Integrated gas detection and vehicle telematics system

• US 9,240,116 B1
• Filed: 10/23/2013
• Issued: 01/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Boushehri, Amer, Turissini, David Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US14/061,171
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/439, 340/425.5, 340/905, 340/870.07, 340/632, 180/272, 180/273, 701/1, 701/300, 701/45
• 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: G08B 21/12 responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/14 Toxic gas alarms G08B21/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

Systems and methods for detecting chemical substance levels in surrounding environments using an integrated vehicle system are provided. A vehicle is equipped with a vehicle system comprising a detector component, a vehicle telematics component, and mobile gateway component. The detector component monitors a level of one or more chemical substances and determines that a threshold level of the one or more chemical substances has been detected. The vehicle telematics component generates an alert signaling detection of the threshold level of the one or more chemical substances. The alert may be communicated to one or more recipients including a command center. The alert may include, among other things, the level of the one or more chemical substances and the location of the vehicle. Communication of the alert and additional communications with the one or more recipients is facilitated by a mobile gateway component that provides access to a wireless communications network.

Claims

1. A vehicle system for detecting chemical substances in a surrounding environment, the system comprising:

a detector component configured for;

monitoring a level of one or more chemical substances; and

communicating the level of the one or more chemical substances;

a vehicle telematics component configured for;

receiving the level of the one or more chemical substances;

determining that a threshold level of the one or more chemical substances has been detected;

generating an alert signaling detection of the threshold level of the one or more chemical substances, wherein the alert is generated based on the determination that the threshold level of the one or more chemical substances has been detected; and

communicating the alert;

a mobile gateway component configured for;

receiving the alert;

upon receiving the alert, providing access to an access component in a wireless communications network for communicating the alert; and

communicating the alert to one or more recipients.

2. The vehicle system of claim 1, wherein the detector system is a gas detector having one or more sensors.

3. The vehicle system of claim 2, wherein the gas detector is mounted on an external front portion of a vehicle having the vehicle system.

4. The vehicle system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle telematics component is retrofitted into a vehicle.

5. The vehicle system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle telematics component is further configured for:

determining a location of a vehicle using a global position system;

composing the alert, wherein the alert includes at least the level of the one or more chemical substances and the location; and

communicating the alert using one of more interfaces, wherein at least one of the one or more interface provides an audible alarm comprising a visual indication in at least an internal portion of the vehicle.

6. The vehicle system of claim 1, wherein the mobile gateway component operates using a specialized chipset coupled to the vehicle telematics component, the mobile gateway component further configured for:

providing access to the vehicle system to a plurality of end users using one or more interfaces.

7. A method for detecting gas levels in surrounding environments using an integrated gas detection and vehicle telematics system of a vehicle, the method comprising:

monitoring using a gas detector a level of one or more gases in a surrounding environment;

determining that a threshold level of the one or more gases has been detected;

generating an alert signaling detection of the threshold level of the one or more gases, wherein the alert is generated based on the determination that the threshold level of the one or more gases has been detected;

upon receiving the alert, providing access to an access component in a wireless communications network for communicating the alert; and

communicating the alert to at least a command center.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the gas detector having one or more sensors is mounted on one or more external portions of the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein generating an alert further comprises:

generating an audible alarm comprising a visual indication in at least an internal portion of the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein generating the alert comprises:

determining a location of a vehicle using global position system;

composing the alert, wherein the alert includes at least the level of the one or more gases and the location; and

providing the alert for communication.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the alert is a digital message further comprising at least two selected from the following:

a driver;

a make/model of the vehicle;

additional diagnostic information; and

a time of the alert.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising receiving one or more communications from the command center.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the command center further communicates the one or more alerts to one or more recipients.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein communicating the alert is facilitated by a mobile gateway associated with a wireless communications network.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the wireless communications network further provides remote access to the integrated gas detector and vehicle telematics system to a plurality of end users using one or more interfaces.

16. A method for retrofitting vehicles with integrated gas detection and vehicle telematics systems, the method comprising:

attaching a gas detector component having one or more sensors on one or more external portions of a vehicle for monitoring a level of one or more gases in a surrounding environment;

installing a mobile gateway component in the vehicle, wherein upon receiving an alert, the mobile gateway provides communications with an access component in a wireless communications network; and

configuring a vehicle telematics component with one or more vehicle telematics features in conjunction with the gas detector component and mobile gateway component for determining that a threshold level of the one or more gases has been detected and generating the alert.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more external portions includes at least a front portion of the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the mobile gateway component further comprises a global positioning system.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising installing a wireless signal booster coupled to an antenna.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the vehicle telematics component is configured for facilitating the communication of one or more alerts upon the gas detector component measuring a threshold level of one or more gases.