First-responder notification for alternative fuel vehicles

• US 9,449,494 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2009
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Leyerle, James W., Krause, Kevin R.
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, TERESA S
• Application Number:
  US12/416,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20100256859A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,729 Days
• Field of Search: 707/301, 340/426.3, 440/6, 455/404
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0027 Post collision measures, e.g. notifying emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle

Abstract

A method for notifying parties in close proximity to a vehicle of a potential vehicle hazard includes detecting that the vehicle has been in a collision, determining the type of propulsion system used by the vehicle, generating a warning or other notification relating to the propulsion system, and communicating the notification to a party located within a predetermined range of the vehicle. Communication of the notification can be carried out by renaming the telematics unit with a device name corresponding to a hazard associated with the propulsion system, and then broadcasting the device name according to an established wireless protocol.

Claims

1. A method of notifying parties in close proximity to a vehicle of a potential vehicle hazard, comprising the steps of:

(a) identifying an abnormal condition of a vehicle using one or more vehicle system modules (VSMs);

(b) determining a type of propulsion system installed on the vehicle;

(c) generating a notification that identifies at least one possible hazard relating to the determined type of propulsion system;

(d) communicating the notification to a party located within a predetermined range of the vehicle using a vehicle telematics unit; and

(e) presenting the notification to the party at a wireless device within the predetermined range of the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises presenting the notification on an electronic display located on the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) further comprises the steps of:

accessing an audible recording of the notification; and

broadcasting the recording via a speaker located on the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises accessing a vehicle identification number (VIN) stored on the vehicle, wherein the VIN includes a propulsion system identifier, and determining the type of propulsion system based on the propulsion system identifier, and wherein step (c) further comprises generating the notification based on the propulsion system identifier.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the propulsion system of the vehicle comprises a fuel-cell propulsion system, a hybrid-electric propulsion system, or a high-voltage battery propulsion system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) further comprises configuring an on-board vehicle telematics unit with a name that identifies the hazard, and wherein step (d) further comprises supplying the name wirelessly to nearby portable communication devices.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the name comprises a wireless device name for the telematics unit or a wireless network name broadcasted by the telematics unit.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises the step of detecting a propulsion system failure or a collision event.

9. A method of notifying parties in close proximity to a vehicle of a potential vehicle hazard, comprising the steps of:

(a) including a propulsion system identifier with a vehicle identification number (VIN);

(b) detecting that the vehicle is disabled;

(c) accessing the propulsion system identifier to determine the type of propulsion system installed on the vehicle;

(d) determining at least one hazard posed in the immediate area of the vehicle relating to the propulsion system; and

(e) wirelessly communicating a notification concerning the hazard using a vehicle telematics unit to at least one device able to receive short-range wireless communications.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of activating an exterior vehicle light that produces periodic flashes of light.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of presenting the one or more hazard on an electronic display located on the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

accessing an audible recording of the notification; and

broadcasting the recording via a speaker located on the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the propulsion system of the vehicle comprises a fuel-cell propulsion system, a hybrid-electric propulsion system, or a high-voltage battery propulsion system.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein step (e) further comprises the steps of:

configuring the telematics unit with a name that corresponds to at least one identified hazard; and

supplying the name to the device via the short-range communications.

15. A method of notifying parties in close proximity to a vehicle of a potential vehicle hazard, comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting that a vehicle has been involved in a collision using one or more vehicle sensors, the vehicle being equipped with a telematics unit configured for short-range wireless communication via an established protocol that enables broadcasting of a name, wherein the name comprises a device name for the telematics unit or a wireless network name broadcasted by the telematics unit;

(b) configuring the telematics unit so that the name includes a warning notification relating to the type of propulsion system used by the vehicle;

(c) activating the short-range wireless communication from the vehicle using the established protocol; and

(d) broadcasting the name from the vehicle via the short-range communication.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein step (b) further comprises the steps of:

accessing a vehicle identification number (VIN) stored on the vehicle;

retrieving a propulsion system identifier from the VIN; and

configuring the telematics unit so that the warning notification used in the name corresponds to the propulsion system identifier.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

accessing an audible recording relating to the type of propulsions system; and

broadcasting the recording via a speaker located on the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein step (b) further comprises changing the device name or the wireless network name to a textual representation of the warning notification.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the propulsion system of the vehicle comprises a fuel cell propulsion system, a hybrid-electric propulsion system, or a high-voltage battery propulsion system.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein a fuel used by the propulsion system comprises ethanol, compressed natural gas, hydrogen, diesel, or gasoline.