WO2020225823A1

WO2020225823A1 - System for vehicle prearrival notification and optimal route selection

Info

Publication number: WO2020225823A1
Application number: PCT/IN2020/050401
Authority: WO
Inventors: Amit KENJALE
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-05-03
Filing date: 2020-05-03
Publication date: 2020-11-12
Anticipated expiration: 2021-11-03

Abstract

Disclosed is the system for alerting the people in the vicinity of the route, the ambulance is about to travel. The system has lamp posts and traffic signals that are modified and equipped with the audio-visual alarming system. The system includes an ambulance tracking device mounted on a passenger vehicle for providing indication to driver of passenger vehicle and a traffic tracking device that is positioned within the ambulance allowing the driver of the ambulance to select the optimum destination route and guide him throughout the journey. In silent zones, the alert lamp posts use flashing lights and mechanically waving flags for indication. The system has a control unit that fetches the optimal route to the destination based on the information received from sensor unit present on alert lamp post.

Description

SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE PREARRIVAL NOTIFICATION AND OPTIMAL ROUTE SELECTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to optimal path allocating devices and more particularly to vehicle prearrival notification systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ambulance is categorized as rapid response unit that provides emergency services to the patient in need. The ambulance nowadays, is fully equipped with modem technologies that help in saving the life of patient in need until the ambulance reaches the hospital. The ambulance is sometimes known as moving hospital as most of the ambulances are having a doctor for treating the patient until the ambulance reaches the hospital. Presently, the ambulance is facilitated with an audio-visual alerting system that notifies the surrounding vehicles to make way for the ambulance passing by the nearby road. Presently, some of the ambulance drivers rely on known shortest path allocation technologies such as routing from Google maps to find the shortest path from source to destination, whereas in conventional navigation applications data is not fully reliable as its traffic data is captured from smartphone locations and it can be manipulated easily. The lamp post is a street light that is situated at the edge of the road or divider that divides two adjacent roads. Nowadays, the lamp post may be equipped with photosensitive cells to automatically activate the lamp when there is need for light. Presently, green corridors have frequently been used to transport organs within and between cities. Green corridor refers to a route that is demarcated and cleared out for an ambulance carrying harvested organs. The objective is to ensure that the in-transit organ arrives at its destination in the shortest time possible. Here traffic police are notified in advanced about the upcoming emergency vehicle and then traffic police clears traffic well before emergency vehicle comes.

Contrarily, the ambulance relies on audio-visual alarming system that can prove to be ineffective if the current route is facing deadlock situations. In deadlock situations the ambulance may get stuck in traffic for very long time. The sirens facilitated within the audio-visual systems, are having limited sound loudness so the sound cannot be heard beyond certain distance. Further the visual alert systems are most of the time ineffective during daylight. Many a times, the existing path allocation systems are not updated with real-time data such as in an exemplary situation a driver of an ambulance passing through a route is unaware that the route has been closed due to some unforeseen circumstances such as fallen tree or ongoing road repair work. In such cases the ambulance has to manually reroute to the destination which can further increase the time of ambulance to reach the destination/hospital.

Currently, the systems that notify the pre-arrival of ambulance are expensive and are not equipped with all necessary functionality demanded by real life navigation scenarios like dynamic traffic conditions that are not easy to predict.

To overcome the aforementioned problems the lamp posts can be utilized to notify the nearby present traffic about the pre-arrival of the emergency vehicle. As we know, the lamp posts are situated at almost every other court yard so we can utilize the existing lamp post to notify the pre-arrival of the ambulance.

Hence there is a need for the lamp post equipped with alerting system that audio-visually notifies the pre-arrival of emergency vehicle. Further there is a need for the device that provides real-time updates on traffic and accordingly searches the shortest and fastest route to the destination.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention discloses a system for vehicle prearrival notification and optimal route selection that facilitates pre arrival notification of the ambulance through plurality of lamp posts traffic signals. The system includes a control unit that connects all units and components of the present invention with each other through a wireless communication medium and a mobile network service provider.

The system for vehicle prearrival notification and optimal route selection includes the control unit having an optimization unit, a plurality of lamp posts, a plurality of traffic signaling lamp posts and a plurality of traffic signals, an ambulance tracking device, a traffic tracking device.

The alert lamp post includes at least one solar panel at least one wind mill, an audio-visual alarming system, pluralities of flag, a mounting support, and a sensor unit. The traffic signaling lamp post includes at least one solar panel, at least one wind mill, a Wi-Fi transceiver and radio frequency, a traffic signal RYGB lamp. The traffic signaling lamp post communicates with the control unit through the Wi-Fi transceiver.

The traffic signal includes a plurality of RY GB lamp traffic signal lamp including a blue LED indication, a Wi-Fi and Radio Frequency transceiver. The traffic signal communicates the control unit through the Wi-Fi transceiver.

The ambulance tracking device includes an indicating unit, a connector cable and an antenna for signal reception. The traffic tracking device includes a Wi-Fi transceiver and radio frequency, an accelerometer, the accelerometer tracks the speed of the ambulance, wherein the on vehicle device communicates with the control unit through the Wi-Fi transceiver and radio frequency unit.

The control unit utilizes a learning and optimization unit for selection of the best route by electively communicating with the alert lamp post unit and the traffic signaling lamp post based on selected route thereby activating the audio visual alarming system and the blue LED indication for facilitating ambulance pre arrival notification. The traffic tracking device of present invention includes a microcontroller unit, a GSM/GPRS, a Global Position System, the Wi-Fi and Radio Frequency transceiver, a graphical display, the accelerometer, a solar panel, a charge controller, a battery. The traffic tracking device is positioned within the ambulance.

The GSM/GPRS, Wi-Fi and Radio Frequency unit establish communication to the control unit. Global Position System device transmits the location of the traffic tracking device in predefined time intervals. The graphical display facilitates touch screen input from the user of the traffic tracking device. The accelerometer maps and analyzes the driving parameters of a driver of the vehicle and the ambulance. The solar panel positioned on the topmost portion of the vehicle receives and conserves the solar radiations. The charge controller regulates the rate at which the electric current is injected into a battery. The battery stores the energy generated by the solar panel.

The ambulance tracking device of present invention includes a power capture unit, an audio-visual indicator, a battery or super-capacitor, a plurality of solar panel. The ambulance tracking device is mounted on a passenger vehicle.

The power capture unit having the antenna and a power conditioning and regulating unit, receives power transmitted from the transmitter unit of alert lamp post. The audio-visual indicator facilitates vibrating alert along with audio visual alert for notifying the passenger about the arrival of the ambulance. The battery or super-capacitor receives and stores the energy received from the power capture unit 632. The solar panels receive and conserve the solar radiations.

The control unit includes a database and the optimization unit for optimal route selection that utilizes a historical data and a live data received from a sensorl positioned at the alert lamp posts and from the handheld device to predict optimum and fastest route for ambulance to reach to destination.

The traffic signaling lamp post includes that includes a Microcontroller unit, a battery, a charge controller, a windmill, a solar panel, a sensor2, a plurality of RYGB traffic signal lamp, a GSM/GPRS and a Wi-Fi and Radio Frequency transceiver, the traffic signaling lamp post communicates with the control unit using the Wi-Fi transceiver or GSM/GPRS unit.

The traffic signal includes a battery, a charge controller, a windmill, a solar panel, a Microcontroller unit, a plurality of RYGB traffic signal lamp including a blue indicating light configured to alert the people about the arrival of the ambulance.

The control unit communicates with a server for receiving real time updates of traffic flow in case the alert lamp post unit fails to send traffic data to control unit, ambulance directly send its current location and route to be travelled, to nearby alert lamp posts and these alert lamp posts further send this data to all other alert lamp posts.

The audio visual alarming system bleeps the hooters at low frequency and loudness when the approximate time of the ambulance to reach said alert post is more than 2 minutes and bleeps the hooters at high frequency when the approximate time of the ambulance to reach said alert post is less than 2 minutes. The alert lamp post deactivates its audio-visual alerts once ambulance is passed by particular alert lamp posts.

The control unit notifies the traffic police, person using the handheld device about the arrival of the ambulance. The person using handheld device, the traffic police notifies server about traffic congestion with its GPS location, server uses this updated information to calculate optimal route to reach to the destination.

The alert lamp posts communicates to server for requesting alternate optimal route if traffic density is not reduced even after loud alarm indicating arrival of ambulance, upon such request server recalculates alternate optimal route using traffic updates and also informs alternate optimum route to traffic tracking device . The audio indicators and visual indicators of lamp post remain activated during day time whereas during night time only visual indicators are activated and in silent zones audio indicators are disabled and high intensity flashing lights and mechanically waving flags are activated as indicators. The alert lamp post has the sensor unit positioned on opposite side of hooters. The sensor unit includes a pair of image capturing devices, an image processing system and a combination sensor. The combination sensor is configured with radio detection and ranging sensor, light detection and ranging sensor and image capturing devices are configured with image processing hardware to sense the traffic density and traffic flow on the adjacent road.

Traffic signaling lamp posts are configured to control the current traffic signal lights. The server notifies about real-time updates of the traffic. The traffic tracking device is positioned within an ambulance allowing the driver of the ambulance to select the route to the destination location. A handheld device is present with any person on a road. The ambulance tracking device is mounted on a passenger vehicle in vicinity of the driver for tracking the arrival of ambulance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in accordance with the accompanying drawings wherein

FIG.l is an environmental representation of a system for the vehicle pre-arrival notification and optimal route selection in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view of an alert lamp post constructed in accordance with the present invention of FIG. 1; FIG. 2A is an enlarged three-dimensional view of sensor unit constructed in accordance with the present invention of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional view of a traffic signal constructed in accordance with the present invention of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a three-dimensional view of ambulance tracking device mounted on passenger vehicle in accordance with the present invention of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of the system in accordance with the present invention of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 6 is an architectural representation of the system for the vehicle pre-arrival notification and optimal route selection in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of control unit of the system in accordance with the present invention of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 illustrates an operational flow diagram of the system in accordance with the present invention of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9A, illustrate an exemplary use case scenario of the system in accordance with the present invention of FIG.l;

FIG. 9B, illustrate an exemplary use case scenario of the system where the route to be followed by ambulance is displayed in accordance with the present invention of FIG.9 A;

FIG. 9C, illustrate an exemplary use case scenario of the system where the ambulance following the selected route is shown in accordance with the present invention of FIG.1 ;

FIG. 9D, illustrate an exemplary use case scenario of the system where the ambulance has reached the destination in accordance with the present invention of FIG.l;

FIG. 9E, illustrate an exemplary use case scenario of the system where the ambulance tracking device ambulance tracking device directly communicating with nearby alert lamp posts in accordance with the present invention of FIG.l; and

FIG. 10 illustrates a use case diagram of the system in case of multi-lane scenario in accordance with the present invention of FIG.1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention described herein is explained using specific exemplary details for better understanding. However, the invention disclosed can be worked on by a person skilled in the art without the use of these specific details.

References in the specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that particular feature, structure, characteristic, or function described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase“in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

References in the specification to“preferred embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, characteristic, or function described in detail thereby omitting known constructions and functions for clear description of the present invention.

The foregoing description of specific embodiments of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.

In the description and in the claims, the term "Ambulance" is defined broadly as a representative of any vehicle that is used for emergency services e. g. Conventional Ambulances, Fire service vehicles, Police vehicles and for public transport services.

In general aspect, the present invention is a system that facilitates pre arrival notification of the ambulance through a plurality of lamp posts and a plurality of traffic signals. Each lamp post and traffic signal are modified and equipped with an audio-visual alarming system. The activated audio-visual alarming system on alert lamp post enables hooter and indicating lamp and starts bleeping at a low frequency and low volume before the arrival of the ambulance. The audio-visual alarming system starts bleeping at high sound frequency and louder sound once the ambulance is about to arrive. The audio-visual alarming system includes pre-recorded audio that may include siren or voice message that can be downloaded by alert lamp posts and played to make public announcement about upcoming emergency.

For silent zones such as hospital areas where audio alarming system can’t be enabled, in day time, high intensity visual flashing system and mechanically waving flag mechanism is used to indicate pre-arrival notification of the ambulance.

In day time both audio and visual alarming systems are used for ambulance pre-arrival notification. To avoid disturbance to nearby residents at night time, light sensors and RTC (real time clock) present on alert lamp post are used to sense the time of the day and to disable the audio alarming system at night time, and use only visual alarming system.

The alert lamp post of system are powered with wind and solar energy fetched from inbuilt solar panels and wind mills. The system has a control unit that is configured with optimization unit to find the fastest route to the destination based on the information received from alert lamp post.

This present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.

Referring to FIG.l, an environment 100 designed for the system for the vehicle pre-arrival notification and optimal route selection 100 (hereinafter referred as“system 100”) in accordance with the present invention is shown. The system 100 include a control unit 110, a plurality of alert lamp posts 120, an traffic signaling lamp posts 130, a plurality of traffic signals 140, a server 150, an ambulance 155, a traffic tracking device 160, a base station transceiver 165, a handheld device 170 present with the person travelling on the road, an ambulance tracking device 180 fitted on passenger vehicle 175 and a destination location 185.

The control unit 110 is configured to wirelessly communicate with the components of the system 100. The pluralities of alert lamp posts 120 communicate wirelessly with the control unit 110. The alert lamp posts 120 are positioned at the edge of the road. The alert lamp post 120 notifies the public in the vicinity with an audio-visual alerting system. The traffic signaling alert lamp posts 130 are configured to control the existing traffic signals. The server 150 is any existing external server that notifies about real-time updates of the traffic.

The traffic tracking device 160 is positioned within the ambulance allowing the driver of the ambulance to select destination and transmit real-time GPS location of ambulance 155 to control unit 110 and nearby alert lamp posts 120. The traffic tracking device 160 wirelessly communicates with the control unit 110. The traffic tracking device 160 is configured to display the geographical maps, the selected route, and numerical count of real time traffic density and has a hands-free audio communication system to interact with user.

The handheld device 170 is capable of communicating with control unit 110 using USSD, SMS and audio call or internet services to notify about traffic congestion or any other condition which might lead to delayed journey of ambulance passing by the road. The ambulance tracking device 180 mounted inside passenger vehicle in vicinity of driver, receives wirelessly transmitted power from alert lamp posts or power from inbuilt battery, and it indicates about arrival of ambulance.

In context of the present invention, the plurality of vehicle 175 present on road can be manually driven by some person or these might be self-driving vehicles that doesn’t need any human driver. In case of self-driving vehicles, ambulance tracking device 180 is able to communicate with Engine Control Unit of self-driving vehicle to notify about arrival of ambulance.

Referring to FIG. 2, the alert lamp post 120 in accordance with the present invention 100 is shown. The alert lamp post 120 includes pluralities of solar panels 210, pluralities of wind mills 220, an indicating light and audio hooter 230, pluralities of flags 240 and a mounting support 250. The indicating light and audio hooter 230 include flashing lights 222 and 224 that are positioned opposite to each other, a vent 226 for sound and an antenna 228 for receiving signal. The alert lamp post 120 is enabled with the audio-visual alarming system 230 that alerts the public present in the vicinity of the alert lamp post 120.

The pluralities of solar panels 210 are positioned over the top portion of the alert lamp post 120. The pluralities of wind mills 220 are positioned below the solar panels. However, the arrangement of solar panels 210 and wind mills 220 can differ for receiving more energy in other embodiments of the present invention. The solar panels 210 are configured to conserve the solar energy and wind mills 220 are configured to conserve wind energy. The conserved natural energy is stored in batteries 612 and further consumed by the indicating lights and audio hooter 230 to alert the public present nearby the alert lamp post 120.

Activation of alert lamp posts is decided in accordance with observed traffic density. The alert lamp posts 120 that are located on route of the ambulance 155 and are falling within 1 kilometer ahead of ambulance 155 starts bleeping. If traffic density and traffic flow sensors detect more traffic density is observed over route of upcoming ambulance 155 then all alert lamp posts that are situated 2 kilometers ahead of upcoming ambulance starts alarming.

Referring to FIG.2A, the enlarged view of sensor unit 260 for the system 100 in accordance with the present invention is shown. The sensor unit 260 includes a first image capturing device 262, a second image capturing device 264, an image processing unit 266 and a combination sensor 268. The sensor unit 260 is fixed on opposite side of hooter 230 on alert lamp post 120. The sensor unit 260 is configured to communicate with vehicle 175 by means of ambulance tracking device 180 mounted on its top.

Referring to FIG.3, the modified traffic signal 140 for the system 100 in accordance with the present invention is shown. The traffic signal 140 includes a red indicating light 320, a yellow indicating light 330, a green indicating light 340 and a blue indicating light 310.

The red, yellow and green indicating lights 320, 330 and 340 respectively, have the similar significance as that of any other existing traffic signals. However, the blue indicating light 310 is configured to alert the people about the arriving ambulance. The blue indicating light 310 is automatically switched on by the traffic signaling lamp posts 130 once the ambulance is about to reach nearby said traffic signal 140.

Referring to FIG.4, the ambulance tracking device 180 mounted on the passenger vehicle 175 is shown. The ambulance tracking device 180 includes indicating unit 410, connector cable 420 and an antenna 430 for signal reception.

Referring to FIG.5, a block diagram of the system in accordance with the present invention is depicted. The control unit 110 includes a database for storing historical data and an optimization unit for selecting optimal route among all possible routes towards destination. The traffic tracking device 160, the ambulance tracking device 180 and the handheld device 170 are wirelessly communicates with the control unit 110.

The control unit 110 connects all the aforementioned units and components of the system 100 with each other. The control unit sends ambulance pre-arrival notifications to alert lamp post 120, traffic signaling lamp post 130, traffic signals 140. The control unit 110 communicates with the server 150 for real-time updates of the traffic congestion.

Referring to FIG. 6, the control unit 110 is configured to process the data received from the aforementioned units. The control unit 110 is configured to store the data received from the alert lamp posts 120, the traffic tracking device 160, the traffic signaling lamp post 130 and the handheld device 170.

The control unit 110 processes the data received from the alert lamp posts 120 and the traffic signaling lamp posts unit 130. The control unit 110 calculates the distance between the ambulance 155 and all alert lamp-posts 120 on one specific route. Depending upon average speed of the vehicle, traffic density reported by sensor unit at alert lamp posts 120 and alert lamp posts at traffic signals 130, the control unit 110 calculates approximate time to reach (ATR) for the ambulance 155 in respect with each lamp-post 120. However, the ATR may vary depending upon the unforeseen circumstances.

The control unit 110 is constituted with the optimization unit 520 that selects the optimum route amongst the available routes. The term optimum route indicates a route which satisfies both conditions of being shortest in terms of geographical distance in between source and destination and having fastest traffic flow and least traffic density so as to facilitate rapid transit of ambulance. The coordinates of this elected route is sent back to traffic tracking device 160 and that new route will be indicated on a graphical display 688.

The alert lamp post module 602 is configured on alert lamp post 120 that includes a Microcontroller unit 610, a battery 612, a charge controller 614, a solar panel 210, a windmill 220, an audio-visual alarm 230, a flag waving mechanism 620, a WPT/WVT (Wireless Power transfer device) 622, a sensorl 624, a GSM/GPRS unit 628 and a Wi-Fi and Radio Frequency transceiver 630.

The alert lamp post unit 120 communicates with the control unit 510 using the Wi-Fi transceiver 630. Further, the alert lamp posts 120 communicate only with the other alert lamp posts 120 that are positioned within the wireless range of said alert lamp posts 120. The GSM/GPRS 628 is configured for communicating with server unit 510 through the internet service (GPRS/packet data) or through the SMS (“Short message service”) service. The sensorl 624 is configured with sensor unit 260 as discussed in FIG. 2A. The microcontroller unit 610 is facilitated within the alert lamp post unit 120 to process the traffic density and flow data received from the sensorl 624, and control functioning of all other components inside alert lamp post 120. The sensorl 624 utilizes the micro radar (radio detection and ranging) sensor, Lidar (Light detection and ranging) sensor and image capturing devices with image processing unit to detect traffic density and traffic flow information. The microcontroller unit 610 is facilitated with the light intensity sensor and real time clock that is configured to sense night time hours.

The charge controller 614 regulates varying current/voltage generated by Solar panel 210 and windmill 220 to provide stabilized or conditioned power to charge batteries 612.

The audio-visual alarm 230 alerts the public present nearby the alert lamp post unit 120 about the arrival of the ambulance. The audio-visual alarming system is configured to deactivate the hooters during night time to prevent the inconvenience caused by the audio alarming system to nearby residents. The alert lamp post 120 communicates bidirectionally with control unit 110 through the mobile network service provider 113 using GSM, GPRS services. Existing infrastructure of mobile network service provider 113 may include BTS (Base transceiver station, BSC (base station controller), MSC (mobile service switching center), HLR (Home Location register) and similar system components of standard mobile network for voice, SMS and internet data communication.

Alert lamp posts 120 will keep communicating periodically with other nearby alert lamp posts 120 which are in wireless range. If some alert lamp post 120 is not responding to communication request then that alert lamp post 120 is considered to be non-functional and subsequently information of non-functional lamp post is logged into database 510 of control unit 110. Each alert lamp post 120 is able to capture data related to health of battery 612, power generation performance of solar panel 210 and windmill 220 and operational state of sensorl 624, audio visual alarm 230, Wi-Fi/RF transceiver 630, charge controller 614 and send it to control unit 110 which will be stored into database 510 for later reference and to be viewed in terms of graphical presentation to indicate about predictive maintenance.

The sensorl 624 is enabled to sense the traffic density and flow of traffic from the adjacent road. The sensorl 624 utilizes the micro radar (radio detection and ranging) sensor, Lidar (Light detection and ranging) sensor and image capturing devices with image processing unit to sense the traffic conditions on the adjacent road. Micro radar use sound waves to detect obstacle whereas Lidar sensor uses laser light source to detect obstacle. Using time delay between transmitted and received waves, the distance of obstacle from sensorl 624 is calculated. Sound and/or light waves transmitted from transmitters are reflected off the road and are received back to the sensorl 624. The difference observed between sound/light waves received to the sensorl 624 is used to detect presence of vehicle and to calculate traffic density over the range of sensor 624.

The image capturing devices with image processing unit are able to sense traffic density and traffic flow. The image processing unit stores multiple images of the road at different timing and different lighting condition. These images are used as reference images. Now images captured at any instance are compared with reference images in same time zone, and if significant difference in pixel intensity is observed then area of that region is used to estimate traffic density. Using customized algorithm developed for image processing hardware, vehicles are counted and tracked for finding traffic density and traffic flow.

The sensor 624 captures the data and forwards it towards the microcontroller unit 610. The microcontroller unit 610 processes the data and transmits the data towards the control unit 110 through the Wi-Fi transceiver 630 or through the GSM/GPRS 628.

The traffic signaling lamp post module 642 is configured on traffic signaling lamp posts 130 that includes a Microcontroller unit 644, a battery 646, a charge controller 648, a windmill 650, a solar panel 652, a sensor2 654, a plurality of RYGB (red, yellow, green, blue colored) traffic signal lamp 656, a GSM/GPRS 658 and a Wi-Fi and Radio Frequency transceiver 660.

The traffic signaling lamp post 130 communicates with the control unit 110 using the Wi-Fi transceiver 660 or GSM/GPRS unit 658. The alert lamp posts 130 communicate with the nearby located traffic signals through the Radio Frequency transceiver 660. The traffic signaling lamp post 130 works in synchronization with the nearby located traffic signals so that the traffic lights of the traffic signals 140 can be controlled as per the demand of the situation.

The GSM/GPRS 658 installed within the traffic signaling lamp post 130 is utilized for establishing communication with the control unit 110 through the internet service. In case, if the traffic signaling lamp post 130 is not able to communicate with the control unit 110 through internet services then, the traffic signaling lamp post 130 are configured to communicate with the control unit 110 using the SMS (“Short Message Service”)service or USSD service.

The sensor2 654 is configured with sensor unit 260 as discussed in FIG. 2A. The microcontroller unit 644 is facilitated within the traffic signaling lamp post 130 to process the data received from sensor2 654. The charge controller 648 regulates electric current and voltage to efficiently charge the battery 646. The solar panel 652 and wind mill 650 are used to conserve the natural solar and wind energy that is further utilized by the traffic signaling lamp post 130.

A traffic signal module 662 is configured on traffic signal 140 that is modified from existing traffic signals. The traffic signaling lamp post module 662 includes a battery 664, a charge controller 666, a windmill 668, a solar panel 670, a Microcontroller unit 672, a plurality of RYGB (red, yellow, green, blue colored) traffic signal lamp 674, and a Wi-Fi and Radio Frequency transceiver 676. The blue indicating light 310 of RYGB traffic signal lamp 674 is automatically switched on once the ambulance is about to reach nearby said traffic signal 140.

The traffic tracking device 160 includes a Microcontroller unit 680, GSM/GPRS 682, a Global Position System (“GPS”) 684, a Wi-Fi and Radio Frequency transceiver 686, a graphical display 688, an accelerometer 690, a solar panel 692, a charge controller 694 and a battery 696. The traffic tracking device 160 communicates with the control unit 110 using the Wi-Fi transceiver 686 or GSM/GPRS unit 682 and with the nearby located alert lamp posts 120 through the Radio Frequency unit 686. Further, the traffic tracking device 160 is configured to communicate with the alert lamp posts 120 that are within the wireless range of the traffic tracking device 160.

To reduce power requirement, alert lamp wireless modules 630 in alert lamp posts 120 utilize transmits limited power. To extend range of communication where message to be carried to far end alert lamp post 120 that is out of wireless range of device sender alert lamp post 120, intermediate alert lamp posts receives and forwards this signal to nearby wireless nodes. This process of message re-transmission repeats until desired alert lamp post receives the message. The communication mechanism is referred as daisy chain mechanism in one embodiment of the present invention where all alert lamp posts 120 works as network of wireless nodes to ensure that desired alert lamp post 120 receives the transmitted message.

The GSM/GPRS 682 is configured for communicating with control unit 110 through the internet service or packet data. In case, if the traffic tracking device 160 are not able to communicate with the control unit 110 through internet service then, the traffic tracking device 160 is configured to communicate with the control unit 110 using the SMS (“Short Message Service”) service or USSD codes or audio call or DTMF tones. Here DTMF stands for dual tone multiple frequencies where each information symbol is made up of combination of two frequencies.

The charge controller 694 regulates the rate at which the electric current is injected into the battery 696. The solar panel 692 is arranged on the topmost portion of the vehicle to conserve the solar energy that is further utilized by the traffic tracking device 160. The accelerometer 690 is facilitated to graph the driving approach of a driver of a vehicle, sudden accelerations and breaking applied by the driver, over all passenger experience and overall performance of the ambulance driver. The data obtained from the accelerometer 690 is stored within database 510 of the control unit 110.

The traffic tracking device 160 has a built-in GPS device 684 that has the periodically updated location (in the form of latitude and longitude) of the traffic tracking device 160 and is further transmitted to the control unit 110 using GSM/GPRS module or RF/WIFI device 686. The GPS device 684 transmits the location of the traffic tracking device 160 for every 5 seconds. The graphic display 688 is a user interface that facilitates touch screen input from the user of the traffic tracking device 160.

The traffic tracking device 160 directly communicates wirelessly to nearby alert lamp post 120, and this said lamp posts 120 broadcast this message in daisy chain fashion to extend wireless range and to notify other far end alert lamp posts 120 about upcoming ambulance 155.

The ambulance tracking device 180 includes a power capture unit 632, an audio-visual indicator 634, a battery or super-capacitor 636 and a plurality of solar panel 638. The ambulance tracking device 180 is installed within each of the passenger vehicles to notify the passenger vehicles about an incoming ambulance.

The power capture unit 632 consists of antenna 430 and power conditioning and regulating unit. Power capture unit 632 receives power transmitted from WPT/WVT (Wireless Power transfer device) 622 configured within the transmitter unit of alert lamp post 120. The energy received by the capture unit 632 is stored into the battery 636 or can be directly utilized by audio- visual- vibration indication unit 634. The audio-visual indicator 634 installed within the passenger vehicle 180 facilitates vibrating alert along with audio visual alert to for notifying the passenger about the arrival of the ambulance. The server 150 can be any existing server that provides real-time flow and traffic density related updates. The server 150 is a secondary source for receiving the real-time traffic updates. In case if connectivity between alert lamp post 120 and control unit 110 is lost or sensorl 624 and 654 fails to gather traffic related data, the system 100 relies upon the server 150 as a secondary source that provides real-time monitoring of traffic in respective areas.

The handheld device 170 is configured with mobile application. Mobile application keeps sending location of handheld device 170 to the control unit 110. If control unit finds handheld device 170 is nearby the road where to upcoming ambulance 155 is about to arrive then a push notification is sent to handheld device 170 by control unit 110 to notify about arrival of ambulance 155. The handheld device 170 present with traffic police 930 or any person can notify the control unit 110 about deadlock situation with its GPS location. This information is considered by the control unit 110 to calculate new optimal route to reach the destination.

Referring to FIG.7, a block diagram of control unit 110 of the system in accordance with the present invention is shown. The control unit 110 includes a historical data 710, a live data 720, a learning and optimization unit 730 and an optimum path selection unit 740. The historical data unit 710 includes a driver name 711, a vehicle type 712, a day of the week and date 713, a time of the day 714, other information such as list of festival days 715, a road conditions in summer, winter and rainy seasons 716, an estimated journey time (ATR) 717 and an actual time taken by vehicle to complete journey 719 for all previous tours.

The live data 720 includes shortest route 721, traffic density 722, traffic flow 723 and congestion data 734 reported by any person on route. The live data 720 and historical data 710 is taken as input to a learning and optimization unit 730 and output is obtained by optimum path selection unit 740 where the selected route is sent back to the traffic tracking device 160. Utilizing of historical data 710 and live data 720 for selecting optimal route has advantage of being most accurate prediction about fastest travel of vehicle 155 along the selected route, than any other existing method of shortest path selection.

Referring to FIG. 8, an operational flow for the system 100 in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. In an initial step 802, the control unit 110 receives destination to be reached by ambulance driver. In the next step 804, the control unit 110 fetches the current location of traffic tracking devicel60.

In the next step 806, the control unit 110 gathers live data720 from the alert lamp posts 120 through the sensorl 624. In step 808, the control unit 110 utilizes the gathered live data 720 and historical data 710 to calculate all possible routes from current location of vehicle 155 to destination place 185 that was selected by the ambulance driver as per step 802. The step 806 and step 808 forward the data towards step 810.

In step 810, the control unit 110 utilizes the data obtained from learning and optimization unit 730 (refer FIG.7) to calculate optimal and fastest route within the selected routes as per step 806. Further, based on the data stored within the server unit 110, shortest route with minimum traffic is selected and then forwarded towards step 812.

In step 812, the control unit 110 notifies all the alert lamp post 120 positioned over the selected route about the arrival of the ambulance. In next step 814, based on speed of the ambulance and the location of each alert lamp post 120, the control unit 110 calculates the approximate time (ATR) needed by the ambulance to reach each of the alert lamp post 120.

The calculated approximate time to reach is then forwarded towards the step 816. In step 816, the ATR is periodically transmitted towards the alert lamp post unit 120 based on some predefined factors. The alert lamp post unit 120 activates the hooters according to the ATR received from the control unit 110.

In the next step 818, the traffic police 930 present on the route of ambulance are notified before the arrival of the ambulance in that particular area. In the next step 820, the hand held device 170 present with the person on the route of ambulance is notified before the arrival of the ambulance in that particular area.

In step 822, if the ambulance 155 is not passed by the alert lamp post 120 then the control unit 110 bleeps the hooters and the control is transferred towards step 816 whereas, if the ambulance is passed from said alert lamp post 120 then control is transferred towards step 824.

In step 824, the control unit 110 sends the stopping notifications to the said alert lamp post 120. In step 826, if the ambulance is not reached the specified destination then the process repeats from step 814 to 826. In step 826, if the ambulance 155 has reached the specified destination then the control is transferred towards step 828 and step 830.

In step 828, the control unit 110 sends stop alerting notifications to the traffic police 930 and the handheld devices 170 as the ambulance 155 has passed through the specified route. In step 830, when the ambulance 155 is passed through said alert lamp post 120 the control unit 110 end deactivation notification to the said alert lamp post 120.

Referring to FIGS. 9 A, 9B, 9C and 9D the system 100 includes plurality of alert lamp posts 120 a plurality of deactivated alert lamp posts 910, plurality of activated alert lamp posts 920, an ambulance 155, selected route to destination 940, traffic police 930 and the selected destination of the ambulance 950.

FIG. 9A depicts scenario that ambulance 155 has not selected any path to destination and all alert lamp posts 120 are in deactivated state.

FIG. 9B depicts scenario that alert lamp posts 120 which are in near vicinity of ambulance 155 are activated 920 and starts bleeping with higher frequency, loudness and intensity.

FIG. 9C depicts scenario that traffic tracking 160 has received selected optimum route 940 to destination 950 and the ambulance 155 has reached in midway of its journey to destination 950. FIG. 9D depicts scenario that ambulance 155 has already reached to desired destination 950 and all alert lamp posts 120 on selected routes 940 gets deactivated.

Referring to FIG. 9E, an exemplary scenario of traffic tracking device 160 directly communicating with nearby alert lamp posts 120, for the system 100 in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. In context of the present invention, the traffic tracking device 160 communicates directly with the alert lamp post 120 in an exemplary situation when the control unit 110 cannot establish communication directly with the traffic tracking device 160 or alert lamp post 120 cannot communicate with control unit 110. The traffic tracking device 160 communicates directly with alert lamp posts 120 which are in wireless range of RF/Wi-Fi unit 630, to notify about arriving ambulance 155 by sending activation signal 970 and location of destination (in the form of latitude and longitude) selected by ambulance 155. These alert lamp posts 120 get activated and starts bleeping. Also these newly activated alert lamp posts 120 knows that activation signal 970 is received directly from traffic tracking device 160 and not from control unitl lO, they further broadcasts activation signal 970 and coordinates of route to selected destination to other alert lamp posts 120. Upon receiving activation signal 970 towards selected destination 950, the alert lamp posts 120 checks whether they fall on the route to destination. If so then they also get activated and broadcasts signal further.

Referring to FIG.8, scenario of multilane road infrastructure, for the system 100 in accordance with the present invention is illustrated, where the system 100 illustrates a deactivated alert lamp post 1010, an activated lamp post 1020, an overhead horizontal mounting 1030 on which alert lamp posts 1010 and 1020 are installed, an arriving ambulance 1050, a direction of traffic flow 1060, a selected lane 1042 for ambulance 1050 to travel in multilane scenario, an any passenger vehicle 1002 that is available on road other than ambulance 1050.

For multilane road system, the 1044 is any other lane where passenger vehicles will travel. Generally alert lamp posts 120 are positioned on the lane that is allocated for fast moving vehicles. From the plurality of alert lamp posts 120 installed in multilane system, the lane where traffic flow is sensed to be the fastest with less traffic congestion is selected for ambulance to travel on. For multilane route, the alert lamp posts 120 will be equipped with visual indications in the form of arrows to indicate to nearby vehicles to move towards the nearby lanes and to evacuate the said lane for upcoming ambulance 155.

Referring to FIGs 1-10, in operation, the ambulance driver selects the destination 185. The location details of the destination 185 are sent to the control unit 110 where the control unit 110 calculates the available routes to reach the destination 185. The handheld device 170 can send data to control unit 110 regarding updates of traffic congestion.

The control unit 110 utilizes learning and optimization unit 730 and historical data 710 and live data 720 to choose the route that has minimum traffic and is the fastest route to reach the destination 185 from the available routes. After the selection of the shortest route the alert lamp post 120 existing over said selected route are activated to notify about the upcoming ambulance.

The alert lamp post 120 activates the hooters with a sound low frequency and amplitude and the low intensity light when the ambulance is at least 5 minutes away from the alert lamp post 120. The hooters bleep with sound having high frequency and amplitude also with more light intensity as soon as the ambulance 415 is 2-5 minutes away from said alert lamp post 120.

WPT/WVT unit 622 transmits power and activation signal to ambulance tracking device 180 installed inside passenger vehicle 175 to indicate about arrival of ambulance. The control unit 110 sends a notification to the patrolling traffic police 930 regarding the arrival of the ambulance 155.

The hooters stop bleeping once the ambulance 155 is passed through the said alert lamp posts 120. The traffic signaling lamp post 130 are configured to control the traffic signal lights 310, 320, 330, 340 as per the demand of situation. The control unit 110 stops notifying the traffic police 930 when the ambulance 155 passes by the said alert lamp post 120. The plurality of alert lamp posts 120 are deactivated once the ambulance 155 reaches the destination 430.

Location in the form of latitude and longitude of each alert lamp post unit 120 is stored within the database 510 of control unit 110. In context of the present invention, the hooters of the alert lamp post unit 120 are configured to bleep at low frequency and less loudness sound when the approximate time of ambulance to reach the alert lamp post 120 is greater than 5 minutes. As the approximate time of ambulance to reach the alert lamp post 120 is in the range of 2-5 minutes, the hooters start bleeping in high frequency and with louder sound. Further, the hooter bleeps continuously with maximum possible frequency when, ATR of the ambulance is less than 2 minutes. The hooters stop bleeping once the ambulance 155 is passed from said alert lamp post unit 120.

Each alert lamp post 120 and traffic signaling lamp post 130 is equipped with digital display that indicates the ATR to notify the pedestrians that the ambulance is about to arrive. Above mentioned display is made up of LED or other technology which is capable of superseding ambient light so that digits shown on display can be seen from 300 meter away.

For silent zones such as hospital, school areas where audio alarming system can’t be enabled, only visual alarming system and mechanically waving flag mechanism 620 is used to indicate pre-arrival notification of the ambulance 155.

In day time both audio and visual alarming systems are used for ambulance pre-arrival notification. The audio-visual alarming system is configured to deactivate the hooters during night time to prevent the inconvenience caused by the audio alarming system to nearby residents. The RTC (real time clock) and light intensity sensors are employed to sense night time duration.

The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others, skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

It is understood that various omission and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but such are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1) A system for vehicle prearrival notification and optimal route selection comprising:

a control unit 110 having an optimization unit 520, the control unit 110 configured for selection of best route; an alert lamp post 120 having at least one solar panel 210, at least one wind mill 220, an audio-visual alarming system 230, pluralities of flag 240, a mounting support 250, and a sensor unit 260; a traffic signaling lamp post 130 having at least one solar panel 652, at least one wind mill 650, a Wi-Fi transceiver and radio frequency 660, a traffic signal RYGB lamp 656, the traffic signaling lamp post 130 communicating the control unit 110 through the Wi-Fi transceiver 660; and

a traffic signal 140 having a plurality of RYGB lamp traffic signal lamp 674 including a blue LED indication 310, a Wi-Fi and Radio Frequency transceiver 676, the traffic signal 140 communicating the control unit 110 through the Wi-Fi transceiver 676;

an ambulance tracking device 180 having an indicating unit 410, a connector cable 420 and an antenna 430 for signal reception;

a traffic tracking device 160 having a Wi-Fi transceiver and radio frequency 686, an accelerometer 690, the accelerometer 690 tracking the speed of the ambulance 155, wherein

the traffic tracking device 160 communicating with the control unit 110 through the Wi-Fi transceiver and radio frequency unit 686, the control unit 110 utilizing a learning and optimization unit 730 for selection of the best route by electively communicating with the alert lamp post unit 120 and the traffic signaling lamp post 130 based on selected route thereby activating the audio-visual alarming system 230 and the blue LED indication 310 for facilitating ambulance pre arrival notification. 2) The traffic tracking device of claim 1 comprises:

a microcontroller unit 680, the microcontroller unit 680 controlling the operations of all components of the traffic tracking device 160;

a GSM/GPRS 682, the GSM/GPRS 682 establishing communication to the control unit 110;

a Global Position System device 684, Global Position System device 684 transmitting the location of the traffic tracking device 160 in predefined time intervals;

the Wi-Fi and Radio Frequency transceiver 686, the Wi-Fi and Radio Frequency transceiver 686 establishing communication to the control unit 110;

a graphical display 688, the graphical display 688 facilitating touch screen input from the user of the traffic tracking device 160 ;

the accelerometer 690, the accelerometer 690 mapping and analyzing the driving parameters of a driver of the vehicle and the ambulance;

a solar panel 692, the solar panel 692 positioned on the topmost portion of the vehicle receiving and conserving the solar radiations;

a charge controller 694, the charge controller 694 regulates the rate at which the electric current is injected into a battery 696;

a battery 696, the battery 696 storing the energy generated by the solar panel 692; and

the traffic tracking device 160 is positioned within the ambulance

155.

3) The ambulance tracking device of claim 1 comprises:

a power capture unit 632, the power capture unit 632 having the antenna 430 and a power conditioning and regulating unit, for receiving power transmitted from the transmitter unit of alert lamp post 120; an audio-visual indicator 634, the audio-visual indicator 634 facilitating vibrating alert along with audio visual alert for notifying the passenger about the arrival of the ambulance;

a battery or super-capacitor 636, receiving and storing energy received by the power capture unit 632;

a plurality of solar panels 638, the solar panels receiving and conserving the solar radiations; and

the ambulance tracking device 180 is mounted on a passenger vehicle 175.

4) The system for vehicle prearrival notification and optimal route selection as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit 110 includes a database 510 and the optimization unit 520 for optimal route selection that utilizes a historical data 710 and a live data 720 received from a sensorl 624 positioned at the alert lamp posts 120 and from a handheld device 170 to predict optimum and fastest route for ambulance 155 to reach to destination 185.

5) The system for vehicle prearrival notification and optimal route selection as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alert lamp post 120 includes pluralities of the solar panels 210, pluralities of the wind mills 220, audio-visual alarm 230, a Microcontroller unit 610, a battery 612, a charge controller 614, a flag waving mechanism 620, a WPT/WVT 622, the sensor 1 624, a GSM/GPRS unit 628 and the Wi-Fi and Radio Frequency transceiver 630, audio-visual alarm 230 alerting the people present nearby the alert lamp post unit 120 about the arrival of the ambulance 155.

6) The system for vehicle prearrival notification and optimal route selection as claimed in claim 1, wherein the traffic signaling lamp post 130 includes that includes a Microcontroller unit 644, a battery 646, a charge controller

648, a windmill 650, a solar panel 652, a sensor2 654, a plurality of RYGB traffic signal lamp 656, a GSM/GPRS 658 and a Wi-Fi and Radio Frequency transceiver 660, the traffic signaling lamp post 130 communicates with the control unit 110 using the Wi-Fi transceiver 660 or GSM/GPRS unit 658.

7) The system for vehicle prearrival notification and optimal route selection as claimed in claim 1, wherein the traffic signal 140 includes a battery 664, a charge controller 666, a windmill 668, a solar panel 670, a Microcontroller unit 672, a plurality of RYGB traffic signal lamp 674 including a blue indicating light 310 configured to alert the people about the arrival of the ambulance 155.

8) The system for vehicle prearrival notification and optimal route selection as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit 110 communicates with a server 150 for receiving real time updates of traffic flow in case the alert lamp post unit 120 fails to send traffic data to control unit 110, ambulance 155 directly send its current location and route to be travelled, to nearby alert lamp posts 120 and these alert lamp posts 120 further send this data to all other alert lamp posts 120.

9) The system for vehicle prearrival notification and optimal route selection as claimed in claim 1, wherein the audio visual alarming system 230 bleeping the hooters at low frequency and loudness when the approximate time of the ambulance 155 to reach said alert post 120 is more than 2 minutes and bleeping the hooters at high frequency when the approximate time of the ambulance to reach said alert post 120 is less than 2 minutes and alert lamp post deactivating its audio-visual alerts once the ambulance 155 is passed by particular alert lamp posts 120. 10) The system for vehicle prearrival notification and optimal route selection as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit 110 notifies the traffic police 930, person using the handheld device 170 about the arrival of the ambulance 155 and the person using handheld device 170, the traffic police 930 notifies server 150 about traffic congestion with its GPS location, server 150 uses this updated information to calculate optimal route to reach to the destination.

11) The system and device for vehicle pre arrival notification and optimal fastest route selection 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein alert lamp posts 120 communicates to server 110 for requesting alternate optimal route if traffic density is not reduced even after loud alarm indicating arrival of ambulance 155, upon such request server 150 recalculates alternate optimal route using traffic updates and also informs alternate optimum route to traffic tracking device 160.

12) The system and device for vehicle pre arrival notification and optimal fastest route selection 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein audio indicators 226 and visual indicators 222 on lamp post 120 remain activated during day time whereas during night time only visual indicators 222 are activated and in silent zones, audio indicators 226 are disabled and high intensity flashing lights 222 and mechanically waving flags 240 are activated for indication.

13) The system and device for vehicle pre arrival notification and optimal fastest route selection 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein combination sensor 268 on lamp post 120 is configured with radio detection and ranging sensor, light detection and ranging sensor and image capturing devices 262, 264 are configured with image processing hardware 266 to sense the traffic density and traffic flow on the adjacent road.