WO2018195611A1

WO2018195611A1 - Integral orientation and navigation system for the visually impaired

Info

Publication number: WO2018195611A1
Application number: PCT/BR2017/000133
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mariani ELIETE
Original assignee: DA SILVA FILHO, Jaldomir
Priority date: 2017-04-25
Filing date: 2017-11-17
Publication date: 2018-11-01
Also published as: BR102017008457A8; BR102017008457A2

Abstract

The present patent of invention relates to an integral orientation and navigation system for the visually impaired (1), developed for use by the visually impaired broadly in such public or common-use open and/or enclosed spaces, such as shopping centres, condominiums, convention centres, schools, commercial buildings and offices, and also in the street, on underground trains, on trains, on buses and other means of transport, being formed by location transmitters (2); a location receiver (3) and a smartphone (3) of the user, a particular feature being that the location transmitters correspond to beacons of three types: (a) multidirectional beacons; (b) unidirectional beacons and (c) information beacons, the invention being characterized in that it indicates points of interest, such that the transmitter/receiver design supplies information to the user so that he is able to find the address or premises to which he is going without the need for assistance from other persons or to always use pre-defined routes, which is a common ploy of the visually impaired, a description about the positioning of objects and premises, and also the direction thereof thereby being obtained, providing, by audio, information similar to that obtained visually, it being possible to place these links directly on his cognitive map.

Description

"INTEGRATED GUIDANCE AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR VISUAL DISABLED PEOPLE".

1. INTRODUCTION.

This descriptive patent report relates to the Integrated Guidance and Navigation System for the Visually Impaired, hereinafter referred to as the Guidance System, which is characterized by using three distinct components: Location Transmitters; Location Receiver and Upgradeable Smart Phone or Smartphone, noting that Location Transmitters correspond to transmission devices or transmitters of three types: (a) multi-directional; (b) unidirectional and (c) information.

Briefly, transmitters are installed and adjusted at points of interest in enclosed and / or open locations, signaling these points of interest, so that the transmitter / receiver design provides information to the user so that he can find the direction to various locations. interest without the need to travel around predefined routes, common action used by people with visual impairment.

To this end, this pair of components combines with the use of a smartphone-type mobile phone, providing an interface between the Guidance System and the user, thus obtaining a description of the positioning of objects and locations, as well as their direction, providing, by audio, information similar to the use of vision, being able to place these relationships directly in their cognitive map for their assimilation and subsequent locomotion.

2. - FIELD OF APPLICATION.

004 The Field of Application of this Guidance System, as its title says, is its use by visually impaired people widely in open and / or closed, public or common use places such as shopping malls, condominiums, convention centers, colleges, buildings commercial and office buildings. It can even be used on sidewalks, meters, trains, buses and other means of transportation.

It is worth remembering that it is understood as visual impairment, from low vision / low vision to total blindness.

3. - PURPOSE.

006 The main purpose of this Guidance System is its use by the visually impaired in transit through public places or common use, aiming to contribute broadly and momentarily when:

- Difficulty getting references from your current location;

- Difficulty or impossibility of obtaining references to walk towards a certain destination;

- Inability to identify the destination and route of trains and / or meters or other means of transport;

- Inability to determine the correct stop to disembark from the means of transportation;

- Difficulty for unexpected modification of destination during travel;

- Difficulty reading Braille, tactile maps, raised letters and other information perceived by the touch of the fingers, due to lack of sensitivity in the extremities or lack of literacy and training, or even the ability to understand these means.

4. - PROBLEMS TO SOLVE

007 The problems to be solved refer to accessibility with safety and autonomy of traffic within urban buildings, mainly public ones. In large public spaces, visually impaired people find it more difficult to understand layout, direction and orientation because they cannot perceive visual references that people without disabilities use to recognize the environment or update information. According to the Brazilian technical standard ABNT NBR 9050: 2015, accessibility is the condition of reach, perception and understanding for the safe and autonomous use of buildings, spaces, furniture and urban equipment, in order to be used and experienced by any person. including those with reduced mobility.

The adequacy of accessibility to public spaces and mass transportation defines the independence of people with disabilities, because, when properly made available, resources enable freedom and autonomy so that they can be responsible for their livelihoods and their families. And it is for the freedom and autonomy of people with disabilities that accessibility resources should be designed to transform cities into accessible places, offering all citizens the possibility of becoming active, seeking social sustainability by giving everyone access to work, education, health and leisure, regardless of people's physical, mental or sensory conditions.

010 Visual impairment is the most common disability worldwide. In Brazil, the IBGE identified in 2010 that 18.8% of the population has some kind of visual impairment, while motor disability, hearing impairment and mental / intellectual disability represent 7%, 5.1% and 1.4%. respectively.

011 Visually impaired people crave resources for their autonomy, which has started to improve with the emergence of the internet and computer screen reader software. The strong penetration of mobile devices in world markets, such as mobile phones and smartphones, has become a strategic option to help travel, accompanying people in their daily lives.

012 There is still a gap to be overcome so that visually impaired people can fully enjoy the autonomy of their mobility, through more complete information that allows the identification of risks, environmental characteristics and choices of scum. 013 Federal Decree No. 5,296 of 12/02/2004 determines that all buildings, spaces and public transportation are accessible to all people, and the minimum parameters for these adjustments, according to the Decree, are those established by the Brazilian technical standards. For visually impaired people, ABNT's technical standards basically define the installation of signage through tactile floors and Braille or raised letters in some places, and some kind of orientation needs to be increased to better provide them. accessibility.

014 In this concept of signaling need is that the Guidance System was developed which, being a sound and / or vibration signaling carried by the user of the environment, makes its spatial location easier and independent, reducing and, even in some cases, limiting the need for the user to search for landmarks, as the carrying device itself informs you of environmental conditions and locations.

015 The difficulty with communication or signaling to guide the movement of people is not restricted to people with disabilities. Foreign tourists, in any country in the world, may also have difficulty understanding how to get around the city or the particularities of each mode of transportation. In addition to the common disorders, they may be afraid to transit public places. Likewise, people with no disabilities may feel insecure when they need to ask for information from the public, or even find it difficult to obtain information when no one is present.

016 From the point of view of accessibility, the elderly also need some additional or even differentiated solutions from those designed for people with disabilities, since they may have acquired visually impaired people at an advanced age, without receiving orientation and training. mobility and unknowingly Braille.

017 Thus, the Guidance System also It can be used by people without disabilities or with other types of limitations than visual impairment.

5.- STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE

5.1.- GENERAL BACKGROUND

018 In the state of the art, Federal Decree No. 5,296 of 12/02/2004, which establishes that all spaces and public transportation be accessible to all people, encourages the creation of technical aids that help to prevent or minimize difficulties related to the disability, as is generally known among security technicians and, more specifically, civil engineering, security and architectural professionals.

019 Thus, in order to place a Guidance System on the market, with its own technical characteristics of development, previous searches were carried out with the INPI Database and nothing identical or similar was found, which is why we consider that there is no technical or legal impediments to the granting of the requested privilege.

020 We have incorporated some documents found in this report which, as stated above, are totally different, but serve to give a general idea of the state of the art:

- MU8100642-0 filed on 14.04.2001 under the title of "RAMPA ACCESSIBILITY SYSTEM" and "BRAILE COMMUNICATION" FOR DISABLED OR REDUCED PERSONS. The present utility model patent aims to provide a practical and definitive solution to the obstacle problems encountered by pedestrians using wheeled elements; handicapped people, strollers, shopping carts, seniors with difficulty climbing steps, students with wheelchairs, luggage, etc., and visually impaired people identifying the names of public places, avenues, squares, etc. making them more and more independent. The system consists of a ramp (4) and (5) made of fiberglass with two inverted U-shaped side metal frames (1) containing advertising signs inside (3) serving as a means of communication for In companies and at the top of the platelets (2) that describe the name of the public street where they are located in Braille, the lateral metal structures serve as handrails. The system will be installed at the corners giving access to crosswalks, which can be seen by all, and will help to educate people using wheeled elements to cross the crosswalk.

- BR 10 2014 022124-7 filed on 23.07.2014 under the heading of "ACCESSIBILITY SYSTEM USING BRAIN-MACHINE INTERFACE, WIRELESS DEVICES AND WEB SERVICE FOR PATIENTS WITH MOTOR LIMITATIONS", accessibility for people with motor limitations is still very much a paia sensitive, but increasingly present today. People with degenerative diseases or even acquired limitations due to some causality are curtailed from their participation in the community as a full and effective member. Thus, the present invention presents a device architecture (Figure 1) in order to integrate this motorally disabled citizen back into society, allowing him to interact with the environment in which he lives (using the devices of Figures 2, 3 and 4). This does not exempt the patient from remaining totally without the help of a caregiver, but returns, even partially, his autonomy. Pennite also, in more severe cases, that the patient communicates again in writing and / or spoken, and that any patient connects to the world through the internet, enabling this patient to resume a professional and / or educational life within its limitations. Finally, the present invention fulfills the purpose of restoring the individual with motor limitations to their independence, partially and proportionally to their degree of limitation, becoming beneficiary not only the patient but all those around him. 5.2. - TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS

021 In order to offer technical alternatives to the market, the Guidance System presented here was developed, which stands out for having its own technical characteristics, among which the following should be highlighted:

- Offer and grant full independence by making applications available so that the user can get around alone, ie without the help of third parties.

022 Provision of three components, described as:

(a) Type 1, Type 2, Type 3 transmitting devices operating as location data transmitting modules by means of optical signals, radio waves, sound waves, GPS signal emulation, or any other electronic means of communication;

(b) an application software for use on a smartphone-type mobile phone;

(c) a receiver module, stowed within an object to be carried by the user, such as a receiver component that is part of the smartphone itself or an external auxiliary component to the smartphone, which may be embedded in a badge on the strap of a backpack , on a bracelet, on a cap or hat, on a goggle, or any other means that make it possible to use the receiver module in a portable manner, which contains the Guidance System processing module, as well as is provided with several necessary sensors. receiving signal from beacons as well as user interface components and data processing components;

- Availability of Hardware and Software in the Guidance System, with security of operation and against electronic invasion; autonomy through the emission of singular messages and the possibility of the emission of dynamic messages; ergonomic comfort because when using External receiver to the smartphone, consists of a portable mimaturized component that can be incorporated into the clothes by the body or in the backpack; User-friendly comfort with the user's familiarity with the smartphone for personal use, featuring the synthesized voice option as well as the use of a single headset, making it possible to listen to music or wait for a call during use, and allows the choice of audio navigation or environmental audio description describing the programmed route;

- According to development, the operational forms presented, at this moment, correspond to three alternatives, these being the transmitter / receiver / cellular operation and called the first one; the second operation using transmitter / receiver with direct communication and the third operating condition, transmitter / cell, where the latter also operates as receiver;

- Easily and quickly allow any possibility of upgrade due to the rapid advancement of technology, as well as facilitate its use in various and even adverse situations.

6.- DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.

023 For a complete and complete view of what this Guidance System is made of, follow the accompanying illustrative drawings, to which reference is made as follows:

Figure 1 / A: Illustrates perspective view of the components that make up the Guidance System, in this case a generic format transmitter as well as a rectangular fonnato badge type receiver.

Figure 1 / B: Shows a second perspective view of the components that make up the Guidance System, in this case a camera-type transmitter as well as a circular-shaped badge receiver;

Figure 2: Corresponds to operation flowchart in the areas of access and movement of visually impaired people, receiver carried by the user and smartphone-type mobile phone in the user's possession;

Figure 3: Represents an example deployment flowchart.

Figure 4 / A; Displays flow chart of the first operating condition, ie transmitter / receiver / cell;

Figure 4 / B: illustrates flowchart of the second operating condition, ie transmitter / receiver with direct communication and

Figure 4 / C: Corresponds to the flowchart of the third operating condition, that is, transmitter / cell, where the latter also operates as a receiver.

7.- DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION.

024 As can be seen from the accompanying drawings that are an integral part of this report, the Guidance System (1) now in use is designed for the visually impaired. It consists of three components, two of which were developed for this system, and The third component is a software application to be incorporated into smartphones.

025 The two hardware components developed for the Guidance System (1) correspond to Location Transmitters (2) and Location Receiver (3). The software component is an application to be installed on the user's smartphone (4), noting that Location Transmitters (2), as configured, are of three types, multidirectional or type 1, unidirectional or type 2, or type 3 operating as location data transmitter modules for the environment.

For multi-directional type 1 transmitters (2), their installation is such that the receiver in the user's possession can identify the location to be monitored from any direction of travel.

027 While for type 2 transmitters (2), or unidirectional, its installation is performed so that its information is transmitted in a predefined direction, thus allowing to identify object positions in relation to the direction of direction of the receiver.

028 Finally for type 3 tonsils (2), or information, their use is made for situations that require the need to accurately inform about a place of interest or risk / danger present in the environment, with the highlight that The beacon has the feature that its transmitter is positioned in such a way that the receiver, carried by the user, receives this signal with information about the object or location in front of it.

029 The second component, the User-Carried Receiver module (2), is presented in any physical form or format and contains the Guidance System processing module, (1), is provided with various sensors for receiving the signals transmitted by the type-independent transmitters, as well as user interface components and data processing components.

030 And finally, a third component formed by the application installed on a smartphone-type mobile phone (3) owned by the user.

031 The Guidance System (1) utilizes Hardware and Software, providing reliability and safe operation with three distinct components. This setting allows the receiver (2) or smartphone (3) to fail to detect, because if the receiver (2) stops, the smartphone (3) warns or, if the smartphone (3) stops, the receiver (2) warns; has directions defined by physical positioning; does not interfere with radio and Wi-Fi systems; You have two ways to go, directions and places to avoid.

032 Regarding security against electronic intrusion, the Guidance System (1) is provided with embedded software, called firmware, for its transmitter and receiver components.

033 To promote user autonomy, the Guidance System (1) provides the issuance of unique messages with guidance, information and alerts as well as the possibility of sending dynamic messages about the environment to be traveled.

034 For the ergonomic comfort of the user, it is noteworthy that the receiver is numurized, which can be used as a badge, or attached to a backpack, or bracelet, or glasses, or in a cap or hat.

035 For comfort of use, the use of the user's personal smartphone (3) gives him a familiarity with the Guidance System interface, (1) in addition to synthesized voice selection as well as the ability to make use of it. a single headset, offering the ease of listening to music or waiting for a call while using the Guidance System (1) and finally allowing the choice of audio navigation and environmental audio description giving the programmed design.

036 The entire development of the Guidance System, (1), initially foresees three operational forms, which correspond to three alternatives, these being the transmitter / receiver / cellular operation and called the first one; the second operation using transmitter / receiver with direct communication and the third operating condition, transmitter / cell, where the latter also operates as a receiver, also emphasizing that the development allows easily and quickly any possibility of upgrade in the rapid advancement of technology, as well as facilitating its use in diverse and even adverse situations such as power outages at locations, stations or others, facilitating their use as UPSs or other devices installed in such locations.

8.- CONCLUSION.

037 It is apparent from all that has been described and illustrated that this is the Integrated Guidance and Navigation System for Visually Impaired Persons, (1) which fits perfectly within the rules governing the Invention Patent and must fill in important market gap, deserving for this reason, the privilege requested.

Claims

1) "INTEGRATED GUIDANCE AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR VISUAL DISABLED PEOPLE", (1) use by the visually impaired widely in such open and / or closed public or common use places such as shopping malls, condominiums, conventions, colleges, office and commercial buildings, as well as sidewalks, subways, trains, buses and other means of transportation, consisting of Location Transmitters (2); Location receiver (3) and user's Smart Phone (3) or smartphone, noting that location transmitters correspond to beacons of three types: (a) muMdkeccionais; (b) unidirectional and (c) information, characterized by signaling points of interest, so that the transmitter / receiver design provides information to the user so that he can find the direction or place he is going without the need for help from a third party. or moving around predefined paths, a common action used by people with visual impairment.

2) "INTEGRATED GUIDANCE AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR VISUAL DISABLED PEOPLE" (i) according to claim number one, characterized in that the Location Transmitter (2) and Location Receiver (3) combine with the use of a smartphone-type mobile phone, providing an interface between the Guidance System (1) and the user, thus obtaining a description of the positioning of objects and locations, as well as their direction, providing audio-like information can place these relationships directly on your cognitive map.

3) "INTEGRATED GUIDANCE AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR VISUAL DISABLED PEOPLE" (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that type 1 or multi-directional beacons (2) are installed such that receiver can identify the location to be monitored from any direction of travel.

4) "INTEGRATED GUIDANCE AND NAVIGATION FOR VISUAL DISABLED PEOPLE ", (1) according to claim number one because type 2 beacons (2), or one-way, are installed so that their information is transmitted in a predefined direction, allowing thus identify object positions in relation to the direction of direction of the receiver.

5) "INTEGRATED GUIDANCE AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR VISUAL DISABLED PEOPLE" (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that type 3 or information beacons (2) are available for situations requiring the need to accurately report any place of interest or risk / hazard present in the environment as its transmitter is positioned in such a way that the receiver, carried by the user, receives this signal with information about the object or place in front of it.

6) "INTEGRATED GUIDANCE AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR VISUAL DISABLED PEOPLE", (1) according to claim one because the Receiver module (2) contains the processing module and is provided with various sensors for signal reception. transmitted by the beacons, as well as user interface components and data processing components.

7) "INTEGRATED GUIDANCE AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR VISUAL DISABLED PEOPLE" (1) according to claim number one because the third component formed by the application installed on a smartphone-owned mobile phone (3) is owned by the user.