Method and system for logging vehicle behaviour

• US 10,198,879 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2017
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Auto Telematics Ltd. (f/k/a Snoring Dog Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Andrew William Wright, Gillian Switalski
• Inventors: Wright, Andrew William
• Primary Examiner(s): Paige, Tyler D
• Application Number:
  US15/454,952
• Publication Number:
  US 20170178424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 701 50
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/02 Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0866 the electronic data carrier being a digital video recorder in combination with video camera
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/14 Traffic procedures, e.g. traffic regulations
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724098 Interfacing with an on-board device of a vehicle for hands-free speaking in vehicles H04M1/6075
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/36 Memories
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 with voice recognition means voice activated dialling H04M1/271; voice recognition algorithms G10L15/00

Abstract

Methods and systems for logging driving information associated with a vehicle when driven are disclosed. In one aspect, a mobile telecommunications device is provided that is adapted for installation to a vehicle and configured to log driving information associated with the vehicle when driven. The mobile device is arranged to register the start of a driving period during which the mobile device is installed to the vehicle and the vehicle is being driven by a driver. The mobile device is also arranged to process sensor data during the driving period to derive driving information associated with how the vehicle is driven. The mobile device is also arranged to store a selection of the driving information to a memory.

Claims

1. A mobile telecommunications device configured to log driving information associated with a vehicle, the mobile telecommunications device comprising:

a sensor set comprising an image sensor, an audio sensor, an accelerometer or a positioning module, or a combination thereof;

a user interface;

a processor and;

a memory;

the mobile telecommunications device being configured to;

determine, based on at least one of the inputs received by the user interface and sensor data from the device'"'"'s sensor set, a start of a driving period during which the mobile device is removably attached to the vehicle and the vehicle is in use;

process the sensor data from the sensor set during the driving period to derive driving information associated with how the vehicle is driven; and

store a selection of the driving information to the memory;

wherein the driving information is derived without data from the vehicle sensors, and the mobile telecommunications device is controlled by a downloaded application to control the mobile device to process the driving information to generate a driving score associated with a particular driver.

2. A mobile telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein the mobile telecommunications device is controlled by the downloaded application to control the mobile device to detect occurrence of a predetermined event and in response take at least one predetermined action.

3. A mobile telecommunication device according to claim 2, wherein predetermined action is storing driving information associated with that event to the memory.

4. A mobile telecommunication device according to claim 2, wherein predetermined action is storing driving information captured at a higher sampling rate than when an event is not detected.

5. A mobile telecommunication device according to claim 2, wherein predetermined action is transmitting driving information via a wireless telecommunication module of the mobile telecommunication device to a remote system.

6. A mobile telecommunications device according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined action comprises providing feedback to a user to indicate that an event has been detected, the mobile telecommunications device being configured to receive a user interaction to confirm or deny whether the detected event has actually occurred following said feedback.

7. A mobile telecommunications device according to claim 6, wherein the feedback comprises notifying a user that a further action has been scheduled, and will be taken within a predetermined period, the mobile telecommunications device being further configured to receive a user interaction to confirm or deny whether the further scheduled action should be taken within a predetermined period.

8. A mobile telecommunications device according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined action comprises communicating to a remote system that an event has been detected, the mobile telecommunications device being further configured to receive from the remote system a request to transmit to the remote system selected portions of the driving information associated with the detected event.

9. A mobile telecommunications device according to claim 2, wherein the memory comprises:

a long term memory for persistently storing driving information and a short term memory for transiently storing driving information, wherein the short term memory receives driving information at a higher update rate than the long term memory, the mobile telecommunications device being further configured to;

write driving information to the short term memory at a predetermined update rate during the driving period in a predetermined sequence; and

,

overwrite the driving information previously written to the short term memory in accordance with the predetermined sequence.

10. A mobile telecommunications device according to claim 9, wherein the mobile telecommunications device is controlled by the downloaded application to control the mobile device to detect an occurrence of a predetermined event and in response transfer data from the short term memory to the long term memory.

11. A mobile telecommunications device according to claim 2, wherein the device is controlled by the downloaded application to manage voice-calls incoming to the mobile telecommunications device during a driving period.

12. A mobile telecommunications device according to claim 2, wherein the device is controlled by the downloaded application to enable a hands-free mode of operation on detection of the driving period.

13. A mobile telecommunications device according to claim 12, wherein the hands-free mode of operation comprises enabling voice-activated commands on the mobile device.

14. A mobile telecommunications device according to claim 2, wherein the device is controlled by the downloaded application to detect the occurrence of a predetermined event of significance, such as a crash, and in response to store driving information associated with that event to the memory.

15. A mobile telecommunications device according to claim 2, wherein the device is controlled by the downloaded application to detect the occurrence of a predetermined event of significance, such as a crash, and in response to transmit driving information associated with that event via the wireless telecommunication module to a remote data-logging system.

16. A mobile telecommunications device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one predetermined action comprises providing the user with options to control the mobile device to take further actions.

17. A mobile telecommunications device according to claim 1, further configured to:

interface with an external device, the external device having access to external driving information associated with a condition of the vehicle; and

,

to receive at least a portion of the external driving information from the external device.

18. A mobile telecommunications device according to claim 17, further arranged to interface with the external device wirelessly.

19. A mobile telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein the mobile telecommunications device utilizes its own power supply.

20. A mobile telecommunications device according to claim 1, wherein the mobile telecommunications device is a smartphone.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions comprising a software application stored thereon, wherein the instructions are configured to be executed on a processor of a mobile telecommunications device to enable the mobile telecommunications device to log driving information associated with a driver of a vehicle, the mobile telecommunications device including a display;

a sensor set comprising an image sensor, an audio sensor, an accelerometer or a positioning module, or a combination thereof;

the processor; and

a memory, wherein the instructions, upon execution by the processor, enable the mobile telecommunications device to;

present a user interface on the display;

determine, based on at least one of the inputs received by the user interface and/or sensor data from the sensor set, a start of a driving period during which the mobile telecommunications device is removably attached to a vehicle and the vehicle is being driven by the driver;

process the sensor data from the sensor set during the driving period to derive driving information associated with how the vehicle is driven;

store a selection of the driving information to the memory; and

generate a driving score associated with the driver,

wherein the driving information is derived without data from vehicle sensors.

22. A non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 21, wherein execution of the instructions further enables the mobile telecommunications device to detect occurrence of a predetermined event and in response take at least one predetermined action.

23. A non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 22, wherein predetermined action is storing driving information associated with that event to the memory.

24. A non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 22, wherein predetermined action is storing driving information captured at a higher sampling rate than when an event is not detected.

25. A non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 22, wherein predetermined action is transmitting driving information via a wireless telecommunication module of the mobile telecommunication device to a remote system.

26. A non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 22, wherein the predetermined action comprises providing feedback to a user to indicate that an event has been detected, the mobile telecommunications device being configured, via execution of the instructions, to receive a user interaction to confirm or deny whether the detected event has actually occurred following said feedback.

27. A non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 26, wherein the feedback comprises notifying a user that a further action has been scheduled, and will be taken within a predetermined period, the mobile telecommunications device being further configured to receive a user interaction to confirm or deny whether the further scheduled action should be taken within a predetermined period.

28. A non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 22, wherein the predetermined action comprises communicating to a remote system that an event has been detected, wherein execution of the instructions further enables the mobile telecommunications device to receive from the remote system a request to transmit to the remote system selected portions of the driving information associated with the detected event.

29. A non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 22, wherein execution of the instructions further enables the mobile telecommunications device to manage voice-calls incoming to the mobile telecommunications device during a driving period.

30. A non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 22, wherein execution of the instructions further enables the mobile telecommunications device to enable a hands-free mode of operation on detection of the driving period.

31. A non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 30, wherein the hands-free mode of operation comprises enabling voice-activated commands on the mobile device.

32. A non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 22, wherein execution of the instructions further enables the mobile telecommunications device to detect the occurrence of a predetermined event of significance, such as a crash, and in response to store driving information associated with that event to the memory.

33. A non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 22, wherein execution of the instructions further enables the mobile telecommunications device to detect the occurrence of a predetermined event of significance, such as a crash, and in response to transmit driving information associated with that event via the wireless telecommunication module to a remote data-logging system.

34. A non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 22, wherein the at least one predetermined action comprises providing the user with options to control the mobile device to take further actions.

35. A non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 21, wherein the memory comprises:

a long-term memory for persistently storing driving information and a short-term memory for transiently storing driving information, wherein the short-term memory receives driving information at a higher update rate than the long-term memory, wherein execution of the instructions further enables the mobile telecommunications device to;

write driving information to the short-term memory at a predetermined update rate during the driving period in a predetermined sequence; and

,

overwrite the driving information previously written to the short-term memory in accordance with the predetermined sequence.

36. A non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 35, wherein execution of the instructions further enables the mobile telecommunications device to detect an occurrence of a predetermined event and in response transfer data from the short-term memory to the long-term memory.

37. A non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 21, wherein execution of the instructions further enables the mobile telecommunications device to:

interface with an external device, the external device having access to external driving information associated with a condition of the vehicle; and

,

receive at least a portion of the external driving information from the external device.

38. A non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 37, further arranged to interface with the external device wirelessly.

39. A non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 21, wherein the mobile telecommunications device utilizes its own power supply.

40. A non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 21, wherein the mobile telecommunications device is a smartphone.

41. A non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 21, wherein the processing step comprises determination of at least one of:

vehicle acceleration events and vehicle braking events.

42. A non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 41, wherein processing step comprises determination of vehicle swerving events and the determination of such events occurs when data from the sensor set accords with preset parameters.

43. A non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 21, wherein the processing step comprises determination of both vehicle acceleration events and vehicle braking events.

44. A non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 43, wherein processing step comprises the determination of vehicle swerving events and the determination of such events occurs when data from the sensor set accords with preset parameters.

45. A non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 21, wherein the mobile telecommunications device further comprises a proximity sensor and the instructions, upon execution by the processor, enable the mobile telecommunications device to detect the proximity of the mobile telecommunications device to the vehicle.

46. A mobile telecommunications device configured to log driving information associated with a vehicle, the mobile telecommunications device comprising:

a sensor set comprising an image sensor, an audio sensor, an accelerometer or a positioning module, or a combination thereof;

a user interface;

a processor and;

a memory;

the mobile telecommunications device being configured to;

determine, based on at least one of the inputs received by the user interface and sensor data from the device'"'"'s sensor set, a start of a driving period during which the mobile device is removably attached to the vehicle and the vehicle is in use;

process the sensor data from the sensor set during the driving period to derive driving information associated with how the vehicle is driven; and

store a selection of the driving information to the memory;

wherein the driving information is derived without data from the vehicle sensors and the mobile telecommunications device is configured to process the sensor data by determination of at least one of;

vehicle acceleration events; and

vehicle braking events;

wherein the determining of such events occurs when data from the sensor set accords with predefined threshold values; and

wherein the mobile telecommunications device is controlled by a downloaded application to control the mobile device to process the driving information to generate a driving score associated with a particular driver.

47. A mobile telecommunications device according to claim 46, wherein the mobile telecommunications device is configured to process the sensor data by determination of vehicle swerving events and the determination of such events occurs when data from the sensor set accords with preset parameters.

48. A mobile telecommunications device according to claim 46, wherein the mobile telecommunications device is configured to process the sensor data by determination of both vehicle acceleration events and vehicle braking events.

49. A mobile telecommunications device according to claim 48, wherein the mobile telecommunications device is configured to process the sensor data by determination of vehicle swerving events and the determination of such events occurs when data from the sensor set accords with preset parameters.

50. A mobile telecommunications device according to claim 46, wherein the mobile telecommunications device further comprises a proximity sensor and the mobile telecommunications device is configured, upon execution of the instructions by the processor, to enable the mobile telecommunications device to detect the proximity of the mobile telecommunications device to the vehicle.

51. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions comprising a software application stored thereon, wherein the instructions are configured to be executed on a processor of a mobile telecommunications device to enable the mobile telecommunications device to log driving information associated with a driver of a vehicle, the mobile telecommunications device including a display;

a sensor set comprising an image sensor, an audio sensor, an accelerometer or a positioning module, or a combination thereof;

the processor; and

a memory, wherein the instructions, upon execution by the processor, enable the mobile telecommunications device to;

present a user interface on the display;

determine, based on at least inputs received by the user interface and sensor data from the sensor set, a start of a driving period during which the mobile telecommunications device is removably attached to a vehicle and the vehicle is being driven by the driver;

process the sensor data from the sensor set during the driving period to derive driving information associated with how the vehicle is driven;

store a selection of the driving information to the memory; and

generate a driving score associated with the driver,

wherein the driving information is derived without data from vehicle sensors and comprises the determination of at least one of;

vehicle acceleration events; and

vehicle braking events;

wherein the determination of such events occurs when data from the sensor set accords with predefined threshold parameters.

52. A non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 51, wherein the derived driving information may further comprise the determination of vehicle swerving events and the determination of such events occurs when data from the sensor set accords with predefined threshold parameters.

53. A non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 51, wherein the mobile telecommunications device further includes a proximity sensor, and the instructions, upon execution by the processor, further enable the mobile telecommunications device to detect the proximity of the mobile telecommunications device to the vehicle.

54. A mobile telecommunications device configured to log driving information associated with a vehicle, the mobile telecommunications device comprising:

a sensor set comprising an image sensor, an audio sensor, an accelerometer or a positioning module, or a combination thereof;

a user interface;

a processor and;

a memory;

the mobile telecommunications device being configured to;

determine, based on at least one of the inputs received by the user interface and sensor data from the device'"'"'s sensor set, a start of a driving period during which the mobile device is removably affixed to the vehicle and the vehicle is in use;

process the sensor data from the sensor set during the driving period to derive driving information associated with how the vehicle is driven; and

store a selection of the driving information to the memory;

wherein the driving information is derived without data from the vehicle sensors, and the mobile telecommunications device is controlled by a downloaded application to control the mobile device to process the driving information to generate a driving score associated with a particular driver.

55. A mobile telecommunications device configured to log driving information associated with a vehicle, the mobile telecommunications device comprising:

a sensor set comprising an image sensor, an audio sensor, an accelerometer or a positioning module, or a combination thereof;

a user interface;

a processor and;

a memory;

the mobile telecommunications device being configured to;

determine, based on at least one of the inputs received by the user interface and sensor data from the device'"'"'s sensor set, a start of a driving period during which the mobile device is removably affixed to the vehicle and the vehicle is in use;

process the sensor data from the sensor set during the driving period to derive driving information associated with how the vehicle is driven, the processing involving the use of a neural network on the mobile telecommunications device to determine whether the driving information represents an acceptable or unacceptable driving pattern; and

,

store a selection of the driving information to the memory;

wherein the driving information is derived without data from the vehicle sensors, and the mobile telecommunications device is controlled by a downloaded application to control the mobile device to process the driving information to generate a driving score associated with a particular driver.