Methods, systems and mobile terminals for vehicle crash detection using a positioning system

• US 20050030224A1
• Filed: 08/07/2003
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Koch, Robert
• Application Number:
  US10/636,392
• Publication Number:
  US 20050030224A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.310
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/17 Emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/48 by combining or switching between position solutions derived from the satellite radio beacon positioning system and position solutions derived from a further system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/52 Determining velocity
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/001 Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12

Abstract

A vehicle crash is detected by detecting a crash condition of the vehicle using a Positioning System (PS) receiver (such as a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver) on the vehicle. A wireless emergency signal may be generated responsive to detection of the crash condition using the PS receiver.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a vehicle crash, the method comprising:

using a Positioning System (PS) receiver on the vehicle to detect a crash condition of the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the PS receiver is a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the PS receiver is a Terrestrial Positioning System (TPS) receiver.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting the crash condition includes:

using the PS receiver on the vehicle to monitor a velocity of the vehicle; and

detecting a deceleration of the PS receiver on the vehicle at a rate greater than a prescribed rate.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting the crash condition includes:

using the PS receiver on the vehicle to monitor an altitude of the vehicle; and

detecting a decrease in the altitude of the PS receiver on the vehicle at a rate greater than a prescribed rate.

6. The method of claim 1 further including automatically generating a wireless emergency signal responsive to detection of the crash condition using the PS receiver.

7. The method of claim 6 including automatically directing the emergency signal to a public service answering point (PSAP).

8. The method of claim 6 including placing a telephone call to a radiotelephone in the vehicle responsive to the wireless emergency signal.

9. The method of claim 6 including deploying emergency personnel to the vehicle responsive to the wireless emergency signal.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the emergency signal includes a text message.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein the emergency signal includes an audible message.

12. The method of claim 6 wherein the emergency signal includes a notification that an accident involving the vehicle has occurred.

13. The method of claim 6 wherein the emergency signal includes an identification of the location of the vehicle determined using the PS receiver.

14. The method of claim 6 wherein the emergency signal includes at least one of a name, a medical condition, a license plate number, a phone number, and emergency contact information of a user associated with the PS receiver.

15. The method of claim 6 further including generating an alarm signal directed to an occupant of the vehicle to notify the occupant that the crash condition has been detected.

16. The method of claim 15 including providing the occupant an opportunity to prevent or stop the generation of the emergency signal.

17. The method of claim 16 including delaying the generation of the emergency signal for a wait time period following the generation of the alarm signal.

18. The method of claim 15 including providing the occupant an opportunity to confirm that an accident condition has occurred.

19. The method of claim 6 including generating a signal directed to an occupant of the vehicle to notify the occupant that the emergency signal has been or will be generated.

20. The method of claim 1 including removably mounting a mobile terminal on the vehicle, the mobile terminal including the PS receiver.

21. The method of claim 1 including substantially permanently mounting a mobile terminal on the vehicle, the mobile terminal including the PS receiver.

22. A mobile terminal for detecting a vehicle crash, the mobile terminal comprising:

a Positioning System (PS) receiver, wherein the mobile terminal is configured to use the PS receiver to detect a crash condition of the vehicle.

23. The mobile terminal of claim 22 wherein the PS receiver is a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.

24. The mobile terminal of claim 22 wherein the PS receiver is a Terrestrial Positioning System (TPS) receiver.

25. The mobile terminal of claim 22 wherein:

a) the mobile terminal is configured to use the PS receiver to monitor a velocity of the vehicle when the mobile terminal is on the vehicle; and

b) the mobile terminal is configured to detect a deceleration of the PS receiver at a rate greater than a prescribed rate.

26. The mobile terminal of claim 22 wherein:

a) the mobile terminal is configured to use the PS receiver to monitor an altitude of the vehicle when the mobile terminal is on the vehicle; and

b) the mobile terminal is configured to detect a decrease in the altitude of the PS receiver at a rate greater than a prescribed rate.

27. The mobile terminal of claim 22 wherein the mobile terminal is configured to automatically generate a wireless emergency signal responsive to detection of the crash condition using the PS receiver.

28. The mobile terminal of claim 27 wherein the mobile terminal includes a wireless transceiver.

29. The mobile terminal of claim 27 wherein the mobile terminal is configured to automatically direct the emergency signal to a public service answering point (PSAP).

30. The mobile terminal of claim 27 wherein the emergency signal includes a text message.

31. The mobile terminal of claim 27 wherein the emergency signal includes an audible message.

32. The mobile terminal of claim 27 wherein the emergency signal includes a notification that an accident involving the vehicle has occurred.

33. The mobile terminal of claim 27 wherein the emergency signal includes an identification of the location of the vehicle determined using the PS receiver.

34. The mobile terminal of claim 27 wherein the emergency signal includes at least one of a name, a medical condition, a license plate number, a phone number, and emergency contact information of a user associated with the PS receiver.

35. The mobile terminal of claim 27 wherein the mobile terminal is configured to generate an alarm signal directed to an occupant of the vehicle to notify the occupant that the crash condition has been detected.

36. The mobile terminal of claim 35 wherein the mobile terminal is configured to provide the occupant an opportunity to prevent or stop the generation of the emergency signal.

37. The mobile terminal of claim 36 wherein the mobile terminal is configured to delay the generation of the emergency signal for a wait time period following the generation of the alarm signal.

38. The mobile terminal of claim 35 wherein the mobile terminal is configured to provide the occupant an opportunity to confirm that an accident condition has occurred.

39. The mobile terminal of claim 27 wherein the mobile terminal is configured to generate a signal directed to an occupant of the vehicle to notify the occupant that the emergency signal has been or will be generated.

40. The mobile terminal of claim 22 wherein the mobile terminal is adapted to be portable and removable from the vehicle.

41. The mobile terminal of claim 22 wherein the mobile terminal is a handheld device.

42. The mobile terminal of claim 41 wherein the mobile terminal includes at least one of a cellular telephone, a pager and a personal data assistant (PDA).

43. The mobile terminal of claim 22 wherein the mobile terminal is adapted to be substantially permanently secured to the vehicle.

44. An emergency crash notification system for detecting a vehicle crash, the system comprising:

a) an emergency center; and

b) a mobile terminal including a Positioning System (PS) receiver, wherein;

the mobile terminal is configured to use the PS receiver to detect a crash condition of the vehicle; and

the mobile terminal is configured to automatically generate a wireless emergency signal to the emergency center responsive to detection of the crash condition using the PS receiver.

45. The system of claim 44 wherein the PS receiver is a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.

46. The system of claim 44 wherein the PS receiver is a Terrestrial Positioning System (TPS) receiver.

47. The system of claim 44 wherein:

a) the mobile terminal is configured to use the PS receiver to monitor a velocity of the vehicle when the mobile terminal is on the vehicle; and

b) the mobile terminal is configured to detect a deceleration of the PS receiver at a rate greater than a prescribed rate.

48. The system of claim 44 wherein:

a) the mobile terminal is configured to use the PS receiver to monitor an altitude of the vehicle when the mobile terminal is on the vehicle; and

b) the mobile terminal is configured to detect a decrease in the altitude of the PS receiver at a rate greater than a prescribed rate.

49. The system of claim 44 wherein the mobile terminal includes a wireless transceiver.

50. The system of claim 44 wherein the emergency center includes a public service answering point (PSAP).

51. The system of claim 44 including a relay station, wherein the mobile terminal is configured to transmit the emergency signal to the relay station and the relay station is adapted to re-transmit the emergency signal to the emergency center.

52. The system of claim 51 wherein the relay station includes a terrestrial cellular base station.

53. The system of claim 44 further including a Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite configured to generate position signals to the PS receiver, wherein the PS receiver is configured to use the position signals to determine locations of the vehicle.

54. The system of claim 44 wherein the emergency signal includes a text message.

55. The system of claim 44 wherein the emergency signal includes an audible message.

56. The system of claim 44 wherein the emergency signal includes a notification that an accident involving the vehicle has occurred.

57. The system of claim 44 wherein the emergency signal includes an identification of the location of the vehicle determined using the PS receiver.

58. The system of claim 44 wherein the emergency signal includes at least one of a name, a medical condition, a license plate number, a phone number, and emergency contact information of a user associated with the PS receiver.

59. The system of claim 44 wherein the mobile terminal is configured to generate an alarm signal directed to an occupant of the vehicle to notify the occupant that the crash condition has been detected.

60. The system of claim 59 wherein the mobile terminal is configured to provide the occupant an opportunity to prevent or stop the generation of the emergency signal.

61. The system of claim 60 wherein the mobile terminal is configured to delay the generation of the emergency signal for a wait time period following the generation of the alarm signal.

62. The system of claim 59 wherein the mobile terminal is configured to provide the occupant an opportunity to confirm that an accident condition has occurred.

63. The system of claim 44 wherein the mobile terminal is configured to generate a signal directed to an occupant of the vehicle to notify the occupant that the emergency signal has been or will be generated.

64. The system of claim 44 wherein the mobile terminal is adapted to be portable and removable from the vehicle.

65. The system of claim 44 wherein the mobile terminal is a handheld device.

66. The system of claim 65 wherein the mobile terminal includes at least one of a cellular telephone, a pager and a personal data assistant (PDA).

67. The system of claim 44 wherein the mobile terminal is adapted to be substantially permanently secured to the vehicle.

68. A computer program product for detecting a vehicle crash, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer readable program code comprising;

computer readable program code configured to use a Positioning System (PS) receiver on the vehicle to detect a crash condition of the vehicle.

69. The computer program product of claim 68 wherein the PS receiver is a Global Positioning System (OPS) receiver.

70. The computer program product of claim 68 wherein the PS receiver is a Terrestrial Positioning System (TPS) receiver.

71. The computer program product of claim 68 including:

computer readable program code configured to use the PS receiver on the vehicle to monitor a velocity of the vehicle; and

computer readable program code configured to detect a deceleration of the PS receiver on the vehicle at a rate greater than a prescribed rate.

72. The computer program product of claim 68 including:

computer readable program code configured to use the PS receiver on the vehicle to monitor an altitude of the vehicle; and

computer readable program code configured to detect a decrease in the altitude of the PS receiver on the vehicle at a rate greater than a prescribed rate.

73. The computer program product of claim 68 further including computer readable program code configured to automatically generate a wireless emergency signal responsive to detection of the crash condition using the PS receiver.

74. The computer program product of claim 73 including computer readable program code configured to automatically direct the emergency signal to a public service answering point (PSAP).

75. The computer program product of claim 73 wherein the emergency signal includes a text message.

76. The computer program product of claim 73 wherein the emergency signal includes an audible message.

77. The computer program product of claim 73 wherein the emergency signal includes a notification that an accident involving the vehicle has occurred.

78. The computer program product of claim 73 wherein the emergency signal includes an identification of the location of the vehicle determined using the PS receiver.

79. The computer program product of claim 73 wherein the emergency signal includes at least one of a name, a medical condition, a license plate number, a phone number, and emergency contact information of a user associated with the PS receiver.

80. The computer program product of claim 73 further including computer readable program code configured to generate an alarm signal directed to an occupant of the vehicle to notify the occupant that the crash condition has been detected.

81. The computer program product of claim 80 including computer readable program code configured to provide the occupant an opportunity to prevent or stop the generation of the emergency signal.

82. The computer program product of claim 81 including computer readable program code configured to delay the generation of the emergency signal for a wait time period following the generation of the alarm signal.

83. The computer program product of claim 80 including computer readable program code configured to provide the occupant an opportunity to confirm that an accident condition has occurred.

84. The computer program product of claim 73 including computer readable program code configured to generate a signal directed to an occupant of the vehicle to notify the occupant that the emergency signal has been or will be generated.