Crash Event Detection, Response and Reporting Apparatus and Method

Abstract

A crash detection system with a mobile communications device configured for periodically interrogating (a) a motion signal to determine whether a change in motion (acceleration or angular rotation) exceeds a predetermined motion threshold and (b) a sound signal to determine whether a sequence of sensed sound signals within a predetermined period matches crash sound indicators of (i) glass breakage and (ii) metal folding, displaying selectable options upon detection of a crash incident, and upon a failure to select within a predetermined period, communicating an identifier and crash incident information dispatch center for dispatching a response servicer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for detection of a crash of a motor vehicle with crash detection response and reporting, comprising:
 a mobile communications device configured with a sensor that generates a motion signal responsive to motion of the mobile communications device and a sound receiver for receiving a sound signal of sound proximate the mobile communications device, and including software instructions that upon execution monitors for an occurrence of a crash event by periodically interrogating (a) the motion signal to determine whether a change in motion exceeds a predetermined motion threshold and (b) the sound signal to determine whether a sequence of sensed sound signals within a predetermined period matches crash sound indicators of (i) glass breakage and (ii) metal folding;   a display that upon determining the occurrence of the crash incident displays a possible event window with a selectable option (a) to return the mobile communications device to monitoring for the occurrence of the crash incident or (b) to confirm the crash incident;   upon a failure of selection of one of the selectable options within a predetermined period, communicating by a communications network an identifier associated with the mobile communications device and crash incident information including a location data to a tracking and dispatch center having a pre-registered record of the mobile communications device and configured for receiving and storing the acceleration information and the sound signals on which the crash incident was determined; and   a servicer for dispatching by the tracking and dispatch center to a site of the crash incident based on the location data.   
     
     
         2 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a claims service center that receives from the tracking and dispatch center the identifier and crash incident information, the claims service center configured for servicing an insurance claim arising from the crash incident. 
     
     
         3 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the confirming of the crash incident comprises communicating crash incident location data to a response dispatch center. 
     
     
         4 . The system as recited in  claim 3 , further comprising a servicer for providing crash incident services in response to receiving the crash incident location data. 
     
     
         5 . The system as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the servicer comprises a transport vehicle for transporting a damaged motor vehicle at a site identified by the crash location data. 
     
     
         6 . The system as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the servicer comprises an insurance claims process service. 
     
     
         7 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an electronic memory device configured for receiving and storing crash incident information. 
     
     
         8 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer that generates an acceleration signal as indicative of the motion of the mobile communications device. 
     
     
         9 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a gyroscope that generates an angular rotation signal as indicative of the motion of the mobile communications device. 
     
     
         10 . A system for detecting a crash incident of a motor vehicle with crash detection response and reporting, comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a mobile communications device having a sensor that generates an motion signal responsive to motion of the mobile communications device and a sound receiver for receiving a sound signal of sound proximate the mobile communications device, with software instructions configured for execution for monitoring for an occurrence of a crash event;   (b) periodically interrogating (a) the motion signal to determine whether a change in motion exceeds a predetermined motion threshold and (b) the sound signal to determine whether a sequence of sensed sound signals within a predetermined period matches crash sound indicators of (i) glass breakage and (ii) metal folding;   (c) based on interrogations of the motion signal and the sound signal, determining that crash incident occurred;   (d) making an alert with the mobile communications device;   (e) determining whether the alert generated a crash response through the mobile communications device, and if not, communicating a location data of the crash incident to a service provider for response; and   (f) communicating a status of the service provider response to the mobile communications device.   
     
     
         11 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein making the alert comprises the mobile communications device emitting a sound. 
     
     
         12 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein making the alert comprises displaying on a screen of the mobile communications device a possible crash incident window that presents an instruction for making a response through the mobile communications device to confirm the detected crash incident or to deny the detected crash incident. 
     
     
         13 . A motor vehicle crash detection system, comprising:
 a tracking and dispatch center having a computer processor configured with an electronic memory device that maintains driver information of driver name, address, insurance company and policy number for a plurality of drivers and maintains vehicle crash information of motor vehicle, crash location data, date and time, and optionally one or more sequences of sounds from a crash location, one or more images thereof, for a plurality of crashed motor vehicles;   a plurality of mobile communications devices, each associated with a respective one of the plurality of drivers and configured with a sensor that generates a motion signal responsive to motion of the mobile communications device and a sound receiver for receiving a sound signal of sound proximate the mobile communications device;   the mobile communications device configured with software instructions that upon execution monitors for an occurrence of a crash event by periodically interrogating (a) the motion signal to determine whether a change in motion exceeds a predetermined motion threshold and (b) the sound signal to determine whether a sequence of sensed sound signals within a predetermined period matches crash sound indicators of (i) glass breakage and (ii) metal folding;   a display that upon determining the occurrence of the crash incident displays a possible event window for selection of one of (a) to return the mobile communications device to monitoring for the occurrence of the crash incident and (b) to confirm the crash incident;   upon a failure of selection of one of the selectable options within a predetermined period, the mobile communications device communicating by a communications network an identifier associated with the mobile communications device and crash incident information of a location data, date and time to the tracking and dispatch center; and   at least one response servicer for dispatching by the tracking and dispatch center to a site of the crash incident based on the location data, the response servicer provides a lantern device having a light, an imaging device, and a communications device, whereby images received by the imaging device communicate by the communications device through the network to the tracking and dispatch center.   
     
     
         14 . The motor vehicle crash detection system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the response servicer further provides a vehicle transporter, whereby the crashed motor vehicle may be transported from the crash location. 
     
     
         15 . The motor vehicle crash detection system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the imaging device is operable for video. 
     
     
         16 . The motor vehicle crash detection system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the imaging device is operable for single frame images. 
     
     
         17 . The motor vehicle crash detection system as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising an electronic data storage device installed for communication with the imaging device for recording of images prior to communicating the recorded images to the tracking and dispatch center. 
     
     
         18 . The motor vehicle crash detection system as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising a claims servicer for processing claims arising from the detected crash occurrence. 
     
     
         19 . The motor vehicle crash detection system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer that generates an acceleration signal as indicative of the motion of the mobile communications device. 
     
     
         20 . The motor vehicle crash detection system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the sensor comprises a gyroscope that generates an angular rotation signal as indicative of the motion of the mobile communications device.