Biometric vehicular emergency management system

• US 8,085,139 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2007
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kanevsky, Dimitri, Sicconi, Roberto, Viswanathan, Mahesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): TUN, NAY L
• Application Number:
  US11/621,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20080167757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,813 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/517, 340/521, 340/522, 340/539.22, 340/539.25, 340/575, 340/576, 340901-905, 340/436, 340/439, 701/45, 701/48, 701/301, 701/302
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

Techniques for managing vehicular emergencies are disclosed. For example, a method of managing a vehicular emergency includes the steps of collecting biometric data regarding at least one occupant of a vehicle, collecting data regarding at least one operational characteristic of the vehicle, and detecting vehicular emergencies through analysis of at least a portion of the biometric data and the operational characteristic data. This method may also include communicating at least one message relating to the data, wherein the content of the message is determined by the processing device based at least in part on the data and/or controlling a function of the vehicle in response to the data. The method may also include collecting data regarding at least one operational characteristic of at least one proximate vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicular emergency management system, the vehicular emergency management system comprising:

at least one biometric monitor for collecting biometric data regarding at least one occupant of a vehicle;

at least one sensor for collecting data regarding at least one operational characteristic of the vehicle;

at least one module for collecting biometric data regarding at least one occupant of at least one proximate vehicle; and

a processing device coupled to the monitor, the module, and the sensor, operative to detect at least one vehicular emergency of the vehicle through analysis of at least a portion of the biometric data from the monitor and the module, and the operational characteristic data;

wherein the analysis comprises determining, based at least in part on the biometric data regarding the at least one occupant of the at least one proximate vehicle, that the at least one occupant of the proximate vehicle has a realization of danger of the vehicle.

2. The vehicular emergency management system of claim 1, further comprising:

a communicator, coupled to the processing device, for transmitting a message relating to the at least one vehicular emergency, wherein the content of the message is determined by the processing device based at least in part on the analysis.

3. The vehicular emergency management system of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller, coupled to the processing device, for controlling at least one function of the vehicle in response to the analysis.

4. The vehicular emergency management system of claim 1, wherein the biometric data is suitable for determining an altered emotional state of the at least one occupant.

5. The vehicular emergency management system of claim 1, wherein the biometric data is selected from a group comprising cardiac rhythm, respiratory rhythm, galvanic skin response, physical movement, facial expression, and auditory exclamations.

6. The vehicular emergency management system of claim 1, wherein the operational characteristic is selected from a group comprising position, velocity, acceleration, road conditions, and vehicle structural integrity.

7. The vehicular emergency management system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one module for collecting data regarding at least one operational characteristic of at least one proximate vehicle.

8. The vehicular emergency management system of claim 1, further comprising:

a module for communicating and coordinating with at least one other vehicle.

22. The vehicular emergency management system of claim 3, wherein, responsive to the analysis comprising a determination that a collision with an object is unavoidable, the controller positions the vehicle in relation to the object to reduce injury.

9. A method of detecting at least one vehicular emergency of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

collecting biometric data regarding at least one occupant of the vehicle;

collecting biometric data regarding at least one occupant of at least one proximate vehicle;

collecting data regarding at least one operational characteristic of the vehicle; and

detecting the at least one vehicular emergency of the vehicle through analysis by a processor of at least a portion of the biometric data from the at least one occupant of the vehicle and the at least one occupant of the proximate vehicle and the operational characteristic data;

wherein the analysis comprises determining, based at least in part on the biometric data regarding the at least one occupant of the at least one proximate vehicle, that the at least one occupant of the proximate vehicle has a realization of danger of the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

communicating a message relating to the at least one vehicular emergency, wherein the content of the message is determined by the processing device based at least in part on the analysis.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

controlling at least one function of the vehicle in response to the analysis.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the biometric data is suitable for determining an altered emotional state of the at least one occupant.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the biometric data is selected from a group comprising cardiac rhythm, respiratory rhythm, galvanic skin response, physical movement, facial expression, and auditory exclamations.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the operational characteristic is selected from a group comprising position, velocity, acceleration, road conditions, and vehicle structural integrity.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

collecting data regarding at least one operational characteristic of at least one proximate vehicle.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

communicating and coordinating with at least one other vehicle.

17. An article of manufacture for detecting at least one vehicular emergency of a vehicle, the article comprising a computer readable storage medium containing one or more programs which when executed implement the steps of:

collecting biometric data regarding at least one occupant of the vehicle;

collecting biometric data regarding at least one occupant of at least one proximate vehicle;

collecting data regarding at least one operational characteristic of the vehicle; and

detecting the at least one vehicular emergency of the vehicle through analysis by a processor of at least a portion of the biometric data from the at least one occupant of the vehicle and the at least one occupant of the proximate vehicle and the operational characteristic data;

wherein the analysis comprises determining, based at least in part on the biometric data regarding the at least one occupant of the at least one proximate vehicle, that the at least one occupant of the proximate vehicle has a realization of danger of the vehicle.

18. The article of claim 17, wherein the programs further implement the step of:

communicating a message relating to the at least one vehicular emergency, wherein the content of the message is determined by the processing device based at least in part on the analysis.

19. The article of claim 17, wherein the programs further implement the step of:

controlling at least one function of the vehicle in response to the analysis.

20. The article of claim 17, wherein the programs further implement the step of:

communicating and coordinating with at least one other vehicle.

21. An external coordination network for use with one or more vehicular emergency management systems, comprising:

a first module for receiving at least one message from at least one vehicular emergency management system associated with at least a first vehicle, wherein at least a portion of the message is based on at least a portion of biometric data and operational characteristic data collected by the at least one vehicle emergency management system;

a second module for analyzing the at least one message received from the at least one vehicular emergency management system in order to determine at least one response; and

a third module for transmitting the at least one response to the at least one vehicular emergency management system;

wherein the message is based at least in part on an analysis comprising determining, based at least in part on biometric data regarding at least one occupant of at least a second vehicle proximate the first vehicle, that at least one occupant of the at least second vehicle has a realization of danger of the at least first vehicle.