Patent ID: 6741168
Filing Date: 2004-05-25
Classification: G07C,G08G

Abstract:
For use in an automobile, a device for acquiring collision information comprising:a sensor detecting an impact to a vehicle containing a collision recorder; a memory containing information relating to at least one of the impact and the vehicle, the memory comprising a first-in, first-out buffer for buffering the information on a rolling basis where newest information replaces oldest information in the buffer; and a wireless communications controller coupled to the sensor and to the memory, wherein the controller, in response to detection of the impact, automatically attempts to establish a wireless communications link to a counterpart wireless communications controller within another vehicle subject to a recent impact by broadcasting availability of an information exchange service by the wireless communications controller, and searching for availability of an information exchange service for the counterpart wireless communications controller, and responsive to successfully establishing a wireless communications link to the counterpart wireless communication controller, exchanges at least a portion of the information within the memory for corresponding information from the counterpart wireless communications controller.