Method and system for transmitting data using automated voice when data transmission fails during an emergency call

• US 9,049,584 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2013
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2013
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): AJIBADE AKONAI, OLUMIDE
• Application Number:
  US13/748,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20140206308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/414.2, 455/418, 455/422.1, 455/450, 455/550.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/007 Details of data content structure of message packets; data protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/44 for communication between vehicles and infrastructures, e.g. vehicle-to-cloud [V2C] or vehicle-to-home [V2H]
• 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

A vehicle communication system enables one or more processors to receive indication that an emergency event has taken place from an emergency detection sensor position throughout the vehicle. An emergency condition detection signal may be automatically sent by a detection sensor, or manually sent by a vehicle occupant pushing an emergency assistance button. The processor may receive vehicle parameter data indicating one or more vehicle parameters including, but not limited to, vehicle global position coordinates. The processor may transmit a communication to an emergency response center that an emergency has been indicated at the vehicle. The vehicle parameter data may be transmitted to the emergency response center using a data transmission signal. If the data transmission signal has failed transmission after several attempts, the processor may convert at least a portion of the vehicle parameter data to speech signals and communicate the speech signals to the emergency response center.

Claims

1. A vehicle communication system, comprising:

one or more processors configured to;

receive at least one emergency condition detection signal;

receive vehicle parameter data indicating one or more vehicle parameters;

use data transmission signaling to transmit a wireless communication to an emergency response center, the communication indicating the vehicle parameter data; and

if the data transmission signaling has failed after a predetermined threshold, convert at least a portion of the vehicle parameter data to speech signals and communicate the speech signals to the emergency response center over a voice channel.

2. The vehicle communication system of claim 1 wherein the one or more processors are additionally configured to receive a geographic location of the vehicle, and output the speech signals in a language spoken at that location.

3. The vehicle communication system of claim 2 wherein the language is selected based on a look-up table.

4. The vehicle communication system of claim 1 wherein the one or more processors are additionally configured to:

establish communication between the vehicle computing system and a nomadic device; and

establish communication between the emergency response center and the vehicle computing system through the nomadic device after the emergency condition is detected.

5. The vehicle communication system of claim 1 wherein the data transmission signaling includes data over voice.

6. The vehicle communication system of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication includes a cellular phone.

7. The vehicle communication system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle parameter data includes global position system coordinates of the vehicle.

8. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving an emergency condition detection signal;

receiving vehicle parameter data indicating a vehicle parameter;

using data transmission signaling, transmitting a wireless communication, including the vehicle parameter data, to an emergency response center; and

if the data transmission signaling has failed after a predetermined threshold, converting at least a portion of the vehicle parameter data to speech signals and communicating the speech signals to the emergency response center over a voice channel.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

establishing communication between a vehicle computing system and a nomadic device; and

establishing communication between emergency response center and the vehicle computing system through the nomadic device.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the nomadic device includes a cellular telephone.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the communication between the vehicle computing system and the nomadic device includes Bluetooth technology.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the predetermined threshold includes three attempts of transmitting of the vehicle parameter data using the data transmission signaling.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the data transmission signaling includes data over voice.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising the converting of at least a portion of the vehicle parameter data to speech signals by:

determining a word or phrase to be communicated to an emergency operator from the vehicle computing system;

looking up the determined word or phrase in a lookup table to determine a corresponding sound bite to be played; and

playing the determined corresponding sound bite over an outgoing communication with the emergency operator, such that the sound bite communicates the determined phrase in a language to the emergency operator.

15. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive a vehicle parameter dataset based on an emergency condition input;

transmit a wireless communication to an emergency response center through a wirelessly connected nomadic device, including the emergency condition and the dataset;

if the dataset transmission has failed after a predetermined threshold, convert at least a portion of the vehicle parameter dataset to voice; and

transmit the voice to the emergency response center over a voice-channel.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the dataset includes one or more of:

GPS coordinates, number of passengers in a vehicle, time stamp, vehicle identification, service provider identifier, and an indication notifying the emergency response center that the emergency condition input has been manually or automatically initiated.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the processor is additionally configured to convert data received from the dataset to a text message.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the nomadic device includes a cellular telephone.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein the wireless communication with the nomadic device includes Bluetooth technology.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein the processor is additionally configured to open a line of communication allowing an emergency call center operator to communicate with occupants of a vehicle.