METHOD AND SYSTEM OF DIRECTING VEHICLES TRAVELING OVER ROADWAY DURING EMERGENCY

Abstract

A method of directing and/or alert vehicles during an emergency or other event. The method may include providing messages and other information to the vehicles through wireless communications. The message may detail the emergency and/or an evacuation strategy for avoiding the emergency. Different vehicles may receive different messages and instructions depending on vehicle location and other parameters.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is pointed out with particularity in the appended claims. However, other features of the present invention will become more apparent and the present invention will be best understood by referring to the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompany drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an roadway evacuation system in accordance with one non-limiting aspect of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart of a method of alerting vehicles in accordance with one non-limiting aspect of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method of directing vehicles traveling over roadways during an emergency, the method comprising: locating the vehicles as a function of signals communicated from the vehicles;determining an evacuation route for the vehicles as a function of vehicle location, the evacuation route suitable for routing traffic away from the emergency; andcommunicating the evacuation route to the vehicles for use in evacuating the vehicles.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising customizing the evacuation route for different vehicles depending on vehicle location and roadway availability.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting the evacuation route for one or more of the vehicles as a function of changes in the emergency determined after initially communication the evacuation route.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting the evacuation route for one or more of the vehicles as a function of movement of the vehicles determined after initially communicating the evacuation route.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting the evacuation route for one or more of the vehicles as a function of instructions received from an emergency response entity after initially communication the evacuation route.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising communicating the evacuation route to the vehicles through vehicle-to-vehicle communications.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the evacuation route including instructions for commanding vehicle drivers to take action in contradiction to permissible action specified in roadside signage.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the instructing the drivers to travel in a wrong direction such that the drivers take action in contradiction to a permissible direction of travel specified in roadside signage.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising locating the vehicles as a function of global positioning system (GPS) data being communicated from the vehicles to a traffic management entity used to generate the evacuation route.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the traffic management entity analyzing traffic flow information and developing the evacuation route as a function thereof.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising displaying the evacuation route on GPS units included on the vehicles to facilitate evacuating the vehicles.

12. A method of directing vehicles traveling over roadways during an emergency, the method comprising: generating an emergency broadcast in response to one or more alarms determining occurrence of the emergency; andautomatically communicating the emergency broadcast to one or more vehicles through vehicle-to-vehicle communications to alert the vehicles of the emergency.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising determining the emergency as a function of one or more alarms included within one or more buildings and limiting the emergency broadcast to vehicles traveling towards or near an area influenced by the emergency.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising including emergency instructions within the emergency broadcast for use in directing the vehicles relative to the emergency related event.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising providing different instructions to different vehicles depending on vehicle location and direction of travel.

16. A method of directing vehicles, the method comprising: establishing a mesh network between the vehicles and a number of land nodes; andin response to determining an emergency, communication an emergency alert message to the vehicles over the mesh network.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising including a vehicle location specific evacuation strategy within the emergency alert message to facilitate evacuating vehicle away from the emergency.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising including a description of the emergency within the emergency alert message for alerting vehicle occupants of the emergency.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising providing evacuation instructions to the vehicles after communicating the emergency alert message, the evacuation instructions being determined at least in part by an emergency response entity and the emergency alert message being determined automatically as a function of signals received from one or more emergency alert alarms.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising including instructions for commanding vehicle drivers to take action in contradiction to permissible action specified in roadside signage.