VEHICLE DRIVER TRACKING AND REPORTING

• US 20150310451A1
• Filed: 04/29/2014
• Published: 10/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: PLAGENS, Keith Michael, LENOX, James Michael, WOJAN, Laurie Elizabeth
• Application Number:
  US14/264,902
• Publication Number:
  US 20150310451A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4142 for controlling activation of safety devices, e.g. airbag systems electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents B60R21/015
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/44 for weighing persons
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/26 Government or public services business processes related to the transportation industry G06Q50/40

Abstract

Various structures and methods are described herein to track driving of a restricted driver. In an example, an additional criterion is also tracked, which can be an authorized driving supervisor in the vehicle. This criterion is separate from the driving data and is used to meet the requirements of a licensing agency. The criterion can be the presence of a licensed driver in the vehicle, e.g., in the front passenger seat, with the restricted driver. The vehicle can use its onboard sensors and computing system to determine that a licensed driver is supervising the driving of the restricted driver.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying a restricted driver;

tracking driving-data identified restricted driver identified restricted driver, wherein driving-data includes driving time;

identifying an authorized driving supervisor in a vehicle; and

sending driving-data and the identified authorized driving supervisor to a remote device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying an authorized driving supervisor includes sensing, using a seat sensor, a presence of a passenger in a passenger seat of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein sensing the presence of the passenger includes sensing weight of the passenger to determine that the sensor is sensing a weight threshold for an adult driving supervisor.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein sensing a required criterion includes receiving an identifier to identify the passenger and confirming that driving time by the identified driver qualifies for state driving license requirement.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein identifying a vehicle driver includes identifying a restricted driver.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein tracking driving performance includes tracking driving time, time of day, time of week, and road type.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying an authorized driving supervisor includes identifying a mobile device associated with the authorized driving supervisor or identifying the authorized driving supervisor using facial recognition.

8. A vehicle system comprising:

an identification module to identify a restricted vehicle driver;

first sensing circuitry to track driving data of the restricted driver, wherein driving data includes driving time;

second sensing circuitry to identify an authorized driving supervisor in a vehicle; and

communication circuitry to send a signal based on the sensed driving data and the identified authorized driving supervisor to a remote device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the second sensing circuitry includes a seat sensor to sense a presence of a passenger in a passenger seat of the vehicle.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the seat sensor is to sense a weight of the passenger to determine that the sensor is sensing a weight threshold for an adult driving supervisor.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the second circuitry includes a receiver to receive an identifier to identify a passenger and to confirm that driving time by the identified driver qualifies for a driving license requirement.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the identification module includes identifying a restricted driver.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first circuitry includes timing circuitry to sense driving time, time of day, time of week, or combinations thereof.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the first circuitry includes circuitry to sense road type.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the second sensing circuitry include at least one of a mobile communication sensor, a facial recognition sensor or combinations thereof.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions that, when executed by a processor, are configured to perform a method comprising:

identifying a restricted driver;

tracking driving-data identified restricted driver, wherein driving-data includes driving time;

identifying an authorized driving supervisor in a vehicle; and

sending driving-data and the identified authorized driving supervisor to a remote device.

17. The medium of claim 16, wherein identifying an authorized driving supervisor includes sensing, using a seat sensor, a presence of a passenger in a passenger seat of the vehicle.

18. The medium of claim 17, wherein sensing the presence of the passenger includes sensing a weight of the passenger to determine that the sensor is sensing a weight threshold for an adult driving supervisor.

19. The medium of claim 17, wherein sensing a required criterion includes receiving an identifier to identify the passenger and confirming that driving time by the identified driver qualifies for state driving license requirement.

20. The medium of claim 16, wherein identifying an authorized driving supervisor includes identifying a mobile device associated with the authorized driving supervisor or identifying the authorized driving supervisor using facial recognition.