Wireless vehicle location and emergency notification system

• US 6,678,612 B1
• Filed: 12/15/1998
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Maurice A. Khawam
• Original Assignee: Maurice A. Khawam
• Inventors: Khawam, Maurice A.
• Primary Examiner(s): LOUIS JACQUES, JACQUES H
• Application Number:
  US09/212,742
• Time in Patent Office: 1,855 Days
• Field of Search: 701/213, 701/207, 701/214, 701/216, 701/29, 701/33, 701/31, 701/217, 342/357.07, 342/457, 342/386, 342/46, 342/357.03, 342/357.13, 342/357.17, 340/426, 340/539, 340/531, 340/438-439, 340/989, 340/993, 340/426.1, 340/426.13, 340/426.16, 340/426.15, 340/426.19, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 702/182-185, 702/188, 455/404, 455/456, 455/456.1, 455/456.5
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

In the event of an accident or another traumatic event to a vehicle, a wireless vehicle location and emergency notification system is provided for determining the location and sensing the condition of a vehicle, comparing this information to established parameters, and transmitting such information to a base station in the event the sensed condition or determined location is outside the established parameters. The base station may then alert local emergency services if necessary. The system utilizes a global positioning receiver for determining the location of the vehicle and sensors for monitoring vehicle conditions such as vehicle attitude, deceleration, shock, temperature and passenger compartment audio. The location and condition information is communicated to a data processor which compares this data to established parameters and recently stored location and condition data. If the location and/or condition information fall outside the established parameters or the new data does not compare with the recently stored data, a transmission is sent to the base station. This information is also communicated to a user interface unit, usually within the passenger compartment, which has a display, keypad, and speaker/microphone. The system operates continuously and without the need for user intervention.

Claims

1. A device for interactively monitoring and taking action based on sensed conditions of vehicles, the device comprising:

a data processor;

communication means in electrical connection with said data processor for automatic communication with the base station, wherein said communication means includes a wireless link that comprises a satellite based transceiver or a land based transceiver, or both a satellite based transceiver and a land based transceiver;

a power supply which is independent of the vehicle'"'"'s electrical system, is always activated and is in electrical connection with said data processor;

a vehicle transceiver, connected to said power supply and said data processor, for sending transmissions from persons in a vehicle, or for sending and receiving electrical signals to and from the vehicle and to and from the base station, respectively; and

an input system connected to a data processor which includes;

a global position receiver in electronic communication with one or more global position satellites and with said data processor, for determining vehicle location and generating position signals;

at least one sensor located in or on the vehicle in electrical connection with the data processor, said at least one sensor comprising a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a shock sensor, an attitude sensor, a direction sensor, a wheel position sensor, a wheel revolution sensor, an acceleration and deceleration sensor, or an altitude sensor, or any combination of said sensors, each sensor producing an electrical sensor signal indicating its respective sensed condition of the vehicle;

at least one user interface unit comprising a microphone for receiving a user'"'"'s voice and generating one or more voice signals representing the user'"'"'s voice;

analog-to-digital conversion means in electrical communication with the data processor for receiving said sensor signals and said voice signals and converting them to digital sensor data;

self-testing means, including voice recognition means in electrical connection with said data processor for identifying one or more authorized users'"'"' voices, and providing a user approved signal indicating that the user'"'"'s voice is recognized and whether the user is authorized or unauthorized;

wherein said data processor is configured and programmed to respond to said position signals, digital sensor data, said user approved signal and said voice signal to generate output signals indicating information about the condition of the vehicle or the nature of an emergency, or both the condition of the vehicle and the nature of an emergency, based on the sensed data, wherein said data processor continuously compares a present signal of each of said sensors with a previously received signal and with predetermined calibrated parameters that are stored in look up tables in computer memory, to generate a response based on the comparison and on the information stored in said look up tables, which response notifies the driver and/or sends the response by said vehicle transceiver to the base station or to at least one emergency response service provider, or to both the base station and the at least one emergency response service provider, indicating the vehicle'"'"'s condition thereby anticipating a problem before it occurs or taking action to correct a problem automatically.

2. A vehicle mobile unit for providing location and emergency notification information to a user or a base station and taking action based on such information, the mobile unit comprising:

a data processor;

input-output components, wherein each input-output component is located within or on the outside of a vehicle and is connected physically or wirelessly to said data processor, the input-output components comprising

a mobile unit transceiver, wherein said transceiver is capable of receiving transmit signals from the data processor and sending mobile unit transmissions based on said transmit signals, via wireless communication means, to a base station and receiving base station transmissions, and of generating transceiver signals for use by the data processor based on the base station transmissions;

a global position receiver that is able to receive navigation signals from at least one global position satellite, determine the vehicle'"'"'s geographic location, and generate vehicle location signals indicating said geographic location;

at least one vehicle condition sensor, wherein each of the vehicle condition sensors is able to sense one or more vehicle conditions and to generate at least one vehicle sensor signal indicating information about at least one of the vehicle conditions;

at least one user input sensor, wherein each of the user input sensors is able to sense at least one user input and to generate one or more user input signals indicating information about at least one of the user inputs,

wherein at least one of the user input sensors comprises a sound detecting device that is able to sense user input in the form of the user'"'"'s voice and to generate at least one voice signal representing the user'"'"'s voice; and

, one or more user notification devices whereby the data processor is able to communicate information to the user, wherein at least one of the user notification devices comprises a visual display device or a sound generating device, or both a visual display device and a sound generating device;

an independent electric power supply, wherein said independent power supply is adapted to assure that electric power is available for operation of the data processor, the transceiver, and at least one of the input-output components, when vehicle electrical system power is not available for such operation;

computer memory, comprised of one or more computer memory devices,

wherein the computer memory is able to store mobile unit data, said mobile unit data comprising vehicle location information, vehicle sensor information, user input information, including voice recognition information suitable for identifying one or more authorized users'"'"' voices, and one or more predetermined calibrated parameters, and

wherein said mobile unit data is accessible by the data processor;

wherein said data processor is configured and programmed to read one or more input signals received by the data processor and automatically generate one or more output signals in response to at least one of the input signals, which input signals each comprise

at least one of the vehicle location signals,

at least one of the vehicle sensor signals, or

at least one of the user input signals, or

any combination thereof;

wherein the data processor is further configured and programmed

to recognize one or more authorized users based upon at least one authorized voice signal, which authorized voice signal comprises at least one of the voice signals representing the voice of the particular authorized user,

to generate at least one user-vocalized signal when the at least one authorized voice signal indicates the particular authorized user is making one or more pre-selected user vocalizations, and

to send the at least one of the user-vocalized signals via at least one of said communication means to the base station, whereby the base station is advised of a message that has been associated with the one or more pre-selected user vocalizations;

wherein the data processor is further configured and programmed to continuously, while operating, perform a main program loop, wherein the data processor in each cycle through the loop makes a main-loop comparison between at least one input signal and at least one of the predetermined calibrated parameters;

wherein the input signals further comprise the additional alternative of at least one main-loop comparison signal, which main-loop comparison signal indicates the result of one or more of the main-loop comparisons;

wherein the output signals comprise one or more emergency response signals when at least one of the main-loop comparisons indicates, based on predetermined criteria, that an undesirable event is impending; and

,

wherein one or more of the emergency response signals comprise notification to the user or the base station, or to both the user and the base station, about the status of the vehicle or the user, or the vehicle and the user, vis-à

-vis the event.

3. The mobile unit of claim 2, wherein at least one of said communication means includes an Internet link and the data processor is further configured and programmed to communicate via the Internet link.

4. The mobile unit of claim 2, wherein said one or more output signals comprise automatically contacting at least one emergency service provider via at least one of said communication means.

5. The mobile unit of claim 2, wherein said communication means includes at least one satellite.

6. The mobile unit of claim 2, wherein the data processor is configured and programmed to receive at least one predefined command signal from the base station or the user, or both the base station and the user, and to generate a control signal based upon the at least one command signal and communicate the control signal to at least one controllable part of the vehicle, wherein the controllable part is controlled in some respect by the control signal.

7. The mobile unit of claim 2, wherein the data processor is further configured and programmed to generate at least one internal control signal based upon the results of one or more of the main-loop comparisons and communicate the at least one internal control signal to at least one controllable part of the vehicle, wherein the controllable part is controlled in some respect by the internal control signal.

8. The mobile unit of claim 2, wherein the one or more vehicle condition sensors comprise at least one temperature sensor, at least one pressure sensor, at least one shock sensor, at least one attitude sensor, at least one direction sensor, at least one wheel position sensor, at least one wheel revolution sensor, at least one acceleration sensor, or at least one altitude sensor, or any combination of such vehicle condition sensors.

9. The mobile unit of claim 2, wherein the one or more user sensors comprise a manual input device that is able to sense one or more instructions conveyed manually to the manual input device, and to generate at least one manual input signal indicating one or more of the instructions.

10. The mobile unit of claim 2, wherein the data processor is configured and programmed to determine dynamic as well as static characteristics of at least one of the vehicle conditions.

11. The mobile unit of claim 2, wherein at least one of the memory devices has flash memory storage capabilities.

12. The mobile unit of claim 2, wherein at least one of the computer memory devices stores initializing information, wherein the initializing information includes at least part of the voice recognition information sufficient to identify one or more of the authorized users'"'"' voices, and wherein the initializing information is accessible to the data processor;

wherein the data processor is further configured and programmed to detect whether vehicle electric power is on or off and to perform an initialization procedure upon detecting that the vehicle electric power has changed from off to on, and

wherein said initialization procedure includes one or more initialization comparisons and generation of one or more initialization messages;

wherein at least one of the initialization comparisons comprises a user validity test in which a voice comparison is made between

information indicated by the voice signal and

the at least part of the voice recognition information, and

wherein at least one of the initialization messages includes a user invalidity signal indicating the user is not authorized when the voice comparison resulted in the user'"'"'s voice not being recognized as the voice of one of the authorized users.

13. The mobile unit of claim 12,

wherein the initializing information includes stored self test information,

wherein at least one of the initialization comparisons comprises a self test in which a self test comparison is made between

initializing self test information and

at least part of the stored self test information, and

wherein at least one of the initialization messages includes a self test signal indicating a self test error when the self test comparison was not within predetermined self test specifications.

14. The mobile unit of claim 12,

wherein the initializing information includes stored sensor information,

wherein the one or more initialization comparisons comprises a sensor test in which a sensor data comparison is made between

initializing sensor information and

at least part of the stored sensor information, and

wherein at least one of the initialization messages includes a sensor test signal indicating a sensor data error when the sensor data comparison is not within predetermined sensor test specifications.

15. The mobile unit of claim 12,

wherein the initializing information includes stored location information,

wherein the at least one initialization comparison comprises a location test in which a location data comparison is made between

initializing location information and

at least part of the stored location information, and

wherein the at least one initialization message includes a location test signal that causes a new service user test to be conducted when the location data comparison is not within predetermined specifications.

16. The mobile unit of claim 12, wherein the data processor is configured and programmed to generate one or more initializing control signals based upon one or more initialization comparisons, including the voice comparison, and communicate the initializing control signal to at least one controllable part of the vehicle, wherein the controllable part is adapted to be controlled in some respect based upon the initializing control signal.

17. A wireless vehicle location and emergency notification system comprising:

a mobile unit and

a base station, wherein the mobile unit and the base station are linked to one another by one or more interactive wireless communication means;

wherein the mobile unit comprises

a data processor;

input-output components, wherein each input-output component is located within or on the outside of a vehicle and is connected physically or wirelessly to said data processor, the input-output components comprising a transceiver, a global position receiver, at least one vehicle condition sensor, at least one user input sensor, and at least one user notification device;

wherein said transceiver is capable of receiving transmit signals from the data processor and sending mobile unit transmissions based on said transmit signals, via wireless communication means, to the base station and receiving base station transmissions, and of generating transceiver signals for use by the data processor based on the base station transmissions;

wherein the global position receiver is able to receive navigation signals from at least one global position satellite, to determine the vehicle'"'"'s geographic location, and to generate vehicle location signals indicating said geographic location;

wherein each of the vehicle condition sensors is able to sense one or more vehicle conditions and to generate at least one vehicle sensor signal indicating information about at least one of the vehicle conditions;

wherein each of the user input sensors is able to sense at least one user input caused by a vehicle user and to generate one or more user input signals indicating information about at least one of the user inputs,

wherein at least one of the user input sensors comprises a sound detecting device that is able to sense user input in the form of the user'"'"'s voice and to generate at least one voice signal representing the user'"'"'s voice; and

,

wherein each of the user notification devices provides a means whereby the data processor is able to communicate information to the user, wherein at least one of the user notification devices comprises a visual display device or a sound generating device, or both a visual display device and a sound generating device;

an independent electric power supply, wherein said independent power supply is adapted to assure that electric power is available for operation of the data processor, the transceiver, and at least one of the input-output components, when vehicle electrical system power is not available for such operation;

computer memory, said computer memory comprising one or more computer memory devices,

wherein said computer memory is able to store mobile unit data, said mobile unit data comprising vehicle location information, vehicle sensor information, user input information, including voice recognition information suitable for identifying one or more authorized users'"'"' voices, and one or more predetermined calibrated parameters, and

wherein said mobile unit data is accessible by the data processor;

wherein said data processor is configured and programmed to read one or more input signals received by the data processor and automatically generate one or more output signals in response to at least one of the input signals, which input signals each comprise

at least one of the vehicle location signals,

at least one of the vehicle sensor signals, or

at least one of the user input signals, or

any combination thereof;

wherein the data processor is further configured and programmed

to recognize one or more authorized users based upon at least one authorized voice signal, which authorized voice signal comprises at least one of the voice signals representing the voice of the particular authorized user,

to generate at least one user-vocalized signal when the at least one authorized voice signal indicates the particular authorized user is making one or more pre-selected user vocalizations, and

to send the at least one of the user-vocalized signals via at least one of said communication means to the base station, whereby the base station is advised of a message that has been associated with the one or more pre-selected user vocalizations;

wherein the data processor is further configured and programmed to continuously, while operating, perform a main program loop, wherein the data processor in each cycle through the loop makes a main-loop comparison between at least one input signal and at least one of the predetermined calibrated parameters;

wherein the input signals further comprise the additional alternative of at least one main-loop comparison signal, which main-loop comparison signal indicates the result of one or more of the main-loop comparisons;

wherein the output signals comprise one or more emergency response signals when at least one of the main-loop comparisons indicates, based on predetermined criteria, that an undesirable event is impending; and

,

wherein one or more of the emergency response signals comprise notification to the user or the base station, or to both the user and the base station, about the status of the vehicle or the user, or the vehicle and the user, vis-à

-vis the event,

wherein the base station comprises

a computer work station;

a base station transceiver in electronic communication with the computer work station and adapted to send information to and receive information from at least one of the mobile units via at least one of the communication means;

a means for maintaining a supply of electric power to the base station even when no power is available to the base station from an external power line, whereby the base station is able to remain in operation on a substantially continuous basis;

means for a base station operator to receive information transmitted from the data processor and to transmit information to the data processor;

a computer storage means for storing base station computer data, wherein the computer work station is configured and programmed for accessing selected portions of said computer data and transmitting information to the data processor based upon the selected portions, on a substantially real time basis;

means for communicating with at least one emergency service provider; and

,

means for communicating with the user.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein at least one of the computer memory devices stores initializing information, wherein the initializing information includes at least part of the voice recognition information sufficient to identify one or more of the authorized users'"'"' voices, whereby the initializing information is accessible to the data processor;

wherein the data processor is further configured and programmed to detect whether vehicle electric power is on or off and to perform an initialization procedure upon detecting that the vehicle electric power has changed from off to on, and

wherein said initialization procedure includes one or more initialization comparisons and generation of one or more initialization messages;

wherein at least one of the initialization comparisons comprises a user validity test in which a voice comparison is made between

information indicated by the voice signal and

the at least part of the voice recognition information, and

wherein at least one of the initialization messages includes a user invalidity signal indicating that the user is not authorized when the voice comparison resulted in the user'"'"'s voice not being recognized as the voice of one of the authorized users.

19. The system of claim 17,

wherein the initializing information includes stored self test information,

wherein at least one of the initialization comparisons comprises a self test in which a self test comparison is made between

initializing self test information and

at least part of the stored self test information, and

wherein at least one of the initialization messages includes a self test signal indicating a self test error when the self test comparison was not within predetermined self test specifications.

20. The system of claim 17,

wherein the initializing information includes stored sensor information,

wherein the one or more initialization comparisons comprises a sensor test in which a sensor data comparison is made between

initializing sensor information and

at least part of the stored sensor information, and

wherein at least one of the initialization messages includes a sensor test signal indicating a sensor data error when the sensor data comparison is not within predetermined sensor test specifications.

21. The system of claim 17,

wherein the initializing information includes stored location information,

wherein the at least one initialization comparison comprises a location test in which a location data comparison is made between

initializing location information and

at least part of the stored location information, and

wherein the at least one initialization message includes a location test signal that causes a new service user test to be conducted when the location data comparison is not within predetermined specifications.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the data processor is configured and programmed to generate one or more initializing control signals based upon one or more initialization comparisons, including the voice comparison, and communicate the initializing control signal to at least one controllable part of the vehicle, wherein the controllable part is adapted to be controlled in some respect based upon the initializing control signal.

23. A method of operation for a wireless vehicle location and emergency notification system comprising the steps of:

placing one or more components of a mobile unit within or on the outside of a vehicle;

providing electric power for operation of at least one of the mobile unit components when no electric power is available from the vehicle'"'"'s electrical system, and providing electric power for operation of at least one component of at least one base station when no electric power is available to the at least one base station from any external power line;

maintaining a communication link between the mobile unit and at least one of the base stations, with the communication link being available on a substantially continuous basis;

maintaining a navigational communication link between the mobile unit and one or more global positioning satellites, with the navigational link being available on a substantially continuous basis;

detecting the static and dynamic proximity of the vehicle to an undesirable event, wherein said detecting comprises the steps of

sensing the vehicle location using a global position receiver carried within or on the outside of the vehicle, wherein the global position receiver receives navigational signals from the one or more global positioning satellites;

sensing at least one vehicle condition using at least one vehicle condition sensor;

creating a computer data base comprising predetermined calibrated parameters that include static and dynamic values for relationships between the sensed vehicle locations and predetermined locations and between at least one sensed vehicle condition and predetermined vehicle conditions, and storing the data base in computer memory, which memory is accessible to a data processor;

performing a main program loop using the data processor, the data processor being configured and programmed to perform the loop on a substantially continuous basis while the data processor is being operated, wherein performing the loop comprises one or more cycles through the loop wherein each of the cycles comprises the steps of

comparing at least one of the sensed vehicle locations with at least one of the parameters, and

comparing at least one of the sensed vehicle conditions with at least one of the parameters; and

,

generating one or more emergency response signals when the result of either of the two immediately preceding steps indicates, based on pre-established criteria, that an undesirable event is impending; and

,

sending the one or more emergency response signals to one or more communication devices for notifying the user or the base station, or both the user and the base station, about the status of the vehicle or of the user, or of both the vehicle and the user, vis-à

-vis the event.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

detecting when the user is taking action to begin using the vehicle;

performing an initialization procedure before allowing the user to use the vehicle,

wherein the initialization procedure comprises the steps of

determining if a vehicle user is an authorized user before allowing the user to use the vehicle, wherein said determining of an authorized user step comprises the steps of

requiring the user to speak into a sound detecting device that is in electronic communication with a data processor, which data processor is configured and programmed for and performs the steps of

receiving voice signal information from the sound detecting device,

accessing stored computer voice information that is suitable for identifying the voice of at least one authorized user,

verifying whether the user'"'"'s voice is the voice of an authorized user by comparing the voice signal information to the stored computer voice information, and, if the voice comparison resulted in the user'"'"'s voice not being recognized as the voice of one of the authorized users,

generating a user invalidity signal,

sending the user invalidity signal to the base station or to the authorized user, or to the base station and the authorized user, and

denying the use of at least one mobile unit part, at least one vehicle part, or any combination of mobile unit parts and vehicle parts, by sending at least one control signal to effectuate said denial of use.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the initialization procedure further comprises the steps of:

accessing previously stored self test information from the computer memory using the data processor, which data processor is configured and programmed for and performs a self test, wherein the self test comprises the steps of

comparing initializing self test information to at least part of the stored self test information, and

generating a self test error message when, based on one or more predetermined self test specifications, the self test comparing step indicates that the initializing self test information is not sufficiently similar to the at least part of the stored self test information to pass the self test, and

sending the self test error message to the base station or to the authorized user, or to the base station and the authorized user.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the initialization procedure further comprises the steps of:

accessing previously stored sensor information from the computer memory using the data processor, which data processor is configured and programmed for and performs a sensor data test, wherein the sensor data test comprises the steps of

comparing initializing sensor information to at least part of the stored sensor information, and

generating a sensor test error message when, based on one or more predetermined self test specifications, the sensor information comparing step indicates that the initializing sensor information is not sufficiently similar to the at least part of the stored sensor information to pass the sensor data test, and

sending the sensor test error message to the base station or to the authorized user, or to the base station and the authorized user.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the initialization procedure further comprises the steps of:

accessing previously stored location information from the computer memory using the data processor, which data processor is configured and programmed for and performs a location data test, wherein the location data test comprises the steps of

comparing initializing location information to at least part of the stored location information, and

conducting a new service test when, based on one or more predetermined self test specifications, the location information comparing step indicates that the initializing location information is not sufficiently similar to the at least part of the stored location information to pass the location data test,

wherein the new service test comprises the steps of

determining if there is a new service user whose new use of the mobile unit is consistent with the mobile unit not passing the location data test,

generating a new service error message if the new user service determination is that there is no said new service user, and

sending the new service error message to the base station or to the authorized user, or to the base station and the authorized user.