JP2008293208A - Vehicle emergency call device - Google Patents

Abstract

Even if a driver remains unregistered as a contact, a driver notifies the appropriate contact according to an emergency that has occurred.
A control unit 2 of an emergency call system 1 is based on signals from an acceleration sensor 12, a pulse sensor 13, an image processing device 14, and a vehicle failure diagnosis device 15. Detects either the occurrence of an accident or a vehicle failure, and determines the contact information (one of the emergency contacts registered by the police, fire department, home, dealer, driver) according to each case. Make outgoing calls. At this time, for the driver's home, a character string search is performed by the character string search unit 2b from the mobile phone address memory unit 3 to identify a contact and make an outgoing call.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an emergency notification device for a vehicle that makes an emergency contact reliably in the event of an accident, driver abnormality, or vehicle failure.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in vehicles, an emergency notification system technology has been developed that automatically notifies an appropriate contact when an emergency such as an accident or a driver abnormality occurs.

For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-20190, when an emergency such as an accident occurs in the own vehicle, the contact information (telephones for general households, repair shops, faxes, computer terminals such as fire stations, police stations, etc.) There is disclosed a technology of a notification system that calls a telephone number and automatically transmits the position information in accordance with a communication system on the receiving side.
JP-A-6-20190

  However, in the notification system such as the prior art described above, it is necessary to register the contact information in the system in advance, and this registration is performed manually by the driver. Even if it is registered or registered, there is a possibility of leakage. If the contact information is not registered correctly, the notification system may not be able to operate properly when an emergency occurs.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and even if a driver remains unregistered as a contact, an emergency notification of a vehicle that can report to an appropriate contact according to an emergency that has occurred The object is to provide a device.

  The present invention includes an abnormality detection means for detecting an abnormality in driving and traveling of a vehicle, a first storage means for storing a first emergency contact address, and a second storage means for storing a plurality of contact addresses. A search unit that executes a preset search process to identify a second emergency contact, and the first emergency contact and the second emergency contact according to the operating state of the abnormality detection unit. On the other hand, the communication device includes a communication unit that performs communication in a preset priority order.

  According to the emergency notification device for a vehicle according to the present invention, even if the driver remains unregistered as a contact, it is possible to notify an appropriate contact according to the emergency that has occurred.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 to 8 show an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a vehicle emergency notification system, FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an emergency notification program, FIG. 3 is a flowchart continuing from FIG. 2, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart continuing from FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a driver call correspondence processing routine, FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a home character string search processing routine, and FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an emergency table. It is.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an emergency notification system mounted on a vehicle. A control unit 2 of the emergency notification system 1 includes a navigation device 11, an acceleration sensor 12, a pulse sensor 13, an image processing device 14, and a vehicle failure. A diagnostic device 15 is connected.

  The navigation device 11 periodically receives radio waves from a plurality of GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites to determine the current vehicle position, and positioning data such as latitude / longitude information is used as a control unit of the emergency call system 1. 2 is input.

  The acceleration sensor 12 is a sensor for detecting an acceleration acting in a predetermined direction (for example, the front-rear direction) of the vehicle and measuring an impact on the vehicle. The control unit 2 receives a signal from the acceleration sensor 12 in advance. It is determined that some accident has occurred in the event of a set strong impact. Even if the acceleration sensor 12 is not used, for example, it can be determined that an accident has occurred in the vehicle by detecting the operation of the airbag.

  For example, the pulse sensor 13 is embedded in the steering wheel of the vehicle, and the control unit 2 sets the pulse of the driver in advance in a state where the driver grips the steering wheel (determined by a signal from the image processing device 14). It is determined that the driver is abnormal when the preset abnormal pulse region continues for a preset time.

  The image processing device 14 processes the image from the CCD camera 14a provided on the center pillar of the vehicle in a predetermined manner to determine whether the driver is in the state of holding the steering wheel, and the determination result is urgent. A signal is output to the control unit 2 of the reporting system 1.

  The failure diagnosis device 15 is a device that comprehensively diagnoses all failures of the vehicle engine, power transmission system, chassis, electrical system, etc., and when a failure signal occurs in any one system, A signal is output to the control unit 2 of the emergency call system 1.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the acceleration sensor 12, the pulse sensor 13, the image processing device 14, the CCD camera 14a, the vehicle failure diagnosis device 15, and the control unit 2 constitute an abnormality detection means.

  The control unit 2 of the emergency call system 1 is connected to a memory unit 2a that can be written and read as a first storage unit. The memory unit 2a has a police unit as a first emergency contact address. (Telephone call number: 110), the telephone call number of the fire department (phone call number: 119) is recorded in advance, and when the vehicle is purchased, the telephone call number of the dealer (hereinafter referred to as dealer number) is recorded in advance. Yes. Also, when the driver registers an emergency contact, it is recorded in the memory unit 2a.

  Further, the control unit 2 of the emergency call system 1 has a mobile phone address memory unit 3 as a second storage unit, which is a storage unit storing a mobile phone address book, separately from the first storage unit. Are connected via the character string search unit 2b.

  For example, the mobile phone address memory unit 3 is connected by mounting the mobile phone of the driver on a predetermined mounting base (not shown).

  Further, the character string search unit 2b, when there is a signal input from the control unit 2, is a well-known Knuth-Morris-Pratt (KMP) method, Boyer-Moore (BM) method, or Shift-Or algorithm. The mobile phone address memory unit 3 is searched by sequential character string search, and a contact address (character string of the second one) that includes any of the character strings “a1: parent”, “a2: home”, and “a3: home” Identify emergency contact). That is, the character string search unit 2b is provided as search means.

  Further, the control unit 2 of the emergency call system 1 communicates with the first emergency contact address stored in the memory unit 2a and the second emergency contact address retrieved from the mobile phone address memory unit 3. A data transmission unit 4 is connected, and is configured to be able to communicate with each contact through a telephone communication network.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 5 denotes a microphone, and the driver's voice input from the microphone 5 is transmitted to a contact with which the control unit 2 communicates via a telephone communication network.

  Then, the control unit 2 of the emergency call system 1 follows the emergency call program, which will be described later, based on signals from the acceleration sensor 12, the pulse sensor 13, the image processing device 14, and the vehicle failure diagnosis device 15, the driver abnormality and mild Detects accidents, serious accidents, and vehicle failures, and determines contact information (the police, fire department, home, dealer, emergency contact registered by the driver) according to each case And make an outgoing call to the contact. At this time, for the driver's home, a character string search is performed by the character string search unit 2b from the mobile phone address memory unit 3 to identify a contact and make an outgoing call. Thus, the control unit 2 has a function as a communication means.

Next, the emergency call program executed by the emergency call system 1 described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
First, in step (hereinafter abbreviated as “S”) 101, an emergency flag F based on the emergency table is set. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the emergency table is set according to the operation status of the acceleration sensor 12, the pulse sensor 13, the image processing device 14, and the vehicle failure diagnosis device 15.

  For example, when the pulse sensor 13 determines that the driver is abnormal and the image processing device 14 determines that the driver is in the state of holding the steering wheel, an emergency situation of driver abnormality has occurred. And the emergency flag F is set to 1.

  The pulse sensor 13 determines that the driver is abnormal, and the image processing device 14 determines that the posture of the driver is in the state of grasping the steering wheel. Further, a failure signal is input from the failure diagnosis device 15. If it is, it is determined that an emergency of accident A (mild accident) has occurred, and the emergency flag F is set to 2.

  The pulse sensor 13 determines that the driver is abnormal, the image processing device 14 determines that the driver's posture is in a state of grasping the steering wheel, and the acceleration sensor 12 has a strong impact. Is input, it is determined that an emergency of accident B (severe accident) has occurred, and the emergency flag F is set to 3.

  If a failure signal is simply input from the failure diagnosis device 15, it is determined that a vehicle failure emergency has occurred and the emergency flag F is set to 4.

  The emergency flag F is always cleared to 0 in cases other than 1 to 4 described above.

  Next, the process proceeds to S102, in which it is determined whether or not the emergency flag F is 1 (F = 1), that is, whether or not a driver abnormal emergency has occurred. If F = 1, the process proceeds from S103 to S111. Processing is performed, and in the case of other flag values (that is, F = 0, 2, 3, 4), processing after S112 is performed.

  As a result of the determination in S102, F = 1, and it is determined that an emergency situation of driver abnormality has occurred, and if the process proceeds to S103, the outgoing call processing of the fire department (phone call number: 119) is performed. Then, the process proceeds to S104, and driver communication handling processing based on the Vo1 robot voice stored in advance is executed.

  Here, the driver communication handling process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, in S201, after calling the contact, it is determined whether or not the silent call time (time when there is no voice input from the driver through the microphone 5) exceeds a certain time (for example, 5 seconds).

  As a result of the determination in S201, if the silent call time exceeds 5 seconds, the process proceeds to S202, and the emergency is notified to the contact by robot voice.

  In this case, the contact information is the fire department. The type of robot voice is Vo1, and this Vo1 is, for example, “There may be an abnormality in the driver at north latitude XX degrees and east longitude XX degrees (position information from the navigation device).” Etc.

  Then, if there is any call input by the driver in S201, or if the notification by the robot voice is finished in S202, the process proceeds to S203, and a certain time (for example, 60 seconds) has passed after the call is finished. (For example, whether a certain period of time has elapsed since the input of the call disconnection processing signal by the contact or the driver, or a certain period of time has elapsed since the silent time passed through the driver's microphone 5) Whether or not).

  As a result of the determination in S203, if a predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to S204, a call disconnection process is performed, and the driver communication handling process is terminated.

  In addition, since each driver communication compatible process performed in the subsequent processes is different only in the type of contact and robot voice, the driver communication compatible process in each process will be described only as an example of robot voice. Omitted.

  Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 2, after performing the driver communication support process in S104, the process proceeds to S105, and the home character string search process is executed. Specifically, in the home character string search process, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, first, the address memory unit 3 of the mobile phone is referred to in S301.

  Next, in S302, the character string ai is sequentially searched. That is, in the present embodiment, as described above, three character strings to be searched for are set, “a1: parent house”, “a2: home”, and “a3: home”, and the subscript i of the character string ai is set. Correspond to the above-mentioned 1, 2, 3 in order. Therefore, when this routine is executed for the first time, the character string “a1: parent” is sequentially searched.

  Then, the process proceeds to S303, where it is determined whether or not there is an item that corresponds to the character string ai. If there is an item that corresponds to the character string ai, the process proceeds to S304, and the character string ai is converted into the corresponding contact (contact that is estimated to be home). Output as.

  If there is no corresponding item, the process proceeds to S305, where the subscript i of the character string ai to be searched is incremented (i = i + 1), and the process proceeds to S306, where the subscript i of the character string ai to be searched is 4 (i = 4). Or not, that is, whether or not subscript i is set to 4 is set.

  If i = 4 is not satisfied, the processing from S302 is repeated. If i = 4, the process proceeds to S307, and the corresponding contact (contact estimated as home) is output as none. In this way, the character string search is performed in the order of “a1: parents” → “a2: home” → “a3: home”. If none of the character strings are found, the corresponding contact (contact estimated to be home) Outputs as nothing. In the present embodiment, the case where the number of character strings to be searched is three is illustrated, but other than three, for example, one, two, or four or more may be used.

  Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 2, after performing the home character string search process in S <b> 105, the process proceeds to S <b> 106, and as a result of the home character string search process in S <b> 105, is there a corresponding contact (contact information estimated to be home)? Determine whether or not.

  Then, if there is no corresponding contact (contact estimated to be home), the process jumps to S109, and if there is a corresponding contact (contact estimated to be home), the process proceeds to S107. Outgoing call processing is performed for (contact information estimated to be home).

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to S108, and driver communication handling processing based on Vo1 robot voice stored in advance is executed for the corresponding contact (contact estimated to be home).

  When the process proceeds from S106 or S108 to S109, it is determined whether or not the emergency contact address is registered by the driver.

  If the result of this determination in S109 is that there is no emergency contact registered by the driver, the program exits as it is, and if there is an emergency contact registered by the driver, the process proceeds to S110, where the emergency contact by the driver, that is, the driver's emergency contact is registered. The outgoing call processing for the contact is performed.

  In step S111, the driver communication handling process based on the Vo1 robot voice stored in advance is executed for the emergency contact address by the driver, and the program exits.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when it is determined that an emergency situation of driver abnormality has occurred, outgoing calls are made in the order of fire department → contact information estimated to be home → emergency contact information by the driver. It is supposed to be executed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S102 that F = 1 is not satisfied, the process proceeds to S112, in which whether the emergency flag F is 2 (F = 2), that is, the emergency of accident A (mild accident occurrence) It is determined whether or not a situation has occurred. When F = 2, the processing of S113 to S125 is performed. When the values of other flags (that is, F = 0, 3, 4), S126 and subsequent steps are performed. Perform the process.

  As a result of the determination in S112, F = 2, and when it is determined that an emergency of accident A (mild accident) has occurred and the process proceeds to S113, the outgoing call processing of the police (phone call number: 110) is performed. Made. Then, the process proceeds to S114, and the driver communication handling process based on the Vo2 robot voice stored in advance is executed. The Vo2 robot voice is, for example, “There is a possibility that an accident has occurred at north latitude XX degrees and east longitude XX degrees (position information from the navigation device)”.

  Next, the process proceeds to S115, where the outgoing call process of the fire department (phone call number: 119) is executed. Then, the process proceeds to S116, and driver communication handling processing based on Vo2 robot voice stored in advance is executed.

  Next, the processing proceeds to S117, where the dealer number outgoing call processing is executed. Then, the process proceeds to S118, and driver communication handling processing based on the Vo2 robot voice stored in advance is executed.

  Next, the process proceeds to S119, and the home character string search process described in S105 is executed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S120, and it is determined whether or not there is a corresponding contact (a contact estimated to be home) as a result of the home character string search process in S119.

  Then, if there is no corresponding contact (contact estimated to be home), the process jumps to S123, and if there is a corresponding contact (contact estimated to be home), the process proceeds to S121, and the corresponding contact is reached. Outgoing call processing is performed for (contact information estimated to be home).

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to S122, and driver communication handling processing based on the Vo2 robot voice stored in advance is executed for the corresponding contact (contact estimated to be home).

  When the process proceeds from S120 or S122 to S123, it is determined whether or not the emergency contact address is registered by the driver.

  If the result of this determination in S123 is that there is no emergency contact registered by the driver, the program exits as it is, and if there is emergency driver registration by the driver, the process proceeds to S124, where the emergency contact by the driver, that is, the driver's emergency contact is registered. The outgoing call processing for the contact is performed.

  In S125, the driver communication handling process based on the Vo2 robot voice stored in advance is executed for the emergency contact address by the driver, and the program exits.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when it is determined that an emergency of accident A (mild accident) has occurred, the police station → the fire station → the dealer → the contact point estimated to be home → Outgoing calls are executed in the order of emergency contacts by the driver.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S112 that F = 2 is not true, the process proceeds to S126, and whether or not the emergency flag F is 3 (F = 3), that is, the emergency of accident B (severe accident) It is determined whether or not a situation has occurred. If F = 3, the processing of S127 to S139 is performed, and if the other flag values (that is, F = 0, 4), the processing after S140 is performed. I do.

  As a result of the determination in S126, F = 3, and it is determined that an emergency of accident B (severe accident) has occurred, and if the process proceeds to S127, the outgoing call processing of the police (phone call number: 110) is performed. Made. Then, the process proceeds to S128, and driver communication handling processing based on the Vo3 robot voice stored in advance is executed. The Vo3 robot voice is, for example, “a major accident may have occurred at XX degrees north latitude and XX degrees east longitude (position information from the navigation device)”.

  Next, the process proceeds to S129, where the outgoing call process of the fire department (phone call number: 119) is executed. Then, the process proceeds to S130, and driver communication handling processing based on the Vo3 robot voice stored in advance is executed.

  Next, proceeding to S131, the dealer number outgoing call processing is executed. Then, the process proceeds to S132, and driver communication handling processing based on the Vo3 robot voice stored in advance is executed.

  Next, the process proceeds to S133, and the home character string search process described in S105 is executed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S134, and it is determined whether or not there is a corresponding contact (a contact estimated to be home) as a result of the home character string search process in S133.

  Then, if there is no corresponding contact (contact estimated to be home), the process jumps to S137, and if there is a corresponding contact (contact estimated to be home), the process proceeds to S135, and the corresponding contact is reached. Outgoing call processing is performed for (contact information estimated to be home).

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to S136, and driver communication handling processing based on the Vo3 robot voice stored in advance is executed for the corresponding contact (contact estimated to be home).

  When the process proceeds from S134 or S136 to S137, it is determined whether or not the emergency contact information is registered by the driver.

  If the result of this determination in S137 is that there is no emergency contact registered by the driver, the program exits as it is. If there is an emergency contact registered by the driver, the process proceeds to S138, where the emergency contact by the driver, that is, the driver's emergency contact is registered. The outgoing call processing for the contact is performed.

  In step S139, the driver communication handling process based on the Vo3 robot voice stored in advance is executed for the emergency contact address by the driver, and the program exits.

  Thus, according to this embodiment, when it is determined that an emergency of accident B (severe accident) has occurred, the police station → fire department → dealer → contact information estimated to be home → Outgoing calls are executed in the order of emergency contacts by the driver.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in the above-described S126 that F = 3 is not satisfied, the process proceeds to S140, and whether or not the emergency flag F is 4 (F = 4), that is, whether a vehicle failure emergency has occurred. If F = 4, the processing of S141 to S149 is performed, and if the other flag values (that is, F = 0), the program is directly exited.

  As a result of the determination in S140, F = 4, and when it is determined that an emergency situation of a vehicle failure has occurred and the process proceeds to S141, a dealer number outgoing call process is executed. Then, the process proceeds to S142, and driver communication handling processing based on the Vo4 robot voice stored in advance is executed. The Vo4 robot voice is, for example, “A vehicle failure may have occurred at north latitude XX degrees, east longitude XX degrees (position information from the navigation device)”, and the like.

  Next, the process proceeds to S143, and the home character string search process described in S105 is executed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S144, and it is determined whether or not there is a corresponding contact (a contact estimated to be home) as a result of the home character string search process in S143.

  Then, if there is no corresponding contact (contact estimated to be home), the process jumps to S147, and if there is a corresponding contact (contact estimated to be home), the process proceeds to S145. Outgoing call processing is performed for (contact information estimated to be home).

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to S146, and driver communication handling processing based on the Vo4 robot voice stored in advance is executed for the corresponding contact (contact estimated to be home).

  When the process proceeds from S144 or S146 to S147, it is determined whether or not the emergency contact information is registered by the driver.

  If the result of this determination in S147 is that there is no emergency contact registered by the driver, the program exits as it is. The outgoing call processing for the contact is performed.

  Then, the process proceeds to S149, and the driver communication handling process based on the Vo4 robot voice stored in advance for the emergency contact address by the driver is executed to exit the program.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, when it is determined that an emergency situation of a vehicle failure has occurred, outgoing calls are made in the order of dealer → contact estimated at home → emergency contact by driver. It is supposed to be executed.

  As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 2 of the emergency call system 1 receives signals from the acceleration sensor 12, the pulse sensor 13, the image processing device 14, and the vehicle failure diagnosis device 15. Based on the driver's abnormality, minor accident occurrence, severe accident occurrence, vehicle failure status, and contact information (police, fire department, home, dealer, emergency registered by the driver according to each case) Any one of the contacts is determined, and an outgoing call is made to the contact. At this time, for the driver's home, a character string search is performed from the mobile phone address memory unit 3 by the character string search unit 2b to identify a contact and make an outgoing call. Therefore, even if the driver remains unregistered as a contact, the contact that is estimated to be home is specified by performing a character string search from the mobile phone address memory unit 3 by the character string search unit 2b. It is possible to reliably report to an appropriate contact person according to the emergency situation that occurred.

  In this embodiment, emergency situations are classified into four types: driver abnormalities, minor accident occurrences, severe accident occurrences, and vehicle failures. It is also possible to change the way. Moreover, you may make it change how to report by 2 types and 3 types of classification. Furthermore, in this embodiment, an example in which communication is performed using an audio signal is shown. However, when mail address information is obtained from contact information, predetermined mail transmission may be performed together with the audio signal.

Overall configuration of vehicle emergency call system Emergency call program flowchart Flowchart continuing from FIG. Flow chart continuing from FIG. Flow chart continuing from FIG. Flowchart of driver call handling processing routine Flowchart of home character string search processing routine Explanatory drawing which shows an example of an emergency table

Explanation of symbols

1 Emergency call system 2 Control unit (abnormality detection means, communication means)
2a Memory unit 2a (first storage means)
2b Character string search part (search means)
3 Mobile phone address memory section (second storage means)
4 Data transmission unit 5 Microphone 11 Navigation device 12 Acceleration sensor (abnormality detection means)
13 Pulse sensor (abnormality detection means)
14 Image processing device (abnormality detection means)
14a CCD camera (abnormality detection means)
15 Failure diagnosis device (abnormality detection means)

Claims (3)

An abnormality detection means for detecting abnormalities in driving and running of the vehicle;
First storage means storing a first emergency contact;
Search means for executing a search process set in advance from the second storage means storing a plurality of contacts to identify the second emergency contact;
Communication means for performing communication in the priority order set in advance for the first emergency contact and the second emergency contact according to the operating state of the abnormality detection means;
Vehicle emergency call device characterized by comprising   2. The vehicle emergency notification device according to claim 1, wherein the abnormality detection means detects a vehicle accident occurrence, a driver abnormality, and a vehicle failure.   3. The vehicle emergency call device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second storage means is a storage unit storing an address book of a mobile phone.

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