JP2004213480A - Emergency report unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable an emergency report center to precisely determine the state of a party concerned and select a report method desired by the party concerned. <P>SOLUTION: When encountering a thief or thug, a report button b or report button c is pressed to report it, and an accident or the sudden illness of an occupant is reported by pressing a report button a. When the report button b or report button c is pressed, a first state report with high secrecy is performed so as not to be found by the thief or thug, and when the report button a is pressed, an extensive second state report is performed so as to be known by anyone. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an emergency notification device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Some conventional emergency notification devices are installed in a vehicle to notify an emergency notification center of an emergency condition in the vehicle. In such an emergency notification device, a notification means for notifying the center of status information indicating the current status of the user (that is, the party), the status information reported is received by the center, and at least the status information reported Receiving means for receiving the received information indicating that the received information has been received on the center side, and a notification of notifying the received information based on at least one of the received information and the status information. Means. In this case, the notification mode of the notification unit can be changed to a notification mode in which the transmission of the acceptance information is high or a notification mode in which the transmission of the reception information is low, and the notification unit performs the notification when the status information indicates an emergency state. Decide on a highly communicable notification form.
[0003]
For example, in order for a user who has encountered an acute illness, an accident, or the like to be more clearly notified of the received information to the user, the notification means determines a notification form with high transmissibility. On the other hand, a party who encounters a third party such as a thief or a thug desirably has a highly confidential notification mode for the third party. Therefore, the notification means determines a low-communication notification mode. The state of the user who has encountered a third party such as a thief or a thug is reported to the center by an image of an imaging device such as a TV camera or a seat sensor (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-11-191192 (paragraph numbers "0006", "0007", "0017", "0018")
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional technology, for example, in a situation where a third party such as a thief or a thief hidden under the seat has instructed the parties to pretend to be normal, the images and the seat sensor etc. In some cases, the emergency call center cannot judge the situation of the party correctly only with the information, and the emergency call center may select a notification method that the party does not want. As a result, the party may be endangered. In addition, since the notification of the progress is started after receiving the response from the emergency notification center, for example, if the communication is interrupted before receiving the response from the emergency notification center, the fact is notified to the parties. Since the notification cannot be made and it takes time until the notification is made again, there is a possibility that measures for the emergency call may be delayed.
[0006]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and provides an emergency call device in which an emergency call center can correctly determine a situation of a party and select a notification method desired by the party. The purpose is to:
Another object of the present invention is to provide an emergency call device that enables a party to easily recognize that communication has been interrupted before receiving a response from the emergency call center, and to promptly make an emergency call again. And
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An emergency notification device according to the present invention includes: an emergency determination unit configured to identify an emergency content and generate an emergency identification signal when an operation of an emergency notification operation unit is detected; and an emergency identification signal generated by the emergency determination unit. Communication control means for transmitting a notification signal including the information to the emergency notification center and receiving a response signal in response to the notification signal from the emergency notification center, and only a party operating the notification operation means which cannot be recognized by a third party A first status notifying means for giving a first status notification that can be recognized to the second person, a second status notifying means for giving a second status notification that can be recognized to the party and the third party, and the first status notifying means or One of the second status notification means is selected according to the emergency identification signal, and the response signal received by the communication control means is input to the selected first or second status notification means, and the first or second status notification means is input. It is obtained by a status notification selection means for the status notification.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, taking an emergency notification device for a vehicle as an example.
Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the vehicle emergency notification device according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, a report button (report operation means) 1 is composed of three emergency report buttons, a report button a, a report button b, and a report button c, and is arranged at different positions in the vehicle. FIG. 2 is a view in the vehicle showing the arrangement positions of these three notification buttons.
[0009]
As shown in FIG. 2, the notification button a is arranged near the steering wheel, and is arranged at a position that is easily visible so that the driver can immediately operate it. On the other hand, the notification button b is arranged at a position visible only to the driver in front of the lower side of the driver's seat. In addition, the notification button c is arranged at a position below the driver's seat that is invisible to a driver as well as a third party other than the driver, but is arranged at a position where the driver can easily operate the notification button c. That is, the notification button b and the notification button c are arranged at positions where the driver, that is, the third party other than the operating party does not notice. The report button a is for reporting an accident or sudden illness of an occupant, and the report buttons b and c are for reporting when a thief or a thief is encountered.
[0010]
In FIG. 1, a main body 2 is connected to the notification button 1 and has an emergency determination unit 3, a communication control unit 4, a communication unit 5, a status notification selection unit 6, an information storage unit 7, and a vehicle position detection unit. The communication means 5 is connected to the antenna 9, the vehicle position detecting means 8 is connected to the antenna 10, and the status notification selecting means 6 is connected to the first status notification means 11 and the second status notification means 12.
[0011]
When detecting the operation of the notification button 1, the emergency determination means 3 determines which of the three emergency buttons has been pressed based on the detection signal, identifies the emergency content, and identifies the emergency notification indicating the emergency content. A signal is generated and input to the communication control means 4 and the status notification selection means 6. The vehicle position detecting means 8 is constituted by a GPS receiver or the like, detects the current position of the vehicle received from the antenna 10, and generates current position information. The information storage means 7 includes telephone number information of an emergency notification center (not shown), vehicle ID information, and first status notifications to be sent to the first status notification means 11 and the second status notification means 12, respectively. And the information of the second situation report are stored in advance, and the current position information obtained from the vehicle position detecting means 8 is stored as needed.
[0012]
The communication control means 4 generates an emergency call identification signal from the emergency determination means 3, a notification signal carrying the party ID information and the current position information stored in the information storage means 7, and communicates with the emergency call center telephone number information. Input to means 5. The communication means 5 sends a call to the emergency notification center based on the telephone number information and, when a communication path is established, transmits the modulated notification signal to the emergency notification center via the antenna 9 and responds to the notification signal. A response signal from the emergency call center is received and demodulated, and the response signal is input to the communication control means 4.
[0013]
The situation notification selecting means 6 selects the first situation notifying means 11 when the emergency call identification signal from the emergency determination means 3 indicates that the report button b or the report button c has been pressed. In the case of indicating that a is pressed, the second status notification means 12 is selected. Then, the information of the first status notification or the information of the second status notification corresponding to the response signal input from the communication control unit 4 is read from the information storage unit 7 and the selected first status notification unit 11 or the second status notification unit is read. 2 is input to the status notification means 12. That is, since the specific methods of the first and second status notifications depend on the devices in the vehicle, the response signals independent of the devices in the vehicle are converted by the information in the information storage means 7.
[0014]
The first status notification means 11 is connected to a device mounted on the vehicle, such as a speedometer or an analog clock. Then, according to the information of the first status notification input from the status notification selecting means 6, the speedometer light is blinked lightly or the second hand of the analog timepiece is advanced earlier than the real time. The first situation notification with high confidentiality is made so that only the driver who pressed the report button b or c cannot recognize it and cannot recognize it.
[0015]
The second status notification means 12 is connected to devices such as an in-vehicle telephone, a radio speaker, an alarm, a panel display, a room light, and a hazard. Then, according to the information of the second status notification input from the status notification selecting means 6, it can be recognized by the driver as well as the surrounding person or a third party such as an occupant of another vehicle by voice, image, light or the like. Such a large second status notification is performed.
[0016]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the emergency notification device according to the first embodiment. First, it is determined whether or not the report button has been pressed (step ST11). If the report button has been pressed, it is determined whether or not the pressed report button has been installed in a position not noticed by a third party (step ST11). ST12). If it is installed in a position not noticed by a third party, that is, if the report button b or the report button c is pressed, the setting is made to use the first status notification means 11 (step ST13). . On the other hand, if the pressed report button is set at a position where anyone can notice, that is, if the report button a is pressed, the setting is made to use the second status notification means 12 (step ST14). ).
[0017]
After the setting in step ST13 or ST14, communication with the emergency call center is started (step ST15), and when a communication path is established, data transmission is performed (step ST16). Next, a notification process is performed using the set status notification means (step ST17).
[0018]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the notification process in step ST17. Note that this notification process is an example of a case where a first status notification is made by flashing a light of a speedometer, a second status notification is made by flashing a hazard, and a telephone call in a vehicle. The basic operation is the same when other devices are used for status notification.
[0019]
First, it is determined whether or not a response signal has been received from the emergency center (step ST101). When a response signal has been received, it is determined whether the first status notification means 11 is set or the second status notification means is set. It is determined whether or not it is the notification means 12 (step ST102). If the first status notification means 11 is set, the information of the first status notification corresponding to the response signal is read from the information storage means 7 (step ST103). This information is, for example, a pulse signal. Next, in response to the first status notification, the light of the speedometer blinks lightly by a pulse signal so as to differ from the normal operation (step ST104). If the second status notifying means 12 is set, the hazard is made to blink (step ST105), and the in-vehicle telephone is automatically put into a call state, so that a call can be made with the emergency call center (step ST105). ST106). Since the operation of blinking the hazard is a normal operation, it is not always necessary to read the pulse signal from the information storage unit 7.
[0020]
When the first status notification means 11 is set, the driver can use a flashing light of the speedometer to notify the emergency notification center of the emergency contents and notify the police of the situation to a third party. Can be recognized without being noticed. When the light of the speedometer does not blink, it is easy to recognize that the communication has been interrupted, so that an emergency call can be made by pressing the report button b or c again.
[0021]
On the other hand, when the second situation notification means 12 is set, the driver can report the contents of the sudden illness or accident to the emergency notification center by telephone and blink the hazard to notify the surroundings of the emergency situation. Can be. If there is no call from the emergency call center, it is possible to easily recognize that the communication has been interrupted, so that it is possible to make an emergency call by pressing the report button a again. When the second status notification unit 12 is set, a configuration may be adopted in which the hazard is flashed and the surroundings are immediately notified of the emergency status without waiting for a response signal from the emergency center.
[0022]
As described above, according to the first embodiment, when the operation of the emergency notification button 1 is detected, the emergency determination means 3 that identifies the emergency content and generates an emergency identification signal, A communication control means 4 for transmitting a notification signal including the notification signal to a predetermined emergency notification center and receiving a response signal in response to the notification signal from the emergency notification center, and a notification button b or a notification button c which cannot be recognized by a third party. A first status notification unit 11 for giving a first status notification that can be recognized only by a party who has operated the first status notification; a second status notification unit 12 for giving a second status notification that can be recognized by the party and third party; Of the second status notification means 11 or the second status notification means 12 is selected according to the emergency identification signal, and the selected first status notification means 11 or second status notification means 12 is provided with the communication control means 4. By And the status notification selecting means 6 for inputting the received response signal to make the first or second status notification, so that the emergency notification center correctly determines the status of the party, and This has the effect of allowing the emergency notification center to select the notification method, and the effect that the party can easily recognize that the communication has been interrupted before receiving a response from the emergency notification center, and the emergency notification can be promptly restarted. There is.
[0023]
Also, according to the first embodiment, the emergency determination means 3 generates an emergency identification signal by identifying which of the three notification buttons 1 arranged at different positions has been operated. With this configuration, the emergency determination means 3 can be configured very simply, and the cost of the apparatus can be reduced.
[0024]
Further, according to the first embodiment, when the emergency identification signal is a signal for selecting the second status notification, the communication control unit 4 does not wait for a response signal from the emergency notification center to transmit the second status notification signal. Since the command signal for causing the status notification means 12 to perform the second status notification is provided to the status notification selection means 6, the emergency status can be notified to the surroundings by blinking of the hazard, and the emergency notification center can notify the emergency status. Even if an ambulance arrives late, immediate measures can be taken by the surrounding people.
[0025]
Further, according to the first embodiment, the first status notification means 11 performs an operation different from the normal operation on the speedometer provided in the normal vehicle in response to the response signal received from the emergency call center. As a result, the first status notification is performed, so that the progress status after the emergency notification can be easily recognized, and a new device is not required for the first status notification, thereby avoiding an increase in cost. Has the effect of doing
[0026]
Further, according to the first embodiment, the second status notifying means is provided with a speaker, an alarm, a hazard, a display, etc., which are always provided in a normal vehicle, according to the response signal received from the emergency notification center. Since the second status notification is made to the device by voice or image or by both voice and image, it is possible to easily recognize the progress status after the emergency call, Therefore, there is an effect of avoiding an increase in cost without requiring a new device.
[0027]
Further, according to the first embodiment, the information storage means 7 for storing the current position information obtained from the vehicle position detection means 8 at any time is provided, and the communication control means 4 is stored in the information storage means 7. Since the notification signal including the current position information and the emergency identification signal is configured to be transmitted to the emergency notification center, there is an effect that a police car or an ambulance notified from the emergency notification center can quickly arrive at the site.
[0028]
Embodiment 2 FIG.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration of the vehicle emergency notification device according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 5, the notification button 21 is a single notification button, for example, a position that can be seen only by the driver in front of the lower side of the driver's seat, or a third person other than the driver under the driver's seat, as well as the driver. It is located at a position that is invisible to the driver and that can be easily operated by the driver. That is, the notification button 21 is arranged at a position where the driver, that is, the third party other than the operating party does not notice.
[0029]
The main body 22 is connected to the notification button 21 and includes an emergency determination unit 23 that detects pressing of the notification button 21. The other configuration is the same as the configuration of the first embodiment, and the description is omitted. Similarly to the first embodiment, when the emergency determination unit 23 detects that the notification button 21 is pressed, it identifies the emergency content based on the detection signal and generates an emergency content identification signal. However, unlike the case of the first embodiment, since the report button 21 is constituted by one, the urgent content is identified by the method of pressing, that is, the operation content. For this reason, the emergency determination unit 23 includes a report button press determination unit 24, a timer 25, a button press counter 26, and an operation content determination unit 27.
[0030]
The notification button pressing determination unit 24 determines whether the notification button 21 is pressed, generates a pressing determination signal, and inputs the signal to the timer 25 and the button pressing counter 26. The timer 25 measures the time by the push-down determination signal, resets it when a set predetermined time has elapsed, generates a reset signal, and inputs it to the operation content determination means 27. The button press counter 26 counts “1 (first press)” when the button press determination signal is input, inputs the count value to the operation content determination unit 27, and again before the predetermined time elapses. When the press-down determination signal is input, “2 (second press)” is counted, and the count value is input to the operation content determination unit 27. The operation content determination unit 27 determines the operation content according to the number of times the report button 21 is pressed, generates an operation content identification signal, and inputs the signal to the communication control unit 4 and the status notification selection unit 6.
[0031]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of the emergency notification device according to the second embodiment. First, it is determined whether or not the notification button 21 has been pressed for the first time (step ST21). When the notification button 21 has been pressed, the timer 25 starts. Next, it is determined whether or not a fixed time has elapsed (step ST22). If the fixed time has not elapsed, it is determined whether or not the notification button has been pressed for the second time (step ST23). If the notification button 21 is pressed for the second time before the fixed time has elapsed, the first status notification unit 11 is set to be used (step ST24). On the other hand, if the notification button 21 is not pressed for the second time even after the lapse of the fixed time, the second status notification unit 12 is set to be used (step ST25).
[0032]
After the setting in step ST24 or step ST25, communication with the emergency call center is started (step ST26), and when a communication channel is established, data transmission is performed (step ST27). Next, a notification process is performed using the set status notification means (step ST28). The flow of the notification process is the same as the flow of the first embodiment shown in FIG.
[0033]
As described above, according to the second embodiment, the emergency determination unit 23 is configured to include the operation content determination unit 27 that identifies the operation content of the notification button 21 based on the number of times pressed and generates an emergency identification signal. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, the emergency call center has an effect of correctly determining the situation of the party and allowing the emergency call center to select a notification method desired by the party, and also has the effect of receiving a response from the emergency call center There is an effect that the parties can easily recognize that the communication has been interrupted, and promptly make an emergency call again.
[0034]
As a modified example of the second embodiment, a configuration is also possible in which the operation content of the notification button 21 is identified by the length of pressing time. In this case, a timer that measures the length of time the report button is pressed is used instead of the timer 25 that measures the fixed time. For example, if the pressing time length is 3 seconds or more, the setting is made to use the first status notifying means, and if the pressing time length is less than 3 seconds, the second status notifying means is used. Set to
[0035]
As described above, according to this modification, the emergency determination unit is configured to include the operation content determination unit that identifies the operation content of the notification button by the pressing time length and generates the emergency identification signal. As in the first and second embodiments, the emergency call center correctly determines the situation of the party and has the effect that the emergency call center can select the notification method desired by the party, and communication is performed before receiving a response from the emergency call center. The effect is that the party can easily recognize that the interruption has been made, and the emergency call can be promptly made again.
[0036]
In the second embodiment and its modification, a single notification button is used as the notification operation means, and the content of the operation is determined based on the number of times of pressing and the length of time of pressing, and the urgent content is identified. However, the report operation means is not limited to the button type. For example, a configuration may be employed in which an operation content is determined based on the operation direction using a lever-type notification switch that can be operated up and down or left and right to identify an emergency content.
[0037]
Further, in each of the above-described embodiments and modifications, the in-vehicle emergency notification device has been described, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to in-vehicle use. For example, in a house installed in a house to distinguish between an emergency call for the physical condition of the person concerned, such as an elderly person who is living alone and a person with a physical disability, and an emergency call when a thief is intruded. It can also be applied to emergency notification devices.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when the operation of the emergency notification operation means is detected, the emergency determination means for identifying the emergency content and generating an emergency identification signal, and the emergency generated by the emergency determination means The communication control means for transmitting the notification signal including the identification signal to the emergency notification center and receiving a response signal in response to the notification signal from the emergency notification center, and operating the notification operation means unrecognizable by a third party A first status notification means for giving a first status notification that can be recognized only by the parties, a second status notification means for giving a second status notification that can be recognized by the parties and third parties, and a first status notification means or One of the second status notification means is selected according to the emergency identification signal, and the response signal received by the communication control means is input to the selected first or second status notification means, and the first or second status notification means is input. Situation of The emergency notification center has the effect of enabling the emergency notification center to correctly determine the situation of the party and to select the notification method desired by the party, and has the effect of allowing the emergency notification center to select the notification method desired by the party. Before receiving the response, the party can easily recognize that the communication has been interrupted, and the emergency call can be promptly made again.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a vehicle emergency notification device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a view in the vehicle showing an arrangement position of three notification buttons according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the emergency notification device according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a notification process in FIG. 3;
5 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration of a vehicle emergency notification device according to a second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the emergency notification device according to the second embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 21 notification button (report operation means), 2, 22 body, 3, 23 emergency determination means, 4 communication control means, 5 communication means, 6 status notification selection means, 7 information storage means, 8 own vehicle position detection means, 9, 10 antennas, 11 first status notification means, 12 second status notification means, 24 notification button press determination means, 25 timer, 26 button press counter, 27 operation content determination means.

Claims (10)

An emergency determining means for identifying an emergency content and generating an emergency identification signal upon detecting operation of the emergency notification operating means;
Communication control means for transmitting a notification signal including the emergency identification signal generated from the emergency determination means to the emergency notification center, and receiving a response signal in response to the notification signal from the emergency notification center;
First status notification means for performing a first status notification that cannot be recognized by a third party and can be recognized only by the party who operated the notification operation means;
A second status notification means for performing a second status notification that can be recognized by the party and the third party;
Either the first status notifying means or the second status notifying means is selected according to the emergency identification signal, and the selected first or second status notifying means is received by the communication control means. An emergency notification device comprising: a status notification selection unit configured to make a first or second status notification in response to a response signal. 2. The emergency notification device according to claim 1, wherein the emergency determination unit generates an emergency identification signal by identifying which of the plurality of notification operation units arranged at different positions has been operated. 2. The emergency notification device according to claim 1, wherein the emergency determination unit includes an operation content determination unit that identifies an operation content of the notification operation unit and generates an emergency identification signal. 4. The emergency notification device according to claim 3, wherein the operation content determination unit generates an emergency identification signal by identifying the number of operations of the notification operation unit. The emergency notification device according to claim 3, wherein the operation content determination means generates an emergency identification signal by identifying an operation time length of the notification operation means. When the emergency identification signal is a signal for selecting the second status notification, the communication control means sends the second status notification to the second status notification means without waiting for a response signal from the emergency notification center. 2. The emergency notification device according to claim 1, wherein a command signal for causing the emergency notification is given to the status notification selection means. The emergency call device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the emergency call device is installed in the vehicle to make an emergency call to an emergency call center. The first status notifying unit performs a first status notification by causing at least one device provided in a normal vehicle to perform an operation different from a normal operation in response to a response signal received from the emergency notification center. The emergency notification device according to claim 7, wherein: The second status notifying means makes a second status notification by voice or image, or by both voice and image, to a device normally provided in a normal vehicle in response to a response signal received from the emergency notification center. The emergency notification device according to claim 7, wherein: An information storage means for storing current position information obtained from the vehicle position detection means at any time, wherein the communication control means transmits a notification signal including the current position information and the emergency identification signal stored in the information storage means to an emergency. The emergency notification device according to claim 7, wherein the emergency notification is transmitted to a notification center.

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