Vehicle Emergency Call Backup via Network Switching

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional telematics services face challenges in ensuring the success of emergency calls during vehicle accidents, particularly when the telematics controller is damaged due to external shocks, leading to failed emergency call transmissions without a fail-safe method for complementing the failure.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method that include a telematics module for initiating emergency calls, an emergency call complementing module to monitor and retry the transmission using available networks, including un-trusted networks like WiFi and hotspots, and an AVN module to facilitate emergency call transmissions when the primary network fails, ensuring a higher success rate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the telematics module uses a trusted network (LTE/3G) for emergency call transmission, then the security and reliability of the emergency call is improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to failure when the telematics controller is damaged by external shocks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemergency call transmission reliabilityVSAvoidnetwork selection flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The emergency call system is designed to support multiple network types (trusted networks like LTE/3G and untrusted networks like WiFi) through a single unified architecture. The emergency call complementing module can select and switch between different network types based on the operational status of the telematics module, making the system universally adaptable to various network conditions and failure scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements dynamic network selection where the emergency call complementing module monitors the status of the telematics module and dynamically switches between trusted and untrusted networks. When the telematics module fails, the system dynamically transitions from using only trusted networks to using untrusted networks, ensuring continuous emergency call capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the system only uses trusted networks for emergency calls, then the security is improved, but the success rate of emergency call transmission decreases when the telematics controller is damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemergency call success rateVSAvoidvulnerability to controller damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system prepares alternative untrusted networks in advance as backup communication paths. The emergency call complementing module is pre-configured to access untrusted networks (WiFi, hotspots) when the trusted network fails due to telematics module damage. This beforehand preparation ensures that emergency calls can still be transmitted even when the primary trusted network is unavailable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The emergency call complementing module acts as an intermediary between the emergency call function and the available networks. It monitors the status of the telematics module and mediates the selection of appropriate networks, switching from trusted to untrusted networks when necessary. This intermediary layer protects the emergency call function from the harmful effect of telematics module damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the telematics module is the sole component for emergency call transmission, then the device complexity is reduced, but the system lacks fail-safe capability when the telematics module fails

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefail-safe capabilityVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The emergency call system is segmented into two independent functional modules: the telematics module for normal operation and the emergency call complementing module for backup. Each module can independently access different network types. This segmentation allows the system to maintain fail-safe capability while keeping each module relatively simple in structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters (network type, active module) based on the status of the telematics module. When the telematics module fails, the system changes from using the telematics module on trusted networks to using the emergency call complementing module on untrusted networks. This parameter change enables fail-safe operation without requiring a completely different system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11832342B2Apparatus and method for sending emergency call

Publication Date: 2023.11.28 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

An embodiment emergency call sending apparatus includes a telematics module configured to send an emergency call when an accident occurs, and an emergency call complementing module configured to monitor whether an emergency call transmission executed by the telematics module succeeds or fails, search for an available network near a vehicle, access the available network when the emergency call transmission fails, and control a complement of the emergency call transmission.