Telecommunications emergency device

• US 9,781,248 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2017
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ted J. Koepke
• Original Assignee: Ted J. Koepke
• Inventors: Koepke, Ted J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, MAHENDRA R
• Application Number:
  US15/441,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20170251096A1
• Time in Patent Office: 222 Days
• Field of Search: 4554042, 455457, 4554561, 455524, 379229, 37922001, 705 59
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0065 Black boxes, devices automatically broadcasting distress signals
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/002 Distress signalling devices, e.g. rescue balloons vehicle optical signalling for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72421 with automatic activation of emergency service functions, e.g. upon sensing an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination

Abstract

Presented herein are methods, systems, devices, and computer-readable media for recording and conveying information/data by a device. The device may record and store data associated with a catastrophic or emergency event. The device may transmit and convey data to facilitate locating the device after a catastrophic event. In some embodiments, a device may be configured to be ejected from a vehicle before or during a catastrophic event.

Claims

1. A system for communicating data associated with a catastrophic event for a vehicle, the system comprising:

a housing comprising a first communication interface and a wall configured to connect to a body of a vehicle, wherein the first communication interface is configured to receive data associated with an operating parameter of the vehicle;

a telecommunication emergency device configured to be at least partially enclosed by the housing, the device comprising;

a device body comprising material of greater impact strength relative to impact strength of the body of the vehicle;

a second communication interface on the device body, the second communication interface configured to communicate with the first communication interface and receive the data associated with the operating parameter;

a memory in the device body, the memory electrically connected to the second communication interface and capable of storing data transmitted to the second communication interface;

a radio beacon configured to broadcast data associated with the telecommunication emergency device comprising information for facilitating determining location of the telecommunication emergency device;

a power source capable of powering the radio beacon; and

a stabilizer connected to the device body, the stabilizer configured to control an aerial descent of the telecommunication emergency device when the telecommunication emergency device is propelled from the housing; and

a deployment mechanism in the housing, the deployment mechanism capable of propelling the telecommunication emergency device out of the housing through the body of the vehicle in response to the operating parameter, wherein deployment mechanism is activated in response to the operating parameter being indicative of a catastrophic event,

wherein the memory is configured to store the data associated with the operating parameter of the vehicle before or during the catastrophic event for retrieval after the catastrophic event,

wherein the data associated with the catastrophic event is signed for integrity of the data,

wherein signing of the data associated with the catastrophic event comprises using a private key to store the data associated with the catastrophic event onto the memory, and wherein the private key is deleted after it is determined the catastrophic event has occurred, and

wherein signing of the data associated with the catastrophic event comprises using a public key to access the data after the private key is deleted.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a flange connected to the wall, the flange extending along the body of the vehicle when connected to the body of the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the flange is configured to connect to the body of the vehicle via fasteners.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the stabilizer comprises a wing connected to the housing, and wherein the wing extends substantially along a surface of the device body when the telecommunication emergency device is in the housing, and wherein upon the telecommunication emergency device being propelled out of the housing, the wing extend at least partially away from the surface of the device body.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the device body comprises a recess corresponding to the wing, wherein the wing is in the recess and substantially flush with the device body when the telecommunication emergency device is in the housing.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the deployment mechanism comprises a solid fuel rocket configured to be ignited to propel the telecommunication emergency device out of the housing.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a launch tube connected to the housing, the launch tube extending away from the housing to direct exhaust gases away from the telecommunication emergency device upon ignition of the solid fuel rocket.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the deployment mechanism comprises a spring configured to propel the telecommunication emergency device out of the housing.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the operating parameter of the vehicle corresponds to at least one of location, altitude, or speed of the vehicle.

10. A telecommunication emergency device for communicating data associated with a predetermined event, the device comprising:

a communication interface configured to receive data associated with a predetermined event;

a memory connected to the communication interface and capable of storing the data transmitted to the communication interface, wherein the data associated with the predetermined event is signed for integrity of the data, and wherein the memory is configured to store the data associated with the predetermined event before or during the predetermined event for retrieval after the predetermined event;

a radio beacon configured to broadcast data associated with the telecommunication emergency device comprising information for facilitating determining location of the telecommunication emergency device;

a power interface capable of providing power to the radio beacon, the power interface configured to connect to a power source; and

a stabilizer configured to control an aerial descent of the telecommunication emergency device, the aerial descent associated with deployment of the telecommunication emergency device,

wherein signing of the data associated with the predetermined event comprises using a private key to store the data associated with the predetermined event onto the memory, and wherein the private key is deleted after it is determined the predetermined event has occurred, and

wherein signing of the data associated with the predetermined event comprises using a public key to access the data after the private key is deleted.

11. The telecommunication emergency device of claim 10, wherein the data associated with the predetermined event stored on the memory corresponds with at least one of location, altitude, or speed of a vehicle that the telecommunication emergency device is associated with.

12. The telecommunication emergency device of claim 10, wherein the data associated with the predetermined event stored on the memory corresponds with at least one of heart rate, breathing rate, blood oxygen, or temperature of a person that the telecommunication emergency device is associated with.

13. The telecommunication emergency device of claim 10, wherein the communication interface is configured to communicate with one or more sensors to receive from the one or more sensors the data associated with the predetermined event.

14. The telecommunication emergency device of claim 10, further comprising a sensor configured to detect at least one of acceleration or altitude of the telecommunication emergency device to facilitate determining whether the predetermined event is imminent or occurring.

15. The telecommunication emergency device of claim 10, further comprising a Global Positioning System (GPS) module, wherein the GPS module locks in the location of the telecommunication emergency device upon occurrence of the predetermined event.

16. The telecommunication emergency device of claim 10, further comprising an illumination beacon configured to pulse in a predetermined pattern after the predetermined event to facilitate locating the telecommunication emergency device.

17. The telecommunication emergency device of claim 10, wherein the radio beacon is configured to transmit a sweeping directional beam to facilitate locating the telecommunication emergency device after the predetermined event.

20. The telecommunication emergency device of claim 10, wherein the private key is deleted after it is determined the predetermined event has occurred to prevent modification of the stored data after deployment of the telecommunication emergency device.

21. The telecommunication emergency device of claim 10, wherein upon deletion of the private key, new data is prevented from being added to the memory.

18. A telecommunication emergency device for communicating data associated with a predetermined event, the device comprising:

a communication interface configured to receive data associated with a predetermined event;

a memory connected to the communication interface and capable of storing the data transmitted to the communication interface, wherein the data is protected to inhibit unauthorized access to the data or tampering with the data, and wherein the memory is configured to store the data associated with the predetermined event before or during the predetermined event for retrieval after the predetermined event;

a radio beacon configured to broadcast data associated with the telecommunication emergency device for facilitating determining location of the telecommunication emergency device;

a power interface capable of providing power to the radio beacon; and

a stabilizer configured to control an aerial descent of the telecommunication emergency device, the aerial descent associated with deployment of the telecommunication emergency device,

wherein the data associated with the predetermined event is signed for integrity of the data,

wherein signing of the data associated with the predetermined event comprises using a private key to store the data associated with the predetermined event onto the memory, and wherein the private key is deleted after it is determined the predetermined event has occurred, and

wherein signing of the data associated with the predetermined event comprises using a public key to access the data after the private key is deleted.

19. A plurality of telecommunication emergency devices according to claim 18, wherein the plurality of telecommunication emergency devices are configured to communicate with each other, wherein at least one telecommunication emergency device of the plurality of telecommunication emergency devices is configured to redundantly store data associated with at least one other telecommunication emergency device of the plurality of telecommunication emergency devices.

22. The telecommunication emergency device of claim 18, wherein the data associated with the predetermined event stored on the memory corresponds with at least one of heart rate, breathing rate, blood oxygen, or temperature of a person that the telecommunication emergency device is associated with.