Map-Based Geofence for Emergency Vehicle Alerts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing emergency vehicle alert systems fail to effectively determine and vary the size or shape of a geofence based on the location of an emergency vehicle and map information, leading to inadequate or unnecessary alerts for vehicles in the vicinity.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a first device associated with the emergency vehicle, a management server, and a second device, where the management server determines a geofence by receiving data from the first device and geographical map data, defining zones on the map, and transmitting the geofence to the second device, which performs alert actions based on the vehicle's location relative to the geofence, considering factors like road type, median strips, underpasses, and parallel lanes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional audio or visual signaling devices are used to alert other vehicles, then emergency vehicle alerts can be provided, but unnecessary alerts are given to vehicles not on the EV's travel path and alerts may be ignored or unnoticed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealert effectivenessVSAvoidunnecessary alerts
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by defining a geofence that is specifically tailored to the emergency vehicle's actual travel path and surrounding environment. Instead of using a uniform alert radius, the system creates a localized alert zone that follows the road network, intersections, and high-risk areas specific to the EV's route, ensuring alerts are only sent to vehicles in relevant locations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The geofence is dynamically adjusted based on the emergency vehicle's real-time location, speed, and trajectory. The system continuously updates the geofence parameters (radius, shape, coverage areas) as the EV moves, allowing the alert zone to expand or contract and adapt to changing conditions such as approaching intersections or high-traffic areas

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If a fixed-radius geofence is used around the emergency vehicle, then alert coverage is simplified, but the geofence does not account for road geometry, intersections, or median strips causing inaccurate alert targeting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegeofence determinationVSAvoidalert zone accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the geofence into multiple zones based on different road characteristics and risk levels. The system divides the alert area into segments such as high-risk zones near intersections, medium-risk zones along the travel path, and low-risk zones farther away, allowing different alert strategies for different segments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes geofence parameters (radius, shape, coverage) based on the emergency vehicle's speed and environmental factors. When the EV is traveling at high speed or approaching dangerous areas like intersections without median strips, the geofence parameters are adjusted to expand coverage and improve alert accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3935613B1Systems and method for map-based geofencing
Publication Date: 2024.05.08 WHELEN ENGINEERING COMPANY
  • EP3935613B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3935613B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3935613B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

A system, method and storage medium for providing an emergency vehicle alert includes first device transmitting EV data including a current location of an EV to a management server, management server receiving the EV data from the first device, the management server determining a geofence for the EV at least based on the received EV data and geographical map data near the EV, and management server transmitting the determined geofence to a second device. The first device is associated with the EV, and the second device is associated with the another vehicle.