Emergency Vehicle Geofence Release for Targeted Driver Alerts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional emergency vehicle alert systems using audio or visual signaling devices are inadequate, as they may not be noticed by distracted drivers or those with hearing impairments, and lack the ability to dynamically manage geofences based on the vehicle's location, leading to unnecessary alerts or failure to alert vehicles in relevant areas.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for managing a geofence for emergency vehicles, utilizing a receiver, processor, and transmitter to set up and clear geofences based on the vehicle's location, ensuring alerts are only provided to vehicles within the relevant area and stopped when the vehicle has passed through, using a geofence release zone to prevent unnecessary alerts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional audio or visual signaling devices are used for emergency vehicle alerts, then the alerts can be transmitted to other vehicles, but the alerts may not be noticed by distracted drivers or those with hearing impairments, and may provide unnecessary alerts to vehicles not on the EV's travel path
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a geofence management system that acts as an intermediary between the emergency vehicle and other vehicles. This system uses GPS coordinates to define a virtual geofence around the EV's path, and only triggers alerts for vehicles that enter this predefined zone. The geofence serves as a mediator that filters which vehicles receive alerts, ensuring only relevant vehicles are notified while avoiding unnecessary alerts to vehicles not on the travel path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical signaling devices (sirens, flashing lights) with an electronic geofence-based alert system. Instead of relying on physical signals that may be missed, the system uses electronic communication through a network to transmit alert information to vehicles within the geofence zone. This substitution enables more reliable and targeted alert delivery that can reach distracted drivers or those with hearing impairments through visual or digital notifications.
2Reliability
If geofence alerts are provided to all vehicles in a large area, then more vehicles receive safety warnings, but unnecessary alerts are generated for vehicles not on the EV's travel path
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a geofence with specific spatial characteristics that match the EV's travel path. The geofence is not a uniform large-area zone but a targeted region defined by GPS coordinates that follows the EV's route. This allows the system to provide safety warnings locally to vehicles actually on or near the travel path, while excluding vehicles in other areas, thus maintaining alert relevance and avoiding unnecessary notifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The geofence is dynamically adjusted based on the emergency vehicle's real-time location and travel path. As the EV moves, the geofence updates to maintain its position around the vehicle's route. This dynamic behavior ensures that the geofence consistently covers the relevant area along the travel path while excluding irrelevant regions, preventing loss of alert relevance throughout the EV's journey.
3Reliability
If the geofence remains active for the entire journey, then continuous safety monitoring is maintained, but unnecessary alerts are transmitted after the EV has passed through certain areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by establishing the geofence before the emergency vehicle begins its journey or before entering areas where alerts may be needed. The geofence is pre-configured with GPS coordinates that define the travel path, allowing the system to proactively identify and alert vehicles that will enter the zone. This preliminary setup enables continuous safety monitoring while avoiding the need to maintain alerts indefinitely after the EV has passed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback by continuously monitoring the EV's location and comparing it with the geofence boundaries. When the EV exits the geofence zone or passes through specific checkpoints, the system receives feedback about the vehicle's position and automatically adjusts or deactivates alert transmissions accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures continuous monitoring during the relevant portion of the journey while stopping unnecessary alert transmissions after the EV has passed through certain areas.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method and storage medium for providing an emergency vehicle (EV) alert includes a server receiving a first location of the EV, the server determining a first geofence based on the first location of the EV, the server transmitting the first geofence to a second device, the second device receiving the first geofence, the second device performing at least one alert action in response to determining that the another vehicle is located within the first geofence, the server receiving a second location of the EV at a second time, the server determining a geofence release zone based on the second location of the EV, the server transmitting the geofence release zone to the second device, the second device receiving the geofence release zone, and the second device stopping performing the at least one alert action in response to determining that the another vehicle is within the geofence release zone.