Safety driving system

• US 10,610,145 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2016
• Issued: 04/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wellen Sham
• Original Assignee: Wellen Sham
• Inventors: Sham, Wellen
• Primary Examiner(s): Kahelin, Michael W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jian, Shirley X
• Application Number:
  US15/199,268
• Publication Number:
  US 20180000397A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,377 Days
• Field of Search: 702 2- 5
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/113 for determining or recording eye movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/082 Evaluation by breath analysis, e.g. determination of the chemical composition of exhaled breath A61B5/083, A61B5/091 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6893 Cars
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7282 Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition A61B5/4094, A61B5/4818, A61B5/349, A61B5/0823 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0056 in an emergency situation, e.g. hijacking
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0069 specially adapted for an unmanned aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A method for monitoring physical conditions of an operator of a driving apparatus is described. The method includes obtaining an identity of the operator, acquiring signals indicating a physical condition of the operator, and determining whether the physical condition as indicated by the signals has breached a predetermined threshold. Further, when it is determined that the physical condition as indicated by the signals has breached a predetermined threshold, the method includes generating a first status indicating the operator suffers an abnormal physical condition, obtaining a current location of the driving apparatus, generating a first notification based on the first status, the first notification indicating the identity of the operator and the current location of the driving apparatus, the first notification describing the first user suffers the abnormal physical condition, and transmitting the first notification to a data receiver in a healthcare facility.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring one or more physical conditions of an operator of a driving apparatus to improve safety, the method being implemented by a server comprising one or more of a processor configured to execute machine-readable instructions, the method comprising:

managing user information for a plurality of operators including a first operator;

obtaining, via a communications network, from a driving apparatus associated with the first operator, real-time driving information regarding the driving apparatus being currently operated by the first operator, the real-time driving information including a first status indicating a physical condition of the first operator while currently operating the driving apparatus, wherein the real-time driving information regarding the first operator further includes a second status indicating a electrocardiogram (EKG) device within the driving apparatus associated with the first operator has been disconnected from the first operator for more than a predetermined time period by virtue of no signals have been received from the EKG device for the predetermined time period, and the real-time driving information includes a location of the driving apparatus, wherein the first status is separate and distinct from the second status;

determining, for the first operator, whether the physical condition of the first operator has breached a predetermined threshold;

when it is determined that the physical condition of the first operator has breached the predetermined threshold;

determining a risk level posed by the first operator based on the physical condition of the first operator, the risk level indicating a level of danger to public safety posed by the current operation of the driving apparatus by the first operator;

based on the determined risk level posed by the first operator, obtaining a current location of the driving apparatus associated with the first operator;

generating a first notification for indicating the risk level posed by current operation of the driving apparatus by the first operator, the first notification indicating the identity of the first operator and the current location of the driving apparatus associated with the first operator, the first notification describing the first operator suffers an abnormal physical condition; and

transmitting the first notification to a data receiver in a healthcare facility or to a data receiver in a law enforcement agency; and

, wherein

obtaining the current location of the driving apparatus associated with the first operator comprises;

transmitting an identification of the driving apparatus associated with the first operator to an unmanned vehicle for locating the driving apparatus associated with the first operator;

transmitting the location of the driving apparatus as received in the real-time driving information to the unmanned vehicle; and

receiving location information indicating the current location of the driving apparatus associated with the first operator from the unmanned vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first status is based on electrocardiogram (EKG) signals and/or electroencephalography (EEG) signals generated within the first driving apparatus.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first status is based on a body temperature signal and/or a blood alcohol content (BAC) signal generated within the first driving apparatus.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first status is based on an eye movement signal generated within the first driving apparatus.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the risk level posed by the first operator based on the physical condition of the first operator comprises:

obtaining information regarding a medical history, a driving history, and/or a criminal history of the first operator; and

determining the risk level posed by the first operator based on the obtained information regarding the medical history, the driving history, and/or the criminal history of the first operator.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising determining whether to transmit the first notification to the data receiver in the healthcare facility or the data receiver in the law enforcement agency based on the risk level determined.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving updated location information regarding the driving apparatus associated with the first operator from the unmanned vehicle, and transmitting the updated location information regarding the driving apparatus associated with the first operator to the healthcare facility or the law enforcement agency.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein,

the plurality of operators further includes a second operator;

obtaining, via the communications network, from a driving apparatus associated with the second operator, real-time driving information regarding the driving apparatus associated with the second operator being currently operated by the second operator, the real-time driving information including a third status indicating a physical condition of the second operator while operating the driving apparatus associated with the second operator;

determining, for the second operator, whether the physical condition of the second operator has breached the predetermined threshold;

when it is determined that the physical condition of the second operator has breached a predetermined threshold;

determining a risk level posed by the second operator based on the physical condition of the second operator, the risk level indicating a level of danger to public safety posed by the current operation of the driving apparatus associated with the second operator by the second operator;

obtaining a current location of the driving apparatus associated with the second operator;

generating a second notification based on the second status, the second notification indicating the identity of the second operator and the current location of the driving apparatus associated with the second operator, the second notification describing the second operator suffers an abnormal physical condition; and

transmitting the second notification to the data receiver in the healthcare facility or to the data receiver in the law enforcement agency.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the physical condition includes cardiac activities, brain activities, a body temperature, a blood alcohol content level, and/or any eye movement of the first operator.

10. A system for monitoring one or more physical conditions of an operator of a driving apparatus to improve safety, the system comprising a server comprising one or more processors configured to execute machine-readable instructions, wherein the one or more processors are configured to perform:

managing user information for a plurality of operators including a first operator;

obtaining, via a communications network, from a driving apparatus associated with the first operator, real-time driving information regarding the driving apparatus being currently operated by the first operator, the real-time driving information including a first status indicating a physical condition of the first operator while currently operating the driving apparatus, wherein the real-time driving information regarding the first operator further includes a second status indicating a electrocardiogram (EKG) device within the driving apparatus associated with the first operator has been disconnected from the first operator for more than a predetermined time period by virtue of no signals have been received from the EKG device for the predetermined time period, the sensing device being configured to detect a heart condition of the first operator, wherein the first status is separate and distinct from the second status;

determining, for the first operator, whether the physical condition of the first operator has breached a predetermined threshold;

when it is determined that the physical condition of the first operator has breached a predetermined threshold;

determining a risk level posed by the first operator based on the physical condition of the first operator, the risk level indicating a level of danger to public safety posed by the current operation of the driving apparatus by the first operator;

based on the determined risk level posed by the first operator, obtaining a current location of the driving apparatus associated with the first operator;

generating a first notification based on the first status, the first notification indicating the identity of the first operator and the current location of the driving apparatus associated with the first operator, the first notification describing the first operator suffers an abnormal physical condition; and

transmitting the first notification to a data receiver in a healthcare facility or to a data receiver in a law enforcement agency; and

, wherein

obtaining the current location of the driving apparatus associated with the first operator comprises;

transmitting an identification of the driving apparatus associated with the first operator to an unmanned vehicle for locating the driving apparatus associated with the first operator;

transmitting the location of the driving apparatus as received in the real-time driving information to the unmanned vehicle; and

receiving location information indicating the current location of the driving apparatus associated with the first operator from the unmanned vehicle.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first status is based on electrocardiogram (EKG) signals and/or electroencephalography (EEG) signals generated within the first driving apparatus.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the first status is based on a body temperature signal and/or a blood alcohol content (BAC) signal generated within the first driving apparatus.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the first status is based on an eye movement signal generated within the first driving apparatus.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein determining the risk level posed by the first operator based on the physical condition of the first operator comprises:

obtaining information regarding a medical history, a driving history, and/or a criminal history of the first operator; and

, wherein the method further comprises

determining the risk level posed by the first operator based on the obtained information regarding the medical history, the driving history, and/or the criminal history of the first operator.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the processors are further configured to perform determining whether to transmit the first notification to the data receiver in the healthcare facility or the data receiver in the law enforcement agency based on the risk level determined.

16. The system of claim 10, the processors are further configured to perform:

transmitting a last known location of the driving apparatus associated with the first operator to the unmanned vehicle,

receiving updated location information regarding the driving apparatus associated with the first operator from the unmanned vehicle, and

transmitting the updated location information regarding the driving apparatus associated with the first operator to the healthcare facility or the law enforcement agency.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein

the plurality of operators further includes a second operator;

obtaining, via the communications network, from a driving apparatus associated with the second operator, real-time driving information regarding the driving apparatus associated with the second operator being currently operated by the second operator, the real-time driving information including a third status indicating a physical condition of the second operator while operating the driving apparatus associated with the second operator;

determining, for the second operator, whether the physical condition of the second operator has breached the predetermined threshold;

when it is determined that the physical condition of the second operator has breached a predetermined threshold;

determining a risk level posed by the second operator based on the physical condition of the second operator, the risk level indicating a level of danger to public safety posed by the current operation of the driving apparatus associated with the second operator by the second operator;

obtaining a current location of the driving apparatus associated with the second operator;

generating a second notification based on the second status, the second notification indicating the identity of the second operator and the current location of the driving apparatus associated with the second operator, the second notification describing the second operator suffers an abnormal physical condition; and

transmitting the second notification to the data receiver in the healthcare facility or to the data receiver in the law enforcement agency.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the physical condition includes cardiac activities, brain activities, a body temperature, a blood alcohol content level, and/or any eye movement of the first operator.