DE102013005824A1 - Emergency call system for a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to increase the reliability of emergency call systems in a vehicle, an emergency call system for a vehicle 10 is provided with a first emergency call transmission device 11 and with a second emergency call transmission device 12. Here, a first automatic emergency call 21 can be made with the first emergency call transmission device 11, which is sent via a cellular network 33 to a first external receiving station 31 is directed, and with the second emergency call sending device 12, a second automatic emergency call 12 can be sent, which is directed to at least one second external receiving station 32 via close-range communication technology 34.

Description

The invention relates to an emergency call system for a vehicle.

Furthermore, the invention relates to an external receiving station for receiving an emergency call from a vehicle.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for issuing emergency calls.

In addition, the invention relates to a vehicle with an emergency call system.

There are known emergency call systems for vehicles that detect collisions and generate an automatic emergency call to ensure the fastest possible recovery or medical care of the occupants. The emergency call is automatically canceled, ie without active operation by a person. Such automatic emergency calls are also known as "ecall" (electronic automatic call for help). In this case, the triggering of the emergency call is usually coupled to the airbag deployment, so as not to start a rescue chain even in the event of minor parking bumps. EP 1 054 371 describes an emergency call system, in which an automatic transmission of an emergency call from a motor vehicle to a receiving station is provided, wherein the emergency call is activated in a no longer to be prevented collision before the collision occurs.

DE 10 2008 023 281 A1 describes a procedure in which a passing vehicle is used as an auxiliary unit to receive an emergency call, in the event that the setting off of an emergency call on the way intended for this purpose is not possible.

In the known emergency call systems, although alternatives for issuing an emergency call from a vehicle are shown. However, it is not guaranteed that a dropped emergency call actually reaches a recipient.

One reason for this are, for example, characteristics of mobile radio technology, such as dead spots or a current network load. Furthermore, it is possible that a transmission antenna is damaged by a collision of the vehicle with installed emergency call system, so that no emergency call can be sent.

It is an object of the present invention to increase the reliability of emergency call systems in a vehicle.

This object is achieved according to the invention in an emergency call system for a vehicle in that the emergency call system has a first emergency call transmission device and a second emergency call transmission device. It is provided that the first emergency call device, a first automatic emergency call is deductible, which is directed via a mobile network to a first external receiving station. In addition, it is provided that with the second emergency call device, a second automatic emergency call is deducted, which is directed via a short-range communication technology to at least a second external receiving station.

Furthermore, the object is achieved with an external receiving station for receiving an emergency call, wherein the external receiving station is a vehicle which receives an automatic emergency call of a collision vehicle and the received emergency call with a transmitting device of the external receiving station can be forwarded.

In addition, the object is achieved with a method for issuing emergency calls with a vehicle. Here, a discontinuation of a first automatic emergency call is provided with a first emergency transmission device of the vehicle, wherein the first automatic emergency call is directed via a mobile network to a first external receiving station. Furthermore, a second automatic emergency call with a second emergency call transmission device of the vehicle is provided, wherein the second automatic emergency call is directed via a short-range communication technology to at least one second external receiving station.

The object is also achieved with a vehicle having the emergency call system according to the invention. In this case, provision can be made for the first emergency call transmission device and the second emergency transmission device to be installed at a distance from one another on or in the vehicle, for example the first emergency transmission device in the front part of the vehicle and the second emergency transmission device in the rear part of the vehicle. If the two emergency transmission devices are installed at two different locations of the vehicle, then the probability increases that at least one of the emergency transmission devices will not be damaged in the event of a collision and then at least one automatic emergency call can be made or sent.

According to the invention, two independent systems are used to trigger an emergency call. The first triggering system is used, for example, before the collision occurrence (pre-crash situation) and the second triggering system is used in the event of an impact collision (in-crash situation). The first trigger system is, for example, an environment sensor that detects obstacles within a sensor cone and is part of a collision detection system of the vehicle. The geometry of the sensor cone may differ from the optical properties of the Depending on the environmental sensor and determines the sensible area in the vicinity of the vehicle. The environment sensor is for example a camera or a device with radar detection. Here, the environment sensor may be oriented in a predetermined direction, for example in the direction of travel of the vehicle. The collision detection system can detect obstacles with the environment sensor and then evaluate them before a collision occurs. The second trigger system uses, for example, a sensor that triggers an airbag system or a sensor on a belt system of the vehicle. The two trigger systems can be connected to the first as well as to the second emergency call transmission device, so that both emergency call transmission devices are activated in a pre-crash situation. If the collision of the vehicle then actually occurs, then both emergency call transmission devices can also be reactivated in this in-crash situation.

It is thus provided that the first emergency call transmission device and the second emergency call transmission device can each be triggered independently of one another both in a pre-crash situation and in an in-crash situation. Should one of the two emergency call devices be damaged during the collision, the other emergency call transmission device can still make an emergency call. This has the advantage that an emergency call arrives safely, even with physical transmission difficulties or mechanical destruction of the transmitting antenna of a transmission path. Thus, a redundancy is created in which two emergency call systems can be triggered independently of each other in two different situations. Overall, in the best case four emergency calls can be placed with the two emergency call devices, namely two in a pre-crash situation and two in an in-crash situation. Thus, the probability increases significantly that at least one emergency call to a rescue center or a service center for the initiation of a rescue chain with the dispatch of an ambulance and / or fire trucks and / or helicopters arrives.

Accordingly, a redundancy can be created in the two situations before and during the collision, which increases the reliability of the emergency call system of the collision vehicle. Should an emergency call system be damaged in the collision and no longer work, the other emergency call system can make an automatic emergency call. Further, the reliability is also increased by having the first emergency transmission device based on a different communication technology than the second emergency transmission device.

Furthermore, it can be provided, for example, that the first emergency call transmission device can be connected to a mobile radio network, for example a GSM network, a UMTS network, an LTE network or a similar technology. Furthermore, it can be provided that the second emergency transmission device is based on short-range communication technology, such as automotive WLAN technology, Bluetooth technology, WLAN technology or WiMax technology. The automotive WLAN technology is particularly advantageous in this case if the second external receiving station is mobile and, for example, another vehicle. Then, a car-to-car communication (C2C communication) may take place using, for example, a standardized interface for an automotive WLAN connection, for example based on the Standard IEEE 802.11p ,

It is advantageous if the second external receiving station can forward the second emergency call. Here, the second external receiving station is, for example, a vehicle that is not involved in the collision, but is located in the vicinity of the collision vehicle.

It can be provided that the first external receiving station is stationary. Here, the first external receiving station may be a receiver that provides assistance on the received emergency call, either directly or indirectly. The fixed receiving station, for example, a rescue center or a service center of an automaker or service center of a fleet. In the first case, direct assistance can be provided, in the other two cases, indirect assistance can be provided by the service center, a rescue center is informed. The Service Center or the Rescue Coordination Center can take on additional tasks. If several emergency calls come to a collision process in the external receiving station, they can be summarized there, so that only one rescue chain is started. This is easily possible in particular if several emergency calls arrive within a very short time interval. A summary can be done, for example, based on a transmitted chassis number of the collision vehicle.

First, the first external receiving station may attempt to communicate with the collision vehicle via the cellular connection. If this is not possible because, for example, the transmitting device of the mobile radio technology was damaged in the collision, then the first external receiving station has another possibility. Thus, the external receiving station can communicate with a second external receiving station and, for example, contact a vehicle which has forwarded an emergency call of the collision vehicle. This vehicle may also be referred to as an auxiliary vehicle or other vehicle, since it is locally very close to the collision point without being involved in the collision. The occupants of this auxiliary vehicle can then transmit further information to the external receiving station in order to prepare for improved assistance.

For example, the rescue center or the service center can try to establish a voice connection to the collision vehicle. If this voice structure is unsuccessful, the service center or the rescue center can set up a voice connection to a vehicle that has received the emergency call by automotive WLAN and then passed on to the service center or the rescue center. In addition, the collision vehicle can also provide valuable information for the emergency services as an accident vehicle. It can collect data such as estimated impact speed, accident history, number of occupants, vehicle type, vehicle color, location of collision or time of collision.

It is also advantageous if the second relayed emergency call has at least one added information which can be added by the second external receiving station. Here, the added information may be at least information selected from the group consisting of an identity of the collision vehicle, an identity of the second external receiving station, a vehicle registration number, a chassis number, a callback number of the collision vehicle, a callback number of the second external receiving station, Time of collision entry, time of setting of an emergency call, position data of the collision vehicle, position data of the second external receiving station, a parameter from a pre-crash situation, a measured acceleration before the collision, a parameter from an in-crash situation, an impact velocity, a parameter for detecting an emergency call by the collision vehicle in the pre-crash situation, a parameter for detecting an emergency call by the collision vehicle in an in-crash situation, a parameter for detecting an emergency call by a foreign vehicle in a pre-Cr ash situation and a parameter for detecting an emergency call by a foreign vehicle in an in-crash situation. Some of this information may be added by the second external receiving station as soon as it receives the emergency call of the collision vehicle. This remote emergency call can already contain one parameter or several parameters which characterize the collision and were previously determined by the collision vehicle. Furthermore, a flag can be integrated into a parameter set of the automatically set first and / or second emergency call, so that the following distinctions of an emergency call are possible: emergency call by the collision vehicle in the pre-crash situation, emergency call by the collision vehicle in an in-crash Situation, emergency call by a foreign vehicle in a pre-crash situation and emergency call by a foreign vehicle in an in-crash situation. Here, a foreign vehicle is understood to mean a vehicle that is not involved in the collision, but receives a remote emergency call near the collision. In contrast, the collision vehicle is involved in the collision, and it is also possible to detect situations in which there are a plurality of collision vehicles each transmitting automatic emergency calls according to the present invention.

Data transmitted from the collision vehicle and received from the second external receiving station may be forwarded to the first external receiving station or sent directly from the collision vehicle to the first external receiving station. It is thus possible to provide information about the accident, the cause of the accident and those involved in the accident at short notice. It is also possible for a plurality of second external receiving stations to be present, since, for example, a plurality of vehicles are located in the vicinity of the collision and can receive the second emergency call. If these non-participating vehicles have means to forward the second emergency call each, then several second relayed emergency calls may arrive at the first external receiving station concerning the same collision. In such a case, it is advantageous if the emergency calls can be combined and the first external receiving station identifies only one collision, although several second emergency calls or even a first emergency call of the collision vehicle are received directly.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the second emergency call is repeatedly deductible. This means that the second emergency call via the short-range communication technology, for example, is issued cyclically from the collision vehicle. This is possible, for example, if the second emergency call transmission device is connected to an energy store which is present independently of the vehicle operation. With, for example, an additional battery, which is specially provided for the second emergency call transmission device, an automatic emergency call can be discontinued once or cyclically, for example once a minute. In this way, the likelihood is increased that the collision vehicle can make itself felt even after the collision and help can be called. There may be situations in which there is no other vehicle in range during the collision that can receive an automatic call for help with short-range communication technology. However, it is used the possibility that a later approaching vehicle receives an automatic emergency call, if it can be sent even after the collision.

It can be provided, for example, that a vehicle recognizes that a collision is unavoidable and that due to an estimated crash severity an airbag deployment will occur. In such a case, the vehicle already sets off an automatic emergency call on the one hand before the collision occurs and on the other hand upon the collision. For example, the first emergency call is made directly via UMTS to a service center or rescue coordination center. The second emergency call is done, for example, by automotive WiFi to vehicles in the area, so that these vehicles for the collision vehicle can send the emergency call to a service center or a rescue center. The first emergency call is thus initiated directly from the collision vehicle and the second emergency call can be initiated indirectly by one or more vehicles not involved in the collision.

The present invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Hereby show:

1 a schematic representation of an embodiment of a vehicle with two installed emergency call systems;

2 a schematic representation of an exemplary situation before collision occurrence (pre-crash situation); and

3 a schematic representation of the exemplary situation 2 in the event of a collision (in-crash situation);

The embodiment described in more detail below represent preferred embodiments of the present invention.

1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a vehicle 10 with a first emergency call device 11 and a second emergency call device 12 for automatically canceling two independent emergency calls 21 . 22 , The two emergency call devices 11 . 12 are locally separated in the vehicle 10 are arranged to increase the probability in a collision case that at least one of the emergency call transmission devices 11 . 12 remains functional.

2 schematically shows the vehicle 10 of the 1 in an exemplary environment prior to collision entry 61 (Pre-crash situation) while 3 the vehicle 10 of the 1 in an exemplary environment at collision entry 62 (In-crash situation) shows.

In 2 the vehicle drives 10 on an obstacle 13 to. A collision detection system 14 of the vehicle 10 with an installed environment sensor detects the obstacle 13 and determines that a collision is inevitable. The vehicle 10 is thus in a pre-crash situation 61 , About the first emergency call device 11 becomes a first automatic emergency call 21 to a first external receiving station 31 over a mobile network 32 Posted. In addition, via the second emergency call device 12 a second automatic emergency call 22 to a passing vehicle 34 as a second external mobile receiving station transmitted via a short-range communication technique 35 because both vehicles support C2C communication via an automotive WLAN radio link. The first remote emergency call 21 the pre-crash situation 61 reaches the first external receiving station 31 directly from the collision vehicle 10 from over the mobile network 32 , The second remote emergency call 22 the pre-crash situation 61 also reaches the first external receiving station 31 , but indirectly, because of this emergency call 22 first of the passing vehicle 34 which in turn receives the emergency call 22 to the first external receiving station 31 over the mobile network 32 sends. The receiving station 31 can also call back to the collision vehicle before initiating a rescue chain 10 and / or to the uninvolved at the collision vehicle 34 to get more information.

In 3 another situation is shown starting from the exemplary situation 2 However, a time later considered, leaving the vehicle 10 already in a collision situation 62 (Crashed situation). In this situation, it will be redone with the first emergency call device 11 a first automatic emergency call 41 and with the second emergency call device 12 a second automatic emergency call 42 sold independently. In this situation is in addition to the first vehicle 34 another vehicle 36 near the collision point, so this vehicle 36 as another second external receiving station the remote second emergency call 42 via an automotive WLAN radio connection 35 receives, as well as that already out 2 known vehicle 34 ,

In 3 are the two vehicles 34 . 36 not involved in the collision and each guide the second emergency call 42 to a mobile network, wherein the first vehicle 34 closer to a mobile phone mast 51 a first mobile network 32 and via this the emergency call 42 the first external receiving station 31 sends. The other vehicle 36 is closer to a mobile phone mast 52 a second mobile network 33 and sends over this the emergency call 42 to another first external receiving station 37 , where this receiving station is a service center of the automaker, the emergency call 42 to a rescue center as the first external receiving station 31 forwards. In the first external receiving station 31 come the two emergency calls 42 from the two auxiliary vehicles 34 . 36 within a short period of a few minutes in a row and are summarized there, since both forwarded emergency calls 42 an identical chassis number of the collision vehicle 10 have sent. There are also the two incoming emergency calls 42 from the in-crash situation 62 with the two previously sent emergency calls 21 . 22 from the pre-crash situation 61 , which is also the chassis number of the collision vehicle 10 sent, collected and assigned to a single collision. Furthermore, the incoming emergency signal 41 that of the collision vehicle 10 over the first radio network 32 is also sent to the external receiving station 31 and there is also the same collision assigned as the other two incoming emergency calls 42 the auxiliary vehicles 34 . 26 , This is followed by an initiation of a rescue chain starting from the first receiving station 31 to the collision vehicle 10 To help.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• EP 1054371 [0005]
• DE 102008023281 A1 [0006]

Cited non-patent literature

• Standard IEEE 802.11p [0017]

Claims (10)

Emergency call system for a vehicle ( 10 ) with a first emergency call device ( 11 ), with a second emergency call device ( 12 ), wherein with the first emergency call transmission device ( 11 ) a first automatic emergency call ( 21 . 41 ) that can be deducted via a mobile network ( 32 . 33 ) to a first external receiving station ( 31 ) and wherein with the second emergency call transmission device ( 12 ) a second automatic emergency call ( 22 . 42 ) which can be deducted via a short-range communications technology ( 35 ) to at least one second external receiving station ( 34 . 36 ). Emergency call system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first emergency call transmission device ( 11 ) and the second emergency call device ( 12 ) each independently in a pre-crash situation ( 61 ) as well as in an in-crash situation ( 62 ) are triggered. Emergency call system for a vehicle according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second external receiving station ( 34 . 36 ) is mobile. Emergency call system for a vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein with the second external receiving station ( 34 . 36 ) the second automatic emergency call ( 22 . 42 ) is forwarded. Emergency call system for a vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second forwarded emergency call ( 22 . 42 ) has at least one information selected from the group consisting of an identity of the collision vehicle ( 10 ), an identity of the second external receiving station ( 34 . 36 ), a vehicle registration number, a chassis number, a recall number of the collision vehicle ( 10 ), a callback number of the second external receiving station ( 34 . 36 ), Time of the collision entry, time of the setting off of an emergency call, position data of the collision vehicle ( 10 ), Position data of the second external receiving station ( 34 . 36 ), a parameter from a pre-crash situation ( 61 ), a measured acceleration before the collision, a parameter from an in-crash situation ( 62 ), an impact speed, a parameter for detecting an emergency call by the collision vehicle ( 10 ) in the pre-crash situation ( 61 ), a parameter for detecting an emergency call by the collision vehicle ( 10 ) in an in-crash situation ( 62 ), a parameter for detecting an emergency call by a foreign vehicle ( 34 . 36 ) in a pre-crash situation ( 61 ) and a parameter for detecting an emergency call by a foreign vehicle ( 34 . 36 ) in an in-crash situation ( 62 ). Emergency call system for a vehicle ( 10 ) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the short-range communication technology is a communication technology selected from automotive WLAN technology, Bluetooth technology, WLAN technology and WiMax technology. Emergency call system for a vehicle ( 10 ) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second emergency call ( 22 ) is repeatedly deductible. External receiving station for receiving an emergency call, the external receiving station being a vehicle ( 34 . 36 ) is an automatic emergency call of a collision vehicle ( 10 ) and the received emergency call ( 22 . 42 ) with a transmitting device of the external receiving station ( 34 . 36 ) is forwarded. A method for issuing emergency calls to a vehicle, comprising issuing a first automatic emergency call ( 21 . 41 ) with a first emergency call device ( 11 ) of the vehicle ( 50 ), the first automatic emergency call ( 21 . 41 ) via a mobile network ( 33 ) to a first external receiving station ( 31 ), issuing a second automatic emergency call ( 22 . 42 ) with a second emergency call device ( 11 ) of the vehicle ( 50 ), the second automatic emergency call ( 22 . 42 ) via a short-range communication technology to at least one second external receiving station ( 34 . 36 ). Vehicle ( 10 ) with an emergency call system according to any one of claims 1-7.

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