Emergency Vehicle Route Management with Roadway Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Drivers of vehicles in the path of an emergency vehicle often struggle to determine the location of the emergency vehicle, leading to difficulties in maneuvering to allow passage, and there is no solution for non-priority vehicles in emergency situations to alert emergency services.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that uses detection elements to precisely locate and manage vehicles in emergency situations, adapting traffic routes to allow passage for all types of emergency vehicles, including non-priority vehicles, by sending alerts and instructions to detection and execution elements via a management system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If emergency vehicles use traditional alerting devices (sirens, flashing lights), then they can signal their presence to vehicles on their route, but drivers have difficulty locating the emergency vehicle and determining the correct maneuver to allow passage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation information of emergency vehicleVSAvoiddriver's ability to locate and respond to emergency vehicle
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a central management system as an intermediary between emergency vehicles and detection elements. The management system receives emergency reports, determines optimal routes, identifies suitable detection elements along the route, and coordinates their activation. This mediator resolves the information gap by systematically bridging the emergency vehicle and the drivers who need to respond, providing precise location and route information that traditional alerting devices cannot convey.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where detection elements confirm their ability to detect the emergency vehicle, and the management system adjusts the route and detection element selection based on this feedback. The system continuously monitors the situation and provides updated location information to both the emergency vehicle and relevant detection elements, enabling dynamic adaptation to changing traffic conditions and ensuring accurate real-time localization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If only priority emergency vehicles (ambulances, fire trucks, police cars) have emergency alerting capabilities, then they can receive priority passage, but non-priority vehicles in emergency situations (private vehicles with injured persons, etc.) cannot alert emergency services or adapt traffic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemergency alerting capability availabilityVSAvoidemergency situation response for non-priority vehicles
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the emergency alerting system universal by allowing any vehicle, not just priority emergency vehicles, to access emergency services and adapt traffic. The management system handles multiple types of emergency vehicles (priority and non-priority) and can route them through detection elements, providing the same traffic adaptation capability to all vehicles in emergency situations regardless of their priority status or alerting equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments emergency situations into different priority levels and handles them through appropriate routes and detection elements. Non-priority vehicles can still access the system and receive tailored routes and detection element assignments based on their specific emergency situation, allowing differentiated response while maintaining system-wide adaptability for all emergency types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If the system determines multiple potential routes for an emergency vehicle, then it can adapt traffic along those routes, but the complexity of managing and coordinating multiple detection elements increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemergency vehicle passage efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity for managing detection elements
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The management system performs preliminary actions by pre-determining optimal routes and pre-identifying suitable detection elements along those routes before the emergency vehicle arrives. This advance preparation reduces real-time coordination complexity, as the system has already selected and configured the appropriate detection elements and routes based on historical data, current traffic conditions, and emergency vehicle characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies local quality by assigning specific detection elements to specific segments of the emergency vehicle's route based on local conditions. Each detection element is optimized for its particular location and function, allowing the system to manage complexity through localized, specialized components rather than requiring all detection elements to handle all situations uniformly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4078554B1Method for managing a state of urgency of a first vehicle and associated management device
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 ORANGE SA
  • EP4078554B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4078554B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4078554B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for managing a state of urgency of a first vehicle, implemented by a management system, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: receiving (F310) a first report (SI) of the state of urgency of the first vehicle, determining (F330) a list of potential routes (LIP) comprising at least one potential route of the first vehicle, and sending (F360) an alert message (MA) to at least one "detection" element (ED), located on a roadway, said at least one detection element (ED) being determined according to said at least one potential route of the first vehicle.