Vehicle interaction communication system

Abstract

The information available to a driver of a vehicle is greatly expanded using wireless communications (e.g., using Bluetooth wireless communication devices). In one embodiment, information regarding an adjacent vehicle such as a brake light, a turn light, speed, distance, direction, etc., is transmitted from one vehicle to a nearby or adjacent other vehicle. The received information is used in any appropriate manner, such as causing the receiving vehicle to change vehicle speed or brake, to turn to avoid a collision, etc. In a second embodiment, roadside wireless transceivers collect information regarding passing vehicles, and central database is compiled relating to a traffic conditions. The traffic condition information can be passed back to the passing vehicles for appropriate use, e.g., causing the driver to slow down, or even causing a navigation device in the receiving vehicle to manually prompt for or automatically recalculate a best route to an intended destination. In yet another embodiment, broadcast transmitters can be established at signs and other significant locations transmitting information to passing vehicles. The broadcast information may be as simple as indicating the existence of the sign, or depending upon the range of the particular wireless transmitter, the existence of a particular sign, bump in road, curve, etc., can be forewarned far in advance of when the driver will actually see the relevant object. Alternatively, the broadcast information may be quite detailed, e.g., containing a detailed itemization and directions to a large number of gas stations, restaurants, etc., reachable from a particular exit from a highway.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A road mounted transmitter, comprising:
 memory comprising a fixed value relating to a current speed limit; and   an RF transmitter adapted to transmit said fixed value to passing vehicles.   
     
     
         29 . The road mounted transmitter according to  claim 28 , wherein:
 said RF transmitter is adapted to establish a local area network with a passing vehicle.   
     
     
         30 . The road mounted transmitter according to  claim 29 , wherein:
 said local area network is a piconet.   
     
     
         31 . The road mounted transmitter according to  claim 28 , wherein:
 said RF transmitter utilizes a Bluetooth protocol.   
     
     
         32 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A system for communicating with a passing vehicle on a roadway, comprising:
 a wireless transmitter having an antenna in a vicinity of a roadway sign; and   sign identification data for transmission by said wireless transmitter relating to information contained on said roadway sign.   
     
     
         37 . The system for communicating with a passing vehicle on a roadway according to  claim 36 , wherein:
 said wireless transmitter includes a receiver; and   said wireless transmitter and receiver establishing a local area network with an approaching vehicle.   
     
     
         38 . The system for communicating with a passing vehicle on a roadway according to  claim 36 , wherein:
 said roadway sign is a stop sign; and   said data relates to a directive for an approaching vehicle to stop.   
     
     
         39 . The method for informing a moving vehicle regarding an approaching roadway sign according to  claim 36 , wherein:
 said roadway sign is a speed limit sign; and   said data relates to a speed directive for an approaching vehicle.   
     
     
         40 . A method for informing a moving vehicle regarding an approaching roadway sign, comprising:
 establishing a local area network with an approaching vehicle; and   transmitting information regarding information contained in a roadway sign which said vehicle is approaching.   
     
     
         41 . The method for informing a moving vehicle regarding an approaching roadway sign according to  claim 40 , further comprising:
 displaying in said approaching vehicle a relevant speed limit received over said local area network.   
     
     
         42 . The method for informing a moving vehicle regarding an approaching roadway sign according to  claim 40 , further comprising:
 displaying in said approaching vehicle a difference between a current rate of speed of said approaching vehicle and said relevant speed limit received over said local area network.   
     
     
         43 . Apparatus for informing a moving vehicle regarding an approaching roadway sign, comprising:
 means for establishing a local area network with an approaching vehicle; and   means for transmitting information regarding information contained in a roadway sign which said vehicle is approaching.   
     
     
         44 . A method for controlling a vehicle, comprising:
 establishing a wireless network between at least two moving vehicles;   communicating at least one operational aspect of a first moving vehicle to a second, adjacent moving vehicle;   automatically adjusting at least one driver control of said first moving vehicle based on at least one operational aspect of said second, adjacent moving vehicle.   
     
     
         45 . A vehicle safety system, comprising:
 a wireless piconet transmitter to transmit a piconet signal to a second vehicle;   a measurer to measure at least one of a round-trip delay time of said piconet signal between said first vehicle and said second vehicle, and a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) from said second vehicle; and   a rudimentary ranging information determiner to determine rudimentary ranging information from at least one of said round-trip delay time and said RSSI.   
     
     
         46 . The vehicle safety system according to  claim 45 , wherein:
 at least one of a braking system, an accelerator control, and a steering control are at least one of enabled, disabled, and variably controlled based on said rudimentary ranging information.