Method and system for transmitting vehicle data using an automated voice

• US 9,674,683 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2015
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Hatton, David Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): AJIBADE AKONAI, OLUMIDE
• Application Number:
  US14/697,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20150245190A1
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561-4566, 4554041, 4554042
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/007 Details of data content structure of message packets; data protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/44 for communication between vehicles and infrastructures, e.g. vehicle-to-cloud [V2C] or vehicle-to-home [V2H]
• 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 vehicle communication system includes one or more processors configured to output a computer generated speech signal for at least a portion of vehicle parameter data based on at least one condition detection signal. The one or more processors are further configured to output the speech signal to a call center over a voice channel via a wireless communication. The one or more processors are further configured to receive a geographic location of a vehicle so that the speech signal is in a selected language based on a language associated with the geographic location of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle communication system, comprising:

a processor configured to;

in response to an emergency condition detection signal, output a computer generated speech signal for vehicle parameter data to an emergency response center over a voice channel via a wireless communication, the speech signal being in a language selected based on a geographic location of a vehicle; and

transmit the vehicle parameter data as digits if an error occurs during generation of the speech signal.

2. The vehicle communication system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

transmit the vehicle parameter data that indicates one or more vehicle parameters via the wireless communication to the emergency response center using data transmission signaling.

3. The vehicle communication system of claim 2, wherein the data transmission signaling includes data over voice.

4. The vehicle communication system of claim 1, wherein the processor is additionally configured to:

establish communication between the vehicle communication system and a nomadic device; and

establish communication between the emergency response center and the vehicle communication system through the nomadic device in response to the emergency condition detection signal.

5. The vehicle communication system of claim 1, wherein the language is selected based on a look-up table.

6. The vehicle communication system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication includes a cellular phone.

7. The vehicle communication system of claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of vehicle parameter data includes global position system coordinates of the vehicle.

8. A method comprising:

receiving, via a vehicle computer, at least one emergency condition detection signal;

receiving data indicating one or more vehicle parameters;

converting at least a portion of the data to speech signals based on a geographic location of a vehicle so that the speech signals are in a language associated with the geographic location;

communicating the speech signals to an emergency response center over a voice channel; and

transmitting the data as digits to the emergency response center over data transmission signaling if an error occurs during conversion of the data to the speech signals.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

establishing communication between the vehicle computer and a nomadic device; and

establishing communication between the emergency response center and the vehicle computer through the nomadic device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the nomadic device includes a cellular telephone.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the communication between the vehicle computer and the nomadic device includes Bluetooth technology.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the converting of at least a portion of the data to speech signals includes:

determining a word or phrase to be communicated to an emergency operator from the vehicle computer;

looking up the determined word or phrase in a lookup table to determine a corresponding sound bite to be played; and

playing the determined corresponding sound bite over an outgoing communication with the emergency operator via the voice channel, such that the sound bite communicates the determined phrase in the language associated with the geographic location of the vehicle to the emergency operator.

13. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive data indicating one or more vehicle parameters;

convert at least a portion of the data to speech signals based on a language selected based on a geographic location of a vehicle;

output the speech signals to a call center over a voice channel; and

output the data as digits to the call center if an error occurs during conversion of the data to the speech signals.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the data includes one or more of GPS coordinates, number of passengers in a vehicle, time stamp, vehicle identification, service provider identifier, and an indication notifying the call center that at least one emergency condition signal has been manually or automatically initiated.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is additionally configured to convert the at least a portion of data received from the one or more vehicle parameters to a text message.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least a portion of the data to speech signals is converted by:

determining a word or phrase to be communicated to an emergency operator from the processor from a lookup table; and

transmitting a sound associated with the word or phrase over the voice channel, such that the sound communicates the determined word or phrase in the selected language to the call center.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is additionally configured to open a line of communication allowing an emergency call center operator to communicate with occupants of a vehicle.