SYSTEM FOR TRANSMITTING AN EMERGENCY CALL

• US 20120015622A1
• Filed: 06/13/2011
• Published: 01/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kuz, Volker, Behrens, Ralph
• Granted Patent: US 8,937,931 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/206 composed of PSTN and wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5116 for emergency applications
• 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

An emergency call system transmits an emergency call with emergency information from a vehicle using a communication system. The emergency call system includes an emergency call device that connects with an emergency assistance center during an emergency. The emergency call device may be automatically or manually triggered to transmit data and information related to an emergency to the assistance center. Data and information may be transmitted over a data connection and/or a voice connection over a hardwired or wireless network.

Claims

1. A system for submitting an emergency call comprising:

an emergency call device configured to trigger an emergency call by establishing a data connection, the data connection comprising a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) connection, and a first voice connection; and

an emergency call assistance center configured to receive, from the emergency call device, a transmission over the data connection as a request for a uniform resource locator (URL) and a transmission over the first voice connection in a dual tone multi-frequency format;

where the emergency call device is configured to transmit emergency information to the emergency call assistance center using both the data connection and the first voice connection wherein the transmissions over the first voice connection and the data connection include redundant emergency information; and

where the emergency call assistance center synchronizes the emergency information transmitted using the data connection and the first voice connection to correct errors during transmission.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a device that transports a person or a thing, where the emergency call device is located in the device that transports a person or a thing.

3. The system of claim 2, where the emergency information includes a history of information related to a time period before an emergency, and where the history of information indicates a steering of the vehicle, a rate of deceleration of the vehicle, or a driving direction of the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1 in which the emergency call dispatch center is coupled to the emergency call assistance center, and where the second voice connection is used to transmit additional emergency information in addition to the redundant emergency information.

5. An emergency call device for transmitting an emergency call including emergency information from a vehicle using a mobile communication system comprising:

triggering means for triggering an emergency call at the vehicle;

communicating means for transmitting the emergency call;

data connection means for establishing a data connection with an emergency call assistance center via the mobile communication system wherein the data connection comprises a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) connection;

voice connection means for establishing a first voice connection to the emergency call assistance center through the mobile communication system;

transmission means for transmitting the emergency information to the emergency call assistance center using the data connection and the first voice connection;

wherein the emergency information transmitted using the data connection is transmitted as a request for a uniform resource locator (URL) using the WAP data connection and the emergency information transmitted using the first voice connection is in a dual tone multi-frequency format; and

wherein emergency information transmitted using the data connection and the voice connection include redundant emergency information such that the emergency information transmitted using the data connection may be synchronized with the emergency information transmitted using the first voice connection to correct errors during transmission.

6. The emergency call device according to claim 5, where the transmission means includes a dual tone multi-frequency message with the emergency information that is transmitted through the first voice connection.

7. The emergency call device according to claim 6, further comprising means for determining an end of the dual tone multi-frequency message transmitted through the first voice connection.

8. The emergency call device according to claim 5 further comprising:

transferring means for transferring the first voice connection to the emergency call assistance center when the emergency information has been transmitted successfully; and

second voice connection means for establishing a second voice connection to an emergency call dispatch center through the mobile communication system, when the emergency information has not been transmitted successfully.

9. The emergency call device according to claim 5, further comprising processing means for formatting the emergency information to a pre-selected protocol.

10. The emergency call device according to claim 9, where the processing means is adapted to format emergency information comprising vehicle information, a geographical position of the vehicle, an identification number of the vehicle, and occupant information.