I|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||Illll|||||l|l||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
`
`US008548686B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Pisz
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`
`(45; Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,548,686 B2
`*Oct. 1, 2013
`
`(54) AUTOMATIC CRASH NOTI FI(TA'l"I()N USING
`WI.\/[AX
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor:
`
`Jamcs T. Pisz, Huntington Beach. CA
`(US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc..
`Torrance. CA (US)
`
`( ’°‘ ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer. the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 15403) by 1231 days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis-
`claimer.
`
`(21) Appl. No: lll'87t|,97'r'
`(22)
`Filed:
`Oct. 11, 2007
`
`El’
`
`lll2l3l9 BI
`
`3-"2005
`
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`International Search Report for I-’Cl' Application Serial No.
`U508.-"T9233. mailed on Dec. 8. 2008.
`Alcclla. MR. ct al. Fvaluating the reliability ofautomatcd collision
`notification systems. In Accid. .r\.na1. Prev. May 2003. vol. 35. No. 3.
`pp. 349-350.
`
`l-’C'l‘r'
`
`(Cotitiritled)
`
`Primar_i= Exo-mr'rrer — Thomas Tarcza
`Assistant Exa:nir1cr- — l':Edwand Pipakl
`(74) Attornelt-'. Agem‘. rJrI"irrJ1 — Mcl.)erl1'1ott Will & Emery
`LLP
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`(57)
`
`ABS'l‘RA(f'l‘
`
`(51)
`
`US 2009r’0099732 Al
`Int. (31.
`360K 28/14'
`G06F I 7/00
`B60Q H/00
`(52) U.S. (Tl.
`USPC.‘
`
`Apr. 16, 2009
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`'.’l}ll'45: 7011929.]: 70lf3l.5: "r'0ll'32.2'
`340K436; 340K438: 3403460; 180K282
`(58) Field of (Tlassitication Search
`USPC
`70111. 29. 32. 35. 36. 45. 29.1. 29.6.
`'r'0ll'3].4, 31.5. 32.2. 32.3. 32.4. 33.4: 280E734.
`280K735: 340K901. 425.5. 436. 438, 459-462;
`180127}, 2?4. 282
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U .S. PA'l"}'iNT DOCUMENTS
`3.914.692 A
`I0-“"1975 Sea.born..lr.
`4.172.969 A
`10.-'l9?9 Levine ct al.
`
`(Continued)
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1526592
`9 "2004
`
`CN
`
`An automatic crash notification system may include a crash
`detection system configured to detect :1 crash of a vehicle. a
`wireless communication system configured to wirelessly
`transmit a message to and wirelessly receive 21 message from
`a remote location in conformance with the IEEE 802.16 stan-
`
`dard. and a processing system cotlfigured to transmit notice of
`a crash over the wireless comniunication system to the remote
`location in cor1l'ormance with the Ililiili 802.16 standard in
`response to detection of the crash by the crash detection
`system. The wireless comniunication may be cotifigured to
`wirelessly transmit a message to znid wireless receive a mes-
`sage from the remote location. using Wi MAX. The automatic
`crash notification system may includea memory system con-
`taining 21 first prerecorded ntessage that includes one or more
`words that mean that the remote location has received notice
`ofa crash and a user conmttuiicatioti system configured to
`deliver words to an occupant of the vehicle. The processing
`system may be configured to cause the first prerecorded mes-
`sage to be communicated over the user connmmication sys-
`tem in response to receipt by the wireless eornnuinication
`system ofan ackiiowlcdgettient front the remote location that
`the remote location has received notice o [the crash. but wliich
`does not include the first prerecorded message.
`
`22 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`Manage
`
`Llngulgl
`
`OI-ash Dehactnd
`[step 205}
`
`‘A crash has boon rlstzactad. lfynn do rtctwant or need huh. prose
`the rec emergency cancellation button loos led on Ir-e oaetlocaro:
`
`Notice ol' Crash
`Tranemined
`[step 209)
`
`Noltico at Clash
`Received {step 218)
`
`Cenfirnlallun
`Rnqnlred
`IMP 305}
`
`‘Notice nfthls crash has been transmitted to a coil comer. Irycu
`do not lrlrantor need help. mess the mo emergency canoelalion
`button Iocstod on the dashboard.‘
`call cenlarhssac nowlsogao receiving nots'oe- the crash
`'
`and is roquastirlg a local arnorgancy service Drovlder to proltrlde
`help. lfyou do not wanlar need help. press the rod ornargoncy
`cancellation button located on the dashboard.’
`‘You are attemnllng hocancal 4 requestfcr hell: frorn an
`emergency service prev-Idsr. Press the rod mncalhllm button
`again wiltlin no seconds to cancel the request for help.‘
`
`has been canceled.‘
`
`Crash Not Detected
`[step 307}
`
`‘No crash has been l1etledIat:l.'roLI' naoueel to cancel aulcmaleo
`vallida crash notification has been ignored.‘
`
`carlcolod
`(soap 319}
`
`"Eha request for llatp from your local emergency service provider
`
`(cid:50)(cid:58)(cid:49)(cid:40)(cid:53)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:21)(cid:20)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:20)
`OWNER Ex. 2021, page 1
`
`

`
`US 8,548,686 B2
`Page 2
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
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`Japan. May 19-22. 2003. 15 pages. May 2003.
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`t
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`.aJ11.l1dateiet.hnoog,1es oranautomatet L0 ision
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`ay
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`l 1061 '1'). Communication Pursuant to Amcle 94(3) l:P(.. mailed Sep_
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`Examination Report. dated Scp. 13. 2011. for Japanese Patent Appli-
`cation No. 2008-5015559. entitled "Aiitoinatic Crash Notification
`Using Prc-recorded Messages.“ based on PC'1‘1’US20061"0I322’.8.
`Ebiarriination Report. dated Apr. 3. 2012. for Japanese Patent Appli-
`cation 1\'o. 2008-506559. entitled "Aiitoinatic Crash Notification
`Using Pre-recorded Messages.“ based on I’CTr'US2006,-'013228.
`.
`.
`.
`Exaininatmn Report. dated Feb. 5. 2013. for Japanese Patent Appli-
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`cation No. 2008-506559. entitled ".~\iito1nat1c Crash r1\"otil1:’cat1on
`Usmg Prc-recorded Messages. based on P£.1rUS2006.-0132-8.
`_
`,
`* cited by exainiiier
`
`(cid:50)(cid:58)(cid:49)(cid:40)(cid:53)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:21)(cid:20)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:21)
`OWNER Ex. 2021, page 2
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`on. 1, 2013
`
`Sheet 1 of 5
`
`US 8,548,686 B2
`
`103
`
`111
`
`115
`
`Crash Detection
`system
`
`Status Indicators
`
`Location Detection
`System
`
`105
`
`101
`
`117
`
`Wireless
`Communication
`
`System
`
`System
`
`Processing
`System
`
`Entertainment
`
`'10?’
`
`113
`
`119
`
`109
`
`User-Actuated
`
`Sound System
`
`Cancel Control
`
`Fig. 1
`
`(cid:50)(cid:58)(cid:49)(cid:40)(cid:53)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:21)(cid:20)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:22)
`OWNER Ex. 2021, page 3
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 1, 2013
`
`Sheet 2 of 5
`
`US 8,548,686 B2
`
`201
`
`203
`
`Crash Detected
`
`207
`
`209
`
`Mute
`
`Entertainment
`System
`
`Transmit Notice of
`
`Crash
`
`Message
`Message
`
`205
`
`No
`
`Play Notice of
`Crash Transmitted
`
`Play Crash
`Detected
`
`21 1
`
`Notice of
`
`Crash
`
`Received?
`
`
`
`Play Notice 01‘
`
`Crash Received
`
`Message
`
`Flg. 2
`
`(cid:50)(cid:58)(cid:49)(cid:40)(cid:53)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:21)(cid:20)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:23)
`OWNER Ex. 2021, page 4
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 1, 2013
`
`Sheet 3 of 5
`
`US 8,548,686 B2
`
`Cancellation
`
`Request Received
`
`Yes
`
`Play Crash Not
`Detected
`
`Message
`
`Play Confirmation
`Required
`
`Message
`
`305
`
`309
`
`Confirmation
`
`Received?
`
`
`
`Yes
`1
`
`G0 to Fig. 303)
`
`Ignore
`
`Fig. 3(a)
`
`(cid:50)(cid:58)(cid:49)(cid:40)(cid:53)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:21)(cid:20)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:24)
`OWNER Ex. 2021, page 5
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 1, 2013
`
`Sheet 4 of 5
`
`US 8,548,686 B2
`
`From Fig. 3(a)
`
`Yes
`
`315
`
`317
`
`N0
`
`Transmit
`Cancellation
`
`Request
`
`Cancellation
`
`
`
`Request
`Received?
`
`Yes
`
`Fig. 30:)
`
`Un-Mute
`Entertainment
`
`Systems)
`
`(cid:50)(cid:58)(cid:49)(cid:40)(cid:53)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:21)(cid:20)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:25)
`OWNER Ex. 2021, page 6
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`on. 1, 2013
`
`Sheet 5 of 5
`
`US 8,548,686 B2
`
`401
`
`403
`
`405
`
`Ignition Key
`
`Cancel Process
`
`Cycled
`
`Un- Mute
`Entertainment
`
`System
`
`Fig. 4
`
`Message
`
`Language
`
`Crash Detected
`(step 205)
`
`“A crash has been detected. if you do not want or need help, press
`the red emergency cancellation button located on the dashboard.“
`
`Notice of Crash
`Transmitted
`(step 209)
`
`"Notice of this crash has been transmitted to a call center. If you
`do not want or need help, press the red emergency cancellation
`button located on the dashboard."
`
`Notice of Crash
`Received (step 213)
`
`“The call center has acknowledged receiving notice of the crash
`and is requesting a local emergency service provider to provide
`help. if you do not want or need help. press the red emergency
`cancellation button iocated on the dashboard."
`
`Confirmation
`Required
`(step 305)
`
`"You are attempting to cancel a request for help from an
`emergency service provider. Press the red cancellation button
`again within 10 seconds to cancel the request for heip."
`
`Crash Not Detected
`(step 30?‘)
`
`“No crash has been detected. Your request to cancel automated
`vehicle crash notification has been ignored."
`
`Canceled
`(step 319)
`
`“The request for help from your locai emergency service provider
`has been canceled.“
`
`Fig. 5
`
`(cid:50)(cid:58)(cid:49)(cid:40)(cid:53)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:21)(cid:20)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:26)
`OWNER Ex. 2021, page 7
`
`

`
`US 8,548,686 B2
`
`1
`AUTOIVLKTIC CRASH NOTIFICATION USING
`WIMAX
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`l. liicld
`Automatic crash rlotification.
`2. Description of Related Art
`Automatic crash notification systems and methods may
`detect a vehicle crash and issue a request for help to a call
`center. An operator at the call center may comnntnicate with
`an occupant of the vehicle to confirm that the call for help has
`been received.
`
`1U
`
`Standard cell phone technology has been used to wireles sly
`comnntnicate the needed information. However. cell phones
`have limited range and may not operate in areas in which a
`cellular tower is far away. Moreover. the cell phone services
`that are offered by ditlerent carriers are not always compat-
`ible. This can require the hardware of the system to be dedi-
`cated to a service otfered by only one carrier. This may further
`restrict the flexibility of the system. reduce opportunities for
`competitive price bidding. and further reduce tl1e areas in
`which the system can be used.
`Instead of including its own mobile cell phone hardware.
`some systems Inay interface with a cell phone provided by the
`vehicle occupant. Although this may increase the number oi‘
`compatible carriers. it can also introduce safety and reliability
`problems. For example, the occupant may forget to bring a
`cell phone. charge the cell phone before driving. or turn the
`cell phone on. The cell phone itselfmay not be reliable or may
`not have all of the necessary functionality.
`The use of cell phones also may require payments to car-
`riers based on the amount ofair time that is used or the amount
`of data that is communicated. This can make it dillicult to
`enter into a fixed—price contract for the use of a particular
`carrier. It can also make it difficnlt to accurately determine the
`cost of using such a system at the time a purchase decision
`must be made.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`An automatic crash notification system may include a
`crash detection system configured to detect a crash of a
`vehicle. a wireless communication system configured to
`wirelessly transmit a message to and wirelessly receive a
`message from a remote location in confomtance with the
`II-EI-7.]? 802.16 standard, and a processing system configured to
`transmit notice ofa crash over the wireless communication
`
`system to the remote location in conformance with the IEEE
`802.16 standard in response to detection of the crash by the
`crash detection system.
`The wireless connntmication may be configured to wire-
`lessly transmit a message to and wireless receive a message
`from the remote location using WiMAX.
`The automatic crash notification system may include a
`memory system containing a first prerecorded message that
`includes one ormore words that mean that the remote location
`has received notice of a crash and a user communication
`
`system configured to deliver words to an occupant of the
`vehicle. The processing system may be configured to cause
`the first prerecorded message to be communicated over the
`user communication system in response to receipt by the
`wireless communication system of an acknowledgement
`from the remote location that the remote location has received
`notice of the crash, but which does 11ot include Lhc first pre-
`recorded message.
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`The memory system may contain the first prerecorded
`message in multiple languages. The processing system may
`be configured to select the lzmguage to be communicated
`based on user input.
`The wireless communication system may be configured
`11ot to trartsmit or receive words over the wireless con1.rnuni-
`cation system.
`The first prerecorded message may include one or more
`words that also mean that the remote location has sumntoned
`
`help.
`The vehicle may include an entertainment system and the
`processing system may be configured to mute the sound from
`the entertainment system in response to detection of a crash
`by the crash detection system.
`The automatic crash notification may include a GPS
`receiver configured to generate location inforniation indica-
`tive of the location ofthe vehicle. and the processing system
`may be configured to cause the location iitfonnation to be
`included in the notice of the crash that is transmitted to the
`remote location.
`
`The automatic crash notification system may include a
`user-actuated cancel control and the processing system may
`be configured to transmit at cancellation notice over the wire-
`less communication system to the remote location in response
`to actuation of the user-actuated cancel control.
`
`The memory system may contain a second prerecorded
`message that includes one or more words that mean that a
`remote location has received a cancellation notice. The pro-
`cessing system may be configured to cause the second prere-
`corded message to be communicated over the user commu-
`nication system in response to receipt by the wireless
`communication system of an acknowledgement from the
`remote location that the remote location has received a can-
`cellation notice, but which does not include the second pre-
`recorded message.
`The user communication system may include a sound sys-
`tem and the processing system may be configured to cause the
`one or more words to be played over the sound system.
`The user communication system may include a display and
`the processing system may be configured to cause the one or
`more words to be displayed on the display.
`An automatic crash notification process may include auto-
`matically detecting, a crash of a vehicle and transmitting
`notice of the crash from the vehicle to a remote location
`
`automatically in response to the autornatically detecting the
`crash over a wireless communication system in conformance
`with the ll-."'.l"ll;7. 802.16 standard.
`The transmitting may use WiMAX.
`The automatic crash notification process may include stor-
`ing a first prerecorded message that includes one or more
`words that mean that a remote location has received notice of
`
`a crash in a memory in the vehicle, receiving an acknowl-
`edgement at the vehicle from the remote location that the
`remote location l1as received notice ofthe crash. but which
`does not include any words. and communicating the first
`prerecorded message over a user communication system in
`response to receipt of the acknowledgement from the remote
`location that the remote location has received notice of the
`crash.
`
`The automatic crash notification process may include
`selecting the language of the message that is conununicated.
`Words may not be not transmitted or received over the
`wireless communication system.
`The first prerecorded message may include one or more
`words that also mean that the remote location has st.tm.111o11ed
`
`help.
`
`(cid:50)(cid:58)(cid:49)(cid:40)(cid:53)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:21)(cid:20)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:27)
`OWNER Ex. 2021, page 8
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`US 8,548,686 B2
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`3
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`The process may include muting sound from an entertain-
`n1ent system in the vehicle in response to detection of the
`crash.
`
`The process may include generating location infomration
`indicative of the location of the vehicle and transniitting the
`location irrformatiorl as part of the notice of the craslr.
`The process may include actuating a user-actuated cancel
`control in the vehicle and transmitting a cancellation notice
`from the vehicle to tl1e remote location in response to actua-
`tion ofthe user-actuated cancel control.
`The process may include storing a second prerecorded
`message that includes one or more words that mean that the
`remote location has received a cancellation notice; receiving
`a second acknowledgement at l.l1e vehicle from the remote
`location that the remote location has received the cancellation
`
`notice. but which does not inchtde the second prerecorded
`message: and communicating the second prerecorded mes-
`sage that was stored in the vehicle over the user communica-
`tion system in response to receipt olithe second acknowledge-
`ment from the remote location.
`
`The one or more words may be played on a sound system
`or displayed 011 a display.
`features.
`‘lhese. as well as other components_. steps,
`objects, benefits. and advantages, will now become clear from
`a review of the following detailed description of illustrative
`embodiments. the accompanying drawings. and the claims.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
`
`The drawings disclose illustrative embodiments. They do
`not set forth all embodiments. Other embodiments may be
`used in addition or instead. Details that may be apparent or
`unnecessary may be omitted to save space or for more effec-
`tive illustration. Conversely. some embodiments may be prac-
`ticed without all of the details that are disclosed. When the
`
`same numeral appears in dilferent drawings. it is intended to
`refer to the same or like components or steps.
`FIG. I is a block diagram ofan automatic crash notification
`system using prerecorded messages.
`FIG. 2 is a llow diagram of an automatic crash notification
`process using the automatic crash notification system shown
`ir1 FIG. 1.
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`FIGS. 3(a) and 3(3)) collectively show a flow diagram of a
`cancellation process for the automatic crash notification pro-
`cess shown in FIG. 2.
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`FIG. 4 is a {low diagram of another cancellation process for
`the automatic crash notification process shown in FIG. 2.
`FIG. 5 is a table of prerecorded messages that may be
`played as part of the automatic crash notification processes
`shown in FIGS. 2, 3(a). and 3{b).
`
`DETAll_E[) DF-.S(.".RIP'l'lON OF lI_LUS'fI{ATIV"E
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`Illustrative embodiments
`
`are now discussed. Other
`
`embodiments may be used in addition or instead. Details that
`may be apparent orunnecessary may be omitted to save space
`or for a more effective presentation. Conversely. some
`embodiments may be practiced without all of the details that
`are disclosed.
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram ofan automatic crash notification
`system using prerecorded messages. As shown in FIG. 1_. a
`processing system 101 may be configured to communicate
`with a crash detection system 103. a two—way wireless com-
`munication system 105. a memory system 10? containing one
`or more messages 109, a location detection system 111, a
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`user—a ctuated cancel control 113, status indicators I15, enter-
`tainment system 117, and a sound system 1 19.
`The crash detection system 103 may be any type of system
`that is configured to detect a crash of a vehicle. The system
`may include one or more crash sensors mounted on the
`vehicle at one or more strategic locations, such as on one or
`more btunpers andfor one or more sides of the vehicle. The
`crash detection system 103 may instead or in addition include
`one or more sensors that are configured to detect the deploy-
`ment of an air bag. One or more of the sensors may be an
`existing part of the vehicle and may be utilized for other
`purposes. The crash detection system 103 may include a
`usenacruate control (e. g.. a push—button on the dashboard)
`that an occupant of the vehicle may actuate following a crash
`as an alternate or additional means of detecting a crash.
`The crash detection system 1 03 may he configured to com-
`municate that a crash has occurred when an air bag sensor
`signals that an airbag has been deployed or when a rear-end
`sensor signals that there has been a rear-end crash {which
`usually does not trigger an airbag). The crash detection sys-
`tem l03 may be configured to ignore signals from a rear—end
`sensor that are below a pre-determined threshold on the
`asstunption that such a crash does not warrant a call for help.
`The wireless communication system 105 may be config-
`ured to wirelessly transmit data. voice. andfor other informa-
`tion to a location that is remote from the vehicle. such as to a
`call center. and to wirelessly receive data, voice. andtor other
`information from that remote location. The wireless conunu—
`nication system 105 may be any type of wireless cornmuni-
`cation system. It may be a stand-alone system dedicated to the
`functions of the automatic vehicle crash notification system
`or it may provide other types of communication services. For
`example. the wireless communication system 105 may also
`serve to send cormnunications to auditor to receive conunu—
`nications from a vehicle service center that relate to needs to
`have the vehicle serviced.
`The wireless communication system 105 may include or
`consist of any type oftransceiver that conforms to the IEEE
`802.16 standard. When not used ‘for automatic crash notifica-
`
`tion. the transceiver may be used for other purposes. such as
`for conversation or data communication.
`
`More specifically, the wireless communication system 105
`may be configured to deiiver its conununications over
`WiMAX. meaning the Worldwide Interoperability for Micro-
`wave Access network. also known as Wirele.-ssMAN. This
`may be done in confonnance with WiMAX protocols, includ-
`ing the incarnation of WiMax known as Mobile WiMax. The
`communication system 105 may instead be configured to
`deliver its communications over another type of wireless
`teleconununication network that conforms to the IEEE
`802.16 standard. The wireless communication system 105
`may be any combination of a communication system that
`conforms to the IEEE 802.16 standard and any other type of
`communication system, such as a cellular andfor commercial
`mobile radio service.
`
`The wireless communication system 105 may be config-
`ured not to transmit or receive words. In an alternate embodi-
`ment. the wireless communication system 105 may be con-
`figured to corrnnunicate words.
`The memory system 107 may be any type of memory
`system. such as one or more ROMs. PROMS. ePROMs,
`memory cards. floppy disks, magnetic tapes, magnetic cards.
`CDs, DVDs. hard drives, andtor any other type of memory
`device. The memory system 107 may include one of more of
`these memory devices at a single location or at distributed
`locations.
`
`(cid:50)(cid:58)(cid:49)(cid:40)(cid:53)(cid:3)(cid:40)(cid:91)(cid:17)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:21)(cid:20)(cid:15)(cid:3)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:72)(cid:3)(cid:28)
`OWNER Ex. 2021, page 9
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`

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`US 8,548,686 B2
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`Each message 109 that is stored within the memory system
`107 may be prerecorded and include one or more words that
`have a certain meaning. as will be explained in more detail
`below. The one or more words in each message 109 may be an
`analog or digital recording ofa real person’s voice. text data
`that may be converted to audible words by a text-to-speech
`processor. data that represents phonemes that may be con-
`vened to audible words by a pltoneme-to-speech converter.
`data that represents a set of words in a dictionary of stored
`words. andfor in any other format that may be recalled and
`commtmicated to an occupant of the vehicle in an audible
`format.
`
`Each message 109 that is stored in the memory system 107
`may be stored in various formats. For example. each message
`may be stored in various languages. such as linglisli, Spanish.
`French, and Italian. Similarly. each message may be stored in
`different voices. such a female voice and a male voice. Each
`
`message may also be stored in different versions, such as in a
`long version and a short version. The processing system 101
`may correspondingly be configured to select the particular
`format to use. such as the particular language. the sex of the
`voice, and whether to use the long or short version. This
`selection may be based on input from a user.
`The location detection system 111 may be any type of
`apparatus conligured to detect and communicate the location
`ofthe vehicle.The location detection system 1 1 1 tnay include
`a GPS receiver. That receiver may be separate fro111 or part of
`the wireless commtmication system 105.
`The user-actuated cancel control 1 13 may be any type of
`control that may be actuated by a user. It may include. for
`example. a mechanical switch. such as a red push button. A
`touch pad or touch screen may instead or in addition he used.
`The user-actuated cancel control 113 may be positioned any-
`where_. such as on the dashboard ofthe vehicle or in a wireless
`remote control.
`
`The status indicators 115 may be one or more indicators of
`any type that are configured to communicate infonnation
`about the status of the automatic crash notification system to
`an occupant of the vehicle. The status indicators 115 n1ay
`include I_.l-7.13s. a display. or any other type of indicating
`device. The status indicators 115 may be configured in con-
`junction with the processing system 101 to indicate a broad
`variety of information about the status of the automatic crash
`notification system. Lixarnples include that the system is on
`and fimctioning. that there has been a diagnostic error. that a
`subscription for an emergency notification service has
`expired.
`that notice of a crash has been transmitted.
`that
`transmission of a notice of a crash has been acknowledged,
`that cancellation of a notice of crash has been transmitted.
`andfor that a transmitted cancellation notice has been
`received.
`
`The entcrtairunent system 117 may be one or more of any
`type of entertainment systems in the vehicle. These may
`include one or more radios. CD players. DVD players, MPG
`players. and video players. and TVs. The systems may be
`configured foroperation from a front seat ofthe vehicle, a rear
`seat, remotely. andlor a trunk.
`The sound system 1 19 may be any type of apparatus con-
`figured to audibly deliverwords to an occupant ofthe vehicle.
`It may include. for example. an amplifier and loud speaker.
`Although illustrated in FIG. 1 as separate from the entertain-
`ment system 117. the sound system 119 may be a part of the
`entertainment system 117. The sotmd system 119 may
`include a wired or wireless microphone over which a user
`may connnunieate. When wireless. the Bluetooth protocol
`may be used.
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`The processing system 101 may be any type ofprocessing
`system. The processing system 101 may be configured to
`perform the functions and operations described herein. as
`well as other functions and operations. The processing system
`.10] may include a dedicated computer. dedicated to perform-
`ing the needed fun