Method and system for operating a vehicle when an occupant experiences a potential medical condition
First Claim
1. A method of operating a vehicle when a vehicle occupant experiences a potential medical condition, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a diagnostic signal from an occupant-coupled device, the diagnostic signal is a wireless signal that includes information regarding the potential medical condition of the vehicle occupant to whom the occupant-coupled device is attached;
analyzing the diagnostic signal to evaluate the potential medical condition of the vehicle occupant, analysis of the diagnostic signal includes obtaining a unique identifier for the occupant-coupled device, using the unique identifier to retrieve a saved medical profile or to identify the vehicle occupant to whom the occupant-coupled device is attached, and evaluating at least one of a nature or a severity of the potential medical condition according to criteria that are tailored to the saved medical profile or the identity of the vehicle occupant to whom the occupant-coupled device is attached, wherein the saved medical profile includes medical data or history pertaining to the vehicle occupant to whom the occupant-coupled device is attached; and
carrying out a response with a vehicle system to address the potential medical condition of the vehicle occupant, wherein the response includes one or more remedial action(s) based on the evaluation of the at least one of the nature or the severity of the potential medical condition.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is provided a method and system for operating a vehicle when a vehicle occupant experiences a potential medical condition. The system may include an external object control module (EOCM) configured to wirelessly receive diagnostic signals from an occupant-coupled device, such as a smart watch or implanted cardiac pacemaker. The method and system process the diagnostic signals, for example by determining the nature and/or severity of the potential medical condition and carrying out one or more responses in reaction thereto. The type of response carried out can depend on whether the occupant is a driver or passenger, as well as the nature and/or severity of the potential medical condition, and can range from giving medical instructions to vehicle occupants to automatically slowing the vehicle down and bringing it to a safe stop in the event that the driver is unable to do so.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of operating a vehicle when a vehicle occupant experiences a potential medical condition, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a diagnostic signal from an occupant-coupled device, the diagnostic signal is a wireless signal that includes information regarding the potential medical condition of the vehicle occupant to whom the occupant-coupled device is attached; analyzing the diagnostic signal to evaluate the potential medical condition of the vehicle occupant, analysis of the diagnostic signal includes obtaining a unique identifier for the occupant-coupled device, using the unique identifier to retrieve a saved medical profile or to identify the vehicle occupant to whom the occupant-coupled device is attached, and evaluating at least one of a nature or a severity of the potential medical condition according to criteria that are tailored to the saved medical profile or the identity of the vehicle occupant to whom the occupant-coupled device is attached, wherein the saved medical profile includes medical data or history pertaining to the vehicle occupant to whom the occupant-coupled device is attached; and carrying out a response with a vehicle system to address the potential medical condition of the vehicle occupant, wherein the response includes one or more remedial action(s) based on the evaluation of the at least one of the nature or the severity of the potential medical condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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17. A method of operating a vehicle when a vehicle occupant experiences a potential medical condition, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a diagnostic signal from an occupant-coupled device, the diagnostic signal is a wireless signal that includes information regarding the potential medical condition of the vehicle occupant to whom the occupant-coupled device is attached; analyzing the diagnostic signal to evaluate the potential medical condition of the vehicle occupant; determining if the vehicle occupant to whom the occupant-coupled device is attached is a driver or a passenger of the vehicle; and when the vehicle occupant is determined to be a passenger of the vehicle or when the vehicle occupant is determined to be the driver of the vehicle but the potential medical condition is deemed not significant then, in response to this determination, selecting a communication-based response and carrying out the communication-based response with a vehicle communications system to address the potential medical condition of the vehicle occupant. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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23. A system for operating a vehicle when a vehicle occupant experiences a potential medical condition, comprising:
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an external object control module (EOCM) configured to receive a diagnostic signal from an occupant-coupled device, the diagnostic signal is a wireless signal that includes information regarding the potential medical condition of the vehicle occupant to whom the occupant-coupled device is attached; a vehicle driving system coupled to the external object control module (EOCM) and configured to carry out a driving-based response that includes autonomous or semi-autonomous driving actions that control at least one of the steering, the propulsion, or the braking of the vehicle; and a vehicle communication system coupled to the external object control module (EOCM) and configured to carry out a communication-based response that includes communicative actions that provide information regarding the potential medical condition; wherein the system is configured to; evaluate the potential medical condition of the vehicle occupant by analyzing the diagnostic signal from the occupant-coupled device, analysis of the diagnostic signal includes obtaining a unique identifier for the occupant-coupled device, using the unique identifier to retrieve a saved medical profile or to identify the vehicle occupant to whom the occupant-coupled device is attached, and evaluating at least one of a nature or a severity of the potential medical condition according to criteria that are tailored to the saved medical profile or the identity of the vehicle occupant to whom the occupant-coupled device is attached, wherein the saved medical profile includes medical data or history pertaining to the vehicle occupant to whom the occupant-coupled device is attached, and carry out a response with at least one of the vehicle driving system or the vehicle communication system in response to the evaluation of the at least one of the nature or the severity of the potential medical condition.
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Specification