VEHICLE EVENT PLAYBACK APPARATUS AND METHODS

• US 20150105934A1
• Filed: 10/16/2013
• Published: 04/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SmartDrive Systems, Inc. (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SmartDrive Systems, Inc. (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Palmer, Jason, Sljivar, Slaven
• Granted Patent: US 9,501,878 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/301 combining image information with other obstacle sensor information, e.g. using RADAR/LIDAR/SONAR sensors for estimating risk of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/80 characterised by the intended use of the viewing arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/08 Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle or waiting time
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0841 Registering performance data recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/12 in graphical form
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/935 Regeneration of digital synchronisation signals

Abstract

Vehicle event data playback systems described herein may provide users means for reviewing events recorded by a vehicle event recorder. Circumstances relating to vehicle operation may be visually presented in these playback systems. Video playback from multiple recording devices may be synchronized with each other and/or with information related to the operation of the vehicle during the recorded events to affect a presentation of information related to operation of the vehicle. A user may be presented with many data types in graphical and/or intuitive arrangements.

Claims

1. ) A vehicle event data playback apparatus comprising one or more processors configured to synchronize vehicle operation information, wherein synchronizing the vehicle operation information comprises:

receiving the vehicle operation information via output signals generated by sensors coupled with the vehicle, the sensors including a first sensor that generates a first output signal conveying information related to a first operating parameter, and a second sensor that generates a second output signal conveying information related to a second operating parameter;

detecting a first vehicle event based on the output signals, the first vehicle event having a start time and an end time;

associating information from two or more of the output signals generated during the first vehicle event to create a first event record; and

synchronizing the information from the two or more output signals generated during the first vehicle event based on analysis of the information conveyed by the output signals such that the information from the first output signal during the first vehicle event and the information from the second output signal during the first event is synchronized by identifying and correlating corresponding phenomena in the first output signal and the second output signal during the first vehicle event.

2. ) The vehicle event data playback apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured such that the analysis of the information conveyed by the output signals includes searching for expected phenomena in the second output signal that corresponds to timing information conveyed by the first output signal, the timing information indicating one or more of a time of day the information was generated, an order in which the information was generated, or a periodic and/or continuous timing of the generated information.

3. ) The vehicle data playback apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured such that the vehicle operation information includes one or more of vehicle safety information, vehicle event information, vehicle environment information, or vehicle subsystem information.

4. ) The vehicle event data playback apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processors are configured such that the first operating parameter is related to vehicle safety, and wherein the processors receive vehicle safety information via output signals generated by one or more sensors included in an active safety system coupled with the vehicle.

5. ) The vehicle event data playback apparatus of claim 4, wherein the processors are configured such that the first vehicle event is detected based on the vehicle safety information received from the active safety system.

6. ) The vehicle event data playback apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a graphical user interface configured to present the synchronized vehicle operation information to a user, wherein the processors cause the graphical user interface to present the synchronized vehicle operation information to the user.

7. ) The vehicle data playback apparatus of claim 5, wherein a view of the graphical user interface includes one or more active safety system fields, the one or more active safety system fields configured to present information related to detections and/or alerts by an active safety system coupled with the vehicle, the active safety system fields presenting one or more of a textual, a numeric, or a graphical indication of information the active safety system communicates to a driver of the vehicle.

8. ) The vehicle data playback apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processors are configured such that the first operating parameter is related to vehicle event information and/or vehicle environment information, and wherein the processors receive the vehicle event information and/or the vehicle environment information via output signals generated by one or more sensors included in a vehicle event recorder coupled with the vehicle.

9. ) The vehicle data playback apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processors are configured such that the first operating parameter is related to vehicle subsystem information, and wherein the processors receive the vehicle subsystem information via output signals generated by one or more sensors associated with an engine control module installed in the vehicle at manufacture.

10. ) The vehicle data playback apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processors detect the first vehicle event based on a comparison of the information conveyed by the output signals to criteria included in pre-determined vehicle event profiles.

11. ) The vehicle data playback apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processors are configured such that the pre-determined vehicle event profiles include criteria sets associated with vehicle events, and wherein vehicle events are detected by comparing the information conveyed by the output signals to the criteria sets such that the first vehicle event is detected responsive to the information conveyed by the output signals satisfying one or more individual criteria in a first criteria set associated with the first vehicle event.

12. ) The vehicle event data playback apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a graphical user interface configured to present the synchronized vehicle operation information to a user, wherein the processors cause the graphical user interface to present the synchronized vehicle operation information to the user in real time during operation of the vehicle.

13. ) The vehicle event data playback apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processors receive information from one or more sensors including an active safety system sensor, a video camera, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a geolocation sensor, a radar detector, an engine RPM sensor, a vehicle speedometer, a tilt sensor, or a braking sensor.

14. ) A method to synchronize vehicle operation information comprising:

receiving the vehicle operation information via output signals generated by sensors coupled with a vehicle, the sensors including a first sensor that generates a first output signal conveying information related to a first operating parameter, and a second sensor that generates a second output signal conveying information related to a second operating parameter;

detecting a first vehicle event based on the output signals, the first vehicle event having a start time and an end time;

associating information from two or more of the output signals generated during the first vehicle event to create a first event record; and

synchronizing the information from the two or more output signals generated during the first vehicle event based on analysis of the information conveyed by the output signals such that the information from the first output signal during the first vehicle event and the information from the second output signal during the first event is synchronized by identifying and correlating corresponding phenomena in the first output signal and the second output signal during the first vehicle event.

15. ) The method of claim 14, wherein the vehicle operation information includes one or more of vehicle safety information, vehicle event information, vehicle environment information, or vehicle subsystem information.

16. ) The method of claim 14, wherein the first operating parameter is related to vehicle safety, and wherein vehicle safety information is received via output signals generated by one or more sensors included in an active safety system coupled with the vehicle.

17. ) The method of claim 16, wherein the first vehicle event is detected based on the vehicle safety information received from the active safety system.

18. ) The method of claim 14, further comprising causing a graphical user interface to present the synchronized vehicle operation information to a user.

19. ) The method of claim 18, wherein a view of the graphical user interface includes one or more active safety system fields, the method further comprising causing the one or more active safety system fields to present information related to detections and/or alerts by an active safety system coupled with the vehicle, the active safety system fields presenting one or more of a textual, a numeric, or a graphical indication of information the active safety system communicates to a driver of the vehicle.

20. ) The method of claim 14, wherein the first operating parameter is related to vehicle event information and/or vehicle environment information, the method further comprising receiving the vehicle event information and/or the vehicle environment information via output signals generated by one or more sensors included in a vehicle event recorder coupled with the vehicle.

21. ) The method of claim 14, wherein the first operating parameter is related to vehicle subsystem information, the method further comprising receiving the vehicle subsystem information via output signals generated by one or more sensors associated with an engine control module installed in the vehicle at manufacture.

22. ) The method of claim 14, wherein the first vehicle event is detected based on a comparison of the information conveyed by the output signals to criteria included in pre-determined vehicle event profiles.

23. ) The method of claim 14, further comprising presenting the synchronized vehicle operation information to a user in real time during operation of the vehicle.