Method and apparatus for two-wheeler safety based on vehicular communications

Abstract

Devices for alerting visually a vehicle at an intersection when a specific two-wheeler is detected in an alert zone associated with the intersection using vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications, and methods for configuring and using such devices. The devices include a display for displaying the visual alert and a communication and processing unit for processing V2X messages received from two-wheelers and for determining the need for and type of visual alert. The devices may be configured remotely using an application running on an installer's mobile device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device, comprising: a display for alerting visually a vehicle at an intersection when a specific two-wheeler is detected in an alert zone associated with the intersection using vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications. 
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the specific two-wheeler is detected based on a V2X message received at the device from the specific two-wheeler, and wherein the received V2X message is processed by the device. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising a communication and processing unit configured to perform the detection and processing. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , further comprising powering means to power the display and the communication and processing unit. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the display is in the form of a traffic light with an added template of a shape of a two-wheeler included or attached thereto. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the display is a dynamic display. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the display includes a direction element that indicates a direction of movement of the two-wheeler. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured using an application running on an installer's mobile device. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the alert zone is substantially perpendicular to a road on which the vehicle drives. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the alert zone is substantially parallel to a road on which the vehicle drives. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the dynamic display may be switched on and off. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the dynamic display may flash intermittently. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the direction element includes an arrow. 
     
     
         14 . A method, comprising:
 physically installing a device configured to visually alert a vehicle at an intersection;   by the device and using vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications, detecting a specific two-wheeler in an alert zone associated with the intersection; and   visually alerting the vehicle about the specific two-wheeler.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the detecting includes, by the specific two-wheeler, sending a V2X message to the device and, by the device, processing the V2X message. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the device is configured after the physical installation using an application running on an installer's mobile device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the V2X message reports a location and speed of the specific two-wheeler, and wherein the processing includes checking if the speed is greater than a threshold, and if yes, checking if the specific two-wheeler in inside an alert zone. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein, if the specific two-wheeler is inside the alert zone, the processing further includes checking if the specific two-wheeler will arrive in less than a predetermined time period at the intersection. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein if the specific two-wheeler will arrive in less than a predetermined time period at the intersection, the processing further includes checking is a state is consistent and if yes, setting a visual alert for the visual alerting.