Speed trap detection and warning system

A speed trap detection and warning apparatus, comprising:

• a signal processor operable to receive signals and to process the received signals to generate vehicle location data defining the location of a vehicle;
• a travel parameter calculator operable to calculate vehicle bearing data defining the direction of travel of the vehicle;
• a data store configured to store location data defining a respective location for each of a plurality of speed traps and speed trap bearing data defining a respective operating direction for each of the speed traps;
• a location comparer operable to compare the vehicle location data with the stored location data to determine the distance of the vehicle from a stored location and operable to determine whether to alert the user in dependence upon an alert threshold;
• a direction data processor operable to use to calculated vehicle bearing data and the stored speed trap bearing data to determine whether to alert the user in dependence upon whether the vehicle is travelling in a direction in which a speed trap is operational;
• and
• a signal generator operable to generate a signal for transmission to an apparatus within the vehicle for causing the receiving apparatus to alert the user to the presence of a speed trap, the signal generator being controlled, in use, to generate a signal if it is determined by both the location comparer and the direction data processor that the user is to be alerted.

A speed trap detection and warning apparatus for carrying in a vehicle, comprising:

• a signal receiver operable to receive signals defining the location and direction of travel of the vehicle;
• a data store configured to store location data defining a respective location for each of a plurality of speed traps and speed trap bearing data defining a respective operating direction for each of the speed traps;
• a location comparer operable to compare the location defined in the received signals with the stored location data to determine the distance of the vehicle from a stored location and operable to determine whether to alert the user in dependence upon an alert threshold;
• a direction data processor operable to use the direction of travel defined in the received signals and the stored speed trap bearing data to determine whether to alert the user in dependence upon whether the vehicle is travelling in a direction in which a speed trap is operational;
• and
• an alerter operable to alerting a user to the presence of a speed trap, the alerter being controlled, in use, to alert the user if it is determined by both the location comparer and the direction data processor that the user is to be alerted.

A speed trap detection and warning apparatus comprising:

• a signal receiver operable to receive signals defining the location and direction of travel of a vehicle;
• a data store configured to store location data defining a respective location for each of a plurality of speed traps and speed trap bearing data defining a respective operating direction for each of the speed traps;
• a location comparer operable to compare the location defined in the received signals with the stored location data to determine the distance of the vehicle from a stored location and operable to determine whether to alert the user in dependence upon an alert threshold;
• a direction data processor operable to use the direction of travel of the vehicle defined in the received signals and the stored speed trap bearing data to determine whether to alert the user in dependence upon whether the vehicle is travelling in a direction in which a speed trap is operational;
• and
• a signal generator operable to generate a signal for transmission to an apparatus within the vehicle for causing the receiving apparatus to alert the user to the presence of a speed trap, the signal generator being controlled, in use, to generate a signal if it is determined by both the location comparer and the direction data processor that the user is to be alerted.

A method of alerting the driver of a vehicle to the presence of a speed trap, comprising:

• processing signals to generate vehicle location data defining the location of the vehicle;
• calculating vehicle bearing data defining the direction of travel of the vehicle;
• a location alert determining process of comparing the vehicle location data with stored location data defining a respective location for each of a plurality of speed traps;
• to determine the distance of the vehicle from a stored location and to determine whether to alert the user in dependence upon an alert threshold;
• a direction alert determining process of using the calculated vehicle bearing data and stored speed trap bearing data defining a respective operating direction for each speed trap to determine whether to alert the user in dependence upon whether the vehicle is travelling a direction in which a speed trap is operational;
• and
• alerting the driver to the presence of a speed trap when it is determined in both the location alert determining process and the direction alert determining process that the user is to be alerted.

A speed trap detection and warning system for a vehicle, comprising:

• signal processing means for receiving signals and for processing the received signals to generate vehicle location data defining the location of the vehicle;
• travel parameter calculating means for calculating vehicle bearing data defining the direction of travel of the vehicle;
• storage means far storing location data defining a respective location for each of a plurality of speed traps and speed trap bearing data defining a respective operating direction for each of the speed traps;
• location comparing means for comparing the vehicle location data with the stored locations data to determine the distance of the vehicle from a stored location and for determining whether to alert the user in dependence upon an alert threshold;
• direction data processing means for using the calculated vehicle bearing data and the stored speed trap bearing data to determine whether to alert the user in dependence upon whether the vehicle is travelling in a direction in which a speed trap is operational;
• and
• alerting means for alerting a user to the presence of a speed trap, the alerting means being controlled, in use, to alert the user if it is determined by both the location comparing means and the direction data processing means that the user is to be alerted.

A speed trap detection and warning apparatus, comprising:

• signal processing means for receiving signals and for processing the received signals to generate vehicle location data defining the location of a vehicle;
• travel parameter calculating means for calculating vehicle bearing data defining the direction of travel of the vehicle;
• storage means for storing location data defining a respective location for each of a plurality of speed traps and speed trap bearing data defining a respective operating direction for each of the speed traps;
• location comparing means for comparing the vehicle location data with the stored locations data to determine the distance of the vehicle from a stored location and for determining whether to alert the user in dependence upon an alert threshold;
• direction data processing means for using the calculated vehicle bearing data and the stored speed trap bearing data to determine whether to alert the driver in dependence upon whether the vehicle is travelling in a direction in which a speed trap is operational;
• and
• signal generating means for generating a signal for transmission to an apparatus within the vehicle for causing the receiving apparatus to alert the user to the presence of a speed trap, the signal generating means being controlled, in use, to generate a signal if it is determined by both the location comparing means and the direction data processing means that the user is to be alerted.

A speed trap detection and warning apparatus for carrying in a vehicle, comprising:

• means for receiving signals defining the location and direction of travel of the vehicle;
• storage means for storing location data defining a respective location for each of a plurality of speed traps and speed trap bearing data defining a respective operating direction for each of the speed traps;
• location comparing means for comparing the location defined in the received signals with the stored location data to determine the distance of the vehicle from a stored location and for determining whether to alert the user in dependence upon an alert threshold;
• direction data processing means for using the direction of travel defined in the received signals and the stored speed trap bearing data to determine whether to alert the user in dependence upon whether the vehicle is travelling in a direction in which a speed trap is operational;
• and
• alerting means for alerting a user to the presence of a speed trap, the alerting means being controlled, in use, to alert the user if it is determined by both the location comparing means and the direction data processing means that the user is to be alerted.

A speed trap detection and warning apparatus comprising:

• means for receiving signals defining the location and direction of travel of a vehicle;
• storage means far storing location data defining a respective location for each of a plurality of speed traps and speed tap bearing data defining a respective operating direction for each of the speed traps;
• location comparing means for comparing the location defined in the received signals with the stored location data to determine the distance of the vehicle from a stored location and for determining whether to alert the user in dependence upon an alert threshold;
• direction data processing means for using the direction of travel of the vehicle defined in the received signals and the stored speed trap bearing data to determine whether to alert the user in dependence upon whether the vehicle is travelling in a direction in which a speed trap is operational;
• and
• signal generating means for generating a signal for transmission to an apparatus within the vehicle for causing the receiving apparatus to alert the user to the presence of a speed trap, the signal generating means being controlled, in use, to generate a signal if it is determined by both the location comparing means and the direction data processing means that the user is to be alerted.