CLIAMS:A vehicle speed monitoring and safety communication system comprises of:
a vehicle speed monitoring system comprising of
a detecting means to detect the speed of the vehicle and to send a signal
A safety communication system comprising of
A communication device responsive to the signals sent from the speed detection means and plurality of various other sensors, where the communication system transmits the data to a set of predefined users inclusive of the location information of the vehicle when the data is obtained.

2. Vehicle speed monitoring system of claim 1; wherein the speed detecting means includes a sensing means to detect the vehicle crossing the preset speed limit.

3. Vehicle speed monitoring system of claim 1; wherein the speed detecting means includes a sensing means to send the vehicle crossing the preset speed limit signal to the safety communication system.

4. Safety communication system of claim 1; wherein the safety communication system receives signals of vehicle crossing the preset speed limit.

5. Safety communication system of claim 1; wherein the safety communication system receives signals inclusive of condition of the vehicle.

6. Safety communication system of claim 1; wherein the condition of the vehicle includes conditions like accident, theft, failure of power supply means to the vehicle speed monitoring and safety communication system.

7. Safety communication system of claim 1; wherein the safety communication system sends messages regarding the condition of the vehicle to predefined users inclusive of the location information of the vehicle during the occurrence of such condition.

8. Method of vehicle speed monitoring and safety communication system comprising of the following steps which includes
Monitoring speed of the vehicle with a speed monitoring system, to detect the speed of the vehicle;
Communicating safety information of the vehicle with a safety communication system which comprises of getting the speed information from the speed monitoring system and other information from plurality of various other sensors and transmitting the data to a set of predefined users which includes location information of the vehicle. ,TagSPECI:Field of the Invention

[0001] Present invention is a vehicle speed monitoring and safety communication system that detects certain conditions of the vehicle such as the vehicle crossing the preset speed limit, vehicle meeting with an accident, theft of the vehicle, power supply means of the speed monitoring and safety communication system of the vehicle is turned off, etc. Further, the invention is utilized to notify a certain set of predefined users about the condition of the vehicle along with the location information of the vehicle when the condition is sensed.

Background of the Invention

[0002] India is the second highly populated countries of the world and the growth of personalized vehicles has been much higher than the growth of its population. Road accident is a serious problem and the fatality rates are comparatively high. Majority of the accidents arise due to exceeding speed limits. Moreover, in severe crashes, a crash victim typically is unable to call for assistance and in some cases, vehicles cannot be immediately located after a crash, which prevents the immediate rendering of aid. For example, vehicles that crash in the dark, off the roadway, into a ditch, a ravine, water, or heavy brush, may not even be noticed by passers-by. So, it is desirable to have a quickly and convenient reporting system that intimates the emergency occurrence with exact location to users so that appropriate actions are taken in order to save the person from serious situations.
[0003] According to Investigation reports vehicle theft is an increasing problem in many areas and it occurs somewhere for every 20 seconds. Motor vehicles are stolen for a number of reasons, including joy-rides of relatively short duration, use in other criminal activities, and theft for dismantling into parts for resale. A number of devices have been developed to address the problem of motor vehicle theft. Some of these devices are mechanical devices while others are electronic alarm systems. While these devices provide some deterrent effect, vehicle theft continues. For example, false alarms are triggered by other cars passing nearby or by persons inadvertently hitting the motor vehicle. Sometimes the alarms are ignored by passersby. Also, different forms of motor vehicle theft are occurring. One form is referred to as "car jacking" in which the car is stolen while being lawfully operated. This is accomplished by forced entry into the motor vehicle at a stop light, stop sign, intersection and the like.

[0004] Tracking devices incorporating GPS and cellular capabilities are available for various vehicles like motorcycles, bicycles, cars, and other assets, but these devices does not communicate a live incident about the vehicle to a predefined users along with the location information where such incident information has been captured. Accident notification systems are available for vehicles but none of them communicate the location information of the vehicle. Majority of the safety communication systems for various vehicles do not monitor speed and control speeds when the vehicle exceeds the preset speed limit. Moreover, any available monitoring and communication systems for vehicles does not function if the main power supply for the same is cut off or the device is totally disconnected from the main vehicle during theft or any reasons.

[0005] Accordingly, there exists a need for practical safety monitoring and communication system for vehicles that addresses the above stated problems.

Objective of the Invention
[0006] An objective of the present invention is vehicle speed monitoring system that detects the condition when a vehicle exceeds a preset speed limit.
[0007] Other objective of the invention is to communicate the data of the vehicle to a set of predefined users along with the location information of the vehicle.
[0008] Other objective of the invention is to eliminate accidents that arise due to excessive speeds by controlling the speed of the vehicle when such situation arise and inform the along with its location information to a set of predefined users.
[0009] Another objective of the invention is an alerting system that runs on an auxiliary power means when the main power source is cut off either during theft or conditions such as accidents.
[0010] Another objective of the invention is an alerting system that immediately informs the predefined users if the connections between the safety and communication device and the vehicle are disturbed.

Summary of the Invention
[0011] Present invention discloses a vehicle speed monitoring and safety communication system that detects certain conditions of the vehicle and communicates the same to a set of predefined users about along with the location information of the vehicle when the condition is sensed.

[0012] The present invention also incorporates a locating assembly which ascertains the location of the vehicle and reports the same either in form of a text message with location coordinates or an audio or video format upon request from the set of predefined users. Further, the monitoring device of the invention has a mobile unit for monitoring the speed of the vehicle. The said mobile unit has an input unit or sensor responsive to an event or condition associated with the vehicle, and provides the same information describing the event or condition to the communication system. The communication system being connected to the input or sensor, the satellite receiver, and a cellular telephone transmitter communicates the information describing the event or condition of the vehicle along with the information describing the vehicle's location to a set of predefined users

Detailed Description Of Drawings
[0013] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the input and output of microcontroller.
[0014] Figure 2 is a schematic view of vehicle monitoring circuit mounted on wheel hub.
[0015] Figure 3 is a flow diagram of vehicle monitoring process.
[0016] Figure 4 represents a message sent to the predefined phone number with location coordinates.

Detailed Invention Disclosure

[0017] According to Figure 2, the present invention has a vehicle monitoring device that includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, GSM, microcontroller 2, sensors 5 such as Hall Effect sensor, accelerometer or tilt sensor, ADC converter, MAX 232. In a preferred embodiment according to Figure 2 all of these components of the device are enclosed in a small housing which may be installed at out-of-the-sight location of a vehicle such as wheel hub 3 where electrical connectors are used for connecting the circuit to the battery for uninterrupted power supply.

[0018] In an alternative embodiment, the vehicle monitoring device or vehicle monitoring circuit can be placed in any external or internal surfaces of vehicle such as dash board or handle or steering etc.

[0019] Further in an alternative embodiment, the electrical power is supplied to the circuit by any means for example such as battery or alternative power or by regenerative braking, etc.

[0020] Further in other embodiment of the present invention the wireless modem can be a radio-frequency transceiver operable to communicate in a wireless communication network according to the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) OR GPS protocol and supports several communication protocols, including Short Message Service (SMS), Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP), and File Transfer Protocol (FTP). In some embodiments, the modem is compatible with other cellular communication protocols, such as GSM and CDMA. Although cellular wireless communication is used in preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited to any particular communication technology and the communication can be one-way or two-way. Any wireless communication technique may be incorporated, such as satellite communication networks, wireless local area networks, wireless wide area networks, or combinations of these or other wireless networks with wired or fiber-optic communication networks.

[0021] Further, voltage regulators such as 7805 IC’s or any circuit devices can be used to maintain the output voltage at a constant value of 5V that, convert the voltage from 12V to 5V powering the monitoring circuit.

[0022] Further, the specified phone numbers initially are entered and stored in the memory of the circuit by using a specified format 'A', 'T', '+', 'C', 'M', 'G', 'S', '=', '"', 0x30 + 9, 0x30 + 4, 0x30 + 9, 0x30 + 1, 0x30 + 7, 0x30+9, 0x30+9, 0x30+9, 0x30+9, 0x30+7, '"', 0X0D, 0X0A or alternatively in any way.

[0023] According to Figure 1 of the present invention, the microcontroller 2 receives input from different sensors 5 namely speed detecting sensor and tilt detection sensor then the microcontroller 2 compares the sensor input with predetermined values already stored in it and then issues a notification alert 4 to the predetermined phone numbers.

[0024] Further, speed monitoring sensors such as Hall Effect sensor or any other sensor mounted on the wheel hub 3 to detect the number of rotations made by the wheel per minute is used to calculate vehicle speed.

[0025] The accelerometer or tilt sensors mounted on the vehicle hub 3 or any preferred location detects the tilt angle during the moving condition of the vehicle. If the sensed information is beyond a preset value that denotes any accident prone conditions of the vehicle where the vehicle is touching the ground, the analogue information is sent to the microcontroller 2 which converts the same into digital format by using the analog to digital converter to notify the predefined remote users a case of any emergency such as accidents.

[0026] The GPS is utilized in order to send the longitude and latitude positions continuously along with the vehicle condition that is received by the microcontroller 1. Further, the latitude and longitude position of the vehicle can be communicated by using either GPS or GPRS received by the GSM and the GSM transmits the information in a user tailored format to the predefined remote users. While the preferred embodiment of the GPS tracking system of the present invention has been described above in connection with ground-based vehicles, it should be understood that the tracking system of the present invention may be employed to track sea-based (both surface and underwater) and air-based vehicles (e.g. balloons, conventional aircraft, and satellites), as well as personnel, and even animals, for example.

[0027] In case of theft, the predefined remote users can request monitoring circuit about vehicle location and the microcontroller transmits response in the requested format along with the vehicle location information.

[0028] According to Figure 3, the overall flowchart 10 describes about various steps involved in the present invention. The vehicle status is checked initially in 12 to activate the accident notification system through ignition 14; then sensor information from different sensors in 16 is collected that is not limited only to speed detection, speed monitoring as in 18 and tilt angle as in 24; comparison of data with predetermined values such as speed limit as in 20 and tilt angle limit as in 26 stored in the microcontroller is done; delivery of an over-speed notification 22 or accident or emergency event notification 28 to predefined remote users with location coordinates is done as in 30.

[0029] Further, as in 18 the microcontroller 2 initially checks the vehicle moving status and then collects the data from the speed detecting sensor 5 such as hall-effect sensor, that is compared to the stored preset speed limits in the circuit; Upon comparison, if the monitored speed values cross the preset speed limits, communication will be sent to the predefined remote users 4 stating that speed limit crossed (over speed) with location coordinates to know exactly where the rider had crossed the limit. Further, as a prefed response the vehicle can even be stopped or controlled to set the normal speed range upon detection of such over speed situations avoiding accidents due to excessive speeds.

[0030] As in 24, the microcontroller 2 checks the vehicle moving condition continuously by monitoring circuit then the information from accelerometer or tilt sensor is sent to the microcontroller 2 when the tilt angle along x- axis or y-axis is compared with predetermined value by the controller if tilt is more than predetermined value, then an accident notification alert or message is sent to the predefined remote users 4 stored in the memory with location coordinates.

[0031] Though the main power supply for the vehicle safety and communication system is cut off, the device functions on an auxiliary power source which is advantageous in situations where the vehicle have to be tracked during a stop condition preferably post accident or theft, in addition, an immediate alarm in the form of any sound such as buzzer, speech etc that could also alert the people around is activated at such said situations. Further, if the safety and communication system is being disabled wontedly or unwontedly the notification regarding the condition of the same shall be sent to the predefined users.

[0032] It will readily be apparent that numerous modifications and alterations can be made to the device described in the foregoing examples without departing from the principles underlying the invention, and all such modifications and alterations are intended to be embraced by this application.