# US 11,308,808 B2 · Risk reduction in road traffic > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,308,808 B2 - Document ID: US11308808B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/880,215 - Filed: 2020-05-21 - Published: 2020-11-26 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2019-05-22 - Assignees: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft - Applicants: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Matthias Klawitter; Daniel Münning - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11308808B2 ## CPC - G08G 1/166: {for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes} - B60W 30/09: Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering - G01C 21/3415: {Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents} - G01C 21/3461: {Preferred or disfavoured areas, e.g. dangerous zones, toll or emission zones, intersections, manoeuvre types or segments such as motorways, toll roads or ferries} - G05D 1/0289: {with means for avoiding collisions between vehicles (vehicle fittings for automatically controlling speed including means for detecting potential obstacles B60K31/0008; avoiding obstacles by action on the steering system B62D; radar, sonar, lidar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93)} - G08G 1/0112: {from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]} - G08G 1/0129: {for creating historical data or processing based on historical data} - G08G 1/0133: {for classifying traffic situation} - G08G 1/0141: {for traffic information dissemination} - G08G 1/0965: responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle - G08G 1/096716: {where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control} - G08G 1/096725: {where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control} - G08G 1/096775: {where the origin of the information is a central station} - G08G 1/096791: {where the origin of the information is another vehicle} - G08G 1/163: {involving continuous checking} - G08G 1/164: {Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles} - H04W 4/024: Guidance services - H04W 4/40: for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P] - H04W 4/44: for communication between vehicles and infrastructures, e.g. vehicle-to-cloud [V2C] or vehicle-to-home [V2H] - B60Q 9/008: {for anti-collision purposes} - B60T 2201/12: Pre-actuation of braking systems without significant braking effect; Optimizing brake performance by reduction of play between brake pads and brake disc - G08G 1/096827: {where the route is computed onboard} - G08G 1/096844: {where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data} - H04W 4/02: Services making use of location information - H04W 4/027: {using movement velocity, acceleration information} - H04W 4/029: Location-based management or tracking services - H04W 4/90: Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS] - G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93}) - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S) - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - B60T: VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL (electrodynamic brake systems for vehicle, in general B60L; brakes per se, i.e. devices where braking effect occurs, including ultimate brake actuators, F16D); ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES ## Abstract In a method for reducing risks in road traffic, using a motor vehicle an information signal is generated and transmitted to an analysis unit. The information signal contains a position of the corresponding motor vehicle and an associated hazard level. Using the analysis unit, the position is assigned to a route section and a risk characteristic value is determined as a function of the hazard level. Using the analysis unit, a risk signal is generated based on the risk characteristic value and provided to at least one traffic participant. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for reducing risks in road traffic, wherein using each of two or more motor vehicles, generating and transmitting an information signal to an analysis unit; wherein each information signal contains an absolute position of the corresponding motor vehicle and an associated hazard level; using the analysis unit, assigning each absolute position to one of a plurality of route sections and determining a risk characteristic value for each of the route sections as a function of the hazard level; using the analysis unit, generating a risk signal based on at least one risk characteristic value and providing the risk signal to at least one traffic participant; wherein the hazard level is assigned to a corresponding route section depending on the associated position, and the risk characteristic value is determined for the corresponding route section as a function of the hazard level assigned thereto; and using the analysis unit, statistically evaluating the hazard level assigned to the corresponding route section in order to determine the risk characteristic value for the corresponding route section. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the hazard level is selected from a plurality of predefined hazard levels. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the predefined hazard levels comprise one or more of a minimum hazard level which corresponds to a situation in which an electronic vehicle guidance system of a motor vehicle has detected no hazard, and a maximum hazard level, which corresponds to a situation in which the electronic vehicle guidance system of the motor vehicle has detected an occurrence of an accident or a collision in the route section. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the predefined hazard levels comprise the minimum hazard level and the maximum hazard level; and one or more additional predefined hazard levels are provided between the minimum and maximum hazard level, one additional hazard level being provided in which a critical situation or an imminent accident or an imminent collision has been detected using the electronic vehicle guidance system, in which the imminent accident or the imminent collision may potentially occur. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the information signal is transmitted to a computer of an infrastructure apparatus, wherein computer of the infrastructure apparatus comprises the analysis unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the information signal is transmitted to a computer of one of the motor vehicles, wherein the computer comprising the analysis unit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising initiating a safety measure using a processor of the at least one traffic participant depending on the risk signal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the information signal is transmitted to a computer of an infrastructure apparatus, wherein the computer of the infrastructure apparatus comprises the analysis unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the information signal is transmitted to a computer of one of the motor vehicles, wherein the computer comprising the analysis unit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising initiating a safety measure using a processor of the at least one traffic participant depending on the risk signal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the information signal is transmitted to a computer of an infrastructure apparatus, wherein the computer of the infrastructure apparatus comprises the analysis unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the information signal is transmitted to a computer of one of the motor vehicles, wherein the computer comprising the analysis unit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising initiating a safety measure using a processor of the at least one traffic participant depending on the risk signal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the information signal is transmitted to a computer of one of the motor vehicles, wherein the computer comprising the analysis unit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating a safety measure using a processor of the at least one traffic participant depending on the risk signal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one traffic participant comprises a target motor vehicle; and a braking system of the target motor vehicle is preconditioned using a processor of the target motor vehicle depending on the risk signal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one traffic participant comprises a target motor vehicle; and using a processor of the target motor vehicle, one or more of a speed of the target motor vehicle is reduced and a safe distance of the target motor vehicle is increased depending on the risk signal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one traffic participant comprises a target motor vehicle; and a route plan for the target motor vehicle is adapted using a navigation system of the target motor vehicle depending on the risk signal. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the information signal is transmitted to a computer of an infrastructure apparatus, wherein the computer of the infrastructure apparatus comprises the analysis unit. ### Claim 20 A system for reducing risks in road traffic, wherein the system comprises a communication interface, which is configured to receive at least one information signal from two or more motor vehicles and to transmit said at least one information signal to an analysis unit of the system; said at least one information signal comprises an absolute position of the corresponding motor vehicle and an associated hazard level; the analysis unit is configured: to assign the absolute position to one of a plurality of route sections and to determine a risk characteristic value for each of the route sections as a function of the hazard level; and to generate a risk signal based on the risk characteristic value; the communication interface is configured to transmit the risk signal to at least one traffic participant; and the analysis unit is configured: to assign the hazard level to a corresponding route section depending on the associated position; to determine the risk characteristic value for the corresponding route section as a function of the hazard level assigned thereto; and to statistically evaluate the hazard level assigned to the corresponding route section in order to determine the risk characteristic value for the corresponding route section.