Method for transmitting an emergency call from a motor vehicle

Abstract

A method for transmitting an emergency call from a first motor vehicle includes the steps of: detecting (201) that a second vehicle is in a situation belonging to a predetermined list of emergency situations; sending (203) a message from the first vehicle to the second vehicle containing a request asking if the second vehicle needs help; if the second vehicle responds to the message with a message indicating it needs help, or if no message is received after a predetermined time, sending (205) by the first vehicle an emergency message to an emergency service server. A system for transmitting an emergency call from a first motor vehicle and a motor vehicle comprising the system are also described. Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig 2

Description

Title of the invention: Method for transmitting an emergency call from a motor vehicle technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of transmitting an emergency call from a motor vehicle, a computer program product, a system for transmitting an emergency call from a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle comprising such a system. State of the art

[0002] Currently, many motor vehicles include a 4G / 5G type wireless network transmitter.

[0003] This transmitter can be used to transmit emergency calls, for example in the event of an accident.

[0004] If, for any reason, the transmitter does not work, the vehicle systems search for a known mobile phone, typically that of the vehicle user, which can serve as a relay for the transmission of the emergency call.

[0005] If no phone is found or if the vehicle's systems are too damaged to function, no call is made and therefore the emergency services are not alerted, unless a witness to the scene calls.

[0006] There is therefore a real need for a method and system for transmitting an emergency call from a motor vehicle that resolves all or part of the aforementioned drawbacks by increasing the probability that a rescue call will be made. Description of the invention

[0007] To overcome one or more of the aforementioned drawbacks, according to a first embodiment, a method for transmitting an emergency call from a first motor vehicle comprises the steps of: • detection that a second vehicle is in a situation belonging to a predetermined list of emergency situations; • sending a message from the first vehicle to the second vehicle containing a request asking if the second vehicle needs help; • if the second vehicle responds to the message with a message needing help or if no message is received after a predetermined time, the first vehicle sends an emergency message to an emergency service server.

[0008] Thus, an emergency call can be made, even if the vehicle in need no longer has a transmission system or only in a degraded form.

[0009] Specific features or embodiments, usable alone or in combination, are: • the response message for needing help includes information about the situation of the second vehicle; • the emergency message sent by the first vehicle includes information that the first vehicle is witnessing the situation of the second vehicle; • The first vehicle sends a message to a nearby third vehicle informing it that it is sending an emergency message; and / or • Messages exchanged between the first and second vehicles use the V2V protocol.

[0010] In a second embodiment, a computer program product includes program code instructions for implementing the above process when the program product is executed on a computer.

[0011] In a third embodiment, a system for transmitting an emergency call from a first motor vehicle comprises: • at least one suitable sensor to detect that a second vehicle is in a situation belonging to a predetermined list of emergency situations; connected to • a controller configured to send a message from the first vehicle to the second vehicle containing a request asking if the second vehicle needs help; and if the second vehicle responds to the message with a message needing help or if no message is received after a predetermined time, to send an emergency message to an emergency service server.

[0012] In a fourth embodiment, a motor vehicle includes a system according to the third embodiment. Brief description of the figures

[0013] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the figures in the appendix in which: • [Fig. 1] represents a top view of a vehicle comprising an emergency call transmission system according to one embodiment; and • [Fig.2] represents a flowchart of a transmission process of a emergency call according to a method of implementation. Methods of implementation

[0014] The embodiments presented below refer to a motor vehicle, a car. However, those skilled in the art understand that they are also applicable to other types of vehicles, such as vans, trucks, etc.

[0015] The terms "front", "rear", "top", "bottom", "transverse" are understood in relation to the vehicle.

[0016] With reference to [Fig.1], a motor vehicle 101 includes a system 103 for transmitting an emergency call.

[0017] The system 103 includes a sensor, or a set of sensors, 105 adapted to detect that a second vehicle 107 has an accident.

[0018] For example, the sensor 105 includes one or more cameras which analyze the environment of the vehicle 101 and this analysis which, in normal mode, is used for driving aids includes an accident detection module.

[0019] The system 103 includes a controller 109 connected to the sensor 105.

[0020] The controller 109 can, for example, be integrated into the control system of the Vehicle 101, like an advanced driver-assistance system, commonly called ADAS (for "Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems"), makes all driving decisions based on the environment and the programmed destination. The vehicle is then described as an autonomous vehicle. But it can also be a centralized vehicle management system that may or may not include driver assistance features.

[0021] Data transfer between the different elements is preferably carried out by a CAN (for "Controller Area Network") or LIN (for "Local Interconnect Network") type data bus.

[0022] The controller 109 is connected to a transmitter 111 adapted to transmit and receive messages according to the V2V (“Vehicle to Vehicle”) and V2X (“Vehicle to Infrastructure”) protocols according to the IEEE 802.11p standard.

[0023] The controller 109 is also connected to a transmitter 113 for a long-distance wireless network, typically a 4G / 5G network.

[0024] The operation of system 103 is as follows, [Fig.2].

[0025] In step 201, the sensor 105 detects a situation in which the second vehicle 107 may need to make an emergency call. This situation is, for example, part of a list of situations identified as potentially requiring such an emergency call. For example, vehicle 107 has just been in an accident.

[0026] This detection is reported to the controller 109 which, in step 203, sends, via the transmitter 111, to vehicle 107 a V2V request message to ask if vehicle 107 needs help, then waits for a response, in step 204.

[0027] If transmitter 111 does not receive a reply message after a predetermined time, controller 109 sends, in step 205, an emergency message to an emergency service server via transmitter 113. This message contains information useful to the emergency services, such as the location of vehicle 107, the type of accident, etc. This message specifies that it is sent by vehicle 101 as a witness to the scene with the contact details allowing them to be contacted, more specifically allowing the user of vehicle 101 to be contacted.

[0028] If transmitter 111 receives a reply message, the message can be of two types: I need help or I don't need help, step 206.

[0029] If the message indicates a need for assistance, controller 109, in step 207, gathers all relevant information from vehicle 107, either directly in the reply message or through a series of V2V message exchanges between the two vehicles, and then implements step 205, which sends a message to the emergency services. The message may be more complete than in the previous case thanks to the information gathered from vehicle 107.

[0030] If the message indicates that no help is needed, controller 109 closes, step 209, the procedure.

[0031] Thus, by taking the initiative to contact the crashed vehicle 107, the witness vehicle 101 ensures that an emergency call is launched, even if the crashed vehicle no longer has a connection to the networks.

[0032] Figure 1 illustrates a system according to certain embodiments. The breakdown presented is for pedagogical purposes to highlight the different functions. However, it is understood that each block can be implemented using different means or combinations thereof, such as hardware components, software, one or more computers, and / or electronic circuits. Each component may include at least one computer or a control unit. At least one memory may be included in each component. The memory may include computer program instructions or software code.

[0033] The computers can be implemented by any type of data processing device, such as a central processing unit, a signal processing unit, a specific application integrated circuit, a programmable gate network, etc. The computers can be implemented in the form of a single controller, or a plurality of controllers or computers.

[0034] The different modules are connected to each other by data links adapted to the environment. These can be wired or wireless.

[0035] For the software, the implementation may comprise modules or units distributed in the form of procedures, functions, etc. The memories may be any type of storage circuit. They may be part of the processor circuit, or separate from it and connected via electrical data links. These may be non-volatile memories, hard drives, RAM, flash memory, etc.

[0036] The software product can be downloaded from a communication network and / or stored on a computer-readable medium. It can be directly executable by a processor or be in the form of a high-level language requiring one or more intermediate operations to be executable.

[0037] Thus, the program instructions stored in memory and processed by the computers can be any type of program code, for example, a compiled or interpreted program written in a suitable programming language.

[0038] The computer program instructions stored in memory are such that, when executed by the computer, the latter carries out one or more of the steps of the processes described above.

[0039] The invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the preceding description. This description is to be considered illustrative and given by way of example and not as limiting the invention to this single description. Numerous embodiments are possible.

[0040] In one variant, vehicle 101 sends in parallel to other surrounding vehicles and other connected infrastructures that it supports the communication with the accident vehicle 107. This prevents emergency services from receiving a multitude of calls for the same accident.

Claims

Demands

1. A method for transmitting an emergency call from a first motor vehicle comprising the steps of: • detecting (201) that a second vehicle is in a situation belonging to a predetermined list of emergency situations; • sending (203) a message from the first vehicle to the second vehicle containing a request asking if the second vehicle needs help; • if the second vehicle responds to the message with a message needing help or if no message is received after a predetermined time, sending (205) by the first vehicle an emergency message to an emergency service server.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the help-need response message includes information about the situation of the second vehicle.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the emergency message sent by the first vehicle includes information that the first vehicle is witnessing the situation of the second vehicle.

4. Method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the first vehicle sends a message to a nearby third vehicle informing it that it is sending an emergency message.

5. A method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the messages exchanged between the first and second vehicle use the V2V protocol.

6. Computer program product characterized in that it includes program code instructions for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 when the program product is executed on a computer.

7. A system (103) for transmitting an emergency call from a first motor vehicle (101) comprising: • at least one sensor (105) adapted to detect that a second vehicle is in a situation belonging to a predetermined list of emergency situations; connected to

8. • a controller (109) configured to send a message from the first vehicle to the second vehicle containing a request asking if the second vehicle needs help; and if the second vehicle responds to the message with a message needing help or if no message is received after a predetermined time, to send an emergency message to an emergency service server. Motor vehicle comprising a system according to claim 7.