Emergency intervention system and appropriate method for automatically redressing malfunctions in means of transport

• US 7,936,257 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2008
• Issued: 05/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Swiss Reinsurance Company
• Original Assignee: Swiss Reinsurance Company
• Inventors: Stahel, Michael, Delavy, Claudine
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US12/137,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20090115588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 705/4, 705/8, 700/32, 700/49
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

The invention proposes an emergency intervention system and a method for automatically redressing malfunctions in means of transport (41). A sensor system (401) in an emergency intervention system (80) is used to detect occurring malfunctions and an activation apparatus (203) is used to generate dedicated activation signal data on the basis of a detected malfunction. The activation signal data are transmitted to an appropriate, automated intervention means (40) which is used to redress the malfunction. A switching module (104) in the emergency intervention system (80) enables the activation apparatus (203) if a cumulative stack memory level value for two stack memories (102/202) reaches a defined cumulative stack memory level value. The two stack memories (102/202) are preliminarily incremented on the basis of activation parameters transmitted by network units and are decremented in line with the dedicated activation signal data during the enabling. When a predefinable time window has elapsed, the emergency intervention system (80) is reset using a clearing module and the enabling is interrupted by means of the switching module (104).

Claims

1. A method for automatically redressing malfunctions in means of transport by an automated emergency intervention system including a sensor system to detect occurring malfunctions and an activation apparatus to generate dedicated activation signal data based on a detected malfunction and transmit the dedicated activation signal data to an automated intervention means, the automated intervention means to redress the malfunction, comprising:

incrementing a first stack memory of a protected memory module assigned to one or more means of transport based on activation parameters transmitted periodically from a first network unit to the automated emergency intervention system via a network;

incrementing a second stack memory based on user-specific complementation factors transmitted from at least one of a plurality of second network units to the automated emergency intervention system, the at least one of the plurality of second network units transmitting complementation parameters to the automated emergency intervention system, the complementation parameters including at least identification data from a respective one of the plurality of second network units and the user-specific complementation factor;

storing the user-specific complementation factors and the identification data in association with one another as pairs of values in a lookup table;

detecting stack memory level values of the first and second stack memories and, when a cumulative memory threshold value is reached, enabling an activation apparatus;

generating malfunction parameters, when the activation apparatus is enabled and/or based on the dedicated activation signal data;

weighting the malfunction parameters using the user-specific complementation factors stored in the lookup table, the malfunction parameters being used to decrement the stack memory level value of at least one of the first and second stack memories; and

reading a cumulative stack memory level value of the first and second stack memories after an elapsed time, generating clearing parameters based on the pairs of values in the lookup table, and, when the cumulative stack memory level value reaches a predetermined threshold value, transmitting, by a transmitter, the clearing parameters to the plurality of second network units and interrupting the enabling of the activation apparatus.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

communicating unidirectionally or bidirectionally to the one or more means of transport by a control and/or alarm apparatus for the purpose of automated emergency intervention in the event of malfunctions in the one or more means of transport.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

generating location coordinate parameters for a current location of the one or more means of transport; and

transmitting the generated location coordinate parameters by the control and/or alarm apparatus.

4. The method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein

the stack memory level value of the first stack memory is generated in real time by a first reading module.

5. The method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein

the stack memory level value of the first stack memory is generated periodically within a definable time window using a timer unit.

6. The method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein

the activation parameters are transmitted in protected form bidirectionally or unidirectionally by an interface module, and

the clearing parameters are associated with specific identification data stored in the lookup table.

7. The method according to one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:

additionally incrementing the second stack memory by a second adder module based on the stack memory level value of the second stack memory, wherein

the stack memory level value of the second stack memory is generated by a second reading module.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein

the stack memory level value of the second stack memory is generated in real time by a second reading module.

9. The method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein

the stack memory level value of the second stack memory is generated periodically within a definable time window using a timer unit.

10. The method according to one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:

accessing at least one decentralized database with associated stock-exchange parameters.

11. The method according to one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:

assigning protected portions of the second stack memory on the basis of the lookup table using a memory area separate from the second stack memory.

12. The method according claim 9, wherein

the timer unit produces an electrical clock signal at a reference frequency and periodically increases a counter based on the electric clock signal.

13. The method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein

the enabling the activation apparatus further comprises enabling the activation apparatus only when recording of the activation parameters is detected periodically and/or in agreement with definable control parameters.

14. The method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein

the intervention means comprises automated emergency apparatuses and/or cash-value-based transmission modules.

15. Automated emergency intervention system for redressing malfunctions in means of transport including a sensor system to detect occurring malfunctions and an activation apparatus to generate dedicated activation signal data based on a detected malfunction and transmit the dedicated activation signal data to an automated intervention means, the automated intervention means is used to redress the malfunction, comprising:

a first stack memory of a protected memory module assigned to one or more means of transport that increments based on activation parameters transmitted periodically from a first network unit to the automated emergency intervention system via a network;

a second stack memory that increments based on user-specific complementation factors transmitted from at least one of a plurality of second network units to the automated emergency intervention system, the at least one of the plurality of second network units transmitting complementation parameters to the automated emergency intervention system, the complementation parameters including at least identification data from a respective one of the plurality of second network units and the user-specific complementation factor;

a memory that stores the user-specific complementation factors and the identification data in association with one another as pairs of values in a lookup table;

a switching module that detects stack memory level values of the first and second stack memories and, when a cumulative memory threshold value is reached, enables an activation apparatus;

a clearing module that generates malfunction parameters when the activation apparatus is enabled and/or based on the dedicated activation signal data;

a weighting module that weights the malfunction parameters using the user-specific complementation factors stored in the lookup table, the malfunction parameters being used to decrement the stack memory level value of at least one of the first and second stack memories; and

a clearing module that reads a cumulative stack memory level value of the first and second stack memories after an elapsed time, generates clearing parameters based on the pairs of values in the lookup table, and, when the cumulative stack memory level value reaches a predetermined threshold value, transmits the clearing parameters to the plurality of second network units and interrupts enabling of the activation apparatus by the switching module.

16. The automated emergency intervention system according to claim 15, further comprising:

a control and/or alarm apparatus that communicates unidirectionally or bidirectionally to the one or more means of transport for the purpose of automatic emergency intervention in the event of malfunctions in the one or more means of transport.

17. The automated emergency intervention system according to claim 16, further comprising:

a position-finding module that generates location coordinate parameters for a current location of one or more means of transport, wherein

the control and/or alarm apparatus transmits the generated location coordinate parameters.

18. The automated emergency intervention system according to claims 15 to 17, further comprising:

a first reading module that generates the stack memory level value of the first stack memory; and

a first adder module that additionally increments the first stack memory based on the stack memory level value of the first stack memory.

19. The automated emergency intervention system according to claim 18, wherein

the first reading module generates the stack memory level value of the first stack memory in real time.

20. The automated emergency intervention system according to one of claims 15 to 17, wherein

the stack memory level value of the first stack memory is periodically generated within a definable time window using a timer unit.

21. The automated emergency intervention system according to one of claims 15 to 17, further comprising:

a bidirectional or unidirectional interface module that transmits incrementation parameters, wherein

the activation parameters are assigned to specific identification data stored in the lookup table.

22. The automated emergency intervention system according to one of claims 15 to 17, further comprising:

a second reading module that generates the stack memory level value of the second stack memory; and

a second adder module that additionally increments the second stack memory based on the stack memory level value of the second stack memory.

23. The automated emergency intervention system according to claim 22, wherein

the second reading module generates the stack memory level value of the second stack memory in real time.

24. The automated emergency intervention system according to one of claims 15 to 17, wherein

the stack memory level value of the second stack memory is periodically generated within a definable time window using a timer unit.

25. The automated emergency intervention system according to one of claims 15 to 17, further comprising:

a network interface that accesses at least one decentralized database with associated stock-exchange parameters.

26. The automated emergency intervention system according to one of claims 15 to 17, further comprising:

a memory area separate from the second stack memory, wherein

protected portions of the second stack memory are assigned on the basis of the lookup table using the memory area separate from the second stack memory.

27. The automated emergency intervention system according to claim 24, wherein

the timer unit includes an integrated oscillator that produces an electrical clock signal at a reference frequency and a counter that periodically increases based on the clock signal.

28. The automated emergency intervention system according to one of claims 15 to 17, further comprising:

a control module that enables the activation apparatus only if recording of the activation parameters is detected periodically and/or in agreement with definable control parameters.

29. The automated emergency intervention system according to one of claims 15 to 17, wherein

the intervention means comprises automated emergency apparatuses and/or cash-value-based transmission modules.