VEHICLE EVENT RECORDING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20160292936A1
• Filed: 04/01/2015
• Published: 10/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SmartDrive Systems, Inc. (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SmartDrive Systems, Inc. (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Vaidya, Alekh, Griswold, Jeffrey, Palmer, Jason, Sljivar, Slaven, Deninger, Daniel A., Freitas, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,679,420 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/023 for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• 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 5/0866 the electronic data carrier being a digital video recorder in combination with video camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a system configured to generate synchronized electronic vehicle event records. The synchronized vehicle event records may include vehicle operation information, video information, and/or other information. The synchronized electronic vehicle event records may be generated remotely (e.g., “in the cloud”) from a vehicle. The system is configured to communicate with factory installed and/or other (e.g., third party) vehicle systems to generate the vehicle event information and/or cause other information relevant to a particular vehicle event to be transmitted in addition to the vehicle event information. By communicating with existing vehicle systems and causing these systems to transmit information related to vehicle events themselves, and generating the synchronized electronic vehicle event records remotely from a vehicle the system reduces the amount and/or cost of aftermarket equipment that must be installed in a vehicle for vehicle event monitoring.

Claims

1. ) A system configured to generate a synchronized electronic vehicle event record, the system comprising:

one or more physical computer processors configured by computer readable instructions to;

receive, over a network, vehicle event information transmitted from a control unit mounted to a vehicle, the control unit configured to (i) receive vehicle operation information via output signals generated by sensors coupled with the vehicle and (ii) detect vehicle events based on the output signals, the vehicle event information including vehicle operation information that corresponds to the detected vehicle events, the detected vehicle events including a first vehicle event;

receive, over the network, video information transmitted from a video system mounted to the vehicle captured during periods of time for the detected vehicle events, the periods of time including a first period of time for the first vehicle event, the video information including consecutive frames of visual information representing an environment about the vehicle, the video system being physically separate and distinct from the control unit, and the video information captured during the periods of time for the vehicle events are transmitted separate from the vehicle event information such that the video information captured during the first period of time is transmitted separate from the vehicle event information for the first vehicle event,

wherein, the control unit is configured, responsive to detecting individual vehicle events, to cause the video system to transmit the video information for the periods of time that correspond to the detected vehicle events to the one or more physical computer processors;

analyze the received vehicle event information and the received video information and, based on such analysis, correlate vehicle event information for the detected vehicle events with received video information captured during the periods of time for the detected vehicle events such that the video information captured during the first period of time is correlated with the vehicle event information for the first vehicle event; and

generate event records that include or identify the video information captured during the periods of time for the detected vehicle events and the vehicle event information for the detected vehicle events, the event records including a first event record for the first event, the first event record including or identifying the video information captured during the first period of time and the vehicle event information for the first vehicle event.

2. ) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physical computer processors are further configured to synchronize the vehicle event information and the video information by identifying and correlating corresponding phenomena in the vehicle event information and the video information during the vehicle event such that the video information captured during the first period of time is synchronized with the vehicle event information for the first vehicle event.

3. ) The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more physical computer processors are configured such that identifying and correlating corresponding phenomena in the vehicle event information and the video information includes identifying and correlating one or more of:

first time information associated with the vehicle event information for the first vehicle event and second time information associated with the video information captured during the first period of time;

or

information indicative of a physical event conveyed by the output signals included in the vehicle event information for the first vehicle event and information indicative of the same physical event conveyed by the video information captured during the first period of time.

4. ) The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured such that:

the detected vehicle events have individual start times and individual end times, and

the vehicle event information includes vehicle operation information for periods of time that last from before the individual start times until after the individual end times; and

wherein the video system is configured such that the video information includes video information for periods of time that last from before the individual start times until after the individual end times.

5. ) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physical computer processors are located remotely from the vehicle.

6. ) A system configured to generate video information and vehicle event information for synchronization in an electronic vehicle event record, the system comprising:

one or more sensors configured to generate output signals conveying information related to operation and/or context of a vehicle, the one or more sensors being coupled to the vehicle;

a video system mounted to the vehicle configured to generate video information including consecutive frames of visual information representing an environment about the vehicle; and

a control unit coupled to the vehicle configured to detect vehicle events based on the output signals, and, responsive to detecting an individual vehicle event;

generate vehicle event information that includes vehicle operation and/or context information for a period of time that corresponds to the individual vehicle event;

facilitate transmission of the vehicle event information that corresponds to the individual vehicle event to a remotely located computing device;

cause the video system to designate which frames of visual information are associated with the period of time that corresponds to the individual vehicle event; and

cause the video system to separately transmit the designated visual information to the remotely located computing device;

wherein, the remotely located computing device is configured to;

analyze the transmitted vehicle event information and designated visual information;

based on such analysis, correlate the transmitted vehicle event information and designated visual information;

generate a vehicle event record that includes or identifies the transmitted vehicle event information and designated visual information; and

synchronize the vehicle event information and the designated visual information by identifying and correlating corresponding phenomena in the vehicle event information and the designated visual information during the vehicle event.

7. ) The system of claim 6, wherein the control unit is configured such that the detected vehicle event has a start time and an end time, and

wherein the control unit is configured to cause the video system to designate a first set of frames of visual information that includes frames for a period of time that lasts from before the start time until after the end time of the vehicle event.

8. ) The system of claim 7, wherein the control unit is configured to cause the video system to designate a second set of frames of visual information that includes frames for a period of time that lasts from the start time until the end time of the vehicle event.

9. ) A system configured to detect vehicle events and transmit vehicle event information to a remotely located computing device, the system coupled to a vehicle, the system comprising one or more physical computer processors configured by computer readable instructions to:

receive output signals conveying information related to operation and/or context of the vehicle from one or more sensors coupled to the vehicle;

determine one or more vehicle parameters based on the output signals, the one or more vehicle parameters being related to the operation and/or context of the vehicle;

obtain one or more pre-determined vehicle event criteria sets, the one or more pre-determined vehicle event criteria sets including criteria sets associated with individual vehicle events;

detect individual vehicle events based on the determined vehicle parameters and the obtained pre-determined vehicle event criteria sets by comparing the determined vehicle parameters to the criteria sets;

generate vehicle event information that includes vehicle operation and/or context information for periods of time that correspond to the detected vehicle events;

facilitate transmission of vehicle event information that corresponds to the detected vehicle events to the remotely located computing device; and

cause one or more external vehicle systems that generate information about the vehicle to designate information associated with periods of time that correspond to the detected vehicle events for transmission to the remotely located computing device.

10. ) The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more external vehicle systems include a video system that is caused to designate which frames of visual information are associated with the periods of time that correspond to the vehicle events and transmit the designated visual information to the remotely located computing device.

11. ) A method for generating a synchronized electronic vehicle event record, the method comprising:

receiving, over a network, vehicle event information transmitted from a control unit mounted to a vehicle, the control unit configured to (i) receive vehicle operation information via output signals generated by sensors coupled with the vehicle and (ii) detect vehicle events based on the output signals, the vehicle event information including vehicle operation information that corresponds to the detected vehicle events, the detected vehicle events including a first vehicle event;

receiving, over the network, video information transmitted from a video system mounted to the vehicle captured during periods of time for the detected vehicle events, the periods of time including a first period of time for the first vehicle event, the video information including consecutive frames of visual information representing an environment about the vehicle, the video system being physically separate and distinct from the control unit, and the video information captured during the periods of time for the vehicle events are transmitted separate from the vehicle event information such that the video information captured during the first period of time is transmitted separate from the vehicle event information for the first vehicle event

wherein, responsive to detecting individual vehicle events, the control unit causes the video system to transmit the video information for the periods of time that correspond to the detected vehicle events;

analyzing the received vehicle event information and the received video information and, based on such analysis, correlating vehicle event information for the detected vehicle events with received video information captured during the periods of time for the detected vehicle events such that the video information captured during the first period of time is correlated with the vehicle event information for the first vehicle event; and

generating event records that include or identify the video information captured during the periods of time for the detected vehicle events and the vehicle event information for the detected vehicle events, the event records including a first event record for the first event, the first event record including or identifying the video information captured during the first period of time and the vehicle event information for the first vehicle event.

12. ) The method of claim 11, further comprising synchronizing the vehicle event information and the video information by identifying and correlating corresponding phenomena in the vehicle event information and the video information during the vehicle event such that the video information captured during the first period of time is synchronized with the vehicle event information for the first vehicle event.

13. ) The method of claim 12, wherein identifying and correlating corresponding phenomena in the vehicle event information and the video information includes identifying and correlating one or more of:

first time information associated with the vehicle event information for the first vehicle event and second time information associated with the video information captured during the first period of time;

or

information indicative of a physical event conveyed by the output signals included in the vehicle event information for the first vehicle event and information indicative of the same physical event conveyed by the video information captured during the first period of time.

14. ) The method of claim 11, wherein the control unit is configured such that:

the detected vehicle events have individual start times and individual end times, and

the vehicle event information includes vehicle operation information for periods of time that last from before the individual start times until after the individual end times; and

wherein the video system is configured such that the video information includes video information for periods of time that last from before the individual start times until after the individual end times.

15. ) The method of claim 11, wherein the method for generating a synchronized electronic vehicle event record is performed by one or more physical computer processors located remotely from the vehicle.

16. ) A method for generating video information and vehicle event information for synchronization in an electronic vehicle event record, the method comprising:

generating, with one or more sensors, output signals conveying information related to operation and/or context of a vehicle, the one or more sensors being coupled to the vehicle;

generating, with a video system mounted to the vehicle, video information including consecutive frames of visual information representing an environment about the vehicle; and

detecting, with a control unit coupled to the vehicle, vehicle events based on the output signals, and, responsive to detecting an individual vehicle event;

generating vehicle event information that includes vehicle operation and/or context information for a period of time that corresponds to the individual vehicle event;

facilitating transmission of the vehicle event information that corresponds to the individual vehicle event to a remotely located computing device;

causing the video system to designate which frames of visual information are associated with the period of time that corresponds to the individual vehicle event; and

causing the video system to separately transmit the designated visual information to the remotely located computing device.

17. ) The method of claim 16, wherein the control unit is configured such that the detected vehicle event has a start time and an end time, the method further comprising causing, with the control unit, the video system to designate a first set of frames of visual information that includes frames for a period of time that lasts from before the start time until after the end time of the vehicle event.

18. ) The method of claim 17, further comprising causing, with the control unit, the video system to designate a second set of frames of visual information that includes frames for a period of time that lasts from the start time until the end time of the vehicle event.

19. ) A method for detecting vehicle events with a detection system and transmitting vehicle event information to a remotely located computing device, the detection system coupled to a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving output signals conveying information related to operation and/or context of the vehicle from one or more sensors coupled to the vehicle;

determining one or more vehicle parameters based on the output signals, the one or more vehicle parameters being related to the operation and/or context of the vehicle;

obtaining one or more pre-determined vehicle event criteria sets, the one or more pre-determined vehicle event criteria sets including criteria sets associated with individual vehicle events;

detecting individual vehicle events based on the determined vehicle parameters and the obtained pre-determined vehicle event criteria sets by comparing the determined vehicle parameters to the criteria sets;

generating vehicle event information that includes vehicle operation and/or context information for periods of time that correspond to the detected vehicle events;

facilitating transmission of vehicle event information that corresponds to the detected vehicle events to the remotely located computing device; and

causing one or more external vehicle systems that generate information about the vehicle to designate information associated with periods of time that correspond to the detected vehicle events for transmission to the remotely located computing device.

20. ) The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more external vehicle systems include a video system that is caused to designate which frames of visual information are associated with the periods of time that correspond to the vehicle events and transmit the designated visual information to the remotely located computing device.

21. ) The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more external vehicle systems do not include a video system.

22. ) The method of claim 19, wherein the detection system includes a video system that is caused to designate which frames of visual information are associated with the periods of time that correspond to the vehicle events and transmit the designated visual information to the remotely located computing device separately from the vehicle event information.