AUTOMOBILE MONITORING FOR OPERATION ANALYSIS

• US 20140343785A1
• Filed: 08/04/2014
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toronto-Dominion Bank
• Original Assignee: Strategic Design Federation W Incorporated
• Inventors: CRAWFORD, Robert J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,256,991 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/00 Registering or indicating the working of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/006 Indicating maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0875 using magnetic data carriers
• 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

Abstract

An automobile monitoring arrangement tracks and records automobile operation for post-use automobile operation analysis and in a manner with default-operation modes that facilitate use by automobile owners/supervisors and by those supervised by the automobile owners/supervisors. In one specific embodiment, sounds from the vehicle are monitored while the vehicle is in operation. A sound type is identified as corresponding to the sounds, and a sound level of the sound types are determined. The sound level is compared to a threshold for the sound type, and a vehicle supervisor is notified when the sound level exceeds the sound level threshold for the sound type.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring operation of a vehicle, the method comprising:

enabling a vehicle supervisor status assigned to the vehicle by a vehicle supervisor via an interface remote from the vehicle;

recording sounds from the vehicle while in operation when the vehicle supervisor status is enabled;

assigning the recorded sounds to a sound type;

determining a sound level for the recorded sound;

comparing a sound level to a sound level threshold for the sound type; and

notifying the vehicle supervisor when the sound level exceeds the sound level threshold for the sound type.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the recorded sounds to a target server remote from the vehicle, wherein the target server subsequently performs the assigning, determining, comparing, and notifying steps.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sound level threshold for the sound type is set by the vehicle supervisor via an interface remote from the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the notifying is performed via the Internet.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the notifying is performed via a cellular network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sounds are recorded using at least one of a microphone and a transducer on-board the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

continually notifying a driver of the vehicle that the vehicle is being monitored.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an identity of a driver of the vehicle; and

notifying the driver of the vehicle when the sound level exceeds the sound level threshold for the sound type if the identity of the driver matches one of a plurality of driver identities.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the sound type is a vehicle maintenance sound type.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the vehicle supervisor is notified that the vehicle is ready for maintenance when the sound level threshold for any recorded sound included in the vehicle maintenance sound type is exceeded.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the vehicle maintenance sound type includes recorded sounds from engine roar and braking.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the sound type is a vehicle safety sound type.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the vehicle safety sound type includes recorded sounds from a number of occupants of the vehicle, music being played in the vehicle, a mobile device being operated in the vehicle, a car phone and the vehicle being operated in an extreme manner.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the vehicle supervisor is notified that the vehicle is being driven in an unsafe manner when the sound level threshold for any recorded sound included in the vehicle safety sound type is exceeded.

15. A system for monitoring the operation of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a receiver suitable for recording sounds from the vehicle while in operation when a vehicle supervisor status is enabled, the sounds recorded by using at least one of a microphone and a transducer on-board the vehicle;

a target server suitable for;

enabling the vehicle supervisor status assigned to the vehicle by a vehicle supervisor via an interface remote from the vehicle;

assigning the recorded sound to a sound type;

determining a sound level for the recorded sound;

comparing the sound level to a sound level threshold for the sound type; and

notifying the vehicle supervisor when the sound level exceeds the sound level threshold for the sound type.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the sound level threshold for the sound type is set by the vehicle supervisor via an interface remote from the vehicle.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the notifying is performed via at least one of the Internet or a cellular network.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

an identification unit suitable for;

determining an identity of a driver of the vehicle; and

notifying the driver of the vehicle when the sound level exceeds the sound level threshold for the sound type if the identity of the driver matches one of a plurality of driver identities received from the vehicle supervisor and stored in a memory in the vehicle.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the sound type is a vehicle maintenance sound type.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the vehicle supervisor is notified that the vehicle is ready for maintenance when the sound level threshold for the vehicle maintenance sound type is exceeded.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the vehicle maintenance sound type includes recorded sounds from engine roar and braking.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the sound type is a vehicle safety sound type.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the vehicle safety sound type includes recorded sounds from a number of occupants in the vehicle, music being played in the vehicle, a mobile device being operated in the vehicle, a car phone and the vehicle being operated in an extreme manner.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the vehicle supervisor is notified that the vehicle is being driven in an unsafe manner when the sound level threshold for the vehicle safety sound type is exceeded.