Telematics terminal and method for notifying emergency conditions using the same

• US 8,198,991 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2009
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Do, In-Young
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Application Number:
  US12/418,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20100085171A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,163 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.1, 340/937, 340/539.1, 340/425.5, 340/438, 348/148
• US Class Current: 340/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements

Abstract

A telematics device and method for notifying emergency conditions associated with a motor vehicle. The method includes sensing an occurrence of at least one predetermined event and generating a corresponding notification signal; activating a camera in or on the motor vehicle based on the notification signal; and transmitting an image captured by the camera to a remote server.

Claims

1. A method for notifying emergency conditions associated with a motor vehicle, comprising:

sensing an occurrence of at least one predetermined event and generating a corresponding notification signal;

sensing an audio signal through a microphone in or on the motor vehicle based on the notification signal;

transmitting the audio signal to a remote server;

receiving a camera activation signal from the remote server, the camera activation signal being generated by the remote server based on the audio signal;

activating a camera in or on the motor vehicle based on the camera activation signal; and

transmitting an image captured by the camera to a remote server,

wherein the at least one predetermined event comprises a predetermined abnormality of a physical condition of a passenger of the motor vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein the at least one predetermined event further comprises at least one of:

a crash of the motor vehicle with an object;

a motor vehicle component malfunction;

an unauthorized intrusion into the motor vehicle; and

a theft of the motor vehicle; and

wherein the predetermined abnormality further comprises at least one of;

a detected change in a passenger'"'"'s voice;

a detected change in pupil size;

a detected change in blood pressure;

a detected change in a respiration frequency per minute;

a detected change in a heart rate per minute;

a detected change in a passenger'"'"'s perspiration; and

a detected change in a passenger'"'"'s body temperature.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of sensing an occurrence of at least one predetermined event and generating a corresponding notification signal comprises:

transmitting information to the remote server based on the notification signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of activating a camera comprises at least one of:

not receiving a user input within a predetermined time after the notification signal is generated, and

receiving a user input authorizing image capturing by the camera after the notification signal is generated.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of activating a camera comprises one of:

selectively illuminating or not illuminating a light indicating that the camera is activated, and

selectively issuing or not issuing an audible signal indicating that the camera is activated.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of activating a camera in or on the motor vehicle comprises:

activating the camera based on a detection or non-detection of a predetermined audio signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle is one of an automobile and a truck.

8. A telematics terminal configured to be installed in a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle having a camera and a sensor mounted in or on the motor vehicle, the sensor configured to sense an occurrence of at least one predetermined event and to generate a corresponding notification signal, the telematics terminal comprising:

a wireless transceiver; and

a controller operatively connected to the sensor, the camera and the wireless transceiver, the controller configured to

sense an audio signal through a microphone in or on the motor vehicle based on the notification signal;

transmit the audio signal to a remote server via the wireless transceiver;

receive a camera activation signal from the remote server, the camera activation signal being generated by the remote server based on the audio signal;

activate the camera based on the camera activation signal; and

transmit an image captured by the camera to the remote server,

wherein the at least one predetermined event comprises a predetermined abnormality of a physical condition of a passenger of the motor vehicle.

9. The telematics terminal of claim 8,

wherein the at least one predetermined event further comprises at least one of:

a crash of the motor vehicle with an object;

a motor vehicle component malfunction;

an unauthorized intrusion into the motor vehicle; and

a theft of the motor vehicle; and

wherein the predetermined abnormality further comprises at least one of;

a detected change in a passenger'"'"'s voice;

a detected change in pupil size;

a detected change in blood pressure;

a detected change in a respiration frequency per minute;

a detected change in a heart rate per minute;

a detected change in a passenger'"'"'s perspiration; and

a detected change in a passenger'"'"'s body temperature.

10. The telematics terminal of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to transmit information to the remote server based on the notification signal.

11. The telematics terminal of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to activate the camera based on at least one of:

not receiving a user input within a predetermined time after the notification signal is generated, and

receiving a user input authorizing image capturing by the camera after the notification signal is generated.

12. The telematics terminal of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to one of

selectively illuminate or not illuminate a light device indicating that the camera is activated, and

selectively issue or not issue an audible signal indicating that the camera is activated.

13. The telematics terminal of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to activate the camera based on a detection or non-detection of a predetermined audio signal.

14. The telematics terminal of claim 8, wherein the motor vehicle is one of an automobile and a truck.

15. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a camera mounted in or on the motor vehicle;

a sensor mounted in or on the motor vehicle, the sensor configured to sense an occurrence of at least one predetermined event and to generate a corresponding notification signal; and

a telematics ten Anal including

a wireless transceiver, and

a controller operatively connected to the sensor, the camera and the wireless transceiver, the controller configured to

sense an audio signal through a microphone in or on the motor vehicle based on the notification signal;

transmit the audio signal to a remote server via the wireless transceiver;

receive a camera activation signal from the remote server, the camera activation signal being generated by the remote server based on the audio signal;

activate the camera based on the notification signal; and

transmit an image captured by the camera to a remote server,

wherein the at least one predetermined event comprises a predetermined abnormality of a physical condition of a passenger of the motor vehicle, the predetermined abnormality comprising one of

a detected change in pupil size, and

a detected change in a passenger'"'"'s perspiration.

16. The motor vehicle of claim 15,

wherein the at least one predetermined event further comprises at least one of:

a crash of the motor vehicle with an object;

a motor vehicle component malfunction;

an unauthorized intrusion into the motor vehicle; and

a theft of the motor vehicle; and

wherein the predetermined abnormality further comprises at least one of;

a detected change in a passenger'"'"'s voice;

a detected change in blood pressure;

a detected change in a respiration frequency per minute;

a detected change in a heart rate per minute; and

a detected change in a passenger'"'"'s body temperature.