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

• US 9,661,664 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2015
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• 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:
  US14/846,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20150382382A1
• Time in Patent Office: 625 Days
• Field of Search: 4554041- 2, 4554352, 4554353, 455521, 455445, 455466, 455527, 4555521
• 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 system for placing an emergency call from a vehicle to a public safety answering point, comprising:

a telecommunication apparatus operatively connected to a vehicle data bus;

a navigation system operatively connected to the vehicle data bus; and

an emergency call apparatus connected to a push button switch and to the vehicle data bus,

wherein the emergency call apparatus, responsive to pressing the push button switch, transmits a message on the vehicle data bus causing the telecommunication apparatus to establish communication with the public safety answering point, and

wherein the message originating from the emergency call apparatus is indistinguishable to the telecommunication apparatus from an equivalent message originating from the navigation system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the telecommunication apparatus is installed in the vehicle at time of vehicle assembly and the emergency call apparatus is retrofitted into the vehicle after the vehicle has been built.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising an airbag control apparatus operatively connected to the vehicle data bus, wherein the emergency call apparatus causes the telecommunication apparatus to establish communication with the public safety answering point when a message from the airbag control apparatus is received which indicates that an airbag in the vehicle has been inflated.

4. A method for initiating a call from a vehicle to a public safety answering point, the method comprising:

detecting, in an emergency call apparatus, a trigger condition;

transmitting, from the emergency call apparatus, a message on a vehicle data bus which is indistinguishable from an equivalent message configured to be sent by a module other than the emergency call apparatus; and

responsive to receiving the message on the vehicle data bus establishing communication between the vehicle and a public safety answering point.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the communication between the vehicle and the public safety answering point can be established without subscription to a wireless network.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the trigger condition is pressing an emergency call push button.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the trigger condition is receiving one or more signals on the vehicle data bus indicating an airbag deployment, a rapid vehicle deceleration, a collision, or a combination thereof.

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

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the telephone number is 911.