Emergency automated vehicle control system to monitor emergency medical events through body area networks

• US 9,599,986 B1
• Filed: 12/22/2015
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maplebear Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Eberbach, Adam Harley Eugene, Wagner, John M., Whitehead, Carolyn A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dager, Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US14/978,352
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/06 responsive to incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/221 Physiology, e.g. weight, heartbeat, health or special needs
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/223 Posture, e.g. hand, foot, or seat position, turned or inclined
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/26 Incapacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/45 External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2756/10 Involving external transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/0051 from occupants to vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/007 Emergency override Handing over between remote control and on-board control or handing over between remote control arrangements G05D1/227

Abstract

Embodiments are directed to an automated control system having a memory and a processor system communicatively coupled to the memory. The processor system is configured to perform a method including determining that a body area network of an occupant of a vehicle has reported, during operation of the vehicle, a medical emergency event, and controlling operation of the vehicle based at least in part on the determination that the body area network of the occupant has reported an emergency event.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of operating an automated control system, the method comprising:

determining, by a processor system, that a body area network of an occupant of a vehicle has reported, during operation of the vehicle, a medical emergency event;

initiating, by the processor system, a control protocol that controls operation of the vehicle based at least in part on the determination that the body area network of the occupant has reported an emergency event; and

based at least in part on the determination that the body area network of the occupant has reported an emergency event;

accessing, by the processor system, a data log and additional relevant data of the body area network, wherein the additional relevant data comprises a preliminary diagnosis of the nature of the medical emergency; and

transmitting the data log and the additional relevant data over a wireless mobile communication system to an emergency treatment facility or a mobile emergency treatment vehicle or an emergency treatment person.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the control of the operation of the vehicle comprises controlling at least one of a plurality of vehicle systems.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one of the plurality of vehicle systems comprises an autonomous vehicle control system.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the controlling of the autonomous vehicle control system comprises controlling the autonomous vehicle control system to direct the vehicle to an emergency treatment facility.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the controlling of the autonomous vehicle control system comprises controlling the autonomous vehicle control system to direct the vehicle to a mobile emergency treatment vehicle.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one of the plurality of vehicle systems comprises at least one of the following:

an alarm; and

a door lock.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving, by the processor system, a response to transmitting the data log and the additional relevant data, wherein the response comprises response instructions that are based at least in part on the additional relevant data, and wherein the response instructions control the processor system to change the control protocol to a different control protocol that was selected based at least in part on the additional relevant data.

8. An automated control system comprising:

a memory; and

a processor system communicatively coupled to the memory;

wherein the processor system is configured to perform a method comprising;

determining that a body area network of an occupant of a vehicle has reported, during operation of the vehicle, a medical emergency event;

controlling operation of the vehicle based at least in part on the determination that the body area network of the occupant has reported an emergency event; and

based at least in part on the determination that the body area network of the occupant has reported an emergency event;

accessing a data log and additional relevant data of the body area network, wherein the additional relevant data comprises a preliminary diagnosis of the nature of the medical emergency; and

transmitting the data log and the additional relevant data over a wireless mobile communication system to an emergency treatment facility or a mobile emergency treatment vehicle or an emergency treatment person.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the controlling of operation of the vehicle comprises controlling at least one of a plurality of vehicle systems.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one of the plurality of vehicle systems comprises an autonomous vehicle control system.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the controlling of the autonomous vehicle control system comprises controlling the autonomous vehicle control system to direct the vehicle to an emergency treatment facility.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the controlling of the autonomous vehicle control system comprises controlling the autonomous vehicle control system to direct the vehicle to a mobile emergency treatment vehicle.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one of the plurality of vehicle systems comprises at least one of the following:

an alarm; and

a door lock.

14. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

receiving a response to transmitting the data log and the additional relevant data, wherein the response comprises response instructions that are based at least in part on the additional relevant data, and wherein the response instructions control the processor system to control the operation of the vehicle in a manner that was selected based at least in part on the additional relevant data.

15. A computer program product for operating an automatic control system, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, wherein the computer readable storage medium is not a transitory signal per se, the program instructions readable by a processor system to cause the processor system to perform a method comprising;

determining that a body area network of an occupant of a vehicle has reported, during operation of the vehicle, a medical emergency event;

controlling operation of the vehicle based at least in part on the determination that the body area network of the occupant has reported an emergency event; and

based at least in part on the determination that the body area network of the occupant has reported an emergency event;

accessing a data log and additional relevant data of the body area network, wherein the additional relevant data comprises a preliminary diagnosis of the nature of the medical emergency; and

transmitting the data log and the additional relevant data over a wireless mobile communication system to an emergency treatment facility or a mobile emergency treatment vehicle or an emergency treatment person.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the controlling of operation of the vehicle comprises controlling at least one of a plurality of vehicle systems.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the at least one of the plurality of vehicle systems comprises an autonomous vehicle control system.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the controlling of the autonomous vehicle control system comprises controlling the autonomous vehicle control system to direct the vehicle to an emergency treatment facility or a mobile emergency treatment vehicle.

19. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the at least one of the plurality of vehicle systems comprises at least one of the following:

an alarm; and

a door lock.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, by the processor system, a response to transmitting the data log and the additional relevant data, wherein the response comprises response instructions that are based at least in part on the additional relevant data, and wherein the response instructions control the processor system to control the operation of the vehicle in a manner that was selected based at least in part on the additional relevant data.