Apparatus and method for transmitting traffic-related data in road traffic

#This application claims foreign priority benefits under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) to DE 10 2015 205 050.5 filed Mar. 20, 2015, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

#The disclosure relates to an apparatus and to a method for transmitting traffic-related data in road traffic that may include dynamically generated QR codes for transmitting data in situations in which the standard data transmission channels are overloaded or are not working properly.

#A problem that sometimes arises in data transmission, in particular in motor traffic, is that the conventional standard mobile communications network (GSM) is overloaded and/or is not working properly. In addition, other conventional information channels can also be subject to problems. For example, radio reception may be intermittent or traffic data is not transmitted with the degree of accuracy or “fine detail” that is necessary for communicating information correctly and, if necessary, for issuing warning signals promptly.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a representative embodiment illustrating components of a vehicle equipped with QR code features;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the bidirectional communication taking place between an existing traffic infrastructure device in the form of an overhead traffic sign and a vehicle equipped with QR code features; and

#FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment illustrating components present in an apparatus having QR code functionality.

#As required, detailed embodiments are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely representative and may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the claimed subject matter.

#As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle 100 equipped according to one embodiment comprises a front camera 110 and a display 120, which in the embodiment illustrated is implemented as an organic light emitting diode (OLED) and is designed to display QR codes. A further display (likewise in the form of an OLED display and also for the purpose of displaying QR codes) is denoted by 130.

#FIG. 2 shows purely schematically how the vehicle 100 passes an existing traffic infrastructure device 140 in the form of an overhead traffic sign, which traffic infrastructure device 140 likewise comprises a display 150 which allows the display of QR codes.