Traffic management server and a traffic recording apparatus

• US 9,111,453 B1
• Filed: 08/01/2013
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mohammad A. Alselimi
• Original Assignee: Mohammad A. Alselimi
• Inventors: Alselimi, Mohammad A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Paige, Tyler
• Application Number:
  US13/957,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20150248836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 701/117, 340/933
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/54 of traffic, e.g. cars on the road, trains or boats
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/164 Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A traffic management server that decreases traffic accidents and enhances post traffic accident resolution that includes a receiver that receives (i) first information that includes: first video data recorded by a first camera on the first vehicle, first vehicle condition information of the first vehicle, first driver information of the first vehicle and first GPS information indicating a position of the first vehicle, (ii) second information, that includes: second video data, second vehicle condition information of the second vehicle, second driver information of the second vehicle and second GPS information indicating a position of the second vehicle, (iii) third information that includes third video data recorded by a surveillance camera in an area, (iv) fourth information that includes a chronological color change record of a traffic light in the area, and (v) fifth information that includes traffic sign information of the area.

Claims

1. A traffic management server comprising:

a receiver that receives

(i) first information, that is recorded by a first recorder on a first vehicle, that includes first video data recorded by a first camera on the first vehicle, first vehicle condition information of the first vehicle, first driver information of the first vehicle and first GPS information indicating a position of the first vehicle,

(ii) second information, that is recorded by a second recorder on a second vehicle, that includes second video data recorded by a second camera on the second vehicle, second vehicle condition information of the second vehicle, second driver information of the second vehicle and second GPS information indicating a position of the second vehicle,

(iii) third information that includes third video data recorded by a surveillance camera in an area, and

(iv) fourth information that includes a chronological color change record of a traffic light in the area;

a non-transitory storage device that stores information received by the receiver and traffic sign information of the area;

a user interface that is configured to display the information stored in the non-transitory storage device, and receive an input;

processing circuitry that is configured to

determine whether the first vehicle and the second vehicle are in danger of a collision with each other by calculating whether a risk index, which is calculated based on relative positions of the first vehicle and the second vehicle, relative movements of the first vehicle and the second vehicle, and/or a type of traffic violation committed by the first vehicle and/or the second vehicle, exceeds a predetermined value or not, and

determine which of the first vehicle or the second vehicle is liable for the collision when the first vehicle and the second vehicle collide by (1) adding points to the first vehicle and/or the second vehicle according to a type of traffic violation committed by the first vehicle and/or the second vehicle within predetermined time of the collision and (2) comparing the points of the first vehicle and the second vehicle; and

a transmitter that is configured to

transmit alert information to the first vehicle and the second vehicle when the processing circuitry determines the first vehicle and the second vehicle are in danger of a collision, and

transmit information on which of the first vehicle or the second vehicle is liable for the collision to a predetermined facility.

2. The traffic management server according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry controls the user interface to display a request for input, and determines which of the first vehicle or the second vehicle is liable for the collision based on the input from the user interface, when

neither of differences between (1) the relative positions and/or the relative movements of the first vehicle and the second vehicle within a predetermined time of the collision and (2) a predefined set of collision conditions is within a predetermined range, or

the points of the first vehicle or the second vehicle are the same or the difference of the points is within a predetermine range.

3. The traffic management server according to claim 2, wherein the processing circuitry changes the points according to a type of traffic violation based on the applicable collision condition.

4. The traffic management server according to claim 2, wherein the relative positions comprise relative distance and relative angle, and the relative movements comprise relative speed and relative acceleration.

5. The traffic management server according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry further adds points to the first vehicle and/or the second vehicle according to distance of deviation of the first vehicle and the second vehicle from lane, which is detected by the first camera and the second camera, within predetermined time of the collision.

6. The traffic management server according to claim 1, wherein the first vehicle condition information comprises at least one of information on speed, acceleration, brake timing, vehicle temperature, repair history and/or cumulative distance of the first vehicle, and the second vehicle condition information comprises at least one of information on speed, acceleration, brake timing, vehicle temperature, repair history and/or cumulative distance of the second vehicle.

7. The traffic management server according to claim 1, wherein the first recorder further comprises a microphone to record internal audio of the first vehicle, and the second recorder further comprises a microphone to record internal audio of the second vehicle.

8. The traffic management server according to claim 1, wherein the first camera comprises a first internal camera to record video data inside the first vehicle and a first external camera to record video data outside the first vehicle, and the second camera comprises a second internal camera to record video data inside the second vehicle and a second external camera to record video data outside the second vehicle.

9. The traffic management server according to claim 8, wherein the first external camera automatically analyzes distance of deviation of the first vehicle from lane, and the second external camera automatically analyzes distance of deviation of the second vehicle from lane.

10. The traffic management server according to claim 1, wherein the relative positions and the relative movements are calculated based on at least the first information and the second information.

11. The traffic management server according to claim 1, wherein the type of traffic violation committed by the first vehicle and/or the second vehicle is determined based on at least the first information, the second information, the fourth information and the fifth information.

12. A traffic recording apparatus on a first vehicle comprising:

a camera that records video data;

a sensor module that detects vehicle condition information including a speed, an acceleration and brake timing of the first vehicle, and driver information;

a GPS module that detects a position of the first vehicle;

a microphone that records internal audio of the first vehicle;

a non-transitory storage device that records information obtained by the camera, the sensor module, the GPS module, and the microphone;

a transmitter that transmits the information recorded to the non-transitory storage device to a traffic management server;

a receiver that receives alert information from the traffic management server indicating that the first vehicle is in danger of colliding with a second vehicle;

a user interface that alerts the driver that the first vehicle is in danger of colliding with the second vehicle;

a communication unit that enables the driver to communicate with people outside of the first vehicle; and

processing circuitry that controls the first vehicle to avoid colliding with the second vehicle when the receiver receives the alert information;

wherein the information recorded to the non-transitory storage device is not editable by the driver, and the processing circuitry controls the non-transitory storage device to erase the information recorded on the non-transitory storage device every predetermined period or when data amount recorded on the non-transitory storage device reaches a predetermined amount; and

wherein the receiver receives information on which of the first vehicle or the second vehicle is liable for a collision from the traffic management server when the first vehicle and the second vehicle collide.

13. The traffic recording apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the alert information is transmitted by the traffic management server by calculating whether a risk index, which is calculated based on relative positions of the first vehicle and the second vehicle, relative movements of the first vehicle and the second vehicle, and/or a type of traffic violation committed by the first vehicle and/or the second vehicle, exceeds a predetermined value or not.

14. The traffic recording apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the information on which of the first vehicle or the second vehicle is liable for the collision is transmitted by the traffic management by (1) adding points to the first vehicle and/or the second vehicle according to a type of traffic violation committed by the first vehicle and/or the second vehicle within predetermined time of the collision and (2) comparing the points of the first vehicle and the second vehicle.

15. The traffic recording apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the driver information includes at least one of information on weight, face pattern and fingerprint pattern of the driver.

16. The traffic recording apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the driver information comprises at least one of information on weight, face pattern or fingerprint pattern of the driver, and the processing circuitry controls the first vehicle not to start an engine on the first vehicle when the driver information detected by the sensor module is not similar to preregistered driver information stored in the non-transitory storage device.

17. The traffic recording apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the transmitter transmits alert information to a preregistered destination when the driver information detected by the sensor module is not similar to preregistered driver information stored in the non-transitory storage device.

18. The traffic recording apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the sensor module detects alcohol from breath of the driver and the processing circuitry controls the transmitter to transmit alert information to the traffic management server.

19. A traffic management method used in a traffic management server, the method comprising:

receiving (i) first information, that is recorded by a first recorder on a first vehicle, that includes;

first video data recorded by a first camera on the first vehicle, first vehicle condition information of the first vehicle, first driver information of the first vehicle and first GPS information indicating a position of the first vehicle, (ii) second information, that is recorded by a second recorder on a second vehicle, that includes;

second video data recorded by a second camera on the second vehicle, second vehicle condition information of the second vehicle, second driver information of the second vehicle and second GPS information indicating a position of the second vehicle, (iii) third information that includes third video data recorded by a surveillance camera in an area, (iv) fourth information that includes a chronological color change record of a traffic light in the area, and (v) fifth information that includes traffic sign information of the area;

storing the first information, the second information, the third information, the fourth information and the fifth information in a non-transitory storage device;

displaying the information stored in the non-transitory storage device;

determining whether the first vehicle and the second vehicle are in danger of a collision with each other by calculating whether a risk index, which is calculated based on relative positions of the first vehicle and the second vehicle, relative movements of the first vehicle and the second vehicle, and/or a type of traffic violation committed by the first vehicle and/or the second vehicle, exceeds a predetermined value or not;

transmitting alert information to the first vehicle and the second vehicle when it is determined that the first vehicle and the second vehicle are in danger of a collision;

determining which of the first vehicle or the second vehicle is liable for the collision when the first vehicle and the second vehicle collide by (i) adding points to the first vehicle and/or the second vehicle according to a type of traffic violation committed by the first vehicle and/or the second vehicle within predetermined time of the collision and (ii) comparing the points of the first vehicle and the second vehicle; and

transmitting information on which of the first vehicle or the second vehicle is liable for the collision to a predetermined facility.