WO2022263895A1

WO2022263895A1 - Apparatus and method for command support for blue light organizations

Info

Publication number: WO2022263895A1
Application number: PCT/IB2021/055366
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael SPULLER; Nikola PALKOVICH
Original assignee: Spuller Michael; Palkovich Nikola
Priority date: 2021-06-17
Filing date: 2021-06-17
Publication date: 2022-12-22
Also published as: DE112021007849A5

Abstract

The invention relates to an emergency vehicle occupancy detection system for an interior (76) of the emergency vehicle (70), having central electronics (50) which are fitted in the interior (76), have a communication interface (55) and are equipped with or connected to at least one active RFID reading system (51) in the interior (76). The system also comprises a plurality of RFID tags (60) as team RFID tags (61) on a particular team member (71), which RFID tags assign qualification information to said team member, and a plurality of RFID tags (60) as seat RFID tags (62) which are fixedly attached to a particular seat (72) in the emergency vehicle (70) and can be read depending on the occupancy of the seat (72). In this case, the central electronics (50) are designed and configured such that the RFID reading system (51) is used to read the RFID tags (60) that can be detected in the interior by means of the RFID reading system (51), occupancy status information (80) relating to the emergency vehicle (70) is determined on the basis of the detectable RFID tags (60), and this occupancy status information (80), with at least the team members (71) present in the emergency vehicle (70) and with the seats (72) occupied in the emergency vehicle (70), is made available to a control centre (81, 82) via the communication interface (55).

Description

Device and method for leadership support for blue light organizations

The invention relates to an emergency vehicle occupancy detection system according to the preamble of claim 1, and a method and computer program for electronically determining an emergency vehicle occupancy according to the preamble of claim 14 or 22.

The invention relates to an electronic system and a method for management support for blue light organizations, for example for fire brigade, disaster or rescue operations. This should provide information about the occupancy status of an emergency vehicle in real time. Based on this collected information, it is possible for the operations manager, a control center or the like to allocate a task to the people in the vehicle and, if necessary, also to allocate available resources and equipment to the respective person as optimally as possible, e.g. according to individual qualifications, training, level of experience, .... This can preferably take place while driving in the vehicle, in particular also at least partially by or supported by algorithms which are designed, for example, to solve optimization problems. The resulting data can be provided, displayed and/or adjusted both locally in the vehicle and externally at a higher-level control center or command center.

For example, TW 1678664 shows a fire control system and its method of operation. A large number of sensor units, some of which have a wireless transmission function, detect persons or goods inside the fire engine in order to generate detection data. A vehicle control host is installed inside the fire engine and connected to the detection units to receive the detection data. In turn, the vehicle control host is connected to a cloud server to transmit the detection data to the cloud server. A user device is connected to the cloud server to receive the detection data from the cloud server and thereby manage the detected people or goods. In this system, telemetry data such as water level, etc. are recorded by the sensor units and made available in the cloud.

US 2009/040051 shows a system and method for identifying first responders at a dangerous location using active RFID tags, which tags each have their own power supply, in order to compile an electronic log of first responders at a dangerous location. The electronic journey list is created by electronically querying the active RFID tags of first responders on vehicles on the way to the danger zone. Each electronic journey log is sent to a central location and an aggregate electronic journey log is created using all individual electronic journey logs. Thus, with this system, lists for the operations manager can Subsequent logging of people in a hazardous area can be created. A kind of contactless time clock is thus provided, with which it can be determined afterwards which person was in the danger area and when they left it again.

US 2009/033 499 shows systems and methods for determining the location of a person within a spatial location. The method involves temporarily fitting the individual with a wearable and removable self-powered active RFID tag on their wrist that actively transmits data to multiple off-site wireless access points (AP), such as emergency vehicles. The location of the person is determined by a localization algorithm, which is based, for example, on the strength of the signal that can be received by the multiple APs from the radiating active RFID tag and, for example, triangulated. An exact location of persons via active radio signals is thus described, which is known per se. Here, specially active RFID tags are used as transmitters to determine the exact location of people and to transmit it to a central location, where it can be displayed on a soil map, for example.

WO 2019/211691 describes a personal protective equipment (PPE) management system using blockchains and peer-to-peer networks. The individual pieces of equipment (PSA) can be configured via active wireless technologies, e.g. via 602.11 network or 602.15 (Zig Bee). PSA data such as test intervals, maintenance work, inspection data, storage location and the place of use are queried and evaluated at regular intervals and further steps are taken if necessary. Maintenance work is stored in the form of a blockchain to prevent counterfeiting. The PSA data can then be displayed on a dashboard.

WO 2017/083 355 shows a method for providing a data network for emergency workers. The method includes providing a communication center that is installed outside of an emergency vehicle. The communication center includes at least one telemetry radio that communicates with the emergency equipment to collect data from the emergency equipment. It further includes at least one 802.11 compliant radio that communicates with at least one wireless device to enable management of emergency equipment when configured with appropriate active telemetry radios.

DE 10 2016 217 480 comes from an unrelated field of technology outside of the coordination of emergency vehicles and emergency services. It shows a contactless determination of the unrolled status of several seat belts in a car using RFID transponders attached to them. A readout signal for reading out the RFID transponder is sent out and a response signal from the RFID transponder is measured. Under use A measured value obtained in this way determines whether the RFID transponder is covered by parts of the vehicle in order to monitor the state of the seat belts that are permanently installed in the vehicle interior and are equipped with the RFID transponder.

A disadvantage of these known solutions is, for example, that they generally require active energy supplies for the system participants involved, which require appropriate maintenance (e.g.: charging, replacing, switching on/off, functional tests, etc.). Also, many of the known systems are not real-time capable, or only to a very limited extent, so that real-time processing during use, or before or during the journey, or dynamic interaction to adapt to changing operating conditions is not possible or only possible with difficulty. Specifically, since the occupancy of the seats in an emergency vehicle can often also have an impact on the special equipment associated with the respective seat, it is often not only the number of team members and their qualifications that is important, but also the effective occupancy and assignment of a specific seat in each case a special team member - which is not or only insufficiently taken into account in known systems. In addition to people and pieces of equipment, information about the vehicle itself and the current condition of the vehicle also play a role in operational planning when occupying an emergency vehicle, such as whether and how fast it is moving, with/without flashing lights, are all doors closed, fuel level , are the engine or other vehicle parameters in the green zone, etc.

A disadvantage of many solutions is that they have to be permanently installed when the vehicle is purchased, or can only be retrofitted at great expense. However, especially large and expensive emergency vehicles often have a long service life, which is why a simple and inexpensive retrofitting is desirable. An entire fleet of different emergency vehicles can also be brought up to date, for example regionally, so that interaction and communication with each other can take place quickly and easily via a uniform platform. This also makes simpler, modular adaptation or upgrading possible.

The object of the present invention is therefore to create a device which does not have the aforementioned disadvantages and in particular provides improved guidance support for blue light organizations, especially for emergency vehicles. In particular, an emergency vehicle occupancy detection system is to be provided that is reliable and accurate, but can also be used in a variety of ways. The data should also be up-to-date, preferably at least approximately in real time. It should preferably be possible to retrofit this in an uncomplicated manner, for example without a great deal of cabling, especially for a wide variety of types and models of emergency vehicles. There is a special task to provide an assignment of team members to operational tasks and/or items of equipment, in particular via the designated seats in the emergency vehicle.

The objects are solved by the features of the independent claim. Advantageous developments are presented in the figures and in the dependent patent claims.

According to the invention, an emergency vehicle occupancy detection system designed to identify occupancy in an interior of an emergency vehicle is provided. Such an electronic emergency vehicle occupancy detection system is designed to be installed in an emergency vehicle - for example vehicles of a blue light organization such as the fire brigade, ambulance, police, special police units, disaster relief, military, border protection units, etc. - or is this in such an emergency vehicle firmly attached. The emergency vehicle occupancy detection system is specially designed for electronic management support, specifically for the provision, monitoring, assignment and/or distribution of resources, personnel, skills, deployment functions, crew, equipment, etc. In particular as an electronic occupancy, monitoring and/or investigation system, specifically for an interactive and/or real-time capable management support system with an at least semi-automatic or interactive assignment of personnel, resources and functions in an operation. This guidance support can take place in the vehicle itself, but preferably also across multiple vehicles, especially online and at least approximately in real time.

According to the invention, the emergency vehicle occupancy detection system includes a central electronic system, which is designed for fixed attachment in the interior of the emergency vehicle or is attached there. For example, a universal adapter can be used for different vehicles and/or vehicle types in order to make a uniform emergency vehicle occupancy detection system installable in a wide variety of vehicles and vehicle types—and thus universally usable. Such a central electronics system provides a system that is easy to install and can also be retrofitted, which preferably includes all components according to the invention (e.g. as in the subarea framed in the figures) in a closed device and, in one embodiment, is only connected to a voltage supply from the vehicle, for example must become. Optionally, the central electronics or a processor or computer unit with memory installed therein can also have a wide variety of expansion interfaces, which can be connected to external peripherals and expansion modules.

The central electronic system has at least one communication interface. In this way, data can be transmitted specifically to a control system located in the vehicle and/or external to the vehicle (eg in another vehicle or in a control station), preferably via a known, standardized network protocol. This enables data to be exchanged from the central electronics to at least one Control system computer unit can be produced, so that the central electronics can be operated via this and preferably can have no or only a greatly reduced local user interface.

The central electronic system also has at least one active RFID reading system in the interior of the emergency vehicle, or is connected to it. This active RFID reading system is preferably integrated directly in the central electronics. In a preferred embodiment, the central electronics can in particular only have a single such active RFID reading system. A very compact design of the central unit can thus be provided, so that it can be easily installed, retrofitted and exchanged. In another embodiment, the central electronics can also have more than one such active RFID reading system, in particular so that this can be used to determine improved spatial coverage and/or localization of RFID tags, and this can also be done with a compact central unit. Optionally, at least one connection for one or more, preferably optional, external RFID antennas can be provided on the one or more RFID reading systems of the central unit, which expands the options for placing the antennas in the interior. The central unit can therefore be designed as a closed device with a housing and central electronics contained therein, communication interfaces, RFID reading system and optionally the other components described here, which is designed for installation in an emergency vehicle.

According to the invention, the emergency vehicle occupancy detection system also includes a number of RFID tags that can be recognized or read with the active RFID reading system, but which do not always have to be permanently present in the interior of the vehicle.

These RFID tags include at least a plurality of team RFID tags, each of which is designed to be attached to a respective team member of an operation or an operational troop. In particular, these can be attached directly to a personal piece of equipment, ID or clothing item of the respective team member, for example to a piece of clothing, protective helmet, piece of equipment, ID card, tag, name tag, key ring, necklace, belt, bracelet, Watch, pager, smartphone, etc., possibly also directly implanted in the team member. Each team RFID tag is assigned qualification information about the respective team member, for example one or more qualification information such as ability, training, fitness level, experience, length of service, authorizations, personnel information, etc. This can be stored directly on the team RFID tag or be encoded and/or stored externally by the RFID tag and assigned to the team RFID tag via a unique identifier of the latter. Thus, a crew member can be linked by the central unit to a data set of mission-relevant crew member information or the Team member can be identified as such or in the form of a skill profile, so that the team member can be assigned one (or more possible) functions for the assignment based on his or her qualifications.

The RFID tags also include at least one, preferably a plurality of seat RFID tags, each of which is designed for permanent attachment to a respective place, in particular a seat in the emergency vehicle, or is permanently attached to such a place. The seat RFID tags are each attached to a place provided for a crew member and are designed in such a way that these seat RFID tags are no longer read or only weakened by the central electronics (or their active RFID reading system) when the seat is occupied. are readable. The seat RFID tag can preferably be shielded from the RFID reading system by a crew member present on the seat, so that an evaluation of signals from the RFID reading system can be used to determine whether the seat is occupied or not. The central unit can thus determine whether—and preferably also which—the seats in the emergency vehicle are occupied. Optionally, for those (place) RFID tags which should be able to be shielded from a person or an object in a manner recognizable by the central unit, a preferably variable damping element for the RFID signals can also be attached to or near this when they are installed or put into operation RFID tag can be attached, with which the transmission of the RFID radio signals can be influenced in such a way that this shielding capability for this RFID tag is shifted to a preferred and clearly recognizable signal area with the damping element (e.g. with shielding plates, shielding foils, etc., so that only an unshielded tag responds with a sufficient (defined or calibrated) minimum signal strength). Alternatively or additionally, a transmission power of the RFID reading system can also be adjusted (possibly also individually for one or a subset of the tags) so that a response from the tag can only be received (in particular with a minimum signal strength) if it is not shielded . For example, setup or calibration can be achieved with appropriate trials and/or a display of appropriate values on a setup platform.

According to the invention, the central electronics are designed and configured in such a way that the RFID reading system is used to read the RFID tags that can be recognized in the interior by the RFID reading system, specifically with the transmission of an excitation signal for the RFID tags and the receipt of a reply from the RFID tags - for example similar to those known from other RFID systems, specifically in such a way that the (unshielded) RFID tags can be recognized, read out or detected in the interior. The central electronics are subsequently designed and configured in such a way that, using the recognizable RFID tags mentioned above, a determination of occupancy status information about the crew/equipment of the emergency vehicle is carried out. This occupancy status information, which according to the invention can be automatically determined by the central unit, includes at least the crew members present in the emergency vehicle (or their skill profiles) and the seats occupied by these crew members in the emergency vehicle. The central electronic system is designed to provide this occupancy status information to a control center via its communication interface.

This means that current occupancy information for the emergency vehicle can be provided to an operational control system automatically and essentially in real time, which includes information required for operational control or operational management, which can be optimized by this using operational control algorithms and/or interactively with a human operational manager for the respective operation. The existing capability and/or equipment resources can thus be optimally utilized and optimized, for example by solving a numerical optimization task with the current occupancy status information as input parameters. For example, special seats can also be linked to special deployment functions and/or assigned accordingly, for example by assigning or assigning a special operations manager seat or a seat equipped with special equipment to specific crew members specifically for the constellation prevailing in the vehicle according to the invention can be carried out more efficiently or with the support of a data model and online with the occupancy status information determination that can be carried out by the central unit. The system according to the invention is advantageously designed with a single central unit, which can be installed or retrofitted as the same or at least a similar device in various emergency vehicles by one or more organizations, in particular without significant or extensive installation or conversion measures. A central unit according to the invention can be used with the structure according to the invention preferably in unchanged form in all emergency vehicles - be it a car, truck, team bus, tanker, Unimog, tractor, armored car, etc. This means that these different vehicles can also be networked with one another without any problems, so that larger operations can also be carried out to be able to monitor and coordinate with different vehicles and/or organizations together via a uniform control system. The corresponding RFID tags can also be easily retrofitted in any vehicle without the need for significant structural changes.

The central electronic system preferably has a vehicle bus interface which is designed for connection to a bus system of the emergency vehicle or is connected to it. This bus system can in particular be a bus system such as a CAN bus interface of the emergency vehicle and/or the technical equipment installed therein (e.g. built-in pump, emergency generator, blue light, etc.), an OBD interface (on-board diagnosis) of the emergency vehicle or the like be, via which a status information about the emergency vehicle and / or its application technology can be queried or determined. In this case, the central electronic system is preferably designed and configured, at least to read or receive a value by means of the vehicle bus interface of the emergency vehicle and to determine the occupancy status information depending on this value and to provide it to the control center. For example, the occupancy status information can include vehicle information values such as speed, door status, blue light status, tank status, pump status, location information (eg from a navigation system, GPS, etc.), or information derived from these values. For example, when driving at a certain minimum speed or when the doors are closed, the existing crew members are to be regarded as no longer changing - and this can be provided as part of the occupancy status information. In this way, the control center can be provided with an improved level of information and the operation can be managed more efficiently and flexibly. In addition, an automatic application documentation can take place on a corresponding storage device in the central unit, the control system or a cloud system.

The communication interface of the central electronics is preferably designed with a wireless data interface, with which a wireless data connection can be established to external, mobile and/or stationed command and control computer systems as the control center. In particular, this can be designed as at least one wireless communication interface, for example according to a wireless transmission method such as WLAN, mobile communications, 5G, Bluetooth, ZigBee, etc. A radio network for data transmission, for example an infrastructure network, an ad hoc network, a mesh network, etc., can thus be set up to one or more control centers. Such a control center can, for example, include input and output devices such as tablet PCs, laptops, mobile phones, pagers, etc. with the appropriate software or apps or with an (Internet) browser-based system. For example, mobile phone data for cloud infrastructure, databases, control systems, etc. and/or WLAN or Bluetooth for local devices such as team monitors, tablets, laptops, etc. can be available in the central unit - from classic data interfaces to orchestrated container architectures, cloud, - BigData or edge computing approaches. Blockchain technologies can also be used, e.g. to provide the deployment data in a decentralized, clear and/or tamper-proof manner. The central unit can be designed and configured in particular for the local application devices in such a way that it automatically sets up mesh or ad-hock networks for local application devices and/or other central units within range of the communication interface. A flexible command line can thus be provided, which can also be carried out across vehicles. Wear parts (tablets, etc.) and rapidly aging computer systems can also be replaced independently of the central unit, so that the overall system is more durable.

The central unit is preferably designed and configured in such a way that an organized allocation of - to be used by a crew member

pieces of equipment, - a mission function for the crew member (e.g Vehicle commander, operations manager, diver, breathing apparatus wearer, ...) and/or - at least some of the respective seats, to a specific team member. This assignment is included in the occupancy status information of the emergency vehicle determined by the central unit, with the organized assignment preferably being based on the determined qualification information of the respective crew member. In this way, the operational management and the occupancy status information made available to it as a basis can be further improved.

The RFID tags are preferably designed as passive or semi-passive RFID tags. The RFID reading system is designed to emit an activation signal with at least one antenna (preferably within the central unit) in the interior of the emergency vehicle. This means that the system can be retrofitted easily and with minimal wiring effort, and the coverage of the system can be limited specifically to the interior of the vehicle.

In an expanded embodiment, the system preferably includes at least one further RFID tag as a reference RFID tag. This is designed for attachment to a known position in the interior or attached there. Specifically, this known position is predetermined in such a way that the reference RFID tag (when the vehicle is fully occupied) cannot be shielded from the RFID reading system by a crew member. With this reference, the central unit can determine an improved determination of the occupancy of the seats. In this way, known and constant reference information about the signal strength and/or signal direction of the read RFID tags can be determined. Such a reference can be used, for example, to improve the determination of the degree of shielding of the place RFID tags, or distance, direction and/or localization information of the RFID tags that can be derived from the RFID reception signal in a known manner. In particular, a more specific localization of RFID tags in the interior can be determined using the reference than would be possible without a reference. The quality, accuracy and/or reliability of the occupancy status information can thus be further improved.

The RFID reading system is preferably designed in such a way that it can be or is equipped with an antenna characteristic shaping element in such a way that a spatial RFID reading area in the interior can be defined with it, which can preferably be mapped in the central electronics. This can be done, for example, with one or more shielding, damping or weakening elements, which can be attached to—or in an area surrounding—the antenna of the RFID reading system. In this case, the central unit can be specially designed to accommodate such a shielding or attenuating element, for example in a holder provided for this purpose. This mount and/or the shielding or attenuating element is specifically designed to be configurable in such a way that the spatial antenna characteristic of the antenna of the RFID reading system can be specifically influenced. A reading area of the RFID reading system can thus be adapted to the interior, specifically to differently shaped and/or designed or equipped interiors of a respective vehicle, without requiring a special central electronics base unit. This can, for example, prevent crew members from being accidentally detected outside the vehicle.

Preferably, the system additionally includes at least one RFID tag as an equipment RFID tag, which is attached to an item of equipment that can be assigned to the emergency vehicle or to an item of equipment located in the emergency vehicle and assigned to it. In particular, this assignment can be mapped in the central electronics or the determined occupancy status information includes the assignment and/or the item of equipment. The occupancy status information can thus contain further information and, for example, the control system and/or the central unit can assign items of equipment or operational functions to crew members even more specifically. According to the invention, the equipment RFID tag does not necessarily have to be attached to the item of equipment itself. In another embodiment, the above-mentioned equipment RFID tags can also be designed and arranged in a manner analogous to the place RFID tags. Existing equipment can therefore be shielded from the equipment RFID tag, which is attached to the location provided for this equipment, when the item of equipment is present in such a way that the central unit can detect whether this item of equipment is present or not. The occupancy status information can therefore also include items of equipment and/or their assignment.

The system can preferably include at least one RFID tag as a sensor RFID tag, which is equipped with a sensor for a physical quantity (e.g. a temperature, a switch status, a pressure, a fill level, etc.) and with which a physical measured value and/or status information derived from this from an object assigned to this RFID tag can be made available to the RFID reading system. The occupancy status information can therefore also contain information about the correspondingly equipped object, which can be taken into account accordingly by the control system and/or the central unit. For example, with such a sensor-RFID tag, empty breathing air bottles can be recognized as such and excluded from the occupancy status information.

A crew information system with a data connection to the central electronics is preferably installed in the interior, via which operational information from the control center and/or the central unit can be made available to the crew members in the interior. This team information system can, for example, be a loudspeaker system, a screen (team monitor), small LCD Displays at each seat, a feed unit in an operational radio system or in the team members’ headsets, a connection to the team members’ smartphones, smartwatches, VR or AR glasses, etc. This crew information system is designed, for example, to provide information about the assignment of a specific crew member to a specifically provided operational function, to a specifically provided seat, etc. In particular, when the determined occupancy status information is not equal to a provided occupancy status information, which was determined or optimized, for example, by a control system and/or by automatic algorithms using the current occupancy status information. For example, a commander can use a manual input device in the form of a tablet PC, which is wirelessly connected to the central electronics (e.g. via WLAN, Bluetooth, mobile data connection) as a control system, to view the occupancy status information and adjust, edit or define it if necessary - optionally with the support of software running on the tablet PC or in the cloud. This means that the central unit can be used to provide the crew members with occupancy status information to be produced specifically for the operation, for example an assignment to a specific operation function, equipment or a seat for a specific crew member, which can then be displayed in the vehicle via a crew monitor, which crew monitor from the central unit or the control system can be controlled.

The system preferably includes at least one RFID tag as a monitoring RFID tag, which is attached to a known position on the emergency vehicle in such a way that information about the emergency vehicle and/or equipment can be provided by evaluating this monitoring RFID tag is. Its known position can be predefined in such a way that it is shielded or not shielded depending on the state of the emergency vehicle or the equipment. For example, with the known position in a door rabbet, with the door closed, this monitoring RFID tag cannot be detected because it is shielded from the door. This means that even in older vehicles it can be determined whether all the doors are closed before the command to drive off is given. Or with a monitoring RFID tag under or behind a breathing air bottle holder, the presence of the breathing air bottle can be ensured, as already described above. Optionally, this can also be a sensor RFID tag, eg an RFID tag, which can only be read when a sensor switch is activated. For example, such a sensor switch can deactivate the RFID tag so that it cannot be read out, for example by this switch separating a circuit part of the RFID tag such as supply, antenna, circuit part, . . . The occupancy status information of the central unit can thus also include such monitoring information or be made dependent on it. For example, a door status detection can thus be provided without complex wiring—eg also in older vehicles. Also, a vehicle Identification tag can be provided, by means of which, independently of the built-in central unit, the emergency vehicle and/or its data can be recorded or assigned, which can alternatively also be stored/configured in the central unit itself.

The central electronics are preferably designed and configured in such a way that they link information from all RFID tags with static vehicle data (e.g. which vehicle, which general equipment, how much water, ...) and/or with at least one current driving data value (e.g. speed, door status, blue light status, fuel level, pump status, current water level, navigation data, ...) from the vehicle bus interface of the emergency vehicle and provides the occupancy status information as at least one linked occupancy status information. Linking can include data about the vehicle such as is it stationary/driving?, how fast?, where right now?, how long can the tank be cleared?, etc. in the occupancy status information, or preferably the occupancy status information provide depending on this information.

In an analogous manner, the invention also relates to a method for determining the occupancy of an emergency vehicle, in particular using a system as described here. The method according to the invention comprises at least

• a reading of several RFID tags in an interior of the emergency vehicle, e.g. by an active RFID reading system that is controlled by central electronics

- at least one team RFID tag, which is assigned to a respective team member in the interior, and

- at least one seat RFID tag, which is permanently attached to a designated seat for a crew member in the interior,

• determining qualification information for the respective team member in the interior using the team RFID tag,

• Determining readability of the seat RFID tags, e.g. based on signal strength and/or signal propagation time of RFID radio signals at one or more antennas of the RFID reading system, in particular with regard to the team RFID tags and/or at least one known one reference rfid tag,

• a determination of occupancy status information of the emergency vehicle based on the readability of the RFID tags, in particular with an assignment and / or detection of crew members to the seats, for example, based on the read RFID values, a logical assignment of a respective crew member to his seat and /or an item of equipment, • wireless communication of the occupancy status information via the communication interface of the system to a higher-level control system, in particular an operational control system.

With the occupancy status information determined by the system, an improved, more precise, more reliable and more up-to-date operational planning can be carried out than with known systems. The control system can, at least partially automatically or interactively with a human operations manager, based on the occupancy status information in the context of operational planning, optimize the occupancy status information - e.g. by solving a mathematical optimization problem on a computing unit - and this solution via the system to the crew members provide in the interior.

The method preferably also includes reading out at least one vehicle status value from a vehicle bus interface of the emergency vehicle, in particular via a vehicle bus interface such as a CAN bus and/or an OBD interface (on-board diagnosis) of the emergency vehicle and/or a bus system of the emergency technology installed in the emergency vehicle. The occupancy status information is determined as a function of this vehicle status value.

The method preferably also includes linking information from the read-out RFID tags with the vehicle status value. This is done, for example, in such a way that static vehicle data - e.g. about a vehicle type, vehicle standard equipment - and/or current real-time driving data of the emergency vehicle are linked to the information from the read RFID tags as occupancy status information.

Preferably, based on the occupancy status information, a logical and/or physical assignment of a crew member to one of the seats can take place. In particular, a respective item of equipment and/or an operational function (e.g. operations manager, vehicle commander, engineer, etc.) for the crew member sitting there can be connected to at least some of the seats. By reassigning the crew member to a specific seat/operational function as part of the deployment planning, for example, the crew member can also be assigned an item of equipment that may be associated with this seat and/or a special operational function.

For example, an operations manager can also classify the crew via a control system connected to the central unit, which is provided by the central unit as occupancy information based on the recognized team RFID tags. As a result, the team members take the corresponding seats in the (corresponding) emergency vehicle according to this allocation. Optionally certain seats also have dedicated equipment and/or operational functions. Using a crew monitor or the like in the vehicle, an external operations manager can then instruct as target occupancy information which crew member should sit on which seat and take the special equipment available there or which function is to be fulfilled in the operation. In an expanded embodiment, the central unit can then, by reading out the RFID tags, verify whether the current occupancy information corresponds to the target—and otherwise, if appropriate, issue a notice of this. In many cases, however, some or all of the seats in the vehicle can also have the same priority, so that such an exact seat assignment to a specific crew member is not always necessary.

Optionally, a central unit, preferably of the same design, can also be fixed to a building (e.g. in the operations center, changing room, garage, parking lot and/or crew room, ... a fire brigade headquarters/station), which is also integrated into the operations management function. For example, an aforementioned universal adapter for the central unit can be designed in such a way that it is designed for building operation, e.g. with corresponding building interfaces such as mains voltage or PoE instead of vehicle voltage, building bus system instead of vehicle bus system, etc. In a similar way to the emergency vehicle, such a mounted Emergency vehicle occupancy determination system thus designed to additionally provide the occupancy status information of the building, in particular via an identical or uniform system for team members and places in the building. The same or analogous functions can be provided, e.g. with the seat RFID tag instead of attached to a seat in a locker, so that occupancy can be determined using the locker door shield, with equipment, reference, team RFID tags, etc. as described. As with the vehicles, the occupancy of the (interior) space of the fire station can also be integrated into the operational planning - e.g. in order to use the same system via building crew information systems to allocate the (automatically detected and prepared) existing crew members to specific emergency vehicles and/or operational tasks .

Preferably, the reading of multiple RFID tags includes at least one reference RFID tag, which is permanently attached to a known position in the interior. Based on this reference RFID tag, the system spatially allocates the other RFID tags in the interior.

The information from the read reference RFID tags, team RFID tags and space RFID tags is preferably combined and information about the occupancy status of the emergency vehicle is determined therefrom as occupancy status information. In this case, specifically an evaluation of the RFID radio signals in relation to their signal strength, transit time and/or phase position. For example, a position of the respective RFID tag, eg a distance between the RFID reader and the RFID tag, can be determined and/or the RFID tag can be triangulated. In the present application, it is often sufficient to determine this position relatively imprecisely (eg in the decimeter range) in order to clearly determine occupancy information of seats with crew members or of equipment for the occupancy status information. Such a triangulation—especially with a number of RFID antennas—can take place as an alternative or in addition to an evaluation of shielding or damping of RFID radio signals.

The occupancy status information is preferably wirelessly synchronized with a mobile control system unit (e.g. a tablet PC, mobile phone, laptop, on-board computer in the vehicle, etc.) via a wireless communication interface, with the occupancy status information preferably being actively processed by the mobile Control system unit can be carried out, in particular dividing a crew member into a mission function, seat and/or piece of equipment.

As an alternative or in addition, the occupancy status information is preferably wirelessly synchronized with a vehicle-external dispatch system via a wireless communication interface. In this case, such occupancy status information—preferably from a plurality of emergency vehicles—can be supplied to the same stationary command and control system or can also be exchanged directly or indirectly between a plurality of emergency vehicles.

The invention also relates to a corresponding computer program product with program code on a machine-readable medium, which is designed to provide the steps of the method described here that can be carried out by a computer system. Such a program code can be executed specifically on a central electronic system, an operational control system computer and the like and can carry out at least the following: detecting a plurality of RFID tags in an interior of a

Emergency vehicle via a control of an RFID reading system - a calculation of occupancy status information with a determination and assignment - of team RFID tags to team members - of place RFID tags to seats and - of equipment RFID tags to equipment in the interior of the emergency vehicle, specifically with a determination of a spatial position of at least some of the RFID tags via the RFID reading system. Optionally, an emergency vehicle status value can also be detected by the computer program product reading out a vehicle bus interface. The acquisition can also include data synchronization to an internal (local memory in the central unit and/or a mobile control system) or external (external control system, server, cloud, internet service, ...) database.

The computer program product is also designed or configured to provide the occupancy status information of the emergency vehicle, specifically with a (software) interface for interactive processing of the occupancy status information at a local and/or central control system unit connected via a wireless communication interface. Online synchronization can preferably also take place across a number of emergency vehicles.

For example, an assignment of a crew member to a respective seat and/or item of equipment can be provided, for example by controlling an output unit in the emergency vehicle. The program code is preferably executed at least partially or completely on central electronics of an emergency vehicle occupancy determination system as described here, optionally also partially on a control system connected thereto. In addition to firmware on a central unit dedicated for this purpose, the computer program product can also be used, at least in part, as software or an app for a smartphone, tablet PC, smartwatch, AR or VR glasses, etc. as a mobile operations control system terminal or tablet be trained. At least parts of the computer program product can also be made available wirelessly for execution on a participating device. The central unit or a mobile operations control system can optionally be at least partially designed as a gateway, router, bridge, switch or hub, which transfers wireless communication from other local devices, which at best only have a short range, to another communication system, protocol and/or medium, via which the information is then provided.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention result from the following description, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the drawings.

Like the technical content of the patent claims and figures, the list of reference symbols is part of the disclosure. The figures are described coherently and comprehensively. The same reference symbols denote the same components, while reference symbols with different indices indicate functionally identical or similar components.

They show:

1 shows a first embodiment of an emergency vehicle according to the invention

Occupancy determination system with an emergency vehicle from above,

2 shows an embodiment of an emergency vehicle occupancy determination system according to the invention in a block diagram, figs 3a to 3c show an embodiment of an occupancy detection according to the invention,

figs 4a and 4b an embodiment of an emergency vehicle occupancy determination system according to the invention with additional tags and/or antenna characteristic configuration elements,

figs 5a and 5b show an example of an embodiment of a method or a computer program product according to the invention in a flowchart, divided into two partial figures.

1 shows an example of an emergency vehicle occupancy detection system 50 according to the invention in an emergency vehicle 70, such as a fire engine or other emergency vehicle. In this plan view of a fire truck, the front quarter represents the driver's cabin, the middle two quarters the crew cabin, and the rear quarter represents, for example, an equipment compartment. The driver's cabin has a driver's and a passenger's seat. In the crew cabin there are two benches with three seats each. This vehicle 70 is occupied by at least one, preferably by several, crew members 71, who are to be deployed as efficiently as possible, specifically adapted to their functions and abilities, for the deployment, optionally also across multiple vehicles 70 and/or organizations, as part of operational planning . The information determined according to the invention from one or more vehicles can not only be received from a mobile operations control system 81 (such as a tablet PC, smartphone, laptop, on-board computer, etc.) in or near the vehicle, but alternatively or additionally also from a stationary operations control system (e.g. a permanently stationed control center 82). For this purpose, the system according to the invention has at least one, preferably wireless, communication interface 55, such as a data radio connection according to a known standard (e.g. WLAN, Bluetooth, etc. for local networks and/or mobile radio data, 4G, 5G, etc. for connections to remote stations or vehicles, e.g. via internet, cloud systems, ...).

According to the invention, the emergency vehicle occupancy detection system 50 has in the interior 76 of the vehicle 70 at least one active RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) reading system 51 with at least one RFID antenna, as shown with a corresponding symbol. With this, several RFID tags 60 can be identified or read out. This emits an RFID read signal 57 in the interior, for example cyclically or in response to a special request. These RFID tags 60 (summary for the RFID tags 61 to 66 specifically shown in the figures) can preferably be designed as passive RFID tags, which each have special functions, positions, Objects, people, etc. are assigned. In a system according to the invention, there are at least personal RFID tags 61, with a specific Tag 61 is logically and physically associated with a specific person 71 . Physically means that the tag 61 is attached to a crew member 71 himself or to a personal item belonging to the crew member 71 (such as a piece of clothing, a helmet, a badge, an ID card, an ID card, a bracelet, a pendant, a key fob, etc .) connected is. Logical means that this tag 61 has stored specific data about the respective team member, or that this data is stored at another location (especially in the operations control system) linked to it via a unique identifier of the RFDI tag 61 that can be read via RFID. These system tags can be recognized and read by the RFID reading system 51 when they are in the interior 76 .

The system according to the invention also has location RFID tags 62 . The space RFID tags 62a, 62b, 62c, 62d, 62e, 62f, 62g, 62h shown are each physically and logically assigned to a seat 72 for a crew member 71 in the emergency vehicle 70 . For example, special RFID tags can be installed in the individual seats, which are positioned at a height such that they are completely covered by a person sitting in the seat. Due to the high proportion of water in the body, the RFID radiation is shielded to such an extent that a clear differentiation between occupied and unoccupied seats is possible. The RFID tags preferably have a "unique ID" with which each RFID tag can be assigned to a dedicated seat.

Optionally, the system can also have RFID tags 60 as reference RFID tags, such as the tags 63a, 63b, 63c, 63d shown, which are attached to known or defined reference positions 73 and are designed to contain additional information, such as known position references in the interior 76 to provide references regarding the signal strengths of the RFID radio signals 57 upon transmission and/or response, or the like. The reference RFID tag 63c can, for example, also be attached as a monitoring RFID tag 65 at a monitoring position 75, for example in the door rebate, so that a door status can be monitored with this alternatively or additionally using its shielding.

An example of this aspect of the invention is eg how to differentiate between driver/passenger and the crew in the cabin, especially with only a single transmitting and receiving unit in the interior. Especially with only one RFID antenna, a triangulation or a propagation time analysis of the signals can provide too little or too imprecise information, so that seat recognition tags are used according to the invention. Optionally or additionally, with so-called RFID reference tags, e.g. fixed in a special position between the driver's cab and the crew compartment, the system can be constantly calibrated itself by measuring the runtime and/or signal strength and on this basis a distinction can be made between driver/co-driver and crew. This makes it possible to definitively assign the seat position to the team. According to the invention, it is also possible to recognize whether all of the seats in the vehicle that are relevant for the operation are occupied, without each individual seat being occupied Seat to wire or rebuild, since it is preferably, apart from the one central unit 54 is a passive system, which is once installed in the vehicle without much effort, subsequently brings no maintenance work with it and the high demands on robustness in the withstands fire brigade-specific environmental conditions.

The present invention is intended to provide a technical system for technical support. Specifically, using the technical criteria and facts of an actual state of occupancy automatically determined by the system, implementation of operational planning can be improved at least partially computer-aided or interactively. It is also interesting that the present invention is designed in such a way that it can be used in a wide variety of emergency vehicles and, in particular, can also be easily retrofitted, e.g. without requiring complex wiring and modifications to the vehicle. In particular, the emergency vehicle occupancy detection system 50 according to the invention is designed with central electronics, which can be mounted in particular as a single device in the interior 76 and preferably contains all the components according to the invention (apart from the RFID tags, of course). This central electronic system 50 can, for example, be attached relatively centrally to the ceiling of the emergency vehicle 70 as a central unit 54 (e.g. also via a corresponding vehicle-specific adapter).

2 shows an embodiment of the invention in a block diagram. The heart of the system is the processor unit (PU processing unit) 50. Communication interfaces 55 are connected to or integrated into this, such as the mobile radio interface (GSM) 55b shown and the WLAN interface (WIFI) 55a, which can establish wireless connections with (data) communication networks (NET) such as 81 or 82, for example a connection to the Internet or to an intranet of emergency organizations. A database 82, 81 can be accessed, for example, which can store/ready share operational information, information about available personnel and/or resources, operational documentation, etc., for example. For example, this can be a database 81, 82 of a central control center. A connection to other emergency vehicles 70b-x can also be established, especially if they are involved in the same operation. Wireless connections to other extensions 59 can also be established via this, for example to a team monitor 83 or one or more displays, loudspeakers, indicator lights, etc. Alternatively, such extensions can also be connected to the central electronics 50 via extension interfaces 58, or optionally also be partially integrated into them. However, there is always at least one communication interface 55 which is designed to set up a data connection with a mobile or stationary control system, specifically in order to exchange information 80 on occupancy status. Furthermore, the central electronics 50 is connected to at least one active RFID reading system 51, for example an RFID controller chip or board, or such is integrated in the central electronics 50. This can preferably be an RFID reading system 51 according to a known standard, the function of which can also be specifically adapted to the application at hand. This RFID reading system 51 accordingly has at least one RFID antenna 52 or is connected to one. This antenna(s) 52 is preferably integrated in the RFID controller 51 or in the central unit 54 . However, the antenna(s) or antenna(s) and RFID controller can optionally be present in a separate, external housing via a cable connection, especially if special installation conditions in an emergency vehicle make this necessary. The active RFID reading system 51 can be controlled by the central electronics 50 in such a way that the RFID tags 60, for example the RFID tags 61, 62, 63 shown can be recognized or read when they are within range of the active RFID reading system are located. These RFID tags 60 are preferably, but not necessarily, designed as passive RFID tags, i.e. without a permanent, local energy supply on the tag 60.

Central electronics 50 according to the invention are also connected to emergency vehicle 70, specifically to an energy supply 78 of vehicle 70, for example with a connection to the vehicle electrical system (eg 12V/24V) and an input filter, as shown. Optionally, a buffer memory or rechargeable battery can also be included in order to compensate for short-term interruptions or voltage fluctuations, etc. In the embodiment shown, the central unit 54 is also connected to a vehicle bus interface 56 a vehicle bus 77 . A CAN bus 77 (Controller Area Network) of the emergency vehicle 70 and/or the emergency technology installed in the vehicle 70 (FireCAN, blue light, pumps, headlights, power unit, hydraulics, etc.) is shown here by way of example. However, it can also be another bus system such as an ISOBUS, an ODB (on-board diagnosis) interface of the emergency vehicle, which can optionally also be connected wirelessly to the central electronics 50, for example via an ODB-2 Bluetooth adapter, etc. This allows data from the emergency vehicle 70 to be included in the determination of the occupancy status information 80 . For example, static vehicle values determined via this interface 56, such as vehicle type, model, equipment, maximum capacities, maintenance conditions, etc., but also dynamic vehicle values, such as current speed, pump performance, filling levels, door status, navigation information, errors, etc., occupancy status information 80 , which are provided linked to these vehicle values, enable even better deployment planning. For example, the information can also be at least partially automatically linked here, eg that seat occupancy information is only determined as final when the door is closed—or vice versa, that a signal to close the door and to depart is issued in the vehicle when the seat occupancy information has reached a desired target value (eg full occupancy).

In summary, the central element, the process unit (PU) 50, can be supplied with voltage from the on-board electronics via an input filter 78, which also contains the voltage converter 78. The process unit 50 communicates with the vehicle's on-board computer 70 via the CAN bus interface 56/77 in order to read out the telemetry data. Furthermore, the RFID interface 51 is connected directly to the process unit 50 and supplies it with the data from the read RFID tags 60. For this, the specially prepared RFID antenna 52 is to be connected to the RFID interface 51, which transmits the electromagnetic waves when driving stuff 70 common. The determined RFID data is processed and edited by the PU 50 so that only the relevant information is sent to the database, e.g. to the cloud. The transmission takes place, for example, via a GSM/UMTS/3G/4G/5G module 55b, which is integrated in the central electronics. The integrated wireless LAN module 55a creates a closed network environment inside the vehicle. Various input and output devices can be integrated into these, such as the team monitor or the operations manager's tablet. This makes it possible for these external devices to communicate wirelessly with the central electronics. All of these individual components described are preferably housed on a single control circuit board, which has been specially developed for this invention and is referred to as central electronics 50 .

Various telemetry data from the vehicle (RFID, door status, speed, etc.) are read out, processed by the PU 50 and then transmitted to the cloud or to a central server for processing. An interface can be provided between the central electronics and the vehicle, more precisely the on-board computer, specifically a connection to the already existing vehicle-internal CAN bus system, which makes all the necessary data available. The central electronics, which handles tasks such as the power supply, reading RFID tags or connecting to the database, forms the interface between these two systems, which reads and processes the required CAN bus data and the vehicle status, which is defined by logic, as part forwards the occupancy status information to the database or the control system. It can be recognized, for example, whether the vehicle is ready to drive and disengaged, with the vehicle's on-board computer recording and providing all information from the sensors installed in the vehicle, such as speed sensors or door status sensors. This data can be used to define various vehicle states. Based on these states, various events can be triggered later in the program, depending on the current situation. For example, in order to recognize whether the vehicle is on the way to an operation, the following conditions must apply: all doors closed, engine running, vehicle moving, blue lights activated, power supply guaranteed, and much more 3a to 3c show a generic embodiment with occupancy status information 80 of the interior 76 of the vehicle 70, which includes seat and/or equipment occupancy information, without each individual seat having to be wired to a corresponding sensor system - can therefore also be easily retrofitted in older team buses or the like. Optionally, a logical assignment of specific team members to seats can also be determined.

3a shows a central unit 54 mounted in the interior (e.g. on the vehicle roof) with its active RFID reading system 51. Seat 72a is equipped with a seat RFID tag 62a, which, for example, can also be subsequently fixed in or on its backrest or seat cushion. This can be recognized and read out by the RFID reading system 51, specifically with a high signal strength and/or phase position of the response from the RFID tag 62a, which is also known from previous readings of the empty vehicle 70. It can also be stored in a local or remote database which seat 72a, 72b, ... is equipped with which tag (e.g. can be read directly from tag 62a or using a unique identifier of tag 62a and a logical assignment to its special seat .

The seat 72b also has a seat RFID tag 62b, which is not visible here, however, since it is covered by the person 71 (=team member). In a similar way, this person also shields the RFID radio signals, so that this tag 62b is no longer, or only noticeably worse (e.g. with regard to the signal strength, which is lower than before with tag 62a or with a reference measurement with an empty seat 72b). recognizable/readable as the empty seat tag 62a. The central unit 54 can thus determine via the RFID reading system 51 that this seat 72b is occupied and process this in the form of occupancy status information 80 .

Optionally - e.g. with several receiving antennas of the RFID reading system 51 via a triangulation or similar to a known WLAN position determination (WPS - WiFi Positioning System) - at least a rough localization of a spatial position of a recognized / read RFID tag 60 in relation to the RFID -Reading system done, for example, a determination or estimation of a distance, optionally also a direction to the tag 60 based on information about the RFID radio signal and its characteristics. This applies specifically to all RFID tags 60, not just to the space RFID tag 62 described here as an example.

3b shows a similar side view of an expanded embodiment, in which the location tag 62b is now also visible (at least in the drawing, but not for the RFID reader 51). Furthermore, the crew member 71 has a crew RFID tag 61 which is (physically and logically) assigned to it. In this way, the central unit 54 can supplement the occupancy status information 80 with a positive presence of a Team members 71 are expanded, preferably with an identification of the team member based on the data read from the RFID tag 61 (by direct reading or logical linking with a unique identifier). Subsequently, it can also contain which of the seats the crew member is on, which can also be determined by the central unit 54 using the RFID signals.

Since attaching an RFID tag directly to a person will probably remain the exception, the RFID tags are preferably attached to a personal item, e.g , clothing, personal equipment such as a helmet, etc.

Linked to the RFID tag or stored on it are special skills, training, operational experience, fitness level, participation in exercises or other personal and operational data of the crew member, which can be used for at least partially automatic or manual operational planning, for example by giving the crew member special operational tasks or /or items of equipment are assigned. For example, there may be special seats in the emergency vehicle, to which a specific mission function (operations manager, group leader, etc.) and/or corresponding equipment is permanently assigned, whereby the team member is assigned such a seat if the operations management so provides.

The system according to the invention can be designed to learn or to be calibrated which spatial position of an RFID tag 60 has which effect on the RFID radio signals 57, with in particular at least one known reference RFID tag with regard to the RFID radio signal and /or whose position can be referred to as a known reference. A system calibrated, configured or trained in this way can thus determine improved or more reliable occupancy status information, in particular with at least a rough localization of the RFID tags 60 in the interior. In addition to classic, model-based algorithms, AI (artificial intelligence) systems, machine learning, neural networks, etc. can also be used, e.g. when evaluating the RFID radio signals in the RFID reader and/or the central electronics. Such a configuration or calibration can take place especially when the central electronic system is put into operation for the first time, but optionally also during operation.

Especially with at least one reference RFID tag 63, the reliability and/or accuracy of the determination of the occupancy status information can be further increased, with changed environmental conditions also being able to be recognized, for example. When reading the non-reference tags, especially the movable and/or shieldable RFID tags, the central electronics can react to this, for example by adapting the RFID transmission signal and/or reference values in the signal evaluation. Figure 3c is similar to before, but further with items of equipment 74a, 74b, such as (eg, respirators, etc.) and an associated equipment RFID tag 64a, 64b. The equipment RFID tag 64a can be attached directly to the item of equipment, as in the case of the person, and/or be attached to a designated place for the item of equipment, as in the case of a seat. Depending on the situation, the items of equipment 74a, 74b are identified using a positive or negative detection, which in turn can be incorporated directly and/or as information derived therefrom into the occupancy status information 80 according to the invention. As before, in the case of positive detection, for example, an unambiguous identification of the piece of equipment can take place, and/or in the case of negative detection, a location can be determined. In this way, for example, an automatic inventory of the items of equipment can also be carried out by the central unit 54 .

In this case, special sensor RFID tags 66 can also be equipped with sensors and designed to read out values from these sensors or status information derived from these values via RFID. These sensors can be specially designed for physical variables, starting with switches for presence or touch detection, temperature, pressure, filling level, etc. Values derived can then be a status such as ready for use or not, empty or full, ... for example.

As shown in FIG. 4a using an exemplary embodiment option, the emergency vehicle occupancy detection system with its central electronics 50 and the RFID reading system 51 is installed in the interior 76 of the emergency vehicle 70. So that the RFID radio signal 57 primarily covers the interior 76 and detects and reads no or as few external RFID tags as possible, the body of the vehicle 70 offers a good boundary on the one hand. In addition, at least one antenna characteristic shaping element 53 can also be present according to the invention, which is attached to the vehicle 70, preferably in the interior 76 and especially preferably in the emergency vehicle occupancy detection system or in the central electronics, in close proximity to the RFID antenna. The antenna characteristic shaping elements 53 can be designed specifically as shielding plates or waveguide plates for the RFID radio signals 57, with which a deflection, directivity and/or damping of the RFID radio signals 57 can be achieved. In the system according to the invention, these can be specifically adapted to the respective vehicle during assembly and commissioning of the emergency vehicle occupancy detection system, for example by deformation, change in size, change in position, change in orientation, etc. In particular, the emergency vehicle occupancy detection system can be designed in such a way that it is in the field of RFID -Antenna or -Antenna has recordings or holders, which are designed in such a way such (preferably configurable) screen or. Guide elements 53 for the RFID radio signals 57 to be included if necessary. The detection area of RFID tags 60 can thus be limited so that the system only determines the actual occupancy within the vehicle.

Fig. 4b shows an example of a sectional view of an emergency vehicle occupancy detection system on the roof of a vehicle 70 with the central electronics 50 and an antenna 52 of the RFID reading system, with dedicated installation options or holders for antenna characteristic shaping elements 53 in its housing in the area of the antenna 52 (e.g. shielding plates) are formed, with the use of which the RFID radio signals 57 can be shaped into a desired spatial characteristic, so that only RFID tags 60 in the interior or a defined part of it can be recognized and read, or that based on the received signal strength or a certain difference can be used to conclude whether the RFID tag is in the interior or not, preferably with at least rough position information.

In such an embodiment of the invention it can be achieved in a simple manner that the detection range of the RFID antenna is not outside the vehicle. The antenna is preferably positioned at least approximately with its spherical RFID signal in such a way that it is arranged in the longitudinal vehicle symmetry, e.g. that it is positioned approximately equidistant from the first and last row of seats. By attaching shielding plates in a targeted manner, the RFID radiation can be modified in such a way that certain areas are masked out or weakened in order to avoid misinterpretations of the system. In order to limit the detection area even more discreetly, a reference RFID tag can also be attached to the door frame so that the system can clearly distinguish between people in the vehicle and people outside the vehicle.

5a shows an example of a sequence of operations planning with an emergency vehicle occupancy detection system according to the invention using the example of a fire brigade operation. In a similar way, the invention can also be used with other emergency services (rescue, police, disaster relief, military, special forces) - in particular Advantageously (but not necessarily) if different emergency services involved use the same system, so that an automated data exchange can take place at the same or similar level, on the basis of which improved operational planning by the operations manager can follow. The representation includes steps which are carried out by the system in a method according to the invention for determining an emergency vehicle occupancy. However, some of the blocks shown also show aspects which are obviously not carried out by the system according to the invention, but by team members and are therefore not part of the invention per se, especially e.g. the three blocks at the beginning and at the end.

After the alarm has been raised in the first block, the team members put on their personal equipment, which includes at least one team RFID tag for each team member. Day 61 includes. This can be protective equipment, for example, but the team RFID tags 61 can also be connected to a specific team member in some other way (eg via a name tag, an ID card, a tag, etc.). The crew members 71 then occupy the emergency vehicle 70. This is where the present invention comes in, in that the RFID tags in the interior 76 of the vehicle are detected by the central electronics. This can be done by synchronizing data with at least one database which contains, for example, additional information about the people, objects and places associated with the detected RFID tags 60 . For example, training information, capability information, experience information, etc. Furthermore, additional information from external sources can also be synchronized, such as information from other vehicles involved in the operation or those that can be requested to participate, information from other operations control centers, etc. This information is at least one Exchanged wireless communication interface and can, for example, be provided and displayed visually on an input device as occupancy status information 80, e.g. a mobile or stationary control system 81, 82 such as a computer, laptop, tablet PC, smartphone, etc. The system is preferably designed in this way that display and RFID detection and possibly also the data synchronization (at least approximately) are carried out in real time in order to always display a current status of the occupancy status information 80 . An operations manager can preferably process this occupancy status information 80 interactively and adapt it to the circumstances, for example by making entries such as specific divisions of the team members, additional requests, situation reports, etc. Since, according to the invention, the occupancy status information 80 is largely completely digital, it can also be used at least partially an automated optimization of the operations management by a computer system (e.g. an app or software), for example with a search, filtering, solving optimization tasks, etc. - especially in an interactive process, e.g. with suggestions from the software to the operations manager, who uses them can further adapt to his experience. Systems for machine learning and artificial intelligence can also be used. The entire operation and its planning can also be automatically saved and documented. The specific current deployment plan - i.e. target occupancy status information, so to speak - can then be communicated to the team members (preferably also in real time), e.g. with a display on the team monitor, announcements, radio calls, information on pagers, smartphones, smart watches, AR headsets or glasses, etc. This process can be continued continuously or cyclically until the end of the assignment.

5b shows a more detailed representation of an embodiment of the RFID tag detection of the previous figure, as indicated both places with corresponding references to the figures. In this case, existing RFID tags 60 in the emergency vehicle are detected 70, followed by an evaluation and calculation of the occupancy status information 80 based on the data determined, optionally also including synchronized, external additional information and/or vehicle information, which can be determined via an interface to a vehicle bus system. In particular, this can be at least a part of assigning team RFID tags to people, assigning them to equipment RFID tags, determining the position of RFID tags (eg using space RFID tags) and/or evaluating reference RFID -Tags, or other RFID tags described here for special functions.

An embodiment of the invention can also be designed without the seat RFID tags mentioned in the independent claim and the associated determination of the seats occupied in the emergency vehicle for the occupancy status information. This simpler design can be advantageous, for example, if the specific seat occupancy is not of primary importance for the occupancy status information and the occupancy can only be based on the readable team RFID tags in the interior, so that the system is simpler in this respect can be in order to wirelessly provide the operations manager with current occupancy status information from one or more vehicles.

In an extension of the previously mentioned embodiment of the invention, in which the place RFID tags are omitted in the independent claim, another dependent feature, specifically e.g. the vehicle bus interface and/or at least one of the other mentioned RFID tags, can instead be considered essential to the invention be present, so that the advantages already mentioned above dominate. The occupancy status information can thus advantageously provide an improved database for operations management, especially in applications in which seat occupancy is not important (e.g. in the team bus or in a building. Optionally, seat occupancy can alternatively be determined using other means, e.g. with Radio triangulation of the team RFID tags and / or based on seat occupancy or seat belt data from the vehicle bus are determined to supplement the occupied seats in the occupancy status information again.

Obviously for the person skilled in the art, the embodiments and approaches shown or described here in different figures can also be combined and interchanged differently than shown within the meaning of the invention. Reference List

50 central electronics (PU)

51 Active RFID reading system

52 RFID antenna

53 Antenna pattern shaping element

54 central unit

55 communication interface

56 vehicle bus interface

57 RFID signal

58 expansion interface

59 input/output extensions

60 RFID tag

61 team rfid tag

62 place rfid tag

63 reference RFID tag

64 Equipment RFID Tag

65 Surveillance RFID Tag

66 sensor RFID tag

70 emergency vehicle

71 crew member

72 (seat) places

73 reference position

74 equipment

75 monitoring position

76 interior

77 vehicle bus system

78 power supply

80 occupancy status information

81 Mobile guidance system unit

82 Central control system unit

83 team information system, team monitor

Claims

patent claims

1. Emergency vehicle occupancy detection system for an interior (76) of a

Emergency vehicle (70) or in such an interior space

• a central electronics (50),

- which is designed for fixed attachment in the interior (76) of the emergency vehicle (70) or is attached there,

- which has a communication interface (55), and

- Which is equipped or connected to at least one active RFID reading system (51) in the interior (76), and with

• Several RFID tags (60) as team RFID tags (61), each of which is designed to be attached to a respective team member (71), in particular directly to a personal piece of equipment, ID or clothing item of the respective Team member (71), each team RFID tag (61) being assigned qualification information about the respective team member (71),

• several RFID tags (60) as place RFID tags (62), each of which is designed for permanent attachment or is permanently attached to a respective seat (72) in the emergency vehicle (70), which place RFID tags (62) are attached and designed in such a way that when the seat (72) is occupied, they can no longer be read out by the central electronic system (50) or can only be read out to a lesser extent, in particular with the seat RFID tag (62) being read by the crew member (71) can be shielded from the RFID reading system (51), the central electronics (50) being designed and configured in such a way that

- the RFID reading system (51) is used to read out the RFID tags (60) recognizable in the interior by the RFID reading system (51),

- A determination of an occupancy status information (80) of the emergency vehicle (70) takes place using the recognizable RFID tags (60) and

- this occupancy status information (80) with at least the crew members (71) present in the emergency vehicle (70) and with the seats (72) occupied in the emergency vehicle (70) is provided to a control center (81, 82) via the communication interface (55). .

2. emergency vehicle occupancy detection system according to claim 1, characterized in that the central electronics (50) has a vehicle bus interface (56) which to connection with a bus system of the emergency vehicle (70), in particular with a CAN bus and/or with an OBD interface (on-board diagnosis) of the emergency vehicle (70) and/or a bus system of the emergency technology installed therein, and wherein the central electronic system (50) is designed and configured to read out at least one value from the vehicle bus interface (56) of the emergency vehicle (70) and to determine the occupancy status information (80) depending on this value and to send it to the control center (81, 82 ) to provide.

3. Emergency vehicle occupancy detection system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the communication interface (55) of the central electronics (50) is designed with a wireless data interface with which a wireless data connection to external, mobile and / or stationed command center computer systems can be produced as a control center (81,82).

4. Emergency vehicle occupancy determination system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an organized assignment of equipment (74) that can be used by a crew member (71) and/or an operational function to at least some of the respective seats (72) takes place, and the occupancy - Status information (80) of the emergency vehicle (70) includes this assignment.

5. Emergency vehicle occupancy determination system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the RFID tags (60) are designed as passive or semi-passive RFID tags and the RFID reading system (51) for emitting an activation signal with at least one antenna ( 52) is formed in the interior (76) of the emergency vehicle (70).

6. Emergency vehicle occupancy determination system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system comprises at least one RFID tag (60) as a reference RFID tag (63), which is designed to be attached to a known position in the interior (76). , whereby this known position cannot be shielded from the RFID reading system (51) by a crew member (71).

7. Emergency vehicle occupancy determination system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the RFID reading system (51) is designed in such a way that it can be or is equipped with an antenna characteristic shaping element (53) in such a way that that with this a spatial RFID reading area in the interior (76) can be defined and in particular mapped in the central electronics (50).

8. The emergency vehicle occupancy determination system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system comprises at least one RFID tag (60) as an equipment RFID tag (64), which is attached to an item of equipment (74) or The item of equipment (74) located in the emergency vehicle (70) is attached and assigned to it and can be displayed in particular in the central electronics (50).

9. Emergency vehicle occupancy determination system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one RFID tag (60) is included as a sensor RFID tag (66) and is equipped with a sensor for a physical variable, with which a physical measured value and /or status information of an object assigned to the RFID tag (60) can be made available to the RFID reading system (51) and in particular can be mapped in the central electronics (50).

10. The emergency vehicle occupancy determination system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a crew information system (83) with a data connection to the central electronics (50) is installed in the interior (76) and is designed to transmit information about the assignment of a specific crew member (71 ) for a specifically provided seat (72) and/or for a specifically provided use function, in particular if the ascertained occupancy status information (80) is not equal to a provided occupancy status information (80).

11. Emergency vehicle occupancy detection system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one RFID tag (60) as a monitoring RFID tag (65) is attached to a known position (75) on the emergency vehicle (70) in such a way that This can be provided with information about the emergency vehicle (70) and/or equipment (74) by being able to evaluate this monitoring RFID tag (65), in particular with its known position (75) being specified in such a way that it depends on a state of the emergency vehicle (70) or equipment (74) is shielded or unshielded.

12. Emergency vehicle occupancy determination system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central electronics (50) are designed in such a way that they link information from all RFID tags (60) with static vehicle data and with at least one driving data value from the vehicle bus interface (56) of the emergency vehicle (70) and at least one associated occupancy status information (80) provides.

13. Emergency vehicle occupancy determination system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that its central electronics (50) or a universal adapter of the emergency vehicle occupancy determination system is designed, optionally on a building - in particular in the operations center, changing room, garage, parking lot and / or crew room a fire brigade control center/station - to be mounted permanently, and to provide occupancy status information (80) of the building.

14. A method for determining an emergency vehicle occupancy, in particular with a

System according to any one of the preceding claims, with

• a reading of several RFID tags (60) in an interior (76) of the emergency vehicle (70), with

- at least one team RFID tag (61), which is assigned to a respective team member (71) in the interior (76),

- at least one seat RFID tag (62), which is permanently attached to a designated seat (72) for a crew member (71) in the interior (76),

• determining qualification information for the team member (71) in the interior (76) using the team RFID tag (61),

• a determination of the legibility of the seat RFID tags (62), in particular with regard to team RFID tags (61),

• determining occupancy status information (80) of the emergency vehicle (70) based on readability, in particular with an assignment/detection of crew members (71) to the seats (72),

• Wireless communication of the occupancy status information (80) via the communication interface (55) of the system to a higher-level control system (81, 82).

15. The method according to the preceding method claim, characterized in that reading out at least one vehicle status value from a vehicle bus interface (56) of the emergency vehicle (70), in particular via a vehicle bus interface (56) such as a CAN bus and / or a OBD interface (on-board diagnosis) of the emergency vehicle (70) and/or a bus system of the emergency technology installed therein, and the occupancy status information (80) is determined as a function of this vehicle status value.

16. The method according to any one of the preceding method claims, characterized in that information from the read-out RFID tags (60) is linked to the vehicle status value in such a way that static vehicle data about a vehicle type and standard vehicle equipment and real-time driving data of the emergency vehicle (70) are linked are provided with the information from the read RFID tags (60) as occupancy status information (80).

17. The method according to any one of the preceding method claims, characterized in that the occupancy status information (80) is used to assign a crew member (71) to one of the seats (72), in particular with at least some of the seats (72) a respective piece of equipment (74) and/or an operational function is linked, and by assigning the crew member (71) to a specific seat (72), an item of equipment (74) and/or operational function associated with this seat (72) is also assigned to the crew member ( 71) can be assigned.

18. The method according to any one of the preceding method claims, characterized in that the reading of a plurality of RFID tags (60) comprises at least one reference RFID tag (63) which is fixedly attached to a known position in the interior (76), and based on this reference RFID tag (63) there is a spatial assignment of other RFID tags (60) in the interior (76).

19. The method according to any one of the preceding method claims, characterized in that combining the information of the read reference RFID tag (63), team RFID tag (61) and space RFID tag (62), preferably with a term - and/or signal strength information of the reading of the RFID tags (60), and information about the occupancy status of the emergency vehicle (70) is determined therefrom as occupancy status information (80).

20. The method according to any one of the preceding method claims, characterized in that wireless synchronization of the occupancy status information (80) with a mobile control system unit (81) via a wireless communication interface (55) takes place, with active processing of the occupancy status information (80) being able to be carried out by the mobile control system unit (81), in particular allocation of a crew member (71) to seats (72) and/or items of equipment (74).

21. The method according to any one of the preceding method claims, characterized in that the occupancy status information (80) is wirelessly synchronized with a vehicle-external operations control system (82) via a wireless communication interface (55), with such occupancy status information (80) preferably consisting of several Emergency vehicles (70) are supplied to the same operational control system (82).

22. Computer program product with program code on a machine-readable medium, which is designed to execute one of the preceding method claims, preferably with:

- detecting a plurality of RFID tags (60) in an interior (76) of an emergency vehicle (70) by controlling an RFID reading system (51),

- A calculation of occupancy status information (80) with a determination and assignment

- from team RFID tags (61) to team members (71),

- from seat RFID tags (62) to seats (72) and

- From equipment RFID tags (64) to items of equipment (74), specifically with a position determination of at least some of the RFID tags (60) via the RFID reading system (51), optionally with a detection of an emergency vehicle status value by reading a vehicle bus - Interface (56), in particular with a data synchronization to an external database,

- Providing the occupancy status information (80) of the emergency vehicle (70) with an interface for interactive processing of the occupancy status information (80) at a local and/or central control system unit (81, 82) connected via a wireless communication interface, preferably with online synchronization across multiple emergency vehicles (70),

- providing an assignment of a crew member (71) to a respective seat (72) and/or piece of equipment (74) with activation of an output unit in the emergency vehicle (70), in particular if the program code is on central electronics (50) of an emergency vehicle occupancy determination system any one of claims 1 to 13.