METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INFORMATION EXCHANGE IN VEHICLES

• US 20150058045A1
• Filed: 03/29/2013
• Published: 02/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Creative Innovation Services, LLC
• Original Assignee: Creative Innovation Avenue
• Inventors: Santora, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US14/394,938
• Publication Number:
  US 20150058045A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2025/1016 Remote signals alerting owner or authorities, e.g. radio signals
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/305 using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/32 of vehicle dynamic parameters, e.g. speed or acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/18 Legal services
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 event-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• 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

Abstract

A system for alerting a user of a vehicle of an unexpected event, and a method for automatically exchanging ID information are disclosed. More specifically, a system and method for notifying or alerting a user of a vehicle in the event of a collision, and exchanging ID information between the vehicles involved in a collision are disclosed.

Claims

1-13. -13. (canceled)

14. An apparatus for alerting a user of a vehicle in an unexpected event, the apparatus comprising:

a detection unit for detecting an impact to the vehicle; and

a communicating unit configured to send information related to the impact to a remote server.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the unexpected event is a collision by a second vehicle or a contact by a second vehicle, towing of the vehicle without authorization, or use of the vehicle without authorization.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a control unit for categorizing a level of the impact according to a predetermined categorization table.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the information related to the impact comprises license number of the second vehicle, driver information of a driver of the second vehicle, insurance information pertaining to the second vehicle, an image of the second vehicle, a video capturing the impact, and/or a unique identification information.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the driver information comprises name of the driver, driver'"'"'s license number and state issuing the driver'"'"'s license.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the insurance information comprises name of an insurance company and policy number of the driver of the second vehicle.

20. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the unique identification information pertains to an identification of a second apparatus associated with the second vehicle.

21. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the detection unit comprises one or more G-sensors or accelerometers.

22. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the communicating unit comprises a GSM unit, GPRS unit, NFC unit and/or a Bluetooth unit.

23. The apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising one or more camera units configured to record images or videos of the second vehicle.

24. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a GPS unit for determining location of the vehicle.

25. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the information related to the impact comprises date of occurrence, time of occurrence, and location of occurrence of the event.

26. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a power management unit for powering the apparatus.

27. A method for alerting a user of a vehicle in an unexpected event, the method comprising:

a detection step for detecting an impact to the vehicle; and

a communicating step for sending information related to the impact to a remote server and/or a mobile device.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the unexpected event is collision by a second vehicle or a contact by a second vehicle, towing of the vehicle without authorization, or use of the vehicle without authorization.

29. The method according to claim 27, further comprising a control step for categorizing a level of the impact according to a predetermined categorization table.

30. The method according to claim 28, wherein the information related to the impact comprises license number of the second vehicle, driver information of a driver of the second vehicle, insurance information pertaining to the second vehicle, an image of the second vehicle, a video capturing the impact, and/or a unique identification information.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the driver information comprises name of the driver, driver'"'"'s license number and state issuing the driver'"'"'s license.

32. The method according to claim 30, wherein the insurance information comprises name of an insurance company and policy number of the driver of the second vehicle.

33. The method according to claim 30, wherein the unique identification information pertains to an identification associated with the second vehicle

34-36. -36. (canceled)