Roadside Priority Control for Stable Emergency Vehicle Communication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems for emergency vehicles struggle to provide stable transmission and reception of high-priority information despite factors like congestion, as seen in conventional technologies.

Innovation Solution

A communication system that prioritizes emergency vehicles by utilizing a server apparatus, roadside units, and network configurations to ensure stable communication through edge computing and priority-controllable networks, ensuring high-priority information is transmitted and received reliably.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional communication systems are used for emergency vehicles, then basic communication functionality is provided, but stable transmission and reception of high-priority information cannot be ensured under congestion conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestable transmission and reception of high-priority informationVSAvoidcongestion
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The communication system is segmented into multiple components: V2X communication unit for direct vehicle-to-infrastructure communication, server device for centralized control and priority management, and network infrastructure for data transmission. This segmentation allows priority information to be handled through dedicated pathways, ensuring stable transmission even when general network congestion occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The server device acts as an intermediary between roadside units and emergency vehicles. It receives communication requests from roadside units, determines priority based on vehicle information, and controls resource allocation. This intermediary mechanism ensures that high-priority emergency vehicle communications are properly managed and transmitted reliably, overcoming the harmful effects of network congestion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If priority control mechanisms are implemented for emergency vehicles, then stable communication is achieved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestable communication serviceVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The server device performs multiple functions: it manages priority control for emergency vehicles, handles general V2X communication requests, stores vehicle information databases, and controls resource allocation across the network. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single multi-functional server, the system achieves reliable priority communication without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates automatic priority determination and resource allocation mechanisms. When a roadside unit detects an emergency vehicle, the server automatically retrieves vehicle information, determines priority levels, and allocates communication resources without manual intervention. This self-service capability maintains stable communication while minimizing the operational complexity burden on system operators.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4167208B1Communication system, server device, program, and communication method
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO LTD
  • EP4167208B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4167208B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4167208B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A communication system, a server apparatus, a program and a communication method that are capable of providing a stable communication service for priority vehicles including emergency vehicles are provided. The communication system in an embodiment includes a server apparatus. The server apparatus includes a controller that issues an instruction for executing priority control when a priority vehicle passes through a place where a roadside unit is installed, the priority control prioritizing a first communication performed by the priority vehicle via the roadside unit over a second communication performed by anything other than the priority vehicle via the roadside unit.