Emergency Call Unit Computing Mode Switching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Emergency call units in vehicles are costly, especially for inexpensive vehicles, and the availability of emergency calls after an accident is not guaranteed due to potential damage to connected mobile devices and interruption of power supply, which can render the wireless connection and vehicle electronics unreliable.
Innovation Solution
The emergency call unit is designed to switch to an emergency call mode, utilizing a self-sufficient computing unit and cellular communication module with a backup energy source, allowing it to send emergency calls independently of the vehicle's power supply and communication network, even if other vehicle electronics are damaged. This is achieved by restarting the processor in dual boot mode and storing necessary information in non-volatile memory for quick access during emergencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an independent communication module is integrated in the emergency call unit to establish a connection to the public mobile network, then the emergency call functionality is reliable and independent, but the costs for the emergency call unit become relatively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the emergency call functionality with the existing vehicle telematics communication module, eliminating the need for a separate independent communication module. The existing module handles both telematics communication and emergency calls by switching to a specific emergency mode, thereby reducing costs while maintaining functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The existing communication module is designed to perform multiple functions: normal telematics communication and emergency call establishment. By enabling the module to switch between different operational modes, the system achieves multi-functionality without requiring additional hardware, thus reducing manufacturing costs.
2Ease of manufacture
If mobile devices are connected via Bluetooth or WLAN to make emergency calls, then the costs are reduced, but the availability of the emergency call after an accident is not guaranteed since the mobile device can be thrown out or destroyed
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares for potential accidents by implementing a dual-mode communication architecture. The existing communication module is configured to switch to emergency mode automatically upon detecting an accident, ensuring that emergency calls can be made through the vehicle's integrated system rather than relying on vulnerable mobile devices that may be damaged or displaced.
3Ease of manufacture
If a central control unit is shared among multiple vehicle units to reduce costs, then the production costs are significantly reduced, but if one central processor fails, the entire vehicle electronics fail and safety-related functions can no longer be guaranteed
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the processing functions by implementing a dedicated emergency call mode within the communication module that can operate independently of the central control unit. This segmentation ensures that emergency functions remain available even if the central processor fails, as the emergency mode uses separate processing resources and communication pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The emergency call functionality is extracted from the general telematics processing and given priority status. The communication module can switch to emergency mode that bypasses normal central control unit dependencies, effectively separating the critical safety function from the shared processing resources to ensure its availability during central unit failures.
4Ease of manufacture
If the computing unit of the emergency call unit takes over functions of other vehicle units in normal mode, then the costs are reduced and computing power is optimized, but the emergency call unit must quickly switch to emergency mode when a dangerous situation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The computing unit implements dynamic mode switching between normal operation and emergency call mode. The system can adaptively allocate processing resources based on the operational state, switching from cost-optimized shared processing in normal mode to dedicated emergency processing when needed, ensuring both cost efficiency and rapid response capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication module is pre-configured with emergency mode capabilities and protocols. Necessary emergency functions are pre-loaded and ready to execute immediately upon detecting an accident, reducing the switching time from normal to emergency mode by having critical resources prepared in advance.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for using the computing unit (2) of an emergency call unit (1) as well as an emergency call unit (1) which is designed accordingly, said emergency call unit having a cellular communication module (3) for transmitting an emergency call in a public mobile phone network and being connected to other vehicle units (7, 11, 12), each of which has a computing unit (8, 13, 14), over a vehicle communication network (6). In order to be able to also use the computing unit (2) of the emergency call unit (1) when no emergency message is sent, the computing unit (2) of the emergency call unit (1) takes over certain functions of the computing units (8, 13, 14) of the other vehicle units (7, 11, 12) in a normal mode and provides the functional results over the vehicle communication network (6). In the event of an emergency in which an emergency call is to be transmitted, the computing unit (2) of the emergency call unit (1) switches to an emergency call mode and sends the emergency call via the cellular communication module (3).