Method and System for Emergency Call Placement

• US 20120252400A1
• Filed: 06/11/2012
• Published: 10/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2011
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 8,396,449 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
• 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

An emergency response system includes a restraint control module (RCM), a global positioning system module (GPSM), at least one output, at least one input, an SPDJB, and a vehicle associated computing system (VACS) in communication with the RCM, the GPSM, the at least one output, the at least one input and the SPDJB. Upon detection of an emergency event, the RCM requests that the VACS place an emergency call. Upon receiving a request from the RCM, the VACS queries the GPSM to obtain vehicle coordinates, informs the occupant of the onset of the call, and instructs a wireless device in communication with the VACS to place an emergency call. The VACS is operable to determine when an emergency call is connected. Once the emergency call is connected, the VACS relays a message indicating connection to the RCM, and contacts the SPDJB to contacts the Smart Power Distribution Junction Box (SPDJB).

Claims

1. A method, implemented by a vehicle associated computing system (VACS), comprising:

monitoring for an emergency event;

if an emergency event is detected, indicating an attempt to dial an emergency number;

determining if a wireless connection is enabled;

if a wireless connection is not enabled, enabling the wireless connection;

determining if a wireless device is connected to the VACS;

if a wireless device is not connected to the VACS, connecting to a wireless device;

determining if a call is currently in progress on the wireless device;

if a call is currently in progress on the wireless device, canceling the call in progress; and

placing an emergency call through the wireless device to an emergency operator, wherein placement of the call enables direct communication between a vehicle occupant and an emergency operator.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if a call is currently in progress on the wireless device, determining if the call is an emergency call; and

if the call is an emergency call, skipping the canceling step and allowing the call to continue without interference.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless connection is a BLUE TOOTH connection.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising locking out an ability to place calls, other than the emergency call, through the VACS for the duration of the emergency call.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a region in which the vehicle is present, based at least in part on GPS coordinates; and

determining a language corresponding to the region in which the vehicle is present; and

using at least the determined language to speak a message to the emergency operator upon connection to the emergency operator.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein, while an attempt to connect to an emergency operator is in progress, if an attempt is made to directly use a wireless device to place a call, the attempt to connect is cancelled.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if crash data is available; and

providing the emergency operator with an option to retrieve crash data, if crash data is available.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if GPS data is available; and

providing the emergency operator with an option to retrieve GPS data, if GPS data is available.

9. A computer readable storage medium, storing instructions that, when implemented by a vehicle associated computing system (VACS), cause the VACS to perform the method comprising:

monitoring for an emergency event;

if an emergency event is detected, indicating an attempt to dial an emergency number;

determining if a wireless connection is enabled;

if a wireless connection is not enabled, enabling the wireless connection;

determining if a wireless device is connected to the VACS;

if a wireless device is not connected to the VACS, connecting to a wireless device;

determining if a call is currently in progress on the wireless device;

if a call is currently in progress on the wireless device, canceling the call in progress; and

placing an emergency call through the wireless device to an emergency operator, wherein placement of the call enables direct communication between a vehicle occupant and an emergency operator.

10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

if a call is currently in progress on the wireless device, determining if the call is an emergency call; and

if the call is an emergency call, skipping the canceling step and allowing the call to continue without interference.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the wireless connection is a BLUE TOOTH connection.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises locking out an ability to place calls, other than the emergency call, through the VACS for the duration of the emergency call.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

determining a region in which the vehicle is present, based at least in part on GPS coordinates; and

determining a language corresponding to the region in which the vehicle is present; and

using at least the determined language to speak a message to the emergency operator upon connection to the emergency operator.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

determining if crash data is available; and

providing the emergency operator with an option to retrieve crash data, if crash data is available.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

determining if GPS data is available; and

providing the emergency operator with an option to retrieve GPS data, if GPS data is available.

16. A system comprising a processor configured to:

determine if a call is currently in progress on a cellular phone, wirelessly in communication with the processor;

canceling a call in progress; and

place an emergency call through the wireless device to an emergency operator, wherein placement of the call enables direct communication between a vehicle occupant and an emergency operator.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

if a call is currently in progress on the wireless device, determining if the call is an emergency call; and

if the call is an emergency call, skipping the canceling step and allowing the call to continue without interference.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the wireless communication is over a BLUE TOOTH connection.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to lock out an ability to place calls, other than the emergency call, through a vehicle computing system for the duration of the emergency call.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a region in which the vehicle is present, based at least in part on GPS coordinates;

and determine a language corresponding to the region in which the vehicle is present; and

use at least the determined language to speak a message to the emergency operator upon connection to the emergency operator.