System and method for recording vehicle events and for generating reports corresponding to the recorded vehicle events based on driver status

• US 8,736,434 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2013
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Miller, Thomas Lee, Watkins, Scott Alan, Bennie, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US13/915,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20130274957A1
• Time in Patent Office: 350 Days
• Field of Search: 340/439, 340/576, 340/436, 340/457.1, 340/992, 340/573.1
• US Class Current: 340/439
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/16 Control of vehicles or other craft simulators G09B9/02

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, an apparatus for recording events in a vehicle based on driver status of a driver is provided. The apparatus comprises a vehicle interface device. The device is configured to receive a driver status signal indicative of the driver being one of a primary driver and a secondary driver. The device is further configured to receive at least one vehicle event signal corresponding to vehicle events in response to the driver status signal indicating that the driver is the secondary driver and to store the at least one vehicle event signal to record the vehicle events. The device is further configured to generate a report indicating the recorded vehicle events for transmission to at least one of the primary driver and the secondary driver.

Claims

1. An apparatus for recording events in a vehicle based on status of a driver, the apparatus comprising:

a vehicle interface device configured to;

receive a driver status signal indicative of the driver being one of a primary driver and a secondary driver;

receive at least one vehicle event signal in response to the driver status signal indicating that the driver is the secondary driver;

store information from the at least one vehicle event signal to determine at least one vehicle event usage profile for the secondary driver; and

provide a report that includes the least one vehicle event usage profile for transmission to at least one of the primary driver and the secondary driver, the at least one vehicle event usage profile includes at least one of belt usage profile and an occupant communication device usage profile.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the belt usage profile corresponds to at least an amount of time the secondary driver is buckled with a seatbelt.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the belt usage profile corresponds to the amount of time the secondary driver is buckled with the seatbelt while the vehicle is traveling above a predetermined speed value.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the belt usage profile corresponds to at least an amount of time one or more passengers with the secondary driver is buckled with a seatbelt.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the belt usage profile corresponds to the amount of time the one or more passengers with the secondary driver is buckled with the seatbelt while the vehicle travels above a predetermined speed value.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the occupant communication device usage profile corresponds to at least an amount of time the secondary driver is using an occupant communication device while driving the vehicle.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one vehicle event usage profile further includes an occupant communication device usage pair profile corresponding to an amount of time the secondary driver has not electrically coupled an occupant communication device to a module positioned in the vehicle to enable hands-free operation of the occupant communication device.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a vehicle interface device configured to;

determine whether a driver is a primary driver or a secondary driver based on a driver status signal;

receive a vehicle event signal to determine a vehicle event usage profile for the secondary driver; and

provide a report that includes the vehicle event usage profile for transmission to the primary driver, the vehicle event usage profile including a belt usage profile for the secondary driver.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the belt usage profile corresponds to at least an amount of time the secondary driver is buckled with a seatbelt.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the belt usage profile corresponds to the amount of time the secondary driver is buckled with the seatbelt while traveling above a predetermined speed value.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the belt usage profile corresponds to at least an amount of time one or more passengers with the secondary driver is buckled with a seatbelt.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the belt usage profile corresponds to the amount of time the one or more passengers with the secondary driver is buckled with the seatbelt while traveling above a predetermined speed value.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the vehicle event usage profile further includes an occupant communication device usage profile that corresponds to at least an amount of time the secondary driver is using an occupant communication device while driving a vehicle.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the occupant communication device usage profile corresponds to at least an amount of time the secondary driver is using an occupant communication device while driving a vehicle.

15. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the vehicle event usage profile further includes an occupant communication device usage pair profile corresponding to an amount of time the secondary driver has not electrically coupled an occupant communication device to a module positioned in a vehicle to enable hands-free operation of the occupant communication device.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a vehicle interface device configured to;

determine whether a driver is a primary driver or a secondary driver based on a driver status signal;

receive a vehicle event signal to determine a vehicle event usage profile for the secondary driver; and

provide a report that includes the vehicle event usage profile for transmission to the primary driver, the vehicle event usage profile including an occupant communication device usage profile for the secondary driver.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the occupant communication device usage profile corresponds to at least an amount of time the secondary driver is using an occupant communication device while driving a vehicle.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the vehicle event usage profile further includes an occupant communication device usage pair profile corresponding to an amount of time the secondary driver has not electrically coupled an occupant communication device to a module positioned in a vehicle to enable hands-free operation of the occupant communication device.