Method and device for detecting radio signal sources approaching a vehicle involved in an accident

Description

State of the art

[0001] DE 20 1017 100 238 U1 describes a transmitting / receiving device for the automatic reporting of accidents in two-wheeled vehicles, three-wheeled vehicles and quadricycles, characterized in that it comprises the following: a transmitting device coupled to a two-wheeled, three-wheeled, or four-wheeled vehicle, said transmitting device comprising a wireless transmitter that repeatedly transmits a wireless signal; a receiving device carried by the driver or passenger of the vehicle, comprising: a battery; a wireless receiver that receives said wireless signal; a control unit that measures the strength of the received wireless signal and sends an alarm signal when said strength is below a certain threshold.

[0002] WO2018 / 193056 A1 describes a method in which a warning signal is emitted in the event of an accident when a transmitter and a receiver move relative to each other. Disclosure of the invention

[0003] The invention relates to a method for determining radio signal sources approaching a vehicle involved in an accident according to claim 1.

[0004] An advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the radio signals are Bluetooth signals. This embodiment is particularly useful because Bluetooth signal sources and Bluetooth transmitters are very widespread, for example, in mobile phones.

[0005] According to the invention, information as to whether at least one radio signal source is approaching the accident vehicle is transmitted wirelessly from the accident vehicle to an emergency service.

[0006] This additional information allows the emergency services to provide more targeted assistance.

[0007] An advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that it is determined whether one of the radio signals received by the radio signal receiver can be assigned to a radio signal source of the driver of the accident vehicle.

[0008] An advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that it is determined whether the driver's radio signal source is approaching the vehicle involved in the accident. This can be an indication that the driver has not suffered particularly serious injuries.

[0009] An advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the wireless transmission of information from the accident vehicle to the emergency services is carried out via an automatic emergency call system. This automatic emergency call system can, for example, be an eCall system.

[0010] The invention further comprises a device according to claim 7. In particular, it is a control device in which the program code for carrying out the method according to claim 1 is stored.

[0011] The drawing includes Figure 1 .

[0012] Fig. 1 shows in a very schematic way in plan view an accident situation with radio signal sources nearby.

[0013] Automatic pairing is an essential component of Bluetooth technology. It detects and addresses other Bluetooth stations in the vicinity of a Bluetooth station.

[0014] This can also be applied to vehicles. If a Bluetooth station is installed in the vehicle, then in the event of an accident, all Bluetooth stations in the immediate vicinity and their corresponding connection field strengths will be detected by the Bluetooth station in the vehicle involved in the accident. Bluetooth stations in the immediate vicinity are primarily the mobile phones of people nearby. Changes in these field strengths indicate that people are approaching or moving away from the scene of the accident. An increase in the field strength means that the person is getting closer to the accident site; a decrease indicates that the person is moving away from the scene.

[0015] The driver's approach to the accident scene can also be detected. This allows the conclusion that the driver's injuries from the accident are likely not extremely serious. The information acquired by the Bluetooth station on the vehicle involved in the accident can be transmitted wirelessly to emergency services, potentially making a voice connection unnecessary.

[0016] In Fig. 1 A schematic top view of a two-wheeler accident situation is shown. Due to an accident, the two-wheeler 102 leaves the road 100 and skids over the edge. A radio signal receiver is installed in the accident vehicle 102, which receives radio signals from neighboring radio signal sources. Fig. 1 Three radio signal sources are shown as examples: A first radio signal source is contained in the vehicle 101 passing the accident site on the road. This can be, for example, the mobile phone of a passenger of the vehicle 101. This transmits radio signals 115. A second radio signal source is carried by a person 103 who is near the accident site. This person transmits radio signals 113. A third radio signal source is carried by the rider 104 of the two-wheeler 102, who was thrown from the two-wheeler as a result of the accident. This person transmits radio signals 114.

[0017] Using the radio signals 113, 114 and 115, it can be determined which of these signal sources are approaching the accident vehicle and this information is transmitted to an emergency service via a wireless signal 116.

Claims

1. Method for determining radio signal sources (101, 103, 104) approaching an accident vehicle involved in an accident (102), wherein - a radio signal receiver contained in the accident vehicle (102) is used to receive radio signals (113, 114, 115) and to assign each of said radio signals to a radio signal source (101, 103, 104) transmitting these radio signals, - the change in the strength of the individual received radio signals (113, 114, 115) over time is determined, and - the change in strength over time is used to determine whether at least one radio signal source (101, 103, 104) is approaching the accident vehicle (102), the radio signal sources (101, 103, 104) also including radio signal sources that are contained in vehicles passing the scene of the accident on the road and / or carried by persons located near the location of the accident, and the information regarding whether at least one radio signal source (101, 103, 104) is approaching the accident vehicle (102) being transmitted (116) wire-lessly from the accident vehicle (102) to an emergency service.

2. Method according to Claim 1, the radio signals (113, 114, 115) being Bluetooth signals.

3. Method according to Claim 1, it being determined whether one of the radio signals (113, 114, 115) received by means of the radio signal receiver can be assigned to a radio signal source of the driver (104) of the accident vehicle (102).

4. Method according to Claim 3, characterized in that it is determined whether the radio signal source of the driver (104) is approaching the accident vehicle (102).

5. Method according to Claim 1, the wireless transmission of the information from the accident vehicle (102) to the emergency service being carried out by means of an automatic emergency system.

6. Device, containing means that are configured to carry out the method according to one of Claims 1 to 5.