Methods for providing emergency services to a mobile vehicle

• US 8,417,212 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2010
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Cepuran, Lawrence D., Przybylski, Matthew G., Holt, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US12/782,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20110287733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 455/434, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/456.1, 455/417, 455/445, 455/569.1, 455/569.2, 455/575.9, 455/432.1, 379/45
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5116 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

Methods for providing emergency service to a mobile vehicle are disclosed herein. One method involves monitoring a network country code broadcast from a communications network provider and comparing the network country code with a list of country codes stored in the telematics unit. This method further includes determining where to direct an emergency call by the telematics unit based on the comparing. Another method involves notifying a telematics service provider of a need for emergency services and, in response to a denial for the services, monitoring the network country code broadcast and comparing the network country code with the list of country codes to determine where to direct the emergency call. Yet another method involves notifying a telematics service provider of a need for emergency services and, in response to a denial for the services, automatically notifying another service provider of the same.

Claims

1. A method of providing emergency services to a mobile vehicle, comprising:

via a telematics unit operatively disposed in the mobile vehicle, monitoring a network country code broadcast from a communications network provider;

via a processor operatively associated with the telematics unit, comparing the network country code with a first list of country codes stored in an electronic memory operatively associated with the telematics unit, the first list being associated with a telematics service provider; and

from the comparing, determining where to direct an emergency call by the telematics unit, the determining including identifying the type of service provider to call;

wherein;

when the network country code is found in the first list, then the method further includes directing the telematics unit, via the processor, to notify the telematics service provider, via a wireless connection, of a need for emergency services;

or

when the network country code is not found in the first list, the method further includes;

comparing the network country code with a second list of country codes stored in the electronic memory, the second list being associated with a service provider other than the telematics service provider; and

when the network country code is found in the second list, directing the telematics unit, via the processor, to place an emergency call with the service provider other than the telematics service provider.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the first list of country codes includes country codes of countries covered by the telematics service provider according to a telematics subscription agreement.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the service provider other than the telematics service provider is an eCall service provider, and wherein the second list of country codes includes country codes of countries covered by the eCall service provider.

4. The method as defined in claim 3 wherein each of the country codes included in the second list has associated therewith at least one of eCall deployment status, a public safety answering point, or contact information for a public safety answering point.

5. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second lists are provided in a table, and wherein the method further comprises dynamically updating the table by:

receiving, at the telematics service provider, data pertaining to a new country code, a new deployment status, a new public safety answering point, new contact information for a public safety answering point, or combinations thereof from the service provider;

incorporating the data into the table at the telematics service provider, thereby obtaining an updated table;

transmitting, via the wireless connection, the updated table from the telematics service provider to the telematics unit in the mobile vehicle; and

storing the table in the electronic memory operatively associated with the telematics unit.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the communications network provider is the Global System for Mobile Communications available in the European Union.

7. A method of providing emergency services to a mobile vehicle, comprising:

automatically notifying a telematics service provider, via a wireless connection, of a need for emergency services, the notifying including a request for the emergency services;

receiving a denial of the request for the emergency services; and

one of;

i) via a telematics unit operatively disposed in the mobile vehicle, monitoring a network country code broadcast from a communications network provider;

via a processor operatively associated with the telematics unit, comparing the network country code with a list of country codes stored in an electronic memory operatively associated with the telematics unit, the list being associated with a service provider other than the telematics service provider; and

when the network country code is found in the list, directing the telematics unit, via the processor, to automatically place an emergency call with the service provider other than the telematics service provider;

or

ii) directing the telematics unit, via the processor associated therewith, to place an emergency call with the service provider other than the telematics service provider, the emergency call including a request for emergency services.

8. The method as defined in claim 7 wherein the service provider other than the telematics service provider is an eCall service provider, and wherein the list of country codes includes country codes of countries covered by the eCall service provider.

9. The method as defined in claim 8 wherein each of the country codes included in the list has associated therewith at least one of an eCall deployment status, a public safety answering point, or contact information for a public safety answering point.

10. The method as defined in claim 7 wherein:

the network country code is compared to the list of country codes;

the list is provided in a table; and

the method further comprises dynamically updating the table by;

receiving, at the telematics service provider, data pertaining to a new country code, a new deployment status, a new public safety answering point, new contact information for a public safety answering point, or combinations thereof from the service provider;

incorporating the data into the table at the telematics service provider, thereby obtaining an updated table;

transmitting, via the wireless connection, the updated table from the telematics service provider to the telematics unit in the mobile vehicle; and

storing the table in the electronic memory operatively associated with the telematics unit.

11. The method as defined in claim 7 wherein the communications network provider is the Global System for Mobile Communications available in the European Union.

12. The method as defined in claim 7 wherein after the request is denied by a mobile network operator, the telematics unit places an emergency call with the service provider other than the telematics service provider, and wherein the method further comprises:

denying, via the mobile operator, the request for emergency services from the service provider other than the telematics service provider; and

then

directing the telematics unit, via the processor, to retry an emergency call with the telematics service provider or the other service provider.

13. A system for providing emergency services to a mobile vehicle, comprising:

a communications network provider configured to broadcast a network country code corresponding to a broadcasting area;

a telematics unit operatively disposed in the mobile vehicle, the telematics unit configured to determine a country in which the mobile vehicle is then-currently located by monitoring the broadcast;

an electronic memory operatively connected to the telematics unit, the electronic memory configured to store a table including a first list of country codes, the first list being associated with a telematics service provider; and

a processor operatively connected to the telematics unit, the processor including;

computer readable code for comparing the broadcasted network country code with the first list of country codes; and

computer readable code for directing the telematics unit to contact a particular entity based upon the comparing.

14. The system as defined in claim 13 wherein the processor further includes computer readable code for notifying the telematics service provider of a need for emergency service when the network country code is found in the first list.

15. The system as defined in claim 13 wherein the processor further includes:

computer readable code for comparing the network country code with a second list of country codes when the network country code is not found in the first list, the second list of country codes being associated with a service provider other than the telematics service provider; and

computer readable code for directing the telematics unit to place an emergency call with the service provider other than the telematics service provider when the network country code is found in the second list.

16. The system as defined in claim 15 wherein the service provider other than the telematics service provider is an eCall service provider, and wherein the second list of country codes includes country codes of countries covered by the eCall service provider.

17. A system for providing emergency services to a mobile vehicle, comprising:

a communications network provider configured to broadcast a network country code corresponding to a broadcasting area;

a telematics unit operatively disposed in the mobile vehicle, the telematics unit configured to determine a country in which the mobile vehicle is then-currently located by monitoring the broadcast; and

a processor operatively connected to the telematics unit, the processor including one of;

i) computer readable code for comparing the network country code with a list of country codes, the list being associated with a service provider other than a telematics service provider; and

computer readable code for directing the telematics unit to automatically place an emergency call with the service provider other than the telematics service provider when the network country code is found in the list;

or

ii) computer readable code for directing the telematics unit to place an emergency call with the service provider other than the telematics service provider, the emergency call including a request for emergency services.

18. The system as defined in claim 17, further comprising an electronic memory operatively connected to the telematics unit, the electronic memory configured to store a table including the list of country codes.

19. The system as defined in claim 17 wherein the service provider other than the telematics service provider is an eCall service provider, and wherein the list of country codes includes country codes of countries covered by the eCall service provider.