Vehicular collision-activated information exchange method and apparatus using wireless communication radios

• US 9,102,261 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2013
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zen Lee Chang
• Original Assignee: Zen Lee Chang
• Inventors: Chang, Zen Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): BLOUNT, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US13/875,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20130300552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 340/436, 701/300, 701/301, 455/404.1, 455/404.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/161 Decentralised systems, e.g. inter-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

A method, a system, and an apparatus used to automatically exchange identification and collision-related information utilizing wireless communication devices during vehicular accidents are presented. Upon collision, an impact sensor detects and registers the crash, causing a processor to trigger a collision warning, record selected identification and collision-related information in an electronic file, and exchange the same through a secure wireless connection with a collision-activated information exchange device (CIED) of the other vehicle involved and/or with an information exchange device (IED) or devices in the area of the collision. The stored electronic files can later be accessed by and/or even transmitted to authorities to serve as evidence in hit-and-run investigation and/or accident reconstruction.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting a collision;

initiating discovery of collision-activated information exchange devices (CIED'"'"'s) related to the collision;

if at least one of the CIED'"'"'s is discovered;

establishing a wireless connection with the at least one CIED; and

exchanging collision-related information with the at least one CIED;

if no CIED'"'"'s are discovered, initiating discovery of remote devices that are not collision-activated;

if at least one of the remote devices is discovered;

establishing a wireless connection with the at least one remote device; and

exchanging collision-related information with the at least one remote device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein exchanging collision-related information with the at least one CIED comprises:

transmitting a first set of collision-related information to the at least one CIED; and

receiving a second set of collision-related information from the at least one CIED.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first set of collision-related information comprises identification information and recorded collision parameters of a first vehicle, and wherein the second set of collision-related information comprises identification information and recorded collision parameters of a second vehicle.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the identification information comprises at least one of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), a Hull Identification Number (HIN), and wherein the collision parameters comprise at least one of a date and a time of the collision, velocity and acceleration profiles of the vehicle prior to and during impact, and geographic coordinates of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after detecting the collision and prior to initiating the discovery of the CIED'"'"'s, activating a standby mode for a period of time to detect any subsequent collisions.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein the collision parameters include at least one of a velocity profile and an acceleration profile of the vehicle at least prior to or during impact.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote device is a mobile phone, and wherein exchanging the collision-related information with the remote device includes receiving at least a mobile phone number of the mobile phone.

5. A communication device, comprising:

a sensor configured to detect a collision;

a wireless communication radio;

a processor coupled to the sensor and the wireless communication radio, the processor configured to;

initiate discovery of collision-activated information exchange devices (CIED'"'"'s) related to the collision;

if at least one of the CIED'"'"'s is discovered;

establish a wireless connection with the at least one CIED via the wireless communication radio; and

exchange collision-related information with the at least one CIED via the wireless communication radio;

if no CIED'"'"'s are discovered, initiate discovery of remote devices that are not collision-activated;

if at least one of the remote devices is discovered;

establish a wireless connection with the at least one remote device via the wireless communication radio; and

exchange collision-related information with the at least one remote device via the wireless communication radio.

6. An apparatus, comprising:

means for detecting a collision;

means for initiating discovery of collision-activated information exchange devices (CIED'"'"'s) related to the collision;

if at least one of the CIED'"'"'s is discovered, the means for initiating is further for;

establishing a wireless connection with the at least one LIED; and

exchanging collision-related information with the at least one LIED;

if no CIED'"'"'s are discovered, the means for initiating is further for initiating discovery of remote devices that are not collision-activated;

if at least one of the remote devices is discovered, the means for initiating is further for;

establishing a wireless connection with the at least one remote device; and

exchanging collision-related information with the at least one remote device.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code for:

detecting a collision;

initiating discovery of collision-activated information exchange devices (CIED'"'"'s) related to the collision;

if at least one of the CIED'"'"'s is discovered;

establishing a wireless connection with the at least one LIED; and

exchanging collision-related information with the at least one LIED;

if no CIED'"'"'s are discovered, initiating discovery of remote devices that are not collision-activated;

if at least one of the remote devices is discovered;

establishing a wireless connection with the at least one remote device based on the response; and

exchanging collision-related information with the at least one remote device.