Enhanced location data in emergency call handling

• US 8,761,722 B1
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Bowles, Kevin D., Burcham, Robert H., Delker, Jason R.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DANH C
• Application Number:
  US13/616,958
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.2, 455/404.1, 455/550.1, 340/988
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

A telematics unit for use in a vehicle. The telematics unit comprises a cellular radio transceiver operable for placing an emergency call in a wireless access network, a location data generating unit operable to determine and output enhanced location information about the vehicle location, a processor, a memory, and an application stored in the memory. When executed by the processor, the application builds an emergency call origination message, including at least some of the enhanced location information and transmits the emergency call origination message via the cellular radio transceiver.

Claims

1. A telematics unit for use in a vehicle, comprising:

a cellular radio transceiver operable for placing an emergency call in a wireless access network;

a location data generating unit operable to determine and output enhanced location information about the vehicle location;

a processor;

a memory; and

an application stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor,

builds an emergency call origination message, including at least some of the enhanced location information, wherein the at least some of the enhanced location information comprises an identification of a highway on which the vehicle is travelling,

transmits the emergency call origination message via the cellular radio transceiver to a public safety answering point, and

periodically transmits updates of the enhanced location information to the public safety answering point while connected to the public safety answering point in the emergency call.

2. The telematics unit of claim 1, wherein the emergency call origination message initiates an E911 emergency call.

3. The telematics unit of claim 1, wherein the enhanced location information comprises location coordinates of the vehicle.

4. The telematics unit of claim 1, wherein the enhanced location information comprises a velocity of the vehicle.

5. The telematics unit of claim 1, wherein the application further builds location update messages that comprise the enhanced location information output by the location data generating unit and transmits location update messages to the public safety answering point handling the emergency call.

6. The telematics unit of claim 1, wherein the cellular radio transceiver is operable to wirelessly communicate according to at least one of code division multiple access, global system for mobile communications, long term evolution, or worldwide interoperability for microwave access.

7. The telematics unit of claim 1, wherein the identification of a highway on which the vehicle is travelling is determined by the location engine based on comparing a location fix of the vehicle to a stored predefined map of highways.

8. The telematics unit of claim 1, wherein the at least some of the enhanced location information further comprises a highway lane identification on which the vehicle is positioned.

9. A method of conducting an emergency call, comprising:

determining by an enhanced location data engine enhanced location information associated with a vehicle that comprises two or more of a geographical location of the vehicle, a velocity of the vehicle, a heading of the vehicle, and a highway lane identification on which the vehicle is positioned;

building an emergency call origination message by a telematics unit in the vehicle, wherein the message comprises the determined enhanced location information and wherein the telematics unit comprises a cellular radio transceiver;

transmitting the emergency call origination message by the cellular radio transceiver, wherein after receiving the emergency call origination message at a public safety answering point, the determined enhanced location information is provided to first responders;

automatically determining a travel route for the first responders based on the determined enhanced location information; and

transmitting the travel route to a communication device associated with the first responders, wherein the communication device is operable to present a map of the travel route.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the enhanced location data engine determines updated enhanced location information associated with the vehicle, transmitting enhanced location information updates to the public safety answering point.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising building an emergency call location update message in response to receiving a request from the public safety answering point for updated location information.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising building an emergency call location update message periodically.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising building an emergency call location update message in response to a user input to the telematics unit.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the emergency call origination message established an E-911 emergency call.

15. The method of claim 9, the cellular radio transceiver is operable to wirelessly communicate according to at least one of code division multiple access, global system for mobile communications, long term evolution, or worldwide interoperability for microwave access.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the first responders comprise an ambulance.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the first responders comprise a police car.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein the first responders comprise a fire truck.

19. The method of claim 9, wherein the first responders comprise a helicopter.

20. A method of handling an emergency call, comprising:

receiving an emergency call origination message at a public safety answering point, wherein the emergency call origination message is built by a telematics unit that comprises a cellular radio transceiver in a vehicle and comprises enhanced location information determined by an enhanced location data engine associated with the vehicle, and wherein the determined enhanced location information comprises two or more of a geographical location of the vehicle, a velocity of the vehicle, a heading of the vehicle, and a highway lane identification on which the vehicle is positioned;

after receiving the emergency call origination message at the public safety answering point, providing the determined enhanced location information to first responders;

automatically determining a travel route for the first responders based on the determined enhanced location information; and

transmitting the travel route to a communication device associated with the first responders, wherein the communication device is operable to present a map of the travel route.