System and method for hazardous event detection and automatic emergency communication

• US 20070194893A1
• Filed: 02/22/2006
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (Aptiv PLC)
• Inventors: Deyoe, Scott
• Application Number:
  US11/359,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20070194893A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1672 using sonic detecting means, e.g. a microphone operating in the audio frequency range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72421 with automatic activation of emergency service functions, e.g. upon sensing an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

A system and method is provided to automatically detect and respond to a hazardous event. The present invention is especially useful to a person that is incapable of announcing an emergency, or otherwise unable to locate or reach a wireless communication device such as a cellular telephone and dial 911. In an aspect, a wireless communication device employing an event detection algorithm detects a predetermined acoustic signature such as metal deformation or glass breaking, a predetermined mechanical signature or other input such as a threshold temperature signifying a hazardous event, and automatically initiates and communicates for assistance. Geographic Position information of the communication device and therefore the hazardous event can additionally be provided via a position determination device or a GPS. The present invention can be used as a two-way communication in a speakerphone mode, and can be readily transported with a person, operating independently from a motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A hazardous event safety system comprising:

a reception device for receiving at least one of an acoustic event and a mechanical event;

a processor for monitoring the at least one of acoustic event and mechanical event from the reception device, detecting at least one of a predetermined acoustic and mechanical signature signifying a hazardous event, and automatically initiating a communication in response to detecting the one of predetermined acoustic and mechanical signature; and

a communication device for carrying out the communication initiated by the processor, wherein the communication device includes a transmitter and a receiver for wireless communication with an assistance provider;

wherein the reception device, the processor and the communication device are formed as part of a wireless communication device, the wireless communication device being at least one of a cellular telephone, a wideband personal communications service (PCS), and a geographic area specialized mobile radio (SMR).

2. The hazardous event safety system as in claim 1, wherein the predetermined acoustic signature and mechanical signature includes a signature of at least one of metal deformation, plastic shattering, glass breaking, acoustic overpressure, mechanical shock, and deployment of a vehicle air bag.

3. The hazardous event safety system as in claim 1, further comprising a vibration sensor formed as part of the cellular telephone for detecting a mechanical shock.

4. The hazardous event safety system as in claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor formed as part of the cellular telephone for detecting a predetermined threshold temperature.

5. The hazardous event safety system as in claim 1, wherein the communication is a two-way communication including a cellular telephone user and the assistance provider.

6. The hazardous event safety system as in claim 5, wherein the cellular telephone automatically sets to a speakerphone mode in response to the automatic communication being initiated, wherein the speaker volume is automatically adjusted.

7. The hazardous event safety system as in claim 1, further comprising a hazardous event detection algorithm employed by the processor for detecting the predetermined acoustic and mechanical signature.

8. The hazardous event safety system as in claim 1, further comprising a position determination device formed as part of the cellular telephone for providing a geographic position of the cellular telephone.

9. The hazardous event safety system as in claim 8, wherein the position determination device employs messages defined by at least one of standard IS-801, J-STD-36, GSM, UMTS, and W-CDMA.

10. The hazardous event safety system as in claim 1, further comprising a global positioning system (GPS) formed as part of the cellular telephone for providing a geographic position of the cellular telephone.

11. The hazardous event safety system as in claim 1, wherein the automatically initiated communication is transmitted to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) via telephone number 911.

12. A cellular telephone for automatic detection and response to a hazardous event

comprising:

a reception device for receiving at least one of an acoustic event and a mechanical event;

a processor for monitoring the at least one of acoustic event and mechanical event from the reception device, detecting at least one of a predetermined acoustic and mechanical signature signifying a hazardous event, and automatically initiating a communication in response to detecting the one of predetermined acoustic and mechanical signature, wherein the predetermined acoustic signature and mechanical signature includes a signature of at least one of metal deformation, plastic shattering, glass breaking, acoustic overpressure, mechanical shock, and deployment of a vehicle air bag; and

a transmitter and a receiver for carrying out the communication with an assistance provider, initiated by the processor.

13. The cellular telephone as in claim 12, further comprising at least one of a vibration sensor for detecting a mechanical shock, and a temperature sensor for detecting a predetermined threshold temperature.

14. The cellular telephone as in claim 12, further comprising a hazardous event detection algorithm employed by the processor for detecting the predetermined acoustic and mechanical signature.

15. The cellular telephone as in claim 12, wherein the automatically initiated communication is transmitted to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) via telephone number 911, wherein the communication is a two-way communication, and wherein the cellular telephone automatically sets to a speakerphone mode in response to the automatic communication being initiated, wherein the speaker volume is automatically adjusted.

16. The cellular telephone as in claim 12, further comprising at least one of a position determination device and a global positioning system (GPS) for providing a geographic position of the cellular telephone, and wherein the position determination device employs messages defined by at least one of standard IS-801, J-STD-36, GSM, UMTS, and W-CDMA.

17. A method for automatic detection and response to a hazardous event comprising:

receiving at least one of an acoustic event and a mechanical event utilizing a reception device;

monitoring the at least one of the acoustic event and mechanical event from the reception device utilizing a processor;

detecting at least one of a predetermined acoustic and mechanical signature signifying a hazardous event;

automatically initiating a communication in response to detecting the one of the predetermined acoustic and mechanical signature, wherein the predetermined acoustic signature and mechanical signature includes a signature of at least one of metal deformation, plastic shattering, glass breaking, acoustic overpressure, mechanical shock, and deployment of a vehicle air bag; and

carrying out the communication with an assistance provider initiated by the processor utilizing a transmitter and a receiver;

wherein the reception device, the processor, the transmitter and the receiver are formed as part of a wireless communication device, the wireless communication device being at least one of a cellular telephone, a wideband personal communications service (PCS), and a geographic area specialized mobile radio (SMR).

18. The method as in claim 17, further comprising at least one of detecting a mechanical shock utilizing a vibration sensor, detecting a predetermined threshold temperature utilizing a temperature sensor, and providing a geographic position of the wireless communication device utilizing at least one of a position determination device and a global positioning system (GPS), wherein the position determination device employs messages defined by at least one of standard IS-801, J-STD-36, GSM, UMTS, and W-CDMA.

19. The method as in claim 17, further comprising detecting the predetermined acoustic and mechanical signature utilizing a hazardous event detection algorithm employed by the processor.

20. The method as in claim 17, wherein the automatically initiated communication is transmitted to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) via telephone number 911, wherein the communication is a two-way communication, and wherein the wireless communication device automatically sets to a speakerphone mode in response to the automatic communication being initiated, wherein the speaker volume is automatically adjusted.