Roadside and emergency assistance system

Abstract

A system for providing roadside and emergency assistance to a vehicle includes a vehicle unit with several connectivity options. A user interface unit permits a user to request assistance and communicate with an emergency dispatcher and/or service provider. A server receives requests for assistance from the vehicle unit and relays information between the vehicle unit and a dispatcher or service provider to provide communication between the driver of the vehicle and the dispatcher or service provider. Alternatively, such as in an emergency (e.g. crash) situation, the server directly requests assistance to be sent to the vehicle.

1 . A roadside assistance system comprising:
 a vehicle unit installed in a vehicle, the vehicle unit including a processor and at least one wireless communication circuit;   a user interface device including a touch-screen display, a processor, and a communication interface for communicating with the vehicle unit, the user interface device being in communication with the vehicle unit and permitting a user to initiate a roadside assistance request in which the roadside assistance request includes a location of the vehicle, a timestamp, a speed of the vehicle, and a heading of the vehicle, and the roadside assistance request is transmitted to a first remote server, the roadside assistance system being further configured to directly communicate the roadside assistance request to a roadside assistance provider.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one wireless communication circuit of the vehicle unit communicates the roadside assistance request wirelessly to the first remote server. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the vehicle unit transmits vehicle diagnostic information from an on-board diagnostics system with the roadside assistance request. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the at least one communication circuit of the vehicle unit is capable of transmitting the roadside assistance request via a plurality of wireless protocols. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the vehicle unit automatically transmits the roadside assistance request via a second one of the plurality of protocols if a first one of the plurality of protocols is unavailable. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the at least one communication circuit of the vehicle unit is capable of transmitting the roadside assistance request via a mobile device. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the vehicle unit is programmed to automatically communicate with a roadside assistance provider directly if the first remote server is unavailable. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the roadside assistance provider is a tow truck operator. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the location of the vehicle includes a precision of the location.