Field of the invention

The present invention relates to apparatuses, methods and computer program products configured to achieve improvements in automatic notifications in relation to moving objects. A typical scenario or environment in relation to moving objects is for example "traffic". In particular, it relates to those apparatuses, methods and computer program products by means of which automatic notifications will be issued to traffic participants. Although road traffic and hence movable vehicles (exemplifying the moving objects) (such as lorries, cars, motor cycles or bicycles etc.) on roads may be used for describing examples of the present invention, principles thereof may also be transferred to environments such as non-roadbound traffic such as water traffic and moving ships or boats, or also railway traffic. Other application scenarios / environments can reside in persons and/or tramcars (exemplifiying moving objects, respectively) in a mine to guarantee/enhance the safety. Still further, pedestrian "traffic" is encompassed by examples of this invention, or also monitoring of "prisoners" in terms of violating a (restricted) area in which they are allowed to reside.

Background

Safety and security are of primary concern for any system in which objects are in movement such as a transport or (in its widest sense) traffic system. Transport or traffic accidents remain a large cause of death and a vast majority of transport accidents and deaths in the EU occur on the road. Safety on road is one of the important considerations. The government or local authorities released a lot of policies and implementations to reduce road fatalities, including improved technical requirements and administrative regulations. Although in most cases, the strict traffic rules and regulations can significantly reduce the accidents on the road, the impertinent subjective behaviors of drivers and pedestrians on the road are also a very important causation to result in traffic problems or accidents.

Various accident prevention mechanisms are under investigation to pre-detect the violations and pre-notify the accident. In general, accident prevention systems could be classified into two main categories:

1) Proactive whereby the risks are assessed beforehand and measures are introduced to prevent them happening;

2) Reactive where they are investigated and analyzed to find the causes to prevent a reoccurrence. A proactive method is more attractive since it can pre-notify the driver of vehicle's violation and significantly decrease the amount of accidents or mitigate the consequences of them to save people's life. Today's vehicles are being equipped with Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) to help the driver in its driving process to act preemptively to increase vehicle safety and more generally traffic or road safety. Typical examples of ADAS systems are: lane departure warning (LDW) system and intelligent speed adaptation (ISA) system.

A LDW system is designed to recognize lane markings and is activated to warn a driver when the vehicle begins to move out of its lane without using the turning signal on road. In traditional LDW systems, various optical (laser or infrared) or video-based (camera) technologies are adopted in the vehicle to detect the lane departure. These technologies keep sensing/monitoring the lane markings in front of the vehicle, analyze the vehicle's status, make the decision and warn the driver if the vehicle departs the lane. These LDWs are highly dependent on correct lane markings detection in visual domain. On roads with incorrect markings, bad visibility or fraise, the fundamental shortcomings of optical or camera-based sensors would lead to malfunction and not be of any help to the driver. Moreover, for these LDWs, high level computing capacities for image manipulation as well as complex control algorithms are required.

Some of those LDW systems are for example disclosed in documents US7881848B2, US20100238283, and US20100265325.

An ISA system can constantly monitor vehicle speed and the local speed limit on a road and implements an action when the vehicle is detected to be exceeding the speed limit. Traditional ISAs use information about the road to make decisions about what the correct speed should be. This information can be obtained through use of digital maps incorporating roadway coordinates as well as data on the speed zoning for that roadway at that location, through general speed zoning information for a defined geographical area, or through feature recognition technology that detects and interprets speed limit signage. These ISA systems, either GPS-based or signage recognition, require to real-time update digital map or correctly recognize the speed sign on the roadside. Hence, the recognition of time-based speed limit signage will result in very high CAPEX and OPEX with very low flexibility. Some of those ISA systems are for example disclosed in documents US6008740 and US20110288770A1.

Another notorious transport violation on road is driving on hard shoulder or dedicated lane. Traditionally, the hard shoulder or dedicated lanes are painted impressed words or figures on the lane surface or painted by vivid color to distinguish from other lanes. However, in case of night or abominable weather or bad visibility, the painted words/figures or the vivid color are difficult or even impossible to be discerned.

HASMOS system is a solution to monitor driving on hard should by utilizing outputs from inductive loops and video cameras positioned along the motorway, which is e.g. described in http://www.sea.co.uk/Docs/transport/hasmos%20cs%20auQ%2008. £df

Also the present applicant is investigating in image processing systems to be applied in vehicles to improve traffic and driver's safety.

In conclusion, current systems require either complex algorithms to determine the recognized signage or real-time updating digital maps to determine the limitation. These may reduce the convenience and reliability and graduate the user experience.

Since these mechanisms or solutions require either exact recognition or complex algorithms or real-time updating of digital map, irrespective of the above proposals there is still a need to further improve such systems.

Summary Various aspects of examples of the invention are set out in the claims.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus as defined in claims 1, 2, and 8, respectively;

and

a method as defined in claims 12, 13, and 19, respectively.

Advantageous further developments are set out in respective dependent claims.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, as set out in claims 23 and 24, respectively,, there are provided computer program products comprising respective computer-executable components which, when the program is run on a computer, are configured to perform the above method aspects, respectively.

That is, such computer program products also encompass computer readable storage media comprising a set of computer-executable instructions which, when the program is run on a device (or on a processor or processing unit thereof which may be part of a controller or control unit or control module), such as a terminal UE and its processor, cause the device to perform the method aspects. In particular, the above computer program product/products may be embodied as a computer-readable storage medium.

Briefly stated, at least according to example embodiments of the invention, there is provided an automatic notification mechanism via a novelly-designed RFID tag memory map as well as the well- deployed roadside and vehicle RFID systems to warn the drivers of the traffic events to improve the driving safety. Indication flags are introduced to indicate the various events by using specific bits, e.g. the PC bits and/or XPC bits and/or fi!ter bits in specific memory partitions, e.g. Bank 01 (EPC) of EPC Gen2 RFID tag memory. The roadside and vehicle RFID readers can dynamically initialize ("set") or release ("reset") the indication flags in the RFID tag. Interaction between the roadside and vehicle RFID systems is used to automatically not only notify the driver of traffic events but also acquire the driving records, e.g. for use by traffic authorities, police etc.

Accordingly, under at least aspects of this invention, improvements are achived in that:

- according to at least examples of the present invention, a driving security and safety system is presented which can be used to automatically record and notify drivers of violations or other critical messages in-time. Hence, potential accidents may be avoided and driving may become more secure;

- according to at least examples of the present invention, a secure and easy-to-use automatic proactive notification mechanism is presented to overcome the aforementioned problems;

- according to at least examples of the present invention, a simple, secure and easy-to-use mechanism to automatically detect the violations and other bad behaviors in traffic and/or on road and proactive notify the related person to avoid the accident.

Thus, the following advantages can be named as example advantages for at least some embodiments of the present invention:

- Automatic detection and notification of the traffic events to avoid accidents;

- Flexibility to update the traffic rules and policies; - Reliability by reading/writing the signage/notification via wireless communication ;

- Indication flags ca n be easily configured by service providers based on different events;

- Interaction between the roadside system and vehicle system can offer more attractive and humanized user experience.

Although there is a need to deploy such e.g . RFID system along the road as well as a need to equip e.g . a RFID system in the vehicles, the cost for RFID readers and tags are now very low due to the mass production . Hence, comparing the advantages, the additional efforts are minor.

Beca use of its distinct advantage comparing the camera-based solution, embodiments of this invention can be applied for various businesses of traffic events detection to enhance/replace other solutions for LDW, ISA and road monitoring applications, for example, the automatic highway speeding detection, automatic driving violation detection in bad weather, or automatic detection of driving on dedicated lane at peak hours in urban .

Embodiments of the present invention can be a pplied to/embodied in vehicle's communications system ; safety and security solutions; modems and wireless devices.

Automobile manufacturers may apply embodiments of this invention to the vehicle communication system by integrating it to the infotainment a nd telematics system, which can offer drivers/passengers value added services. Local road management authorities may utilize this invention to better control transport violations and reduce the accidents since this invention can automatically detect, notify and report the violations, Third party service provider may utilize this invention to offer safer and more secure driving service.

Since reading/writing on the RFID tag is tightly controlled by the service operator and vehicle, it is easy to recognize if one or more features of the invention are implemented.

Embodiments of the present invention introduce new RFID tag memory structure in RFID standards, at least in that

- Tag Flags are used to distinguish the roadside RFID tags and vehicle RFID tags so that the tag selection will be accelerated.

- Type Flags in vehicle RFID tags are used to distinguish the types of vehicles, for example, bus, ambulance, fire truck, police vehicle, private vehicle, etc.

- Read Flag in vehicle RFID tag is used to reduce the signaling between the two RFID systems.

- Indication Flags in vehicle RFID tags are used to indicate the various traffic events

Brief description of drawings For a more complete understanding of example embodiments of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which : Fig. 1 illustrates one example of a memory layout of an RFID tag memory applicable in relation to embodiments of the present invention; Fig 2 illustrates one example of a scenario in which at least examples of the present invention are applicable;

Fig. 3 illustrates one example of one embodiment related to notification for driving on lane marking according to a first embodiment;

Fig. 4 is an illustration of a scenario according to the first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 illustrates one example of one embodiment related to notification for driving on a dedicted lane or hard shoulder according to a second embodiment;

Fig. 6 is an illustration of a scenario according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 7 illustrates one example of one embodiment related to notification of speeding according to a third embodiment; and Fig. 8 is an illustration of a scenario according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

Description of example embodiments Exemplary aspects and/or embodiments of the invention will be described herein below. It is to be noted that although distinct scenarios are described as examples of embodiments herein below, it sha ll be understood that a typical device can for example jointly implement the functionalities of more tha n one or even of all those embodiments so as to have a widest possible applicablility and useabi!ity. Only the description of the em bodiments is separated so as to keep the explanation not too complex. Generally, the invention is implemented in a framework of e.g . an RFID sytem or another wireless communication module based system, in which

movable and/or moving objects such as vehicles are equipped with wireless communication modu les arranged to at least transmit data, the modu les being exemplified by RFID tags, as well as with at least one wireless communication module arranged to at least receive/read data, the modules being exemplified by an RFID reader, wherein data (such as flags or state indicators) can be written to the wireless communcation modules, e.g . RFID tags, and

stationary wireless communication modules, arranged to at least transmit and/or receive/read data (such as flags or state indicators), the modules being exemplified by RFID tags (used for transmiting) and RFID readers (used for transmitting and/or receiving/reading data from e.g. vehicle RFID tags), which modules are provided along an expected or prescribed direction of movement of the objects e.g . in/on a road surface, along rails, or provided at (e.g . moored) buoys or other facilities along a waterway.

Data written to the modules are referred to in this document as flags or state indicators, such as "event indication information", which is characteristic of the detected or measured movement behaviour in time and/or location of the moving object. For example, flags such as tag flags are used to distinguish the roadside RFID tags and vehicle RFID tags so that the tag selection will be accelerated;

type flags in vehicle RFID tags are used to distinguish the types of vehicles, for example, bus, ambulance, fire truck, police vehicle, private vehicle, etc.;

read flags in vehicle RFID tag are used to reduce the signaling between the two RFID systems; and

indication flags in vehicle RFID tags are used to indicate the various traffic events.

As a mere example only, the subsequent description refers to RFID tags as the wireless communication modules, which are e.g. small in size and can be manufactured at low cost. However, this does not preclude the use of other wireless communication modules achieving similar functionalities. Also, the bandwidth of wireless communication is not crucial for the present invention.

General technical details of such RFID tags and adopted communication protocols are publicly available (e.g. EPC Tag Data Standard 1.6; EPC Class-l Generation-2 UHF RFID Protocols for Communications at 860 MHz - 960 MHz Version 1.2.0).

Examples of the present invention exploit those basic properties and at least in aspects modify the functionality so as to obtain the advantages of at least some embodiments of the present invention.

This is described in more detail herein below. For the subsequent description and explanation of aspects and concepts of the present invention, the following definitions / explanations shall support understanding and are given with reference to road traffic, which road traffic serves as an example only. As mentiond before, embodiments of the present invention are applicable to various other example scenarios of "traffic" in its broadest sense, i.e. in general in relation to moving, which objects move in a certain environment. In such scenarios, the moving object(s) as well as the "environment" are equipped with appartuses of different types such as RFID readers and tags, respectively, provided at the moving objct as well as in the environment.

In Figure 1, as an example, a layout of a memory of EPCglobal Gen2 RFID tag memory is illustrated, which may be used in connection with at least examples of the invention. Other memory layouts or partitions may also be applicable.

Specifically, the RFID tag memory chosen in this example consists of four separately addressable banks, numbered 00 (Reserved), 01 (EPC), 10 (TID) and 11 (User). Three types of data can be stored in the memory: business data, control information and tag manufacture information. Business Data is used to describe the physical object to which the RFID tag is affixed. Control Information is used by applications to help control the process of interacting with tags. Tag manufacture information is used to describe the tag itself, including a manufacturer ID and a code that indicates the tag model.

In this standardized RFID tag memory map used as an example for describing example concepts of the present invention, the bits in PC/XPC/filter section could be used for controlling the usage of RFID. By efficiently and innovatively making use of these bits, combining roadside and vehicle RFID systems, it is supposed that the drivers can timely, automatically and correctly be notified of the traffic events to ensure and enhance safety and security. Assumptions :

Two RFID systems are deployed : a roadside RFID system and a vehicle RFID system

As to the roadside RFID system :

Roadside RFID readers are mounted along the road to interrogate

("read") the RFID tags provided at vehicles. Roadside RFID tags are mounted on the lane markings to indicate the boundary of the lane.

Each roadside RFID reader is assigned a unique ID . The roadside

RFID readers can connect to a service server via a cellular network to receive real-time updating traffic information such as speed limits and lane permission rules and to transmit the event records of the vehicles.

As to the vehicle RFID system :

Vehicle RFID readers are equipped on e.g . both sides of the chassis of the vehicle (e.g. front and rear end) and towards the lane surface (e.g. bottom side) for interrogation. Other installation locations at the vehicle body may also be used . A vehicle RFID tag is equipped in each vehicle. Vehicle RFID tags are writable so that the event information can be written into the memory by either roadside RFID reader or vehicle RFID reader.

The data loss rate is less than 5% when the vehicle's velocity is less tha n 100 kph (as has been proven by Xiaoqiang Zhang and Manos Tentzeris, in "Applications of Fast-Moving RFID Tags in High-speed Railway Systems", International Journal of Engineering Business Management, Vol . 3, No. 1, pp. 27-31, January 2011) so that the RFID system can be reliably used in most use cases.

Scena rio (Fig . 2 )

In this invention, transport/traffic violations are used as an example to explain mechan isms according to examples/embodiments of the present invention . However, it does not mean that the invention cannot be used for other traffic events. This mechanism can also be used for emergency information notification, traffic jam notification and other events. Other events can for example reside in not reaching a prescribed min imum speed (rather tha n overspeeding), not changing a lane (which is subsequently blocked due to ongoing street working) to a subsequent lane, etc. An example of the scenario in which at least examples of the present invention are applicable is illustrated in Figure 2. For the sake of simplicity, it is supposed that all traffic on the road is in one direction . However, it does not mean that examples of the invention cannot be used for bi-direction traffic scenarios.

In the scenario, the road or highway is divided into several lanes. The lanes are separated by lane markings. On each lane, roadside RFID readers are mounted on/along roadside and roadside RFID tags are mounted on the lane markings, both, readers and tags, are deployed every certain dista nce (i .e. in intervals) a long the lane. The intervals may be constant along the roads, or vary dependent on the road type, e.g . highway or village.

Note that although RFID tags and readers are illustrated as being spaced apart from each other, they may be in close proximity to each other, e.g. in the same entity or housing. The same is substantially applicable for the vehicle mounted RFID tags and/or readers.

In a realistic road or highway, some lanes are open to public that any 5 vehicles can run on them, there are also some lanes reserved for the dedicated purposes such as public transport, emergency transport, and truck/lorry. In these dedicated lanes, only the specific vehicles are permitted to run on these.

In the scenario, we here take the public transport lane as an example 10 to present an example embodiment of the invention . It means that this lane is only reserved for the public-based vehicles such as buses; any other vehicles are prohibited to run on it.

The vehicles running on the lane are supposed to be equipped with RFID readers and RFID tags. The roadside RFID system interacts with i s vehicle RFID system to detect the violations and to warn the driver to implement some measures to exit from (terminate) the violation to avoid e.g . danger which ma ylead to accidents.

To accelerate the interrogation process, one bit in the PC/XPC/filter section in Bank 01 (EPC) of RFID tag memory is used as Tag Flag to 0 distinguish the roadside and vehicle RFID tags. Hence, when the roadside or vehicle RFID reader want to communicate with specific RFID tags, this flag can be used to quickly select the correct tags for interrogation. 5 Not shown in Fig. 2 is that roadside RFID readers download traffic rules, speed limit with related time period if any and other policies from a service server via e.g. cellular communication, from a network entity such as an eNB (evolved Node_B, or other entity). (Though, such server or eNB is shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 7.)

0 Examples of the mechanism according to the present invention can be used in LDW, ISA, dedicated lane driving and other cases. Here, the case of LDW is refered to as an example to explain the process and signaling.

Embodiment 1 : Notification for driving on lane marking

(Figs. 3 (signaling & 4 (scenario) ¹ )

The vehicles run on the lane, and the vehicle RFID readers continuously monitor the roadside RFID tag mounted on the lane markings.

The flowchart/signaling of the process is illustrated in Figure 3.

1. Roadside RFID readers download the traffic rules, speed limit with related time period if any and other policies from service server via cellular communications, exemplified by an eNB.

2. Vehicle RFID readers keep trying to interrogate the roadside RFID tags by using the Tag Flag.

3. If the vehicle RFID reader, either side of vehicle, continuously receives the responses from sequential roadside RFID tags during a defined period, the vehicle RFID reader determines that the vehicle is driving on lane marking.

4. A notification is send to driver for informing the event via light, voice or vibration.

5. Vehicle RFID reader interrogates and/or informs the vehicle RFID tag by sending the type of notification, issue time and the ID of first interrogated roadside RFID tag.

6. An Indication Flag is written into the Bank 01 (EPC) in vehicle RFID tag to indicate the event of driving on lane markings.

a. The related information of this event is written into the Bank 11 (User) of vehicle RFID tag memory. 7. When the vehicle passes through the roadside RFID reader, vehicle RFID tag responds the roadside RFID reader's interrogation by sending the stored event records.

8. A Read Flag is set in the Bank 01 (EPC) in vehicle RFID tag to indicate the reading of event records so that the vehicles do not need to respond to the next roadside RFID readers' interrogations until the Read Flag is released.

a. The Read Flag will be released when a new violation is recorded in the vehicle RFID tag.

9. Roadside RFID reader determines whether the violation records trigger the rules downloaded from the service server.

10. If yes, roadside RFID reader transfers the event records to the service server for further management, e.g. by traffic authorities/police.

An example scenario of detecting the event of driving on lane markings is illustrated in Figure 4, in which a vehicle indicated as "red" runs on the lane markings. After continuously interrogating of roadside RFID tags during a period, the on-chassis vehicle RFID reader can immediately detect that the vehicle is driving on the lane marking and automatically warns the driver to steer out of this lane.

Owing to the interaction between roadside RFID system and vehicle RFID system, according to this example of the invention, the automatic notification mechanism can offer more humanized and attractive user experience.

By writing the indication flags in the vehicle RFID tag, and triggering a corresponding notification, the drivers can be in-time notified of the violation to avoid accidents. By reading the information stored in the vehicle RFID tag, the drivers with "bad" records, i.e. violation records could be alerted and even charged. Embodiments 2 and 3 represent examples of solutions for the cases of driving on a dedicated lane/hard shoulder (Emb. #2) , and notification of (over)-speeding (emb. #3), which will be described in more detail below. Embodiment 2:

Notification for driving on dedicated lane or hard shoulder

fFiqs.5 (signaling ^' ) & 6 (scenario^

In this case, one or several bits in the PC/XPC/filter section in Bank 01 (EPC) of vehicle RFID tag memory are used as Type Flags to distinguish the types of vehicles. The RFID tags equipped in bus, truck, ambulance, fire truck, private vehicle etc. are configured with different flags to indicate the type. The vehicles run on the lane, and the roadside RFID reader continuously interrogates the RFID tags of the vehicles that pass it.

The flowchart of the process is illustrated in Figure 5.

1. Roadside RFID readers download the traffic rules, speed limit with related time period if any and other policies from service server via cellular communications, e.g via /from an eNB.

2. Roadside RFID reader interrogates the vehicle RFID tag by using the Tag Flag.

3. Vehicle RFID tag responds the interrogations by transferring the related information to roadside RFID reader. 4. Roadside RFID reader decodes the information, reads the Type Flag, and compares with the permission rules.

5. If the vehicle indicated by the Type Flag is not permitted to run on the lane, roadside RFID reader writes an Indication Flag into the vehicle RFID tag to indicate the violation of driving on dedicate lane, a. The violation time and the roadside RFID reader ID are also written into the Bank 11 (User) of vehicle RFID tag memory for a reference.

6. A warning message is send to driver for notifying the violation via light, voice or vibration.

7. When the vehicle passes through the next roadside RFID reader, vehicle RFID tag responds the roadside RFID reader's interrogation by sending the stored event records.

8. A Read Flag is set in the Bank 01 (EPC) in vehicle RFID tag to indicate the reading of event records so that the vehicles do not need to response the next roadside RFID readers' interrogations until the Read Flag is released.

a. The Read Flag will be released when a new violation is recorded in the vehicle RFID tag.

9. Roadside RFID reader determines whether the violation records trigger the rules downloaded from the service server.

If yes, roadside RFID reader transfers the event records to the service server for further management. An example scenario of detecting violation of driving on dedicated lane is illustrated in Figure 6, in which a vehicle with red color runs on the public transport lane. The roadside RFID reader can immediately detect the non-permit driving of this vehicle and automatically warns the driver to steer out of this lane.

Embodiment 3 : Notification for speeding Fiqs.7 (signaling^ & 8 (scenario ^" ) ¹ )

The vehicles run on the lane, and the roadside RFID reader continuously interrogates the RFID tags of the vehicles who pass it.

The flowchart of the process is illustrated in Figure 7.

1. Roadside RFID readers download the traffic rules, speed limit with related time period if any and other policies from service server via cellular communications, e.g . from/via an eNB.

2. Roadside RFID reader interrogates the vehicle RFID tag by using the Tag Flag.

3. Roadside RFID reader sends speed limit to the vehicle RFID tags when the vehicles pass it.

4. Vehicle receives the speed limit and compares it with the actual velocity.

5. If the actual velocity is higher than the speed limit, the vehicle determines that it is speeding.

6. Vehicle RFID reader writes an Indication Flag into the vehicle RFID tag memory to indicate the violation of speeding.

a. The violation time and the ID of roadside RFID reader are also written into the Bank 11 (User) of vehicle RFID tag memory for a reference.

7. A warning message is send to driver for notifying the violation via light, voice or vibration .

8. When the vehicle passes through the next roadside RFID reader, vehicle RFID tag responds the roadside RFID reader's interrogation by sending the stored event records.

9. A Read Flag is set in the Bank 01 (EPC) in vehicle RFID tag to indicate the reading of event records so that the vehicles do not need to response the next roadside RFID readers' interrogations until the Read Flag is released.

a. The Read Flag will be released when a new violation is recorded in the vehicle RFID tag.

10. Roadside RFID reader determines whether the violation records trigger the rules downloaded from the service server.

11. If yes, roadside RFID reader transfers the event records to the service server for further management. Figure 8 illustrates an example scenario of detecting violation of speeding, in which a vehicle indicated as "red" runs with an illegal velocity. After receiving the speed limit information from roadside RFID reader and comparing the actual velocity, the vehicle can immediately detect that the vehicle is speeding and automatically warns the driver to reduce the velocity.

Thus, from the above it becomes clear that the embodiments of the present invention, in the examples outlined, and as well as in embodiments covered by the appendent claims, encompass apparatuses of different types. E.g. RFID reader apparatuses and RFID tag apparatuses are of different type as well as respective vehicle side and roadside RFID apparatuses. Hence, at least four types of apparatuses can be distiguished. A further appratus type can be represented by a network device such as an eIMB which provides traffic rules etc. to roadside apparatuse. Each type of apparatus may communicate with at least one apparatus of another type.

Indications refer for example to flags that are set or reset (erased/released) in allocated memory partitions. A flag may comprise one or more bits, depending on the number of distinctive indications that are necessary. E.g. in order to distinguish roadside and vehicle side RFID readers and tags, respectively, thus four apparatus types, 2 bits are sufficient.

A man-machine interface may be any means suitable to notifiy a user of the occurrence of a specific determined event such as by visual or acoustic or sensible/mechanical (vibrating) output means.

Some embodiments of the invention may be implemented in software, hardware, application logic or a combination of software, hardware and application logic, The software, application logic and/or hardware generally reside on control modules or modems, in general circuitry. In an example embodiment, the application logic, software or an instruction set is maintained on any one of various conventional computer-readable media. In the context of this document, a "computer-readable medium" may be any media or means that can contain, store, communicate, propagate or transport the instructions for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer or smart phone, or user equipment.

As used in this application, the term 'circuitry' refers to all of the following :

(a)hardware-on!y circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry) and

(b) to combinations of circuits and software (and/or firmware), such as (as applicable) :

(i) to a combination of processor(s) or

(ii) to portions of processor(s)/software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or user equipment or any other terminal, or network entity such as a server, to perform various functions) and

(c) to circuits, such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that require software or firmware for operation, even if the software or firmware is not physically present.

This definition of 'circuitry' applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term "circuitry" would also cover an implementation of merely a processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a processor and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware. The term "circuitry" would also cover, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or applications processor integrated circuit for a mobiie phone (terminal) or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other network device.

That is, it can be implemented as/in chipsets to such devices, and/or modems thereof. If desired, the different functions discussed herein may be performed in a different order and/or concurrently with each other. Furthermore, if desired, one or more of the above-described functions may be optional or may be combined. Although various aspects of the invention are set out in the independent cfaims, other aspects of the invention comprise other combinations of features from the described embodiments and/or the dependent claims with the features of the independent claims, and not solely the combinations explicitly set out in the claims. It is also noted herein that while the above describes example embodiments of the invention, these descriptions should not be viewed in a limiting sense. Rather, there are several variations and modifications which may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

List of some acronyms used :

RFID: Radio Frequency Identification

TID: Tag Identification

EPC: Electronic Product Code

PC: Protocol Control

XPC: Extended Protocol Control

The present invention proposes apparatuses, methods and computer program products related to improvements in automatic notifications in relation to moving objects in various environments. Under an example aspect, there is proposed an apparatus, comprising a communication unit configured to communicate with at least one apparatus of at least one different type, and a control unit, the control unit configured to interrogate at least one other apparatus including a selection of the type of apparatus interrogated, receive a response data of the at least one interrogated apparatus including the type of the apparatus interrogated, determine, based on the received data, an occurrence of a specific event, and write at least data indicative of the occurrence of the specific event into a first memory partition of another apparatus of different type. And as well an apparatus, comprising a communication unit configured to communicate with at least one apparatus of at least one different type, a memory unit configured to store data in and to retrieve data from memory partitions thereof, and a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to, detect that information is received at the communication unit from another apparatus of different type, the information pertaining to the occurrence of a specific event, decide, responsive to the detection, to write the information of the presence of the specific information to a first memory partition, and write the information related to the specific event to a second memory partition. Corresponding methods and computer program products are also encompassed.