Procedure for operating a vehicle's emergency call system

Abstract

Methods for operating a vehicle's emergency call system, wherein - using sensors to detect noises and / or movements and / or temperatures within a passenger compartment of the vehicle and - a situation within the passenger compartment is determined based on recorded noises and / or movements and / or temperatures - then, when a situation is detected in a parked state of the vehicle which is classified as an emergency situation, - an external emergency call center is automatically informed of the emergency situation via an emergency call using the vehicle's own emergency call system and - via the emergency call system, a stored phone number of a mobile device last linked to the vehicle is transmitted along with the emergency call, whereby the stored phone number is deleted if no emergency situation was detected while the vehicle was parked.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for operating an emergency call system of a vehicle.

[0002] DE 10 2006 053 618 B4 discloses an arrangement for monitoring a vehicle. The arrangement comprises: - Sensors for monitoring a passenger compartment of the vehicle, - a first communication device provided on the vehicle for transmitting passenger compartment-specific information in response to sensor signals from the sensors and for receiving an identification code from a portable user identification device, - a portable user identification device comprising: - a second communication device for receiving the passenger cell-specific information and for transmitting an identification code and - an output device for outputting output signals depending on the passenger compartment-specific information, - a vehicle access or start system designed to grant access to the vehicle or to release an immobiliser upon receipt of a valid identification code from the user identification device.

[0003] The sensors monitor a baby in the passenger compartment. If a certain noise level and high levels of movement are detected, the situation is classified as critical and an appropriate warning action is initiated. Passenger compartment-specific information or a warning code is then sent to the user identification device.

[0004] Furthermore, WO 2008 / 145 592 A1 discloses a method and device for capturing personal data in a motor vehicle and transmitting the personal data in an emergency. The number of people in the motor vehicle is determined. Furthermore, biometric authentication of all occupants and biometric capture of the personal data captured for authentication are performed in the motor vehicle. The biometric capture is performed using acoustic, haptic, and visual sensors. When an emergency is detected, the captured personal data is transmitted to a telematics unit via a mobile communications unit when an emergency call is generated.

[0005] Furthermore, DE 10 2015 015 671 A1 discloses a method for operating an emergency call system of a vehicle, wherein temperatures within a passenger compartment of the vehicle are detected by means of sensors, and a situation within the passenger compartment is determined based on the detected temperatures. If a situation is detected while the vehicle is parked and classified as an emergency situation, an on-board emergency call system automatically notifies an emergency call center outside the vehicle of the emergency situation via an emergency call.

[0006] Furthermore, DE 10 2017 122 155 A1 discloses a method for storing an emergency contact in a vehicle's own emergency call system and, upon receipt of a critical event signal, transmitting the emergency contact to an external emergency call center.

[0007] The invention is based on the object of providing a novel method for operating an emergency call system of a vehicle.

[0008] The object is achieved according to the invention by a method which has the features specified in claim 1.

[0009] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

[0010] In a method for operating a vehicle's emergency call system, sensors detect noises and / or movements and / or temperatures within a passenger compartment of the vehicle. Based on the detected noises and / or movements and / or temperatures, a situation within the passenger compartment is determined.

[0011] According to the invention, if a situation is detected while the vehicle is parked and classified as an emergency, an on-board emergency call system automatically notifies an external emergency call center of the emergency situation via an emergency call. The emergency call system transmits a stored phone number of a mobile device that was last connected to the vehicle via data transmission along with the emergency call.

[0012] In this context, a data connection between the mobile device and the vehicle is understood to mean, for example, a data connection with a vehicle system, such as an entertainment system, a navigation system, a hands-free device, or other vehicle systems. The connection can be wired or wireless, for example, via a radio connection.

[0013] This method enables a person at the emergency call center who records the emergency call, also known as an agent, to use the phone number to contact a vehicle user who was last in the vehicle and inform them of the emergency situation. This is particularly advantageous because this vehicle user can generally be closer to the parked vehicle than emergency services. This means that the vehicle user informed by the emergency call center can reach the vehicle more quickly than emergency services and can therefore take measures to deal with the emergency situation more quickly. This significantly increases the safety of living beings remaining in the vehicle and / or people and objects in the vehicle's vicinity. If the contacted vehicle user deals with the emergency situation in a timely manner, rescue operations by emergency services, for example a fire department, can be avoided.Customer acceptance of the emergency call function is also increased.

[0014] According to one possible embodiment of the procedure, the telephone number is only collected if at least one living being, ideally a person who can be distinguished from another, is identified or suspected to be a passenger in the vehicle. Living beings, especially small children, are often helpless in parked vehicles and cannot free themselves from emergency situations, such as overheating of the passenger compartment, under their own power. By collecting the telephone number and transmitting it to the emergency call center, living beings in the vehicle can be quickly assisted in the event of an emergency. Collecting the telephone number only when a living being is present in the vehicle maximizes data protection.

[0015] Unnecessary telephone number collection can thus be largely excluded.

[0016] According to another possible embodiment of the method, the phone number is only stored if, after the vehicle has been parked, it is detected that at least one living being remains in the vehicle. This also allows for rapid assistance to be provided to living beings in the vehicle in the event of an emergency. Storing the phone number only when a living being is present in the vehicle maximizes data protection. Unnecessary phone number storage can thus be largely eliminated.

[0017] According to the invention, the stored phone number is deleted if no emergency situation is detected while the vehicle is parked. This largely eliminates unnecessary phone number storage, thus maximizing data protection.

[0018] According to a further possible embodiment of the procedure, the stored telephone number is deleted if - no emergency situation was detected while the vehicle was parked, - the recorded emergency situation has ended before the emergency call is triggered or - the telephone number was transmitted to the emergency call center with the emergency call.

[0019] Unnecessary storage of phone numbers can thus be largely eliminated, so that data protection can be maximized.

[0020] According to another possible implementation of the process, the phone number is transmitted to the emergency call center in encrypted form. This increases the security of the transmission and protects against unauthorized access to the transmitted phone number.

[0021] According to another possible embodiment of the method, a vehicle user is given the option of choosing whether the phone number of their mobile device, which is linked to the vehicle via data technology, should be transmitted to the emergency call center. Thus, each vehicle user is free to decide whether they wish to use the function of transmitting their phone number to the emergency call center.

[0022] According to another possible embodiment of the method, an emergency situation is detected when a living being is detected inside the passenger compartment while the vehicle is parked and the temperature inside the passenger compartment exceeds or falls below a predefined temperature limit. This allows for reliable detection of emergency situations in which a living being is at risk of overheating or hypothermia.

[0023] According to another possible embodiment of the method, a parked vehicle is detected when a stationary state is detected and a driver has left the passenger compartment for longer than a specified period of time. This enables reliable detection of the parked state. In addition, to detect the parked state, it can also be checked whether the vehicle is locked after the vehicle user has left.

[0024] Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing.

[0025] It shows: Fig. 1 schematically shows a sequence of a method for operating an emergency call system of a vehicle.

[0026] In Fig. 1 shows a sequence of a possible embodiment of a method for operating an emergency call system of a vehicle.

[0027] In a first method step S1, noises and / or movements and / or temperatures within a passenger compartment of the vehicle are detected using on-board sensors, and a situation in the passenger compartment is determined from this. This occurs, in particular, while the vehicle is parked.

[0028] A parked state of the vehicle is recognized, for example, when a standstill of the vehicle is detected and a driver of the vehicle has left the passenger compartment for longer than a specified period of time.

[0029] Depending on the detected noises and / or movements and / or temperatures, it is further determined whether the situation is an emergency. Such an emergency situation is detected, for example, if a living being is in the passenger compartment of a parked vehicle and the temperature rises above or falls below a predefined threshold. This can result in life-threatening situations for the living being.

[0030] If such an emergency situation is detected, a vehicle user and / or third parties in the vicinity of the vehicle can be warned in a further process step S2 so that they can resolve the emergency situation by taking appropriate measures.

[0031] However, if no persons in the vicinity of the vehicle can be warned or if their rescue attempts are unsuccessful, an emergency call is automatically transmitted to an emergency call center outside the vehicle via the emergency call system in a further process step S3, by means of which the emergency call center is informed of the emergency situation.

[0032] Along with the emergency call, a stored telephone number of a mobile device last linked to the vehicle is transmitted, particularly in encrypted form, to the emergency call center. This allows a person at the emergency call center who records the emergency call to use the telephone number in a further process step S4 to contact a user who was last in the vehicle, for example, a driver or passenger on the last trip, and inform them of the emergency situation.

[0033] In this case, there is a high probability that the informed vehicle user is closer to the vehicle than rescue workers and can therefore reach the vehicle more quickly to resolve the emergency situation.

[0034] If the informed vehicle user resolves the emergency situation in a further procedural step S5, the emergency call center can be omitted from the notification of rescue services, such as the fire department. However, the vehicle user can also notify rescue services themselves in procedural step S5, who can resolve the emergency situation in a further procedural step S6 or deal with the consequences of an emergency situation resolved by the vehicle user.

[0035] However, if the vehicle user cannot resolve the emergency situation in process step S5 or does not respond to the call from the emergency call center, the center can notify the rescue services in process step S7.

[0036] To maximize data protection, in one possible embodiment, the phone number is only collected if at least one living being is detected as an occupant of the vehicle. In particular, the phone number is only stored if it is detected that at least one living being remains in the vehicle after the vehicle has been parked. In one possible embodiment, the phone number is also only sent together with an emergency call.

[0037] Furthermore, in one possible embodiment of the process, the stored phone number is deleted if no emergency situation was detected while the vehicle was parked. The stored phone number can also be deleted if no emergency situation was detected while the vehicle was parked, if the detected emergency situation ended before the emergency call was triggered, or if the phone number was transmitted to the emergency call center with the emergency call.

[0038] Within the emergency call center, a transmitted telephone number will be deleted or made unrecognizable after the end of a case concerning the emergency call in order to comply with and increase data protection.

[0039] To offer a vehicle user the option of whether they wish to have their mobile device's phone number recorded and transmitted to an emergency call center, they can, for example, make a corresponding selection in the vehicle immediately after the data connection of their mobile device with the vehicle. This selection can also be made available, for example, in an application program, also known as an app, on the mobile device and made by the vehicle user. To avoid having to make this selection every time they use the vehicle, their decision can be stored in a user profile.

Claims

[1] Method for operating an emergency call system of a vehicle, wherein - noises and / or movements and / or temperatures within a passenger compartment of the vehicle are detected by means of a sensor system and - a situation within the passenger compartment is determined based on recorded noises and / or movements and / or temperatures - when a situation is detected while the vehicle is parked and is classified as an emergency situation, - an emergency call center outside the vehicle is automatically informed of the emergency situation by means of an emergency call via an on-board emergency call system and - a stored telephone number of a mobile device last linked to the vehicle for data purposes is transmitted together with the emergency call by means of the emergency call system, whereby the stored telephone number is deleted if no emergency situation was detected while the vehicle was parked. [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by that the telephone number is only collected if at least one living being is recognized or suspected to be an occupant of the vehicle. [3] Method according to claim 2, characterized by that the telephone number is only saved if it is detected that at least one living being remains in the vehicle after the vehicle has been parked. [4] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the stored phone number will be deleted if - no emergency situation was detected while the vehicle was parked, - the recorded emergency situation has ended before the emergency call is triggered or - the telephone number was transmitted to the emergency call center with the emergency call. [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the phone number is transmitted to the emergency call center in encrypted form. [6] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a vehicle user is given the option of choosing whether the telephone number of his mobile device, which is linked to the vehicle for data purposes, should be transmitted to the emergency call centre. [7] Method according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized by that the emergency situation is detected when, when the vehicle is parked, at least one living being is detected within the passenger compartment and the temperature in the passenger compartment exceeds a predetermined temperature limit or falls below a predetermined temperature limit. [8] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the parked state of the vehicle is recognized when a standstill of the vehicle is detected and a driver of the vehicle has left the passenger compartment for longer than a specified period of time.

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