[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.

62/103,477, filed on January 14, 2015.

[0002] The entire teachings of the above application are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND

[0003] Bicycle trips account for only one percent of all trips in the United States;

however, bicycle fatalities represent about two percent of traffic fatalities. In the United States during 2012, 4,743 people were killed in pedestrian/motor vehicle crashes, which is greater than 12 people per day.

[0004] Cars can be equipped with blind spot monitoring (BSM) features that employ radar to detect objects in a blind spot, and notify a driver, for example, with a light on a side view mirror. In other systems, a smart helmet can connect to a cloud-based location tracking system, which communicates with system-connected car and provides notifications to drivers and cyclists via this cloud based system.

SUMMARY

[0005] Many existing systems use ultrasound or radar to detect objects. These systems operate on the principle of measuring the time it takes from the signal to move from one object to another and reflect back. These systems can be complex and affected by

intervening objects (e.g., a flying bird or vehicles in other lanes).

[0006] Other systems may send wireless signals from a given vehicle to other vehicles about the vehicles given status, as measured by the given vehicle itself through use of expensive equipment built into the given vehicle and its systems directly.

[0007] No current system sends digital, two-way, wireless signals to determine the presence of any other moving object and provides data on its proximity, velocity, and direction using a smartphone-based system, in one embodiment. A smartphone -based system allows a low-cost solution to supplement any vehicle or cyclist with a collision warning system. Other embodiments can use hardware other than a smartphone that is capable of two-way digital wireless communication. In another embodiment, a standalone separate device can be used by cyclists and/or drivers. In yet another embodiment, the standalone separate device can be coupled to communicate with the user's smartphone. A person of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate that references to smartphones as described herein be replaced with non- smartphone embodiments. Current systems require revamping existing cars with expensive systems using sonars, radars, or ultrasound. Embodiments of the present invention run by using Bluetooth® technology configured to transmit data between two smartphones and alerting the users of the smart phones via various means. Embodiments of the present invention can further run by using Bluetooth ^® technology configured to transmit data between a smartphone of the cyclist and a built in Bluetooth ^® radio of the car and alerting the users of the smart phones via various means. Embodiments communicate directly between both smartphones, allowing for detection of proximity between the two vehicles based on signal strength of the Bluetooth® wireless connection, where the

Bluetooth ^® wireless connection is incompatible with a cloud-based system of location tracking and an ultrasound system, which works on time differential. Further, existing Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) systems are engineered to detect cars, but their effectiveness in detecting bicycles is unclear.

[0008] In an embodiment of the present invention, a cooperative technology promotes cyclist and pedestrian safety on the road. The cooperative technology is rooted in a local Bluetooth ^® communication protocol that connects, in an ad-hoc manner, cyclists with other motor vehicles. Bluetooth® Smart is a new version of Bluetooth wireless introduced into the smartphone market in 2013 in Apple® iPhone 4s and the Samsung® Galaxy Series. While the core technology consumes little power, its wireless signal can cover a long distance and is available almost in any smartphone that is being introduced into today's market.

[0009] In an embodiment of the present invention, Bluetooth ^® Smart measures the proximity and direction of a cyclist/pedestrian with respect to other motor vehicles. This information can be integrated into the existing blind spot monitoring and collision avoidance systems to promote transportation safety. In addition, embodiments of the present invention collect cyclist/pedestrian/motor vehicle real-time proximity/direction data that can be used statistically for variety of purposes, such as safety, traffic management, and city planning. [0010] In an embodiment, a method can include calculating a proximity, velocity, and direction. The proximity, velocity and direction are representative of a first moving object relative to a second moving object. The calculation may be based on a wireless signal received from a wireless transmitter associated with the first moving object at a wireless receiver associated with the second moving object. The method may further include providing an alert to an operator of the second moving object based on the calculated proximity, velocity, and direction.

[0011] In an embodiment, method further includes calculating the proximity based n a strength of the wireless signal. Calculating the proximity can be further proportional to

where e represents a field of strength of the wireless signal.

[0012] In an embodiment, calculating the velocity further includes calculating a first velocity of the first moving object based on global positioning system (GPS) data, calculating a second velocity of the second moving object based on GPS data, and calculating a difference of the first velocity and second velocity.

[0013] In an embodiment, calculating the direction includes determining a location difference using global positioning system (GPS) data of the first moving object and GPS data of the second moving object. Providing the alert can include displaying a direction of the first moving object relative to the second moving object to the operator of the second moving object. Providing the direction can include displaying a representation of at least one of left, right, in front, and behind.

[0014] In an embodiment, the method further can include recording the proximity, velocity, and direction of the second moving object in a database (e.g., recording the user's riding habits). The method can further include generating a report indicating statistics of the first moving object relative to the second moving object. For example, riders and drivers can receive periodic (e.g., daily, weekly, or monthly) safety reports and recommendations to improve their riding and driving habits.

[0015] In an embodiment, the method can further include providing the alert by displaying an alert on a display of a mobile phone to the operator, providing vibratory feedback or an audible signal to the operator, or transmitting a signal to a separate device for displaying an indicator on the separate device or playing of a sound by the separate device. [0016] In an embodiment, the first moving object includes a first wireless device housing the wireless transmitter and the second moving object includes a second wireless device housing the wireless receiver.

[0017] In an embodiment, the first wireless device also houses a wireless receiver, and second wireless device also houses a wireless transmitter.

[0018] In an embodiment, the wireless signal is either Bluetooth or Bluetooth Smart.

[0019] In an embodiment, the first moving object is at least one of a bicycle, motorcycle or pedestrian, the second moving object is a motor vehicle, the wireless transmitter is housed in a first smartphone, and the wireless receiver is housed in a second smartphone.

[0020] In an embodiment, the wireless transmitter is housed in a first standalone hardware, and the wireless receiver is housed in a second standalone hardware.

[0021] In an embodiment, the alert is at least one of an audiovisual alert and a haptic alert.

[0022] In an embodiment, a system includes a calculation module configured to calculate a proximity, velocity, and direction. The proximity, velocity, and direction are representative of a first moving object relative to a second moving object. Calculating the proximity, velocity, and direction may be based on a wireless signal received from a wireless transmitter associated with the first moving object at a wireless receiver associated with the second moving object. The system may further include an alert module configured to provide an alert to an operator of the second moving object based on the calculated proximity, velocity, and direction.

[0023] In an embodiment, a method includes transmitting a wireless signal to a wireless receiver associated with a first moving object from a wireless transceiver associated with a second moving object. The transmitted wireless signal enables calculation of, at the first moving object, a proximity, velocity, and direction. The proximity, velocity, and direction are representative of a first moving object relative to a second moving object.

[0024] In an embodiment, a system includes a wireless transmitter configured to transmit a wireless signal to a wireless receiver associated with a first moving object. The wireless transmitter is associated with a second moving object. The wireless signal enables calculation, at the first moving object, of a proximity, velocity, and direction. The proximity, velocity, and direction are representative of a first moving object relative to a second moving object. A person of ordinary skill in the art can recognize that the wireless receiver is configured to receive this signal. A person of ordinary skill in the art can further recognize that a single device can have a wireless transmitter and receiver, and be configured to both send signals to other wireless receivers and receive signals at its own wireless receivers from other wireless transmitters. A person of ordinary skill in the art can also recognize that the system and method include a transceiver having a transmitter and receiver configured to send and receive the wireless signals described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The foregoing will be apparent from the following more particular description of example embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating embodiments of the present invention.

[0026] Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Fig. 4A is a flow diagram illustrating an example embodiment of a process employing the present invention.

[0030] Fig. 4B is a flow diagram illustrating an example embodiment of a process employing the present invention.

[0031] Fig. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating an example embodiment of a process employed by the present invention.

[0032] Fig. 6 illustrates a computer network or similar digital processing environment in which embodiments of the present invention may be implemented.

[0033] Fig. 7 is a diagram of an example internal structure of a computer (e.g., client processor/device or server computers) in the computer system of Fig. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] A description of example embodiments of the invention follows.

[0035] Fig. 1 is a block diagram 100 illustrating an example embodiment of the present invention. A cyclist 102 can wear a transmitter 104 (e.g., the cyclist's smartphone running an application having an embodiment of the present invention). A person of ordinary skill in the art can recognize that the transmitter 104 can also be mounted on the cyclist's 102 bicycle. As the cyclist travels, the transmitter 104 broadcasts cyclist information 114 over a digital wireless protocol. In one example embodiment, the wireless protocol is Bluetooth ^® or Bluetooth ^® Smart.

[0036] A person of ordinary skill in the art can recognize that embodiments of the present system can communicate with more than one vehicle or cyclist. Multiple near-by vehicles, bicycles, motorcycles, and pedestrians can all be equipped with embodiments of the present invention and simultaneously communicate to be aware of the presence of all objects using embodiments of the present invention. The operators of each vehicle, bicycle, or motorcycle can therefore be alerted to all vehicles in range of the wireless protocol. For example, bikes can be alerted to combinations of multiple other vehicles, bikes, motorcycles, or pedestrians. However, for simplicity, Applicant describes the system herein as one vehicle detecting the presence of one bicycle. A person of ordinary skill in the art can recognize that each device of the system further includes a transmitter and a receiver, and is capable of both

broadcasting and reception. However, for simplicity, Applicant is describing the vehicle 106 as receiving and the cyclist's 102 transmitter 104 broadcasting.

[0037] A first vehicle 106 and second vehicle 108 include respective receiver and audiovisual interface 110 and 112. The respective receiver and audiovisual interface 110 and 112 can also be integrated into a smartphone application. In one example embodiment, a global-positioning application having navigation features can add in the collision prevention features of embodiments of the present invention to improve their adoption among car users. Using the first vehicle 106 and respective receiver and audiovisual interface 110 as an example, the interface 110 receives cyclist information 114. Based on the cyclist

information, the interface 110 can determine the proximity, relative velocity, and relative direction of the cyclist to the first vehicle.

[0038] In an example embodiment, the interface determines the proximity based on the signal strength of the wireless signal carrying the cyclist information. A stronger signal indicates that the cyclist 102 is closer to the first vehicle 106, and a weaker signal indicates that the cyclist 102 is farther from the first vehicle 106. Calculating the proximity can further be performed based on the relationship:

[0039]

[0040] In the above relationship, k represents a constant, and e represents a field of strength of the wireless signal. Other relationships may be employed.

[0041] Velocity can be calculated in multiple ways. The transmitter 104 can calculate the velocity of the cyclist 102 based on an accelerometer within the transmitter 104 and send the velocity in each cyclist information 114 packet. The transmitter 104 can also calculate the velocity of the cyclist 102 by polling global positioning system (GPS) data and determining how far the cyclist has moved (Ad) in a given period of time (At). A person of ordinary skill in the art can recognize that the below relationship yields the velocity:

[0042]

[0043] The velocity can be calculated by the transmitter 104 and sent to the first vehicle 106 within the cyclist information 114 packet. The first vehicle 106 can then determine the cyclist's relative velocity, and even a time until potential impact, by finding the difference of its own velocity and the cyclist's. Alternatively, the cyclist information 114 packet can include GPS data paired with time data, and the first vehicle 106 can calculate the cyclist's relative velocity based on this information.

[0044] The proximity can be calculated based on GPS data sent in the cyclist information 114. For example, the receiver audiovisual interface 110 can determine the relative distance of the cyclist 102 to the first vehicle based on the difference of the cyclist's GPS information sent in the cyclist information 114 and the first vehicle's GPS information determined at the receiver audiovisual interface 110. The interface 110 can then determine whether the cyclist 102 is in the front, left, right, or back of the driver of the first vehicle 106. A person of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate that the direction determination can have further levels of granular detail (e.g., front-right, front-center, front-left, back-right, back-center, back-left, parallel-left, or parallel-right, or showing a graphical representation of the vehicle and cyclist on the interface).

[0045] Based on these calculations, information can be displayed to the driver of the first vehicle 106 in a variety of ways. For example, the interface 110 can display the information directly. As another example, hardware add-ons to the vehicle can further show the information. For example, a heads-up-display (HUD) add-on can project the information onto the first vehicle's 106 windshield. As another example, hardware lights (e.g., LED lights) attached to the vehicle's 106 side view or rear- view mirrors can light up when the cyclist 102 is in view. These LED lights, in one example embodiment, can change color or flash with a higher frequency as the cyclist 102 is closer in distance or relative velocity, which indicates closer to possibly impacting the first vehicle 106.

[0046] A person of ordinary skill in the art can further recognize that the transmitter 104 can interact with the interface 112 of the second vehicle 108 in a similar manner.

[0047] A person of ordinary skill in the art can further recognize that the interface 110 and interface 112 can transmit the proximity, relative velocity, and relative direction of the respective first and second vehicles 106 and 108 to the transmitter 104 of the cyclist 104 in the same manner. The application on the transmitter 104 and receiver audiovisual interfaces 110 and 112 can perform both transmission and reception. In this manner, the cyclist's smartphone app 104 of the transmitter 104 can receive information about the cars, and provide warnings to the cyclist 102 as vibratory feedback of the smartphone, or via hardware add-ons, such as handlebar lights.

[0048] In another embodiment, the transmitter 104 and receiver audiovisual interfaces 110 and 112 can track statistics of nearby moving objects. For example, a metric of close- call collisions, or other metrics, can be calculated based on the velocity, proximity, and direction of other moving objects. The cyclist 102 or driver of the vehicles 106 and 108 can then view a report of their cycling and/or driving according to one or more of these metrics.

[0049] In another embodiment, the receiver audiovisual interfaces 110 and 112 can be integrated into the car's computer or existing collision avoidance system. The system can allow the car to brake or steer automatically to avoid a collision, if necessary, based on the received data and calculations.

[0050] Fig. 2 is a block diagram 200 illustrating an example embodiment of the present invention. A calculation module receives a cyclist information packet 202 over a wireless communications protocol such as Bluetooth ^® . The cyclist information packet 202 includes GPS data 206, signal strength property 208, and, optionally, a velocity 207. A person of ordinary skill in the art can appreciate that signal strength property 208 is inherent in the strength of the wireless signal carrying the cyclist information packet 202, and is not necessarily an explicit data field of the cyclist information packet 202.

[0051] The calculation module 204 calculates velocity data 210 and direction data 212 based on the GPS data 206, and calculates proximity data 214 based on the signal strength property 208. In another embodiment, the calculation module can pass on the velocity 207 optionally received in the cyclist information packet 202. [0052] An alert module 216 receives the velocity data 210, direction data 212, and proximity data 214. The alert module 216 determines whether the moving object sending the cyclist information packet 202 is within a threshold distance (218). The threshold distance can be a distance where a collision is possible within a certain time period. The threshold distance can be configurable by either the cyclist or operator of the vehicle. As one example, the alert module can configure the threshold distance to alert the user if the cyclist is going to impact the vehicle within two seconds if no course correction is taken by either the cyclist or the driver. If the object is within the threshold distance, the alert module 216 provides an alert (220) and otherwise does not provide an alert (222).

[0053] The alert module 216 can provide any of the alerts as described in relation to Fig. 1. For example, the alert module 216 can provide vibratory or haptic feedback on a smartphone running the application, visual feedback on a smartphone screen, visual feedback on separate lights, or audio feedback, connected to the smartphone wirelessly, or audible feedback

[0054] Fig. 3 is a diagram 300 illustrating an example embodiment of the present invention. A cyclist 312 rides a bicycle 306 on a road 302 being shared with a car 308. A sidewalk 304 is shown for reference. The cyclist 312 wears a cyclist transmitter/receiver 310 (e.g., a smartphone running an app having an embodiment of the present invention). The driver of the car further has a car transmitter/receiver 314 within the car. The cyclist transmitter/receiver 310 and car transmitter receiver 314 exchange respective cyclist information packets 316 and car information packets 318. Upon receiving the packets 316 and 318, the corresponding transmitter/receiver 310 and 314 can calculate the proximity, relative velocity, and relative direction of the other object, and display or provide a corresponding alert as described above.

[0055] Fig. 4A is a flow diagram 400 illustrating an example embodiment of a process employing the present invention. The process first receives a wireless signal from a first moving object (402). The process then calculates proximity, (relative) velocity, and (relative) direction of the first moving object relative to the second moving object based on the wireless signal (404). In response to the calculation, the process provides an alert to the operator (406).

[0056] Fig. 4B is a flow diagram 450 illustrating an example embodiment of a process employing the present invention. The process first calculates, at a second moving object, a velocity of the second moving object based on GPS data associated with the second moving object (452). Then, the process transmits a wireless signal from the second moving object to a first moving object (454). Then, the process enables calculating, at the first moving object, a proximity, (relative) velocity, and (relative) direction of the second moving object relative to the first moving object.

[0057] Fig. 5 is a flow diagram 500 illustrating an example embodiment of a process employed by the present invention. The process continually receives proximity, velocity, and direction information about other moving objects, relative to those other moving objects (502). Then, the process stores the received proximity, velocity, and direction information in a database (504). The database can be stored locally on, for example, the smartphone receiving the information, or also in a database in the cloud. Then, the process can analyze the stored information to calculate a safety metric (506). The analysis can be performed, for example, on demand by user request. Then, the process can provide the safety metric(s) to the user (508).

[0058] In another embodiment, in addition to providing safety metric(s) to the user, the system can use the data to reverse-engineer an accident scene based on the recorded data. For example, the recorded data indicates a vehicle's relative velocity, and therefore could determine whether the vehicle was driving over a legal speed limit. The system could further determine whether lane violations had occurred. A person of ordinary skill in the art can envision other accident reconstructions as well. Further, the system could provide evidence that a given driver was not speeding, for example, if a radar gun measuring the car's speed happened to be faulty.

[0059] In addition, after an accident, the system could identify a hit-and-run driver and provide his information and location to authorities based on the recorded data.

[0060] Fig. 6 illustrates a computer network or similar digital processing environment in which embodiments of the present invention may be implemented.

[0061] Client computer(s)/devices 50 and server computer(s) 60 provide processing, storage, and input/output devices executing application programs and the like. The client computer(s)/devices 50 can also be linked through communications network 70 to other computing devices, including other client devices/processes 50 and server computer(s) 60.

The communications network 70 can be part of a remote access network, a global network

(e.g., the Internet), a worldwide collection of computers, local area or wide area networks, and gateways that currently use respective protocols (TCP/IP, Bluetooth®, etc.) to communicate with one another. Other electronic device/computer network architectures are suitable.

[0062] Fig. 7 is a diagram of an example internal structure of a computer (e.g., client processor/device 50 or server computers 60) in the computer system of Fig. 6. Each computer 50, 60 contains a system bus 79, where a bus is a set of hardware lines used for data transfer among the components of a computer or processing system. The system bus 79 is essentially a shared conduit that connects different elements of a computer system (e.g., processor, disk storage, memory, input/output ports, network ports, etc.) that enables the transfer of information between the elements. Attached to the system bus 79 is an I/O device interface 82 for connecting various input and output devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse, displays, printers, speakers, etc.) to the computer 50, 60. A network interface 86 allows the computer to connect to various other devices attached to a network (e.g., network 70 of Fig. 6).

Memory 90 provides volatile storage for computer software instructions 92 and data 94 used to implement an embodiment of the present invention (e.g., calculation module, and alert module code detailed above). Disk storage 95 provides non-volatile storage for computer software instructions 92 and data 94 used to implement an embodiment of the present invention. A central processor unit 84 is also attached to the system bus 79 and provides for the execution of computer instructions.

[0063] In one embodiment, the processor routines 92 and data 94 are a computer program product (generally referenced 92), including a non-transitory computer-readable medium (e.g., a removable storage medium such as one or more DVD-ROM's, CD-ROM's, diskettes, tapes, etc.) that provides at least a portion of the software instructions for the invention system. The computer program product 92 can be installed by any suitable software installation procedure, as is well known in the art. In another embodiment, at least a portion of the software instructions may also be downloaded over a cable communication and/or wireless connection. In other embodiments, the invention programs are a computer program propagated signal product embodied on a propagated signal on a propagation medium (e.g., a radio wave, an infrared wave, a laser wave, a sound wave, or an electrical wave propagated over a global network such as the Internet, or other network(s)). Such carrier medium or signals may be employed to provide at least a portion of the software instructions for the present invention routines/program 92. [0064] While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to example embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.