×

Impaired operator detection and interlock apparatus

  • US 10,559,307 B1
  • Filed: 02/13/2019
  • Issued: 02/11/2020
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2019
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
Patent Images

1. An electronic interlock system configured to selectively immobilize equipment using an interlock device, comprising:

  • a network interface;

    at least one computing device;

    computer readable memory including instructions operable to be executed by the at least one computing device to perform a set of actions, configuring the at least one computing device to;

    receive in real time, over a network via the network interface, a digitized human vocal expression of a first user and one or more digital images of the first user from a remote device;

    process the received digitized human vocal expression to;

    generate a power spectrum of the received digitized human vocal expression;

    use the generated power spectrum to identify quiet periods in the digitized human vocal expression;

    identify, using the identified quiet periods, length of pauses between words in the digitized human vocal expression;

    convert audible speech in the human vocal expression to text and characterize audible speech in the human vocal expression using the text;

    compare the determined characteristics of the human vocal expression with baseline, historical characteristics of human vocal expressions associated with the first user to identify changes in human vocal expression characteristics of the first user;

    process the received one or more images to detect characteristics of the first user face, including detecting if one or more of the following are present;

    a sagging lip, facial droop, and dilated pupils;

    compare one or more of the detected characteristics of the first user face with baseline, historical characteristics of the first user face accessed from a data store, and identify changes in characteristics of the first user face;

    based at least on part on;

    identified changes in human vocal expression characteristics of the first user,the identified length of pauses between words in the digitized human vocal expression, andidentified changes in characteristics of the first user face,determine an impairment categorization for the first user; and

    use the impairment categorization, determined based at least in part on the identified changes in human vocal expression characteristics of the first user, the identified length of pauses between words in the digitized human vocal expression, and the identified changes in characteristics of the first user face, for the first user to determine whether the equipment is to be immobilized using the interlock device;

    at least partly in response to a determination that the equipment is to be immobilized, controlling the interlock device so as to immobilize the equipment.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×