Method and apparatus for visual accident detail reporting

• US 10,121,291 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2013
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Cuddihy, Mark A., Rao, Manoharprasad K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Louie, Wae L
• Application Number:
  US14/065,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20150120082A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,834 Days
• Field of Search: 701 45, 701301, 701 46, 701 314, 4554041, 4554141, 4554042
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

A system includes a processor configured to request vehicle sensor data upon crash detection. Further, the processor is configured to assemble the data into a graphic representation of a vehicle, including graphic representations of conditions represented by sensor data. The processor is also configured to send the graphic representation to an emergency operator in communication with a vehicle computing system.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

request vehicle sensor data upon crash detection;

assemble the data into a graphic representation of a vehicle, including graphic representations of conditions represented by sensor data overlaid onto the vehicle representation to visually demonstrate current vehicle conditions; and

send the graphic representation to an emergency operator in communication with a vehicle computing system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the conditions include airbag deployment.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the conditions include fuel leakage.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the conditions include seatbelt status.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the conditions include occupancy information.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the conditions include crash severity.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the conditions include direction of impact.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the conditions include whether occupants remain in their respective seats.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the graphic representation is sent via text message.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the graphic representation is sent via email.

11. A computer implemented method comprising:

requesting vehicle sensor data upon crash detection;

assembling the data into a graphic representation of a vehicle, including graphic representations of conditions represented by sensor data overlaid onto the vehicle representation to visually demonstrate current vehicle conditions; and

sending the graphic representation to an emergency operator in communication with a vehicle computing system.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the conditions include airbag deployment.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the conditions include fuel leakage.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the conditions include seatbelt status.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the conditions include occupancy information.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the conditions include crash severity.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the conditions include direction of impact.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the conditions include whether occupants remain in their respective seats.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the graphic representation is sent via text message.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the graphic representation is sent via email.

21. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

gather crash-related vehicle data;

assemble the crash-related data into a graphical representation of a vehicle;

determine exacerbated crash conditions, which may require specialized emergency services, from the gathered crash-related data;

request additional data related to any exacerbated crash conditions; and

incorporate the additional data into the graphical representation, including a graphical indicia indicating the presence of an exacerbated condition.