Apparatus, system, and method for exchanging vehicle identification data

• US 7,069,118 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2003
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Coletrane, Candice Leontine, Lyle, Ruthie D., Lynch, Jamel Pleasant Jr., Quinn, McGill
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Application Number:
  US10/677,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20050071052A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/117, 340/436, 340/438, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/425.5, 340/901, 340/902, 340/905, 342/457, 342/455, 342/450, 342/454, 342/20, 342/22, 342/58, 342/69, 342/82, 342/125, 342/357.07
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

An apparatus, a system, and a process for exchanging vehicle identification information subsequent to a collision are provided. The apparatus, system, and process include a host identification device connected to a vehicle data system of a host vehicle. At the time of collision the vehicle data system sends the host identification device a collision indication. Responsive to the collision indication, the host identification device establishes a wireless network connection with one or more responding identification devices. The host identification device further assemblies a vehicle identifier. The vehicle identifier may be based on a unique vehicle identification number provided by the vehicle data system. The host identification device exchanges vehicle identifiers with one or more responding identification devices. In addition, the host identification device may store one or more vehicle identifiers. The host identification device may transmit one or more vehicle identifiers to an authorized collection device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for exchanging vehicle information, comprising:

a communications module configured to establish a wireless connection wit a respondent identification device responsive to a collision indication;

a control module configured to identify a collision based on inputs from a vehicle data system, the control module configured to responsively assemble a vehicle identifier, verify that the respondent identification device is responding to the collision indication, send the vehicle identifier to the respondent identification device, and receive a respondent vehicle identifier from the respondent identification device;

a memory module configured to store the vehicle identifiers from a host vehicle and one or more respondent vehicles; and

the communications module further configured to verify the identity of an authorized police collection device and transmit the stored vehicle identifiers received over the wireless network connection to the authorized police collection device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an interface module configured to connect with a vehicle data system of the host vehicle, the interface module further configured to receive a collision indication from the vehicle data system.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the interface module connects to the host vehicle data system over a wireless network.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless communications are encrypted.

5. The apparatus of claim 1. wherein the memory module stores the state information of the host vehicle.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a GPS module configured to locate the host vehicle.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the collision indication is generated by the control module.

8. A system for exchanging vehicle information, the system comprising:

a wireless network configured to facilitate communication between wireless devices;

a vehicle data system configured to detect and communicate a collision indication;

at least two identification devices, wherein the first identification device, responsive to a collision indication from the vehicle data system, assembles and stores a vehicle identifier of a host vehicle and establishes a wireless network connection with the second identification device, the first identification device further configured to verify that the second identification device is responding to the collision indication, send the host vehicle identifier to the second identification device, and receive a respondent vehicle identifier from the second identification device;

an authorized police collection device configured to establish a wireless network connection with the identification device;

the at least two identification devices further configured to verify the identity of the authorized police collection device, and wherein at least one identification device sends a plurality of vehicle identifiers to the authorized police collection device.

9. A method for exchanging vehicle information, comprising:

receiving a collision indication;

establishing a wireless network connection with a respondent identification device;

assembling a vehicle identifier;

verifying that the respondent identification device is responding to the collision indication;

exchanging vehicle identifiers with the respondent identification device over the wireless network connection;

storing the vehicle identifiers;

verifying an identity of an authorized police collection device; and

transmitting a plurality of stored vehicle identifiers to the authorized police collection device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising querying a vehicle data system for vehicle identification information.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising querying a vehicle data system for vehicle status information.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising storing the vehicle status information.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the vehicle data system comprises a vehicle control system.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein communications over the wireless network connection are encrypted.

15. A computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable code configured to carry out a process for exchanging vehicle information, the process comprising:

receiving a collision indication;

establishing a wireless network connection with a respondent identification device;

verifying that the respondent identification device is responding to the collision indication;

querying a vehicle data system for vehicle identification information;

assembling a vehicle identifier;

exchanging vehicle identifiers with the respondent identification device over the wireless network connection;

storing the vehicle identifiers;

verifying an identity of an authorized police collection device; and

transmitting a plurality of stored vehicle identifiers to the authorized police collection device.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising computer readable code configured to assemble the vehicle identifier from the vehicle identification information.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising computer readable code configured to retrieve and store vehicle status informatian.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising computer readable code configured to encrypt communications over the wireless network.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising computer readable code configured to add time stamp data, collision indication data, and insurance information to the vehicle identifier.

20. An apparatus for exchanging vehicle information, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a collision indication;

means for querying a host vehicle data system for identification information;

means for assembling a vehicle identifier;

means for establishing a wireless network connection to a respondent identification device;

means for verifying that the respondent identification device is responding to the collision indication;

means for exchanging vehicle identifiers with the respondent identification device;

means for storing a plurality of vehicle identifiers;

means for verifying an identity of an authorized police collection device; and

means for transmitting a plurality of stored vehicle identifiers to the authorized police collection device.