Method and system for emergency call placement

• US 8,818,325 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2011
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Hatton, David Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, JUSTIN YE
• Application Number:
  US13/036,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20120220258A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,275 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 455/414.1, 340/436, 340/636.1
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
• 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

An emergency response system includes a restraint control module (RCM), a global positioning system module (GPSM), at least one output, at least one input, an SPDJB, and a vehicle associated computing system (VACS) in communication with the RCM, the GPSM, the at least one output, the at least one input and the SPDJB. Upon detection of an emergency event, the RCM requests that the VACS place an emergency call. Upon receiving a request from the RCM, the VACS queries the GPSM to obtain vehicle coordinates, informs the occupant of the onset of the call, and instructs a wireless device in communication with the VACS to place an emergency call. The VACS is operable to determine when an emergency call is connected. Once the emergency call is connected, the VACS relays a message indicating connection to the RCM, and contacts the SPDJB to contacts the Smart Power Distribution Junction Box (SPDJB).

Claims

1. An emergency response system comprising:

a restraint control module (RCM);

a global positioning system module (GPSM);

at least one output;

at least one input;

an Smart Power Distribution Junction Box (SPDJB); and

a vehicle associated computing system (VACS) in communication with the RCM, the GPSM, the at least one output, the at least one input and the SPDJB, wherein upon detection of an emergency event, the RCM requests that the VACS place an emergency call;

wherein upon receiving a request from the RCM, the VACS queries the GPSM to obtain vehicle coordinates, informs the occupant of the onset of the call, and instructs a wireless device in communication with the VACS to place an emergency call;

wherein, the VACS is further operable to determine when an emergency call is connected; and

wherein, once the emergency call is connected, the VACS relays a message indicating connection to the RCM to terminate call request, and further contacts the SPDJB to terminate interfering features.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one output is a navigation screen.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one output is a vehicle sound system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one input is a microphone.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one input is the wireless device.