System and method for controlling a vehicle emergency response network

• US 6,539,301 B1
• Filed: 08/02/1996
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MiTAC International Corporation (MiTAC Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Magellan DIS, Inc.
• Inventors: Shirk, Michael E., Piwowarski, Jim, Malinowski, Mark, Findling, Pat
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US08/691,663
• Time in Patent Office: 2,426 Days
• Field of Search: 701/207, 701/209, 701/211, 701/213, 701/200, 340/902, 340/904, 340/991, 340/993, 342/357, 342/457
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/001 Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/006 Alarm destination chosen according to type of event, e.g. in case of fire phone the fire service, in case of medical emergency phone the ambulance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

A vehicle assistance request system includes a device and methodology for preventing inadvertent or mistaken assistance request calls. The system enables a vehicle driver to request roadside assistance with a single push of a button on a user interface module inside the vehicle or a remote, portable key fob. The data communication signal that is generated when the button is pushed communicates location information and the type of assistance that is needed to a dispatcher of the appropriate services. The system includes a timer function that requires that a user press a request button for a minimum time period before a request is initiated. Also provided is a protective shield, which further ensures that a request button is not pushed inadvertently.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a vehicle assistance request system having a transmitter for transmitting a data communication request signal from a vehicle location to a distant location remote from the vehicle location and a hand-held user fob portable relative to the vehicle location that includes a button for generating the request signal,

(A) generating a request signal indicating that an assistance request should be initiated by pressing the button on the fob and generating the request signal for an amount of time that corresponds to an amount of time that the button is pressed;

(B) determining an amount of time that the request signal is generated;

(C) determining whether the amount of time from step (B) is at least as long as a preselected time period;

(D) initiating an assistance request from the vehicle location when the amount of time from step (B) is at least as long as the preselected time period of step (C);

(E) receiving the assistance request at the distant location remote from the vehicle location; and

(F) at the distant location, dispatching assistance to the vehicle location based upon said step (E).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request signal is generated by pressing one of the plurality of buttons and wherein step (B) is performed by determining an amount of time that the button is being continuously pressed and wherein step (C) is performed by comparing the amount of time that the button is being continuously pressed to the preselected time period.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the preselected time period of step (C) is three seconds.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of determining whether a second signal indicative of a desire to cancel a request has been generated within a preselected time after performing step (D) and terminating an assistance request when the second signal has been produced within the preselected time.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said steps (B) and (C) are performed by the fob.

6. A device for operating a vehicle assistance request system having a transmitter for transmitting a request signal from a vehicle location to a remote location, comprising:

a housing supported on the vehicle;

a plurality of activation buttons supported on said housing for activating the transmitter, each said activation button having a designated request function;

a moveable clear cover that is movably supported on said housing and is moveable into a first position where said cover prevents said buttons from being pressed and a second position where said cover is clear of said buttons;

a communication link between said activation buttons and the transmitter, said communication link including a controller that controls whether the transmitter transmits a request signal based upon activation of at least one of said activation buttons; and

a plurality of indicators associated with said activation buttons for visually indicating an operation status of each of said buttons, said plurality of indicators visible through said clear cover.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said cover comprises a plate that is movably supported on said housing to be moved between said first and second positions.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said activation buttons are visible but not tactibly accessible when said cover is in said first position.

9. The device of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of indicators for visually indicating an operation condition of the transmitter.

10. The device of claim 6, wherein the designated request functions associated with said activation buttons include a police assistance request function, a medical assistance request function and a vehicle repair assistance request function.

11. The device of claim 6, further comprising a remote activation fob portable relative to said housing, said fob including an activation button that operates to activate the transmitter to initiate the request function when said fob activation button is continuously pressed for said minimum amount of time.

12. The device of claim 6, further including a timer for timing an amount of time that any of said plurality of buttons is pressed, wherein said controller controls whether the transmitter transmits a request signal based upon the amount of time determined by said timer and wherein the transmitter only transmits a request signal when at least one of said activation buttons has been continuously pressed for a minimum amount of time.

13. A vehicle assistance request system, comprising:

a transmitter that is supported on the vehicle for transmitting a data communication assistance request to a remote location;

a controller supported on the vehicle for controlling said transmitter, and

a remote activation module portable relative to said controller and said transmitter, said remote activation module having an activation button for sending a wireless signal to said controller indicating to said controller that an assistance request should be sent by said transmitter, said controller including a tuner that measures an amount of time that said activation button is pressed by a user, said controller sending said assistance request via said transmitter based upon receipt of said wireless signal from said remote activation module only when said button is continuously pressed by a user for at least a preselected amount of time.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a user interface module supported on the vehicle and having a plurality of activation buttons that are each associated with a dedicated assistance request function and wherein said timer determines an amount of time that an activation button is continuously pressed and said controller initiates an assistance request only when said button is continuously pressed for at least a preselected amount of time.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein one of said plurality of activation buttons is associated with a dedicated assistance request function that is the same as that associated with said remote activation module activation button.