Patent US5579443A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5579443A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Emergency vehicular communication device capable of contacting a plurality of services
Assignee: Denso Corp
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Filing: 1995-03-03
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Granted: 1996-11-26
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Expires: 2015-03-03
Abstract
Abstract A vehicular communication device includes a plurality of request switches, a request signal generator means, a transmitter, a receiver and a display. The request switches respectively designate a plurality of services which a user may request. The request signal generating means checks the operational conditions of all request switches in order to enable the user to operate at least two of the request switches substantially simultaneously. The request signal generator then generates a request signal on the basis of the checking. The transmitter transmits the request signal to a remote service facility. The receiver receives an acknowledgment signal received signal transmitted from the service facility. The display displays a message in accordance with the acknowledgment signal for assuring the user that the request signal has been received by the service facility.
Inventors
- 👤 Junji Tatematsu
- 👤 Yasuhisa Yoshino
- 👤 Toshiyuki Kaneiwa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 21:18
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B1/00; H04B1/38; H04B1/3822; B; B60; B60R; B60R25/00; B60R25/10; B60R25/102; G; G08; G08B; G08B25/00; G08B25/001; G08B25/006; G08B25/01; G08B25/016
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
An emergency vehicular communication device adapted to be installed in a vehicle, said device comprising: a plurality of request switches respectively designating a plurality of services which a user may request, at least two of said switches being manually operable either sequentially or simultaneously at the option of said user; request signal generating means for checking and storing operational conditions of all of said request switches even when operated simultaneously, and for generating at least one request signal, said at least one request signal being indicative of a plurality of requested services, based on said operational conditions of switches which have been operated within a predetermined actuation time period of one another, a plurality of different types of request signals being generable based on types of services needed by said user as reflected by operation of said request switches, said operational conditions of said request switches being provided to said request signal generating means simultaneously when said request switches are operated simultaneously; transmitting means for transmitting said at least one request signal to a remote facility to alert each requested service in said plurality of services; receiving means for receiving from said facility an acknowledgement signal acknowledging receipt of said at least one request signal; an indicating device constructed and disposed to inform said user that said at least one request signal has been received by said facility.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
An emergency vehicular communication device adapted to be installed in a vehicle, said device comprising: a plurality of request switches respectively designating a plurality of services which a user may request, at least two of said switches being manually operable either sequentially or simultaneously at the option of said user; request signal generating means for checking and storing operational conditions of all of said request switches even when operated simultaneously, and for generating at least one request signal, said at least one request signal being indicative of a plurality of requested services, based on said operational conditions of switches which have been operated within a predetermined actuation time period of one another, a plurality of different types of request signals being generable based on types of services needed by said user as reflected by operation of said request switches, said operational conditions of said request switches being provided to said request signal generating means simultaneously when said request switches are operated simultaneously; transmitting means for transmitting said at least one request signal to a remote facility to alert each requested service in said plurality of services; receiving means for receiving from said facility an acknowledgement signal acknowledging receipt of said at least one request signal; an indicating device constructed and disposed to inform said user that said at least one request signal has been received by said facility.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A vehicular communication device according to claim 1, wherein said request signal generating means includes means for repeatedly checking said operational conditions for a predetermined period.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A vehicular communication device according to claim 2, wherein said predetermined period is a period during which said user operates any one of said request switches.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A vehicular communication device according to claim 1, wherein said acknowledgment signal includes information indicating which of said services has been requested, and wherein said indicating device comprises display means for displaying a message to confirm to said user that the facility received the request.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A vehicular communication device according to claim 1, wherein said request signal generating means checks said operational conditions in accordance with a predetermined order of priority.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
A vehicular communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a timer for determining a predetermined period of time after one of said request switches is operated, wherein said at least one request signal generating means generates said request signal only after said user has not cancelled an inadvertent operation of said request switches within said predetermined period.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A vehicular communication device according to claim 6, further comprising cancel means for cancelling inadvertent operation of said request switches when one of said request switches is re-operated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
81 words
A vehicular communication device according to claim 6, wherein said request signal generating means includes a first memory means for memorizing information corresponding to an operated request switch and a second memory means for memorizing other information showing that said at least one request signal is ready to be transmitted, wherein said request signal generating means generates said at least one request signal only when said information memorized in said second memory means has not been corrected within said predetermined period.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A vehicular communication device according to claim 8, wherein said indicating device comprises display means and informing means for informing said user that said request switch has been operated.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A vehicular communication device according to claim 9, wherein said informing means causes different information to be displayed during said predetermined period than after said predetermined period so that said user can visually recognize when said predetermined period has expired.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A vehicular communication device according to claim 8, wherein said first memory means memorizes said information only when said request switch has been operating for a period of time longer than said predetermined period.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A vehicular communication device according to claim 1, further including a vehicle sunvisor containing at least said request switches and said indicating device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
A vehicular communication device according to claim 12, wherein said sunvisor has a cover for covering said request switches and said indicating device; and at least said request switches, said request signal generating means and said indicating device being turned on upon opening of said cover.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A vehicular communication device according to claim 6, wherein said predetermined period of time is a period of time during which a user may correct an incorrect request switch operation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
A vehicular communication device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one request signal is received by at least three different relay antennas in communication with said facility.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
A vehicular communication device according to claim 15, wherein said remote facility includes position determining means for determining a position of said vehicle based on reception times of said different relay antennas.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
157 words
An emergency vehicular communication device adapted to be installed in a vehicle, said device comprising: a plurality of manually operable request switches for inputting a request for at least one emergency service which a user needs, said plurality of request switches being adapted to operate simultaneously; means for determining when said request switches have been operated for a predetermined period of time; item request signal generating means for checking an operational condition of each of said request switches when operated within a predetermined actuation time period of one another, and for generating at least one request signal when said request switches have been operated if said user has not cancelled an inadvertent operation of said request switches within said predetermined period of time, said at least one request signal alerting said at least one emergency service corresponding to said operated request switches; and transmitting means for transmitting said at least one request signal to a remote facility.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
157 words
An emergency vehicular communication device adapted to be installed in a vehicle, said device comprising: a plurality of manually operable request switches for inputting a request for at least one emergency service which a user needs, said plurality of request switches being adapted to operate simultaneously; means for determining when said request switches have been operated for a predetermined period of time; item request signal generating means for checking an operational condition of each of said request switches when operated within a predetermined actuation time period of one another, and for generating at least one request signal when said request switches have been operated if said user has not cancelled an inadvertent operation of said request switches within said predetermined period of time, said at least one request signal alerting said at least one emergency service corresponding to said operated request switches; and transmitting means for transmitting said at least one request signal to a remote facility.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
A vehicular communication device according to claim 17, further comprising cancel means for cancelling said inadvertent operation of said request switch when said request switch is re-operated.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
83 words
A vehicular communication device according to claim 17, wherein said request signal generating means includes a first memory means for memorizing information corresponding to said request switch having been operated and a second memory means for memorizing other information showing that said at least one request signal is ready to be transmitted, wherein said request signal generating means generates said at least one request signal only when said information memorized in said second memory means has not been corrected within said predetermined period.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A vehicular communication device according to claim 19, including informing means for informing said user that said request switch has been operated.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
A vehicular communication device according to claim 20, wherein said informing means advises said user that said predetermined period has expired.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
A vehicular communication device according to claim 19, wherein said first memory means memorizes said information only when said request switch has been operating for a period of time longer than a predetermined period.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
226 words
A method of communicating a plurality of service requests from a vehicle to a remote facility, said method comprising the steps of: (a) manually operating one or more request switches installed in said vehicle sequentially or simultaneously at an option of a user, said request switches respectively designating a plurality of services that can be requested by a user; (b) checking operational conditions of all of said request switches; (c) generating at least one request signal, indicative of a plurality of requested services, as a function of the operating condition of said switches which have been operated within a predetermined actuation time period of one another, a plurality of different types of request signals being generable based on types of services needed by said user as reflected by operation of said request switches, said operational conditions of said request switches being used in said generating step simultaneously when said request switches are operated simultaneously; (d) transmitting said at least one request signal to said remote facility and thereby alerting at least one emergency service corresponding to said operated request switches; (e) receiving from said facility an acknowledgement signal acknowledging the facility's receipt of said at least one request signal; and (f) providing an indication responsive to said acknowledgement signal for assuring the user that said at least one request signal has been received by said facility.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
226 words
A method of communicating a plurality of service requests from a vehicle to a remote facility, said method comprising the steps of: (a) manually operating one or more request switches installed in said vehicle sequentially or simultaneously at an option of a user, said request switches respectively designating a plurality of services that can be requested by a user; (b) checking operational conditions of all of said request switches; (c) generating at least one request signal, indicative of a plurality of requested services, as a function of the operating condition of said switches which have been operated within a predetermined actuation time period of one another, a plurality of different types of request signals being generable based on types of services needed by said user as reflected by operation of said request switches, said operational conditions of said request switches being used in said generating step simultaneously when said request switches are operated simultaneously; (d) transmitting said at least one request signal to said remote facility and thereby alerting at least one emergency service corresponding to said operated request switches; (e) receiving from said facility an acknowledgement signal acknowledging the facility's receipt of said at least one request signal; and (f) providing an indication responsive to said acknowledgement signal for assuring the user that said at least one request signal has been received by said facility.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of communicating a plurality of service requests according to claim 23, wherein said step (b) comprises the step of repeatedly checking said operational conditions of said switches for a predetermined period.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method of communicating a plurality of service requests according to claim 23, wherein said step (b) comprises the step of repeatedly checking said operational conditions for a predetermined actuation period during which said user operates any one of said request switches.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method of communicating a plurality of service requests according to claim 23, wherein said step (e) comprises the step of receiving information indicating which of said services has been requested, and said step (f) comprises the step of displaying a message to confirm to said user that the service facility received the request.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of communicating a plurality of service requests according to claim 23, wherein said step (b) comprises the step of checking said operational conditions in accordance with a predetermined order of priority.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of communicating a service request from a vehicle to a remote facility, said method comprising the steps of: manually operating at least one of a plurality of request switches installed in a vehicle to input said service request; checking an operational characteristic of each of said request switches sequentially and storing data indicative of operated switches; generating at least one request signal in response to said stored data during a predetermined actuation time period if said user has not cancelled an inadvertent operation of said request switches within a predetermined period after said request switches have been operated; and transmitting said at least one request signal to said remote facility and thereby alerting at least one emergency service corresponding to said stored data indicative of operated switches.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of communicating a service request from a vehicle to a remote facility, said method comprising the steps of: manually operating at least one of a plurality of request switches installed in a vehicle to input said service request; checking an operational characteristic of each of said request switches sequentially and storing data indicative of operated switches; generating at least one request signal in response to said stored data during a predetermined actuation time period if said user has not cancelled an inadvertent operation of said request switches within a predetermined period after said request switches have been operated; and transmitting said at least one request signal to said remote facility and thereby alerting at least one emergency service corresponding to said stored data indicative of operated switches.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of communicating a service request according to claim 28, further comprising a step of cancelling said inadvertent operation by re-operating said request switches.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of communicating a service request according to claim 28, further comprising a step of informing said user that said request switches have been operated.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of communicating a service request according to claim 30, wherein said informing step includes the step of advising said user that said predetermined period has expired.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 31, wherein said transmitting step includes the step of transmitting service requests in said request signal in a predetermined order of priority of services corresponding to said operated switches.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of informing a user when at least one of said request switches is operated.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 33, wherein said informing step includes the steps of: providing, during said predetermined time period, a first indication that a request may be cancelled, and providing, after said predetermined time period, a second indication that a request may not be cancelled.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 31, further comprising the steps of: receiving an acknowledgement signal indicating the services that have been requested; and indicating to a user that said acknowledgement signal has been received.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of communicating a service request to a remote service facility from a vehicle having a plurality of manually-operated request switches, said method comprising the steps of: checking operation states of all of said request switches sequentially; storing in a memory indicia indicative of each of those of said request switches which are operated during said checking step; generating a request signal corresponding to said indicia; and transmitting said request signal to said remote service facility so that all services corresponding to said switches operated during said checking step may be requested substantially simultaneously irrespective of sequential or simultaneous operation of said request switches during said checking step.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of communicating a service request to a remote service facility from a vehicle having a plurality of manually-operated request switches, said method comprising the steps of: checking operation states of all of said request switches sequentially; storing in a memory indicia indicative of each of those of said request switches which are operated during said checking step; generating a request signal corresponding to said indicia; and transmitting said request signal to said remote service facility so that all services corresponding to said switches operated during said checking step may be requested substantially simultaneously irrespective of sequential or simultaneous operation of said request switches during said checking step.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 36, wherein said storing step comprises a step of deleting an indicia when a switch corresponding to said indicia is again operated for cancellation of a prior operation of said corresponding switch during a predetermined period of time.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-11-26 | 2000-05-27 | 2000-11-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-11-26 | 2004-05-27 | 2004-11-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-11-26 | 2008-05-27 | 2008-11-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |