Automated Accident Report Generation Using Mobile Device Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for automatically reporting accidents lack comprehensive data on the number of people involved, leading to inefficient emergency response planning and potential errors in determining the number of rescue units needed, especially in vehicles without suitable sensors or eCall systems.

Innovation Solution

A method that uses existing telecommunications infrastructure to determine the number of mobile terminals within a predetermined spatial proximity to a road user involved in an accident, estimating the number of people involved and automatically generating an accident report, which includes geographical position and health parameters, to coordinate rescue measures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If seat occupancy sensors are installed to detect the number of people involved, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetermination of number of people involvedVSAvoidsensor installation and retrofitting
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses mobile communication devices as intermediaries to determine the number of people involved. Instead of installing specialized seat occupancy sensors in vehicles, the system leverages existing mobile phones carried by occupants to gather location and identification data, thereby avoiding complex sensor installation while achieving accurate person counting

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a virtual copy of occupancy information by detecting mobile devices in the vicinity of the accident location. Rather than directly measuring physical seat occupancy, the system infers person presence through digital signals from mobile devices, providing equivalent information with simpler technology

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If comprehensive sensor technology is used to determine the number of occupants, then measurement precision is improved, but reliability decreases due to potential malfunction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetermination of number of people involvedVSAvoidsystem reliability in case of malfunction
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces expensive, complex sensor systems with inexpensive mobile communication devices that are already in the possession of occupants. These mobile devices are more reliable because they are familiar technology that occupants carry regardless of vehicle type, eliminating the reliability issues associated with specialized vehicle sensors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile devices perform the measurement function autonomously without requiring specialized installation or maintenance. The occupants' existing phones automatically provide location and identification data, eliminating the need for system maintenance and reducing failure points associated with installed sensor systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If manual alerting of emergency services is used, then ease of operation is maintained, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanual telephone alertingVSAvoidtime for emergency response planning
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary automated determination of the number of people involved and generation of accident reports before emergency services arrive. By pre-calculating the required number of rescue units based on mobile device detection, the system eliminates the need for manual counting and planning, significantly reducing response time while maintaining operational simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically generates and transmits accident reports with complete information about the number of people involved, eliminating the need for manual intervention in the reporting process. The automated system serves itself by collecting data from mobile devices, processing the information, and notifying emergency services without human involvement, thereby reducing time loss

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Extent of automation

If eCall system is used to automatically place emergency calls, then extent of automation is improved, but loss of information occurs regarding the number of people involved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic emergency call placementVSAvoidinformation on number of people involved
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system extends the eCall functionality to perform multiple tasks: automatic emergency call placement, determination of the number of people involved through mobile device detection, and generation of comprehensive accident reports. By making the system multi-functional, it preserves the automation benefit while adding critical information capabilities that were previously lost

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous automated operation by continuously monitoring mobile device locations and automatically updating accident reports. The useful action of automated information gathering continues throughout the event, ensuring that complete and up-to-date information about the number of people involved is always available to emergency services

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP3660801B1Automated creation of an accident report
Publication Date: 2022.10.05 GIESECKE & DEVRIENT EPAYMENTS GMBH
  • EP3660801B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3660801B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3660801B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for the automated creation of an accident report, which enables rescue services to be automatically notified based on a comprehensive accident report and simultaneously receive information on the number of persons involved. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a correspondingly configured system arrangement and to a computer program product with control commands that implement the proposed method.