Vehicle monitoring system

• US 10,239,491 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2016
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crider Bush, LLC
• Original Assignee: Crider Bush, LLC
• Inventors: Crider, Grant W., Bush, Kenneth M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hutchinson, Alan D
• Application Number:
  US15/362,409
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2025/1013 Alarm systems characterised by the type of warning signal, e.g. visual, audible
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/10 actuating a signalling device
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/241 whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/305 using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/31 of human presence inside or outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0881 Seat occupation; Driver or passenger presence
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/593 Recognising seat occupancy

Abstract

A system for monitoring an interior of a vehicle, comprising an identification device adapted to be carried by an individual, a vehicular unit adapted for mounting within the vehicle, and a controller adapted for remote wireless communication with the unit. The unit will activate a camera and a microphone when a person is detected within the vehicle. The unit will search for the identification device and, if the identification device is not detected, the unit will activate an alarm. If the identification device is detected, the unit will compare an access code from the identification device with authorized access codes. If the access code is not found within the authorized access codes, the unit will activate an alarm. The controller is operable to display images, broadcast sounds, and display the alarm status from the unit in real time to a user in possession of the controller.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring an interior of a vehicle, comprising:

a) an identification device adapted to be carried by an individual, said identification device comprising data;

b) a vehicular unit adapted for mounting within said interior of said vehicle, said unit comprising a sensor for detecting the presence of a person within said interior of said vehicle, a camera for capturing images of said interior of said vehicle, a microphone for capturing sounds within said interior of said vehicle, a reader for detecting said identification device and reading said data on said identification device, and a temperature measuring device for measuring a temperature within said interior of said vehicle; and

c) a controller adapted for wireless communication with said unit from a remote location, said controller comprising a display for displaying images and a speaker for broadcasting sounds;

d) wherein said sensor is operable to detect the presence of a person within said interior of said vehicle, wherein said unit is further operable to activate said camera to capture images of said interior of said vehicle when the presence of the person is detected by said sensor, wherein said unit is further operable to activate said microphone to capture sounds within said interior of said vehicle when the presence of the person is detected by said sensor, wherein said unit is further operable to activate said reader to search for said identification device within said interior of said vehicle when the presence of the person is detected by said sensor;

e) wherein said unit is operable to activate an alarm if said identification device is not detected within said interior of said vehicle when the presence of the person is detected by said sensor;

f) wherein said unit is operable to activate said reader to read said data on said identification device if said identification device is detected within said interior of said vehicle;

g) wherein said unit is operable to transmit said images from said camera, said sounds from said microphone, said data from said identification device, said temperature from said temperature measuring device, and an alarm status to said controller;

h) wherein said controller is operable to display said images from said camera in real time concurrent with the capture of said images by said camera, broadcast said sounds from said microphone in real time concurrent with the capture of said sounds by said microphone, display said temperature from said temperature measuring device in real time concurrent with the measuring of said temperature by said temperature measuring device, and display said alarm status to a user of said controller.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said unit is operable to activate said vehicle to take a remediation action if said identification device is not detected within said interior of said vehicle when the presence of the person is detected by said sensor and said temperature exceeds a predetermined safe temperature level, wherein said remediation action is selected from the group consisting of activating the vehicle'"'"'s horn to sound off, activating the vehicle'"'"'s windows to open, and activating the vehicle'"'"'s HVAC system to cool said interior of said vehicle.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said data includes an access code.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein said controller includes authorized access codes.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein said unit is operable to compare said access code from said identification device with said authorized access codes from said controller and activate an alarm if said access code from said identification device is not found within said authorized access codes.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said unit is operable to store said images from said camera and said sounds from said microphone, wherein said unit is further operable to store time information indicative of the time of capture of said images and the time of capture of said sounds.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein said controller is operable to store said images from said camera and said sounds from said microphone, wherein said controller is further operable to store time information indicative of the time of capture of said images and the time of capture of said sounds.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein said controller is operable to remotely control said camera by focusing said camera, changing the angle of view of said camera, or directing the orientation of said camera.

9. A system for monitoring an interior of a vehicle, comprising:

a) an identification device adapted to be carried by an individual, said identification device comprising data;

b) a vehicular unit adapted for mounting within said interior of said vehicle, said unit comprising a sensor for detecting the presence of a person within said interior of said vehicle, a camera for capturing images of said interior of said vehicle, a reader for detecting said identification device and reading said data on said identification device, and a temperature measuring device for measuring a temperature within said interior of said vehicle; and

c) a controller adapted for wireless communication with said unit from a remote location, said controller comprising a display for displaying images;

d) wherein said sensor is operable to detect the presence of a person within said interior of said vehicle, wherein said unit is further operable to activate said camera to capture images of said interior of said vehicle when the presence of the person is detected by said sensor, wherein said unit is further operable to activate said reader to search for said identification device within said interior of said vehicle when the presence of the person is detected by said sensor;

e) wherein said unit is operable to activate an alarm if said identification device is not detected within said interior of said vehicle when the presence of the person is detected by said sensor;

f) wherein said unit is operable to activate said reader to read said data on said identification device if said identification device is detected within said interior of said vehicle;

g) wherein said unit is operable to transmit said images from said camera, said data from said identification device, said temperature from said temperature measuring device, and an alarm status to said controller;

h) wherein said controller is operable to display said images from said camera in real time concurrent with the capture of said images by said camera, display said temperature from said temperature measuring device in real time concurrent with the measuring of said temperature by said temperature measuring device, and display said alarm status to a user of said controller.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein said unit is operable to activate said vehicle to take a remediation action if said identification device is not detected within said interior of said vehicle when the presence of the person is detected by said sensor and said temperature exceeds a predetermined safe temperature level, wherein said remediation action is selected from the group consisting of activating the vehicle'"'"'s horn to sound off, activating the vehicle'"'"'s windows to open, and activating the vehicle'"'"'s HVAC system to cool said interior of said vehicle.

11. A system according to claim 9, wherein said data includes an access code.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein said controller includes authorized access codes.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein said unit is operable to compare said access code from said identification device with said authorized access codes from said controller and activate an alarm if said access code from said identification device is not found within said authorized access codes.

14. A system according to claim 9, wherein said controller is operable to remotely control said camera by focusing said camera, changing the angle of view of said camera, or directing the orientation of said camera.

15. A system according to claim 9, wherein said unit is operable to store said images from said camera, wherein said unit is further operable to store time information indicative of the time of capture of said images.

16. A system according to claim 9, wherein said controller is operable to store said images from said camera, wherein said controller is further operable to store time information indicative of the time of capture of said images.

17. A system according to claim 9, wherein said unit further comprises a microphone for capturing sounds within said interior of said vehicle and said controller further comprises a speaker for broadcasting sounds.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein said unit is operable to activate said microphone to capture sounds within said interior of said vehicle when the presence of the person is detected by said sensor, wherein said unit is further operable to transmit said sounds from said microphone to said controller, wherein said controller is operable to broadcast said sounds from said microphone to a user of said controller.

19. A system according to claim 17, wherein said unit is operable to store said sounds from said microphone, wherein said unit is further operable to store time information indicative of the time of capture of said sounds.

20. A system according to claim 17, wherein said controller is operable to store said sounds from said microphone, wherein said controller is further operable to store time information indicative of the time of capture of said sounds.