The present disclosure relates generally to a communication system for a vehicle. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a communication system having multiple pre-coded subroutines for communication between a user of the vehicle and a remote assistance unit. It is an undeniable facet of modern life that many people spend a considerable amount of time in their vehicles, while being transported from one place to another. At some point, an occupant of a vehicle may experience a medical situation while inside the vehicle. The occupant may be a driver or a passenger. However, the vehicle may be in a remote location and/or emergency medical services may take some time to arrive. In the interim waiting period, it would be desirable to provide prompt and reliable assistance to the occupant of the vehicle.
Disclosed herein is a communication system with an assistance mode for communication between a user of a vehicle and a remote assistance unit. The assistance mode is activable during a concerning situation or event. The assistance mode includes multiple pre-coded subroutines selectively executable to provide audio instruction and video instruction to the user, via a display in the vehicle. The multiple pre-coded subroutines are triggered by the remote assistance unit. Operating the assistance mode includes relaying of selected data to the remote assistance unit. The selected data may include actions performed by the user.
The assistance mode is activable by at least one of the remote assistance unit, the user via the user interface, and the vehicle. In some embodiments, the multiple pre-coded subroutines are stored in the vehicle. In other embodiments, the multiple pre-coded subroutines are stored in a cloud unit interfacing with the controller. The multiple pre-coded subroutines may be updated via remote updates. The communication system may include a controller having a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded, the controller being adapted to at least partially execute the assistance mode.
The audio instruction may include rhythmic beats directing performance of chest compressions when the concerning situation includes a cardiac arrest, with the selected data including a length of time the chest compressions are performed. The multiple pre-coded subroutines may include broadcasting of a video tutorial of a Heimlich maneuver when the concerning situation includes choking. The audio instruction may include broadcasting of calming music when the concerning situation includes a panic attack.
In some embodiments, a camera may be installed in or around the vehicle, with the selected data including real-time imaging data acquired by the camera. The selected data may include sensor data from at least one sensor, including a wearable device worn by the user and/or an electronic sensor implanted in the user. The selected data may include sensor data from at least one sensor installed within the vehicle.
Disclosed herein is a method of operating a communication system for a vehicle having a user interface and a display. The method includes incorporating an assistance mode for communication between a user of the vehicle and a remote assistance unit, the assistance mode being activable during a concerning situation. Multiple pre-coded subroutines may be incorporated in the assistance mode, the multiple pre-coded subroutines being selectively executable to provide audio instruction and video instruction to the user via the display. The method includes relaying of selected data from the vehicle to the remote assistance unit during operation of the assistance mode, the selected data including actions performed by the user.
The method may include obtaining the selected data as sensor data from at least one sensor. The sensor includes a wearable device worn by the user and/or an electronic sensor implanted in the user. The method includes obtaining heart rate and/or blood pressure data from the at least one sensor. The method may include incorporating rhythmic beats in the audio instruction for directing performance of chest compressions when the concerning situation includes a cardiac arrest. The method may include incorporating a length of time the chest compressions are performed into the selected data.
The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present disclosure are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the disclosure when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Representative embodiments of this disclosure are shown by way of non-limiting example in the drawings and are described in additional detail below. It should be understood, however, that the novel aspects of this disclosure are not limited to the particular forms illustrated in the above-enumerated drawings. Rather, the disclosure is to cover modifications, equivalents, combinations, sub-combinations, permutations, groupings, and alternatives falling within the scope of this disclosure as encompassed, for instance, by the appended claims.
Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to like components,
The communication system 10 includes an assistance mode 14 for communication between at least one user 16 (e.g., first user 17 and/or second user 18) of the vehicle 12 and a remote assistance unit 20. Referring to
The assistance mode 14 can be activated by the user 16 during a concerning situation. The concerning situation may be a medical event or emergency such as choking, cardiac arrest, panic attack, childbirth etc. The assistance mode 14 may be activated by the remote assistance unit 20 and/or the vehicle 12 automatically upon the occurrence of a predetermined trigger (e.g., deployment of airbags, etc). As described below, the assistance mode 14 includes multiple pre-coded subroutines 30 that are selectively executable to provide audio instruction and video instruction to the user 16 via one or more screens in the vehicle 12, such as display 32 shown in
The positioning of the display 32 may be varied based on the application at hand. For example, referring to
Referring to
Referring to
In some embodiments, the multiple pre-coded subroutines 30 are stored in the vehicle 12, e.g., in the controller C. In other embodiments, the multiple pre-coded subroutines 30 are stored in a cloud unit 50, shown in
Referring to
Referring now to
Per block 202 of
Proceeding to block 204 of
Based on the assessment made in block 204 of
In one example, referring to
In another example, the multiple pre-coded subroutines 30 may include a second subroutine 30B when the concerning situation involves choking. Here the video instruction may include broadcasting of a tutorial on how to perform a Heimlich maneuver. The multiple pre-coded subroutines 30 may include a third subroutine 30C when the concerning situation involves a panic attack. Here the audio instruction may include broadcasting of calming, soothing music and the video instruction may include a tutorial for guiding someone in the midst of a panic attack. Additionally, the remote advisor may alter or manipulate vehicle conditions, for example, adjusting the temperature in the vehicle 12. The multiple pre-coded subroutines 30 may include a fourth subroutine 30D when the concerning situation involves childbirth. Here the audio instruction may include breathing exercises and the video instruction may include a tutorial with relevant information. Additional subroutines may be added based on the application at hand.
In addition to providing audio and visual effects, the assistance mode 14 may collect and relay selected data from the vehicle 12 to the remote assistance unit 20, including useful information about what actions have been performed. For example, the selected data may include how long the chest compressions have been performed, how long the afflicted user has been experiencing a panic attack, etc.
In some embodiments, referring to
Referring to
Referring to
In summary, the communication system 10 (via the assistance mode 14) provides a host of measures to assist a user 16 (e.g., first user 17 and/or second user 18) of the vehicle 12 during a concerning situation. The communication system 10 provides the option for a remote advisor 22 to control vehicle conditions and components to help manage a situation while waiting for first responders to arrive on scene. The assistance mode 14 stores specific pre-coded routines that the remote advisor 22 in the remote assistance unit 20 may select for broadcasting in the vehicle 12.
The controller C of
Look-up tables, databases, data repositories or other data stores described herein may include various kinds of mechanisms for storing, accessing, and retrieving various kinds of data, including a hierarchical database, a group of files in a file rechargeable energy storage system, an application database in a proprietary format, a relational database energy management system (RDBMS), etc. Each such data store may be included within a computing device employing a computer operating system such as one of those mentioned above and may be accessed via a network in one or more of a variety of manners. A file system may be accessible from a computer operating rechargeable energy storage system and may include files stored in various formats. An RDBMS may employ the Structured Query Language (SQL) in addition to a language for creating, storing, editing, and executing stored procedures, such as the PL/SQL language mentioned above.
The flowcharts illustrate an architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products of various embodiments of the present disclosure. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustrations, may be implemented by specific purpose hardware-based rechargeable energy storage systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of specific purpose hardware and computer instructions. These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable medium that can direct a controller or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instructions to implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blocks.
The numerical values of parameters (e.g., of quantities or conditions) in this specification, including the appended claims, are to be understood as being modified in each respective instance by the term “about” whether or not “about” actually appears before the numerical value. “About” indicates that the stated numerical value allows some slight imprecision (with some approach to exactness in the value; about or reasonably close to the value; nearly). If the imprecision provided by “about” is not otherwise understood in the art with this ordinary meaning, then “about” as used here indicates at least variations that may arise from ordinary methods of measuring and using such parameters. In addition, disclosure of ranges includes disclosure of each value and further divided ranges within the entire range. Each value within a range and the endpoints of a range are hereby disclosed as separate embodiments.
The detailed description and the drawings or FIGS. are supportive and descriptive of the disclosure, but the scope of the disclosure is defined solely by the claims. While some of the best modes and other embodiments for carrying out the claimed disclosure have been described in detail, various alternative designs and embodiments exist for practicing the disclosure defined in the appended claims. Furthermore, the embodiments shown in the drawings, or the characteristics of various embodiments mentioned in the present description are not necessarily to be understood as embodiments independent of each other. Rather, it is possible that each of the characteristics described in one of the examples of an embodiment can be combined with one or a plurality of other desired characteristics from other embodiments, resulting in other embodiments not described in words or by reference to the drawings. Accordingly, such other embodiments fall within the framework of the scope of the appended claims.