Methods and apparatus for detection and reporting of vehicle operator impairment

• US 9,019,107 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2013
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Biondo, William A., Proefke, David T.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US13/922,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20140375462A1
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/426, 340/506, 340/3.1
• US Class Current: 340/576
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/22 Motor vehicles operators, e.g. drivers, pilots, captains
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/082 Evaluation by breath analysis, e.g. determination of the chemical composition of exhaled breath A61B5/083, A61B5/091 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6893 Cars
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/066 actuating a signalling device B60K28/063 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4972 Determining alcohol content for vehicle safety devices B60K28/06
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons

Abstract

A method for reporting vehicle operator impairment criteria is provided. The method determines, using a substance detection device installed inside a vehicle, a level of a substance or combination of substances associated with vehicle operator impairment; obtains vehicle status data from a plurality of sensors onboard the vehicle; determines a level of risk associated with vehicle operator behavior, using the obtained vehicle status data; and generates a report, comprising the determined level of the substance or the combination of substances and the determined level of risk.

Claims

1. A method for reporting vehicle operator impairment criteria, comprising:

determining, using a substance detection device installed inside a vehicle, a level of a substance or combination of substances associated with vehicle operator impairment;

obtaining vehicle status data from a plurality of sensors onboard the vehicle, wherein the vehicle status data comprises a quantity of driving maneuvers and a duration of the driving maneuvers, and wherein the driving maneuvers were executed within a specified time period;

determining a level of risk associated with vehicle operator behavior, using the obtained vehicle status data, by;

identifying the quantity and duration of the driving maneuvers; and

comparing the quantity and duration of the driving maneuvers to predetermined threshold data to determine a high level of risk or a low level of risk; and

generating a report, comprising the determined level of the substance or the combination of substances and the determined level of risk.

2. The method for reporting of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an identification of a driver of the vehicle, and based on the identification of the driver of the vehicle;

setting a driver-specific threshold level of the substance or the combination of substances for alert reporting; and

setting a driver-specific threshold level of the substance or the combination of substances for periodic reporting.

3. The method of reporting of claim 2, wherein the determining the identification of the driver of the vehicle comprises analyzing a unique ignition key used to operate the vehicle.

4. The method for reporting of claim 1, wherein the generated report comprises a transmitted electronic communication from the communication device.

5. The method for reporting of claim 1, further comprising, for a designated period of time:

calculating an average level of the substance or the combination of substances; and

communicating the calculated average level of the substance or the combination of substances to the communication device to generate the report;

wherein the report comprises the calculated average level of the substance or the combination of substances.

6. The method for reporting of claim 1, further comprising, for a designated period of time:

calculating a peak level of the substance or the combination of substances; and

communicating the calculated peak level of the substance or the combination of substances to the communication device to generate the report;

wherein the report comprises the calculated peak level of the substance or the combination of substances.

8. The method for reporting of claim 1, further comprising, for a designated period of time:

determining a number of occurrences in which the substance or the combination of substances is detected; and

communicating the determined number of occurrences to the communication device to generate the report;

wherein the report comprises the determined number of occurrences.

9. The method for reporting of claim 1, further comprising, for a designated period of time:

determining a number of system override activations; and

communicating the determined number of system override activations to the communication device to generate the report;

wherein the report comprises the determined number of occurrences.

7. The method for reporting of Claim l, further comprising, for a designated period of time:

determining a number of occurrences in which a reading level for the substance or the combination of substances exceeds a threshold level; and

communicating the determined number of occurrences to the communication device to generate the report;

wherein the report comprises the determined number of occurrences.

10. A system for reporting impaired operation of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a substance detection module, configured to examine a driver for presence of a substance that is likely to cause impaired driving;

a risk detection module, configured to determine a risk level associated with a current operation of the vehicle by the driver, by;

identifying a quantity and a duration of one or more driving maneuvers executed within a specified time period; and

comparing the quantity and the duration of the driving maneuvers to predetermined threshold data to determine a high level of risk or a low level of risk; and

a notification module, configured to;

trigger an alert notification when;

the substance detection module detects presence of the substance at a level exceeding an alert notification substance threshold; and

the risk detection module determines a risk level exceeding an alert notification risk threshold.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

an identification module, configured to identify a driver and a designation of the vehicle;

wherein the alert notification substance threshold is calculated as a function of the determined risk level and the identification of the driver.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the alert notification substance threshold is further calculated as a function of the determined risk level and the identified designation of the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the alert notification comprises an electronic communication transmitted by the notification module upon exceeding the alert notification substance threshold or the alert notification risk threshold.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the notification module is further configured to:

trigger periodic notification when the substance detection module detects presence of the substance at a level exceeding a periodic notification substance threshold; and

trigger periodic notification when the risk detection module determines a risk level exceeding a periodic notification risk threshold.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the periodic notification comprises an email report generated and sent, at regular time intervals, to a responsible party of the vehicle.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein, when the identification module identifies a driver that is not a responsible party of the vehicle and a designation of the vehicle that indicates a special category vehicle, the notification module is further configured to:

trigger an alert notification when the substance detection module detects a level of the substance exceeding a second alert notification substance threshold;

trigger an alert notification when the risk detection module determines a risk level exceeding a second alert notification risk threshold;

trigger periodic notification when the substance detection module detects a level of the substance exceeding a second periodic notification substance threshold; and

trigger periodic notification when the risk detection module determines a risk level exceeding a second periodic notification risk threshold.

17. A system for determining timing and priority of notification of impaired driving, the system comprising:

a processor architecture;

a memory, communicatively coupled to the processor architecture, wherein the memory is configured to store received data and instructions executable by the processor architecture;

a plurality of sensors, communicatively coupled to the processor architecture, and configured to collect data associated with operation of a vehicle, wherein the data comprises a quantity and a duration of driving maneuvers executed within a specified time period; and

an impairing substance detection unit, communicatively coupled to the processor architecture, and configured to test for a level of an impairing substance;

wherein the processor architecture is configured to;

determine a presence and a level of the impairing substance, using data received from the impairing substance detection unit;

detect impaired driving behavior using the data collected by the plurality of sensors;

determine a risk level based on the impaired driving behavior, by;

identifying the quantity and duration of the driving maneuvers; and

comparing the quantity and duration of the driving maneuvers to predetermined threshold data to determine a high level of risk or a low level of risk; and

initiate a report detailing the impaired driving behavior, the risk level, and the presence of an impairing substance.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the initiated report further comprises:

an alert report when the level of the impairing substance exceeds an alert notification substance threshold; and

a periodic report when the level of the impairing substance exceeds a periodic notification substance threshold.

19. The system of Claim 17, wherein the initiated report comprises a notification within a generated monthly vehicle data report.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the alert report comprises an electronic communication transmitted upon exceeding an alert report substance threshold or an alert report risk threshold.