JP3139677B2 - Emergency call system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an emergency notification system and, more particularly, to an emergency notification system that performs data communication and voice communication while judging the state of a communication line when a vehicle accident occurs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a vehicle such as an automobile has a collision accident, it is usual that a party informs the police or emergency by telephone communication. An emergency notification system for automatically reporting this to a predetermined reception center has been considered. Such an emergency call system is, for example, shown in FIG.
As disclosed in JP-A-10-49776 ("Vehicle emergency system").

As shown in FIG. 6, in the vehicle emergency system disclosed in this publication, a vehicle is equipped with a vehicle position detecting device, a car telephone, and a plurality of collision sensors, and the collision sensor measures a collision. In this case, the control unit determines the collision state and notifies the outside if necessary. In addition, the occupant can use a switch to transmit emergency information other than a collision accident, for example, in case of sudden illness.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. Hei 10-162284 ("Emergency call system") discloses an emergency contact system capable of selecting an emergency contact according to the situation of a vehicle accident. A notification system is disclosed. FIG.
As shown in the above, the emergency notification system disclosed in this publication includes a navigation control unit, and a May day transmission destination database is connected to the navigation control unit. The May Day destination database contains information on expressways, general roads, personal injury, property damage, etc.
The location of the emergency contact and the priority of the report destination are stored. Further, the vehicle includes a two-way communication device, which transmits a Mayday standby call to the Mayday center from the two-way communication device, and in the case where there is no reset call within a predetermined time, the Mayday center estimates that an emergency has occurred. I have to.

[0005] The use of the existing telephone network for these emergency notification systems is advantageous both economically and in terms of early spread, but, on the other hand, the existing telephone network is used in order to prevent any other effects. You need to keep your system unchanged.

[0006] In the automatic notification, information recorded in advance is sent to notify the reception center of the situation. However, it is often necessary to collect information from parties. Further, when the party involved in the accident is in a state where conversation and the like are possible, it is possible to give a sense of security to the parties by directly talking by voice communication. For this reason, a system in which a voice call is made after reporting data has been considered.

An emergency call is made, for example, by a Japanese standard PDC system (Personal Digit) of a mobile phone.
al Cellular Telecommunica
It may be possible to use an existing public telephone network such as a T.I. An example of the operation at this time is shown in the flowchart of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 8, after the operation starts (S101) in conjunction with the start of the engine of the vehicle, a trigger sensor such as an impact sensor continuously monitors the presence or absence of an input (S102) (S201). If there is a trigger such as an impact, data to be transmitted is set (S103A), and the PDC wireless telephone is set to the data communication mode and is called (S10A).
5). After the call is made, the connection status is monitored (S107).
It is determined whether a connection has been made to the reception center (S1).
08) If connection is not possible, that is, if a call is lost, control is performed to perform a recall (S106) (S203).
A). When the connection is made, data transmission is performed (S11).
0A) Then, the mode is switched to the voice communication mode (S139), and the voice communication is performed (S140).

[0009]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional emergency call system, when the radio wave condition is poor, if information is transmitted by data communication, retransmission for error correction occurs frequently, so that transmission efficiency is reduced. . In this case, if the amount of data to be transmitted is large, it takes a long time to complete the transmission. As a result, while the mission is to report the situation as soon as possible, an emergency call cannot be fulfilled.

[0010] A packet communication system is used for data communication. However, depending on the area, the allocation of a wireless channel for packet communication in the PDC network may still be small. In such a case, the channel for data communication is in use while the channel for voice communication is vacant, and a call for an emergency call made in the data communication mode may be lost.

When a call is lost due to a call, a re-call operation is performed. However, unlike a call in a normal mobile communication system, when an accident occurs, the call is fixed and fixed at that point. Done. Causes of the call loss include a case where the line is being used by another, that is, a busy state, and a case where the vehicle is located in a place where radio waves are difficult to reach. Especially in places where radio waves are difficult to reach, if a call is made in a fixed position, it is unlikely that the cause will disappear over time, so connection will not be made even if calls are repeated many times. There is.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for making an emergency call from a place where radio waves cannot reach even if an emergency call is made for a large amount of data.

[0013]

An emergency call system according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems comprises an emergency call processing device for inputting a signal from a sensor, and a radio telephone device connected to the emergency call processing device. An emergency notification system that relays an emergency signal transmitted by the wireless telephone device to a base station, and from the base station to a reception center via a public line, wherein the emergency notification processing device includes: When an output of the sensor generated in an emergency is input, the wireless telephone device is controlled to a data communication mode to transmit basic data, a communication path state is determined, and based on the determination, the wireless telephone device is determined. Is controlled to a data communication mode to transmit detailed data, and the wireless telephone device is controlled to a voice communication mode to talk with the reception center.

[0014] In the emergency call method according to the present invention, the emergency call processing device, which has received the signal of the sensor associated with the occurrence of an accident, sets the wireless telephone in a data communication mode using the emergency call system described above. When a call loss occurs, the call is made again, and when the number of calls reaches a predetermined number, a voice communication mode is set to make the user talk with the reception center, and the number of calls reaches the predetermined number. In the case where it does not reach, when a line connection is made to the reception center, basic data is transmitted, and after the basic data is transmitted, a line state is determined,
Based on the determination, the detailed data is transmitted, and after transmitting the detailed data, a voice communication mode is set to allow the user to talk with the reception center.

That is, according to the present invention, an accident occurs when an emergency call is made to connect to a wireless telephone device mounted on the vehicle and issue an emergency call such as a collision accident of the vehicle using the telephone network. Detecting that the basic data is set as the transmission content, performing a calling operation in the data communication mode, and transmitting the set basic data when the connection is made with the call loss being less than the predetermined number N. If the communication path condition is good, the detailed data is subsequently transmitted. Further, after transmitting the detailed data, the mode is switched to the voice communication mode, and a voice call is performed. If the call loss continues for a predetermined number of times M or more, the call is stopped and a message indicating that connection is impossible is displayed.

In the present invention, the mode is switched to the voice communication mode, the PB signal is set, and the basic data is transmitted.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of an emergency call system according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a communication signal emitted from a vehicle 31 arrives at a reception center 43 which is a communication partner via a base station 41 and a public network 42. Here, a PDC system will be described as an example of the wireless telephone system.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of an emergency call processing device mounted on a vehicle. As shown in FIG. 2, the status of each part of the vehicle 31, such as vehicle speed information 33 and braking information 34, and information from a trigger sensor 32 by an impact sensor, for example, are input to the emergency notification processing device 1. The emergency call processing device 1 is connected to the wireless telephone device 35 and exchanges information with the wireless telephone device 35.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the emergency notification processing device 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the emergency notification processing device 1 includes a memory 2 including a basic data memory 21 and a detailed data memory 22, a data signal 6 stored in the memory 2, and an information signal 7 from the trigger sensor 32. And a data signal control unit 3 which controls these input signals to exchange information 8 with the wireless telephone device 35.

Information 4 such as the current position information of the vehicle is input to the basic data memory 21 as needed, and the minimum information necessary for an emergency call is stored together with the information such as the registration number of the vehicle which has been input in advance. Further, the detailed data memory 22 stores more detailed information to be added to the minimum necessary information. For example, information 5 such as the number of occupants detected from the weight and the like and the speed and braking of the vehicle is input as needed, and information such as the type and color of the vehicle is accumulated.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the emergency notification system of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the operation starts in conjunction with the start of the engine of the vehicle (S10).
1) After that, a trigger sensor such as an impact sensor or the like continues to monitor the presence or absence of an input (S102) (S201). When an accident occurs and there is a trigger such as an impact, basic data is set as data to be transmitted (S103), and the PDC wireless telephone is set to the data communication mode and is called (S10).
5). After the call is made, the connection status is monitored (S107).
It is determined whether a connection has been made to the reception center (S1).
08) If connection is not possible, that is, if a call loss occurs (S202), if the call loss is less than a preset number N of call losses (S109), an operation of performing a re-call (S106) is performed. (S203).

If it is determined that the connection has been established (S108), first, basic data, which is the minimum necessary information, is transmitted (S110).

After transmission, it is determined whether or not the communication channel condition is good (S111). The determination of the communication path state is, for example,
This is performed by measuring the electric field strength to determine the state of the radio wave propagation path, or by determining the state of the error rate of the communication path from the number of retransmissions. When the communication path condition is good, since retransmission does not occur, data can be transmitted in a short time, so that detailed data with a larger data amount is transmitted (S112).

Thereafter, the mode is switched to the voice communication mode (S139), and the voice communication is started (S140), and the conversation between the reception center and the party becomes possible.

On the other hand, if a call loss occurs N times or more in spite of the call made in the data communication mode (S109), the call in the data communication mode is stopped and the voice communication mode is set. (S133), and make a call again (S13).
4). This is because the number of data communication channels is still small in some areas, and voice communication may be easier to connect.

In the case of this call, similarly to the case of the data communication mode, after the call is made, the connection state is monitored (S13).
6) It is determined whether or not a connection has been made to the reception center (S137). If the connection is not possible, that is, if a call is lost (S231), the call loss is less than the preset number M of call losses. If there is (S138), re-call (S13)
5) is performed (S232).

If it is determined that the connection has been made to the reception center (S137), voice communication is started (S14).
0) Conversation between the reception center and the parties becomes possible.

If a call loss occurs M times or more (S138) despite the number of calls being made, the call is stopped and a message indicating that connection is not possible is displayed (S14).
Inform the parties that it is better to use another notification means, such as 1).

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and the DTMF (Dual Ton) possessed by the wireless telephone in the communication in the voice mode is described.
Data communication may be performed even in the voice communication mode by using the eMulti-Frequency (eMulti-Frequency) signal transmission function together.

Here, the DTMF signal is a signal emitted when a dial button of a telephone is pressed, and is a combination of two tones. In the PDC, a signal when this dial button is pressed in the voice communication mode is transmitted as a push button (PB) signal through a control channel provided along with a voice communication channel (channel), but is reproduced as a DTMF signal on the receiving side. Is done. DTM
There are twelve F signal types because the number of dial buttons is the same. If this is used, it is possible to transmit information of an emergency call in a short time, although the transmission speed is low but small amount of data can be transmitted.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the emergency notification system of the present invention when a DTMF signal is used. As shown in FIG. 5, the steps up to the connection in the voice communication mode (S137) are the same as those in FIG. After the connection is made in the voice communication mode (S137), the PB
A signal transmission setting is performed (S151). Thereafter, the basic data, which is the minimum necessary information, is transmitted as a PB signal (S15).
2). After the transmission, the voice communication is switched (S153), and the voice communication is performed (S140).

Thus, even when the connection cannot be established in the data communication mode, the minimum necessary information can be automatically transmitted, and the information can be used as an emergency call.

[0034]

According to the present invention described above, the information to be reported is divided into basic data and detailed data, and the basic data is transmitted first. Information can be reported promptly.

Further, according to the present invention, the voice communication of the emergency call processing device is usually a hands-free communication in which a call can be made without picking up the handset. Even if you cannot move, you can still talk as long as you are conscious. Therefore, when data communication is not possible, it is considered necessary to make a voice communication mode and try to make a voice report. In such a case, it is necessary to switch automatically and connect to the reception center. The method according to the invention is effective as emergency communication.

Further, according to the present invention, if a call continues to be lost even if a call is made, a message indicating that communication is not possible is displayed to notify the party that it is better to take another means as soon as possible. This increases the possibility that a quicker notification can be made.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of an emergency call system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a vehicle-mounted emergency notification processing device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a vehicle-mounted emergency notification processing device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the emergency notification system of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of another emergency call system according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a conventional vehicle emergency system.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a conventional emergency call system.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a calling operation in a conventional emergency call system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Emergency report processing device 2 Memory 3 Data transmission control part 4 Basic information 5 Detailed information 6 Data signal 7 Information signal 21 Basic data memory 22 Detailed data memory 31 Vehicle 32 Trigger sensor 33 Vehicle speed information 34 Braking information 35 Wireless telephone device 41 Base station 42 Public network 43 Reception center

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G08B 19/00-31/00 H04B 7/24-7/26 H04M 11/00-11/10 H04Q 7 / 00-7/38

Claims (10)

(57) [Claims] An emergency call processing device for inputting a signal from a sensor, and a wireless telephone device connected to the emergency call processing device, wherein an emergency signal transmitted by the wireless telephone device is transmitted.
An emergency notification system that relays to a base station and makes an incoming call to a reception center via the public line from the base station, wherein the emergency notification processing device inputs an output of the sensor generated in an emergency, Controlling the wireless telephone device in a data communication mode to transmit basic data, determining a communication channel state, and controlling the wireless telephone device in a data communication mode to transmit detailed data based on the determination; An emergency call system, wherein the radio telephone device is controlled to be in a voice communication mode to have a conversation with the reception center. 2. The emergency call system according to claim 1, wherein said sensor is an impact sensor. 3. The emergency call processing device includes a basic data memory for storing basic data, a detailed data memory for storing detailed data, and a data transmission control unit for inputting an emergency signal to the wireless telephone device. The data transmission control unit controls the wireless telephone device based on the sensor output, and when controlling the wireless telephone device to the data communication mode, the basic data and / or the detailed data are transmitted from the wireless telephone device. The emergency call system according to claim 1, wherein, when the wireless telephone device is controlled to the voice communication mode, a conversation is made with the reception center. 4. The emergency call system according to claim 3, wherein the basic data is transmitted by a push button (PB) signal in the voice communication mode. 5. The basic information includes current position information of a vehicle,
The emergency notification system according to claim 1, wherein the emergency notification system includes at least one of a vehicle registration number, and the detailed information includes at least one of occupant number information, vehicle speed information, and braking information. 6. The emergency call system according to claim 1, further comprising an electric field strength measuring device, for judging a communication channel state. 7. An emergency notification processing device for inputting a signal from a sensor, and a wireless telephone device connected to the emergency notification processing device, wherein an emergency signal transmitted by the wireless telephone device is transmitted.
An emergency notification method using an emergency notification system for relaying to a base station and terminating a reception center via the public line from the base station, wherein the emergency notification processing device receives a signal of the sensor in response to an accident. Sets the wireless telephone to the data communication mode and places a call; if a call loss occurs, calls again; if the number of calls reaches a predetermined number, sets the voice communication mode and accepts the call. In the case where the number of calls does not reach the predetermined number and the line is connected to the reception center, basic data is transmitted, and after the transmission of the basic data, the line state is determined. Transmitting the detailed data, and after transmitting the detailed data, setting a voice communication mode to have a conversation with the reception center. 8. In the voice communication mode, the number of calls is counted, and if the result of the counting is equal to or less than another predetermined value, a call is made again, and the result of the counting exceeds the other predetermined value. The emergency notification method according to claim 7, wherein the emergency notification processing device stops the notification process when the emergency notification is performed. 9. The emergency call method according to claim 7, wherein the basic data is transmitted by a push button (PB) signal in the voice communication mode. 10. The basic data includes at least one of current vehicle position information and a vehicle registration number, and the detailed data includes at least one of occupant count information, vehicle speed information, and braking information. 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein
Emergency method of.