ES2351012B1 - DIGITAL IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM AWAY FROM VEHICLES - Google Patents

Abstract

The system of the invention is constituted from a coordinating device, a series of beacon devices that form a network, and a series of terminals implanted in each vehicle, so that all of them have a communications module based on low frequency radiofrequency (ZigBee) (11-25-2), through which it is possible to transmit and receive information, so that the vehicles in which the terminal is installed will have a memory (1) in which the data is recorded of the vehicle, which will be detected by the beacon devices passing through its vicinity, data that will be sent to the coordinating device for analysis and registration. If there are no intermediate beacons, the terminal devices may send and receive data from and with the coordinator directly. The terminal devices may incorporate a screen (9) through which the information sent by the coordinating device will be issued through the different beacons, such as stop messages, works or accidents in the immediate vicinity, etc ...

Description

Digital remote vehicle identification system.

Object of the invention

The present invention refers to a system that has been specially designed to allow remote identification of vehicles in a fully automated manner, in order to record their positioning, speed, etc., as well as to warn them of possible incidents.

The invention is therefore placed in the field of vehicles, both land and sea.

Background of the invention

In the practical scope of the invention, the only known vehicle identification system is the one based on the “electronic toll system”, consisting of a series of devices used for the payment of the amount of traffic on a highway, which is actually a vehicle, equipped with a device Radio frequency emitter, going through a detector arc, is detected by the system, which automatically charges the account assigned to that vehicle to the amount that is allocated, when recognizing and discriminating the signal received, so that it has to stop at that toll, with the consequent and negative impact on the level of loss of time it takes and expects it to be expected.

However, these types of devices satisfactorily fulfill the function for which they have been planned, they are expensive, by incorporating satellite location or communications technology via GMS, GPRS, they have a high electrical consumption, they are bulky devices, and above all, they do not They are designed to control the positioning of the vehicles or the length of a given network, receive messages from the authorities, and other functions that will become apparent throughout this description.

Description of the invention

The system of digital identification of the distance that the invention proposes resolves in a fully satisfactory way the previously exposed problem, allowing to control at all times the positioning, speed, and other data of the vehicles that are within the network covered by the system, as well as to warn them of possible incidents.

For this, three types of devices participate in the system of the invention:

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A coordinating device, which is in charge of controlling the entire system, will have a graphical interface that will allow access to the information collected by the system through the different terminals, with a communications module based on low frequency radio frequency (ZigBee).

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Terminal devices; installed in each vehicle, they are limited to storing and transmitting data, through a communications module based on low consumption radio frequency (ZigBee) with integrated programmable microcontroller.

Through said communications module, said device may send a signal for its location and identification by a beacon, and consequently of the coordinating device, as well as receiving information, which will be displayed through a screen. Communication will be established automatically with the coordinator if there are no intermediate beacons.

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Beacon devices: Arranged on a series of signaling arcs distributed throughout the network that covers the system, they can receive signals from vehicles through a low-frequency radiofrequency communication module (ZigBee) with integrated programmable microcontroller, as well as send them data, process that will be registered in the coordinating device, with which they will communicate through the rest of the beacon devices, by forming a network of nodes close enough to each other to be able to communicate with each other and act as data transmission elements in both directions with respect to the coordinating device.

The three devices can be both mobile and fixed.

According to how much has been exposed, the beacons can be known at any time the number of vehicles as well as their preprogrammed identification data in their terminal devices, assigning them at each point a specific date and time, which allows to calculate the speed of the movement, and consequently ensure compliance with the traffic regulations that limit them, at least speed refers, or where appropriate automatically sanction the offender, check that a series of vehicles meet their agreed routes, etc.

Likewise, the system will serve to warn drivers through the sending of the corresponding signal, that they are approaching an area in which an incident has occurred, such as the cut of a lane, an accident, presence of fog banks, etc., information that It will be displayed in the terminal automatically when passing through the corresponding beacon.

In the same way, the terminal device may send information to the rest of the vehicles with the terminal in case of an accident, alerts or SOS, to beacons or to coordinators.

These means of communication can also be used so that traffic agents can communicate directly with a vehicle when they deem it convenient.

The system described above, allows for a completely wireless communication, avoiding expensive and expensive cable underground installations, with reduced device sizes, as well as their electrical consumption, with a range between devices of the order of 4 kilometers, and 65,000 nodes can be integrated into each network, which may work according to different topologies, point to point, star crash, with a data transmission of 250 Kbps.

However, the system of the invention can be combined with other technologies, such as GPS, GPRS, etc., being compatible with all sensor types, presenting, being equally applicable as a measure of remote management and remote control.

Description of the drawings

To complement the description that is being carried out and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of practical realization thereof, it is accompanied as part of the description, a game where drawing with an illustrative and non-limiting nature, the following has been represented:

Figure 1.- Shows a block diagram of the different electronic components of which the coordinating device that participates in the digital remote vehicle identification system of the invention is composed.

Figure 2.- Shows a block diagram similar to that of Figure 1, but corresponding to a terminal device.

Figure 3.- Shows a block diagram of the main elements that participate in the beacon devices.

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

In view of the aforementioned figures, it can be seen how at least one coordinating device participates in the system of the invention, such as that shown in Figure 1, which communicates with a plurality of beacon devices, such as that shown in Figure 3, which they form a network, spaced apart from each other enough to allow wireless communication between them, so that each vehicle is assigned a terminal like the one shown in Figure 2, which is detected when entering within the coverage of each beacon , being able to establish a two-way communication between all the devices that participate in the system.

More specifically, and as can be seen in Figure 2, the terminal device will incorporate an internal memory (1) in which the vehicle data, such as registration, owner, insurance data, date of the ITV will be stored , etc., internal memory that will be integrated in a communications module based on low-energy radio frequency (ZigBee) (2), equipped with a micro-controller (3), to which the corresponding antenna (4) is associated with hose, device that will have its own encapsulated (5), with a power supply (6), which establishes a voltage regulator (7) and an input fi lter (8).

Said microcontroller, assisted by the corresponding software, may incorporate a screen (9), as well as another series of sensors (10), if these were necessary.

Through the antenna, the terminal is identified at every step by each beacon, while through the screen the messages received by the Authority in question or the beacon devices can be displayed.

As you can see in Figure 1, the coordinating device consists of a communications module based on low frequency radiofrequency (ZigBee) (11), associated with a microcontroller (12), equipped with a memory (13), and the corresponding antenna (14) with hose , being able to incorporate the corresponding sensor (18), assisted element as in the case of the terminal by a power supply (15) equipped with an input filter (16) and the corresponding voltage regulator (17), with the particularity of incorporating an integrated system (19) with a microprocessor (20), and an embedded operating system (21), assisted by the corresponding memory (22), to which at least one display (23) and a keyboard (24) are associated.

As previously mentioned, this device will allow writing and sending messages, allowing other vehicles to report unforeseen or dangerous situations, as well as arrest warrants.

The coordinating device will communicate with the vehicles through the network of beacon devices, such as the one shown in Figure 3, which are constituted from a communications module based on low frequency radiofrequency (ZigBee) (25), equipped with a microcontroller (26), with its corresponding internal memory (27), and its communications antenna (28), being able to incorporate additional sensor (29), all of this powered electrically through a power source (30), where an input fi lter (31) is established and a voltage regulator (32).

Although the beacons must be located close enough to others to be within their coverage margin, they can be used to delineate and control large spaces without having to cover their entire surface with these beacons, but simply the perimeter of the same , so that both the entry and exit of any vehicle on said surface will be detected.

This application can be of great interest in the naval field, although it is equally applicable in the land area.

It is noteworthy that the terminal devices may be under beacon areas and small-sized coordinator on purpose, such as a ship. In this case the terminal device will be carried by the people on the boat, so you can know if someone has fallen into the water quickly. In case of definitive loss of that person, it will be possible to determine their position if any beacon or coordinator device is placed at a sufficient distance to enter coverage, approximately 4Km in the open sea.

Finally, it should be noted that the system could be equally applicable in events such as races, rallies or similar, long-distance, in which a series of points are established that must be passed, after passing through the goal, in order to allow to check the passage of the vehicles through the different control points, as well as to quickly detect possible deviations from them.

Claims (4)

1. Remote vehicle digital identification system, characterized in that a coordinating device participates in it, a series of beacon devices form a network, and a series of terminals implanted in each vehicle, with the particularity that the coordinating device is constituted from a module of communications based on radiofrequency of low consumption (ZigBee) (11), with its corresponding microcontroller (12), and internal memory (13), module assisted by a power supply (15), and to which an integrated system (19) is associated with a microprocessor (20), and an embedded operating system (21), with an interface for sending and receiving information from the beacon devices and terminals, the beacon devices being constituted to distribute a communications module based on low frequency radio frequency (ZigBee) (25), for transmission and reception of data from the coordinating device, terminals, and other s beacon devices, equipped with a microcontroller (26), with corresponding internal memory (27), and assisted by the corresponding power supply, the terminals also consisting of a communications module based on low frequency consumption (ZigBee) (2), equipped with a microcontroller and an internal memory (1) in which the vehicle data is stored, an element assisted by the corresponding power supply, with the particularity that the beacon devices are located forming a network in which the distance between the nearest beacons is equal to or less than radio range of your radio signal.

2.

System for remote digital identification of vehicles, according to claim 1, characterized in that the terminal can optionally incorporate a screen (9).

3.

System for remote digital identification of vehicles, according to previous claims, characterized in that the communications modules based on low-energy radio frequency (ZigBee) (2), (11) and (25) of the coordinating device, beacon and terminal, incorporate respective antennas (14 ), (28), (4), while their respective power supplies (15), (30) and (6) incorporate an input fi lter (16), (31), (8) and a voltage regulator (17), (32 ), (7).

5 6 SPANISH PATENTS AND BRANDS OFFICE Application no .: 200901185 SPAIN Date of submission of the application: 08.05.2009

REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE

Priority Date: 00-00-0000 00-00-0000 00-00-0000

51 Int. Cl.:

G08G 1/017 (2006.01)

H04W 4/00 (2009.01)

 RELEVANT DOCUMENTS  

Category

56 Documents cited Claims Affected

X

XP 031425272 A. DDISSANAYAKE, S.D .; KARUNASEKARA, P.P.C .; LAKMANAARACHCHI, D.D .; RATHANAYAKA, A .; SAMARASINGHE, A.T.L., " Zigbee Wireless Vehicular Identification and Authentication System " Information and Automation for Sustainability, 2008. ICIAFS 2008. 4th International Conference on, pp. 257-260, 12-14 Dec. 2008, the whole document. doi: 10.1109 / ICIAFS.2008.4783998 URL: http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber= 4783998 & isnumber = 4783905 1-3

TO

US 5875183 A (NITADORI et al.) 23.02.1999, column 4, line 15-column 18, line 50; figures. 1-3

Category of the documents cited X: of particular relevance Y: of particular relevance combined with other / s of the same category A: reflects the state of the art O: refers to unwritten disclosure P: published between the priority date and the date of priority submission of the application E: previous document, but published after the date of submission of the application

This report has been prepared • for all claims □ for claims no:

Date of realization of the report 28.09.2010

Examiner J. Herrando Calvo Page 1/4

Application number: 200901185 REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE Minimum documentation sought (classification system followed by classification symbols) G08G, H04W Electronic databases consulted during the search (name of the database and, if possible, search terms used) INVENTIONS, EPODOC, WPI  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 200901185 Date of Completion of Written Opinion: 09.28.2010

Statement

Novelty (Art. 6.1 LP 11/1986)

Claims 1-3 YES

Claims _____________________________________

NO

Inventive activity

Claims _____________________________________ YES

(Art. 8.1 LP11 / 1986)

Claims 1-3 NO

The application is considered to comply with the industrial application requirement. This requirement was evaluated during the formal and technical examination phase of the application (Article 31.2 Law 11/1986).  Opinion Base.- This opinion has been made on the basis of the patent application as published.  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 200901185 1. Documents considered.- The documents belonging to the state of the art taken into consideration for the realization of this opinion are listed below.

Document

Publication or Identification Number publication date

D01

XP 031425272 A 12.12.2008

D02

US 5875183 A 23.02.1999

2. Statement motivated according to articles 29.6 and 29.7 of the Regulations for the execution of Law 11/1986, of March 20, on Patents on novelty and inventive activity; quotes and explanations in support of this statement The main object of the invention is a remote vehicle identification system. Document D01, which affects the inventive activity of all claims, is explained as the state of the art document closest to the object claimed, as explained below: Independent claim R1 Document D01 discloses a vehicle identification and authentication system based on Zigbee technology that includes devices with microcontroller, memory, power supply and a radiofrequency communication module as described in claim R1. The difference between document D01 and the object of the present invention is that while in the system of document D01 the communication with the central node is carried out by means of ethernet, in claim R1 all communication is by radio frequency of low consumption (Zigbee) . The technical effect of this difference is that by performing the entire system under the same protocol it is easier to implement and consumption is reduced. However, it is generally known to the person skilled in the art that ethernet communication can be exchanged for radio frequency communication (Zigbee) when circumstances advise. On the other hand, the coordinator, router or end-device devices are known and used by Zigbee technology and implementing this type of devices in beacons or terminals is a well-known technique and therefore, obvious to an expert in the field. Consequently, independent claim R1 of the present application is not considered to imply inventive activity (Article 8.1 LP). Dependent claims R2-R3 The features claimed by claim R2 are considered obvious to one skilled in the art, since it is considered that it requires no inventive effort to add a screen to a digital vehicle identification system. With respect to claim R3, the person skilled in the art considers, on the one hand, as a normal design option to include antennas in the radio frequency communication modules and, on the other, to include a regulator with its input filter in its corresponding power supplies. Therefore, in claims R2 and R3 of the present application, no inventive activity is appreciated (Article 8.1 LP). Report on the State of the Art (Written Opinion) Page 4/4