Method and system for emergency call handling

• US 8,903,351 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2009
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Berry, Joseph J., Scalf, Mark J., VanDagens, Douglas R., Luk, Francis, Nixon, Timothy Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Shen, Qun
• Application Number:
  US12/399,513
• Publication Number:
  US 20100227582A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,097 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.4, 455/404.2, 455/404.1
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A vehicle communication system includes a computer processor in communication with persistent and non-persistent memory. The system also includes a local wireless transceiver in communication with the computer processor and configured to communicate wirelessly with a cellular telephone located at the vehicle. The system further includes a backup power circuit comprising a charge storage device such as a local battery or capacitor having enough charge to power the computer processor and local wireless transceiver long enough to send an emergency call signal to the cellular telephone, and an emergency call command signal is sent from the local wireless transceiver to the cellular telephone in the event a vehicle emergency is detected at the computer processor and vehicle power is lost. The signal causes the cellular telephone to place or continue an emergency call to an emergency responder or agency over the cellular telephone network.

Claims

1. A vehicle-based computing system comprising:

a processor; and

a transceiver operable to communicate with the processor and to transfer information between the processor and a wireless device, wherein;

the processor is further configured to send instructions to the wireless device, the instructions preventing all other types of incoming and outgoing calls and data transfer from the wireless device based on an instance of an ongoing emergency call, and persisting until the ongoing emergency call ends;

wherein incoming portions of the emergency call are output through vehicle speakers, and outgoing portions of the emergency call are input through a vehicle microphone, the apparatus further including a controller having control over one or more SOS notifications, including an audible notification that is activated at least in the event of a vehicle accident, wherein the controller suppresses the audible notification while the emergency call is in progress.

2. The vehicle-based computing system of claim 1, further including a transfer input, wherein activation of the transfer input causes control of the emergency call to be transferred from a vehicle-based system to the wireless device.

3. The vehicle-based computing system of claim 1, further including a cancellation input, wherein activation of the cancellation input cancels the transfer of the call to the wireless device.