Small Cell Base Station MTC Vehicle Braking Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solutions fail to effectively prevent vehicles from being driven inappropriately, such as in the wrong direction, especially in scenarios like police pursuits, due to reliance on visible signs that may not be noticed and dangerous police interventions.

Innovation Solution

A wireless telecommunications network using femtocell base stations and Machine-Type-Communication (MTC) units to detect and prevent inappropriate vehicle movement by broadcasting identifiers and sending stop notifications to attached MTC units, which can trigger warnings and automatic braking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If warning road signs are provided to prevent vehicles from being driven in the wrong direction, then drivers may be instructed not to enter a road, but these signs are often not seen or ignored due to driver error, poor visibility, or bad weather

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveeffectiveness of preventing wrong-direction drivingVSAvoiddriver failure to notice signs
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces passive mechanical road signs with an active electronic communication system. Base stations transmit electronic messages to MTC units in vehicles, substituting the mechanical visual sign system with an electronic alert system that can actively communicate with the vehicle regardless of driver attention or weather conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces MTC units as intermediaries between the road infrastructure (base stations) and the vehicle driver. The MTC unit receives messages from base stations and can trigger warnings or automatic braking, serving as a mediator that ensures the stop command is delivered and executed even if the driver cannot see or respond to road signs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If police deliberately attempt to halt pursued vehicles by puncturing tyres or physically forcing the vehicle to stop, then the pursued vehicle may be halted, but these solutions are often dangerous and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to halt pursued vehicleVSAvoiddanger to police and public
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the vehicle to stop itself through automated systems. The MTC unit in the vehicle receives a stop message from the base station and can automatically trigger warnings to the driver or activate braking systems, allowing the vehicle to halt without requiring dangerous physical intervention by police officers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces dangerous mechanical police interventions (tyre puncturing, physical forcing) with an electronic communication system that transmits stop commands to the vehicle's MTC unit, which then triggers automated warnings or braking, substituting hazardous manual methods with safe electronic control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If multiple base stations are deployed to cover road locations for detecting inappropriate vehicle movement, then automated detection and prevention capability is improved, but system complexity and infrastructure requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomated detection of inappropriate vehicle movementVSAvoidnumber of base stations and MTC units
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs base stations with multi-functionality, allowing them to serve both as communication nodes for general wireless connectivity and as specialized units for detecting inappropriate vehicle movement. The same base station infrastructure supports multiple functions including transmitting stop messages, providing wireless coverage, and enabling MTC unit communication, reducing the need for separate specialized devices.

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

Data Source

PatentEP2521110B1A small cell base station, a method of controlling movement of a machine-type-communication (MTC) unit, and a braking system for a vehicle
Publication Date: 2013.11.13 ALCATEL LUCENT SA
  • EP2521110B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2521110B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2521110B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A small cell base station for wireless telecommunications is provided. The base station is configured to broadcast an identifier that the base station is configured to be able to communicate with any one of multiple Machine-Type-Communication (MTC) units, to receive from a MTC unit a reply indicating the MTC unit is currently in the radio coverage area of the small cell base station, and to send an indication to the MTC unit to cease movement.