Speed reduction, alerting, and logging system

• US 20100045451A1
• Filed: 08/22/2009
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Neeraj Periwal
• Original Assignee: Neeraj Periwal
• Inventors: Periwal, Neeraj
• Application Number:
  US12/583,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20100045451A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/439
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling

Abstract

A system for Speed Reduction, Alerting, and Logging is disclosed that determines a vehicle'"'"'s location and the legal speed limit at any location, then alerts the driver when his or her speed passes a threshold relative to the speed limit. The speed limit and/or thresholds for alerts may be adjusted according to the type of vehicle, time of day, day of the week, date, or local weather conditions. Alerts may be provided through audible, visual, kinesthetic, olfactory, or other sensory means and may be activated individually or in combination. Alerts may be logged and reviewed for the purpose of helping improve the driver'"'"'s driving habits, including through the use of a map display that shows geographical locations and the severity of alerts. Alerts may also be transmitted to an external organization. A provision for forcing a speed reduction of the vehicle in response to an alert is also included.

Claims

1. A method for speed reduction, alerting, and logging for a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:

continuously determining the speed and location of the vehicle;

determining the presence of an alert condition by comparing the speed of the vehicle with the legal speed limit at a location;

providing an alert notification to the driver of the motor vehicle; and

wherein;

a system within said vehicle determines vehicle speed, vehicle location, the speed limit at a location, and the presence of an alert condition; and

speed thresholds for determining alert conditions may be automatically varied according to local weather conditions.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

speed thresholds for determining alert conditions may be adjusted according to the type of vehicle;

speed thresholds for determining alert conditions may be adjusted according to the time of day, day of the week, or date; and

an adjusted speed limit indication is provided to the driver based on the vehicle type, the time of day, the day of the week, date, and local weather conditions.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein an alert condition may be deferred for a temporary period of time.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein:

an alert notification provided to the driver may include at least one of an audible, visual, kinesthetic, or olfactory alert;

the intensity of an alert notification may be altered in response to the ambient conditions of the driver'"'"'s environment; and

the intensity of an alert notification to the driver may be altered in response to the severity of an alert condition.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein a speed reduction of the vehicle may be forced according to an alert condition.

6. A method for speed reduction, alerting, and logging for a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:

continuously determining the speed and location of the vehicle being driven by a driver;

determining the presence of an alert condition by comparing the speed of the vehicle with the legal speed limit at a location;

providing an alert notification to the driver;

logging alert conditions over a period of time to determine a pattern of driving behavior for said driver; and

wherein;

a system within said vehicle determines vehicle speed, vehicle location, the speed limit at a location, and the presence of an alert condition;

speed thresholds for determining alert conditions may be automatically varied according to local weather conditions, and

locations of alert conditions are logged and made available by means of a map display where locations of alert conditions are marked on the map along with information representing one or more attributes regarding the alert conditions.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein a log of alert conditions is transferred to an organization by way of a communications link.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein:

speed thresholds for determining alert conditions may be adjusted according to the type of vehicle;

speed thresholds for determining alert conditions may be adjusted according to the time of day, day of the week, or date; and

an adjusted speed limit indication is provided to the driver based on the vehicle type, the time of day, the day of the week, the date, and local weather conditions.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein an alert condition may be deferred for a temporary period of time.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein:

an alert notification provided to the driver may include at least one of an audible, visual, kinesthetic, or olfactory alert;

the intensity of an alert notification to the driver may be altered in response to the severity of an alert condition; and

the intensity of an alert notification may be altered in response to the ambient conditions of the driver'"'"'s environment.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein a speed reduction of the vehicle may be forced according to an alert condition.

12. A system for speed reduction, alerting, and logging for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a GPS device that provides the geographic location of the vehicle;

a speed detector that provides the current speed of the vehicle;

a speed limit database management system that provides the legal speed limits of roads within a geographic region;

a speed limit indicator that provides the driver of the vehicle with the speed limit of the current road segment being traversed;

a speed alerter that notifies the driver of an alert condition;

a control unit that collects the current geographic location data of the vehicle from the GPS device, collects the local weather conditions, queries the speed limit database management system for the current speed limit of the segment of the road the vehicle is traveling on, provides the driver with the current speed limit through the speed limit indicator, collects the current speed of the vehicle from the speed detector, and optionally activates the speed alerter; and

wherein speed thresholds for determining alert conditions are set relative to the legal limits at corresponding locations and may be automatically varied according to local weather conditions.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein:

speed thresholds for determining alert conditions may be adjusted according to the type of vehicle;

speed thresholds for determining alert conditions may be adjusted according to the time of day, day of the week, or date; and

an adjusted speed limit indication is provided based on the vehicle type, the time of day, the day of the week, the date, and local weather conditions.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein an alert condition may be deferred for a temporary period of time.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein:

an alert notification provided to the driver may include at least one of an audible, visual, kinesthetic, or olfactory alert;

the intensity of an alert notification to the driver may be altered in response to the severity of an alert condition; and

the intensity of an alert notification may be altered in response to the ambient conditions of the driver'"'"'s environment.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein:

a speed reduction of the vehicle may be forced according to an alert condition.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein the control unit records speeding data into a speed limit violation logger which tracks, records, and indexes information about alert conditions and can be accessed to examine the driver'"'"'s driving behavior.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein a log of alert conditions is transferred to an organization by way of a communications link.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein locations of alert conditions are logged by said speed limit violation logger and made available by means of a map display where alert locations are marked on the map along with information representing one or more attributes regarding the alert conditions.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein:

speed thresholds for determining alert conditions may be adjusted according to the type of vehicle;

speed thresholds for determining alert conditions may be adjusted according to the time of day, day of the week, or date; and

the speed limit indicator provides an adjusted speed limit based on the vehicle type, the time of day, the day of the week, the date, and local weather conditions.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein an alert condition may be deferred for a temporary period of time.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein:

an alert notification provided to the driver may include at least one of an audible, visual, kinesthetic, or olfactory alert;

the intensity of an alert notification to the driver may be altered in response to the severity of an alert condition; and

the intensity of an alert notification may be altered in response to the ambient conditions of the driver'"'"'s environment.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein:

a speed reduction of the vehicle may be forced according to an alert condition.