System and method for automatic information exchange between vehicles involved in a collision

• US 6,211,777 B1
• Filed: 11/30/1998
• Issued: 04/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Liu, Te-Kai, Greenwood, Michael Corey
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US09/201,192
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 340/436, 340/438, 340/961, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/425.5, 340/901, 340/902, 340/905, 280/735, 180/272, 342/457, 235/384, 701/117
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 event-triggered

Abstract

A method for exchanging information between vehicles involved in or near a collision site. When a collision is sensed by one vehicle, a message is transmitted from the one vehicle to at least one of the other vehicles within a threshold distance of the one vehicle. The message contains at least the identity of the one vehicle and preferably driver information, insurance information, along with the time and place of the collision.

Claims

1. A program storage device readable by a controller installed in a first vehicle, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executed by said controller to perform method steps for automatically exchanging information with other vehicles in the event of a collision, said method comprising:

sensing said collision by said first vehicle;

transmitting a signal to said controller indicating said collision;

upon reception of said signal by said controller, forming a message comprising an identification of said first vehicle;

transmitting said message to at least a second of said vehicles within a threshold distance of said first vehicle; and

storing said first message in a memory of at least said second of said vehicles and

receiving at least one witness message from at least one other of said vehicles indicating that the driver of said at least one other of said vehicles is a witness to said collision.

2. A method of automatically exchanging information between a plurality of vehicles some of which have collided with each other, said method comprising:

at least a first of said vehicles sensing said collision and forming a first message comprising said first vehicle'"'"'s identification;

said first vehicle transmitting said first message to at least a second of said vehicles;

said second vehicle transmitting a second message in response to said first message, said second message indicating that the driver of said second vehicle is a witness to said collision; and

said second message including the identification of said second vehicle.

3. A method of automatically exchanging information between a plurality of vehicles some of which have collided with each other, said method comprising:

receiving a first message from a second vehicle whose collision sensor is triggered;

transmitting a second message to said second vehicle, said second message comprising an identification of said first vehicle;

storing said first message in a memory of said first vehicle

storing said second message in a memory of said second vehicle and;

at least one of said first and said second vehicles receiving at least one witness message from at least one third vehicle indicating that the driver of said at least one third vehicle is a witness to said collision.

4. An apparatus for automatically exchanging information between a plurality of vehicles some of which have collided with each other, said apparatus comprising:

a receiver for receiving a first message from a second vehicle whose collision sensor is triggered;

a transmitter for transmitting a second message to said second vehicle, said second message comprising an identification of said first vehicle;

a first storage device for storing said first message in a memory of said first vehicle;

a second storage device for storing said second message in a memory of said second vehicle; and

wherein at least one of said first and said storage devices comprises at least one memory location for storing at least one witness message from at least one third vehicle indicating that the driver of said at least one third vehicle is a witness to said collision.

5. A program storage device readable by a controller installed in a first vehicle tangibly embodying a program of instructions executed by said controller to perform method steps for automatically exchanging information between a plurality of vehicles some of which have collided with each other, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first message from a second vehicle whose collision sensor is triggered;

transmitting a second message to said second vehicle, said second message comprising an identification of said first vehicle;

storing said first message in a memory of said first vehicle

storing said second message in a memory of said second vehicle; and

at least one of said first and said second vehicles receiving at least one witness message from at least one third vehicle indicating that the driver of said at least one third vehicle is a witness to said collision.

6. A method of automatically exchanging information among a plurality of vehicles some of which have collided with each other, said method comprising:

at least one of said vehicles sensing said collision and forming a message comprising its vehicle identification;

said one vehicle transmitting said message to at least one other of said vehicles;

storing said message in a memory of at least another of said vehicles; and

said at least one of said vehicles receiving at least one witness message from at least one other of said vehicles indicating that the driver of said at least one other of said vehicles is a witness to said collision.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said message also comprises information on the time of collision.

8. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said message comprises information on the location of said one vehicle.

9. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said message comprises identification information on the owner of said one vehicle, and on the insurance company of said owner.

10. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said message comprises information on the time and location of

said collision, on the owner of at least said one vehicle, and on the insurance company of said owner.

11. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said message is digitally signed.

12. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said message is encrypted using a public key of a third party not involved in said collision.

13. An apparatus installed in a first vehicle for exchanging information with other vehicles, said apparatus comprising:

a sensor for sensing a collision;

a transmitter for transmitting a first message when said collision is sensed, said first message comprising the identification of said first vehicle in which said apparatus is installed;

a receiver for receiving additional messages transmitted by said other vehicles, at least one of said additional messages comprising an identification of at least one of said vehicles; and

a memory for storing said additional messages wherein said memory comprises at least one memory location for storing at least one witness message from at least one other of said vehicles indicating that the driver of said at least one other of said vehicles is a witness to said collision.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein said sensor comprises one of at least the following:

an deacceleration detection device, a pressure sensor, and an inertia detection device.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein said transmitter transmits said message, which further comprises the time of collision.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein said transmitter transmits said message, which further comprises the identification of the owner of said first vehicle and the identification of the insurance company of said owner.

17. An apparatus as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

an encryption device for digitally signing said message.

18. An apparatus as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

an encryption device for encrypting said message with a public key of a third party.