Abstract: Method and arrangement for obtaining information about a person includes providing the person with a portable device, arranging at least one sensor on the portable device, obtaining information about the person carrying the portable device or an environment around the person carrying the portable device using the at least one sensor of the portable device without manual interaction, and transmitting the obtained information from the portable device to a remote facility. The portable device may be a cell phone or PDA. The location of the cell phone or PDA may be provided by the cell phone or PDA or determined from the information at the remote facility from information provided by the cell phone or PDA relating to, for example, reception of signals thereby.

Abstract: Method for locating a cell phone or PDA, e.g., arranged in or on a movable asset, includes obtaining information at the cell phone or PDA relating to reception of signals, transmitting the information from the cell phone or PDA to a remote facility and determining the location of the cell phone or PDA from the information at the remote facility. The cell phone or PDA may obtain DGPS signals and transmit them to the remote facility. In this manner, the location of the cell phone and the asset in or on which it is arranged, or the person carrying the cell phone can be determined at the remote location.

Abstract: System and method for preventing accidents between first and second vehicles at intersections in which the absolute position and velocity of the first vehicle are determined, map data relating to edges of lanes of roadways, edges of roadways and the location of traffic control devices is stored in a map database and the status of the traffic control devices is provided to the first vehicle when needed. The absolute position and velocity of the second vehicle are determined and a collision between the first and second vehicles is predicted based on the position and velocity of the first and second vehicles, the map data and the status of the traffic control devices. An action or changing operation is initiated by a reactive component or system in the first and/or second vehicle when a collision is predicted.

Abstract: Accident avoidance system using an infrastructure system to convey location information between vehicles includes at least two vehicles approaching or traveling on a roadway and each having onboard, a position determining system onboard that receives satellite positioning signals from a plurality of satellites and determines location information based on the satellite positioning signals, a transmitter that transmits the location information for the vehicle to an infrastructure system, a receiver that receives location information for another vehicle from the infrastructure system, and an accident risk warning system that alerts its operator of a risk of an accident based on the location information for any other vehicles and map data representing the roadway including edges or lane boundaries of the roadway.

Abstract: Method for creating and managing a digital map for use by vehicles and including information relating to travel lanes on which the vehicles travel includes illuminating the environment outside of and around the vehicle with infrared illumination in an eye-safe part of the infrared spectrum as the vehicle is traveling on a travel lane to be mapped, forming, on the vehicle, at least one image from reflections from any objects in the path of the infrared illumination (such as by means of an image sensor), analyzing each image to obtain information about the object from which the infrared illumination has been reflected, and incorporating the information into the map if not already present therein. A driver of the vehicle may be alerted if the information obtained about an object in the environment outside of and around the vehicle indicates that a collision with the object is about to occur.

Abstract: Method and arrangement for controlling vehicular traffic via traffic control devices includes establishing communications between the traffic control devices and vehicles approaching the traffic control devices, and providing information about travel of the vehicle to the traffic control devices to enable the traffic control devices to operate based on the provided information and/or providing information about a status of the traffic control devices to the vehicles to enable the vehicles to operate based on the provided information. The traffic control devices can be constructed to determine whether an approaching vehicle is speeding and if so, direct a communication to the vehicle indicating that the vehicle is speeding. A warning may be provided to an occupant of the vehicle when the vehicle is provided with a communication from a traffic control device indicating that the vehicle is speeding.

Abstract: Method and system for enabling semi-autonomous or autonomous vehicle travel includes creating dedicated travel lanes for vehicle travel, determining the location of vehicles in the dedicated travel lanes, and providing instructions to the vehicles in the dedicated travel lanes to enable them to travel in a manner which maximizes speed. To determine the location of the vehicles, a vehicle travel management system may be arranged in each vehicle to determine the location of that vehicle, e.g., using a GPS-based positioning system or similar system, and which also optionally receives travel instructions which can be implemented by a vehicle control system to control the direction and speed of the vehicle. The vehicle control system can be designed to assume control of vehicle travel without requiring driving by an occupant of the vehicle and control vehicle travel based on the provided instructions.

Abstract: Method and system for enabling semi-autonomous or autonomous vehicle travel includes providing a vehicle travel management system which monitors the location of vehicles in a travel lane and the location of the travel lane, creating dedicated travel lanes for vehicles equipped with the vehicle travel management system, and managing travel of vehicles in the dedicated travel lanes to maximize travel speed of the vehicles and minimize collisions between the vehicles. The travel management may entail establishing and maintaining communications between the vehicles with the movement of the vehicles being coordinated to enable a minimal distance between adjacent vehicles in the dedicated travel lanes. Entry into the dedicated travel lanes is optimally restricted only to vehicles equipped with the vehicle travel management system.

Abstract: System for determining position of a vehicle includes an integral inertial measurement unit (IMU) including accelerometers and gyroscopes for providing raw data about movement of the vehicle and a correction unit coupled to the IMU and arranged to receive and/or derive positional corrections and the raw data from the IMU and generate accurate positional information about the vehicle based on the raw data and positional corrections. A navigation system is coupled to the correction unit and receives and acts upon the positional information of the vehicle provided by the correction unit. The IMU may be a MEMS-packaged IMU and integrated with the correction unit in combination with one another. A map database may be coupled to the navigation system which would receive information about a travel lane the vehicle is travelling on and could guide an operator of the vehicle based on the accurate positional information and travel lane information.

Abstract: Method for monitoring borders or peripheries of installations includes arranging sensors periodically along the border at least partially in the ground, the sensors being sensitive to vibrations, infrared radiation, sound or other disturbances, programming the sensors to wake-up upon detection of a predetermined condition and receive a signal, analyzing the signal and transmitting a signal indicative of the analysis with an identification or location of the sensors. The sensors may include a processor embodying a pattern recognition system trained to recognize characteristic signals indicating the passing of a person or vehicle.

Abstract: Arrangement and method for monitoring inanimate objects in an interior thereof includes a sensor system arranged to obtain data about the object by applying micropower impulse radar (MIR) transmissions into the interior of the asset, i.e., container volume monitoring using MIR, a location determining system arranged on the asset to monitor the location of the asset, and a communication system arranged on the asset and coupled to the sensor system and the location determining system. The communication system transmits the data about each object obtained by the sensor system and the location of the asset provided by the location determining system to one or more remote facilities, these remote facilities being those interested in the information about the objects in the asset being monitored.

Abstract: An arrangement and method for displaying and transferring information between a vehicle and at least one transmitter separate from the vehicle includes an antenna mounted on the vehicle for receiving RF wireless signals emitted by each transmitter, a location determining device for determining the vehicle's location, a display arranged on the vehicle in a position to be viewable by a vehicle occupant and to display representations of the vehicle and other objects in the vicinity of the vehicle, and a processor coupled to the antenna, location determining device and display. The processor performs location-based filtering of signals received by the antenna to determine whether any contain information of interest for vehicular operation, extracts the information of interest from the signals determined to contain information of interest, and displays the location of the transmitter of the signals determined to contain information of interest or the information of interest from the transmitter.

Abstract: Accident avoidance system onboard a host vehicle includes a position determining system for determining position information for the host vehicle based on signals received from a plurality of satellites, a transmitter for broadcasting the position information for the host vehicle to locations remote from the host vehicle, a receiver for receiving a traffic information broadcast from an infrastructure system including vehicle position information received from position-reporting vehicles and vehicle position information received from an active position determining system that acquires position information for non-position-reporting vehicles, and an accident risk warning system. The risk warning system alerts an operator of the host vehicle of a risk of an accident involving the host vehicle based on the vehicle position information for the host vehicle and map data representing a roadway that the host vehicle is approaching or traveling on including edges or lane boundaries of the roadway.

Abstract: Method and system for obtaining information about traffic-related devices providing variable information includes providing a vehicle with a map database including the location of the devices, determining the location of the vehicle, as the location of the vehicle is determined to be approaching the location of each device, as known in the database, obtaining an image of the device, and analyzing the image to determine the status of the device. The vehicle may be controlled based on the status of the device, which is optionally displayed to the driver or other occupant of the vehicle. For example, when the device is a stoplight, the method can detect if the driver of the vehicle is slowing the vehicle when the stoplight is red, and if not, automatically cause the vehicle the slow down or stop.

Abstract: Accident avoidance system for a host vehicle includes a global positioning system residing on the host vehicle for determining the host vehicle's location as the host vehicle travels, a communication system residing on the host vehicle operative to receive signals including information received directly from other vehicles indicating the locations thereof and traffic information received from an infrastructure-based station indicating the locations of other vehicles, and a navigation system residing on the host vehicle coupled to the global positioning system and the communication system.

Abstract: Arrangement and method for managing information about the condition of travel lanes on which vehicles travel includes a sensor system arranged in each vehicle for obtaining information about the maintenance state of the travel lane, a communication system arranged in each vehicle and coupled to a respective sensor system for communicating the obtained information to a control station, and a transmission system arranged at or coupled to the control station for transmitting the obtained information to vehicles other than the one which provided the obtained information. A positioning system may be arranged on each vehicle to determine its position and the communication systems transmit the position of each vehicle along with the obtained information.

Abstract: Method and system for monitoring coastlines includes arranging sensors proximate the coastline, obtaining data about the coastline via the sensors, analyzing the data to determine the presence of a reportable condition relating to passage of an object proximate the coastline, and transmitting the data or a signal indicative of the analysis, optionally with an identification or location of the sensors, to a monitoring facility. The sensors may be spaced apart from one another along the coastline and programmed to wake-up upon detection of a predetermined condition in order to obtain data. If the location of each sensor is not programmed into the sensor or otherwise known by the monitoring facility, each sensor may be arranged to determine its location so that each sensor provides its location when transmitting data or the signal to the monitoring facility.

Abstract: Arrangement and method for managing information about the condition of travel lanes on which vehicles travel includes a sensor system arranged in each vehicle for obtaining information about the maintenance state of the travel lane, a communication system arranged in each vehicle and coupled to a respective sensor system for communicating the obtained information to a control station, and a transmission system arranged at or coupled to the control station for transmitting the obtained information to vehicles other than the one which provided the obtained information. A positioning system may be arranged on each vehicle to determine its position and the communication systems transmit the position of each vehicle along with the obtained information.

Abstract: Arrangement and method for monitoring a fluid storage tank which includes a housing defining an interior receivable of a removable fluid. An interior sensor system is arranged on the housing to obtain information about any fluid in the interior of the housing different than the location of the tank. A location determining system is arranged on the housing to monitor the location of the tank, and a communication system is coupled to the interior sensor system and the location determining system and which is arranged to transmit the information about the fluid in the interior of the housing and the location of the tank to one or more remote facilities. The communication system may be arranged on the housing itself, which is especially applicable when the housing is movable, for example, such as the housing of a Frac tank. The location and condition of the fluid in the tank can thus be known at all times.

Abstract: Vehicular arrangement for obtaining information about objects exterior to the vehicle includes at least one combined imaging and distance measuring system arranged along an edge or a side of the vehicle, each combined system including an infrared illuminator for directing infrared illumination outward from the vehicle, an imager sensitive to infrared illumination and visible light, the imager being arranged to form images of an environment around the vehicle and thereby enable identification of objects in the images, a radar or laser radar system arranged to simultaneously determine a distance between the vehicle and objects identified in images obtained by the imager with the identification of the objects in the images. A reactive system is arranged on the vehicle to consider both the identification of the objects and their distance from the vehicle and react accordingly.