Railroad Crossing Warning System

Abstract

The present invention relates to a warning system for displaying a warning message to a vehicle approaching a railroad crossing. The railroad crossing includes a railroad along which a train can travel, and a road crossing the railroad and along which the vehicle can travel. The warning system includes an identification system for identifying at least one identity characteristic (e.g. number plate, vehicle type, etc.) relating to the vehicle. A train detection system detects at least one train characteristic (e.g. presence, position, speed) relating to the train approaching the railroad crossing along the railroad. A vehicle detection system detects at least one vehicle characteristic (e.g. presence, position, speed) relating to the vehicle approaching the railroad crossing along the road. The warning system further includes a display system for displaying the warning message to the vehicle responsive to detecting both the train and vehicle characteristics.

1 . A method for displaying a warning message to a vehicle approaching a railroad crossing, the railroad crossing including a railroad along which a train can travel and a road crossing the railroad and along which the vehicle can travel, the method including the steps of:
 identifying at least one identity characteristic relating to the vehicle;   detecting at least one train characteristic relating to the train approaching the railroad crossing along the railroad;   detecting at least one vehicle characteristic relating to the vehicle approaching the railroad crossing along the road;   displaying, on an electrical display, the warning message to the vehicle subsequent to detecting both the train and vehicle characteristics, the warning message relating to the identity characteristic of the vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the identity characteristic relates to a number plate of the vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the identity characteristic relates to the color and/or type of vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the warning message relates to the identity characteristic by being personalized to include the identity characteristic. 
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , further including the step of determining a risk of a collision between the train and vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the risk is determined using any one or more of: the train characteristic, the vehicle characteristic and environmental conditions. 
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the displayed warning message is selected from a number of possible warning messages, with the severity of the warning messages relating to the determined risk. 
     
     
         8 . A method as claimed in  claim 5 , further involving capturing and recording images of the railroad crossing in the event of a high risk of collision between the train and the vehicle to record either a collision or a near miss. 
     
     
         9 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the displayed warning message relates to the identity characteristic by being determined in accordance with a determined risk, in turn, determined using the identity characteristic. 
     
     
         10 . A method as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the risk is determined in accordance with a behavioral profile associated with the identity characteristic. 
     
     
         11 . A method as claimed in  claim 9 , further including the step of storing a vehicle record in an enforcement database or sending an alarm responsive to a determined unacceptable vehicle behaviour, the vehicle record including the identified characteristic. 
     
     
         12 . A method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the determined unacceptable behaviour relates to either the determined risk exceeding a predetermined risk threshold or the determined unacceptable behaviour relates to the vehicle speed exceeding a speed limit. 
     
     
         13 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , further including the step of sending an alarm to an emergency services facility or a railroad crossing monitoring facility responsive to determining that the vehicle and train have collided. 
     
     
         14 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , further including the steps of:
 moving a vehicle impact barrier to impede the vehicle from crossing the railroad; and   transmitting the warning message in audio format to a radio of the vehicle.   
     
     
         15 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one train characteristic includes the presence, position or speed of the train; and the at least one vehicle characteristic includes the presence, position or speed of the vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . A warning method for displaying a warning message to a vehicle approaching a railroad crossing, the method including the steps of:
 identifying at least one identity characteristic relating to the vehicle; and   displaying the warning message to the vehicle, the warning message relating to the identity characteristic of the vehicle.   
     
     
         17 . A method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the warning message relates to the identity characteristic by being personalized to include the identity characteristic. 
     
     
         18 . A method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the displayed warning message relates to the identity characteristic by being determined in accordance with a determined risk, in turn, determined using the identity characteristic. 
     
     
         19 . A warning system for displaying a warning message to a vehicle approaching a railroad crossing, the railroad crossing including a railroad along which a train can travel and a road crossing the railroad and along which the vehicle can travel, the system including:
 identification means for identifying at least one identity characteristic relating to the vehicle;   train detection means for detecting at least one train characteristic relating to the train approaching the railroad crossing along the railroad;   vehicle detection means for detecting at least one vehicle characteristic relating to the vehicle approaching the railroad crossing along the road;   display means for displaying the warning message to the vehicle responsive to detecting both the train and vehicle characteristics, the warning message relating to the identity characteristic of the vehicle.   
     
     
         20 . A warning system for displaying a warning message to a vehicle approaching a railroad crossing, the system including:
 identification means for identifying at least one identity characteristic relating to the vehicle; and   display means for displaying the warning message to the vehicle, the warning message relating to the identity characteristic of the vehicle.   
     
     
         21 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A warning system for displaying a warning message to at least one moving object, the system including:
 risk determination means for determining a risk of a collision between first and second moving objects; and   display means for displaying the warning message to at least one of the moving objects, the warning message relating to the determined risk of a collision and being one of a number of possible warning messages.