VEHICLE SYSTEM REACTION TO MEDICAL CONDITIONS

• US 20120112915A1
• Filed: 11/08/2010
• Published: 05/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Strumolo, Gary Steven
• Granted Patent: US 8,704,669 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00771 the input being a vehicle position or surrounding, e.g. GPS-based position or tunnel
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/008 the input being air quality
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00849 for selectively commanding the induction of outside or inside air B60H1/00842 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/066 actuating a signalling device B60K28/063 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring

Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes registering at least one medical condition associated with a vehicle occupant. The method also includes monitoring environmental conditions for the onset of a trigger likely to cause complications with regards to the medical condition. The method further includes warning the vehicle occupant about the onset of the trigger. The method also includes adjusting a vehicle component or system, via the VCS, in response to the onset of the trigger.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

registering, via a vehicle computing system (VCS) included in a vehicle, at least one medical condition associated with a vehicle occupant;

monitoring environmental conditions, via the VCS, for the onset of a trigger likely to cause complications with regards to the medical condition;

warning the vehicle occupant, via the VCS, about the onset of the trigger; and

adjusting a vehicle component or system, via the VCS, in response to the onset of the trigger.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the registering further comprises accessing a user account associated with a vehicle occupant and retrieving a stored medical condition associated with the user account.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the accessing a user account further comprises detecting a wireless device connected to the VCS and accessing a user account associated with the detected wireless device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the registering further comprises receiving input to the VCS indicating a medical condition associated with a vehicle occupant.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the environment includes wireless medical devices in communication with the VCS.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the environment includes a physical environment outside the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the environment includes a physical environment at a point along a projected route for the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the trigger includes a pollen count above a threshold.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the adjusting further includes switching an HVAC system to used recycled air.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the adjusting further includes automatically closing open vehicle windows.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the trigger includes a change in temperature beyond a threshold.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the adjusting further includes activating and/or altering an HVAC setting to maintain an interior vehicle temperature within the threshold.

13. A computer-implemented method comprising:

providing an input to a vehicle computing system (VCS), the input allowing a vehicle occupant to input a medical condition or symptom;

receiving an input to the VCS corresponding to a medical condition or symptom;

comparing, via the VCS, the input condition or symptom to a list of known conditions and symptoms;

providing via the VCS, medical information regarding the condition or symptom;

receiving via the VCS, input indicating whether the condition or symptom is a current condition or symptom; and

if the condition or symptom is a current condition or symptom via the VCS, providing recommended medical assistance information to address the condition or symptom;

determining if the condition or symptom is a critical condition or symptom, based at least in part on information stored in conjunction with the list of known conditions and symptoms; and

if the condition is a critical condition or symptom, providing emergency medical contact information, including at least one of an option to immediately dial an emergency operator through the VCS or a local medical care provider within close proximity to current GPS coordinates of a vehicle in which the VCS is included.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising, if the condition or symptom does not match any elements on the list of known conditions or symptoms, providing a suggested condition or symptom that is likely to correspond to the input condition or symptom.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the providing emergency medical contact information includes providing a direct phone number to the medical care provider and an option to dial the phone number through the VCS.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the critical condition includes a condition likely to lead to unconsciousness.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the critical condition includes a condition likely to lead to death.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

monitoring the condition through a medical device in communication with the VCS; and

based at least in part on signals received from the medical device, determining if an indicator occurs indicative of the onset of a critical condition.

19. A vehicle computing apparatus (VCA) comprising:

registering programmed logic circuitry to register at least one medical condition associated with a vehicle occupant;

monitoring programmed logic circuitry to monitor environmental conditions, for the onset of a trigger likely to cause complications with regards to the medical condition;

warning programmed logic circuitry to warn the vehicle occupant about the onset of the trigger; and

adjusting programmed logic circuitry to adjust a vehicle component or system in response to the onset of the trigger.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the apparatus further comprises accessing programmed logic circuitry to access a user account associated with a vehicle occupant and retrieving programmed logic circuitry to retrieve a stored medical condition associated with the user account.