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EP-4128190-B1 - EARLY TRAFFIC EVENT DRIVER NOTIFICATION

EP4128190B1EP 4128190 B1EP4128190 B1EP 4128190B1EP-4128190-B1

Inventors

  • WHITE, KYLE

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20210325

Claims (10)

  1. A network node (16) configured to communicate with a set of wireless devices, WDs, including at least a first WD (22a) configured to detect a traffic event and a group of other WDs, the network node (16) comprising processing circuitry (50) configured to: determine a space (70) corresponding to the first WD (22a), the determined space (70) having at least a dynamic dimension based at least on a vehicle traffic factor of a plurality of vehicle traffic factors associated with the first WD (22a); determine that each of the WDs (22) of the group of other WDs is within the space (70) corresponding to the first WD (22a); receive a first message from the first WD (22a), the first message being associated with the traffic event detected by the first WD (22a); and transmit a second message to each of the WDs of the group of other WDs based in part on the traffic event detected by the first WD (22a); the network node (16) characterised in that the processing circuitry (50) being further configured to: establish a connection between the first WD (22a) and each of the WDs of the group of other WDs, the connection being a multi-point connection via the network node (16); determine whether a latency of the established connection exceeds a predetermined latency threshold, the predetermined latency threshold being based at least on a radio access technology; and when the latency exceeds the predetermined latency threshold, adjust the latency at least by transmitting a heartbeat signal every time a predetermined interval of time has elapsed.
  2. The network node (16) of Claim 1, wherein the multi-point connection via the network node (16) is continuous and maintained while the group of other WDs includes at least one WD (22).
  3. The network node (16) of Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the first WD (22a) is associated with a first vehicle and the group of other WDs is associated with a group of other vehicles, each of the WDs (22) of the group of other WDs corresponding to a specific vehicle of the group of other vehicles, the determined space (70) corresponding to the first WD (22a) is one of: a first space corresponding at least to a first traveling parameter of a plurality of traveling parameters; a second space corresponding at least to a second traveling parameter of the plurality of traveling parameters; a third space corresponding at least to the first traveling parameter and the second traveling parameter of the plurality of traveling parameters; and a fourth space corresponding to the plurality of traveling parameters, the plurality of traveling parameters including at least the first traveling parameter associated with a traveling direction of the group of other vehicles being similar to a traveling direction of the first vehicle, the second traveling parameter associated with the first vehicle making a turn, and a third traveling parameter associated with the traveling direction of the first vehicle being opposite to the traveling direction of the group of other vehicles, wherein, optionally: - the plurality of vehicle traffic factors includes at least one of a thoroughfare characteristic, a traveling speed, a traveling direction, and a weather parameter; or - the processing circuitry (50) is further configured to: determine and coordinate an accident-avoidance response between the first vehicle and the group of other vehicles based in part on the received first message from the first WD (22a), the first message including an indication that the first vehicle poses a threat to at least one of the vehicles of the group of other vehicles, the transmitted second message to each of the WDs (22) being further based on the coordinated accident-avoidance response.
  4. The network node (16) of any of Claims 1-3, the processing circuitry (50) being further configured to: determine an absolute location (72) of each of the WDs (22) of the set of WDs, the absolute location (72) of each of the WDs (22) of the set of WDs including a confidence space (74) representing an absolute location uncertainty, the confidence space (74) having an absolute location boundary (76); determine a relative positioning structure including each WD (22) of the set of WDs and a set of vectors, each vector (80) of the set of vectors extending and having a length from the absolute location boundary (76) of one WD (22) of the set of WDs to the absolute location boundary (76) of another WD (22) of the set of WDs, the group of other WDs including a second WD (22b) and a third WD (22c), the relative positioning structure including at least one of: a first vector extending between the first WD (22a) and the second WD (22b), and a second vector extending between the first WD (22a) and the third WD (22c); the first vector extending between the first WD (22a) and the second WD (22b), the second vector extending between the second WD (22b) and the third WD (22c); and the first vector extending between the first WD (22a) and the second WD (22b), the second vector extending between the second WD (22b) and the third WD (22c), and a third vector extending from the first WD (22a) to the third WD (22c); and determine a relative position at least between the first WD (22a) and each of the WDs (22) of the group of other WDs based on the relative positioning structure, wherein, optionally: - transmitting the second message to each of the WDs (22) of the group of other WDs is further based on the determined relative position at least between the first WD (22a) and each of the WDs (22) of the group of other WDs; and / or - the processing circuitry (50) being further configured to: determine a position accuracy of each WD (22) of the set of WDs based at least on an environmental condition; determine the confidence space (74) and the absolute location boundary (76) of each WD (22) of the set of WDs based on the determined positioning accuracy; and dynamically adjust the length each vector (80) of the set of vectors based in part on the determined confidence space (74) and the determined absolute location boundary (76) of each WD (22).
  5. The network node (16) of any one of Claims 1-4, wherein: - the first WD (22a) is located outside the space (70); and / or - the processing circuitry (50) is further configured to: store information associated at least with the first WD (22a) and the group of other WDs in a first communication network, transfer the information from the first communication network to a second communication network geographically associated with the first WD (22a), and set up a fifth space based on determined space (70) corresponding to the first WD (22a) and the transferred information; and / or - the first WD (22a) is associated at least with a sensor (60) that reports a thoroughfare condition; and / or - the transmitted second message to each of the WDs (22) of the group of other WDs causes at least one WD (22) of the group of other WDs to perform an action including one of: generating one of an audio alert and a visual alert; and causing an avoidance maneuver including one of a reduction of a speed, a change of lanes, a route change, and a transmittal of a warning message.
  6. A method for a network node (16) configured to communicate with a set of wireless devices, WDs, including at least a first WD (22a) configured to detect a traffic event and a group of other WDs, the method including: determining (S116) a space (70) corresponding to the first WD (22a), the determined space (70) having at least a dynamic dimension based at least on a vehicle traffic factor of a plurality of vehicle traffic factors associated with the first WD (22a); determining (S118) that each of the WDs (22) of the group of other WDs is within the space (70) corresponding to the first WD (22a); receiving (S120) a first message from the first WD (22a), the first message being associated with the traffic event detected by the first WD (22a); and transmitting (S122) a second message to each of the WDs of the group of other WDs based in part on the traffic event detected by the first WD (22a); the method characterised in that it further comprises: establishing a connection between the first WD (22a) and each of the WDs (22) of the group of other WDs, the connection being a multi-point connection via the network node (16); determining whether a latency of the established connection exceeds a predetermined latency threshold, the predetermined latency threshold being based at least on a radio access technology; and when the latency exceeds the predetermined latency threshold, adjusting the latency at least by transmitting a heartbeat signal every time a predetermined interval of time has elapsed.
  7. The method of Claim 6, wherein the multi-point connection via the network node (16) is continuous and maintained while the group of other WDs includes at least one WD (22).
  8. The method of Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein the first WD (22a) is associated with a first vehicle and the group of other WDs is associated with a group of other vehicles, each of the WDs (22) of the group of other WDs corresponding to a specific vehicle of the group of other vehicles, the determined space (70) corresponding to the first WD (22a) is one of: a first space corresponding at least to a first traveling parameter of a plurality of traveling parameters; a second space corresponding at least to a second traveling parameter of the plurality of traveling parameters; a third space corresponding at least to the first traveling parameter and the second traveling parameter of the plurality of traveling parameters; and a fourth space corresponding to the plurality of traveling parameters, the plurality of traveling parameters including at least the first traveling parameter associated with a traveling direction of the group of other vehicles being similar to a traveling direction of the first vehicle, the second traveling parameter associated with the first vehicle making a turn, and a third traveling parameter associated with the traveling direction of the first vehicle being opposite to the traveling direction of the group of other vehicles, wherein, optionally: - the plurality of vehicle traffic factors includes at least one of a thoroughfare characteristic, a traveling speed, a traveling direction, and a weather parameter; or - the method further including: determining and coordinating an accident-avoidance response between the first vehicle and the group of other vehicles based in part on the received first message from the first WD (22a), the first message including an indication that the first vehicle poses a threat to at least one of the vehicles of the group of other vehicles, the transmitted second message to each of the WDs (22) being further based on the coordinated accident-avoidance response.
  9. The method of any of Claims 6-8, the method further including: determining an absolute location (72) of each of the WDs (22) of the set of WDs, the absolute location (72) of each of the WDs of the set of WDs including a confidence space (74) representing an absolute location uncertainty, the confidence space (74) having an absolute location boundary (76); determining a relative positioning structure including each WD (22) of the set of WDs and a set of vectors, each vector (80) of the set of vectors extending and having a length from the absolute location boundary (76) of one WD (22) of the set of WDs to the absolute location boundary (76) of another WD (22) of the set of WDs, the group of other WDs including a second WD (22b) and a third WD (22c), the relative positioning structure including at least one of: a first vector extending between the first WD (22a) and the second WD (22b), and a second vector extending between the first WD (22a) and the third WD (22c); the first vector extending between the first WD (22a) and the second WD (22b), the second vector extending between the second WD (22b) and the third WD (22c); and the first vector extending between the first WD (22a) and the second WD (22b), the second vector extending between the second WD (22b) and the third WD (22c), and a third vector extending from the first WD (22a) to the third WD (22c); and determining a relative position at least between the first WD (22a) and each of the WDs (22) of the group of other WDs based on the relative positioning structure, wherein, optionally: - transmitting a second message to each of the WDs (22) of the group of other WDs is further based on the determined relative position at least between the first WD (22a) and each of the WDs (22) of the group of other WDs; and / or - the method further including: determining a position accuracy of each WD (22) of the set of WDs based at least on an environmental condition; determining the confidence space (74) and the absolute location boundary (76) of each WD (22) of the set of WDs based on the determined positioning accuracy; and dynamically adjusting the length each vector (80) of the set of vectors based in part on the determined confidence space (74) and the determined absolute location boundary (76) of each WD (22).
  10. The method of any one of Claims 6-9, wherein: - the first WD (22a) is located outside the space (70); and / or - the method further includes: storing information associated at least with the first WD (22a) and the group of other WDs in a first communication network, transferring the information from the first communication network to a second communication network geographically associated with the first WD (22a), and setting up a fifth space based on determined space (70) corresponding to the first WD (22a) and the transferred information; and / or - the first WD (22a) is associated at least with a sensor (60) that reports a thoroughfare condition; and / or - the transmitted second message to each of the WDs (22) of the group of other WDs causes at least one WD (22) of the group of other WDs to perform an action including one of: generating one of an audio alert and a visual alert; and causing an avoidance maneuver including one of a reduction of a speed, a change of lanes, a route change, and a transmittal of a warning message.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to wireless communications, and in particular, to using wireless device technologies and cellular network technologies to provide an advanced driver warning system that enables drivers to be more aware of hazardous road conditions. BACKGROUND Advanced braking notification solutions typically rely on Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology that is installed on a vehicle and can only collect information that is based on another vehicle that is immediately in front of the vehicle using LiDAR. In many cases when this technology is available on the vehicle, the collected information may still be insufficient because LiDAR does not take into account other parameters that can affect safety. For example, a driver of a vehicle using LiDAR may be maintaining an acceptable LiDAR distance, but not maintaining a safe driving distance based on the current road conditions, e.g., a safe driving distance that will lead to safe braking on an icy road. In addition, LiDAR-based advanced braking solutions have range/capabilities limitations. For example, LiDAR-based advanced braking solutions are not capable of forewarning drivers of dangerous circumstances that are happening beyond the vehicle immediately in front. The following are nonlimiting scenarios where a LiDAR system may perform poorly: 1. A group of vehicles driving in the same direction in a trailing arrangement, i.e., a first vehicle followed by a second vehicle that is followed by a third vehicle, and the first vehicle suddenly decelerates due to a crash, hard braking, malfunction., etc. A LiDAR system on the third vehicle will perform poorly in this scenario as, the LiDAR system may not detect that the first vehicle has decelerated rapidly in part because the second vehicle is between the first and third vehicles, especially when the second vehicle does not reduce its speed.2. A known dangerous event at an intersection occurring, a vehicle changing lanes, animals on a thoroughfare, changes in lighting, emergency response vehicles being present on a thoroughfare, left-hand and right-hand turn scenarios.3. Children boarding or unloading from a school bus in the opposite lane of traffic. At the very least, in such scenarios, a LiDAR system may not detect the events associated with each scenario, which may result in an accident. Further, technologies such as LiDAR, even for the scenarios these technologies are designed for, are not readily available on many makes and models of vehicles, and/or cannot be easily added to vehicles without LiDAR. WO 2018/046106 A1 discloses a technique in a wireless network for early notification of a vehicular accident to wireless devices in the vicinity of the accident. A method comprises, in a network node of a wireless telecommunication system, responsive to reception of a distress signal by a radio access node, the distress signal generated automatically by a vehicle involved in an accident, initiating transmission, by the radio access node, of a warning signal containing an indication of the accident to one or more wireless devices. US 2019/0325750 A1 discloses systems for automatically warning at least one nearby vehicle of a potential safety hazard in or near a roadway. One or more sensors are configured to detect a potential safety hazard in or near a roadway. A memory contains instructions for generating a message including at least one of a location of the one or more sensors and a location of the potential safety hazard. A processor is configured to read the instructions from the memory and generate the message. A transmitter is configured to wirelessly transmit the message to at least one nearby vehicle. SUMMARY According to the present disclosure, a network node and a method according to the independent claims are provided. Developments are set forth in the dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A more complete understanding of the present embodiments, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of example scenarios of incidents and/or accidents that may be prevented according to the principles in the present disclosure;FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an example network architecture illustrating a communication system according to the principles in the present disclosure;FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a network node communicating with a wireless device over an at least partially wireless connection according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an example process in a network node for detecting and providing notification of hazardous road conditions according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an example process in a wireless device for detecting and providing notification of hazardous road conditions ac