TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an intelligent electronic sticker for monitoring a dynamic state of a vehicle to detect a vehicle accident and generate an emergency alert signal. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to an intelligent electronic sticker that is wirelessly connectable to a locally-positioned portable mobile telecommunications device for transmitting the emergency alert signal to a location remote from the vehicle via the portable mobile

telecommunications device.

BACKGROUND

When a vehicle is involved in an accident, the driver and/or passengers of the vehicle are required to contact relevant parties, such as a family member, an insurance company and/or emergency services depending on the severity of the accident. During the critical time following an accident, urgent medical attention or aid may be required. Following the occurrence of the accident, however, the driver and passengers may be unable to react quickly due to shock or injury. Providing a mechanism to detect the occurrence of an accident and to automatically contact the relevant parties can therefore be useful to speed up the required actions in response to the occurrence of an accident, and ensure adequate safety of the driver and/or passengers.

One way of detecting the occurrence of an accident or crash is by using a‘black box’ telematics device. Traditionally, black box telematics devices have been used for recording data, such as speed and location, in aircraft to facilitate the investigation of aviation accidents. More recently, such black box telematics devices have been used to log vehicle data and more particularly by vehicle insurers to monitor driving behaviour of drivers and adjust vehicle insurance premiums based on the recorded driving habits. The black box device can track when, where and how the vehicle is being driven. Typically, the black box device can monitor one or more of speed, location, driving frequency, acceleration, braking, cornering and annual mileage. This data is then logged and analysed to monitor driving style and behaviour.

In recent years, the data collected using black box telematics devices has also been used by insurance companies and road accident investigators for detecting, reporting and/or investigating vehicle accidents. Conventional methods of detecting a crash or an accident use accelerometer technology to measure forces of acceleration (also known as G-forces) acting on a vehicle. It is then determined whether the G-forces correspond to a vehicle accident based on a predetermined G-force threshold. The black box telematics device can collect additional information, such as road type and airbag deployment, that may be important for analysing the accident. As and when an accident is detected, emergency services may be alerted and data from before and after the accident may be transmitted from the black box telematics device using wireless telecommunications channels to the relevant parties.

There are, however, several drawbacks of using a black box telematics device for crash detection. Firstly, the device is normally irremovably fitted into the vehicle which requires a specialist installation engineer to carry out the installation. The installation of a black box telematics device can therefore be expensive and time-consuming. In turn, this adds to the expense and time taken to get the device up and running. In addition, the device is normally fitted out of sight in the vehicle, for example behind the dashboard. It is therefore often difficult to access the device if required for repair or maintenance purposes, once it has been fitted.

Ideally black box telematics devices need to be installed in as many vehicles as possible. This necessitates efficient mass distribution of the devices such that they can be delivered to suppliers or specialist installation engineers ready for fitting. However, these devices are normally bulky and heavy owing to their complicated internal structure including memory, file system software and an operating system. Not only is manufacture and assembly of these devices expensive, but mass distribution of these devices can also be costly and time-consuming. Moreover, since fitting of the device to a vehicle requires specialist installation, the cost of installation is further increased.

Another disadvantage of using a black box telematics device is that it is typically required to be powered by the vehicle battery. This further complicates the installation because the device would need to be electrically connected to the battery and the vehicle energy management system. Since the device relies upon power from the vehicle battery, it is also vulnerable to failure in the event of a crash. If the power is cut, for example following a crash causing damage to the battery or wiring connecting the battery to the device, then the device would cease to function.

As an alternative to installing the black box telematics device to the vehicle, removable‘plug-and- drive’ data collection devices are also known whereby the device can be connected to a 12-Volt socket in the vehicle. Plug-and-drive black box devices which are advantageously easier to install as they are not permanent, still do suffer from many of the problems associated with traditional black box telematics devices as described above.

Notably, such plug-and-drive devices do not require specialist installation and instead can be plugged into the socket by a driver or passenger of the vehicle. However, this enhances the requirement for the devices to be distributed efficiently because the devices would need to be transported from the manufacturing site to each and every consumer who requires one, rather than to suppliers who arrange installation as is the case for traditional black box telematics devices. Plug-and-drive black box devices also normally include memory, file system software and an operating system and therefore require multiple hardware components which are space-consuming and result in a bulky device for plugging into the vehicle. Mass distribution of these devices can also therefore be inefficient and expensive.

Another key disadvantage of plug-and-drive devices is that they require a specific connector - the 12- Volt socket - and not all vehicles include this required connector. If a vehicle includes a 12-Volt socket it is fairly straightforward to use; however, low cost or budget vehicle models often do not include a 12-Volt socket or connection means. Therefore, plug-and-drive devices are limited in use to those vehicles that have the required connector, and cannot be adopted universally.

Furthermore, these plug-and-drive devices also rely on power from the vehicle battery, so the device would fail if battery power ceases to be available. Telematics devices that are connected to the vehicle battery - including traditional black box devices and plug-and-drive devices - may also in some cases negatively affect the health of the vehicle battery due to their reliance on the vehicle battery as a power source.

Crash detection using an application on a smartphone is becoming increasingly popular to detect a vehicle crash without using a traditional or plug-and-drive black box device. The smartphone application collects data in a vehicle using internal sensors, such as an accelerometer and GPS, of the smartphone itself. In the event of an accident, the application sends a notification to relevant parties such as, for example, pre-selected emergency contacts using its built-in wireless

telecommunications capability.

However, there are also several problems with using a smartphone with an appropriate software application to detect a crash of a vehicle. Firstly, this method involves carrying out collection of data as well as analysis of data on the smartphone itself. A problem with such a method is that this computational expense and burden on the smartphone means that running the application for a long period of time such as, for example, on a long drive is likely to either substantially drain the battery or require the smartphone to be disadvantageously connected to the battery of the vehicle for charging. Additionally, the smartphone application is fairly complex in having to carry out the data analysis and so is only provided on the driver’s smartphone. As the smartphone is a multipurpose device, it is only provided in the vehicle during use, and for the majority of time it is not present in the vehicle. If the driver forgets to bring their smartphone to the vehicle the ability to detect the occurrence of an accident or crash is not possible. There is no easy way to mitigate this problem as even the use of a passenger’s smartphone does not provide the requisite software required for the function or the driver may be travelling alone.

In order to enable sensors based on the smartphone to reliably detect impact on the vehicle, the driver’s smartphone needs to be securely attached to the vehicle which would typically require a smartphone holder. Disadvantageously, this would prevent use of the smartphone by passengers for example during the entire journey. A further problem is that information based on sensors on a smartphone, such as an accelerometer, is often unable to discriminate correctly between a minor vehicle crash and a severe vehicle crash.

Attempts to overcome the above issues underlying the use of a smartphone application for crash detection include using a Bluetooth-enabled On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) device as an interface between the vehicle internal computer system and a smartphone. The OBD device often takes the form of a dongle which can be plugged into the OBD port in a vehicle to establish a Bluetooth connection with the smartphone. This enables the smartphone to retrieve data from the internal communications network of the vehicle. If an accident is detected, relevant third parties can be contacted.

However, to detect accidents in this way requires the vehicle to support OBD standard (OBD-II in the US; EOBD in Europe) ports. Since the inclusion of OBD ports in vehicles was not made mandatory until 2001 , vehicles produced before 2001 often do not include an OBD port and may therefore require one to be installed which can be expensive, complicated and time-consuming for the vehicle owner. A key disadvantage, therefore, of this method is that OBD devices can only be used in vehicles that have an OBD port, and cannot be adopted in a universal manner.

Furthermore, many vehicle manufacturers obscure OBD data using a proprietary format, which further complicates the retrieval of data by the smartphone. An important issue to consider is that plugging a device into the OBD port of a vehicle to establish a wireless connection with a smartphone allows the smartphone to access the computer systems of the vehicle. Disadvantageously, this causes the vehicle’s computer systems to be vulnerable to hacking and/or a security breach.

The present invention aims to overcome or at least partly mitigate one or more of the above problems to provide a universal solution which can be used with any vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an intelligent electronic sticker for monitoring a dynamic state of a vehicle to detect a vehicle accident. The intelligent electronic sticker comprises an attachment surface which is provided on a first face of the electronic sticker to enable secure attachment of the electronic sticker to a window or a windscreen of the vehicle in use. The intelligent electronic sticker also comprises a machine-readable unique identifier configured to enable unique identification of the electronic sticker and registration of the electronic sticker with a locally-positioned mobile telecommunications device, in use. The intelligent electronic sticker also comprises a sensor set comprising at least one sensor including an accelerometer, each sensor of the sensor set being configured to generate sensor data regarding a sensed physical property associated with movement of the vehicle. The intelligent electronic sticker also comprises a photovoltaic cell array arranged at the first face of the electronic sticker for generating electrical charge from light energy irradiating the first face of the electronic sticker in use. The intelligent electronic sticker also comprises a rechargeable charge store configured to receive and store electrical charge from the photovoltaic cell array. The intelligent electronic sticker also comprises a processor configured to compare the sensor data with pre-stored data and generate an emergency alert signal if the sensor data exceeds at least one predetermined level in the pre-stored data. The intelligent electronic sticker also comprises a low-power wireless local data transmitter for transmitting the emergency alert signal to the locally-positioned mobile telecommunications device, in use, for further transmission to a location remote from the vehicle.

The intelligent electronic sticker according to the first aspect provides a universal solution to the problems mentioned in the Background Section above which can be used with any vehicle.

Firstly, the electronic sticker can be securely attached to a window or a windscreen of a vehicle in a straightforward manner. The attachment of the electronic sticker does not require a specialist installation engineer to carry out the installation because it is a simple and quick task which does not require tools or specialist knowledge. Installation can therefore be carried out by the owner or the user of the vehicle at no expense and requiring very little time. Furthermore, the electronic sticker can be removed after installation which may be required, for example, to change the position or location of the sticker. Since the electronic sticker is arranged to be attached to a window or a windscreen of the vehicle, it is also extremely easy to access the components of the sticker if required for maintenance purposes.

In addition, the electronic sticker is thin and lightweight, which enables it to be mass distributed efficiently. This is due to the arrangement of components within the electronic sticker such as the sticker comprising a photovoltaic cell array arranged at the first face, and the fact that the structure of the electronic sticker is minimalistic. Furthermore, the electronic sticker can be attached to any window or any windscreen of the vehicle, and no specific connectors are required. Since all vehicles typically have windows and windscreens, the electronic sticker provides a universal solution to crash detection which can be used in any vehicle.

Components of the electronic sticker which require electrical energy - namely, the processor, the low- power wireless local transmitter and the sensor set - are provided with electrical energy by using the photovoltaic cell array, for generating electrical charge from light energy, and the rechargeable charge store, for receiving and storing electrical charge from the photovoltaic cell array. Advantageously, both the photovoltaic cell array and the rechargeable charge store are contained within the electronic sticker itself. The electronic sticker device therefore does not require power from the vehicle battery, and moreover it does not need to be electrically connected to the vehicle battery and the vehicle energy management system. A benefit of this is that in the event of a crash, the device has a very low chance of failure.

A further advantage of the electronic sticker is that the amount of data analysis that is carried out on the electronic sticker is kept to a minimum. The processor of the electronic sticker is configured to simply compare sensor data with pre-stored data and generate an emergency alert signal if the sensor data exceeds at least one predetermined level in the pre-stored data. The alert signal is then transmitted to a locally-positioned mobile telecommunications device. Advantageously, the power requirements of the electronic sticker are also kept to a minimum such that the electrical charge generated by the electronic sticker itself is sufficient to satisfy the power requirements. The electronic sticker is therefore able to function for long periods of time, such as on a long drive.

Yet another advantage is provided by the electronic sticker in that the electronic sticker, which can be securely attached to a window or a windscreen of the vehicle, comprises a sensor set. There is therefore no need to utilise sensors based on a smartphone. The smartphone may be placed anywhere in the vehicle and the passengers of the vehicle are free to use the smartphone during the entire journey.

The electronic sticker may be flexible, to enable the sticker to be affixed to a curved surface.

Advantageously, this means that the electronic sticker can be placed on any curved surface as well as any flat surface. For example, the electronic sticker may be placed on a curved front windscreen or a flat sunroof of a vehicle.

The attachment surface may comprise an adhesive portion arranged to be adjacent to the first face of the intelligent sticker.

In some embodiments, the adhesive portion may comprise an adhesive layer adapted to substantially cover the first face of the intelligent sticker. Advantageously, the adhesive layer substantially covers the first face such that the surface area of the interface between the attachment surface of the electronic sticker and the window or windscreen is maximised. This provides distributed adhesion and more secure and stable attachment of the electronic sticker to the window or windscreen of the vehicle.

The attachment surface may be transparent.

The photovoltaic cell array may be arranged between the first face and the transparent attachment surface. A transparent attachment surface can enable more light energy to irradiate the photovoltaic cell array for generating electrical charge.

Preferably, the photovoltaic cell array may substantially cover the first face of the intelligent electronic sticker. This maximises the surface area of the photovoltaic cell array that is exposed to light energy and thus increases light absorption by the photovoltaic cell array, thereby enabling more electrical charge to be generated.

The pre-stored data may comprise a plurality of predetermined increasing value levels, each level being indicative of a level of severity of accident. The processor may be arranged to compare the sensor data with the plurality of different predetermined increasing value levels and to include within the generated emergency signal an identification of the specific one of the plurality of different predetermined increasing value levels which the sensor data just exceeds.

As an example, the pre-stored data may comprise three predetermined increasing value levels: Level A, Level B and Level C. Once the sensor data has been compared with the three predetermined levels, the processor may identify which of the levels the sensor data has exceeded, but also which specific one of the levels the sensor data just exceeds. For example, if the sensor data lies between Level B and Level C, the processor would identify that the sensor data just exceeds Level B. This identification would then be included within the generated emergency signal.

This enables accurate sensor data associated with movement of the vehicle to be recorded, thereby allowing the processor to discriminate correctly between a minor vehicle crash and a severe vehicle crash.

The processor may be arranged to generate a timestamp relating to the time at which the sensor data exceeded at least one of the predetermined levels in the pre-stored data and to include the timestamp within the emergency alert signal. This provides an accurate indication of the time of the crash.

The machine-readable unique identifier may comprise a visual identifier positioned to enable the visual identifier to be scanned by the locally-positioned mobile telecommunications device, in use.

The visual identifier may be located on the first face for scanning from outside the vehicle, or on the second face for scanning from within the vehicle. The position of the unique identifier provides comfortable access to the unique identifier to enable the user to scan the identifier using the locally- positioned mobile telecommunications device.

The visual identifier may include a one-dimensional barcode, or a two-dimensional barcode such as a Quick Response (QR) code. Alternatively, the machine-readable unique identifier may comprise a serial number to be inputted into the locally-positioned mobile telecommunications device, or nearfield communication (NFC) protocols to establish communication with the mobile telecommunications device by bringing the mobile telecommunications device within about 4 centimetres of the electronic sticker.

The sensor set, charge store, processor and wireless data transmitter may comprise an electronic circuit provided within a sealed blister of the electronic sticker. This provides a compact way of positioning the components on the electronic sticker which does not consume a substantial amount of space. In addition, providing the electronic circuit in a sealed blister is cheaper to manufacture compared with a fully integrated circuit on a planar film.

The sensor set may comprise a gyroscope configured to measure orientation of the vehicle and to communicate the gyroscope data to the processor. Orientation of the vehicle is an important physical property associated with movement of the vehicle and therefore use of a gyroscope to capture orientation data helps to improve accuracy in crash detection.

In some embodiments, the rechargeable charge store may be a rechargeable battery. This enables reusability of the charge store, and ability to recharge the charge store inexpensively.

The intelligent electronic sticker may further comprise an electronic status indicator for indicating visually the status of the electronic sticker using different colours for different statuses. This allows the user to easily check the status of the electronic sticker as to, for example, whether it has been wirelessly connected to a locally-positioned telecommunications device.

The intelligent electronic sticker may further comprise an actuator for electrically activating the electronic sticker. This enables the user to control when the electronic sticker is electrically activated, thereby reducing electrical charge consumption.

Preferably, the total weight of the intelligent electronic sticker is less than or equal to 100 grams. More preferably, the total weight of the intelligent electronic sticker is less than or equal to 80 grams.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for monitoring the dynamic state of a vehicle to detect a vehicle accident. The system comprises an intelligent electronic sticker, as described with reference to the first aspect above, and a mobile telecommunications device electronically in communication with the electronic sticker over a local low-power wireless communications link in use. The mobile telecommunications device is arranged to communicate the emergency alert signal received from the intelligent electronic sticker to a remote server via a wide- area communications network.

Advantages provided by the first aspect above also apply to the second aspect. The system may further comprise a remotely-located processing server. The server may be arranged to receive the emergency alert signal and to determine an emergency action to be taken in response to the received emergency alert signal.

The remotely-located processing server may be arranged to receive additional information regarding the accident from other channels, to corroborate the severity of the accident using the data from the other channels and to use that information in the determination of the emergency action to be taken. This enables the severity of the accident to be determined more accurately, and thus the emergency action to be determined more reliably.

The mobile telecommunications device comprised within the system may comprise a processor and a location sensor. The mobile telecommunications device may be arranged to generate a timestamp and determine a current location from the location sensor when the emergency alert signal is received, to generate an enhanced emergency alert signal including the emergency alert signal, the timestamp and the current location and to send the enhanced emergency alert signal to the remote server via a wide area communications network. The timestamp and location information can be used by the server to corroborate the severity of the accident.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of operating the intelligent electronic sticker described above with reference to the first aspect. The method comprises: attaching, by a user, the intelligent electronic sticker to a window or a windscreen of the vehicle via the attachment surface on the first face of the electronic sticker; establishing, using the machine- readable unique identifier, a local communication channel between the intelligent electronic sticker and the mobile telecommunications device; generating the emergency alert signal at the electronic sticker if the sensor data regarding a sensed physical property associated with movement of the vehicle exceeds at least one predetermined level in the pre-stored data; and transmitting, by the processor, the alert signal to the locally-positioned mobile telecommunications device, via the wireless transmitter for transmission to the location remote from the vehicle.

Advantages provided by the first aspect above also apply to the method of the third aspect.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of processing an emergency alert signal in response to a detected vehicle accident, the method being carried out on a mobile telecommunications device provided within the vehicle which is in communication with an intelligent electronic sticker, as described above with reference to the first aspect, affixed to the vehicle. The method comprises: receiving, the emergency alert signal from the intelligent electronic sticker via a low-power receiver; generating a timestamp of the time of receipt of the emergency alert signal; creating an enhanced emergency alert signal by processing the received emergency alert signal to include the timestamp and a current geographic location; and transmitting the enhanced emergency alert signal to a remote server via a wide area communications network using a high- power transmitter.

Advantages provided by the second aspect above also apply to the method of the fourth aspect.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an intelligent electronic sticker for monitoring a movement of an object to detect an accident involving that object. The intelligent electronic sticker comprises an attachment surface provided on a first face of the electronic sticker to enable secure attachment of the electronic sticker to the object in use. The intelligent electronic sticker also comprises a machine-readable unique identifier configured to enable unique identification of the electronic sticker and registration of the electronic sticker with a locally-positioned mobile telecommunications device, in use. The intelligent electronic sticker also comprises a sensor set comprising at least one sensor including an accelerometer, each sensor of the sensor set being configured to generate sensor data regarding a sensed physical property associated with movement of the object. The intelligent electronic sticker also comprises a photovoltaic cell array arranged at a second face of the electronic sticker for generating electrical charge from light energy irradiating the second face of the electronic sticker in use. The intelligent electronic sticker also comprises a rechargeable charge store configured to receive and store electrical charge from the photovoltaic cell array. The intelligent electronic sticker also comprises a processor configured to compare the sensor data with pre-stored data and generate an emergency alert signal if the sensor data exceeds at least one predetermined level in the pre-stored data. The intelligent electronic sticker also comprises a low- power wireless local data transmitter for transmitting the emergency alert signal to the locally- positioned mobile telecommunications device, in use, for further transmission to a location remote from the object. The intelligent electronic sticker of the fifth aspect may be used for monitoring the movement of any object. The skilled person would understand that any of the advantages of the intelligent electronic sticker described above with respect to the first aspect can be applied to the intelligent electronic sticker of the fifth aspect, in the context of monitoring a movement of an object to detect an accident involving that object. In some embodiments, the object may comprise an item of apparel to be worn by a user, such as ski boots or a ski helmet. In other embodiments, the object may comprise items which are ordinarily found in the home such as a television or a sound system.

Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken

independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an electronic sticker, in accordance with a first embodiment, installed on a windscreen of a car and a system for wirelessly communicating data generated by the sticker to a remote server via a locally-positioned mobile phone;

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing an adhesive back face of the electronic sticker shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing a passenger-facing front face of the electronic sticker shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the general process by which a dynamic state of the car shown in Figure 1 is monitored to detect an accident and generate an emergency alert signal, using the electronic sticker shown in Figures 1 to 3;

Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the electronic sticker and mobile phone set up process of Figure 4, in further detail;

Figure 6 is a series of mobile phone screen shots displayed on the mobile phone, during the process shown in Figure 5 by which the sticker is activated;

Figure 7 is a series of mobile phone screen shots displayed on the mobile phone, during the process shown in Figure 5 by which the electronic sticker is paired and registered with the mobile phone;

Figure 8 is a flowchart showing the process of Figure 4 by which the electronic sticker senses events, in further detail;

Figure 9 is a schematic block diagram showing electronic circuit components of the electronic sticker shown in Figures 1 to 3, and on which the process of Figure 8 is carried out;

Figure 10 is a flowchart showing the process of Figure 4 by which the mobile phone receives and processes an alert signal, in further detail;

Figure 11 is a schematic block diagram showing components of the mobile phone shown in Figure 1 , and on which the process of Figure 10 is carried out;

Figure 12 is a flowchart showing the process of Figure 4 by which a server receives and processes the enhanced alert signal from the mobile phone, in further detail; Figure 13 is a schematic block diagram showing components of the server shown in Figure 1 , and on which the process of Figure 12 is carried out;

Figure 14 is a series of mobile phone screen shots displayed on the mobile phone, during the process shown in Figure 12 by which the server sends a message back to the mobile phone;

Figure 15 is a schematic diagram showing a back face of an electronic sticker, in accordance with a second embodiment;

Figure 16 is a schematic diagram showing a front face of the electronic sticker of Figure 14;

Figure 17 is a schematic block diagram showing an electronic sticker, in accordance with a third embodiment, installed on a windscreen of a motorcycle and a system for wirelessly communicating data generated by the sticker to a remote server via a locally-positioned mobile phone;

Figure 18 is a schematic diagram showing a back face of the electronic sticker shown in Figure 17;

Figure 19 is a schematic diagram showing a front face of the electronic sticker shown in Figure 17;

Figure 20 is a schematic block diagram showing an electronic sticker, in accordance with a fourth embodiment, installed on a frame of a bicycle and a system for wirelessly communicating data generated by the sticker to a remote server via a locally-positioned mobile phone;

Figure 21 is a schematic diagram showing a back face of the electronic sticker shown in Figure 20; and

Figure 22 is a schematic diagram showing a front face of the electronic sticker shown in Figure 20. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with a first embodiment shown in Figure 1 , there is provided an intelligent electronic sticker 2, which is installed on a windscreen of a car 100 and a system for wirelessly communicating data generated by the sticker 2 to a remote server 10 via a locally-positioned mobile phone 4. The electronic sticker 2 is installable by a user of the car 100, such as, for example, a driver or a passenger. The electronic sticker 2 is arranged to monitor a dynamic state of the car 100 during driving and more particularly, to detect an accident and, in response, to generate an emergency alert signal. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1 , the electronic sticker 2 is installed by way of attachment to the lower right-hand side of the windscreen of the car, such that it does not interfere with the driver’s vision (assuming the driver to be positioned on the left). In this example, the electronic sticker 2 is readily accessible by a passenger from within the vehicle, or a driver before the car journey is begun. In addition, the electronic sticker 2 is wirelessly connectable via a wireless local

communications channel 3 to the mobile phone 4 which is also present within the vehicle 100, namely within the vicinity of the sticker (namely within 10 metres). The mobile phone 4 is also wirelessly connectable to a mobile telecommunications network 6, which is in turn connected to the server 10 via a wide area communications network 8. A database 12 is provided with the server 10 to store data generated by the system.

The electronic sticker 2 has a first face 200 (also known as an adhesive back face) and a second face 300 (also known as a passenger-facing front face), as shown in Figures 2 and 3, respectively. The electronic sticker 2 is square-shaped with a width and height of approximately 10 centimetres. An attachment surface in the form of a transparent adhesive layer 14 is provided on the first face 200 of the electronic sticker 2, for enabling secure attachment of the electronic sticker 2 to the windscreen of the car 100. The transparent adhesive layer 14 is provided adjacent to the first face 200. A peel-off protective sheet (not shown) is provided in use adjacent to the adhesive layer 14, which protects the adhesive layer 14 until it is required for attachment to the windscreen. In order to install the electronic sticker 2, the driver or passenger can simply peel off the protective sheet and attach the electronic sticker 2 to the windscreen via the adhesive layer 14. The electronic sticker 2 is designed to be flexible and the sticker has an angle of displacement (flexibility) up to approximately 5 to 10 degrees from its centre. This degree of flexibility enables the sticker to be attachable to either a flat portion or a curved portion of any typical vehicle window or windscreen. In this embodiment, the transparent adhesive layer 14 substantially covers the first face 200. It may cover the first face 200 completely to the edges of the first face 200, to provide maximum adhesion. More particularly, the adhesive layer covers about 95% of the available surface area of the first face 200. This advantageously prevents the egress of dust and dirt between the windscreen and a photovoltaic cell array 16 (described below) of the electronic sticker 2. However, in other embodiments, the adhesive layer can be replaced by adhesive regions which can be provided at strategic locations of the first face 200 to provide enough adhesion as will be apparent to the skilled person, for example at the four corners of the first face. Such a reduced size of adhesive layer makes the installation of the electronic sticker to the windscreen slightly easier for the user.

The first face 200 also comprises a photovoltaic cell array 16 (mentioned above) for generating electrical charge from light energy. The photovoltaic cell array 16 is flexible and has a maximum thickness of 1 millimetre. Further, the photovoltaic cell array 16 covers approximately 95% of the surface area of the first face 200 to maximise the area of exposure of the array to light and thereby maximise the amount of electrical energy generated by the array 16.

At the second face 300 of the electronic sticker 2, there is provided a machine-readable unique identifier in the form of a Quick-Response (QR) code 18. In this embodiment, the QR Code 18 is positioned at the lower right-hand corner of the second face 300, such that it is easily accessible by the passenger and/or the driver. The QR code 18 has encoded within it a unique serial number of the sticker which once read enables unique identification of the electronic sticker 2 and registration of the electronic sticker 2 with the locally-positioned mobile phone 4 by simple optical capture of an image of the QR Code 18. Optionally, the serial number in alphanumeric form (not shown) may also be provided on the second face 300. The alphanumeric serial number would also allow registration of the electronic sticker 2 with the mobile phone 4 in the event that the QR code is not recognised.

The second face 300 is further provided with an electronic circuit 20. In this embodiment, the electronic circuit 20 is comprised within a sealed blister on the second face 300, which is positioned at the upper right hand corner of the second face 300. The electronic circuit 20 comprises a processor, a low-power wireless local data transmitter, and a sensor set comprising at least one sensor including an accelerometer. In this embodiment, the accelerometer is a triple-axis accelerometer, which measures a force of acceleration (G-force or G). The triple-axis accelerometer can measure G-forces between 1 G and 30G. The electronic circuit 20 is described further below with reference to Figure 9.

A company logo 22 is also provided on the second face 300, for branding and marketing purposes, at the upper left-hand corner of the second face 300. Lastly, a set of instructions 24 is positioned below the company logo 22, at the lower left-hand corner of the second face 300. The instructions 24 provide details to the driver or passenger on how to set up the communications channel 3 between the electronic sticker 2 and the mobile phone 4. This includes instructions on how to find and download the necessary mobile phone application. The instructions 24 also describe how to open the application and scan the QR code to establish the wireless communications channel 3 between the electronic sticker 2 and the mobile phone 4, for example via a Bluetooth connection 3.

Figure 4 shows a general method of operation 25 of the system shown in Figure 1 , namely a process by which a dynamic state of the car 100 is monitored to detect an accident and generate an alert signal using the electronic sticker 2. The method of operation 25 commences with the electronic sticker 2 and the mobile phone 4 being set up, at Step 26, by the passenger or driver. The electronic sticker 2 then commences an event detection loop, at Step 28, where the sticker 2 senses the occurrence of a predetermined event using one or more sensors in the sensor set of the electronic circuit 20. The one or more sensors can be for example, an accelerometer, which determines whether or not an event, such as a vehicle crash, has occurred. If the electronic circuit 20 of the electronic sticker determines that an event has occurred, the electronic sticker 2 generates, at Step 30, an alert signal, and sends, at Step 30, the alert signal to the mobile phone 4. The mobile phone 4 receives and processes, at Step 32, the alert signal, and then sends, at Step 32, an enhanced alert signal (EAS) to the server 10. The method of operation 25, the server having received the EAS via the communications network, processes, at Step 34, the EAS and carries out, at Step 34, the appropriate action. This process enables prompt and automated notification of a crash or accident. Each of Steps 26, 28, 30, 32 and 34 are described in further detail below.

The set-up, at Step 26, of the electronic sticker 2 and the mobile phone 4 is now described in greater detail with reference to Figure 5. Firstly, the driver or passenger receives, at Step 36, the electronic sticker 2, typically in the post (by mail). The electronic sticker 2 is light and flexible which allows it to be packaged in a small standard mail item and this enables the electronic sticker 2 to be transported quickly and economically by any postal service. The driver or passenger then attaches, at Step 38, the electronic sticker 2 to the windscreen of the car 100, by removing the protective sheet provided on the first face 200 of the sticker 2 as described above and securing the adhesive layer to the windscreen.

The mobile application (application or app) is then activated, at Step 40, following the instructions 24 provided on the first face 200. Once the app is running on the mobile phone 4 the user scans the QR code to pair and register, at Step 42, the electronic sticker 2 with the mobile phone 4. Figure 6 and Figure 7 show the user view and interaction with the mobile phone 4 during the activation of the app and the subsequent pairing and registration at Steps 40 and 42, respectively.

As part of the instructions 24 presented on the second face 300 of the electronic sticker 2, the user is instructed to search the application store on the mobile phone 4 for the mobile application and to download and install the application onto the mobile phone 4. Following successful installation, when the application is opened, the user is presented with an application sign-in page 44, as shown in Figure 6. The user is prompted to sign in to the application for the first time by entering an activation code 46, which they will have received by a separate communications channel such as email, and also their mobile phone number 48. The user then receives a text message with a link 50 to complete activation. Clicking on the link 50 takes the user to a first use introduction page, which presents a video 52 showing how the application works and how to use it. The user is then presented with the terms and conditions 54 of the application. Once the user has agreed to the terms and conditions, the activation, at Step 40, of the mobile application is complete. An option 56 is then given for the user to begin pairing of the electronic sticker 2 with the mobile phone 4 to establish the local communications channel 3 between them.

As shown in Figure 7, when the option 56 to begin pairing is selected, the user is presented via the app with more detailed instructions 58 on how to install and pair the electronic sticker 2 with the mobile phone 4. In this embodiment, the local communications channel is a Bluetooth channel. To pair the electronic sticker 2 to the mobile phone 4, the user is instructed via instruction 60 in the app to turn the phone’s Bluetooth connectivity on, and then to scan via instruction 62 in the app the QR code 18 located on the second face 300 of the electronic sticker 2 using the mobile phone camera. Optionally, if the mobile phone 4 cannot recognise the QR code 18, the electronic sticker 2 can be paired with the mobile phone 4 by entering the alphanumeric serial number optionally shown on the electronic sticker 2. Once the electronic sticker 2 has been paired successfully with the mobile phone 4, Step 42 is complete and a paired homepage 64 is displayed on the mobile phone 4.

The paired homepage 64 includes a guide for what the user should do in the case of an accident (switch engine off, switch hazard lights on, call 999 if anyone is seriously injured). From the paired homepage 64, the user can report an accident, watch and re-read the help & FAQs or view and change settings. Selection of the‘View and change your settings’ option (see the paired homepage 64 in Figure 7) enables the user to add emergency contact numbers and/or un-pair electronic stickers that are already paired with vehicles, if desired. Any changes made to the settings can then be saved, and the user is returned to the paired homepage 64.

The sensing of events, at Step 28, by the electronic sticker 2 is now described in greater detail with reference to Figure 8. The sensor set located within the electronic circuit 20 comprises at least one sensor including an accelerometer. The sensor set is configured to continually generate, at Step 66, sensor data during the period when the vehicle (car 100) is being driven. The sensor set is also configured to send, at Step 68, the sensor data to the processor of the electronic circuit 20.

The processor is configured to perform analysis of the sensor data in real time by comparing, at Step 70, the sensor data to one or more predetermined thresholds for that sensor data. Once the sensor data is compared to the one or more predetermined thresholds, the processor determines, at Step 72, whether the sensor data exceeds the one or more predetermined thresholds. If the sensor data exceeds an associated predetermined threshold, or reaches an alternative trigger point, the processor proceeds to carry out the next step of generating, at Step 30, the alert signal. For example, if the sensor data is acceleration data generated by an accelerometer, an alert signal may be generated if the acceleration data exceeds a predetermined threshold acceleration. When the predetermined threshold acceleration is reached, an alert signal is generated. An alert signal may also be generated when a spike in the acceleration data (indicative of a sudden acceleration in a short period of time) is detected whereby the height of the spike (degree of sudden acceleration) exceeds the predetermined threshold amount of acceleration. The time at which the spike is detected is termed a‘trigger point’ for an event. Upon detection of a trigger point, data generated for a certain period of time before and after the trigger point (for example, 60 seconds before and 30 seconds after) is also recorded to the electronic sticker device for future analysis. This data retrieval is possible because of the use of a data buffer (not shown) to which all recorded data from the sensors is stored temporarily. This data is stored in the buffer for a certain period of time before being overwritten. If, however, the sensor data does not exceed the predetermined threshold, the sensor set continues to generate, at Step 66, sensor data and follow Steps 68, 70 and 72, until the processor determines, at Step 72, that the sensor data has exceeded the predetermined threshold.

The electronic circuit 20, which is located at the second face 300 of the electronic sticker 2, is shown in further detail in Figure 9. The electronic circuit 20 comprises a processor 76, a low-power wireless local data transmitter 78, and a sensor set 74 comprising at least one sensor including an

accelerometer. Each sensor of the sensor set 74 is configured to generate sensor data regarding a sensed physical property associated with movement of the electronic sticker 2 (which is securely attached to the car 100 and so reflects the movement of the car) and to communicate the sensor data to the processor 76. The processor 76 is configured to compare the sensor data generated from the sensor set 74 with pre-stored data, with the pre-stored data being provided from a data store (not shown) of the processor. The processor 76 is also configured to generate an alert signal if the sensor data exceeds at least one predetermined level in the pre-stored data, and to transmit the alert signal to the mobile phone 4, via the local data transmitter 78.

The electronic circuit 20 further comprises a photovoltaic cell array 16 arranged at the first face 200 of the electronic sticker 2 for generating electrical charge from light energy falling on the photovoltaic cell array 16. The electronic circuit 20 also comprises a rechargeable charge store 80 configured to receive and store electrical charge from the photovoltaic cell array 16 and to provide the stored charge to power the sensor set 74, processor 76, and the local data transmitter 78. In this

embodiment, the rechargeable charge store 80 comprises a rechargeable battery but in other embodiments this rechargeable charge store 80 can take the form of a capacitor.

In alternative embodiments, the electronic circuit 20 may include an actuator 80, such as a push button. The user can press and hold the push button to activate the electronic sticker 2, prior to scanning the QR code and pairing the electronic sticker 2 to the mobile phone 4. The electronic circuit 20 may also have a status indicator 84 as an optional feature. The status indicator 84 may receive information about the status of the electronic sticker 2 from the processor 76 and provide the status information visually. For example, the status indicator 84 may comprise one or more low-power Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), which indicate, using different colours, whether the electronic sticker 2 is ready to pair, wirelessly connecting, or already wirelessly connected to a mobile phone. The electrical charge stored in the rechargeable charge store 80 is able to power the status indicator 84 as well as the sensors 74, processor 76 and local data transmitter 78.

The alert signal generated, at Step 30, by the electronic sticker 2 comprises an alert time and an alert date. The alert signal also comprises the triple-axis acceleration data (x, y, z) that triggered the generation of the alert signal. The alert signal may also comprise triple-axis acceleration data (x, y, z) that was recorded during the time period commencing 60 seconds before the trigger event to 30 seconds after the trigger event.

The electronics 20 are preferably comprised of low-cost electronic components to minimise the cost of the sticker. However, the electronics 20 is designed to be provided by relatively flat or thin circuitry and flat or thin electronic components. For example, the circuit can be comprised of a flexible printed circuit board (flex board) to provide the degree of flexibility of the overall sticker.

Figure 10 shows in further detail the mobile phone 4 receiving and processing, at Step 32 of Figure 4, the alert signal and sending, also at Step 32, an enhanced alert signal to the server 10. First, the mobile phone 4 receives, at Step 86, the alert signal from the electronic sticker 2. Subsequently, the mobile phone 4 adds, at Step 88, a timestamp, comprising the time and date of receipt of the alert signal, to the alert signal. The mobile phone 4 also adds, at Step 90, a geographic location stamp, comprising the latitude and longitude coordinates of the location at the time of receipt of the alert signal, to the alert signal. In addition, the mobile phone 4 also adds, at Step 90, a geographic location stamp with the latitude and longitude coordinates of the current location once the crash event has ended and the vehicle is stationary. The geographic location is typically obtained by a GPS sensor 74 within the mobile phone 4. The mobile phone 4 may also add information related to the severity of the accident. After the additional information (timestamp; geographic location; severity) has been added at Steps 88 and 90, the mobile phone 4 creates, at Step 92, an enhanced alert signal (EAS) wherein the EAS comprises the additional information. The mobile phone 4 then sends, at Step 94, the EAS to the server 10. The EAS can be transmitted via multiple channels such as, for example, GPRS, EDGE,

3G, 4G or Wi-Fi. The EAS is transmitted preferably by a data method such as GPRS, EDGE, 3G or 4G; Wi-Fi can be used if the W-Fi connection is more favourable than the other available data methods. In order to identify the user when sending the EAS to the server, an authorisation token stored in the mobile application is added to the EAS.

If, however, the mobile phone 4 is offline, the mobile phone 4 creates an EAS as described above, and awaits a data or W-Fi connection. Once a data or W-Fi connection is established, the mobile phone 4 sends the EAS to the server 10.

The components of the mobile phone 4 which are used to carry out the above-described process at Steps 86, 88, 90, 92 and 94, of receiving and processing the alert signal are now described with reference to Figure 11. The mobile phone 4 comprises a local transmitter/receiver 94, a processor 96, a timestamp generator 98, a geographic location sensor 102 and a remote transmitter/receiver 104. The alert signal from the electronic sticker 2 is received by the local receiver 94 in the mobile phone 4. The alert signal is then provided to the processor 96 of the mobile phone 4. The current time is accessed by the processor 96 by way of the timestamp generator 98. The geographic location of the mobile phone 4 is also accessed by the processor 96 and is obtained via the geographic location sensor 102. The processor 96 of the mobile phone 4 adds the timestamp and the geographic location to the alert signal to create the EAS. The EAS is then transmitted to the remote transmitter/receiver 104 and onto the server 10 via the mobile network 6.

Figure 12 shows the process by which the server 10 receives and processes, at Step 34, the EAS, in further detail. Firstly, the server 10 receives, at Step 106, the EAS from the mobile phone 4, via the mobile network 6. The server 10 also identifies the electronic sticker device that sent the initial alert signal. The server 10 then extracts, at Step 108, the data comprised within the EAS which has been added by the electronic sticker 2 (alert time and date; sensor data that triggered the alert signal) and data added by the mobile phone 4 (transmission time and date; location at event alert start and end; severity of the incident) from the EAS.

In addition to this input data from the electronic sticker 2 and the mobile phone 4, externally-sourced data is obtained, at Steps 110 and 112. Externally-sourced data includes real-time corroborating data and non-real time corroborating data. Real time corroborating data, which is time-based data, is obtained, at Step 110, by the server. Examples of real-time corroborating data include vehicle type (may be obtained from an insurance database), driver details including experience and history, and previous false-positive exclusions as defined by the driver. Non-real time corroborating data, which is location-based data, is also obtained, at Step 112, by the server. Examples of non-real time corroborating data include weather at a specific location or traffic conditions at a specific location.

Both weather and traffic conditions may be obtained by third-party services. The server 10 performs analysis of the input data and the externally-sourced data, and determines, at Step 114, an appropriate response based on pre-defined rules.

For example, a notification comprising acceleration data between 1 G and 3G in an urban location at 14:00 on a Saturday in good weather conditions in July by a large SUV passenger vehicle will trigger a class 1 low danger level alert. In this embodiment, the server will determine, at Step 1 14, that the only response required is to send, at Step 116, a message to the driver’s mobile phone 4. The server 10 will also determine that no follow up message is required.

As another example, a notification comprising acceleration data between 1 G and 3G in a rural location at 23:00 on a Thursday night in poor weather conditions in January by a small car will trigger a class 2 moderate danger level alert. In this example, the server 10 will determine at Step 114, that the response requires a message to be sent, at Step 116, to both the driver and the driver’s emergency contact.

As a further example, a notification comprising acceleration data between 3G and 5G in any location at any time of day and in any weather by a large SUV passenger vehicle or a small car will also trigger a class 2 moderate danger level alert. A class 3 high danger level alert will be triggered by a notification comprising acceleration data above 5G in any location at any time of day and in any weather by a large SUV passenger vehicle or a small car. In this case, the server will determine, at Step 1 14, that the response requires the emergency services to be informed.

Once an appropriate response has been determined at Step 1 14, the server 10 takes the appropriate action at Step 1 16, which may be to send a message back to the mobile phone 4, send a message to one or more emergency contacts, contact emergency services, and/or contact an insurance company associated with the electronic sticker 2.

After the server 10 performs analysis of the input data and the externally-sourced data, the server 10 may determine that there is not enough data to determine, at Step 1 14, an appropriate response based on the pre-defined rules. In this case, the server will determine, at Step 1 14, that a‘back-stop response’ is required by which messages are sent to all appropriate contacts - namely, the driver, emergency contacts, emergency services and the insurance company associated with the electronic sticker 2.

The components of the server 10, which are used to carry out the process of receiving and processing the EAS, are described with reference to Figure 13. A communications module 1 18, which is located in the server 10, receives the EAS from the mobile phone 4 via the mobile network 6. The EAS is then directed to an extractor 120, which serves to extract information 122 from the EAS. In particular, the date, time, location and severity information is extracted from the EAS. The information 122 is provided to a processor 124 located within the server 10. The server 10 also comprises a real time database 126 containing time-based data, and a non-real time database 128 containing location- based data. The processor 124 adds time-based data from the real time database 126 to the information 122. In addition, the processor 124 adds location-based data from the non-real time database 128 to the information 122 to help corroborate the input data.

The processor 124 of the server 10 performs analysis of the information 122 including all data that has been added, and determines an appropriate response. An action signal comprising the appropriate action is then sent to the communications module 1 18 for transmission to the mobile network 6. For example, the action signal may be an SMS text message back to the mobile phone 4. The action signal may be sent both by SMS text message and data message (for example by email or instant messaging). Additional messages may be sent from the server 10 to other parties and locations based on the analysis of the information 122 and the pre-defined rules.

If the determined response is to send an SMS text message back to the mobile phone 4, the user is presented with the text message 130, as shown in Figure 14. The text message 130 comprises a link to the application. Following the link in the text message 130 takes the user to an alert homepage 132 in the application. Alternatively, receipt of the action signal by the mobile phone 4 may invoke an alert through the mobile application leading directly to the alert homepage. From the alert homepage 132, the user can report an accident or clarify details of the incident. If the user decides to report an accident, the user is directed to a sign-in page 134 to sign into their account and securely provide details of the accident. If, however, the user has not had an accident at all, the user is directed to a feedback page, which enables the user to select a reason for the alert. Alternatively if the user has had a minor bump but no damage has occurred, the user is directed to a feedback page on which the user is presented with an option to call 24-hour customer service if necessary.

The mobile application also provides an option for the user in the event that they wish to report an accident from the alert homepage 132 but where the mobile phone 4 is offline. In this case, when the user selects the option on the alert homepage 132 to report an accident, the user is presented with an offline notification page, which comprises instructions as to what to do next. If the phone has a voice service available but no data service, the user may contact a second server (not shown) directly by selecting an option to call 24-hour customer service. The user may also enter notes about the incident to create an offline report. When an internet connection is established, the offline report can then be sent to the second server for processing.

A second embodiment of the present invention is now described with reference to Figure 15 and Figure 16. The second embodiment is very similar to the first embodiment and as such the following description is limited to the differences between the embodiments. A first face 400 and a second face 500 of an electronic sticker is shown in Figure 15 and Figure 16, respectively, in accordance with the second embodiment. The first face 400 comprises an attachment surface in the form of a transparent adhesive layer 138. The first face 400 also comprises a photovoltaic cell array 140 for generating electrical charge from light energy. The transparent adhesive layer 138 and the photovoltaic cell array 140 may adopt the structure and properties of the corresponding features in the first embodiment, as described above with reference to Figure 2.

A difference between the first face 200 of the first embodiment and the first face 400 of the second embodiment is that the second embodiment includes a camera 136 or‘dash cam’. This is an optional feature, which enables imagery and/or movement in the scene in front of the vehicle to be recorded for analysis of a vehicle crash event. In this case, the electronic circuit also includes a camera module which is powered by the rechargeable charge store. Whilst this additional feature can be useful in recording video of an event, it has the downside of requiring more power, being more expensive and generating larger video files. Having said this there are some situations where these disadvantages are worth accepting to provide the increased capability of the electronic sticker.

The second face 500 of the second embodiment comprises a machine-readable unique identifier in the form of a QR code 146. The second face 500 also comprises an electronic circuit 148, a company logo 150, and a set of instructions 152. The QR code 146, electronic circuit 148, company logo 150 and set of instructions 152 may adopt the structure and properties of the corresponding features in the first embodiment, as described above with reference to Figure 3.

In addition to the features shown on the second face of the first embodiment, the second face 500 of the second embodiment comprises an actuator, such as a push button 142. The user can press and hold the push button to activate the electronic sticker 2, prior to scanning the QR code and pairing the electronic sticker to the mobile phone 4. The second face 500 of the second embodiment also comprises a status indicator 144. The status indicator provides status information visually. For example, the status indicator may comprise one or more LEDs, which indicate, using different colours, whether the electronic sticker is ready to pair, wirelessly connecting, or already wirelessly connected to a mobile phone. The status indicator 144 is an optional feature.

A third embodiment of the present invention is now described with reference to Figure 17, Figure 18 and Figure 19. The third embodiment is very similar to the first embodiment and as such the following description is limited to the differences between the embodiments. As shown in Figure 17, there is provided an electronic sticker 154, in accordance with the third embodiment, installed on a windshield of a motorcycle 600. The electronic sticker 154 is for monitoring a dynamic state of the motorcycle 600 when being ridden to detect an accident and generate an alert signal. In the embodiment shown in Figure 17, the electronic sticker 154 is installed by way of attachment to the windshield of the motorcycle, and it is wirelessly connectable to a mobile phone 156, which is positioned proximate to the motorcycle. For example, the mobile phone 156 may be positioned within a pocket of the driver or passenger riding the motorcycle. The mobile phone 156 is connected to a mobile network 158, which is in turn connected to a server 162 via a communications network 160. A database 164 is connected to the server 162.

Figure 18 and Figure 19 show the first face 700 and the second face 800, respectively, of the electronic sticker 154, in accordance with the third embodiment. As described above for the first and second embodiments, the first face 700 of the third embodiment comprises an attachment surface in the form of a transparent adhesive layer 166. The first face 700 also comprises a photovoltaic cell array 168 for generating electrical charge from light energy. The electronic sticker 154 of the third embodiment is rectangular in shape with a width of approximately 5 centimetres and a height of approximately 15 centimetres. The electronic sticker is flexible. It has an angle of displacement up to approximately 10 degrees from its centre along the longer axis of the sticker, and approximately 5 degrees from its centre along the shorter axis of the sticker.

The second face 800 of the third embodiment comprises a QR code 170, an electronic circuit 172, a company logo 174, and a set of instructions 176. These features may adopt the structure and properties of the corresponding features in the first embodiment, as described above with reference to Figure 3.

A fourth embodiment of the present invention is now described with reference to Figure 20, Figure 21 and Figure 22. The fourth embodiment is very similar to the first embodiment and as such the following description is limited to the differences between the embodiments. As shown in Figure 20, there is provided an electronic sticker 178, in accordance with the fourth embodiment, attached to a frame of a bicycle 900. The electronic sticker 178 is connected wirelessly to a local mobile phone 180. The mobile phone 180 may be positioned within a pocket of the bicycle rider. The mobile phone 180 is connected to a mobile network 182, which is in turn connected to a server 186 via a

communications network 184. A database 188 is connected to the server 186.

Figure 21 shows a first face 1000 of the electronic sticker 178, in accordance with the fourth embodiment. The first face 1000 of the fourth embodiment comprises an attachment surface in the form of an adhesive layer 190. The adhesive layer 190 is adjacent to the first face 1000. In the embodiment shown in Figure 21 , the adhesive layer 190 substantially covers the first face 1000. The adhesive layer 190 may cover approximately 90% to 100% of the first face 100. In this embodiment, the first face 1000 comprises no further components. The adhesive layer 190 is not required to let light pass through, and therefore it does not need to be transparent. This is because the electronic sticker 178 is configured to be mounted to a translucent or opaque surface of the frame of the bicycle, which does not pass light.

The electronic sticker 178 is rectangular in shape with a width of approximately 15 centimetres and a height of approximately 5 centimetres. The electronic sticker is flexible. It has an angle of displacement up to approximately 10 degrees from its centre along the longer axis of the sticker, and approximately 5 degrees from its centre along the shorter axis of the sticker.

Figure 22 shows a second face 1 100 of the electronic sticker 178, in accordance with the fourth embodiment. A difference between the fourth embodiment and the previously-described embodiments is that the second face 1 100 comprises a photovoltaic cell array 202 for generating electrical charge from light energy. The second face 1 100 also comprises a QR code 206, an electronic circuit 204, a set of instructions 208 and a company logo 210. In this embodiment, the photovoltaic cell array covers approximately 30% of the surface area of the second face. These features may adopt the structure, properties and function of the corresponding features in the embodiments described above.

The server is required to perform analysis of input data (alert time and date; sensor data that triggered the alert signal; transmission time and date; location at event alert start and end; severity of the incident) and externally-sourced data (time-based data for example vehicle type, and location-based data for example weather and/or traffic conditions) to determine an appropriate response based on pre-defined rules.

For example, a notification comprising acceleration data below 1 G in an urban location at 14:00 on a Saturday in good weather conditions in July by a bicycle will trigger a class 2 moderate danger level alert.

As another example, a notification comprising acceleration data between 1 G and 2G in an urban location at 14:00 on a Saturday in good weather conditions in July by a bicycle will trigger a class 3 high danger level alert.

Many modifications may be made to the specific embodiments described above without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims. For example, in a car, the electronic sticker may be attached to a different part of the windscreen, as long as the device does not interfere with the driver’s vision. Alternatively, the electronic sticker may be attached to one or the side windows of the car or the rear window of the car. In a motorcycle, the electronic sticker may be attached to any part of the windscreen. In a bicycle, the electronic sticker may be attached to any part of the bicycle frame.

The first face may comprise a translucent or opaque border portion and a transparent centre portion, whereby the photovoltaic cell array is positioned within the centre portion. The border portion may be covered by a translucent or opaque adhesive layer for attaching the electronic sticker to the windscreen of the vehicle. The border portion may provide additional reinforcement to the structure of the electronic sticker. The border portion may comprise alternative means for attaching the electronic sticker to the windscreen. For example, the border portion may comprise one or more adhesive patches or one or more hook-and-loop fasteners.

Although the electronic sticker is wirelessly connectable to a mobile phone in the above

embodiments, the electronic sticker may be wirelessly connectable to any locally-positioned mobile telecommunications device. For example, it may be wirelessly connectable to a tablet computer (for example an Apple iPad™) which is connected to the telecommunications network. The size and shape of the electronic sticker may vary. In any sticker shape or size whereby the photovoltaic cell array is comprised on the first face of the sticker, the photovoltaic cell array may cover between approximately 90% and 100% of the surface area of the first face. A photovoltaic cell array covering a surface area toward the higher end of this range may be used in embodiments where the power requirement is higher - for example, where the first face of the electronic sticker includes a camera and the second face of the electronic sticker includes a push button and an LED status indicator. In a square sticker sized 10 centimetres in width and 10 centimetres in height, the photovoltaic cell array may cover between approximately 90 squared centimetres to 100 squared centimetres of the surface area of the first face. In a rectangular sticker sized 5 centimetres in width and 15 centimetres in height, the photovoltaic cell array may cover between approximately 65 squared centimetres to 75 squared centimetres of the surface area of the first face.

In any sticker shape or size whereby the photovoltaic cell array is comprised on the second face of the sticker, the photovoltaic cell array may cover approximately 30% of the surface area of the second face. For example, in a rectangular sticker sized 15 centimetres in width and 5 centimetres in height, the photovoltaic cell array may cover between approximately 10 squared centimetres to 25 squared centimetres of the surface area of the second face. In some embodiments where a smaller device is required, for example in a home monitoring system (described in further detail below), the coverage of the photovoltaic array may be approximately 5 squared centimetres to 10 squared centimetres of the surface area of the second face.

If the electronic sticker is square-shaped, it may have a width and length of approximately 23 to 24 centimetres. If the electronic sticker has a rectangular shape, it may have a width of approximately 23 to 24 centimetres, and a length of approximately 15.5 to 16.5 centimetres. The electronic sticker in any shape typically has a thickness between 4 and 5 millimetres. However, in some exceptional embodiments a maximum thickness of 10 millimetres is acceptable. The total weight of the sticker device is typically about 100 grams or less. An electronic sticker which does not exceed these dimensions and weight is highly advantageous as an optimum set of dimensions for low-cost mass distribution via a mail service whilst still providing the required functionality. The electronic sticker may have dimensions or a weight larger or smaller than those described above. For example, if the electronic sticker includes a camera, a push button, and LED status indicator and/or further features that require power, the electronic sticker may have larger sub-optimal dimensions to accommodate a larger photovoltaic cell array and battery.

Each of the elements provided on the second face of the electronic sticker, namely - the QR code, electronic circuit, set up instructions, and company logo - may be provided in any position or order. For example, the QR code may be provided at the upper left-hand corner instead of the lower right- hand corner.

The electronic circuit may be provided in a sheet-like configuration or a layer adjacent to the second face of the electronic sticker such that it is hidden in use, whilst the company logo, instructions and machine-readable code are all visible on the second face.

The machine-readable unique identifier provided at the second face of the electronic sticker may be an optical code such as, for example, a non-complex graphic sign that contains encoded information such as an optical glyph, or a one-dimensional or multi-dimensional barcode technology. A QR code is an example of a two-dimensional barcode. The main advantage of using QR code technology is ubiquity - any smartphone is capable of installing the software required for displaying a QR code and any smartphone equipped with a camera is capable of installing the software required for reading a QR code. The specific embodiments described in detail above use QR codes, but as the skilled person will appreciate, different machine-readable unique identifiers may be employed. For example, the unique identifier could simply be a series of numbers and/or letters. Furthermore, the QR code may be replaced with another machine-readable identifier, for example a NFC transmitter that is readable by a NFC detector built in to the mobile phone or device. Other electromagnetic identifiers may also be used.

The triple-axis accelerometer described above may measure G-forces above 30G. The triple-axis accelerometer described in the above embodiments may be a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) accelerometer. The sensor set located within the electronic circuit of the electronic sticker may comprise an environmental monitoring sensor in addition to the accelerometer. This enables pollution monitoring functionality whereby pollution data may be obtained and saved for further analysis of a crash event. The sensor set may also comprise a triple-axis gyroscope. The alert signal generated by the electronic sticker may therefore comprise the triple-axis gyroscope rotation rate, measured by the gyroscope. The alert signal may also comprise triple-axis gyroscope data (x, y z) that was recorded 60 seconds before and 30 seconds after the trigger event. The sensor set may comprise other sensors such as, for example, a vibration sensor. These additional sensors advantageously can generate further data to corroborate the sensor data being analysed to determine if a vehicle crash has occurred.

Whilst the above-described embodiments have been applied to a car, a motorcycle and a bicycle, the present embodiments could easily be used with other forms of transport and other vehicles. For example, the fourth embodiment which has been applied to a bicycle frame could be applied to the bicycle rider’s helmet. The device could also be applied in extreme sports applications such as skiing. The electronic sticker could be attached to a ski boot or a ski helmet for monitoring the dynamic state of the skier and to detect a crash of a skier into an object or a crash between two or more skiers, and to generate an emergency alert signal.

The electronic sticker may also be used in other applications such as a home monitoring system. The sensor set comprised within the electronic sticker may include one or more additional or alternative sensors for monitoring temperature, humidity, light, sound and/or motion (e.g. a passive infrared sensor). An electronic sticker for home monitoring applications may adopt the general structure of any of the embodiments described above, enabling the electronic sticker to be attached to a window in the home or a translucent/opaque surface such as a frosted window or a wall. The electronic sticker may be placed on a window to detect a break-in via the window. Multiple electronic stickers may be used around the home. For example, electronic stickers may be placed onto high value objects such as television, computer and/or audio systems. The dynamic state of the objects may be monitored to detect sudden movement indicative of a burglary such that an alert may be generated and a response may be sent to the homeowner or emergency contact.

The electronic sticker may also be used for monitoring the movement of the elderly as they may not have access to full-time care. For example, the electronic sticker may be attached to a person’s item of clothing. The sticker may detect a collision between the person and an object or a fall of the person.

Features of one embodiment may also be used in other embodiments, either as an addition to such embodiment or as a replacement thereof.