Dual-Path Vehicle Emergency Calls for Control Center Failures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing emergency call methods from vehicles are not robust enough to ensure successful connection to a control center due to various error sources such as communication unit malfunctions, control center malfunctions, and occupant interference, leading to reduced probability of receiving appropriate assistance.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control unit automatically establishes a first connection to a control center and, upon failure, receives a message indicating the failure, allowing it to establish a second connection, optionally through different communication means, and can reset/restart to retry, ensuring the emergency call is made via a data channel or to a backend server, with visual alerts and selective dispatch center participation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single connection method is used to establish connection to control center, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of emergency call is compromised due to various error sources
Solution Approach 1:
The emergency call connection establishment is segmented into multiple independent connection methods (first connection method and second connection method). Each method operates independently through separate communication channels, allowing the system to attempt different connection approaches when one fails, thereby improving emergency call success probability without requiring a single overly complex unified mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes connection parameters by switching between different connection methods based on success/failure conditions. When the first connection method fails, the system transitions to the second connection method, effectively changing the communication parameters to adapt to adverse conditions and maintain emergency call reliability.
2Reliability
If multiple connection methods are implemented to increase emergency call success probability, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection management system implements dynamic behavior through conditional logic that automatically selects between first and second connection methods based on real-time success conditions. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to handle multiple connection methods without requiring permanently active complex infrastructure for each method, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary that manages the transition between different connection methods. It receives sensor signals or control element actuations, attempts the first connection method, and automatically switches to the second connection method if the first fails. This intermediary role simplifies the management of multiple connection methods by centralizing the decision-making logic in a single control component.
3Reliability
If automatic retry mechanism is implemented upon connection failure, then the robustness of emergency call process is improved, but the loss of time for connection establishment may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares multiple connection methods in advance before emergency situations occur. Both the first and second connection methods are pre-configured and ready for immediate execution, eliminating the need for time-consuming setup during actual emergencies. This preliminary preparation allows automatic retry without significant time loss when the first connection fails.
Solution Approach 2:
The automatic retry mechanism enables the system to quickly skip failed connection attempts and rush through to alternative connection methods. Upon detecting connection failure through the control unit, the system immediately transitions to the second connection method without prolonged delays, maintaining robustness while minimizing time loss in the connection establishment process.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A method for making a vehicle emergency call, wherein a controller of a vehicle automatically establishes a first connection to a coordination center after an accident and makes an emergency call via the connection so established; a controller for a vehicle and a coordination center for receiving a vehicle's emergency call.