SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CAPTURING AND OFFLOADING DIFFERENT INFORMATION BASED ON EVENT TRIGGER TYPE

• US 20170330397A1
• Filed: 05/11/2016
• Published: 11/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SmartDrive Systems, Inc. (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SmartDrive Systems, Inc. (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: PALMER, Jason, FREITAS, Mark, DENINGER, Daniel A., Forney, David, SLJIVAR, Slaven, Vaidya, Alekh, Griswold, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 10,818,109 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/80 characterised by the intended use of the viewing arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0841 Registering performance data recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0866 the electronic data carrier being a digital video recorder in combination with video camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a system and method for detecting vehicle events. The system includes sensors configured to generate output signals conveying information related to the vehicle. The system detects a vehicle event based on the information conveyed by the output signals. The system selects a subset of sensors based on the detected vehicle event. The system captures and records information from the selected subset of sensors. The system transfers the recorded information to a remote server or provider.

Claims

1. A system configured to capture information based on detected vehicle events, the system configured to couple with a vehicle, the system comprising:

electronic storage configured to electronically store information, wherein the electronic storage is carried by the vehicle;

a set of sensors configured to generate output signals conveying information related to one or more current operating conditions of the vehicle, wherein the set of sensors is carried by the vehicle;

a set of cameras configured to capture image data, wherein the set of cameras is carried by the vehicle, wherein the set of cameras includes a first camera and a second camera configured to capture image data, wherein the first camera has a first field-of-view that includes a first environment on a first side of the vehicle, wherein the second camera has a second field-of-view that includes a second environment on a second side of the vehicle, wherein the first field-of-view is different than the second field-of-view, wherein the first side of the vehicle is different than the second side of the vehicle; and

one or more processors configured to;

determine the one or more current operating conditions of the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion, wherein determination is based on the generated output signals;

detect vehicle events based on the one or more current operation conditions of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle events are based on the generated output signals from at least two different sensors in the set of sensors, wherein the detected vehicle events include a first vehicle event and a second vehicle event, wherein detection of the vehicle events includes determination of event type for the individual vehicle events, and wherein detection of the vehicle events is not based on the captured image data;

determine a first event type for the first vehicle event;

determine a second event type for the second vehicle event, wherein the second event type is different than the first event type;

responsive to detection of the first vehicle event, and based on the first event type, select a first subset of cameras from the set of cameras, wherein the first subset of cameras includes the first camera and excludes at least the second camera;

responsive to detection of the second vehicle event, and based on the second event type, select a second subset of cameras from the set of cameras, wherein the second subset of cameras includes the second camera and excludes at least the first camera;

capture image data by the first subset of cameras proximate in time to the first vehicle event;

capture additional image data by the second subset of cameras proximate in time to the second vehicle event;

generate a first event record associated with the first vehicle event, wherein the first event record includes the captured image data;

generate a second event record associated with the second vehicle event, wherein the second event record includes the captured additional image data;

store the first and second event record in the electronic storage;

receive, from a remote server that is external to the vehicle, a request for a particular event record;

responsive to the remote server requesting the first event record, transmit the first event record from the electronic storage to the remote server; and

responsive to the remote server requesting the second event record, transmit the second event record from the electronic storage to the remote server.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

responsive to generation of the first event record, generate a first notification related to the first vehicle event and transmit the first notification to the remote server; and

responsive to generation of the second event record, generate a second notification related to the second vehicle event and transmit the second notification to the remote server;

wherein transmission of the first and second notification occurs prior to receipt from the remote server of the request.

7. The system of claim 1, the vehicle having a rear side, wherein the first event type corresponds to vehicle events at or near the rear side of the vehicle.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first event type corresponds to vehicle events at or near a side of the vehicle.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the set of sensors includes a depth sensor configured to generate output signals conveying depth information, the depth information including ranges of surfaces and/or objects within an environment in and/or around the vehicle, the environment around the vehicle including an area within the first field-of-view of the first camera and/or the second field-of-view of the second camera, wherein the first vehicle event is related to a distance between two vehicles being dangerously small, wherein detection of the first vehicle event is based on the depth information.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein detection of the first vehicle event is based on a comparison of the value of a current operating condition of the vehicle with a threshold value.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein a current operating condition of the vehicle includes one or more of an engine load, a throttle level, a particular change in vehicle direction, or multiple changes in vehicle direction.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the first vehicle event is related to unsafe vehicle speed.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the first vehicle event is an imminent collision, wherein the second vehicle event is a swerve, wherein the first camera is a forward-facing camera, wherein the second camera is a sideways-facing camera, wherein the first subset of cameras excludes the sideways-facing camera, and wherein the second subset of cameras includes the sideways-facing camera.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

14. A method to capture information based on detected vehicle events of a vehicle, the method comprising:

generating, by a set of sensors, output signals conveying information related to one or more current operating conditions of the vehicle, wherein the set of sensors is carried by the vehicle;

capturing, by a set of cameras, image data, wherein the set of cameras includes a first camera and a second camera configured to capture image data, wherein the first camera has a first field-of-view that includes a first environment on a first side of the vehicle, wherein the second camera has a second field-of-view that includes a second environment on a second side of the vehicle, wherein the first field-of-view is different than the second field-of-view, wherein the first side of the vehicle is different than the second side of the vehicle;

determining the one or more current operating conditions of the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion, wherein determination is based on the generated output signals;

detecting vehicle events based on the one or more current operating conditions of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle events are based on the generated output signals from at least two different sensors in the set of sensors, wherein detection of the vehicle events includes determination of event type for the individual vehicle events, and wherein detection of the vehicle events is not based on the captured image data;

determining a first event type for the first vehicle event;

determining a second event type for the second vehicle event wherein the second event type is different than the first event type;

responsive to detection of the first vehicle event and based on the first event type, selecting a first subset of cameras from the set of cameras, wherein the first subset of cameras includes the first camera and excludes at least the second camera;

responsive to detection of the second vehicle event, and based on the second event type, selecting a second subset of cameras from the set of cameras, wherein the second subset of cameras includes the second camera and excludes at least the first camera;

capturing image data by the first subset of cameras proximate in time to the first vehicle event;

capturing additional image data by the second subset of cameras proximate in time to the second vehicle event;

generating a first event record associated with the first vehicle event, wherein the first event record includes the captured image data;

generating a second event record associated with the second vehicle event, wherein the second event record includes the captured additional image data;

storing the first and second event record in electronic storage, wherein the electronic storage is carried by the vehicle;

receiving, from a remote server that is external to the vehicle, a request for a particular event record;

responsive to the remote server requesting the first event record, transmitting the first event record from the electronic storage to the remote server; and

responsive to the remote server requesting the second event record, transmitting the second event record from the electronic storage to the remote server.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

responsive to generation of the first event record, generating a first notification related to the first vehicle event and transmitting the first notification to the remote server; and

responsive to generation of the second event record, generating a second notification related to the second vehicle event and transmitting the second notification to the remote server;

wherein transmission of the first and second notification occurs prior to receipt from the remote server of the request.

20. The method of claim 14, the vehicle having a rear side, wherein the first event type corresponds to vehicle events at or near the rear side of the vehicle.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the first event type corresponds to vehicle events at or near a side of the vehicle.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the set of sensors includes a depth sensor configured to generate output signals conveying depth information, the depth information including ranges of surfaces and/or objects within an environment in and/or around the vehicle, the environment around the vehicle including an area within the first field-of-view of the first camera and/or the second field-of-view of the second camera, wherein the first vehicle event is related to a distance between two vehicles being dangerously small, wherein detection of the first vehicle event is based on the depth information.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein detection of the first vehicle event is based on a comparison of the value of a current operating condition of the vehicle with a threshold value.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein a current operating condition of the vehicle includes one or more of an engine load, a throttle level, a particular change in vehicle direction, or multiple changes in vehicle direction.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein the first vehicle event is related to unsafe vehicle speed.

26. The method of claim 14, wherein the first vehicle event is an imminent collision, wherein the second vehicle event is a swerve, wherein the first camera is a forward-facing camera, wherein the second camera is a sideways-facing camera, wherein the first subset of cameras excludes the sideways-facing camera, and wherein the second subset of cameras includes the sideways-facing camera.

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)