Automatic Emergency Call Language Provisioning

• US 20130267193A1
• Filed: 06/04/2013
• Published: 10/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Hatton, David Anthony, Wilkerson, Brian Y.
• Granted Patent: US 8,977,324 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/046 involving vehicles, e.g. floating traffic data [FTD] or vehicle traffic prediction
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes receiving coordinates, at a vehicle associated computing system (VACS), corresponding to a vehicle'"'"'s location. The method also includes using the VACS to compare the coordinates to a predetermined set of geographic borders, wherein the geographic borders determine at least language boundaries. The method further includes using the VACS to determine a local language based at least in part on the coordinate comparison. The method additionally includes using the VACS to transmit an emergency message in at least the determined local language.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

placing an emergency call from a vehicle through a cellular phone upon determination that a crash has occurred;

determining if an MCC code is available for call-language determination;

determining if vehicle GPS coordinates are available for call-language determination;

determining a call-language based on an MCC code, GPS coordinates, or the non-availability of both; and

transmitting an emergency message in the determined call-language.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, if an MCC code is not available and the vehicle GPS coordinates are not available, the language is determined to be a default language included with the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting further includes playing the message at least two times during the transmitting.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, determining if an off-hook condition is present, wherein, if an off-hook condition is not detected, the emergency message is played at least two times during the transmitting.

5. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

place an emergency call from a vehicle through a cellular phone upon determination that a crash has occurred;

determine if an MCC code is available for call-language determination;

determine if vehicle GPS coordinates are available for call-language determination;

determine a call-language based on an MCC code, GPS coordinates, or the non-availability of both; and

transmit an emergency message in the determined call-language.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, if an MCC code is not available and the vehicle GPS coordinates are not available, the language is determined to be a default language included with the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit the message at least two times during the transmitting.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the processor is further configured to determine if an off-hook condition is present, wherein, if an off-hook condition is not detected, the emergency message is played at least two times during the transmitting.

9. A computer-readable storage medium, storing instructions that, when executed by a vehicle computing system, cause the system to perform a method comprising:

placing an emergency call from a vehicle through a cellular phone upon determination that a crash has occurred;

determining if an MCC code is available for call-language determination;

determining if vehicle GPS coordinates are available for call-language determination;

determining a call-language based on an MCC code, GPS coordinates, or the non-availability of both; and

transmitting an emergency message in the determined call-language.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein, if an MCC code is not available and the vehicle GPS coordinates are not available, the language is determined to be a default language included with the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the transmitting further includes playing the message at least two times during the transmitting.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising, determining if an off-hook condition is present, wherein, if an off-hook condition is not detected, the emergency message is played at least two times during the transmitting.