Patent Publication Number: US-7587489-B2

Title: Emergency report device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-184829 filed on Jun. 24, 2005, the disclosure of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to an emergency report device used in an emergency report system. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conventionally, an emergency report device that transmits an emergency signal to a service center in an occasion such as an emergency button operation by a user, an airbag deployment or the like maintains an identification number (ID number) received from an external device such as a navigation system. That is, the identification number that is originally assigned to the navigation system is copied from the navigation system to the emergency report device and is stored in the device. The user of the emergency report device can receive a designated service such as an emergency report service only when the ID number sent to the service center matches the registered ID number in the center. 
     Japanese Patent Document JP3,115,283 discloses an emergency report device that changes the stored ID number when a new external device is connected to the emergency report device. 
     The external device such as the navigation system is replaced when the device is not working properly. In this case, the emergency report device receives and stores a new ID number from a newly replaced navigation system connected thereto. However, the new ID number does not match the registered ID number in the service center until registration of the new ID in the service center, thereby preventing the user from receiving the designated service provided by the emergency report system. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the above-described and other problems, the present invention provides an emergency report device that maintains an absence of a designated service by notifying the absence to a user of the emergency report device for user&#39;s convenience. 
     The emergency report device uses a receiver for receiving an ID code from an external device, compares the ID code with a stored ID code in the device, and determines whether the ID code is registered in a service center for providing a service. When the ID code is not identical with the stored ID code in the emergency report device, emergency report operation of the emergency report device corresponding to an emergency report transmission trigger is prohibited until registration of the ID code in the service center is confirmed, and the non-registration condition of the ID code provided from the external device is notified to the user. 
     Therefore, usability of the emergency report device is improved, because the user of the emergency report device is appropriately notified of absence of the service in a timely manner when, for example, the external device connected to the emergency report device is replaced due to a breakdown or the like. That is, the emergency report device in a non-operation condition is appropriately recognized by the user because of the above-described scheme of operation. 
     In another aspect of the emergency report device of the present invention, when the ID code from the external device is identical with the stored ID code, the emergency report operation of the emergency report device corresponding to an emergency report transmission trigger is allowed, and the registration condition of the ID code provided from the external device is notified to the user. 
     Therefore, usability of the emergency report device is improved, because the service from the service center is provided for the user of the emergency report device with notification of registration of the ID code in the service center. In this manner, availability of the service for the user of the emergency report device is notified to the user in a timely manner for user&#39;s convenience. That is, resumed service of the emergency report device is appropriately recognized by the user because of the above-described scheme of operation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of an emergency report device in an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a flowchart of operation process of the emergency report device; and 
         FIG. 3  shows another flowchart of operation process of the emergency report device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the drawings. Like parts have like numbers in each of the embodiments. 
       FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of an emergency report device  1  in an embodiment of the present invention. The emergency report device  1  includes a controller  2 , a communication unit  3 , a timer  4 , a memory  5 , a registration condition storage  6 , an ID code storage  7 , an operation button  8 , a display  9 , a sound processor  10 , and a LAN interface  11 . 
     The controller  2  includes a CPU and other components for controlling operation of the emergency report device  1 . The communication unit  3  transmits an emergency signal to a service center  12  through a wireless communication network. In this case, the emergency signal includes an identification code (ID code) for identifying the emergency report device  1 , a vehicle position, a time stamp, an emergency index and the like as an attribute of transmitted information. 
     The timer  4  counts elapsed time upon receiving an instruction from the controller  2 . The memory  5  stores various information for later use. The ID code storage  7  stores the ID code of the emergency report device  1 . The registration condition storage  6  stores a registration condition of the ID code in the service center  12 . That is, the registration condition of the ID code is stored in the registration condition storage  6  as either of a “REG” condition that represents a registered ID code in the service center  12  matches the ID code transmitted from the emergency report device  1 , or a “NO-REG” condition that represents absence of registration of the ID code transmitted from the emergency report device  1  in the service center  12 . 
     The operation button  8  outputs an operation signal to the controller  2  upon receiving an operation of an emergency button. The display  9  displays information according to a display signal from the controller  2 . The sound processor  10  processes outbound voice sound inputted from a microphone  13  for transmission or inbound voice data for output from a speaker  14 . In this case, a user of the emergency report device  1  can communicate with an operator in the service center  12  by using the microphone  13  and the speaker  14  once a communication between the emergency, report device  1  and the service center  12  is established upon transmission of the emergency signal from the emergency report device  1  to the service center  12 . In this manner, the user of the emergency report device  1  can ask for assistance orally, or can report a current situation in which the user is involved. 
     The LAN interface  11  provides an interface with a vehicle LAN, and exchanges various information with a navigation system  15  in the present embodiment. An airbag system  16  outputs a deployment signal to the controller  2  when an airbag is deployed. 
     The emergency report device  1  may be constructed as a combination of modules in the above system structure. An emergency report operation of the emergency report device  1  in the present embodiment is triggered by an output signal from the operation button  8  upon detecting emergency button operation, or by an output of the deployment signal from the airbag system  16 . 
     Operation of the emergency report device  1  is described with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3  for following situations. That is, two situations are described in the present embodiment. 
     (1) Startup of the navigation system  15 ; and 
     (2) Confirmation of ID code registration by the user. 
     (Situation 1: Startup of the Navigation System  15 ) 
       FIG. 2  shows a flowchart of operation process of the emergency report device  1 . The navigation system  15  transmits the ID code that is unique for each system to the emergency report device  1  through the vehicle LAN every time the navigation system  15  is turned on (power of the system  15  is activated). 
     In steps S 1  and S 2 , the controller  2  in the emergency report device  1  receives the ID code from the navigation system  15  (step S 1 :YES), and compares the ID code with the code stored in the ID code storage  7 . In step S 3 , the controller  2  determines, by the comparison, whether the ID code is changed. When the ID code is changed (step S 3 :YES), the process proceeds to step S 4 . The process proceeds to step S 6  when the ID code is not changed (step S 3 :NO). 
     In step S 4 , the controller  2  stores the “NO-REG” condition in the registration condition storage  6 . The process proceeds to step S 5  after storing the “NO-REG” condition. 
     In step S 5 , the controller  2  stores the ID code from the navigation system  15  through the LAN interface  11  in the ID code storage  7 . The process proceeds to step S 6  after storing the ID code in the storage  7 . 
     In step S 6 , the controller  2  retrieves and determines the registration condition of the ID code in the service center  12 . The process proceeds to step S 7  when the ID code is registered in the service center  12  (step S 6 :“REG” [registered]). The process proceeds to step S 10  when the ID code is not registered in the service center  12  (step S 6 :“NO-REG” [not registered]) 
     In step S 7 , the controller  2  determines whether the emergency report operation of the emergency report device  1  corresponding to an emergency report transmission trigger is permitted. The process proceeds to step S 9  when the emergency report operation is permitted (step S 7 :YES). The process proceeds to step S 8  when the emergency report operation is not permitted (step S 7 :NO). 
     In step S 8 , the controller  2  permits the emergency report operation of the emergency report device  1  corresponding to the emergency report transmission trigger. 
     In step S 9 , the controller  2  displays a message that represents registration of the ID code in the service center  12  on the display  9 . The message may take a form of a text message such as “ID code registered in the service center.” 
     In step S 10 , the controller  2  determines whether the emergency report operation of the emergency report device  1  corresponding to an emergency report transmission trigger is prohibited. The process proceeds to step S 12  when the emergency report operation is prohibited (step S 10 :YES). The process proceeds to step S 11  when the emergency report operation is not prohibited (step S 10 :NO). 
     In step S 11 , the controller  2  prohibits the emergency report operation of the emergency report device  1  corresponding to the emergency report transmission trigger. 
     In step S 12 , the controller  2  displays a message that represents absence of registration of the ID code in the service center  12  on the display  9 . The message may take a form of a text message such as “ID code not registered in the service center.” 
     In the above-described manner, operation of the emergency report device  1  is changed depending on the ID code transmitted from the navigation system  15  to the emergency report device  1 . That is, when the ID code is changed, the ID code is stored in the device  1  in association with “NO-REG” registration condition, and the operation of the emergency report device  1  upon receiving the emergency report transmission trigger is prohibited with provision of ID code not-registered condition message. When the ID code is not changed, the “REG” registration condition is stored in the device  1  without the ID code from the navigation system  15  , and the operation of the emergency report device  1  upon receiving the emergency report transmission trigger is permitted with provision of ID code registered condition message. In this manner, the emergency report device  1  serves the user with recognition of registration condition of the ID code in the service center  12 , thereby enabling the user to be disposed in a well-informed condition in terms of the availability of the emergency report service in such a case as an operation of the emergency button, deployment of the airbag or the like. 
     (Situation 2: Confirmation of ID Code Registration by the User) 
     In the following description, user&#39;s operation for confirming registration of the ID code in the service center  12  is explained with reference to the drawings. 
       FIG. 3  shows a flowchart of operation process of the emergency report device  1 . 
     In step S 21 , the controller  2  in the emergency report device  1  determines whether registration confirmation operation is conducted by using the operation button  8 . When confirmation operation is detected (step S 21 :YES), the ID code stored in the ID code storage  7  is transmitted to the service center  12  through the communication unit  3  in step S 22 . The process proceeds to step S 23  after transmission. When confirmation operation is not detected (step S 21  :NO), the process repeats step S 21 . 
     In step S 23 , the timer  4  starts to count elapsed time after the transmission of the ID code. The elapsed time is used to limit a response time from the service center  12 . 
     In step S 24 , the controller  2  determines whether a response from the service center  12  is received. When the response is received (step S 24 :YES), the process proceeds to step S 26 . When the response is not received (step S 24 :NO), the process proceeds to step S 25 . 
     The service center  12  determines whether the ID code transmitted from the emergency report device  1  is registered. That is, the service center  12  responds to the ID code from the emergency report device  1  with an affirmative response signal for confirming registration of the ID code when the ID code is, for example, registered in the service center  12  in an appropriate format in advance. The service center  12  responds to the ID code from the emergency report device  1  with a negative response signal for confirming non-registration of the ID code when the ID code is not registered in the service center  12 . The affirmative/negative response is transmitted to the emergency report device  1 . 
     In step S 25 , the elapsed time is compared with a predetermined period. When the elapsed time is within the predetermined period, that is, the response from the service center  12  is received within the predetermined period, the process returns to step S 24 . When the elapsed time is not within the predetermined period, the process proceeds to step S 28 . 
     In step S 26 , the controller  2  determines whether the ID code is registered in the service center  12  by analyzing the response from the service center  12 . When the response is in the affirmative (step S 26 :YES), the process proceeds to step S 27 . When the response is not in the affirmative (step S 26 :NO), the process proceeds to step S 28 . 
     In step S 27 , the controller  2  stores the registration condition as “REG (registered)” in the registration condition storage  6 . The process proceeds to step S 29  after storing the registration condition. 
     In step S 28 , the controller  2  stores the registration condition as “NO-REG (not registered)” in the registration condition storage  6 . The process proceeds to step S 29  after storing the registration condition. 
     In step S 29 , the controller  2  determines registration condition of the ID code in the service center  12 . When the ID code is in the registered condition (step S 29 : “REG”), the process proceeds to step S 30 . When the ID code is in the not-registered condition (step S 29 : “NO-REG”), the process proceeds to step S 33 . 
     In step S 30 , the controller  2  determines whether the emergency report operation of the emergency report device  1  corresponding to an emergency report transmission trigger is allowed. The process proceeds to step S 32  when the emergency report operation is allowed (step S 30 :YES). The process proceeds to step S 31  when the emergency report operation is not allowed (step S 30 :NO). 
     In step S 31 , the controller  2  permits the emergency report operation of the emergency report device  1  corresponding to the emergency report transmission trigger. 
     In step S 32 , the controller  2  displays a message that represents registration of the ID code in the service center  12  on the display  9 . The message may take a form of a text message such as “ID code registered in the service center.” 
     In step S 33 , the controller  2  determines whether the emergency report operation of the emergency report device  1  corresponding to an emergency report transmission trigger is prohibited. The process proceeds to step S 35  when the emergency report operation is prohibited (step S 33 :YES). The process proceeds to step S 34  when the emergency report operation is not prohibited (step S 33 :NO). 
     In step S 34 , the controller  2  prohibits the emergency report operation of the emergency report device  1  corresponding to the emergency report transmission trigger. 
     In step S 35 , the controller  2  displays a message that represents absence of registration of the ID code in the service center  12  on the display  9 . The message may take a form of a text message such as “ID code not registered in the service center.” 
     The confirmation of the ID code registration by the user from the emergency report device  1  is conducted in the above-described manner. That is, the confirmation to the service center  12  is responded either in the affirmative or in the negative, and the condition of the registration is displayed as a text message or the like for the user. Provision of the emergency service corresponding the emergency report transmission trigger is permitted when the ID code registration is affirmatively confirmed. Provision of the emergency service corresponding the emergency report transmission trigger is prohibited when the ID code registration is not affirmatively confirmed. In this manner, the emergency report device  1  serves the user with recognition of registration condition of the ID code in the service center  12 , thereby enabling the user to be disposed in a well-informed condition in terms of the availability of the emergency report service in such a case as an operation of the emergency button, deployment of the airbag or the like. 
     The emergency report device  1  in the present embodiment provides a text message that informs the user of no-registration confirmation in an above described manner when the navigation system  15  is replaced with a new one due to breakdown or the like. In other words, during “no-registration” period of the ID code, that is, before the ID code registration in the service center  12  is confirmed by the emergency report device  1 , information on un-availability of the emergency report device  1  is appropriately reported to the user. Therefore, the user is disposed in a well-informed condition regarding the availability of the emergency report device  1 . 
     Although the present invention has been fully described in connection with the preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     For example, the emergency report device  1  may be constructed as a part of a navigation system. 
     Further, the emergency report transmission may be triggered by a signal or operation that is different from the output from the operation of the emergency button, deployment of the airbag, or the like. 
     Furthermore, the external device may be a system or a device that is different from the navigation system. 
     Furthermore, the scheme of the operation of the emergency report device  1  may be applied to a situation that is different from replacement of the external device due to breakdown. That is, for example, the external device may be replaced due to purchase of a new product. 
     Furthermore, the registration condition of the ID code may be informed to the user by using a device other than the display for displaying the text message. That is, the registration condition of the ID code may be outputted as a sound message accompanied by the text message. The registration condition may also be informed to the user by turning on/off of a green light emitting diode (LED). 
     Such changes and modifications are to be understood as being within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.