Method, apparatus and system for placing emergency calls from a vehicle

• US 9,161,195 B1
• Filed: 04/30/2007
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sucxess LLC
• Original Assignee: Sucxess LLC
• Inventors: Nix, Axel
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, CONGVAN
• Application Number:
  US11/742,574
• Time in Patent Office: 3,088 Days
• Field of Search: 4554041- 2, 455/435.2, 455/435.3, 455/521, 455/445, 455/466, 455/527, 455/552.1, 455/553.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0027 Post collision measures, e.g. notifying emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01 Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/12 for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger limiting speed of vehicles other than rail vehicles B60K31/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4282 on a serial bus, e.g. I2C bus, SPI bus on daisy chain buses G06F13/4247
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40 Bus networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40169 Flexible bus arrangements arrangements for maintenance or administration involving management of faults; events, alarms H04L41/06; automatic restoration of network faults H04L41/0654
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40215 Controller Area Network CAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40273 the transportation system being a vehicle
• 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

A system, apparatus, and method are provided for placing emergency calls from a vehicle to a Public Safety Answering Point. An emergency call apparatus is configured to detect a trigger condition and, if the trigger condition is detected, send a telephone dial command through a vehicle communication network to a telecommunication apparatus to establish voice communication with the Public Safety Answering Point. A method is provided of retrofitting a vehicle with embedded telecommunication apparatus to enable single button access to emergency services without the need for a fee based subscription.

Claims

1. A method for retrofitting a vehicle comprising a telecommunication apparatus connected to a vehicle data bus and a push button switch connected to the telecommunication apparatus the method comprising:

adding an emergency call apparatus to the vehicle;

connecting the emergency call apparatus to the vehicle data bus;

separating the electrical connection between the push button switch and the telecommunication apparatus; and

connecting the push button switch to the emergency call apparatus.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the emergency call apparatus responsive to pressing the push button switch transmits a message on the vehicle data bus.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the message on the vehicle data bus causes the telecommunication apparatus to establish communication with a public safety answering point.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the message comprises an identifier segment and a data segment and wherein the data segment comprises a telephone number.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the message comprises an identifier segment and a data segment and wherein the identifier segment is shared between the emergency call apparatus and another apparatus for communicating on the vehicle data bus.