that these motor vehicles are informed of the current location and be informed of the current route. As an alternative, it is possible for an emergency management for the emergency vehicle to transmit this information to the control center, the location of the emergency vehicle being disclosed by a simple radio signal from the emergency control. A simple beacon can even be used. This creates a kind of fleet management.

Furthermore, it is advantageous that the current position and the current route of the emergency vehicle are sent to the motor vehicles via digital radio signals in one

Broadcast mode are transmitted. Digital broadcast signals such as DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) offer the convenient option of transmitting additional information such as the location of a vehicle or its route.

It is also advantageous that an emergency vehicle is shown symbolically on a display of a navigation device in a motor vehicle and / or an acoustic warning is output if it is in the vicinity, that is to say in the defined area, of the motor vehicle. A driver of a motor vehicle can thus observe and assess the approach of the emergency vehicle. Furthermore, it is also advantageous that a motor vehicle and an emergency vehicle are available which have means to carry out the method according to the invention.

drawing

Embodiments of this invention are shown in the drawing and are explained in more detail in the following description. FIG. 1 shows the transmission of data between the emergency vehicle, headquarters and motor vehicles. Figure 2, a transmission device in an emergency vehicle as a block diagram, Figure 3, a receiving device in a motor vehicle as a block diagram and Figure 4, the inventive method as a flowchart.

description

The traffic volume due to an increasing number of motor vehicles is steadily increasing. Therefore, it is for

Emergency vehicles such as ambulances and the fire brigade are becoming increasingly difficult to reach the appropriate locations in time. According to the invention, therefore, a method for transmitting a route and a location of an emergency vehicle to motor vehicles is used, which serves to inform motor vehicles of the approaching emergency vehicle before they can hear a siren. This saves a vital time advantage. However, even if a driver already hears the Martinshorn, the driver is unable to locate the emergency vehicle due to the multipath of the acoustic Martinshorn signal. The emergency vehicle transmits its location and its route to a central office either by means of digital radio signals, or an emergency command transmits the location and the planned route to the Headquarters. The data about the emergency vehicle are then transmitted to the motor vehicles in a broadcast mode by means of digital radio signals or digital radio signals. Emergency vehicles approaching the motor vehicles can be symbolically shown on displays of navigation devices in the motor vehicles and / or acoustic warnings can be issued, so that it is easier for the drivers to assess the approach of the emergency vehicle.

In Figure 1, the transmission of data between the emergency vehicle, a control center and motor vehicles is shown symbolically. An emergency vehicle 1 has an antenna 2. A control center 3 has an antenna 4 and an antenna 5. Two representative motor vehicles 6 and 8 each have an antenna 7 and 9.

The emergency vehicle 1 uses the antenna 2 to transmit its current location and the route to be traveled to the control center 3 by means of digital radio signals. The control center 3 uses the antenna 4 to receive these digital radio signals. These can be ruby radio signals. For example, GSM (Global System Mobal Communication) or UMTS (Universal Mobal Telecommunication System) radio signals can be used. The control center 3 reformats the received data and sends it by means of digital radio signals via the antenna 5. DAB (digital audio broadcasting) radio signals are used as the digital radio signals. Digital broadcast signals allow the data to be distributed in an undirected manner, and digital broadcast signals such as DAB signals in particular enable the simple transmission of additional information about the audio programs being transmitted. In addition to DAB, TMC (Traffic Messig Controll) or RDS (Radio Data Signal) or DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) or DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale) or other digital ones Broadcasting standards are used. The motor vehicles 6 and 8 then receive these digital broadcast signals by means of their antennas 7 and 9. The motor vehicles 6 and 8 use their radio receivers to evaluate the information in the digital radio signals as to whether the emergency vehicle 1 is driving past the motor vehicles 6 and 8 or whether the emergency vehicle will cross the direction of travel. If there is already the possibility that the emergency vehicle will cross the route of the motor vehicle, then a warning is already being issued. The radio receiver has a processor for evaluating the information.

Instead of digital radio signals, it is also possible to use mobile radio signals which can be transmitted in broadcast mode, that is to say by means of an undirected distribution of signals. This is possible with common mobile radio standards such as GSM or UMTS.

A transmission device in the emergency vehicle 1 is shown as a block diagram in FIG. A navigation device 12 is connected to a data input of a processor 11. The processor 11 is in turn connected to a data input of a transmitter 10. An output of the transmitter 10 leads to the antenna 2. The processor 11 uses the navigation device 12 to determine the current location of the

Emergency vehicle 1 and the planned route that the emergency vehicle will take. For this purpose, for example, it is possible to simply enter the destination that was made at the start of the journey, and the navigation device then indicates the most likely route depending on the current location. It is also possible for the entire route to be specified, which was determined, for example, at the start of the journey, or for several alternative routes to be transmitted. The navigation device 12 determines the current location by means of a GPS (Global Position System) receiver and a rotation rate sensor. The processor 11 now prepares the current location and the route to be traveled for transmission by means of the transmitter 10, the transmitter 10 having a digital-to-analog converter and a transmission amplifier. The signals are then emitted by means of the antenna 2. If there is a mobile radio system, the processor 11 dials the mobile phone number of the center 3 in order to set up a mobile radio channel with the center 3. If the mobile radio channel has been set up, the data, the location and the planned route are transmitted to the control center 3 by the emergency vehicle 1.

Alternatively, it is possible for the emergency vehicle 1 to have a transmitter that has a characteristic signal that is recognized by an emergency response command. On the basis of this characteristic radio signal, the operations command recognizes where the emergency vehicle 1 is located. Furthermore, the operations management is informed about the possible and probable route of the emergency vehicle 1. The current location and the route are then transmitted to the control center 3. This transmission can take place either via radio or via wired signal transmission, for example via the telephone network.

FIG. 3 shows a receiving device which is used for motor vehicles 6 and 8, respectively. The antenna 7 is connected to an input of a high-frequency receiver 13. The output of the high-frequency receiver 13 leads to an input of a digital part 14. A data output of the digital part 14 leads to a first data input of a processor 15. A navigation device 16 is connected to a second data input of the processor 15. A first data output of the processor 15 leads to a signal processing 17, wherein a data output of the signal processing 17 is connected to a data input of a display 18. A second data output of the processor 15 leads to a signal processing 19. An output of the signal processing 19 leads to an input of a loudspeaker 20.

The digital broadcast signals are received by means of the antenna 7. The high-frequency receiver 13 amplifies, filters and converts the received digital broadcast signals into an intermediate frequency. The digital part 14 then performs a digital-to-analog conversion in order to generate a digital data stream. Furthermore, the digital part 14 carries out channel decoding and, if appropriate, source decoding. The processor 15 examines the received data, whether it is audio programs and / or additional information. If the additional information relates to the location and the route of the emergency vehicle 1, then the processor 15 checks whether the location of the emergency vehicle 1 is in an area around the motor vehicle 6 or 8. For this purpose, processor 15 first uses navigation device 16 to determine the location of the motor vehicle itself. Processor 15 then pulls a radius of 200 m around this location. The radius can be changed. If the location of the emergency vehicle 1 is now within this area, which is defined by the radius of 200 m, the processor 15 recognizes that this must be signaled to the driver. For this purpose, the processor 15 uses the display 18 in order to show the driver the location of the emergency vehicle and the direction of travel as well as the route of the emergency vehicle on a digital map. The driver thus recognizes whether he is on the route of the emergency vehicle 1 or not. In addition, it is checked whether the emergency vehicle 1 will cross the path of the motor vehicle, so that a driver is warned of this is released to release the intersection if necessary. The driver also recognizes how far the emergency vehicle 1 is from his motor vehicle. In addition, the processor 15 uses the loudspeaker 20 to give an acoustic warning, e.g. B. can be given by a specified text to notify the driver that an emergency vehicle is approaching. Such texts are, for example: "Emergency vehicle from the right!" At an intersection or "Emergency vehicle from behind!" while driving past. The signal processor 17 prepares the data sent by the processor 15 for the display 18. The display 18 is, for example, a plasma screen or a TFT display. The signal processor 19 carries out a digital-to-analog conversion and optionally amplifies the audio signals by means of an audio amplifier.

If the data about the emergency vehicle is communicated to the motor vehicles by means of mobile radio signals, then the motor vehicles 6 and 8 have mobile radio devices which correspond to the reception of the digital radio signals

Have means. This provides an additional benefit for such mobile devices, which can be seen in addition to pure telephony and other data transmissions.

The method according to the invention is shown in FIG. 4 as a flow chart. In method step 21, the emergency vehicle 1 transmits its location and its route to the control center 3 by means of the antenna 2. For this purpose, the emergency vehicle 1 uses the transmitting device shown in FIG. Alternatively, it is possible for a radio signal, for example a radio beacon or another periodic signal, to be sent by means of the antenna 2, on the basis of which an operational management unit recognizes the location of the emergency vehicle 1. The route is beyond known to the operations management so that the operations management of the control center 3 can transmit this data.

In method step 22, the control center 3 prepares the location data and the routes for the transmission by means of digital radio signals, the DAB signals being used here. The control center 3 adds the location data and the routes to the DAB signals. The control center 3 is therefore intended to send conventional audio programs via DAB. Furthermore, it is possible that the

Adds 3 central data for various emergency vehicles to the DAB data for a radio coverage area. It is therefore necessary that the receiving devices for the radio signals of the motor vehicles 6 and 8 contain the data about the emergency vehicles in relation to their geographic location

Evaluate the importance of the respective motor vehicle shielded by the driver. Since DAB signals can also be used for other data transmissions, for example to supply local public transport with information, such an infrastructure can also be used for

Transmission of data about the emergency vehicles used.

The center 3 then sends the DAB radio signals by means of the antenna 5. Alternatively, it is possible that

Mobile radio signals are used, which are sent in broadcast mode. Then it is possible that antenna 5 can be dispensed with and only antenna 4 is used. In this case, the motor vehicles 6 and 8 would also have mobile radio devices in order to receive these mobile radio signals.

In method step 23, the motor vehicles 6 and 8 receive the digital radio signals with the receiving device shown in FIG. 3 and evaluate them in the digital radio signals contain information about the emergency vehicles.

In method step 24, the processor 15 determines whether the information of the emergency vehicle 1 is relevant for the motor vehicle. The processor 15, as shown above, determines this on the basis of the area around the motor vehicle. The area can, on the one hand, be defined by a radius, as shown above, and, on the other hand, by a distance on the existing roads from the motor vehicle in question. If the emergency vehicle 1 is now within this area, then this emergency vehicle is relevant for the motor vehicle and the driver, and the driver is acoustically and / or optically shown that an emergency vehicle 1 is approaching. In addition, it is checked whether the route of the emergency vehicle is likely to pass the motor vehicle or will meet at an intersection. It is alternatively possible that it is first checked whether the emergency vehicle is in the area and this leads to a visual representation on the display 18 and / or to an acoustic warning with the loudspeaker 20. In a second step it is then checked whether the planned route will lead past the motor vehicle, which then leads to an acoustic warning. This procedure is useful, for example, to give a driver some kind of advance warning. If this is the case, then this is signaled to the driver in method step 25; if this is not the case, the information in method step 26 is discarded.

Claims

Expectations

1. A method for transmitting a route and a location of an emergency vehicle (1) to motor vehicles (6, 8), characterized in that the route and the location are transmitted to a center (3) that the route and the location by means of first digital Radio signals are sent, the first digital radio signals are received by receiving devices in the motor vehicles (6, 8), the route and the location are compared with an area around a respective motor vehicle (6, 8) and that, depending on the comparison, a Warning is issued in the respective motor vehicle.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the area is defined by a predetermined radius around the respective motor vehicle (6, 8) and that when the location of the emergency vehicle (1) is in the area and / or the emergency vehicle (1) if the respective motor vehicle drives past in the direction of travel or crosses the direction of travel, the warning is output in the respective motor vehicle (6, 8).

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the area is defined by the roads around the respective motor vehicle (6, 8) and that when the emergency vehicle (1) a predetermined distance on the roads around the respective motor vehicle (6, 8 ) falls below and / or on the respective motor vehicle (6, 8) in the direction of travel drive past or cross the direction of travel, the warning is output in the respective motor vehicle (6, 8).

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the route and the location of the emergency vehicle (1) from the emergency vehicle (1) by means of second digital radio signals to the center (3) are transmitted.

5. The method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the route and the location of the emergency vehicle (1) are transmitted from a command line to the center (3), the location of the emergency vehicle (1) being recognized by means of radio signals.

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that digital radio signals are used as the first digital radio signals.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the emergency vehicle (1) is symbolically shown on a display (18) and / or by means of the loudspeaker (20) in the respective motor vehicle.

8. Motor vehicle for performing the method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the motor vehicle (6, 8) has a receiving device, a processor (15), a navigation device (16) and means (18, 20) for acoustic and / or has an optical representation.

9. emergency vehicle for performing the method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the emergency vehicle (1) has a transmitter (10) and a navigation device (12).

10. Control center for performing the method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the control center has means for receiving, means for processing information and means for sending.