FORM-2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10 and Rule 13)
A SYSTEM FOR REDUCING THE NOISE GENERATED BY HONKING OF VEHICLES IN TRAFFIC
TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES LTD.,
an Indian Company of Nirmal Building, 9th Floor,
Nariman Point, Mumbai - 21,
Maharashtra, India.
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.


FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of telecommunications.
Particularly, the present invention relates to the field of management of vehicles / traffic management.
DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED IN THE SPECIFICATION
• Way clearance signal: The way clearance signal is an alert which indicates to a vehicle that the vehicle behind it needs a clear way, thus, eliminating the need for honking.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Noise is one of the big issues currently faced by mankind across the globe. According to World Health Organization:
• Prolonged or excessive exposure to noise, whether in the community or at work, can cause permanent medical conditions, such as hypertension and ischaemic heart disease, (ref. Guidelines p.XII)
• Noise can adversely affect performance, for example in reading, attentiveness, problem solving and memory. Deficits in performance can lead to accidents, (ref. Guidelines p.XII)
• Noise above 80 dB may increase aggressive behaviour, (ref. Guidelines p.XIII)
• A link between community noise and mental health problems is suggested by the demand for tranquillizers and sleeping pills, the incidence of psychiatric symptoms.

One of the major causes of noise pollution is originating out of vehicular traffic i.e. vehicles honking in high volume / high pitch that are irritating in nature.
Since the honking is primarily done for alerting vehicle / pedestrians, typically the horns emit high pitch / high decibel sound. Typically, horns are meant for a vehicle or a person / small group of person on street. However when somebody honks, many people surrounding the target are forced to listen to the high pitch sound though it is not intended for them.
There is therefore felt a need for a system which will reduce the noise generated by honking of vehicles in traffic and also provide a convenient way to regulate the traffic so as to reduce the need for the drivers to honk and add to the noise pollution.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a system which helps in reducing the noise generated by honking of vehicles.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a user friendly system which helps in reducing the noise generated by honking of vehicles.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an efficient which provides real-time traffic movement and placement alerts to the vehicles to prevent accidents.

Further another object of the present invention is to provide a system which requires minimum maintenance.
Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide a multi-lingual
system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention envisages a system for reducing the noise generated by honking of vehicles in traffic, the system comprising:
• a central server comprising:
a) a database with a lookup table containing vehicle registration numbers matched with corresponding transmission devices and receiving devices;
b) receiving means adapted to receive message alerts from a first vehicle requesting for at least one second vehicle in its path to move out of its path;
c) processing and identifying means adapted to process the signal received from said first vehicle and extract information from said database to identify said second vehicle;
d) signaling means adapted to send the way clearance signal to said identified second vehicle; and
• a plurality of transmission devices provided in vehicles and
adapted to transmit alert signals through wireless communication
to said central server;

• a plurality of receiving devices provided in vehicles and adapted to receive way clearance signals from said central server to clear the way for said first vehicle.
Particularly, the central server includes a registration means adapted to receive configuration details including the vehicle registration number, vehicle make and vehicle color and adapted to enroll the vehicle with the
system.
Still particularly, the central server includes a graphics means adapted to retrieve the real-time vehicle location data from said repository and prepare a real-time vehicle image of the traffic details and further adapted to stream the image to said receiving devices.
Further, the central server further includes a reporting means adapted to report hazardous conditions, weather reports to said receiving devices.
Furthermore, the central server still further includes a billing means adapted to bill the users for the sending the alerts.
Specifically, the transmission device is an audio visual device selected from a group consisting of car phones, personal digital assists, CDMA mobile phones/cell phones, GSM mobile phones/cell phones, pagers, laptops, personal navigation assist and GPS navigation device.
Typically, the transmission device includes a selection means adapted to select the vehicle to whom the way clearance signal is to be sent.

Particularly, the selection means is selected from a group consisting of menus, keys, touch screen and voice commands.
Typically, the receiving device is selected from a group consisting of car phones, personal digital assists, CDMA mobile phones/cell phones, GSM mobile phones/cell phones, pagers, laptops, personal navigation assist and GPS navigation device.
Specifically, the receiving device consists of an alarming means adapted to receive said way clearance signal from the central server and further adapted to generate a distinctive alarm to notify the second vehicle driver.
Additionally, alarm can be selected from a group including a unique ringtone, vibrating alert, audio alert and audio visual alert and combinations thereof.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for reducing noise generated by honking, the method comprising the following steps:
• registering transmission devices and receiving devices for a vehicle with a central server;
• preparing a lookup table containing the vehicle details and its corresponding transmission device and receiving device;
• selecting at least one second vehicle which is in the path of a first vehicle from the received image;

• transmitting an alert signal containing the details of the second vehicle through the transmission device to the central server;
• receiving the alert signal at the central server;
• identifying a receiving device associated with the extracted vehicle details; and
• transmitting a way clearance signal to the identified receiving device in second vehicle.
In addition, the step of registration includes the step of storing the vehicle registration numbers, vehicle make, vehicle color and the corresponding transmission device(s) and receiving device(s) provided in the vehicles.
Also, the step of selecting at least one second vehicle includes the step of
activating the image of the vehicle.
Further, the step of transmitting the alert signal includes the step of transmitting using General Packet Radio Service, InfraRed, Bluetooth, Short Message Service and Dual Tone Multi Frequency signaling.
Furthermore, the step of transmitting a way clearance signal further includes the step of receiving an acknowledgement from the second vehicle and transmitting the received acknowledgment to the first vehicle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the accompanying drawings and their description stated below, which is merely

illustrative of a preferred embodiment of the invention and does not limit in any way the nature and scope of the invention.
FIGURE 1 illustrates a high level overview of the system for reducing the noise generated by honking of vehicles in traffic in accordance with this invention;
FIGURE 2 illustrates a schematic of the central server in accordance with
this invention;
FIGURE 3 illustrates a high level communication pattern between the client unit and the central server; and
FIGURE 4 is a flowchart showing the steps for reducing the noise generated
by honking of vehicles in traffic.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present invention envisages a system for reducing the noise generated by honking of vehicles in traffic. With progress in wireless technology and its wide availability in terms of features and functionalities, this invention envisages a concept to replace horns by playing specialized ring tone on individual wireless communication devices in vehicles.
The invention proposes the use of available wireless communication devices including mobile phones (GSM and CDMA), personal navigation devices, Personal Digital Assists (PDA), laptops and the like which will play the specialized ring tone to alert the user/driver to make way for the vehicle

behind it. These wireless communication devices can communicate with the system using GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), InfraRed (IR), Bluetooth, DTMF (Dual Tone Multi Frequency) and the like technologies and require no additional hardware to comply with this system.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, FIGURE 1 shows the high level overview of the system envisaged by the present invention. The present invention is a client server based system. The central server unit 100 is the central control of the present invention. The central server unit 100 maintains the sessions with each vehicle and collects the data sent by the vehicles. It maintains and processes the received data and provides the necessary information to the client pertaining to the traffic around the vehicle.
In addition, depending on the location based technology used, the server gets the position data of the requesting vehicle from the location based server residing at the wireless service carriers' end. Further, the central server 100 on request provides each vehicle with the images of the vehicles around it. The image displays the position of the vehicles in approximately 200 meters area with their approximate speed.
Furthermore, the central server 100 detects the hazardous condition and alerts the appropriate vehicle. It also alerts of any collision situation like another vehicle approaching on a blind turn, a vehicle coming in the opposite direction which may not be visible otherwise and the like. The

central server 100 also performs maintenance activities like provisioning, billing, reporting and the like.
The client unit 102 which is provided in the vehicles includes a transmission device 104 and a receiving device 106. The transmission devices 104 and the receiving devices 106 are wireless communication devices which are readily available and require no additional hardware. The devices can be selected from a group including car phone, personal digital assists, CDMA mobile phones/cell phones, GSM mobile phones/cell phones, pagers, laptops, personal navigation assist and GPS navigation device.
The transmission device 104 and the receiving device 106 can be hosted on medium sized devices having a reasonable amount of memory and a good screen size preferably with touch screen and voice recognition features.
For the central server unit 100 to recognize the client unit 102 for the first time the transmission devices 104 and the receiving devices 106 are registered with the central server 100 and configuration information like the registration number of the vehicle, make, color is registered with the central server 100. Once the transmission device 104 and the receiving device 106 are registered with the central server 100 the devices start transmitting their position to the central server 100 continuously,
In accordance with this invention, the client unit can request for the images showing the current traffic placement. Based on the image, the user in the vehicle can select individual vehicles or all the vehicles in its path requesting a pass through or alert via the transmission device 104. The alert signal can

be activated by key navigation or touch menus or voice commands depending on capabilities of communication device. Also, the user can select the priority as well as urgency of the request. Upon receipt of the request from another vehicle the receiving device 106 plays a unique alerting tone to alert the user. And on request the receiving device of the designated vehicle can view the placement of the vehicle requesting the way clearance.
The client unit 102 and the central server 100 communicate using wireless carrier mediums like CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) data channel, GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), IR (InfraRed), Bluetooth, DTMF (Dual Tone Multi Frequency) and the like.
In accordance with this invention, the client unit is initiated by a driver of a vehicle, the initial configurations are done by the end user (the driver or the person assisting the driver). The client unit 102 connects to the central server 100. The client unit 102 updates the central server 100 with its current data including its current location. The central server 100 processes the data and the alerts sent by the transmission device 104. If the driver wants to alert a vehicle or a group of vehicles, he/she can request for the image of the traffic placement via the transmission device 104 and receive the image on the receiving device 106. On looking at the receiving device 106 screen, he/she can select the appropriate vehicle by way of synchronizing what he is seeing and what is presented on the screen. Alternatively, the selection can be menu based, touch screen based or voice recognition based depending on the capability of the selected receiving device 106.

The request is sent to the central server 100 in the form of an alert signal. FIGURE 2 of the accompanying drawings shows the schematic of the central server 100. The central server comprises a database 200 which stores the registration details of the vehicles and the real-time location data of the vehicles. The database 200 co-operates with a look-up means 202 which creates a look-up table which links the transmission devices 104 and the receiving devices 106 with the vehicle registration details. This lookup table enables the system to identify the transmission 104 and receiving devices 106.
FIGURE 3 shows the overview of the operation of the present invention. Any request is sent to the central server 100 is received by the receiving means 204 through the wireless network of trie carriers represented by 300. The receiving means 204 is the interface for the client units 102 for communicating with the central server 100. The receiving means accepts the view image signal and alert signal sent by the transmission devices 104 from the vehicles. This received view image and alert signals are sent to the processing and identifying means 206 to process these signals.
For the view image signal the processing and identifying means 206 extracts the location details of the transmission device of the requesting vehicle and based on its location co-ordinates extracts the information about the vehicles around the requesting vehicle in a distance of about approximately 200 meters and forms a graphical image of the traffic placement around the requesting vehicle and streams it to the receiving device 106 of the requesting vehicle. The user of the requesting vehicle then can select the

individual or two or more vehicle he/she wishes to alert by means of touching the visual of the vehicles, key based or voice based controls and sends the designated vehicle alert to the central server 100.
When the alert is received, the processing and identifying means 206 extracts the details from the alert signal including the receiving device 106 of the designated vehicle by looking up the lookup table and the location data of the vehicle.
Once the vehicle is identified the processing and identifying means 206 sends the receiving device details to the signaling means 208 which generates a way clearance signal and sends it to the identified vehicle for clearing the way for the vehicle behind it.
The identified vehicle's receiving device 106 on receipt of the signal converts this alert into a distinctly audible ring and or an alert menu on the screen to notify the user of a vehicle behind it which is requesting for way.
In addition to the requests received by the users, the processing and identifying means 206 continuously monitors the real-time location data of the vehicles which is stored in the database 200 and in case it finds a pattern where the location data of two or more vehicles is leading to a collision based on the location and speed of the vehicles, the processing and identifying means 206 sends an alarm to the vehicles to prevent collisions.
Similarly, it also extracts real-time data about the locations and in case there is any road block, land slide, bad weather in the destination the vehicle is

approaching, the processing and identifying means 206 signals the vehicles in advance.
The invention also provides the user of the designated vehicles the provision to 'Acknowledge' the receipt of the 'way clearance signal' by way of a menu, touch screen menu or voice menu. This acknowledgement notification is sent to the requesting vehicle via the central server 100. This way the users do not need to honk and add to the noise in the surrounding, instead they can select the vehicles which are in their path and selectively notify them to make way. The users can also send a broadcast signal especially in case of an emergency requesting all the vehicles in its way to provide a clear path.
Additionally, the central server 100 also includes a billing server which performs the monthly billing for using the services provided by the central server 100.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for reducing the noise generated by honking of vehicles in traffic, the method comprises the following steps as seen in FIGURE 4:
• registering transmission devices and receiving devices for a vehicle with a central server, 1000;
• preparing a lookup table containing the vehicle details and its corresponding transmission and receiving device, 1002;
• selecting at least one second vehicle which is in the path of a first vehicle from the received image, 1004;

• transmitting an alert signal containing the details of the second vehicle through the transmission device to the central server, 1006;
• receiving the alert signal at the central server, 1008;
• identifying a receiving device associated with the extracted vehicle details, 1010; and
• transmitting a way clearance signal to the identified receiving device in second vehicle, 1012.
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
The technical advancements of the system in accordance with this invention are as under:
• with the advancements in wireless technology the communication devices have become very economical especially mobile pones and the mobile coverage is also very good hence the receiving and transmission devices can be used easily but no extra hardware;
• the users can selectively notify the vehicles for clearing the way hence reduce the need for drivers to honk and reduce the noise to a great extent. Additionally, pedestrians and other vehicles in the vicinity need not suffer from the loud sound levels;
• reduction in noise is a great relief to mankind specially for sick people and children;
• the system being electronic in nature, alerting is more effectively done i.e. ringing can be accompanied by vibration or visual alerts;

• accidents can be avoided while overtaking on blind turns and similar situations like fog, rain dusty conditions due to the advance alerts provided by the present invention;
• data collected from the vehicles can be analyzed for trends in driving related to location, typical accident spots and can be used as historic data for forecasting and/or sending advance alerts to users; and
• the data collected from the vehicles can also be used by Road Transport Authorities for possible violations of traffic rules and the like.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without" departing from the principles of the invention. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation.

WE CLAIM
1. A system for reducing the noise generated by honking of vehicles in traffic, said system comprising:
• a central server comprising:
a) a database with a lookup table containing vehicle registration numbers matched with corresponding transmission devices and receiving devices;
b) receiving means adapted to receive message alerts from a first vehicle requesting for at least one second vehicle in its path to move out of its path;
c) processing and identifying means adapted to process the signal received from said first vehicle and extract information from said database to identify said second vehicle;
d) signaling means adapted to send the way clearance signal to said identified second vehicle; and

• a plurality of transmission devices provided in vehicles and adapted to transmit alert signals through wireless communication to said central server;
• a plurality of receiving devices provided in vehicles and adapted to receive way clearance signals from said central server to clear the way for said first vehicle.
2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said central server includes a registration means adapted to receive configuration details including the

vehicle registration number, vehicle make and vehicle color and adapted to enroll the vehicle with the system.
3. A system as claimed in claim J, wherein said centra] server includes a graphics means adapted to retrieve the real-time vehicle location data from said repository and prepare a real-time vehicle image of the traffic details and further adapted to stream the image to said receiving devices.
4. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said central server further includes a reporting means adapted to report hazardous conditions, Weather reports to said receiving devices.
5. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said central server still further includes a billing means adapted to bill the users for the sending the alerts.
6. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmission device is a audio visual device selected from a group consisting of car phones, personal digital assists, CDMA mobile phones/cell phones, GSM mobile phones/cell phones, pagers, laptops, personal navigation assist and GPS navigation device.
7. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmission device includes a selection means adapted to select the vehicle to whom the way clearance signal is to be sent.

8. A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the selection means is selected from a group consisting of menus, keys, touch screen and voice commands.
9. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said receiving device is selected from a group consisting of car phones, personal digital assists, CDMA mobile phones/cell phones, GSM mobile phones/cell phones, pagers, laptops, personal navigation assist and GPS navigation device.
10. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said receiving device consists of an alarming means adapted to receive said way clearance signal from the central server and further adapted to generate a distinctive alarm to notify the second vehicle driver.
11. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said alarm can be selected
from a group including a unique ringtone, vibrating alert, audio alert and
audio visual alert and combinations thereof.
12. A method for reducing noise generated by honking, said method
comprising the following steps:
• registering transmission devices and receiving devices for a vehicle with a central server;
• preparing a lookup table containing the vehicle details and its corresponding transmission device and receiving device;
• selecting at least one second vehicle which is in the path of a first vehicle from said received image;

• transmitting an alert signal containing the details of the second vehicle through said transmission device to said central server;
• receiving the alert signal at said central server;
• identifying a receiving device associated with the extracted vehicle details; and
• transmitting a way clearance signal to said identified receiving device in second vehicle.
13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the step of registration
includes the step of storing the vehicle registration numbers, vehicle
make, vehicle color and the corresponding transmission device(s) and
receiving device(s) provided in the vehicles,
14. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the step of selecting at least one second vehicle includes the step of activating the image of the vehicle.
15. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the step of transmitting the alert signal includes the step of transmitting using General Packet Radio Service, InfraRed, Bluetooth, Short Message Service and Dual Tone Multi Frequency signaling.

16. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the step of transmitting a way clearance signal further includes the step of receiving an acknowledgement from the second vehicle and transmitting said received acknowledgment to the first vehicle.
Dated this 13th day of November, 2009
MOHAN DEWAN
Of R. K. DEWAN & CO APPLICANT'S PATENT ATTORNEY