Central procedure and system for making an emergency call

Abstract

Method for making an emergency call in which a plurality of vehicles and infrastructure facilities arranged on road sections continuously transmit sensor-acquired vehicle data and sensor-acquired traffic data, and system for making an emergency call.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for making an emergency call, in which a plurality of vehicles and infrastructure facilities arranged along road sections continuously transmit sensor-acquired vehicle data and sensor-acquired traffic data. The invention further relates to a system for making an emergency call.

[0002] Methods in which vehicles and / or infrastructure facilities arranged on road sections continuously transmit sensor-acquired data are, in various forms, state of the art and serve to automatically detect traffic situations in the vicinity of vehicles and / or on the road sections and, if necessary, to react appropriately to the detected traffic situation.

[0003] US 11,341,789 B2 discloses a method for sending data in which a vehicle control unit temporarily stores and analyzes sensor-acquired data from the vehicle, selects important data from the analyzed data, compresses the selected data and sends it to a server with high priority.

[0004] WO 00 / 28410 A1 also describes a method for transmitting data in which a vehicle's cameras continuously record videos of its surroundings, and a control unit in the vehicle stores the most recent segment of the recorded videos. If a vehicle crash sensor detects an accident, the vehicle sends the most recently stored segment to a central database.

[0005] A central computing unit can receive the continuously transmitted vehicle and traffic data and react to the received vehicle and traffic data in real time, in particular determine control data for vehicles that depends on the received vehicle and traffic data and send the determined control data to the vehicles.

[0006] DE 10 2022 102 098 A1 discloses a method for optimizing an operating parameter of a vehicle's driver assistance system, in which, during a vehicle journey, a prediction platform determines an optimal operating parameter of the driver assistance system based on real-time traffic and environmental data and sends control data to the vehicle if the determined optimal operating parameter lies outside a predetermined range of operating parameters of the driver assistance system. The driver assistance system receives the control data and, as a result of the received control data, reduces a function of the driver assistance system associated with the operating parameter.

[0007] One object of the invention is to propose a method for making an emergency call based on transmitted vehicle and traffic data, which increases the efficiency of emergency calls made. A further object of the invention is to propose a system for making an emergency call.

[0008] An object of the invention is a method for making an emergency call in which a plurality of vehicles and infrastructure facilities arranged on roadway sections continuously transmit sensor-acquired vehicle data and sensor-acquired traffic data. A vehicle is generally understood here to be a road vehicle, in particular a passenger car, which includes sensors for detecting the vehicle's driving situation, for example, an interior camera and a surround-view camera, each providing video streams of the vehicle's interior and its surroundings. Infrastructure facilities within the meaning of the invention include, for example, stationary cameras directed at roadway sections that continuously record video of road traffic on the respective roadway sections and provide it as traffic data.

[0009] According to the invention, an edge data center receives the transmitted vehicle and traffic data, combines the received vehicle and traffic data in real time, determines the probability of an accident based on the combined vehicle and traffic data, and automatically places an emergency call regarding the probable accident to a control center if the determined probability exceeds a predetermined threshold. The edge data center is located adjacent to a mobile network base station and typically comprises a plurality of computing devices, i.e., essentially processors and data storage devices.

[0010] Due to its proximity to the base station, vehicles and infrastructure located within a cell provided by the base station and connected to it wirelessly or via cable can transmit their respective vehicle and traffic data to the base station with very low latency. Latency refers to the unavoidable delay between sending and receiving data, caused by the transmission process itself. In other words, because of the Edge Data Center's spatial and logical proximity to the vehicles, the vehicle and traffic data passes through only a relatively small number of delaying network components. This low latency enables a faster response to emergency calls, resulting in greater efficiency in emergency response.

[0011] Apart from that, the Edge Data Center can detect an accident involving one or more vehicles within the radio cell with greater certainty, i.e., determine the minimum probability necessary for an accident, since the Edge Data Center evaluates not only vehicle data of a single crashed vehicle, but also vehicle data of other vehicles involved in the accident or located within a sensor range, as well as traffic data from infrastructure facilities located near the accident site.

[0012] Consistency in all evaluated data concerning the accident increases the statistical certainty of the recorded accident. In this way, every erroneously placed emergency call from an individual vehicle is made more plausible. In other words, an erroneously placed emergency call is reliably detected, thus increasing the precision of the emergency call placed by the edge data center, preferably via eCall, which also leads to greater efficiency in placing the emergency call.

[0013] Furthermore, the Edge Data Center is not involved in accidents and therefore not functionally impaired by them. The Edge Data Center can also place an emergency call even if the damaged vehicle itself is prevented from making an emergency call, in particular from automatically performing an eCall procedure, due to accident damage. The emergency call placed by the Edge Data Center for the damaged vehicle also increases the efficiency of the emergency call procedure according to the invention.

[0014] The Edge Data Center advantageously identifies accident-relevant vehicle and traffic data, compresses this data, and sends it to a cloud server if the probability of an accident exceeds a predetermined threshold. When an accident is detected, the Edge Data Center can distinguish between relevant and irrelevant data and send only the relevant data, thus reducing the amount of data transmitted to the cloud server. Data compression further reduces the amount of data transmitted. This allows the cloud server to receive the relevant accident data sooner, further improving the efficiency of emergency calls.

[0015] The cloud server preferably receives the compressed vehicle and traffic data and determines an accident category based on this data. The determined accident category corresponds to the severity of the accident and the urgency of requiring assistance.

[0016] Ideally, the cloud server provides the received vehicle and traffic data to a local emergency response service with a priority determined according to the identified accident category. This accident category allows for the relative prioritization of multiple emergency calls placed from several edge data centers, at least essentially simultaneously. This relative prioritization of multiple emergency calls handled concurrently by the local emergency response service increases its efficiency, which in turn further improves the efficiency of each individual emergency call.

[0017] Regardless, the cloud server can provide the received vehicle and traffic data to a research institution and / or receive information about accident categories from the research institution. In other words, the cloud server ensures that the efficiency of the emergency call procedure gradually and automatically increases as a result of increasingly accurate accident categorization.

[0018] Alternatively or additionally, the cloud server can provide the received vehicle and traffic data to an insurance company and / or a vehicle manufacturer. The insurance company can then determine insurance benefits based on the provided data. The vehicle manufacturer can use the provided data to guide the technical development of manufactured vehicles in such a way as to increase driving safety and reduce the risk of accidents.

[0019] Furthermore, the cloud server can provide the received vehicle and traffic data to a police station and / or a hospital. This relieves the police station, at least partially, of the burden of independently recording accident data at the scene. The hospital can then promptly prepare appropriate emergency medical care for anyone injured in the accident.

[0020] Conveniently, the cloud server uses the received vehicle and traffic data to determine the likely cause of the accident. This determined cause can then be provided to the police station, the vehicle manufacturer, and / or the insurance company, thus facilitating the processing of the accident report for each of these recipients.

[0021] In one embodiment, the vehicles transmit the sensor-acquired vehicle data via Car2X. Car2X, i.e., Car-to-Everything, is a widely used communication standard that standardizes communication between vehicles and with infrastructure facilities.

[0022] Another aspect of the invention is a system for making an emergency call, comprising an edge data center located adjacent to and connected to a base station of a mobile network, and a cloud server connected to the edge data center. The cloud server can be connected to the edge data center via the internet.

[0023] According to the invention, the edge data center and the cloud server are configured to execute a method according to one embodiment in conjunction with a plurality of vehicles. In this way, the edge data center and the cloud server increase the efficiency of a remote emergency call, in particular an eCall initiated by the edge data center.

[0024] A significant advantage of the method according to the invention is that emergency calls are placed earlier and erroneously placed emergency calls are reliably detected. Furthermore, assistance from local rescue services triggered by emergency calls can be provided more effectively.

[0025] The invention is schematically illustrated in the drawing with reference to one embodiment and is further described with reference to the drawing. It shows: Fig. 1 in a component-wise representation a system according to an embodiment of the invention for making an emergency call; Fig. 2 in a flowchart a method according to an embodiment of the invention for making an emergency call.

[0026] Fig. Figure 1 shows a component-wise representation of a system according to an embodiment of the invention for making an emergency call. The system for making an emergency call comprises an edge data center 5 arranged adjacent to and connected with a base station 14 of a mobile network, and a cloud server 6 connected with the edge data center 5.

[0027] The Edge Data Center 5 and the Cloud Server 6 are configured to work in conjunction with a plurality of vehicles 1, 2 and infrastructure facilities 3, 4 to execute the procedure described below for making an emergency call.

[0028] Fig.Figure 2 shows a flowchart illustrating a method according to an embodiment of the invention for making an emergency call.

[0029] A plurality of vehicles 1, 2 and infrastructure facilities 3, 4 arranged along road sections continuously transmit sensor-acquired vehicle data and sensor-acquired traffic data. The vehicles 1, 2 can transmit the sensor-acquired vehicle data via Car2X.

[0030] The Edge Data Center 5 receives the transmitted vehicle data and traffic data, combines 20 the received vehicle data and traffic data, determines 21 a probability of an accident based on the combined vehicle data and traffic data, and automatically places 22 an emergency call regarding the likely accident to a control center 8 if the determined probability is greater than a predetermined threshold.

[0031] The Edge Data Center 5 can also determine vehicle and traffic data relevant to the accident, compress the determined vehicle and traffic data relevant to the accident, and send the compressed vehicle and traffic data to the Cloud Server 6 23 if the determined probability is greater than the predetermined threshold.

[0032] Ideally, Cloud Server 6 receives the compressed vehicle and traffic data and determines an accident category based on this data. Preferably, Cloud Server 6 then provides the received vehicle and traffic data to a local emergency service with a priority corresponding to the determined accident category.

[0033] In addition, the Cloud Server 5 can provide the received vehicle data and traffic data to a research institution 9 26 and / or receive information about accident categories from the research institution 9 27.

[0034] Furthermore, the Cloud Server 5 can provide the received vehicle data and traffic data to an insurance company 7 and / or a vehicle manufacturer 11 28.

[0035] The Cloud Server 5 can also provide the received vehicle data and traffic data to a police station 12 and / or a hospital 13 28.

[0036] The Cloud Server 5 advantageously determines the cause of the likely accident based on the received vehicle and traffic data. REFERENCE MARK LIST: 1 vehicle 2 vehicles 3 Infrastructure facility, traffic light with camera 4 Infrastructure facility, pole with camera 5 Edge Data Center 6 cloud servers 7 insurance companies 8 Control Center 9 Research institution 10 Emergency Medical Services 11 vehicle manufacturers 12 Police Station 13 Hospital 14 Base station Combining 20 data points 21 Determine probability 22. Make an emergency call Identify, compress, and send 23 relevant data points. Determine 24 accident categories 25. Provide data 26. Provide data 27 pieces of information received 28 data points 29 Determine priority QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] US 11,341,789 B2

[0003] WO 00 / 28410 A1

[0004] DE 10 2022 102 098 A1

[0006]

Claims

Method for making an emergency call in which: - a plurality of vehicles (1, 2) and infrastructure facilities (3, 4) arranged on roadway sections continuously transmit sensor-acquired vehicle data and sensor-acquired traffic data; - an Edge Data Center (5) receives the transmitted vehicle data and traffic data and combines it in real time (20), determines a probability of an accident based on the combined vehicle data and traffic data (21) and automatically makes an emergency call concerning the probable accident to a control center (8) (22) if the determined probability is greater than a predetermined threshold. Method according to claim 1, wherein the Edge Data Center (5) determines (23) vehicle data and traffic data relevant to the accident, compresses (23) the determined vehicle data and traffic data relevant to the accident and sends (23) the compressed vehicle data and traffic data to a Cloud Server (6) when the determined probability is greater than the predetermined threshold. Method according to claim 2, wherein the cloud server (6) receives the compressed vehicle data and traffic data and determines an accident category dependent on the received vehicle data and traffic data (24). Method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the cloud server (6) provides the received vehicle data and traffic data with a determined (29) priority corresponding to the determined accident category to a local rescue service (10) (25). Method according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the cloud server (5) provides the received vehicle data and traffic data to a research institution (9) (26) and / or receives information about accident categories from the research institution (9) (27). Method according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the cloud server (5) provides the received vehicle data and traffic data to an insurance company (7) and / or a vehicle manufacturer (11) (28). Method according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the cloud server (5) provides the received vehicle data and traffic data to a police station (12) and / or a hospital (13) (28). Method according to one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the cloud server (5) determines a cause of the probable accident based on the received vehicle data and traffic data. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the vehicles (1, 2) transmit the sensor-acquired vehicle data via Car2X. System for making an emergency call, comprising an Edge Data Center (5) arranged adjacent to and connected with a base station (14) of a mobile network and a Cloud Server (6) connected with the Edge Data Center (5), which are configured to perform a method according to one of claims 1 to 9 in conjunction with a plurality of vehicles (1, 2).

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