Vehicle Key Fob with Emergency Assistant Service

• US 20130237174A1
• Filed: 03/08/2012
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Gusikhin, Oleg Yurievitch, MacNeille, Perry Robinson, Pleet, Edward Andrew, Hatton, David Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 8,594,616 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/44 for communication between vehicles and infrastructures, e.g. vehicle-to-cloud [V2C] or vehicle-to-home [V2H]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

The illustrative embodiment contains a key fob configured to communicate wirelessly with a vehicle and a communication network. The key fob further includes, a first transceiver configured to communicate data to the vehicle to allow access and operation of the vehicle and to receive data indicating that an emergency event has been detected at the vehicle. The key fob also includes a second transceiver configured to access a telecommunications network. Additionally, the key fob contains a circuit configured to cause the second transmitter to automatically dial a 911 operator in the event the data received by the transceiver indicates that an emergency event has been detected at the vehicle.

Claims

1. A key fob configured to communicate wirelessly with a vehicle and a communication network, the key fob comprising:

a first transmitter configured to communicate data directly to the vehicle to allow access and operation of the vehicle;

a first transceiver configured to access a telecommunications network;

a second transceiver configured to receive data indicating that an emergency event has been detected at the vehicle; and

a circuit configured to;

cause the first transceiver to automatically dial a 911 operator when data received by the second transceiver indicates that an emergency event has been detected at the vehicle and a connection to the telecommunications network and a connection to the vehicle is verified;

provide an output indicating an absence of the connection to the vehicle when the absence of a connection to the vehicle is detected; and

send one or more messages to the vehicle indicating the absence of the connection to the telecommunications network and requesting to provide an output on the vehicle indicating the absence of the connection to the telecommunications network when an absence of the connection to the telecommunications network is detected and the connection to the vehicle is verified.

2. A key fob as in claim 1, wherein the key fob includes a visual indicator to provide a warning to indicate an emergency event has been detected.

3. A key fob as in claim 1, wherein the circuit is additionally configured to provide an output indicating the absence of the connection to the telecommunications network.

4. A key fob as in claim 3, wherein the output is a visual indication on the key fob.

6. A key fob as in claim 1, wherein the output indicating the absence of a connection to the telecommunications network is a visual indication on the key fob.

7. A key fob as in claim 1, wherein the key fob includes a mechanical key.

8. A key fob as in claim 1, wherein the key fob includes passive remote keyless entry.

9. A key fob as in claim 1, wherein the data received from the vehicle includes at least vehicle emergency data, vehicle GPS location, or a vehicle identification number.

10. A key fob as in claim 1, wherein the emergency event comprises deployment of an airbag, activation of a vehicle crash sensor, or activation of an emergency button.

11. A key fob as in claim 1, wherein the second transceiver is a Bluetooth transceiver.

12. A key fob as in claim 1, wherein the second transceiver is a USB transceiver.

5. (canceled)

13. A method implemented in a key fob for contacting emergency services provider, comprising:

wirelessly communicating data directly to a vehicle to allow access and operation of the vehicle;

verifying wireless communication with a vehicle computing system (VCS) and a cellular communication network;

sending a message from the key fob to the VCS for outputting an absence of the connection to the cellular communication network when detecting the absence of a connection to the cellular communication network;

provide an output indicating an absence of the connection to the vehicle when the absence of a connection to the vehicle is detected;

receiving data from the VCS indicating an emergency event;

automatically dialing a 911 operator upon receiving the data indicating the emergency event when the connection to the cellular communication network is verified and the connection to the vehicle is verified; and

sending emergency data to the 911 operator.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the received data includes at least vehicle location, airbag deployment notification, or vehicle identification number.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the emergency data sent to the 911 operator includes at least vehicle location, airbag deployment notification, or vehicle identification number.

16. The method of claim 13, where in the data received is transferred via a least one Bluetooth transceiver.

17. A key fob comprising:

a first transmitter for communicating data directly for vehicle access;

a receiver for receiving emergency data from the vehicle;

a second transmitter for communicating over a telecommunications network; and

a key fob circuit configured to;

detect an absence of a telecommunications connection and send a message to the vehicle indicating the absence;

automatically dial a 911-operator when emergency data is received and the telecommunications connection is verified.

18. The key fob of claim 17, wherein the circuit communicates information concerning the emergency event to the 911 operator.

19. The key fob of claim 17, wherein the circuit is additionally configured to provide an output indicating the absence.

20. The key fob of claim 19, wherein the output is a visual indication located on the key fob.