System and method for mobile data expansion
In a system of surface markers, each surface marker includes a housing having an upper surface with a clear top that, when the surface marker is on a vehicle travel surface, is raised with respect to the vehicle travel surface. The housing includes a battery and photoelectric converter, as well as a sensor detecting vehicles, a wireless transceiver at least transmitting data, and processing circuitry all powered by the battery or converter. The surface marker communicates location information for the surface marker to a mobile terminal, directly or indirectly via a network, and communicates information relating to the vehicle to a remote server within the network. Surface markers may communicate only with each other and mobile terminals, or also communicate with network access points to forward information from other surface markers. Each surface marker optionally includes a reflector around at least a portion of the housing.
1. A surface marker, comprising:
a housing having a lower portion and an upper surface, the upper surface including a clear top surface of the housing, the housing configured to be disposed on a vehicle travel surface with at least a portion of the clear top surface raised with respect to the vehicle travel surface;
at least one of a battery and a photoelectric converter disposed within the housing;
a sensor disposed within the housing and powered by at least one of the battery and the photoelectric converter, the sensor configured to detect a vehicle;
a wireless transceiver disposed within the housing and powered by at least one of the battery and the photoelectric converter, the wireless transceiver configured to at least transmit data, the wireless transceiver configured to communicate wirelessly with at least one of a mobile terminal, an access point to a network coupled to the mobile terminal, and a second surface marker coupled to the access point; and
processing circuitry disposed within the housing and powered by at least one of the battery and the photoelectric converter, the processing circuitry coupled to the sensor and the wireless transceiver and configured to control operation of the wireless transceiver to provide data to the mobile terminal, the processing circuitry configured to control:
communication of location information relating to the surface marker to the mobile terminal, and
communication of information relating to the vehicle to a remote server within the network coupled to the mobile terminal.
2. The surface marker of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to cause the wireless transceiver to communicate the location information to the mobile terminal via wireless communication with the mobile terminal.
3. The surface marker of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to cause the wireless transceiver to communicate the location information to the mobile terminal via wireless communication with the access point for the network coupled to the mobile terminal.
4. The surface marker of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to cause the wireless transceiver to communicate the location information to the mobile terminal via wireless communication with the second surface marker for forwarding to the network coupled to the mobile terminal.
5. The surface marker of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a reflector around at least a portion of the housing.
6. The surface marker of claim 1 , wherein the clear top surface is raised not more than 2.25 inches with respect to the vehicle travel surface when the surface marker is disposed on a vehicle travel surface.
7. The surface marker of claim 1 , wherein the photoelectric converter includes a solar panel positioned within the housing beneath the clear top surface to receive ambient light through the clear top surface, the photoelectric converter configured to generate electricity for at least one of charging the battery and providing power to one or more of the sensor, the wireless transceiver and the processing circuitry within the surface marker.
8. The surface marker of claim 1 , wherein the wireless transceiver is configured transmit data to one or more mobile terminals within communication range of the surface marker via wireless communication with the one or more mobile terminals.
9. The surface marker of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a camera configured to capture an image of the vehicle.
10. The surface marker of claim 9 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to control communication to the remote server of one or more of license plate information for the vehicle, image information for the vehicle, and color information for the vehicle.
11. A system, comprising:
a plurality of surface markers, each surface marker comprising:
a housing having a lower portion and an upper surface, the upper surface including a clear top surface of the housing, the housing configured to be disposed on a vehicle travel surface with at least a portion of the clear top surface raised with respect to the vehicle travel surface,
at least one of a battery and a photoelectric converter disposed within the housing,
a sensor disposed within the housing and powered by at least one of the battery and the photoelectric converter, the sensor configured to detect a vehicle,
a wireless transceiver disposed within the housing and powered by at least one of the battery and the photoelectric converter, the wireless transceiver configured to at least transmit data, and
processing circuitry disposed within the housing and powered by at least one of the battery and the photoelectric converter, the processing circuitry coupled to the sensor and the wireless transceiver and configured to control operation of the wireless transceiver to provide data to the mobile terminal, the processing circuitry configured to control:
communication of location information relating to the surface marker to the mobile terminal, and
communication of information relating to the vehicle to a remote server within the network coupled to the mobile terminal,
wherein the wireless transceiver within a first of the plurality of surface markers is configured to communicate wirelessly with at least a mobile terminal and the wireless transceiver in a second of the plurality of surface markers, and
wherein the wireless transceiver within the second surface marker is configured to communicate wirelessly with at least the mobile terminal, the wireless transceiver in the first surface marker, and an access point to a network coupled to the mobile terminal.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the processing circuitry within the first surface marker is configured to cause the wireless transceiver in the first surface marker to communicate the location information to the mobile terminal via wireless communication with the mobile terminal.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the processing circuitry within the second surface marker is configured to cause the wireless transceiver in the second surface marker to communicate the location information to the mobile terminal via wireless communication with the access point for the network coupled to the mobile terminal.
14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the processing circuitry within the first surface marker is configured to cause the wireless transceiver in the first surface marker to communicate the location information to the mobile terminal via wireless communication with the wireless transceiver within the second surface marker for forwarding by the second surface marker to the network coupled to the mobile terminal.
15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the housing of each of the plurality of surface markers comprises a reflector around at least a portion of the housing.
16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the clear top surface of each of the plurality of surface markers is raised not more than 2.25 inches with respect to the vehicle travel surface when the respective surface marker is disposed on a vehicle travel surface.
17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the photoelectric converter within each of the plurality of surface markers includes a solar panel positioned within the housing of the respective surface marker beneath the clear top surface of the respective surface marker to receive ambient light through the clear top surface, the photoelectric converter configured to generate electricity for at least one of charging the battery within the respective surface marker and providing power to one or more of the sensor, the wireless transceiver and the processing circuitry within the respective surface marker.
18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the wireless transceiver within each of the plurality of surface markers is configured transmit data to one or more mobile terminals within communication range of the respective surface marker via wireless communication with the one or more mobile terminals.
19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the sensor within each of the plurality of surface markers comprises a camera configured to capture an image of the vehicle.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the processing circuitry within each of the plurality of surface markers is configured to control communication to the remote server of one or more of license plate information for the vehicle, image information for the vehicle, and color information for the vehicle.