US5815802A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Traffic alert warning system and method for alerting vehicle operators of road conditions
Assignee: Highway Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1996-07-16
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Granted: 1998-09-29
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Expires: 2016-07-16
Abstract
Abstract A traffic alert warning system and method is provided for transmitting a road condition message to operators of vehicles when the system determines that a frequency channel to be used in broadcasting the message is not being used. The traffic alert warning system includes an activity level monitoring circuit for measuring the communication activity of the frequency channel, a channel availability logic circuit for determining if the frequency channel is available for transmission, a storage unit for storing a road condition message, and a transmitter assembly for transmitting the road condition message.
Inventors
- 👤 II Henry A. Loechner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 00:18
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/09; G08G1/0962; G08G1/0967; G08G1/096766; G08G1/096783; G08G1/096708; G08G1/096716; G08G1/096733; G08G1/096758; H; H04; H04B; H04B17/00; H04B17/10; H04B17/15; H04B17/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A traffic alert warning system operable in communication channels operating at different frequencies, comprising: a storage unit for storing a road condition message; means for monitoring a first of the communication channels and producing first channel signals indicative thereof; means responsive to the first channel signals for generating an activity level signal representative of the communication activity of the first communication channel; means for generating a first reference activity signal indicative of the activity level of the first channel over a predetermined time period; means for deriving an availability signal indicative of the availability of the first communication channel for transmitting the road condition message; and means responsive to the availability signal for enabling transmission of the road condition message in the storage unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
A traffic alert warning system operable in communication channels operating at different frequencies, comprising: a storage unit for storing a road condition message; means for monitoring a first of the communication channels and producing first channel signals indicative thereof; means responsive to the first channel signals for generating an activity level signal representative of the communication activity of the first communication channel; means for generating a first reference activity signal indicative of the activity level of the first channel over a predetermined time period; means for deriving an availability signal indicative of the availability of the first communication channel for transmitting the road condition message; and means responsive to the availability signal for enabling transmission of the road condition message in the storage unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The traffic alert warning system of claim 1, further comprising means for allowing a user of the system to select the time interval between successive transmissions of the road condition message.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The traffic alert warning system of claim 1, further comprising means for selecting the first communication channel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The traffic alert warning system of claim 1, further comprising a message recording assembly connected to the storage unit, said message recording assembly comprising means for recording a road condition message.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The traffic alert warning system of claim 1, further comprising a speaker assembly connected to the message recording assembly to enable audio transmission of the stored road condition message.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The traffic alert warning system of claim 1, and further including an array of traffic alert warning systems spaced from each other and located within their respective operating ranges from each other so that a road condition message can be along an extended road length.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
110 words
A traffic alert warning system operable in communication channels operating at different frequencies, comprising: means producing a road condition message; means for monitoring a first of the communication channels and generating channel signals indicative thereof; means responsive to the channel signals for generating an activity level signal representative of the communication activity of the first communication channel over a predetermined time period; means comparing the activity level signal with a channel signal and for producing an availability signal indicative of the availability of the first communication channel for transmitting the road condition message; and means responsive to the availability signal for transmitting said road condition message over said selected channel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
110 words
A traffic alert warning system operable in communication channels operating at different frequencies, comprising: means producing a road condition message; means for monitoring a first of the communication channels and generating channel signals indicative thereof; means responsive to the channel signals for generating an activity level signal representative of the communication activity of the first communication channel over a predetermined time period; means comparing the activity level signal with a channel signal and for producing an availability signal indicative of the availability of the first communication channel for transmitting the road condition message; and means responsive to the availability signal for transmitting said road condition message over said selected channel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The traffic alert warning system of claim 7 and further comprising: means for enabling transmission of the road condition message over a second communication channel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
The traffic alert warning system of claim 7 and further comprising: means for generating a second availability signal representative of the availability of a second communication channel for transmission of a road condition message, and means responsive to the first availability signal for causing transmission of the road condition message over said second communication channel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The traffic alert warning system of claim 9 and further comprising, means for enabling a user to select the second communication channel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The traffic alert warning system of claim 7 and further comprising, means for selecting the time interval between successive transmissions of the road condition message.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The traffic alert warning system of claim 7 and further comprising: means for recording a road condition message.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The traffic alert warning system of claim 7 and further comprising: a display and means for causing a display of a channel designation associated with a selected communication channel.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of alerting vehicle operators of road conditions, comprising the steps of: (l) providing a predetermined number of communication channels where each communication channel corresponds to a distinct predetermined frequency; (ii) storing a road condition message in a storage unit; (iii) monitoring a first of the communication channels by receiving channel signals indicative thereof; (iv) generating an activity level signal from the channel signals, the activity level signal representative of the communication activity of the first communication channel over a predetermined time period; (v) deriving an availability signal by comparing the activity level signal with a sample channel signal indicative of the first communication channel at a preselected time, the availability signal indicative of the availability of the first communication channel for transmitting the road condition message; and (vi) enabling transmission of the road condition message if the availability signal indicates the availability of the first communication channel for transmission.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of alerting vehicle operators of road conditions, comprising the steps of: (l) providing a predetermined number of communication channels where each communication channel corresponds to a distinct predetermined frequency; (ii) storing a road condition message in a storage unit; (iii) monitoring a first of the communication channels by receiving channel signals indicative thereof; (iv) generating an activity level signal from the channel signals, the activity level signal representative of the communication activity of the first communication channel over a predetermined time period; (v) deriving an availability signal by comparing the activity level signal with a sample channel signal indicative of the first communication channel at a preselected time, the availability signal indicative of the availability of the first communication channel for transmitting the road condition message; and (vi) enabling transmission of the road condition message if the availability signal indicates the availability of the first communication channel for transmission.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of providing a new sample channel signal indicative of the first communication channel at a preselected time interval and repeating steps (v) and (vi) with the new sample channel signal if the availability signal indicates the unavailability of the first communication channel for transmission.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of determining the occurrence of the availability signal indicating the unavailability of the first communication channel for transmission and causing a second of the communication channels to be selected for steps (iii)-(vi) if the occurrence exceeds a preselected number.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of enabling transmission of the road condition message at a second communication channel if the road condition message is transmitted via the first communication channel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of providing an actuator for selecting the first communication channel.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of providing a recording assembly for recording the road condition message.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-09-28 | 2002-03-30 | 2002-09-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-28 | 2006-03-30 | 2006-09-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-28 | 2010-03-30 | 2010-09-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |