Abstract:
A method, a system, and an apparatus used to automatically exchange identification and collision-related information utilizing wireless communication devices during vehicular accidents are presented. Upon collision, an impact sensor detects and registers the crash, causing a processor to trigger a collision warning, record selected identification and collision-related information in an electronic file, and exchange the same through a secure wireless connection with a collision-activated information exchange device (CIED) of the other vehicle involved and/or with an information exchange device (IED) or devices in the area of the collision. The stored electronic files can later be accessed by and/or even transmitted to authorities to serve as evidence in hit-and-run investigation and/or accident reconstruction.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C. §119  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/645,350, titled “Vehicular Collision-Activated Information Exchange Method and Apparatus Using Wireless Communication Radios,” filed May 10, 2012, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    Aspects of the present invention generally relate to a method of wireless information exchange, and more particularly, to recording of pertinent identification and collision-related information after a vehicular collision, and automatic exchange of such information among involved and bystander parties, such as other vehicles, pedestrians, bystanders, properties, infrastructures, and objects. 
         [0004]    2. Introduction 
         [0005]    As vehicles become safer with an array of advanced preventive measures and increasingly sophisticated life-saving technologies installed, operators, properties, and even pedestrians are more likely to survive a reduced overall impact of an unfortunate accident. However, these potential lifesavers are often designed to function before or to protect physically during a collision, yet seldom are devised to consider the emotional aspects in the wake of a damaging crash. The mental distress stemming from the unknown can be particularly unnerving, when the victims and/or their loved ones desperately seek justice, closure, and peace-of-mind after experiencing a hit-and-run accident, which remains one of the most deplorable crimes we still face. 
         [0006]    Therefore, there exists an unmet need in the art for a method and an apparatus that may be used to automatically exchange identification and collision-related information utilizing wireless communication devices during vehicular accidents. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    Aspects of the present invention address the concern above with a method and an apparatus to acquire identification and collision-related information from all parties involved in a vehicular collision, via wireless file transfer. 
         [0008]    For example, according to an aspect of the present invention, a collision-activated information exchange device (CIED) includes an impact sensor that sends a signal upon detecting a collision to a processor of the CIED or an onboard computer that accesses and controls a plurality of peripheral equipment. The processor then contemporaneously engages the CIED&#39;s wireless communication radio, and logs in an electronic file, real-time information obtained from a data-storage element, in addition to the vehicle&#39;s shared resources, such as data recorder (a vehicle “black box”), timekeeping instrument, speed indicator, and/or navigation system (e.g., Global Positioning System (GPS)), and subsequently transmits said record(s). The processor also receives similar information from other vehicle(s) involved and/or from approved information exchange device(s) available in range, for future access. 
         [0009]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a method may include detecting a collision, broadcasting a detection signal related to the collision, receiving a response to the detection signal from a remote device, establishing a wireless connection with the remote device based on the response, and exchanging collision-related information with the remote device. 
         [0010]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a communication device may include a sensor configured to detect a collision, a wireless communication radio configured to broadcast a detection signal related to the collision, receive a response to the detection signal from a remote device, establish a wireless connection with the remote device based on the response, and a processor configured to exchange collision-related information with the remote device via the wireless communication radio. 
         [0011]    According to another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus may include means for detecting a collision, means for broadcasting a detection signal related to the collision, means for receiving a response to the detection signal from a remote device, means for establishing a wireless connection with the remote device based on the response, and means for exchanging collision-related information with the remote device. 
         [0012]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a computer program product may include a non-transitory computer-readable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to perform exchange of collision-related information, the control logic including first code for detecting a collision, second code for broadcasting a paging detection signal related to the collision, third code for receiving a response to the paging detection signal from a remote device, fourth code for establishing a wireless connection with the remote device based on the response, and fifth code for exchanging collision-related information with the remote device. 
         [0013]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a method may include receiving a detection signal from a remote device, establishing a wireless connection with the remote device based on the detection signal, and exchanging collision-related information with the remote device. 
         [0014]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a communication device may include a wireless communication radio configured to receive a detection signal from a remote device and establish a wireless connection with the remote device based on the detection signal, and a processor configured to exchange collision-related information with the remote device via the wireless communication radio. 
         [0015]    Armed with recovered vehicle details, law-enforcement agencies and/or insurance companies may quickly gather evidence for investigation so that affected individual(s) is/are able to take solace in the identification of the reckless perpetrator, along with the justice that awaits him or her. Moreover, recognizing that it is becoming futile to flee the scene of an accident, an operator that causes an injurious crash may be more inclined to stop, stay, and/or call for help, further improving a victim&#39;s chance of survival. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    These and other sample aspects of the disclosure will be described in the detailed description and the appended claims that follow, and in the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is an example block diagram illustrating information exchange between a first collision-activated information exchange device (CIED) and a second CIED, in accordance with some aspects of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is an example block diagram illustrating information exchange between a first CIED and a plurality of other information exchange devices (IED&#39;s), in accordance with some aspects of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is an example system block diagram depicting a simplified interconnection scheme of internal components of a CIED, in accordance with some aspects of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is an example system block diagram depicting a simplified interconnection scheme of internal components of an IED, in accordance with some aspects of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  show a flowchart of an example method of vehicular collision-activated information exchange from a perspective of a CIED, in accordance with some aspects of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  shows a flowchart of an example method of vehicular collision-activated information exchange from a perspective of an IED, in accordance with some aspects of the present invention; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram of various example system components, for use in accordance with some aspects of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0024]    In accordance with common practice the various features illustrated in the drawings may be simplified for clarity. Thus, the drawings may not depict all of the components of a given apparatus or method. In addition, like reference numerals may be used to denote like features throughout the specification and figures. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    Various aspects of the present invention are described below. It should be apparent that the teachings herein may be embodied in a wide variety of forms and that any specific structure, function, or both being disclosed herein may be merely representative. Based on the teachings herein one skilled in the art should appreciate that an aspect disclosed herein may be implemented independently of any other aspects and that two or more of these aspects may be combined in various ways. For example, an apparatus may be implemented or a method may be practiced using any number of the aspects set forth herein. In addition, such an apparatus may be implemented or such a method may be practiced using other structure, functionality, or structure and functionality, in addition to or other than one or more of the aspects set forth herein. An aspect may comprise one or more elements of a claim. 
         [0026]    Various aspects of the present invention solve the above-identified needs, as well as others, via devices, methods, and systems capable of receiving and transmitting information related to a vehicular collision. 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is an example block diagram illustrating information exchange between a collision-activated information exchange device (CIED)  100  of vehicle  102  and a CIED  110  of object  104 , in accordance with some aspects of the present invention. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the CIED  100  may be provided within the vehicle  102 . The vehicle  102  may be an automobile, a watercraft, an aircraft, or any other suitable type of mobile transport. The CIED  100  may be stand-alone or integrated with an on-board computer (not shown). For example, the CIED  100  may be electrically and/or wirelessly coupled to an on-board computer or other instrumentation (e.g., speedometer, GPS, impact sensor) of the vehicle  102 , in order to effectively retrieve and store any relevant information and parameters, such as Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), Hull Identification Number (HIN), or equivalent form of identification from a data storage unit or an identification module, as well as date and time of collision, speed and acceleration profiles of the vehicle prior to and during impact, and/or GPS profile and coordinates for location and direction of travel prior to impact, for example. Any wireless connection between the CIED  100  and the vehicle  102  may be by way of a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), such as an IEEE 802.11x network, or a Wireless Personal Area Network, such as a Bluetooth network, an IEEE 802.15x network, or some other type of network. 
         [0029]    The vehicle  102  may collide with an object  104 , as indicated by the “collision” label. The object  104  may be another vehicle, such as an automobile, a watercraft, an aircraft, or any other suitable type of mobile transport, either moving or stationary. The object  104  may also include its own CIED  110 , which may be connected to the object  104  in a manner similar to that of the connection between the CIED  100  and the vehicle  102 . 
         [0030]    The collision between the vehicle  102  and the object  104  may prompt CIED  100  and CIED  110  to exchange information with each other. If, for example, the object  104  is another vehicle, both CIED  100  and CIED  110  may exchange one or a combination of the aforementioned relevant information, such as identification information, date and time of collision, speed and acceleration profiles of the vehicle prior to and during impact, and/or GPS profile and coordinates for location and direction of travel prior to impact. 
         [0031]    Once relevant information has been exchanged, the CIED&#39;s  100  and  110  may respectively store the information for manual retrieval (e.g., download to an approved device) and/or may transmit the information wirelessly, for example, via a communications network  106  to a remote server  108  for analysis by the appropriate authorities. 
         [0032]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating information exchange among the CIED  100  and a plurality of other information exchange devices IED&#39;s  200 ,  210 ,  220 . In the scenario illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the vehicle  102  is shown to have collided with an object  204 . The object  204  may be another vehicle, such as an automobile, a watercraft, an aircraft, or any other suitable type of mobile transport, either moving or stationary, or it could also be a structure (e.g., building, monument, lamp post), or any person or thing (e.g., tree). The object  204  may also include one or a plurality of IED&#39;s  200 ,  210 . There may also be other IED&#39;s within range of the collision, such as IED  220 , that may or may not be associated with either the vehicle  102  or the object  204 . As will be described later, an IED may differ from a CIED in that the IED may not be configured to detect a collision via a collision sensor, for example. Furthermore, the IED may not be configured to interface electrically or wirelessly with the object  204  or other IED&#39;s, and may be used primarily to store identification information (to be transmitted upon legitimate request), such as a mobile phone number, a property serial number, or an equivalent form of identification, as well as date, time, and/or GPS coordinates for location, for example. 
         [0033]    The collision between the vehicle  102  and the object  204  may prompt CIED  100  to exchange information with any available IED&#39;s that are in communication range if the object  204  does not include a CIED. To establish communication with the IED&#39;s  200 ,  210 ,  220 , the CIED  100  may broadcast a detection signal, for example. Upon receipt of the detection signal, the IED&#39;s  200 ,  210 ,  220  may establish communication with the CIED  100  and exchange any relevant information. For example, each one of the IED&#39;s  200 ,  210 ,  220  may provide the CIED  100  with its respective stored identification information (plus date, time, and/or GPS coordinates for location), and the CIED  100  may in turn provide the IED&#39;s  200 ,  210 ,  220  with its own stored identification information, date and time of collision, speed and acceleration profiles of the vehicle prior to and during impact, and/or GPS profile and coordinates for location and direction of travel prior to impact. 
         [0034]    Once relevant information has been exchanged, the CIED  100  and the IED&#39;s  200 ,  210 ,  220  may store the information for manual retrieval (e.g., download to an approved device) and/or may transmit the information wirelessly via a communications network  106  to a remote server  108  for analysis by the appropriate authorities. 
         [0035]      FIG. 3  is an example system block diagram depicting a simplified interconnection scheme of internal components of CIED  100 , in accordance with some aspects of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the CIED  100  may include a sensor  301 , a processor  302 , a wireless communication radio  303 , vehicle/device instrumentation  304 , a data storage unit  305 , a memory  306 , an interface  307 , and an antenna  308 . 
         [0036]    The sensor  301  may be a collision detection system, a collision warning/alert system, a collision avoidance system, a pre-crash system, a crash sensor, a pressure sensor, a proximity sensor, an ultrasound-based sensor, a peripheral monitor (e.g. blind spot, cross-traffic alert, rear view, back up), a camera-based system, or any type of system (e.g. electrical, mechanical, optical, barometric, biological/organic), sensor, or monitor with a mechanism suitable and/or configured to detect an impact or a collision, and/or to sense/alert an imminent crash. During operation, the sensor  301  may detect an impact of a collision with an object and relay the impact signal to the processor  302 , which in turn may power up or awaken the wireless communication radio  303  with attached antenna  308  to establish a localized connection or pairing with another CIED or an IED, for example. The processor  302  may then display and/or sound a collision warning to a user either via the vehicle/device instrumentation  304  (e.g., display, speaker, or other notification system located on the CIED  100  (not shown)) or on the vehicle&#39;s dashboard that is interfaced with the vehicle/device instrumentation  304 , for example. The processor  302  may then request information, such as Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), Hull Identification Number (HIN), or equivalent form of identification from the data storage unit  305 , as well as date, time, approximate speed at impact, and/or GPS coordinates for location from the vehicle/device instrumentation  304 . Next, the processor  302  may record the collected information in the memory  306 . 
         [0037]    Once the information is recorded, the processor  302  may initialize a discovery for CIED&#39;s of other vehicles that were involved in the collision. The collision area of discovery may cover an area having a radius up to one mile, for example, or any area within which any information about the collision may be gathered. Such discovery may be conducted by broadcasting at least one detection signal via the wireless communication radio  303 , for example, and listening for responses or similar discovery detection signals transmitted by other CIED&#39;s. 
         [0038]    If a CIED of the other vehicle involved in the collision is discovered, the CIED  100  and the discovered CIED may establish a connection, during which the CIED  100  may authenticate and confirm that the discovered CIED is, in fact, the CIED of a vehicle involved in the collision. After the connection is established, the processor  302  may proceed to transmit the recorded information (e.g., VIN, etc.) via the wireless communication radio  303  to the CIED of the other vehicle. The processor  302  may then receive similar information from the other vehicle&#39;s CIED via the wireless communication radio  303  and save the received information in the memory  306 , for example. The other vehicle&#39;s CIED may also execute the above steps in a similar fashion, thus completing the data exchange cycle. 
         [0039]    If, on the other hand, the processor  302  of the CIED  100  is unable to locate (i.e., discover) other CIED&#39;s of vehicles/objects involved in the collision, then the processor  302  may initialize a discovery of IED&#39;s. The discovery of IED&#39;s may be performed in a manner similar to that of CIED&#39;s. It should also be noted that the discovery of other CIED&#39;s and the discovery of IED&#39;s may be performed concurrently, sequentially, or in a temporally overlapping manner, for example. 
         [0040]    If any IED&#39;s in the area of the collision are discovered, the processor  302  of the CIED  100  may proceed to establish a wireless connection with the discovered IED&#39;s. Once such a connection is established, the processor  302  may transmit the recorded information (e.g., VIN) via the wireless communication radio  303  to the IED&#39;s. The processor  302  may then receive similar information (e.g., identification) from the IED&#39;s via the wireless communication radio  303  and save the received information in the memory  306 . 
         [0041]    Any or all of the information acquired as a result of the collision and stored in the memory  306  of the CIED  100  may be retrieved and/or removed via the interface  307  by authorized agents and/or wirelessly transmitted via a communications network  106  to a remote server  108  (or downloaded to an approved device) for analysis by the appropriate authorities, for example. The appropriate authorities or authorized agents, either wirelessly or via the interface  307 , for example, may also be able to check for and/or be notified of a tampered vehicle apparatus through built-in measures, plus reset the collision warning display, if applicable. 
         [0042]      FIG. 4  is an example system block diagram depicting a simplified interconnection scheme of internal components of an IED  200 , in accordance with some aspects of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the IED  200  may include a processor  402 , a wireless communication radio  403 , device instrumentation  404 , a data storage unit  405 , a memory  406 , an interface  407 , and an antenna  408 , for example. 
         [0043]    As previously discussed with reference to  FIG. 3 , the CIED  100  may conduct discovery of IED&#39;s by transmitting a detection signal in the area of the collision. The processor  402  of the IED  200 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , may receive and register the detection signal from a CIED via the wireless communication radio  403  with attached antenna  408 , for example. After the detection signal is received and registered, the processor  402  of the IED  200  may establish wireless communication with the CIED via the wireless communication radio  403 . The processor  402  may also display and/or sound a collision warning to a user via the device instrumentation  404  (e.g., display, speaker, or other notification system located on the IED  200  (not shown)). The processor  402  may then request information, such as mobile phone number, property serial number, or equivalent form of identification from the data storage unit  405 , as well as date, time, and/or GPS coordinates for location from the device instrumentation  404 , and record the collected information in the memory  406 , for example. 
         [0044]    With the wireless connection established between the IED  200  and the CIED, the processor  402  may proceed to transmit the recorded information via the wireless communication radio  403  to the CIED. The processor  402  may then receive similar information from the CIED via the wireless communication radio  403  and save the received information in the memory  406 . 
         [0045]    Any or all of the information acquired as a result of the collision and stored in the memory  406  of the IED  200  may be retrieved and/or removed via the interface  407  by authorized agents and/or wirelessly transmitted via a communications network  106  to a remote server  108  (or downloaded to an approved device) for analysis by the appropriate authorities, for example. The appropriate authorities or authorized agents, either wirelessly or via the interface  407 , for example, may also be able to check for and/or be notified of a tampered device apparatus through built-in measures, plus reset the collision warning display if applicable. 
         [0046]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  show a flowchart  500  of an example method of vehicular collision-activated information exchange from a perspective of a CIED, such as the CIED  100  of  FIG. 3 , in accordance with some aspects of the present invention. 
         [0047]    As shown in  FIG. 5A , in block  502 , a vehicle including a CIED may initially be either moving or located in a parked state. In block  504 , a determination is made as to whether or not a collision has been detected. If a collision has not been detected, the process returns to block  502 , otherwise, the process may proceed to block  506 . In block  506 , an information exchange program may be executed and a trigger may be toggled to return the process to block  504  to stand by, in the event of an additional collision. For example, If the sensor  301  of the CIED  100  does not detect a collision, the vehicle may continue to operate per block  502 ; however, if the sensor  301  detects a collision, a signal may be sent to the processor  302  to execute the information exchange program of the CIED  100  and then toggle the trigger to stand by, in the event of additional collisions occurring. 
         [0048]    In block  508 , a determination is made as to whether or not a wireless communication radio is powered up; if not, the process may proceed to block  512  where the wireless communication radio is powered up and the process may then proceed to block  516 . Otherwise, the process may proceed directly from block  508  to block  516 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the processor  302  may check whether or not the wireless communication radio  303  is powered up or awakened. If the radio  303  is not powered up, then the processor  302  powers up or awakens the radio  303 . 
         [0049]    In block  510 , a determination is made as to whether or not a collision warning has been conveyed; if not, the process may proceed to block  514  where the collision warning is conveyed, and the process may proceed to block  516 . Otherwise, the process may proceed directly from block  510  to block  516 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the processor  302  may check whether or not a collision warning has been displayed or sounded to a user of the CIED  100 . If no collision warning has been conveyed to a user, the processor  302  may display and/or sound a collision warning to a user via the vehicle/device instrumentation  304  (e.g., display, speaker, or other notification system that is part of the CIED  100  or the vehicle). 
         [0050]    In block  516 , the process may gather and store in a local memory various identification information and collision parameters from instrumentation and data storage. The process may then proceed to block  518  of  FIG. 5B . For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , after the processor  302  confirms that the wireless communication radio  303  is powered up or awakened and that a collision warning is conveyed to a user, the processor  302  may request information, such as VIN, HIN, or equivalent form of identification from the data storage unit  305 , as well as date, time, approximate speed at impact, and/or GPS coordinates from vehicle/device instrumentation  304 , and record the collected information in the memory  306 . 
         [0051]    As shown in  FIG. 5B , in block  518  the process may begin a search or a discovery of other CIED&#39;s of vehicles involved in the collision. Then, the process may proceed to block  520 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the processor  302  may initialize the CIED discovery by broadcasting via the wireless communication radio  303  a detection signal and by listening to responses to the detection signal or similar discovery detection signals of other CIED&#39;s. 
         [0052]    In block  520 , a determination is made as to whether or not any CIED&#39;s of other vehicles involved in the collision have been discovered. If no CIED&#39;s have been detected, then the process may proceed to block  534 . On the other hand, if one or more CIED&#39;s (in the event of multiple collisions) have been detected, the process may proceed to block  522 . The determination made in block  520  may, for example, be made by the processor  302 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The processor  302  may terminate its search for other CIED&#39;s after a predetermined period of time if no CIED&#39;s have been discovered. 
         [0053]    In block  534 , the process may begin a search or a discovery of IED&#39;s in a manner similar to the discovery process of CIED&#39;s within the collision area, and the process may proceed to block  536 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the processor  302  of the CIED  100  may initialize the IED discovery by broadcasting via the wireless communication radio  303  a detection signal and by listening to responses to the detection signal from any IED&#39;s. 
         [0054]    In block  536 , a determination is made as to whether or not any IED&#39;s in the area of the collision have been discovered. If no IED&#39;s have been detected, then the process may proceed to block  538 , where the search for IED&#39;s is terminated and the process proceeds to block  530 . On the other hand, if one or more IED&#39;s have been detected (e.g., a response to the detection signal has been received), the process may proceed to block  522 . The determination made in block  536  may, for example, be made by the processor  302 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The processor  302  may terminate its search for IED&#39;s after a predetermined period of time if no IED&#39;s have been discovered. 
         [0055]    In block  522 , a connection may be established with a discovered CIED or, in the absence of any discovered CIED&#39;s, a discovered IED, and the process may proceed to block  524 . For example, the CIED  100  may establish a localized connection or pairing with a discovered CIED or IED via the wireless communication radio  303 . 
         [0056]    In block  524 , the process exchanges information with the discovered one or more CIED&#39;s or IED&#39;s, and the process may proceed to block  526 , where the process stores the information received from the discovered one or more CIED&#39;s or IED&#39;s. Thereafter, the process may proceed to block  528 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the processor  302  may transmit to the discovered one or more CIED&#39;s or IED&#39;s various information stored in memory  306  and/or data storage unit  305 , such as identification, VIN, speed prior to impact, date, time, etc., via the wireless communication radio  303 , and likewise receive and store any information received from the one or more CIED&#39;s or IED&#39;s in the memory  306 . 
         [0057]    In block  528 , following the information exchange and storage, a determination is made as to whether or not more information is being exchanged in case of multiple collisions. If so, the process may proceed to block  526  to store the additional information that is received from the discovered CIED&#39;s or IED&#39;s. The determination of block  528  may be carried out repeatedly for every discovered CIED of each other vehicle involved in the collision or IED discovered in the collision area. Once the process has determined that no more information is being exchanged (i.e., there is no more additional information to be stored from any other CIED&#39;s or IED&#39;s and/or no other CIED&#39;s or IED&#39;s are requesting information), the process may proceed to block  530 . The aforementioned determination process of block  528  may, for example, be performed by the processor  302  of the CIED  100 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0058]    In block  530 , various components of the CIED may optionally enter standby mode (e.g., dormant state), and the process may proceed to block  532 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , in the CIED  100 , the wireless communication radio  303  may stand by once the processor  302  has determined that the collision information exchange is over. 
         [0059]    In block  532 , the process may log speeds in pre-set time intervals after the collision, after which the process may end. The speed-logging process of block  532  may, for example, be performed by the processor  302 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0060]      FIG. 6  shows an example flowchart  600  of a method of vehicular collision-activated information exchange from a perspective of an IED, such as an IED  200  of  FIG. 4 , in accordance with some aspects of the present invention. 
         [0061]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , in block  602  the process may receive a detection signal from a CIED and proceed to block  604 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the processor  402  of IED  200  may receive a detection signal from a CIED via the wireless communication radio  403  and antenna  408 . 
         [0062]    In block  604 , the process may transmit a response to the CIED acknowledging receipt of the detection signal, and the process may proceed to block  606 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the processor  402  may transmit a response to the CIED via the wireless communication radio  403 . 
         [0063]    It should be noted that if the broadcasting CIED no longer accepts connections or pairing after reaching any connectivity (including storage) limit and/or timing out due to inactivity, the wireless communication radio  403  may enter standby mode in the event of other broadcast detection signals. If, however, the CIED is accepting connections or pairing because connectivity capacity is available and/or it has not timed out, the processor  402  of the IED  200  may execute the device&#39;s information exchange program, as illustrated in block  606 , and then toggle the trigger to stand by in the event of additional detection signals. Thereafter, the process may proceed to block  608 . 
         [0064]    In block  608 , a determination is made as to whether or not a collision warning has been conveyed. If a collision warning has not been conveyed, the process may proceed to block  610  where the collision warning is conveyed. Thereafter, the process may proceed to block  612 . Otherwise, if it is determined that a collision warning has been conveyed, the process may proceed directly from block  608  to block  612 . In block  610 , the process may convey a collision warning to a user. For example, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the processor  402  may display and/or sound a collision warning to a user via the device instrumentation  404  (e.g., display, speaker, or other notification system that is part of the IED  200 ). In block  612 , the process may gather and store in a local memory various identification information from instrumentation and data storage. For example, the processor  402  may request information, such as mobile phone number, property serial number, or equivalent form of identification from the data storage unit  405 , as well as date, time, and/or GPS coordinates from device instrumentation  404 , and record the collected information in the memory  406 . 
         [0065]    In block  614 , the process may establish a connection with the CIED and proceed to block  616 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the processor  402  may establish connection or pairing with the CIED via the wireless communication radio  403 . 
         [0066]    In block  616 , the process may exchange information with the CIED and may then proceed to block  618 , where the process stores the information received from the CIED. Thereafter, the process may proceed to block  620 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the processor  402  may transmit to the CIED various information stored in memory  406  and/or data storage unit  405 , such as the mobile phone number, the property serial number, etc. (information gathered in block  612 ), via the wireless communication radio  403 , and likewise receive and store any information received from the CIED in the memory  406 . 
         [0067]    In block  620 , following information exchange and storage, a determination is made as to whether or not more information is being exchanged, in case of multiple collisions. If so, the process may proceed to block  618  to store the additional information that it receives from all CIED&#39;s that have established connection with the IED during the process. The determination of block  620  may be carried out repeatedly for every CIED that is involved in the collision and that established connection with the IED in the collision area. Once the process has determined that no more information is being exchanged (i.e., there is no more additional information to be stored from any other CIED&#39;s and/or no other CIED&#39;s are requesting information), the process may end. The aforementioned determination process of block  620  may, for example, be performed by the processor  402  of the IED  200 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0068]    Aspects of the present invention may be implemented using hardware, software, or a combination thereof and may be implemented in one or more computer systems or other processing systems. In one variation, aspects of the invention are directed toward one or more computer systems capable of carrying out the functionality described herein. An example of such a computer system  700  is shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0069]    Computer system  700  includes one or more processors, such as processor  704 . The processor  704  is connected to a communication infrastructure  706  (e.g., a communications bus, a cross-over bar, or a network). Various software aspects are described in terms of this exemplary computer system. After reading this description, it will become apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement aspects of the invention using other computer systems and/or architectures. 
         [0070]    Computer system  700  can include a display interface  702  that forwards graphics, text, and other data from the communication infrastructure  706  (or from a frame buffer not shown) for display on a display unit  730 . Computer system  700  also includes a main memory  708 , preferably random-access memory (RAM), and may also include a secondary memory  710 . The secondary memory  710  may include, for example, a hard disk drive  712  and/or a removable storage drive  714 , representing a floppy disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, an optical disk drive, etc. The removable storage drive  714  reads from and/or writes to a removable storage unit  718  in a well-known manner. Removable storage unit  718  represents a floppy disk, a magnetic tape, an optical disk, etc., which is read by and written to removable storage drive  714 . As will be appreciated, the removable storage unit  718  includes a computer usable storage medium having stored therein computer software and/or data. 
         [0071]    In alternative variations, secondary memory  710  may include other similar devices for allowing computer programs or other instructions to be loaded into computer system  700 . Such devices may include, for example, a removable storage unit  722  and an interface  720 . Examples of such may include a program cartridge and a cartridge interface (such as that found in video game devices), a removable memory chip (such as an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM) or a programmable read-only memory (PROM)) and associated socket, and other removable storage units  722  and interfaces  720 , which allow software and data to be transferred from the removable storage unit  722  to computer system  700 . 
         [0072]    Computer system  700  may also include a communications interface  724 . Communications interface  724  allows software and data to be transferred between computer system  700  and external devices. Examples of communications interface  724  may include a modem, a network interface (such as an Ethernet card), a communications port, a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) slot and card, etc. Software and data transferred via communications interface  724  are in the form of signals, which may be electronic, electromagnetic, optical, or other signals capable of being received by communications interface  724 . These signals are provided to communications interface  724  via a communications path (e.g., channel)  726 . This path  726  carries signals and may be implemented using wire or cable, fiber optics, a telephone line, a cellular link, a radio frequency (RF) link, and/or other communications channels. In this document, the terms “computer program medium,” “computer-usable medium,” and “computer-readable medium” are used to refer generally to media such as a removable storage drive  714 , a hard disk installed in hard disk drive  712 , and signals. These computer program products provide software to the computer system  700 . Aspects of the invention are directed to such computer program products. 
         [0073]    Computer programs (also referred to as computer control logics) are stored in main memory  708  and/or secondary memory  710 . Computer programs may also be received via communications interface  724 . Such computer programs, when executed, enable the computer system  700  to perform the features in accordance with aspects of the present invention, as discussed herein. In particular, the computer programs, when executed, enable the processor  704  to perform such features. Accordingly, such computer programs represent controllers of the computer system  700 . 
         [0074]    In a variation where aspects of the invention are implemented using software, the software may be stored in a computer program product and loaded into computer system  700  using removable storage drive  714 , hard disk drive  712 , or communications interface  720 . The control logic (software), when executed by the processor  704 , causes the processor  704  to perform the functions as described herein. In another variation, aspects of the invention are implemented primarily in hardware using, for example, hardware components, such as application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC&#39;s). Implementation of the hardware state machine so as to perform the functions described herein will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s). 
         [0075]    In yet another variation, aspects of the invention are implemented using a combination of both hardware and software. 
         [0076]    While aspects of the present invention have been described in connection with preferred implementations, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications (e.g. similar functionalities, purposes, adaptations, configurations) described above may be made without departing from the scope hereof. Other aspects will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the specification or from a practice of the aspects of the invention disclosed herein.