In-Vehicle Emergency Data Transmission via Voice Channel Signaling

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems face challenges in accurately determining the location of wireless emergency callers, which hinders timely dispatch of emergency responders, as they cannot reliably extract location information during wireless calls.

Innovation Solution

An in-vehicle system that detects available wireless networks, registers with a carrier, detects emergencies, captures relevant data, and initiates a wireless voice call to a PSAP, using in-band signaling to transmit location information and other emergency data automatically, without human intervention, through a control signal within the voice channel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If in-band signaling is used to transmit emergency data during a voice call, then location information can be transmitted automatically, but the data may be corrupted by voice coding elements of the wireless telecommunication network

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation information transmissionVSAvoiddata transmission reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary processing mechanism that separates voice coding from data transmission. The system transmits emergency data during pauses in voice communication, using a mediator process that identifies appropriate transmission windows and ensures data integrity despite the presence of voice coding elements in the communication channel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs periodic transmission attempts during the voice call, utilizing natural pauses in conversation to transmit emergency data. This periodic action allows the system to find suitable moments when voice coding is not active, thereby preventing data corruption while maintaining automatic location information transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Loss of time

If automatic emergency data transmission is implemented, then response time is reduced, but system complexity increases due to the need for control signaling and coordination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemergency response timeVSAvoidcontrol signaling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service automation where the IVS automatically detects emergencies, initiates voice calls to PSAPs, and transmits location data without requiring manual intervention or complex coordination protocols. The system serves itself by autonomously managing the entire emergency communication process, thereby reducing response time while keeping control signaling relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring emergency contact information and location data before emergencies occur. This preparation allows the system to immediately transmit critical information when an emergency is detected, reducing response time without requiring complex real-time decision-making or coordination during the emergency event.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Use of energy by moving object

If voice coding elements are used to compress speech during emergency calls, then bandwidth is efficient, but emergency data transmission is corrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth efficiencyVSAvoidemergency data integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system utilizes periodic transmission during natural pauses in voice communication, transmitting emergency data only when the voice channel is not actively coding speech. This approach maintains bandwidth efficiency by using the existing voice call infrastructure while preventing data corruption by timing transmissions during idle periods when voice coding is suspended.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous emergency communication capability by seamlessly integrating data transmission with the voice call flow. Rather than interrupting the voice call for separate data transmission, the system continuously monitors for appropriate transmission opportunities within the ongoing voice session, ensuring both voice and data communication needs are met without waste.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP3133846B1In-vehicle system (IVS) control of emergency data communications
Publication Date: 2018.11.07 AIRBIQUITY INC
  • EP3133846B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3133846B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3133846B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An in-vehicle system (IVS) (Fig. 2) captures data such as location data and in an emergency automatically places a call to an emergency call taker or PSAP (Fig. 3) via a wireless telecommunications network. After a voice call session is established, the IVS system transmits a predetermined control signal through the voice channel. The control signal directs the call taker system to prepare to receive data. (Fig. 4) Preferably, the control signal comprises at least one audio frequency tone. This may be done without human intervention. In this way, emergency information is transmitted accurately and with minimum delay. After transmission of essential information, the IVS system may switch on audio connections for live human voice conversation (Fig. 2).