Patent Description:
In particular, the invention concerns a method that allows largest possible number of people to be warned of the imminent occurrence of seismic events at least a few seconds in advance.

To date, there are no functioning systems capable of warning people of the imminent occurrence of seismic events sufficiently in advance.

There are various studies and/or projects of seismic warning systems, but the related methods of transmitting the alarm information, based only on mobile phone frequencies, whether of voice or of Internet type, do not allow people to be reached with certainty and sufficiently in advance. In fact, mobile phone frequencies are affected by the transmission bandwidth available that, although fast, could employ more than the available real time to reach people with the alarm information.

Systems and/or devices that receive-transmit signals and/or warning messages of various type are already known within the context of the specific background art.

The document <CIT> discloses a portable terminal for receiving warning messages of various type (seismic, weather, urban, etc.), comprising.

The terminal described in the document <CIT> has the important negative point of exploiting transmission systems that do not guarantee rapid and certain reception of the warning messages by the users. In fact, it is known that an electronic mail message can require even several minutes to be delivered to the recipient, just as a video signal can require several seconds before being displayed, as a function of the quality of the transmission channel and/or the transmission bandwidth assigned thereto. Moreover, using video signals for the transmission of the warning messages inevitably causes rapid depletion of the power supply battery of the aforesaid receiving terminal, a situation that is not desirable in emergency conditions.

The document <CIT> discloses a system for the emergency shut off of utilities such as electricity, water, etc., to individuals or institutions following the detection of seismic events, comprising:.

The system described in the document <CIT> has the considerable limit of providing for the transmission of emergency shut-off signals of various types of utilities (electricity, water, etc.) when seismic events occur, but without simultaneously transmitting seismic warning messages to the owners of these utilities.

The document <CIT> discloses an earthquake warning system, comprising:.

The system described in the document <CIT> has the important disadvantage of using a seismic data detection network consisting of sensors powered by non-rechargeable electric batteries, which require to be replaced at regular intervals, for the optimal efficiency of the aforesaid detection network.

The document <CIT> discloses a seismic alarm device, comprising:.

The device described in the document <CIT> has the evident limit of receiving and transmitting seismic warning messages only within the domestic environments in which they are installed.

The document <CIT> describes a distributed seismic system which collectively harnesses sensor data from smartphones to determine earthquake onset, and generate warnings (annunciation e.g., audio, visual, tactile, or any combination thereof) through the self-same phone network. The system can record magnitude <NUM> or larger earthquakes, and provides on-phone detection capability to separate earthquake shake data from other every-day shakes of the phone. The earthquake data is collected at a central site where a network detection algorithm confirms that an earthquake is underway and estimates the location and magnitude in real-time. This information is used to issue an alert of forthcoming ground shaking, such as through the network of phones for an early earthquake warning system.

The object of the invention is to overcome these substantial problems of prior art seismic warning systems, in the study or design stage.

The object of the invention is achieved with a warning method for warning of the imminent occurrence of seismic events using a system according to the main independent claim <NUM>. Further features of the system of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

The method of the invention allows individuals or entire communities to be warned of the imminent occurrence of seismic events by means of receivers of alarm signals, portable or fixed, interacting with different types of transmission (fixed or mobile phones, satellite phones, the Internet, radio waves generated by radio and/or television stations broadcasting nationally), on which a specific software application is installed.

The method of the invention allows individuals or entire communities to be warned of the imminent occurrence of seismic events a few seconds in advance, to give them time, as far as possible, to activate protection systems or to reach safe places.

The method of the invention bases its operation on the detection of sounds of seismic origin that, generated in the epicentre of the seismic event, are almost never audible to the human ear but are transmitted to the surface at a higher speed than the dynamic phenomenon produced by the seismic event itself.

The depth of the dynamic phenomenon is variable and consequently its warning time also varies. In fact, the distance from the epicentre increases the warning time, which also varies according to the depth of the epicentre and to the geological composition of the layers that separate the epicentre from the surface.

Therefore, the present invention consists in a method that warn individuals or whole communities, in a few tenths of a second from the detection point to the final user, through different transmission technologies, of the imminent occurrence of a seismic event.

The present invention bases its efficacy on obtaining the maximum possible communication speed between a network of detection stations of seismic events and a control centre and between said control centre and a plurality of receivers of seismic alarm messages, fixed (arranged on or inside buildings) and/or portable (possessed by individual system users).

Communications between the detection stations and the control centre take place via dedicated phone lines, adapted to maintain said stations and said centre in direct and constant contact with each other, so that communications between said stations and said centre are always operational and are never subject to delays dependent on selection and/or switching procedures between different lines.

Communications between detection stations and the control centre provide for sending information concerning the seismic event detected, suitably coded and structured to allow its transmission at the maximum speed allowed by phone lines, dedicated or not.

Communications between the control centre and the receivers of seismic alarm messages take place via electronic mail services and/or instant messaging services and/or streaming services, with variable reception times, but also and above all via radio and/or television stations that broadcast nationally continuously, with almost instantaneous reception (i.e., more or less in real time).

Communications between the control centre and the receivers provide for sending a seismic alarm message, suitably coded and structured to allow insertion into signals that can be managed by the transmission means associated with the system and consequent transmission in said signals at the maximum speed allowed by said transmission means.

Laboratory tests have shown how the method of the invention is able to guarantee that between detection, by the network of detection stations, of a seismic event and reception, by the receivers, of the seismic alarm message, processed by the control centre, an interval of time quantifiable in a few tenths of a second elapse. The system used in the method of the invention substantially comprises:.

The system provides for two different types of detection stations. The first has a mobile phone device installed inside it, so as to operate only within the mobile phone frequency reception range. The second has a satellite phone device installed inside it, so as to operate in all the other possible scenarios.

The first type of station substantially comprises:.

The second type of detection station comprises the same components as the first, with the exception of:.

The second type of detection station can be totally alternative to the first.

Each detection station communicates with the control centre with two different modes: one ordinary, through the radio frequencies of the mobile phone and the correlated internet bandwidth, and one emergency, which in turn provides for two different procedures.

The first emergency mode provides for an immediate phone call and the transmission of a seismic alarm signal, with an acoustic tone code, between the detection station that first receives a sound of seismic origin and a fixed phone of the control centre.

The second emergency mode provides for an always-on phone call, to reduce the time required for the call and for transmission of the seismic alarm signal itself, with an acoustic tone code.

The control centre re-transmits the seismic alarm signal to the receivers of the users with two different modes.

The first mode provides for transmission of the seismic alarm signal with a text message, through the radio frequencies of the mobile phone.

The second mode provides for sending the seismic alarm signal, with microwave transmissions, towards radio and/or television stations that broadcast continuously, located throughout the territory served by the detection stations, which will broadcast the aforesaid signal in real time during their programming.

Users can select a preferred radio and/or television station with the software application of the receivers they possess.

The software application of the receivers provides for two different modes of receiving the seismic alarm signal transmitted by the radio or television stations, which provide different receiving times.

In receivers that are able to pick up the radio or television station selected by the users, the software application provides for:.

In receivers that are not able to pick up the radio or television station selected by the users, the software application provides for:.

In these receivers, the software application will activate the acoustic alarm with a certain delay with respect to the others, but will allow the seismic alarm signal to be taken to the points reached by the fixed lines for connection to the internet, with or without Wi-Fi, thereby making it possible to considerably expand the territory that can be reached by the system.

Analogously, it is possible to transmit the seismic alarm signal to users who possess receivers of satellite type.

The system as described thus allows the largest possible number of people to be warned of the imminent occurrence of a seismic event in a given territory and, consequently, makes it possible to greatly reduce the number of injured and victims potentially caused by this seismic event.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be more evident from the more detailed description set forth below, with the aid of the drawings showing preferred embodiments, illustrated by way of non-limiting example, wherein:.

The main components of the system are the detection stations <NUM>, the control centre <NUM> and the receivers <NUM> and <NUM> with the software application that allows activation of the acoustic or vibration alarm installed. These receivers <NUM> and <NUM> are, for example, smartphones, tablets, personal computers or television sets normally for sale, which can be connected to the frequencies of the mobile or fixed phone and to the related Internet bandwidth, suitable or not for satellite phone, and provided or not with the ability to receive radio stations or television channels.

<FIG> schematically represents a possible irregular polygonal mesh in which the detection stations <NUM> can be installed. The irregular nature of the mesh depends on the geographical and orographical features of the territory monitored, the choice of which also depends on the need to install the stations preferably on the structure of existing buildings, a few metres from the ground, to have free access in the event of maintenance works.

With reference to <FIG>, an earthquake <NUM> will occur closer to a given detection station <NUM> with respect to the others, for example 2A. When this occurs, this detection station 2A, in addition to the procedures described previously, asks the detection stations 2B, 2C and 2D, through a text message sent via the mobile phone device <NUM>, the satellite phone device <NUM> or the receiver-transmitter radio apparatus <NUM>, to receive the exact time at which they recorded the earthquake <NUM> with the inertial sensors <NUM>. At this point, the processor <NUM> of the station 2A, knowing the exact geographical position and altitude of the other stations, determines, with its own management software, the geographical coordinates and the depth of the epicentre of the earthquake <NUM>, and communicates these to the control centre <NUM>, with a text message. This text message is sent via the mobile or satellite phone network, with the direction of the data flows <NUM>, towards the nearest antenna <NUM> and, from this, with the direction of the data flows <NUM>, towards the control centre <NUM>. As in the case of seismic alarm, the processor <NUM> can send the communication also with a message <NUM> of tone type, communicating at least three distinct series of tones, in which two correspond to the geographical coordinates and one to the depth of the earthquake <NUM>.

After installation and activation of the connection with the control centre <NUM>, each detection station <NUM> will start a period of adaptation and regulation of the sensors to two important parameters that characterize the geological layers of the place in which it is located, i.e. to the speed of the sound in the underlying layers of the ground and to the average speed of the dynamic event among those recorded. This will be possible by recording minor seismic events that do not give cause for alarm but are very frequent, thereby allowing episodes that can generate small sound events and dynamic events of anthropogenic nature to be excluded from the alarm procedure.

During the normal operation of the system, communications between each detection station <NUM> and the control centre <NUM> will take place via the Internet, using the mobile phone frequencies.

<FIG> schematically represents the two procedures for transmitting the data of an earthquake <NUM>. The data transmission speed is essential but can be influenced by various factors linked to the traffic on phone lines and to the transmission bandwidth available for the Internet. Therefore, the mobile phone device <NUM> of the detection stations <NUM> can have an always-on phone connection with a fixed receiver of the control centre <NUM> or make a call with this receiver, passing through the nearest antenna <NUM> of the mobile phone frequencies.

The term "always-on phone connection" means that it is possible to send telephone transmissions on dedicated phone lines, adapted to maintain the detection stations <NUM> and the control centre <NUM> in direct and constant contact with each other, so that communications between said detection stations <NUM> and said control centre <NUM> are always operational and never subject to delays dependent on selection and/or switching procedures between different lines.

When the acoustic sensors <NUM> receive an acoustic phenomenon of seismic origin, the nearest detection station <NUM> sends a message <NUM>, with tones in rapid succession, with the direction of the data flow <NUM>, towards the nearest antenna <NUM> of the mobile phone frequencies and from this, with the direction of the data flow <NUM>, towards the control centre <NUM>. This message contains the number of the detection station <NUM>, for location, the magnitude of the earthquake <NUM>, in the reference scale used, and the time, up to fractions of a second.

The coding and extremely compact structure of this message allows its transmission at the maximum speed allowed by phone lines, at the disposal of the detection stations <NUM> and/or of the control centre <NUM>.

This procedure requires around <NUM>/<NUM> of a second to reach the processor of the control centre <NUM> which, at this point, adopts two different procedures, to inform the receivers <NUM> and <NUM>, which start simultaneously but finish at different times. One procedure provides for conversion of the tone message <NUM> into a coded radio signal that is sent via the radio repeaters <NUM>, with the direction of the data flow <NUM>, to all the radio and/or television stations enabled <NUM>, with the direction of the data flow <NUM>, which have uninterrupted programming in the territory in which the detection stations <NUM> are located.

The coding and the extremely compact structure of the tone message <NUM> allow it to be inserted easily in the signal managed by the repeaters <NUM> and by the radio and/or television stations <NUM> and consequent transmission in said signal at the maximum speed allowed by said repeaters <NUM> and by said radio and/or television stations <NUM>.

These radio and/or television stations <NUM> broadcast, by means of their antennas <NUM>, with the direction of the data flow <NUM>, this signal during the normal programming, with or without a very brief interruption, in approximately <NUM>/<NUM> of a second. This signal can be received by the fixed receivers <NUM>, with the direction of the data flow <NUM>, and by the mobile receivers <NUM>, with the direction of the data flow <NUM>, provided with the ability to pick up radio stations. A radio or television station among those enabled is selected and kept tuned by the user via the software application installed in the devices <NUM> and <NUM>. This application, picking up the signal of the selected radio or television station, based on the selections made by the user, can activate the sound and/or vibration alarm of the receivers <NUM> and <NUM>, also starting a count-down that defines the estimated time of arrival of the dynamic phenomenon of the earthquake <NUM>. With this mode, the message sent by the first detection station <NUM> can reach the receivers <NUM> and <NUM> in approximately <NUM>/<NUM> of a second and can reach the receivers <NUM> and <NUM> even if they are located in places in which there might be poor mobile phone reception, but good reception of the enabled radio or television stations <NUM>.

The receivers <NUM> and <NUM> that do not have the ability to receive radio or television stations can receive the same message from the same radio or television station in streaming, or with a text message, passing through the fixed line <NUM> or, with the direction of the flow <NUM>, passing through the nearest antenna <NUM> of the mobile phone frequencies, and from here, with the direction of the data flow <NUM>, to the receivers <NUM> and <NUM>, but employing more time.

In the period in which an earthquake <NUM> is in progress with an alarm underway, also the communications of the control centre <NUM> towards the detection stations <NUM> take place via the Internet bandwidth of the mobile phone frequencies, with the antennas <NUM> and the direction of the data flow <NUM>, and from here, with the direction of the data flow <NUM>, towards the detection stations <NUM>.

<FIG> schematically represents the normal communication mode between the detection stations <NUM>, the control centre <NUM> and the receivers <NUM> and <NUM>, when all the communications take place via the Internet bandwidth of the fixed and mobile phone radio frequencies, as the time employed is not relevant.

<FIG> schematically represents, according to the claimed invention, the method for transmission from the detection stations <NUM> to the control centre <NUM> of the tone message <NUM> containing the data of the earthquake <NUM>.

This is a set of twelve tones <NUM>, different from one another, which respectively identify:.

The series of tones <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are spaced apart by a space tone <NUM>, while the tones of the series <NUM> are separated by a comma tone <NUM>.

The tone coding and the extremely compact structure of the message <NUM> allow its transmission at the maximum speed allowed by phone lines, dedicated or not, and easy insertion in signals managed by repeaters <NUM> and by radio and/or television stations <NUM> and consequent transmission in said signals at the maximum speed allowed by said repeaters <NUM> and by said radio and/or television stations <NUM>. <FIG> schematically represents a detection station <NUM> comprising:.

The ambient sensors and instruments <NUM> comprise compasses, internal and external thermometers, meters for measuring the relative humidity of the internal and external air, barometers, internal humidity regulators, fans for exchange and/or cooling of the internal air, electric resistances for heating the internal air, etc..

The acoustic sensors <NUM>, of microphone type, with or without condensers, pick up the acoustic phenomenon of the earthquake <NUM>, in the entire sound spectrum with which it occurs.

The inertial sensors <NUM>, with three axes, detect the dynamic phenomenon of the earthquake <NUM>.

The receiver-transmitter radio apparatus <NUM> allows the data of the acoustic phenomenon and of the dynamic phenomenon of the earthquake <NUM> to be exchanged with other detection stations <NUM> and/or these data to be communicated to the control centre <NUM>. The same operations can be carried out by sending and/or receiving text messages via the mobile phone device <NUM>.

The processor <NUM> is connected to the mobile phone device <NUM> and to the receiver-transmitter radio apparatus <NUM> to communicate via telephone, on phone lines, dedicated or not, or via the Internet or via radio with other detection stations <NUM> and/or with the control centre <NUM>.

The electronic processor <NUM> comprises a management software adapted to establish the epicentre of the earthquake <NUM> from the data of the related acoustic and dynamic phenomenon, provided by the detection stations <NUM>.

Fig.<NUM> schematically represents a detection station <NUM> comprising a satellite phone device <NUM>, alternative to the mobile phone device <NUM> and to the receiver-transmitter radio apparatus <NUM>. An external antenna <NUM> is positioned near this station so that it can receive and transmit via satellite network. The other functions and the other components of this station remain the same and it can be alternative to the one in <FIG> or can be installed in sites not reached by fixed or mobile phone signals or radio station broadcast.

The control centre <NUM> allows control of the maintenance of the detection stations <NUM> and indexed storage of the data recorded by them, so as to make them available for studies and research and allow very detailed territorial analysis, given the large number of detection stations <NUM> in the territory monitored. The control centre <NUM> comprises the hardware required for real time control of each detection station <NUM>, fixed phone receivers, one for each detection station <NUM>, antennas <NUM> with one or more repeaters of radio messages towards other antennas, with a repeater at each radio or television station <NUM> enabled.

The detection stations <NUM> are always operational and collect the data of all the seismic events detectable by their sensors, which are sent periodically, with the mobile phone radio frequency, with the existing Internet bandwidth, to the control centre <NUM>, to be indexed, catalogued and stored.

Each detection station <NUM> comprises two types of sensors. The first comprises acoustic sensors <NUM>, capable of picking up acoustic waves P, while the second comprises inertial sensors <NUM>, capable of picking up dynamic waves S.

Each detection station <NUM> is completely independent from the point of view of power supply, as it comprises photovoltaic panels and electric storage batteries, suitably sized to allow them to operate also during the night or in cloudy conditions.

Each detection station <NUM> comprises sensors and instruments <NUM> that measure the internal and external temperature, the internal and external relative humidity, the charge level of the storage batteries <NUM>, the operation of the photovoltaic panels <NUM> and regulate the internal microclimate by means of fans for cooling and electric resistances for heating, and electromechanical devices <NUM> and <NUM> for resetting the mobile phone <NUM> or satellite <NUM> device and the electronic processor <NUM>. Each function of the components listed is controlled by the control centre <NUM>, so as to rapidly manage any controls or technical maintenance operations remotely.

When the sensors <NUM> of a detection station <NUM> detect the acoustic phenomenon of an earthquake <NUM>, the processor <NUM>, through an instantaneous call with the mobile phone device <NUM>, or with an always-open call, notifies the control centre <NUM> with an acoustic code message <NUM>, of tone type. The term "always-open call" means a telephone transmission sent on dedicated phone lines, adapted to maintain the detection stations <NUM> and the control centre <NUM> in direct and constant contact with one another, so that communications between said detection stations <NUM> and said control centre <NUM> are always operational and are never subject to delays dependent on selection and/or switching procedures between different lines.

This acoustic message lasts around <NUM>/<NUM> of a second and contains three data: the number of the detection station <NUM> from which the geographical position is obtained, the estimated magnitude of the earthquake <NUM>, the time of the earthquake <NUM>, for briefness, in minutes, seconds and tenths of a second within the current hour.

The coding and extremely compact structure of this acoustic message allows its transmission at the maximum speed allowed by phone lines, dedicated or not, at the disposal of the detection stations <NUM> and/or of the control centre <NUM>.

The control centre <NUM> only sends the acoustic message of the first detection station <NUM> that communicated the first seismic event in a given area to the radio and/or television stations <NUM> enabled, and via the Internet, directly to the receivers <NUM> and <NUM>. The same procedure will take place with the subsequent seismic events relating to a single context.

In fact, a first seismic event of strong magnitude can be followed by others in a short space of time, with epicentre near the first. The procedure will therefore be identical to the first seismic event in the same area, which can be defined by a certain number of detection stations <NUM>, arranged around the first that detected the first acoustic phenomenon.

The first detection station <NUM> that detects, through the inertial sensors <NUM>, the dynamic phenomenon of an earthquake <NUM>, communicates with the adjacent detection stations <NUM> via the mobile phone device <NUM> and/or the receiver-transmitter radio apparatus <NUM>, so as to exchange the data relating to the reception of each seismic event in progress and determine, with the management software of the processor <NUM>, the exact geographical position and altitude of the epicentre and communicate this to the control centre <NUM>, which in turn will communicate this to the users with the same communication procedure as the acoustic phenomenon.

All other communications of each detection station <NUM> with the control centre <NUM> take place through the internet bandwidth using the radio frequencies of the mobile phone.

When the control centre <NUM> receives from a detection station <NUM> a tone message <NUM>, indicating that it has detected from the acoustic sensors <NUM> an acoustic phenomenon relating to an imminent dynamic phenomenon of an earthquake <NUM>, the procedure to notify the users described above starts and immediately determines the area involved.

Subsequently, when the dynamic phenomenon arrives, the first detection station <NUM> that receives it, with an automated request receives the data relating to the magnitude and to the time of the earthquake <NUM> from the detection stations <NUM> surrounding it and, through the time differences with the previous acoustic phenomenon, determines the exact position and depth of the epicentre through the management software of the processor <NUM>, which takes account of the geographical position and altitude of each detection station <NUM> considered.

Each detection station <NUM> is installed on walls of existing buildings or objects capable of accommodating it. Their position is studied so that the average distance between the stations does not exceed a given value and their network is not too irregular. Their geographical position and altitude will also be precisely defined so as to be utilized to determine the epicentre of a seismic event.

The software application of the receivers <NUM> and <NUM> is programmable by the user to remain in contact with the control centre <NUM> through the internet constantly updating the status, to receive only the information of one site or from all, to regulate the power of the sound or vibration alarm.

Claim 1:
Warning method for warning of the imminent occurrence of seismic events (<NUM>) using a system comprising:
- detection stations (<NUM>) for detecting acoustic and dynamic phenomena of seismic events (<NUM>), adapted to generate and transmit seismic alarm messages (<NUM>) and comprising an electronic processor (<NUM>);
- a control centre (<NUM>), adapted to receive seismic alarm messages (<NUM>) from the detection stations (<NUM>) and distribute them towards receivers (<NUM>, <NUM>);
- receivers (<NUM>, <NUM>), fixed or mobile, possessed by the system users;
- a software application, installed in the receivers (<NUM>, <NUM>), adapted to receive seismic alarm messages (<NUM>) from the control centre (<NUM>) and to generate alarm signals that can be perceived by the users,
characterized in that said warning method using the system comprises the step of:
- using the processor (<NUM>) of the detection station (<NUM>) to communicate a seismic alarm message (<NUM>) of the tone type code at least between said detection stations (<NUM>) and said control centre (<NUM>),
wherein said seismic alarm messages (<NUM>) comprise:
- a series of tones (<NUM>), which represent the identification number of the detection station (<NUM>) that has detected the earthquake (<NUM>);
- a series of tones (<NUM>), which represent the magnitude of the earthquake (<NUM>), on the chosen measurement scale;
- three series of tones (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), which represent the minutes, seconds and hundredths of a second respectively of the time of the earthquake (<NUM>).