Procedure for signaling an operation

Abstract

A method for signaling the deployment of an emergency vehicle (4), wherein the emergency vehicle (4) travels a predetermined route during the deployment, and wherein digital information about the deployment of the emergency vehicle (4) is sent from a first transmitting device located in the emergency vehicle (4), taking into account the route to be traveled by the emergency vehicle (4) during the journey, to at least a second transmitting device located in at least one fixed infrastructure facility located at a point within a corridor of a defined width around the route, wherein a user vehicle (6) has a receiving device, and wherein the digital information is sent from the at least one second transmitting device to the user vehicle (6), and wherein the digital information is received by the receiving device of the user vehicle (6).wherein, based on the digital information from at least one output device in an interior of the user vehicle (6), at least one signal indicates the use.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for signaling the deployment of an emergency vehicle and a system for signaling the deployment of an emergency vehicle.

[0002] Acoustic and optical signals from emergency vehicles, such as ambulances and police cars, are currently not transmitted into the interior of a user vehicle.

[0003] In one possible scenario, a person is driving their car in the city listening to music. At the same time, an ambulance approaches. The person doesn't initially notice the approaching ambulance because the music drowns out the ambulance's warning siren. As the ambulance gets closer, the person hears the siren but can't initially pinpoint its direction. Furthermore, the person can't initially determine whether they are affected and need to form an emergency lane. To better locate the approaching ambulance, the person turns off the music, repeatedly checks their mirrors, and looks around. They realize the ambulance's direction relatively late and force it to slow down until they have completely cleared the way for the emergency vehicle.

[0004] This causes the rescue vehicle to slow down. If this scenario repeats itself several times along a rescue route, the rescue time can be extended, thereby reducing the chances of saving the victim.

[0005] A method and a device for receiving signals are known from publication DE 100 39 252 A1.

[0006] The publication DE 10 2016 211 861 A1 describes a lighting circuit for a user vehicle.

[0007] The publication DE 10 2018 001 583 A1 describes a method and a device for detecting and displaying at least one special signal emanating from an emergency vehicle.

[0008] The German patent application DE10 2018 106 150 A1 describes a special-purpose vehicle equipped with a computer system and a radio transmitter for broadcasting radio signals to other road users. The special-purpose vehicle transmits radio signals, and suitable algorithms ensure that only receivers within a defined area around the vehicle receive and process these signals. The system also provides for the ability to adjust the signal strength of the radio signals broadcast by the transmitter and / or to direct them precisely.

[0009] A device for a land vehicle for the optical or acoustic indication of a special-purpose vehicle is described in German patent application DE 100 53 099 A1. This document demonstrates that waypoints are used exclusively to visualize the special-purpose vehicle's direction of travel in another vehicle, eliminating the need for real-time transmission of position data. In this case, these waypoints can also be transmitted from a control center. However, it would not be necessary to equip the special-purpose vehicle with a corresponding transmitter. A temporal correlation, i.e., when the special-purpose vehicle reaches each waypoint, can be calculated using empirical data (average speeds, etc.).

[0010] The German patent application DE 10 2006 005 022 B3 describes a method for guiding a motor vehicle when an emergency vehicle with right-of-way approaches. The emergency vehicle transmits signals containing information about itself and its direction of travel. These signals are received by a motor vehicle within range. A control center coordinates the deployment of the emergency vehicle but communicates exclusively with the vehicle itself. This relieves the driver of the emergency vehicle, as they do not need to manually program information such as the destination, since this information is received from the control center.

[0011] A warning system for an approaching emergency vehicle is known from German patent application DE 10 2011 078 550 B3. This system provides for the emergency vehicle to communicate with a motor vehicle via satellite.

[0012] Against this background, it was a task to reliably indicate the deployment of an emergency vehicle.

[0013] This problem is solved by a method and a system with the features of the independent claims. Embodiments of the method and the system are described in the dependent claims and the description.

[0014] The method according to the invention is designed for signaling the deployment of an emergency vehicle, wherein the emergency vehicle travels a predetermined route or distance during the deployment. Digital information, e.g., signals containing this digital information, is wirelessly transmitted or sent via radio, and this digital information is received by a user vehicle. Based on this digital information, at least one output device in the interior of the user vehicle sends at least one signal indicating the deployment.

[0015] In this configuration, during operation, digital information about the location of the emergency vehicle along the route is sent or transmitted to locations within a definable or defined radius around the emergency vehicle, e.g. via radio, whereby the digital information is received by the user vehicle within the radius around the emergency vehicle.

[0016] Alternatively or additionally, during the operation, digital information about the route to be traveled by the emergency vehicle is sent or transmitted via radio to locations within a corridor around the route, whereby the digital information is received by the user vehicle within the corridor, the corridor having a defined or definable width.

[0017] Typically, digital information about the emergency vehicle's route is provided to the responding vehicle and made available to an occupant and / or driver inside the vehicle via visual and / or audible signals. This digital information also includes the direction in which the emergency vehicle travels between a starting point and a destination point along the route during the operation, and / or the direction along which the emergency vehicle is being moved.

[0018] In this process, the occupant of the vehicle is alerted to the deployment by visual signals from at least one optical output device. Alternatively or additionally, the occupant is alerted to the deployment by acoustic signals from at least one acoustic output device. It is possible for a single output device to generate and output both acoustic and / or optical signals.

[0019] Typically, the digital information is sent or transmitted directly from the emergency vehicle, e.g. via radio, within the radius and / or corridor.

[0020] Alternatively or additionally, the digital information is usually transmitted or broadcast by radio from an infrastructure facility located at a location within the radius around the emergency vehicle and / or at a location within a corridor around the route.

[0021] In a further development, the route of the emergency vehicle, its location, its direction and / or a symbol for the emergency vehicle will be displayed in an output device of a navigation device in the user's vehicle.

[0022] The emergency vehicle can be equipped as an ambulance, rescue vehicle, police car or fire engine.

[0023] It is possible that the at least one optical and / or acoustic output device initially outputs general and / or user-defined signals. Such output of signals ceases as soon as the digital information for the operation is received; for example, the output of signals from a radio may cease. Instead, the at least one output device then outputs the signals intended to indicate the operation.

[0024] The system according to the invention is designed to signal the deployment of an emergency vehicle and comprises at least one communication device configured as a transmitter, e.g., an antenna, and at least one receiving device. During deployment, the emergency vehicle travels a predetermined route. The at least one transmitter is configured to send digital information, e.g., signals containing digital information, about the deployment of the emergency vehicle via radio. The vehicle has the communication device configured as a receiving device, e.g., an antenna, which is configured to receive the digital information. At least one output device in the interior of the vehicle is configured to indicate the deployment by means of at least one signal based on the digital information.

[0025] Typically, at least one communication device designed as a transmitter is located in the emergency vehicle and is designed to send the digital information directly to the user vehicle or its receiving device.

[0026] The system comprises, as communication devices, a first transmitting device located in the emergency vehicle and at least one second transmitting device, e.g., an antenna, located in a fixed infrastructure facility. The first transmitting device is configured to send the digital information to the at least one second transmitting device. This digital information is typically sent to the second transmitting device of the at least one infrastructure facility, located within the corridor surrounding the route, taking into account the route to be traveled by the emergency vehicle and / or its direction of travel. The digital information can also be transmitted from the at least one second transmitting device to the user vehicle, either in addition to or in addition to the information already transmitted.

[0027] The receiving device and / or the at least one output device can also be designed as a component or components of the presented system.

[0028] This method allows for the signaling of approaching emergency vehicles inside the user's vehicle.

[0029] The approach of an emergency vehicle is automatically signaled inside the user's vehicle. This can involve both audible and visual signals. The vehicle's audio system can be used as an audible output device, emitting a warning tone from the direction the emergency vehicle is approaching. Additionally, the interior lighting can be used as colored ambient lighting, for example, flashing blue or red. Furthermore, music, the radio, and / or navigation instructions are automatically switched off.

[0030] The driver, as the user of the vehicle, can more easily recognize whether an emergency vehicle is approaching and whether they are required to form an emergency lane. They can then react more quickly. This can lead to a reduction in rescue time, thereby increasing the chances of rescue for the victim. This also improves road safety for deaf or hard-of-hearing drivers and enables and / or supports their participation in traffic.

[0031] The signals containing the digital information can be transmitted via an online connection and / or in combination with user vehicle-to-user vehicle communication, e.g. via user vehicle antennas or via other conceivable transmission media such as ultrasound transmission, infrared, Bluetooth, NFC, in order to increase the robustness of the transmission.

[0032] The selection of which user vehicles are informed depends on which user vehicles are located within the radius around the emergency vehicle or in the corridor along the route to the rescue station or hospital as the destination of the emergency vehicle.

[0033] In this procedure, for example the loudspeakers installed in the user vehicle are used as output devices to indicate the direction of the emergency vehicle.

[0034] The vehicle is equipped with loudspeakers at several positions, which, when activated individually or in combination, can indicate the direction of the emergency vehicle relatively well.

[0035] A 3D sound system with multiple speakers could also be used as acoustic output devices. This would even allow for indication of the emergency vehicle's position from above and below.

[0036] The emergency vehicle, the route of the emergency vehicle and / or its direction can also be drawn or displayed on the map of the navigation device.

[0037] The emergency vehicle's route can also be used for the user vehicle's own route guidance, ensuring that the user vehicle does not cross or travel on the route if it is within the corridor or an area surrounding it. Generally, the existing lighting in the user vehicle's interior can be used. A light strip or light bar is required for this. Nevertheless, the indication of the emergency vehicle's direction is sufficiently accurate.

[0038] The emergency vehicle actively reports its position and direction of travel, e.g., position coordinates, a movement vector, and / or the route. This process informs the driver and / or occupants of the user vehicle, among other things, of the emergency vehicle's position and direction of travel along the route.

[0039] Further advantages and embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the description and the accompanying drawing.

[0040] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without leaving the scope of the present invention.

[0041] The invention is schematically illustrated with reference to embodiments in the drawing and is described schematically and in detail with reference to the drawing. Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the system according to the invention.

[0042] The based on Fig. A schematically depicted embodiment of the system 2 according to the invention is designed to carry out an embodiment of the inventive method for signaling the deployment of an emergency vehicle 4, in which a user or driver of a service vehicle 6 is notified of the deployment of the emergency vehicle 4. The system 2 comprises, as a first communication device, a first antenna 8, which is arranged on the emergency vehicle 4, and as a second communication device, a second antenna 10, which is arranged on the service vehicle 6. Furthermore, a loudspeaker 12 as an acoustic output device and a display 14, or a monitor or display, as an optical output device are arranged as additional components in an interior of the service vehicle 6.

[0043] During a deployment of emergency vehicle 4, it is intended that the vehicle should reach a destination from a starting point as quickly as possible. The starting point could be an accident scene and the destination a hospital, for example, if the emergency vehicle 4 is equipped as an ambulance. If the emergency vehicle 4 is equipped as a fire engine, for example, the starting point could be a fire station and the destination a deployment location. While the emergency vehicle 4 is moving between its starting point and destination during its deployment, it draws attention to itself with a blue light (blue light 16) and an audible siren (18).

[0044] In this embodiment of the method, wireless signals containing digital information about the deployment of the emergency vehicle 4 are transmitted via radio from the antenna 8 of the emergency vehicle 4. This information relates to the route or distance to be traveled by the emergency vehicle 4 between the starting point and the destination, as well as the direction of travel. Digital information is also transmitted and thus provided indicating the routes, e.g., roads, along which the emergency vehicle 4 travels during the operation. These signals containing the digital information about the route of the emergency vehicle 4 are received by the antenna 10 of the user vehicle 6 and further processed.Based on this digital information, the occupants of the user vehicle 6 are provided with acoustic signals from loudspeaker 12 and visual signals from display 14 regarding the deployment, route, and direction of the emergency vehicle 4. The acoustic signals from loudspeaker 12 can imitate the siren 18 of the emergency vehicle 4. The visual signals can imitate the blue light 16 of the emergency vehicle 4. By providing multiple loudspeakers 12 in the interior, it is also possible to provide acoustic indication of the direction of the emergency vehicle 4. Reference numbers: 2 System 4 emergency vehicles 6 User vehicle 8, 10 antenna 12 speakers 14 Display field 16 blue lights 18 Siren

Claims

[1] A method for signaling the deployment of an emergency vehicle (4), wherein the emergency vehicle (4) travels a predetermined route during the deployment, and wherein digital information about the deployment of the emergency vehicle (4) is sent from a first transmitting device located in the emergency vehicle (4), taking into account the route to be traveled by the emergency vehicle (4) during the journey, to at least a second transmitting device located in at least one fixed infrastructure facility located at a point within a corridor of a defined width around the route, wherein a user vehicle (6) has a receiving device, and wherein the digital information is sent from the at least one second transmitting device to the user vehicle (6), and the digital information is received by the receiving device of the user vehicle (6).wherein, based on the digital information from at least one output device in an interior of the user vehicle (6), at least one signal indicates the use. [2] Method according to claim 1, wherein during operation digital information about the location of the emergency vehicle (4) is sent to locations within a radius around the emergency vehicle (4), wherein the digital information is received by the user vehicle (6) within the radius around the emergency vehicle (4). [3] Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein during deployment digital information about the route to be traveled by the deployment vehicle (4) is sent to locations within a corridor around the route, wherein the digital information is received by the user vehicle (6) within the corridor. [4] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one optical output device indicates the use by means of optical signals. [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one acoustic output device indicates its use by means of acoustic signals. [6] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the route of the emergency vehicle (4), a symbol for the emergency vehicle (4), and / or a direction of the emergency vehicle (4) is / are displayed in an output device of a navigation device of the user vehicle (6). [7] System for signaling the deployment of an emergency vehicle (4), wherein the system (2) comprises a first transmitting device, at least one second transmitting device and a receiving device, wherein the emergency vehicle (4) travels a predetermined route during the deployment, wherein the first transmitting device is arranged in the emergency vehicle (4) and is configured to send digital information about the deployment of the emergency vehicle (4), taking into account the route to be traveled by the emergency vehicle (4) during the journey, to the at least one second transmitting device, which is arranged in at least one fixed infrastructure facility located at a location within a corridor of a defined width around the route, wherein a user vehicle (6) has the receiving device, wherein the digital information is sent from the at least one second transmitting device to the user vehicle (6),wherein the receiving device is configured to receive the digital information, wherein at least one output device in an interior of the user vehicle (6) is configured to indicate the use on the basis of the digital information by means of at least one signal. [8] System according to claim 7, wherein the first transmitting device in the emergency vehicle (4) is configured to transmit the digital information directly to the user vehicle (6).

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