Method And System For Emergency Notification

• US 20110098017A1
• Filed: 01/03/2011
• Published: 04/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: VanDagens, Douglas R., Luk, Francis, Berry, Joseph J., Nixon, Timothy Robert, Scalf, Mark J.
• Application Number:
  US12/983,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20110098017A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

Method and apparatus for notifying an emergency responder of a vehicle emergency. Communication is established with a cellular telephone located within the vehicle. The communication link is monitored and the vehicle occupant is notified of link loss. The apparatus monitors vehicle safety systems for detection of an emergency condition. Upon detection, the occupant is notified that an emergency call will be made. If no cancellation is received, vehicle location information is obtained from a global position system, synthesized into voice signals, and communicated to an emergency responder using the cellular telephone. A plurality of occupant and vehicle emergency information may also be provided. Emergency responders may be provided with a touch tone menu to select among the available information. Vehicle and occupant information may be communicated to the apparatus from external sources, such as a web server database via cellular telephone connection, or removable memory.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

determining, using a vehicle computing system (VCS) in communication with at least one vehicle sensor, that the vehicle sensor has detected an emergency condition; and

using the VCS to wirelessly instruct a cellular telephone in proximity to the VCS to establish direct communication with a 911 operator for responding to the detected emergency condition.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the VCS to transmit information about the emergency condition to the 911 operator.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the information includes data pertaining to at least one vehicle occupant.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the data pertaining to at least one vehicle occupant includes at least one occupant medical condition.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the data pertaining to at least one vehicle occupant includes insurance information.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the data pertaining to at least one vehicle occupant includes physician information.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the data pertaining to at least one vehicle occupant includes emergency contact information.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the data pertaining to at least one vehicle occupant is stored in a memory connected to the VCS.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein the data pertaining to at least one vehicle occupant is stored a memory connected to the cellular telephone.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein the information includes vehicle location information.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein the information includes data pertaining to a state of the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the data pertaining to the state of the vehicle includes impact information.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the data pertaining to the state of the vehicle includes seat belt connection information.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the data pertaining to the state of the vehicle includes a number of vehicle occupants.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the data pertaining to the state of the vehicle includes an indication that the vehicle has rolled-over.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the data pertaining to the state of the vehicle includes an indication that the vehicle is on fire.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the data pertaining to the state of the vehicle includes an indication that the vehicle has a fuel leak.

18. The method of claim 2, wherein the information further includes vehicle identification information.

19. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause a vehicle computing system (VCS) to perform a method comprising:

determining that a vehicle sensor in communication with the VCS has detected an emergency condition; and

instructing direct 911 operator contact through a cellular phone in wireless communication with the VCS.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

relaying, from the VCS through the cellular phone to the 911 operator, information about the emergency condition.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the information includes data pertaining to at least one vehicle occupant.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the information includes data pertaining to at least one of a state or location of the vehicle.

23. A system comprising:

a vehicle computing system (VCS); and

at least one emergency condition sensor, operable to convey at least one emergency condition detection signal to the VCS,

wherein, upon receipt of the at least one emergency condition detection signal, the VCS is operable to instruct a cellular phone, in wireless communication with the VCS, to directly contact a 911 operator for responding to the emergency condition.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the VCS is further operable to relay information about the emergency condition through the cellular phone to the 911 operator.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the information includes data pertaining to at least one vehicle occupant.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the information includes data pertaining to at least one of a state or location of the vehicle.