System and method of emergency contact access during a critical event

• US 9,820,124 B1
• Filed: 09/27/2016
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Hosey, Eric T., Neely, Matthew C., Patenaude, Russell A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Siddiqui, Kashif
• Application Number:
  US15/276,863
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

A system to access an emergency contact during a critical event is presented herein. The system includes a memory, controller, display, and sensor. The memory includes one or more executable instructions. The controller is configured to read and execute the executable instructions. The display is configured to exhibit information. The sensor the configured to send at least one critical event signal. Moreover, the executable instructions enable the controller to: receive an emergency contact; store the emergency contact in the memory; receive (from the sensor) a critical event signal; determine the status of a critical event; transmit the emergency contact from the memory to the display; and command the display to exhibit the emergency contact.

Claims

1. A method to access an emergency contact during a critical event, the method comprising:

(a) receiving, at a controller located in a data center, an emergency contact;

(b) storing, via the controller, the emergency contact in a memory located in the data center;

(c) receiving, via the controller, a critical event signal from a sensor located in a vehicle;

(d) determining, via the controller, whether a critical event has occurred based on the signal;

(e) based on (d), transmitting through a wireless carrier system, via the controller, the emergency contact from the memory to a display located in the vehicle; and

(f) exhibiting, via the display, the emergency contact.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(g) based on (d), transmitting, via the controller, the emergency contact to an audio system; and

(h) generating, via the audio system, at least one audio notification associated with the emergency contact.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is at least part of a vehicle emergency reaction module (ERM).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the emergency contact exhibit includes aesthetic stimuli.

4. A system to access an emergency contact during a critical event, the system comprising:

a memory located in a data center, the memory comprising one or more executable instructions;

a controller located in the data center, the controller configured to read and execute the one or more executable instructions;

a display located in a vehicle, the display configured to exhibit information;

a sensor located in the vehicle configured to send at least one critical event signal; and

wherein the executable instructions enable the controller to;

(a) receive an emergency contact;

(b) store the emergency contact in the memory;

(c) receive, from the sensor, a critical event signal;

(d) determine the status of a critical event;

(e) transmit through a wireless carrier system the emergency contact from the memory to the display; and

(f) command the display to exhibit the emergency contact.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

an audio system configured to provide audio output within a vehicle cabin area;

wherein the executable instructions further enable the controller to;

(g) transmit the emergency contact from the memory to the audio system; and

(h) generate at least one audio notification associated with the emergency contact.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the sensor is at least part of a vehicle emergency reaction module (ERM).

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the emergency contact exhibit includes aesthetic stimuli.