ZETTA RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LLC - FORC SERIES Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20150146605 | V2V SAFETY SYSTEM USING CONSENSUS - A vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication system, method and transponder for use in V2V communication, safety and anti-collision systems is described, using a continual, iterative consensus algorithm involving a consensus subset of vehicles within a communication range. The consensus set of vehicles participating in the consensus algorithm may not be the same. The algorithm comprises determining a parameter value used by the vehicles in the consensus set, then averaging, with modifications and rate of change limitations, the values from the consensus set for next use by each transponder. Parameters include two axis of location, elevation, transmit power and time base. Transmit power may be response to demand and range. Methods of obtaining the as-used values are described, as are equations and ranges. Embodiments include a hybrid protocol using both TDMA and CSMA. No central authority or road-side equipment (RSU) is required. | 05-28-2015 |
20150131637 | V2V SYSTEM WITH A HYBRID PHYSICAL LAYER - A vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication transponder for use in V2V communication, safety and anti-collision systems using a hybrid protocol combining time-division multiplexed access (TDMA), with collision sense multiple access (CSMA) protocol. The TDMA frame is broken into regions, a priority and emergency TDMA region, and a non-priority CSMA region. The sizes of the TDMA regions change dynamically based on demand, with the CSMA region using the remaining time slots. Transponders self-select time slots; selected slots are held until a new time slot selection criteria; all transponders participate in notifying a transponder of a time slot message collision. An inter-transmission guard time may be dynamic based on range. Embodiments are free of MAC and IP addresses. No central authority or road-side equipment (RSU) is required. Embodiments include equipped vehicles and V2V system using the transponder. | 05-14-2015 |
20150081201 | V2V SAFETY SYSTEM USING VEHICLE LOCATION AS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION - A vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication transponder for use in V2V communication, safety and anti-collision systems using only a vehicle location for vehicle ID is described. Message embodiments are free of pre-assigned permanent vehicle identification. A hybrid TMDA and CSMA protocol is used. Vehicle position is broadcast as an offset in distance units from a pre-defined geographical grid in degree units. A transponder may proxy for non-equipped vehicle. A proxy handoff and message coding for a proxy message are described. Embodiments are free of MAC and IP addresses. No central authority or road-side equipment (RSU) is required. Embodiments include equipped vehicles and V2V system using the transponder. Embodiments include equipped vehicles and V2V system using the transponder. | 03-19-2015 |
20150077270 | V2V SAFETY SYSTEM USING SELF-GENERATED LANE MAPS - A vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication transponder for use in V2V communication, safety and anti-collision systems incorporating a location point store and a lane records store, wherein the lane records are constructed by the transponder from the point in the location point store, location points are received from other moving transponders, and lane records are shared between transponder response to a request. Separate source counts are kept for internally generated and shared lane records. Methods of sharing are described. Lane types are also derived from the location point store and other vehicle behavior. No central authority, road-side equipment, (RSU), or pre-determined lane maps are required. Embodiments include a hybrid protocol using both TDMA and CSMA. Some embodiments are free of MAC and IP addresses. Embodiments include equipped vehicles and V2V system using the transponder. | 03-19-2015 |
20130293394 | OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY IN A VEHICLE-TO-VEHICLE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM - A vehicle communication system providing, in one embodiment, wirelessly transmitting and receiving messages regarding the status of parking spaces, such as empty or occupied. Only vehicles belonging to a predetermined set are able to decrypt such messages, in one embodiment. Message formats to comprise a group of parking spaces are described. An embodiment includes a communication mode specific for vehicles in a parking lot. An embodiment includes messages describing the shape and size of vehicle entering or leaving a parking space. Efficient methods of coding vehicle type are described. Methods of improving the operational efficiency of a vehicle communication system, including passive RF reflectors, audio and video messages, safety, courtesy and social messages, and compliance with vehicle restrictions are in some embodiments. | 11-07-2013 |
20130282357 | OPTIMIZATION METHOD IN A VEHICLE-TO-VEHICLE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - A method of optimizing a vehicle-to-vehicle communication system is described. One embodiment uses a set of desired and defined metrics of success, combined with pre-recorded operating histories, combined with a series of simulations to optimize certain specific parameters in the vehicle-to-vehicle communication protocol. | 10-24-2013 |
20130282277 | GENERATING A LOCATION IN A VEHICLE-TO-VEHICLE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - Device, system and method, in a vehicle communication system, of generating a location by the use of combining the rough locations of a “consensus set” of vehicles within wireless communication range to produce more accurate locations of the vehicles in the consensus set. Unique features of some embodiments include the continual re-computation and re-adjustment of both the vehicles in the consensus set and the more accurate locations. Embodiments use sensors on a first vehicle, such as cameras, sonar, radar and LIDAR to determine the relative location of the second vehicle to the first vehicle. Embodiments use this relative location in the computation of the more accurate locations. Algorithms are described for the computation, communication, convergence and updating of the more accurate locations. Algorithms are described for generation and update of the consensus set. | 10-24-2013 |
20130282271 | ROUTE GUIDANCE SYSTEM AND METHOD - Device, system and method, in a vehicle communication system, of providing guidance, route and safety information to a driver. Embodiments use the observation and storage of signal light timing information to make recommendations. Embodiments include computation of future times of signal light changes. Embodiments use information relating to the number of vehicles, location of vehicles, and speed of vehicles in a plurality of lanes approaching a signal to recommend lane changes to a driver. Embodiments include receiving timing information wirelessly about signal timing. Embodiments include using historical information to compute a risk value for a location and then generating a recommendation to a driver responsive to that risk value. Embodiments include using speed of travel on route options to compute an expected travel time, and then generating a recommendation to a driver responsive to those computed travel times. | 10-24-2013 |
20130282267 | EXTRA-VEHICULAR ANTI-COLLISION SYSTEM - Device, system and method, in a vehicle communication system using a first protocol, of implementing a gateway using a distinct second protocol. Embodiments include a first protocol transmitting in a government set vehicle safety band, and a second protocol in the set of: WiFi, Bluetooth, cellular phone and cellular data. An embodiment uses a validity-testing module to prevent insecure messages on the second protocol from interfering with the first protocol. Both one-way and two-way inter-protocol message transfers are described. Embodiments use the gateway to communicate from a vehicle using the first protocol to pedestrians, bicyclists, and equipped animals using the second protocol. Embodiments use a computed and transmitted risk-of-collision value. Embodiments include a driver or operator warning responsive to the transmitted risk value. Embodiments include computation of likely future position. | 10-24-2013 |
20130281141 | VEHICLE COMMUNICATION MESSAGE FORWARDING SYSTEM AND METHOD - Device, system and method, in a vehicle communication system of wirelessly forwarding safety related messages. Methods are provided for limiting the number of duplicated transmissions. Methods are provided for limiting the scope of forwarded message. One embodiment uses the distance of the message originator to a first message forwarder to limit duplicate messages. Various embodiments limit the scope of messages forwarding by using a forwarding count; by considering distance forwarded, and by considering the heading of vehicles performing the message forwarding. Forwarding distance depends of message type and the risk contained within the message, in some embodiments. An embodiment uses a compact message encoding to identify an original versus a forwarded message. | 10-24-2013 |
20130281140 | VEHICLE-TO-VEHICLE ANTI-COLLISION SYSTEM AND METHOD USING POWER LEVELS - Device, system and method, in a vehicle communication system, of managing transmitted power levels among a group of transmitters so that the effective range of the group is approximately the same for members of the group. Various embodiments include transmitting a message comprising a currently used transmit power and a recommended power level. Embodiments include algorithms for varying transmit power levels subject to various criteria. Such criteria include the number of vehicles in the range, the size of the range, available wireless bandwidth. Unique features of some embodiments include the use of broadcast messages, and messages free of IP addresses and MAC addresses. | 10-24-2013 |
20130279695 | SECURE VEHICLE-TO-VEHICLE COMUNICATION SYSTEM - Device, system and method, in a vehicle communication system, of securely storing safety-related messages. Embodiments include both digital signing and digital encryption such that (i) stored message validity is assured; and (ii) only qualified or pre-selected recipients are able to decrypt the message. Embodiments include storing environmental information geographically related to a safety event. Embodiments include a plurality of vehicles within wireless communication range receiving a network warning message and then securely storing related information in response to the warning message. Embodiments include measuring time-of-transit of messages and using this measured time to triangulate position of a transmit source. This information may be transmitted or stored. Embodiments include forwarding of network warning messages. Algorithms are described to identify spoofed messages. | 10-24-2013 |
20130279491 | HYBRID PROTOCOL TRANSCEIVER FOR V2V COMMUNICATION - A device for use in, and system for, a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication and safety system that uses a hybrid combination of TDMA and CSMA protocols. The synchronized TDMA frame is partitioned into three prioritized time interval classes with differing priorities and dynamically changing sizes based on demand of higher-priority messages. The TDMA portions of a repeating time interval uses self-assigned dense time slots for high-priority safety messages, with one portion for emergency vehicles and road-side units. The CSMA protocol uses remaining available time for lower-priority and overflow messages. The higher-priority time interval classes change size dynamically based on the number of current transmissions. Modulation schemes, but not data link formats, use existing Standards. Embodiments include optimized traffic flow and signal timing. | 10-24-2013 |
20130279393 | DEVICE FOR SYNCHRONIZING A TIME BASE FOR V2V COMMUNICATION - A device and vehicle for use in, and system for, a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication and safety system that uses TDMA communication architecture with a self-synchronized TDMA time base. The time base starts with a GPS and internal clock, then fine-tunes by averaging the time bases of all vehicles within radio range. In the described algorithms, all vehicles within a communication range rapidly converge on a common time base to high precision. The regularly broadcast safety messages themselves are used for time base synchronizing, eliminating the need for separate time stamps or transmissions. A range group of vehicles, first converges itself, then converges the group on a UTC time via GPS. Embodiments include use of vehicle distances in time computations. Applications anti-collision systems, optimized traffic flow and signal timing. | 10-24-2013 |
20130279392 | VEHICLE-TO-VEHICLE SAFETY TRANSCEIVER FREE OF IP ADDRESSES - A transceiver in a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication and safety system that regularly broadcasts safety messages, comprising location, heading and speed, of a subject vehicle, that are free of MAC and IP addresses. The V2V system uses the location of the subject vehicle for vehicle identification, in place of a pre-assigned vehicle ID. Some embodiments broadcast safety message in self-assigned time slots in a synchronized TDMA broadcast architecture, with unusually short inter-message gaps and unusually short messages. The TDMA frame is partitioned into three prioritized time interval classes with differing priorities and dynamically changing sizes based on demand of higher-priority messages. Time slot selection uses weighted algorithms. Selected time slots are held until either a message collision or a timeout occurs. A transceiver equipped vehicle may proxy a different subject vehicle. Embodiments include optimized traffic flow and signal timing. | 10-24-2013 |
20130278443 | LANE MAPPING IN A VEHICLE-TO-VEHICLE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - Device, system and method, in a vehicle communication system, of generating lane maps. Embodiments use a plurality of location points to build up a lane, then record that lane in memory. Location points may be locations over which a first vehicle generating the lane map passes, or may be location points broadcast by a second vehicle to the first vehicle. Methods are described to wirelessly share lane information and lane maps between vehicles. Embodiments use a “confidence value” describing the confidence that the lane parameters are valid. Algorithms are described for creating and updating the confidence values. Methods of compressing and storing lane information and lane maps are described. Embodiments include geographic height in lane information. | 10-24-2013 |
20130278442 | RISK MANAGEMENT IN A VEHICLE ANTI-COLLISION SYSTEM - Device, system and method, in a vehicle communication system, of transmitting a risk value in a message, wherein the risk value identifies quantitatively a risk of vehicle collision. Embodiments determine risk value by combining sub-risk values wherein sub-risks comprise: (i) vehicle behavior; (ii) weather and road conditions; (iii) current traffic; and (iv) location history. Embodiments include driver warnings responsive to the risk value in a received message. Embodiments include a collision type in a message. Embodiments include unique features of: risk is applicable to receiving vehicles; risk is applicable to a geographical region; computation and storage of location histories; messages free of IP and MAC addresses; haptic devices used for driver warning. | 10-24-2013 |
20130278441 | VEHICLE PROXYING - Device, system and method, in a vehicle communication system, to transmit wirelessly the position, heading and speed of a vehicle or other moving object. In a key embodiment the vehicle is other than the transmitting vehicle. Some embodiment use local sensors on a first vehicle, such as cameras, sonar, radar or LIDAR to identify the relative position, heading and speed of a second vehicle relative to the first, transmitting, vehicle. An embodiment uses the location of the vehicle whose information is being transmitted as the identification of the same vehicle. Embodiments also receive these messages. Embodiments use this information as warning and safety information to avoid or minimize vehicle collisions. A unique feature of some embodiments is that the messages are free of IP and MAC addresses. | 10-24-2013 |
20130278440 | ANTI-COLLISION SYSTEM AND METHOD USING MESSAGE FORMATS CONTAINING DISTANCES - Device, system and method of implementing a wireless vehicle-to-vehicle anti-collision system. Details of message formats are described, particularly efficient formats using flags and compressed data, expressing distances, both in the horizontal and vertical directions. Details of protocols are described. Details of encoding locations, headings and speed are described. In one embodiment messages are free of IP addresses and MAC addresses. Roadway elevation is included in some embodiments. | 10-24-2013 |
20130258044 | MULTI-LENS CAMERA - A camera with multiple lenses and multiple sensors wherein each lens/sensor pair generates a sub-image of a final photograph or video. Different embodiments include: manufacturing all lenses as a single component; manufacturing all sensors as one piece of silicon; different lenses incorporate filters for different wavelengths, including IR and UV; non-circular lenses; different lenses are different focal lengths; different lenses focus at different distances; selection of sharpest sub-image; blurring of selected sub-images; different lens/sensor pairs have different exposures; selection of optimum exposure sub-images; identification of distinct objects based on distance; stereo imaging in more than one axis; and dynamic optical center-line calibration. | 10-03-2013 |
20130101134 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WIRELESS MICROPHONE APPARENT POSITIONING - System, method and device to provide apparent audio source position of a performer on a stage using a monophonic wireless microphone and volume modulation of left and right audio channels based on the actual position of the performer. Two audio channels are produced using a single audio input channel plus position information. Performances are enhanced by the perception of the audience that the source of the sound, such as singing, is the location of the performer on the stage. Other embodiments use additional audio channels. One embodiment uses the carrier amplitude of the wireless microphone to determine position. In another embodiment two or more wireless microphone receivers are used to improve position accuracy. The stage may be real, virtual or remote. The performance and/or audio may be live or recorded. Calibration and adjustment features are included in alternate embodiments. Constant power panning is included in one embodiment. | 04-25-2013 |