Apparatus, systems and methods for monitoring vehicular activity

• US 10,462,442 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2013
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brett I. Walker
• Original Assignee: Brett I. Walker
• Inventors: Walker, Brett I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Topgyal, Gelek W
• Application Number:
  US13/853,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20140178031A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,405 Days
• Field of Search: 348143-155
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/007 specially adapted for covering the lateral blind spot not covered by the usual rear-view mirror
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/102 using 360 degree surveillance camera system
• 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: G07C 5/0866 the electronic data carrier being a digital video recorder in combination with video camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/00 Traffic control systems for road vehicles arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00 ; automatic vehicle control B62D
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/16 Anti-collision systems road vehicle drive control systems for predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision otherwise than by control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/08
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/79 Processing of colour television signals in connection with recording

Abstract

Apparatuses, systems and methods monitor vehicular activity. Specifically, the apparatus, systems and methods of the present invention provide a plurality of sensors and devices for monitoring a vehicle while the vehicle is in use, including but not limited to, impact sensors, cameras, recording devices, and other like devices. The devices create data streams that are processed and/or recorded for reference to the same upon inquiry, such as after a vehicle accident or for any other purpose.

Claims

1. A system for recording events relating to the operation of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a plurality of video cameras recording visual information completely around a vehicle, wherein each of the plurality of video cameras comprises a visual field wherein a portion on the right side of each visual field overlaps with a portion on the left side of an immediately adjacent visual field to the right of each visual field, and a portion on the left side of each visual field overlaps with a portion on the right side of an immediately adjacent visual field to the left of each visual field, without any areas between adjacent visual fields external to the vehicle that are not covered by at least one of the plurality of video cameras;

at least one sensor associated with the vehicle, the at least one sensor for sensing a condition occurring to the vehicle;

a first hard drive for storing video information recorded by the plurality of video cameras and condition information relating to the condition sensed by the at least one sensor, the hard drive continuously recording the video information and the condition information when activated for a first period of time prior to an event, a second period of time during the event and a third period of time after the event, said hard drive recording over previously recorded information recorded by the video camera and the condition information sensed by the at least one sensor when the hard drive is full;

a first processor for detection of the event, the first hard drive storing the video information thereby forming stored video information, wherein the stored video information comprises each of the visual fields, and including the overlapping visual field including all of the video information without deletion of any of the video information in each of the visual fields and in the overlapping visual fields wherein the stored video information is used to form a composited recorded scene comprising all of the visual fields including the overlapping visual fields and all of the video information without deletion of any of the video information in each of the visual fields and in the overlapping visual fields, and the condition information of a subset period of time shorter than the first period of time prior to the event, said subset period of time predefined by a user of the system and immediately preceding the occurrence of the event and lasting until the event, the hard drive further storing the video information and the condition information of the second period of time during the event, and of the third period of time after the event; and

a data center external to the vehicle, the data center comprising a second hard drive, and means for uploading the stored video information for storage by the second hard drive,

wherein the data center external to the vehicle receives the stored video information, the data center configured for viewing the composited recorded scene, wherein the composited recorded scene is presented to a viewer as a presentation selected from the group consisting of an enhanced 2D presentation and a stereoscopic presentation.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the subset period of time is between about ten minutes and about 600 minutes in length.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the subset period of time is between about 1 minute and about 10 minutes in length.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the third time period is about 1 minute and about 30 minutes in length.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of cameras together record video information from more than 360 degrees around a vehicle, including the overlapping visual fields.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of cameras are placed in a location selected from the group consisting of externally mounted on the vehicle and internally mounted within the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the event relates to an accident of the vehicle.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor identifies objects recorded by the plurality of cameras.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the objects identified by the processor are selected from the group consisting of signage, vehicles, road markings, and combinations of the same.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

an electronic device in communication with the first processor, wherein the video information and the condition information of the subset period of time, the second period of time and the third period of time is uploadable to the electronic device.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the electronic device is in communication with the first processor via a wired or wireless connection.

12. A method of recording events relating to the operation of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of video cameras recording visual information completely around a vehicle, wherein each of the plurality of video cameras comprises a visual field wherein a portion on the right side of each visual field overlaps with a portion on the left side of an immediately adjacent visual field to the right of each visual field, and a portion on the left side of each visual field overlaps with a portion on the right side of an immediately adjacent visual field to the left of each visual field, without any areas between adjacent visual fields external to the vehicle that are not covered by at least one of the plurality of video cameras;

providing at least one sensor associated with the vehicle, the at least one sensor for sensing a condition occurring to the vehicle;

providing a first hard drive;

continuously recording the video information of the plurality of video cameras for a first period of time prior to an event, a second period of time during an event and a third period of time after an event, said hard drive recording over previously recorded information recorded by the video camera and the condition information sensed by the at least one sensor when the hard drive is full;

providing a first processor;

detecting the event with the first processor;

storing the video information and the condition information of a subset period of time shorter than the first period of time prior to the event, said subset period of time predefined by a user of the system and immediately preceding the occurrence of the event and lasting until the event;

storing the video information and the condition information of the second time period during the event, and of the third period of time after the event, wherein the video information of the subset period of time, the second period of time and the third period of time form stored video information of the plurality of video cameras, wherein the stored video information of the plurality of video cameras includes all of each of the visual fields including the overlapping visual fields without deletion of any video information of the first and second cameras in the overlapping visual fields;

providing a data center external to the vehicle and comprising a second hard drive, and means for uploading the stored video information for storage by the second hard drive;

uploading the stored video information and storing the stored video information on the second hard drive;

forming a composited recorded scene with the stored video information comprising all of the visual fields including the overlapping visual fields and all of the video information without deletion of any of the video information in each of the visual fields and in the overlapping visual fields; and

viewing the recorded scene at the data center as a presentation selected from the group consisting of an enhanced 2D presentation and a stereoscopic presentation.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the subset period of time is between about ten minutes and about 600 minutes in length.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the subset period of time is between about 1 minute and about 10 minutes in length.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the third time period is about 1 minute and about 30 minutes in length.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the plurality of video cameras together record greater than 360 degrees around the vehicle, including the overlapping visual fields.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the plurality of video cameras are placed in a location selected from the group consisting of externally mounted on the vehicle and internally mounted within the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the event relates to an accident of the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

analyzing video information recorded on the first hard drive by the first processor; and

identifying objects recorded by the plurality of video cameras.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the objects identified by the processor are selected from the group consisting of signage, vehicles, road markings, and combinations of the same.

21. The method of claim 12 further comprising the steps of:

providing an electronic device;

connecting the electronic device to the first processor; and

uploading the video information and condition information of the period of time, the second period of time and the third period of time to the electronic device from the processor.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the electronic device is connected to the first processor via a wired or wireless connection.

23. A system for recording events relating to the operation of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a plurality of video cameras recording visual information completely around a vehicle, wherein each of the plurality of video cameras comprises a visual field wherein a portion on the right side of each visual field overlaps with a portion on the left side of an immediately adjacent visual field to the right of each visual field, and a portion on the left side of each visual field overlaps with a portion on the right side of an immediately adjacent visual field to the left of each visual field, without any areas between adjacent visual fields external to the vehicle that are not covered by at least one of the plurality of video cameras;

a hard drive configured to store the visual information of each of the visual fields forming stored video information, wherein the stored video information includes each of the visual fields including the overlapping visual fields without deletion of any of the video information in in the overlapping visual fields wherein the stored video information is used to form a composited recorded scene comprising all of the visual fields including the overlapping visual fields and all of the video information without deletion of any of the video information in each of the visual fields and in the overlapping visual fields; and

a data center external to the vehicle comprising a processor external to the vehicle and a visual display, the processor configured to receive the stored video information and for viewing the composited recorded scene as a presentation selected from the group consisting of an enhanced 2D presentation and a stereoscopic presentation.