EMERGENCY CALL PROCEDURES FOR VEHICLE USERS AND VEHICLE EMERGENCY CALL SYSTEM

Description

State of the art

[0001] The invention relates to an emergency call method for vehicle users, an emergency call system for carrying out the emergency call method and a vehicle emergency call device.

[0002] Emergency call systems for motor vehicles are known, for example, under the English name eCall and are mandatory as standard equipment in new vehicles with EU type approval after 31 March 2018 for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, see, for example, the EU press release of 31 June 2013 (https: / / ec.europa.eu / commission / presscorner / detail / de / IP_13_534).

[0003] The eCall system comprises an on-board communication device designed to establish a mobile phone connection to a control center automatically upon detection of a vehicle accident, or upon user initiative in the event of a medical emergency involving a vehicle occupant. A so-called MSD (Minimal Set of Data) is transmitted via the mobile phone connection. It contains information about the accident location, the type of triggering, and the vehicle, including the vehicle type and number of occupants. The control center can then initiate appropriate assistance measures, including dispatching emergency services to the scene of the accident or the location of the vehicle. Furthermore, a voice connection can be established between the vehicle user and the control center within the mobile phone connection, allowing the vehicle user to receive additional spoken assistance instructions.

[0004] In the case of vehicles that do not have an enclosed cabin for the driver, especially two-wheelers, including bicycles and motorcycles, the difficulty with voice communication is that the driver regularly wears a helmet, either as a requirement for motorcycles or voluntarily for self-protection in the case of bicycles with or without motorized assistance. Furthermore, ambient noise on the vehicle side impairs the reception of speech from the vehicle user, as well as the reproduction of spoken instructions for assistance. This makes verbal communication between the vehicle user and the control center difficult.

[0005] EP 3 315 446 A1 discloses an emergency call method and system for elevators, in which, if necessary, a communication connection can be established between the elevator and a control center, wherein the control center generates auxiliary information and transmits it to the elevator, wherein the auxiliary information is shown in text form on a display in the elevator. Advantages of the invention

[0006] The invention, with the features of the independent patent claims, improves an emergency call method for vehicle users and a vehicle emergency call device in such a way that the transmission of assistance calls by the control center on the vehicle side or to the vehicle user making an emergency call is facilitated, in particular by improving their comprehensibility and perception by the vehicle user. The terms "vehicle emergency call device" and the abbreviation "emergency call device" are used synonymously in the context of the present invention.

[0007] For this purpose, an emergency call method for vehicle users according to claim 1 is proposed.

[0008] The improved transmission of the help instructions generated by the control center to the vehicle, the vehicle user, or a person assisting the vehicle user is achieved by converting the spoken help instructions into textual help information, i.e., help information in text form, which can then be displayed on a vehicle-mounted display. Furthermore, in addition to displaying the textual help information, the spoken help instructions can also be played via a loudspeaker on the vehicle or the emergency call system.

[0009] Advantageously, it can additionally be provided that a voice message from the vehicle user is optionally also captured or recorded and transmitted to the control center via the communication link in addition to or as part of the emergency call message. As part of the emergency call message means that the voice message is recorded and transmitted to the control center as part of the emergency call message or, for example, as a supplementary data packet to the emergency call message. In addition to the emergency call message, the option includes establishing a voice connection between the emergency call device and the control center or, at the initiative of the control center in response to the received emergency call message, between the control center and the emergency call device, so that the vehicle user can communicate verbally with the control center. Furthermore, after a voice connection has been established, a person assisting the vehicle user can also communicate verbally directly with the control center.

[0010] The plan is for vehicle type information to be transmitted to the control center as part of the emergency call message. From this, the control center can determine the type of vehicle involved and adapt the further procedure accordingly. In the case of a two-wheeler as the affected vehicle, for example, the spoken help instructions can be adapted so that they can be converted reliably and without misunderstandings by a speech-to-text converter. Simple language with short sentences and commonly used vocabulary, for example, contributes to this.

[0011] Furthermore, it can be advantageous to have the spoken help instructions converted into textual help information by the control center. Thus, speech-to-text conversion, based on the current state of the art, requires significant computing resources, which are easier to maintain and operate in a control center than in or on a vehicle. Furthermore, the speech-to-text conversion, or the associated computer and software infrastructure, would only need to be provided once in the control center, or possibly multiple times for multiple intercom stations, whereas with vehicle-based conversion, the infrastructure would have to be available in or on each individual vehicle. The latter option would obviously be significantly more expensive.

[0012] The plan is for the control center to convert the spoken help instructions into textual help information whenever the vehicle type information transmitted to the control center indicates a motorcycle or two-wheeler. In contrast, in the case of a car or truck, for example, the spoken help information can still be reproduced acoustically in the vehicle via a voice connection.

[0013] In an advantageous further development, it can also be provided that the help information is translated into a language selectable by the vehicle user and that the textual help information is shown on the display device after translation in the selected language. The translation can in turn be carried out by the control center or by the vehicle-mounted emergency call system. For translation by the control center, it is necessary to inform the control center in which language the help information is to be made available to the vehicle user. For this purpose, the language can be preselected by the vehicle user on the emergency call system and an associated user interface, and this preselection can be transmitted to the control center, for example, as part of the emergency call message.For in-vehicle translation, the target language can also be preselected by the user; in this case, transmission of the language selection to the control center is obviously not necessary.

[0014] Furthermore, a vehicle emergency call device according to claim 4 is proposed. Drawings

[0015] Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the figures and explained in more detail below. The same reference numerals in the figures denote the same or equivalent elements.

[0016] It shows Figure 1 a block diagram of a vehicle emergency call system with an advantageous embodiment of the emergency call device according to the invention and a control center and Figure 2 a schematic representation of the sequence of an advantageous embodiment of the emergency call method according to the invention. Description of the embodiments

[0017] In Figure 1a vehicle emergency call system is schematically shown which is designed and configured to carry out the emergency call method according to the invention.

[0018] The emergency call system 1 comprises an emergency call device 10, which can be connected to a control center 20 via a mobile radio connection 31, which can be implemented using a mobile radio network 30. The emergency call device 10 is intended and designed for use in the operation of a vehicle, in particular a vehicle that does not have an enclosed cabin for the driver or the vehicle occupants, and is therefore also referred to as a vehicle-mounted emergency call device 10 or a vehicle emergency call device 10. Vehicles in this sense are, in particular, two- or multi-wheeled motorcycles, for example, motorcycles or open all-terrain vehicles, so-called "quads," as well as bicycles with auxiliary motor drive or purely human-powered bicycles. The term "bicycle" here includes not only classic bicycles but also recumbent bicycles or fixed-gear versions with two or more wheels.

[0019] In the Figure 1In the embodiment shown, the emergency call device 10 is permanently installed in or on a motorcycle 15 as a possible example of a vehicle.

[0020] The emergency call device 10 has access to an accident detection unit 18. This means that the accident detection unit 18 is part of the emergency call device or that the emergency call device 10 accesses an accident detection unit 18 that is installed in or on the vehicle 15. The accident detection unit 18 evaluates sensor information provided by sensors in order to generate, if necessary, information about an accident involving the vehicle 15, i.e., accident information, and preferably also about the type of accident involving the vehicle 15.

[0021] The sensors can be, for example, acceleration and / or yaw rate sensors. If their measured values ​​for acceleration or yaw rate exceed specified limits that are beyond the typical measured values ​​for normal operation of the vehicle, it can be concluded that the vehicle 15 has been involved in an accident. For example, abrupt decelerations or abrupt changes in tilt angle, as well as rotations around a vehicle's longitudinal axis beyond a certain angle of, for example, 90 degrees, indicate an accident.

[0022] In addition, the emergency call device 10 also has access to an operating unit 17, via which a vehicle user can generate operating signals. In the context of the present invention, the operating unit is configured to generate emergency information. The operating unit 17 can be part of an existing vehicle operating unit, for example, an emergency button on the switch unit on the motorcycle handlebar or on the motorcycle cockpit. However, the operating unit 17 can also be an integral part of the emergency call device 10.

[0023] The emergency call device 10 further comprises a communication unit 12. The communication unit 12 is designed to establish a communication connection 31 between the vehicle-mounted emergency call device 10 and a control center 20 in response to an emergency call request. Provision is made for the communication connection 31 between the vehicle-mounted emergency call device 10 and the control center 20 to be established in a manner known per se according to the eCall system mentioned in the introduction to the description, using a mobile radio network 30. The emergency call request that triggers the communication connection is an accident information item generated by the accident detection unit 18 and / or an emergency information item entered by the vehicle user via the operating unit 17, in a manner also known per se from the eCall system.

[0024] The communication unit 10 is designed to transmit an emergency call message 32 to the control center 20 via the communication connection 31 after the communication connection 31 has been established. In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that, analogously or in accordance with the eCall system, the MSD (Minimal Set of Data), i.e., information on the accident location, the type of triggering, and the vehicle, including the vehicle type and number of occupants, is transmitted to the control center 20. Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the communication unit 10 is designed to transmit a voice message from the vehicle user, recorded via a vehicle-mounted microphone 13, to the control center 20 via the communication connection 31 in addition to or as part of the emergency call message. The microphone 13 can in turn be a component of the vehicle 15 and connected to the emergency call device 10.Alternatively, the microphone 13 can also be part of the emergency call device 10.

[0025] Furthermore, a display device 14 is provided on the vehicle which, in connection with the present invention, is set up to display textual help information, i.e. help information in text form. The display device 14 can preferably be part of the vehicle equipment, for example a display within an instrument panel of the vehicle 15. However, the display device can also be an integral part of the emergency call device 10. In this case, it is provided that in response to the emergency call message transmitted from the emergency call device 10 to the control center 20, a help message based on spoken help instructions is generated on the part of the control center and transmitted via the communication link 31 to the communication unit 12 and thus to the emergency call device 10. In order to now perceive orTo facilitate the understanding of the content of the help instructions generated by the control center for the vehicle user, the invention provides for the spoken help instructions to be converted into help information in text form using a speech-to-text conversion module, also known as speech-to-text. Such speech-to-text conversions are known per se, for example, from dictation software or voice-controlled assistance systems for vehicles, computers, or mobile phones.

[0026] In one possible embodiment, it is provided that the speech-to-text conversion of the spoken help instructions generated in the control center 20 already takes place in the control center 20 and thus the help message transmitted to the emergency call device 10 already includes help information in text form, which can be displayed directly on the display device 14 of the vehicle 15.

[0027] In a further possible embodiment, it can be provided that the speech-to-text conversion of the spoken help instructions generated in the control center 20 only takes place on the vehicle side in a speech-to-text conversion module 11 included in the emergency call device 10.

[0028] In the preferred embodiment of the invention described here, a translation module 16 is further provided, which is configured to translate the help instructions converted into text form, i.e., the help information, into a predefined language, so that the textual help information is displayed in this predefined language on the display device 14. The language can, in particular, be selected or preselected by the vehicle user.

[0029] The emergency call device 10 can be implemented in the form of a device permanently installed in or on the vehicle 15. In this case, individual or multiple functional blocks of the emergency call device 10 can also be components of the vehicle 15 already present for other purposes. In the example of the motorcycle as the vehicle 15, in particular the input device 17 and / or the display device 14 can be component(s) of the vehicle 15. Likewise, a hands-free microphone can also be permanently installed on the motorcycle 15. This makes it easier, for example, for a person coming to the aid of an accident-damaged motorcyclist to communicate with the control center 20 via a mobile radio voice connection existing within the framework of the communication link 31 in order to request suitable assistance measures. A loudspeaker is preferably also provided on the vehicle for this purpose.

[0030] The emergency call device 10 can also be detachably connected to the vehicle. For example, a holder can be provided on the vehicle 15, in which the emergency call device 10 can be inserted and held as needed. Furthermore, the emergency call device 10 can also be carried by the driver, for example, in a pocket.

[0031] In particular, the emergency call device 10 can be designed, for example, as a mobile phone or smartphone with software or software application, or app for short, suitable for implementing the method, which can be held on the vehicle by means of a holder when traveling with the vehicle 15 or can be carried by the vehicle user.All of the previously described functional blocks of the emergency call device 10 can be represented by the smartphone, namely in particular the accident detection unit 18, which is designed as a software module and accesses sensors of the smartphone, the input device 17 in the form of operating elements of the smartphone, in a manner known per se from smartphones the communication unit 12 for establishing the communication connection, the microphone 13, the loudspeaker (not shown) and the display device 14 as well as, if appropriate, the speech-to-text conversion module 11 and the translation module 16, each as software modules of the software application.

[0032] In addition to complete integration as a vehicle-mounted emergency call device 10 or as a standalone emergency call device, for example in the form of a smartphone, the emergency call device 10 can also be implemented as a combination of vehicle-mounted functional modules and vehicle-independent functional modules, for example in the form of a smartphone with a software application that accesses vehicle-mounted installations such as accident detection 18 and / or microphone 13 and / or loudspeaker and / or display device 14, while the other functional blocks, such as in particular the communication unit 12, possibly speech-to-text conversion 11 and translation 16, are mapped by the smartphone itself. Other mixed forms are also possible.

[0033] The control center 20 comprises a further communication unit (not shown) which is configured to receive an emergency call message 31 sent by the vehicle-mounted emergency call device 10 or the vehicle-mounted emergency call device 10 via a communication connection 31 established by means of the mobile radio network 30 and, in response thereto, to send an assistance message 32 via the communication connection 31 to the emergency call device 10.

[0034] The control center 20 has the equipment and facilities familiar from the eCall system.

[0035] In this case, it is provided that an employee 21 of the control center 20 evaluates and processes the emergency call message received from the emergency call device 10 and thus from the user of the vehicle 15. This includes, in particular, that the employee 21 of the control center speaks a help instruction, which is recorded via another microphone 22 by the control center 20 and serves as the basis for the help message sent from the control center 20 to the emergency call device 10.

[0036] Figure 2 outlines the sequence of the emergency call procedure according to the invention.

[0037] The method starts with the detection of an accident involving the vehicle, here the motorcycle 15, by the accident detection unit 18 or by an emergency call initiated by the vehicle user by pressing, for example, an emergency call button on the input device 17 of the emergency call device 10 (step 110).

[0038] After initiating the emergency call, the communication unit 12 of the emergency call device 10 dials the control center 20, whereupon a communication connection 31 is established between the vehicle-mounted emergency call device 10 and the control center via the mobile radio network 30 (step 120). In the exemplary embodiment described here, it is assumed that the control center 20 is formed by a known control center of the eCall system. However, other approaches are also possible, such as a special control center for certain vehicle types, such as motorcycles or more generally, motorcycles, manufacturer-specific control centers, or even control centers of specific service providers.

[0039] As soon as the communication connection 31 is established, in step 130 a data set, in the preferred embodiment here according to the eCall MSD (Minimal Data Set), comprising the vehicle location determined, for example, by means of on-board satellite positioning, the type of triggering, i.e. as a result of an accident or user-initiated, and transmitted to the vehicle, including the vehicle type and number of occupants.

[0040] In step 140, the information transmitted by the vehicle-mounted emergency call system 10 is analyzed in the control center 20, where appropriate measures are initiated. In the present case of the eCall control center, the type of vehicle involved—here, motorcycle 15—is determined and differentiated from other vehicle types.

[0041] In step 150, an employee 21 of the control center 20 provides assistance instructions by transmitting suitable assistance instructions into the additional microphone 22. These assistance instructions can depend in particular on the type of emergency, i.e., an accident and, if applicable, the type of accident, insofar as this can be identified from the emergency call message 32 transmitted by the emergency call device 10, or a user-initiated emergency call. Furthermore, these assistance instructions can also be a request to provide further details about the emergency or its consequences, i.e., for example, those involved in the accident and their state of health, the location of the incident, or other information required for targeted, effective, and efficient assistance, via the voice connection via the vehicle-mounted microphone 13.

[0042] This help instruction recorded via the additional microphone 22 serves as the basis for the help message 33 transmitted in step 160 from the control center 20 via the mobile radio connection 31 to the emergency call device 10.

[0043] In one embodiment of the invention, the spoken help instructions are already converted into text form at the control center 20 by means of a second, software-based speech-to-text conversion module 23. According to the invention, this conversion occurs at least when the emergency call message transmitted by the control center 10 or the MSD contained therein indicates that the affected vehicle 15 is a two-wheeler or motorcycle in the sense mentioned above, i.e., without an enclosed cabin for the driver or vehicle occupants. Emergency call messages from other motor vehicles can also be handled in the usual way according to the eCall standard. In this way, a control center suitable for standard eCall can also be used for the method proposed here.

[0044] In another embodiment, the spoken help instructions are transmitted to the vehicle-mounted emergency call device 10 as part of the help message 33 without speech-to-text conversion 23.

[0045] The help message 32 received from the control center 20 via the mobile radio connection 31 is processed in step 170 and output as text on the display device 14 of the vehicle-side display device in a subsequent step 180.

[0046] Processing step 170 includes checking the help information contained in the help message to determine whether it is in spoken language or text form. If the help information is in the form of spoken help instructions, it is converted into text-based help information using the speech-to-text conversion module 11 of the emergency call device.

[0047] Furthermore, in step 170, a check is made to determine whether the assistance information contained in the help message 33 is available in a language desired or preset by the vehicle user, for example, their native language. If this is not the case, the textual help information contained in the received help message 33 or the textual help information obtained from the spoken help instructions contained in the help message 33 through speech-to-text conversion is translated into the desired language or the language preset by the vehicle user by means of the translation module 16 and then displayed in text form on the vehicle-side display device 14 in step 180.

[0048] In addition to the help information display on the display device 14, a bidirectional voice connection can also exist or be established between the vehicle-side emergency call device 10 and the control center 20 or the employee 21 there in order to exchange further information.

[0049] In a manner known per se from the eCall system, the control center 20 can, preferably but not necessarily exclusively, initiate further measures, such as in particular the dispatch of police, fire brigade and / or an emergency service to the scene of the accident, depending on the emergency call message transmitted by the vehicle emergency call device 10 to the control center 20.

Claims

1. Emergency call method for vehicle users, comprising the steps of - establishing a communication connection (31) between an on-board emergency call device (10) and a control centre (20) by means of the emergency call device (10), - sending an emergency call message (32) to the control centre (20) by means of the emergency call device (10) via the communication connection (31), - transmitting vehicle type information to the control centre (20) as part of the emergency call message (32), - recording spoken help instructions on the part of the control centre (20), - transmitting a help message (33) based on the spoken help instructions from the control centre (20) to the on-board emergency call device (10) via the communication connection (31), - converting the spoken help instructions into textual help information by means of the control centre (20) when the vehicle type information transmitted to the control centre (20) indicates a motorcycle or a two-wheeled vehicle, - displaying the textual help information on an on-board display device (14).

2. Emergency call method according to Claim 1, characterized in that a voice message of the vehicle user is recorded and is transmitted to the control centre (20) via the communication connection (31) in addition to or as part of the emergency call message (32).

3. Emergency call method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the help information is translated into a language selectable by the vehicle user and the textual help information is displayed on the display device (14) after translation into the selected language.

4. Emergency call system for carrying out the emergency call method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a) a vehicle emergency call device (10) which is configured - to establish a communication connection (31) to a control centre (20), - to generate and send an emergency call message (32) to the control centre (20) via the communication connection (33), - to transmit vehicle type information to the control centre (20) as part of the emergency call message (32), and - to receive a help message (33) generated by the control centre (20) on the basis of spoken help instructions via the communication connection (31), and - to display textual help information generated from the spoken help instructions on an on-board display device (14), and b) a control centre (20) which is configured - to record spoken help instructions on the part of the control centre (20), - to transmit a help message (33) based on the spoken help instructions to the on-board emergency call device (10) via the communication connection (31), and - to convert the spoken help instructions into textual help information by means of the control centre (20) when the vehicle type information transmitted to the control centre (20) indicates a motorcycle or a two-wheeled vehicle.