Procedure and information system for providing warning information in an information system

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for providing warning information in an information system (1), wherein the information system (10) comprises a satellite network (10) and a plurality of user terminals (11), and the warning information is transmitted to at least one of the user terminals (11) of the information system (1). The method is characterized in that the warning information is fed into the information system (1) by a reporting user of the information system (1) via the reporting user's user terminal (11) and / or via the satellite network (10) and is transmitted via the satellite network (10) to at least one of the user terminals (11) of the information system (1) that is assigned to another user. Furthermore, an information system for providing warning information in the information system is described.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an information system and a method for providing warning information in an information system.

[0002] In the event of an exceptional situation, such as a flood or a fire, in a geographical region, it is necessary to inform people who are in or approaching that region about the exceptional situation.

[0003] Terrestrial mobile networks are already being used for this purpose. Information about the emergency situation is sent to all devices within a mobile cell. This type of transmission is also known as cell broadcast. One disadvantage of this transmission method is that coverage of the traditional mobile network is not available in remote areas.

[0004] Furthermore, DE 10 2006 003 702 B3 discloses a global information and risk warning system using satellite navigation systems and user terminals. In this system, hazardous situations for a specific area are detected by monitoring systems, for example, using sensors. The monitoring system includes, in particular, a control center and several monitoring stations. The information collected by the monitoring stations can be transmitted via the control center of the monitoring system to a control center of the satellite navigation system.

[0005] One disadvantage of this information and risk warning system is that, in addition to the information and risk warning system, a monitoring system is required, which in particular includes a control center and several monitoring stations, and the information and risks that can be recorded are limited to those that can be recorded by the monitoring stations, which are, for example, equipped with sensors and represent stationary stations.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a solution by means of which warning information can be captured and transmitted to users in a targeted manner.

[0007] The problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Advantageous further developments of the invention are described by the dependent patent claims, the following description, and the figures.

[0008] According to one aspect, the present invention relates to a method for providing warning information in an information system, wherein the information system comprises a satellite network and a plurality of user terminals, and the warning information is transmitted to at least one of the user terminals of the information system. The method is characterized in that the warning information is fed into the information system by a reporting user via the reporting user's terminal and / or via the satellite network and is transmitted via the satellite network to a user terminal of at least one other user.

[0009] An information system is defined as a communication system through which warning information can be transmitted to at least one user. Furthermore, in the information system according to the invention, warning information can be fed into the information system by a user.

[0010] According to the invention, the information system comprises a satellite network and a plurality of user terminals. The satellite network comprises a plurality of satellites and at least one management unit. The management unit is, in particular, a unit that can monitor and / or control the entire satellite network. Preferably, the management unit includes a distribution unit in which one of the plurality of satellites can be selected for transmitting warning information. Furthermore, a selection unit for choosing one of several satellite beams from a satellite can be provided in the management unit and / or in each of the satellites. The satellite network can be a satellite communication network and / or a satellite navigation network. If the satellite network is a satellite navigation network, it is designed to allow bidirectional communication between user terminals and satellites.

[0011] The user terminal preferably has a user interface through which information can be entered into and output from the user terminal. Preferably, the user terminal is associated with a motor vehicle. A user terminal is considered associated with a motor vehicle if it is integrated into the motor vehicle and / or networked with it for communication purposes. The user terminal is therefore preferably a mobile user terminal. It can be designed, for example, as an infotainment system or telematics system for the motor vehicle, or as a portable user terminal, such as a smartphone.

[0012] According to the invention, providing warning information in the information system comprises feeding the information into the information system and transmitting it within the information system. Furthermore, providing the information can also include outputting the warning information to the user.

[0013] Warning information refers to information indicating an event that poses at least a potential threat and / or restriction to a user. A threat is understood to be an event that endangers the user's safety. Examples of threats include forest fires, landslides, floods, and the like. A restriction refers to a limitation of a user's possible route. Such a restriction could be the closure of a section or the entire route. Examples of limitations include a fallen tree, a collapsed bridge, and the like. For instance, if a forest fire is located near a road, this event represents both a threat and a restriction for the user.

[0014] According to the invention, the warning information is transmitted to at least one user terminal of the information system. This transmission takes place via the satellite network, can be carried out via one or more satellites, and can preferably be carried out via one of several satellite beams of a satellite.

[0015] According to the invention, warning information is fed into the information system by a reporting user via the satellite network. In particular, the warning information is fed in via the reporting user's terminal device via the satellite network. It is also possible to provide for the possibility that the warning information is fed in via a device that does not serve as a terminal device of the information system, i.e., to which the warning information is transmitted, from where it is fed in via an interface of the satellite network, e.g., a control station.

[0016] The term "reporting user" is used to distinguish this user from other users of the information system, particularly users who merely receive warning information via the system. Therefore, the reporting user is the user who feeds warning information into the information system. Preferably, the reporting user is the driver and / or registered owner of the motor vehicle.

[0017] By having warning information fed into the information system via the satellite network by a user, particularly the reporting user, it can be ensured that warnings relating to regions without stationary sensors of a monitoring system can also be provided. Furthermore, because the information is fed into the information system via the satellite network, warnings relating to regions not covered by other communication networks, especially mobile networks, can also be included.Furthermore, by transmitting the warning messages via the satellite network to the user device of at least one other user, the transmitted warning messages can also be sent to the user devices of other users located in a region not covered by other communication networks, particularly mobile networks. Finally, with the present invention, the warning information can be provided promptly after the occurrence of the event, and the parameters of the warning message, in particular the location of the event, can be precisely defined.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the warning information is generated by the reporting user. This embodiment has the advantage that the warning can be adapted to the actual event.

[0019] In particular, the user can specify the event and its extent. Preferably, the warning information is generated by the reporting user at a feed unit. The feed unit can be connected to or integrated into the reporting user's terminal device.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the warning information includes at least two parameters representing the event and its location. These parameters define the event. The warning information may also include further parameters. For example, the presumed extent of the event and / or its type may be considered additional parameters.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the warning information is generated by the reporting user at a feed unit, which provides a list for selection by the user for at least one parameter of the warning information.

[0022] The power supply unit can be integrated into the user terminal device or be a separate unit connected to the user terminal device.

[0023] The event location can be specified by the reporting user. However, according to one embodiment, the event location is determined by the input unit, user terminal, or a related unit. In particular, the event location can be determined by position data obtained from the satellite network. In this embodiment, the position data from the reporting user's terminal, obtained from the satellite network, can be used as the event location or displayed to the reporting user as an option in a selection list. In this embodiment, the satellite network is a satellite navigation network with communication capabilities.

[0024] The input unit can contain lists of options for the parameters of the warning information, or these lists can be output at the input unit. In particular, a list of options can be predefined for the user to select. This allows the warning information generated based on the user's selections to have a predefined format.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the warning information is transmitted to user devices located in the vicinity of the event. For this purpose, a satellite or satellite beam can be selected at the distribution point to transmit the warning information to user devices, the coverage area of ​​which at least covers the location of the event.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the warning information is fed in by the reporting user, in particular via the user terminal assigned to that user, through a satellite beam of a satellite in the satellite network and transmitted via this satellite beam to the user terminal of at least one other user. Since the coverage area of ​​the satellite beam through which the warning information is fed covers the location of an event that has occurred in the vicinity of the reporting user's terminal, using the same satellite beam makes it easy to ensure that the warning information is transmitted to user terminals located near the event. Thus, users can be reliably informed about the event and, if necessary, change their route or course to avoid it.

[0027] According to one embodiment, each of the user terminal devices can be switched between a communication mode for communication via a mobile network and a communication mode for communication via the satellite network. This switching preferably occurs automatically when insufficient mobile network coverage is detected. If sufficient mobile network coverage is subsequently detected, the system preferably switches automatically back to the communication mode for communication via the mobile network.

[0028] According to a further aspect, the invention relates to an information system for providing warning information in an information system, wherein the information system comprises a satellite network and a plurality of user terminals. The information system is characterized in that the satellite network is designed for transmission to at least one of the user terminals of the information system and the information system comprises a feed unit by means of which a reporting user can feed warning information into the information system.

[0029] Advantages and features described with respect to the method according to the invention apply - insofar as applicable - accordingly to the information system according to the invention and vice versa.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the feed-in unit is connected to or integrated into the user terminal of the reporting user. Preferably, a feed-in unit is provided on or in each user terminal of the information system, so that warning information can be fed in via any of the user terminals.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the feed-in unit includes a user interface through which the reporting user can enter parameters for the warning messages. Parameters can also be entered by selecting an option from a list of options for each parameter.

[0032] According to another embodiment, each of the user terminal devices includes a switching device for switching between a communication mode for communication via a mobile network and a communication mode for communication via the satellite network.

[0033] The invention also includes combinations of the features of the described embodiments. The invention therefore also includes realizations that each exhibit a combination of the features of several of the described embodiments, provided that the embodiments have not been described as mutually exclusive.

[0034] The following are exemplary embodiments of the invention described. This is illustrated by: Fig. 1 a schematic block representation of an embodiment of an information system according to the invention; Fig. 2 a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a user terminal device; Fig. 3 a schematic representation of an embodiment of the method according to the invention; Fig. 4 a schematic representation of a further embodiment of the method according to the invention.

[0035] The exemplary embodiments described below are preferred embodiments of the invention. In these exemplary embodiments, the described components each represent individual features of the invention, which can be considered independently of one another and each further develops the invention independently. Therefore, the disclosure is intended to include combinations of features of the embodiments other than those shown. Furthermore, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by further features of the invention already described.

[0036] In the figures, identical reference symbols denote functionally equivalent elements.

[0037] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic embodiment of the information system 1 according to the invention. The information system 1 comprises a satellite system 10 and a plurality of user terminals 11. Fig. Figure 1 shows five user terminals 11. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the user terminals 11 is integrated into a motor vehicle 12. The satellite network 10 comprises at least one management unit 101 and a plurality of satellites 100. In the Fig. Figure 1 shows only three satellites 100. The satellite network 10 represents a satellite network with communication capabilities for communication, preferably bidirectional communication, between the user terminals 11 and the satellites 100.

[0038] Each of the user terminal devices 11 is designed for communication with the satellites 100. One embodiment of a user terminal device 11 is shown in Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic representation. In the illustrated embodiment, the user terminal 11 comprises an antenna 111, a modem 112, a switching device 113, and a power supply unit 110. In the illustrated embodiment, the power supply unit 110 is integrated into the user terminal 11. However, the power supply unit 110 can also be a separate unit from the user terminal 11 and be connected to it only for communication purposes. The power supply unit 110 preferably has a user interface (not shown). Alternatively, the user interface of the user terminal 11 can be used as the user interface of the power supply unit 110. Information can be entered into the power supply unit 110 by the user via the user interface, and optionally, information can be output visually or audibly.In particular, the input unit 110 allows the user to enter parameters for an event. Furthermore, warning information can be generated in the input unit 110 or in a processing unit (not shown) in the user terminal 11 based on user input. This warning information can be transmitted via the user terminal 11 to a unit of the satellite network 10. Within the satellite network 10, the satellite 100 or a satellite beam of one of the satellites 100 can be selected via which the warning information is to be transmitted to at least one user terminal 11. Preferably, the warning information is transmitted to a plurality of user terminals 11, wherein at least one of the user terminals 11 is preferably a user terminal 11 that differs from the user terminal 11 from which the warning information was input.This means that warning information entered by a reporting user can be sent to at least one other user.

[0039] In Fig. Figure 3 shows a first embodiment of the method according to the invention schematically.

[0040] In Fig. Figure 3 shows only one management unit 101 and two satellites 100a and 100b of a satellite network 10 from the information system. The satellite beam S0 of satellite 100a covers an illumination zone A0, and the satellite beam S1 of satellite 100b covers an illumination zone A1 spaced apart from illumination zone A0. Within illumination zone S0 are, in addition to the... Fig. 3 at the time shown, three user terminals 11a, 11b, 11c and in the illumination zone A1 three user terminals 11d, 11e, 11f.

[0041] If a user of one of the user terminals 11 detects an event, for example, a fallen tree on the road, this user can feed warning information into the satellite network 10. In the embodiment shown, warning information is fed in by the user (here, the user of the user terminal 11c). The user of the user terminal 11c is therefore referred to as the reporting user. The warning information can be transmitted via a feed unit that is integrated into the user terminal 11c (see Figure 1). Fig. 2) or is connected to the user terminal 11c. The warning information is transmitted via satellite 100a of satellite network 10 to management unit 101. In management unit 101 or one in Fig. At the 3 distribution point (not shown), which may be integrated into or connected to the management unit 101, the satellites are determined whose coverage areas cover or are adjacent to the position of the event transmitted with the warning information – here, the position of the fallen tree. In this embodiment, the Fig. 3. Satellites 100a and 100b are located. Warning information is therefore transmitted via satellites 100a and 100b to user devices 11a to 11f located in coverage zones A0 and A1. Although in Fig. Not shown in Figure 3, it is also within the scope of the invention that the warning information is not transmitted to the user terminal device 11c from which the warning information was fed.

[0042] The embodiment according to Fig. 4 differs from the one in Fig. 3 embodiment shown, in that in the embodiment according Fig. 4. The satellite beam S3 of satellite 100d can be subdivided into several satellite beams S30 and S31. Satellite beam S30 covers illumination zone A30, and satellite beam S31 covers illumination zone A31.

[0043] At the in Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, for example, when warning information is fed from the user terminal device 11j via the satellite beam S30, the warning information can be transmitted via the same satellite beam S30 to the user terminal devices 11j, 11k, 111 located in the illumination zone 30, while the warning information is not transmitted via the satellite beam S31 of the satellite 100d.

[0044] The present invention thus enables the use of satellite networks to send targeted messages to specific regions (for example, within the coverage area of ​​a satellite beam). This allows users, who can also be referred to as end users, to be informed about local events such as forest fires, landslides, floods, and the like, when local events occur in a particular region without mobile network coverage.

[0045] Data transmission, particularly the transmission of warning information, via satellite is preferably only activated when a data connection via a terrestrial network is not possible. In this case, the transition preferably occurs seamlessly.

[0046] The present invention enables users whose user device is integrated into or connected to a motor vehicle, and who can therefore also be referred to as drivers, to easily inform each other. For example, if a driver traveling through a national park or other remote route notices a tree blocking the road or a collapsed bridge, the driver can transmit the corresponding event via satellite to a central platform, in particular a management unit. The driver can select the location, the estimated extent, and the event type. The warning information, which can also be referred to as data, can then be stored in a central cloud and distributed to other vehicles.

[0047] Overall, the examples show how a satellite-based broadcast can be delivered to specific devices. REFERENCE MARK 1 Information system 10 satellite network 100 satellites 101 Management Unit 11 User terminal 110 feed unit 111 Antenna 112 Modem 113 Switching device 12 Motor vehicle A0, A1, A2, A3, A30, A31 footprints S0, S1, S2, S3, S30, S31 satellite beam QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2006 003 702 B3

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