Map Server Emergency Route Reservation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems fail to effectively manage traffic interference with emergency vehicles, leading to delays in their timely arrival at destinations, as they do not account for the rerouting of other vehicles to ensure clear paths for emergency routes.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) to reserve emergency vehicle routes, using a map server to reroute affected vehicles in real-time, ensuring minimal interference by communicating route changes through a network to vehicles and traffic control systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If traffic is managed using traditional systems without emergency route reservation, then general traffic flow is maintained, but emergency vehicle response time is delayed due to interference from other vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The system reserves emergency vehicle routes in advance by receiving emergency event information and determining affected routes before the emergency vehicle departs. The map server proactively reroutes other vehicles away from these reserved routes, ensuring the emergency vehicle can travel without interference, thus reducing response time without requiring complex real-time intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a map server as an intermediary component that sits between the PSAP and the vehicles/traffic control systems. The map server receives emergency route information from the PSAP, processes the route reservation logic, and communicates rerouting instructions to affected vehicles and traffic control systems, thereby managing system complexity through modular architecture
2Reliability
If real-time rerouting of vehicles is implemented to clear emergency routes, then emergency vehicle passage is improved, but system complexity and implementation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The map server leverages existing multi-functional components in vehicles (GPS receivers, map guidance software, navigation systems) and traffic control infrastructure (traffic lights, variable message signs). By interfacing with these existing systems rather than requiring new dedicated hardware, the patent achieves reliable emergency route clearance while maintaining ease of implementation
Solution Approach 2:
Vehicles equipped with map guidance software autonomously receive rerouting instructions from the map server and automatically recalculate their routes using their existing navigation capabilities. Traffic control systems automatically adjust signals based on received instructions. This self-service approach eliminates the need for complex manual control systems while ensuring reliable route clearance
3Object-affected harmful factors
If comprehensive traffic control is applied to manage all vehicles on emergency routes, then emergency vehicle safety is improved, but interference with normal traffic operations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies traffic management measures locally only to vehicles and road segments affected by the emergency route, rather than implementing city-wide traffic control. The map server identifies specific vehicles on or near the emergency route and sends rerouting instructions only to those vehicles, leaving all other traffic operations unchanged, thus minimizing interference with normal traffic productivity
Data Source
AI summary
A Public Safety Access Point (PSAP) or other system can receive an emergency event. Based on information associated with the emergency event, the PSAP can determine which emergency vehicle can respond to the event. The PSAP may then determine an origination point, a destination, and a route that will be used by the emergency vehicle. The route information may then be communicated to a map server, one or more vehicles that may be affected by the route of the emergency vehicle, and/or other systems, devices, and/or computer systems. The map server, vehicles, etc. can then reroute or change a characteristic of a vehicle's travel to adjust for the travel and route of the emergency vehicles.