Vehicle camera system

• US 10,298,832 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2018
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cobra Electronics Corp. (Cedar Electronics Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Cobra Electronics Corp. (Cedar Electronics Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Boudreau, Wilfred Charles, Williams, Michael E., Hosler, Brian Neal, Levell, Jonathan Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Mahendra
• Application Number:
  US16/198,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20190098200A1
• Time in Patent Office: 181 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561, 4554042, 4554221, 455434, 455 901, 3482071, 348143, 701411, 701330, 701117, 701119, 701301, 701 323
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/302 combining image information with GPS information or vehicle data, e.g. vehicle speed, gyro, steering angle data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/60 characterised by monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior scenes from a transformed perspective
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/80 characterised by the intended use of the viewing arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/022 Road traffic radar detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/634 Warning indications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 999/99 dummy group

Abstract

A vehicle camera system and method for operating a vehicle camera system comprising a vehicle camera with communication capabilities. The vehicle camera operating in conjunction with other components to provide information to users. The vehicle camera system compiles information from multiple components into a single repository of video recordings with information, such as location information, vehicle status and diagnostic information, alert information and other information.

Claims

1. A system for use in a vehicle including a vehicle camera that interfaces with a mobile communication device that is separate from the vehicle camera, which displays a prediction to a user, the system comprising:

the vehicle camera comprising;

a) a camera display that provides a visual output,

b) an imaging component, which captures at least one image and creates an image file,

c) a memory component designed to electronically store the image file, and

d) a camera communication element configured to communicate over a short-range communication standard; and

the mobile communication device comprising;

a) a user interface that receives input from the user and communicates information to the user,

b) a short-range communication element configured to communicate over the short-range communication standard, wherein the short-range communication element communicates with the camera communication element over the short-range communication standard, and

c) a wide-area communication element configured to communicate over a wide-area communication standard; and

wherein the mobile communication device exchanges data with the vehicle camera, wherein a geographic location of the vehicle camera is compiled with the image file to create a location identified image file, and wherein the location identified image file includes a timestamp,

wherein the data comprises the prediction, which is of an alert level associated with the geographic location of the vehicle camera, and wherein the camera display communicates the prediction to the user,

wherein the mobile communication device receives the prediction from a remote server over the wide-area communication standard and communicates the prediction to the vehicle camera over the short-range communication standard, and wherein the prediction is generated based on an analysis of a plurality of data entries associated with the geographic location of the vehicle camera,

wherein the location identified image file is analyzed with optical recognition to identify at least one of a potential threat and/or a potential false alert source, wherein the analysis is initiated automatically or by the input received by the user interface, and

wherein the vehicle camera interfaces with an electromagnetic signal detector comprising a signal detection component that detects at least one of a radar signal and/or a laser signal emitted by speed measurement equipment.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote server analyzes the plurality of data entries associated with the geographic location of the vehicle camera.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote server applies the optical recognition to a plurality of recorded images from a plurality of imaging sources.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device comprises a location determination component configured to determine the geographic location.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle camera is integrated with the electromagnetic signal.

6. A system for use in a vehicle including a vehicle camera that interfaces with a mobile communication device that is separate from the vehicle camera, which displays a prediction of an alert level associated with a geographic location to a user, the system comprising:

the vehicle camera comprising;

a) a camera display that provides a visual output, wherein the camera display communicates to the user the prediction,

b) an imaging component, which captures at least one image and creates an image file,

c) a memory component designed to electronically store the image file,

d) a short-range camera communication element configured to communicate over a short-range communication standard, and

e) a wide-area camera communication element configured to communicate over a wide-area communication standard; and

the mobile communication device comprising;

a) a user interface that receives input from the user and communicates information to the user,

b) a short-range communication element configured to communicate over the short-range communication standard, wherein the short-range communication element communicates with the short-range camera communication element over the short-range communication standard, and

c) a location determination component configured to determine the geographic location; and

wherein the mobile communication device exchanges data with the vehicle camera, wherein the data comprises the geographic location,

wherein the geographic location is compiled with the image file to create a location identified image file, and wherein the location identified image file includes a timestamp,

wherein the vehicle camera receives the prediction from a remote server over the wide-area communication standard, and wherein the prediction is generated based on an analysis of a plurality of data entries associated with the geographic location, and

wherein the location identified image file is analyzed with optical recognition to identify at least one of a potential threat and/or a potential false alert source, wherein the analysis is initiated automatically or by the input received by the user interface, and

wherein the vehicle camera interfaces with an electromagnetic signal detector comprising a signal detection component that detects at least one of a radar signal and/or a laser signal emitted by speed measurement equipment.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising the vehicle having a vehicle communication element configured to communicate over the short-range communication standard and a vehicle information system comprising vehicle operation data.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of data entries comprises the location identified image file, and wherein the remote server applies the optical recognition.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the remote server applies the optical recognition to a plurality of the location identified image files which are from a plurality of imaging sources.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the remote server synchronizes the plurality of the location identified image files based on the geographic location and the timestamp included in each of the location identified image files.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the remote server transmits the prediction automatically based on the geographic location.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the vehicle camera is integrated with the electromagnetic signal detector.

13. A vehicle camera that interfaces with an external device that is separate from the vehicle camera, which communicates a prediction to a user, the vehicle camera comprising:

a) a user interface that receives input from the user and communicates information to the user,

b) an imaging component, which captures video,

c) a memory component designed to electronically store the video, and

d) a communication element configured to communicate over a communication standard, wherein the communication element communicates with the external device over the communication standard; and

wherein the vehicle camera is designed without a location determination capability and the vehicle camera receives a geographic location and a timestamp from the external device over the communication standard and compiles the geographic location and the timestamp with the video to generate a video file, and

wherein the vehicle camera receives the prediction, which is of an alert level associated with the geographic location from a remote server and the user interface communicates the prediction to the user, wherein the vehicle camera receives the prediction indirectly through the external device, which receives the prediction over a wide-area communication standard and communicates the prediction to the vehicle camera over the communication standard,

wherein the remote server analyzes a data entry associated with the geographic location to generate the prediction, and

wherein the video file is analyzed with optical recognition to identify at least one of a potential threat and/or a potential false alert source, wherein the analysis is initiated automatically or by the input received by the user interface, and

wherein the vehicle camera interfaces with an electromagnetic signal detector comprising a signal detection component that detects at least one of a radar signal and/or a laser signal emitted by speed measurement equipment.

14. The vehicle camera of claim 13, wherein the data entry comprises the video file and the remote server applies the optical recognition to the video file.

15. The vehicle camera of claim 13, wherein the external device is a mobile communication device.

16. The vehicle camera of claim 13, wherein the remote server provides instructions to the vehicle camera, wherein the instructions control operations of the vehicle camera.

17. The vehicle camera of claim 16, wherein the remote server provides the instructions based on the geographic location.

18. The vehicle camera of claim 16, wherein the remote server provides the instructions based on the prediction.

19. The vehicle camera of claim 13, wherein the vehicle camera is integrated with the electromagnetic signal detector.

20. A vehicle camera that interfaces with a mobile communication device that is separate from the vehicle camera, the vehicle camera comprising:

a) a user interface that receives inputs from a user and communicates information to the user,

b) an imaging component, which captures video,

c) a memory component designed to electronically store the video, and

d) a communication element configured to communicate over a communication standard, wherein the communication element communicates with the mobile communication device over the communication standard; and

wherein the vehicle camera receives a geographic location and a timestamp from the mobile communication device over the communication standard and compiles the geographic location and the timestamp with the video to generate a video file;

wherein the video file is analyzed with optical recognition to identify a potential threat, and a critical trigger is initiated when the potential threat is identified;

wherein the vehicle camera further comprises an automatic upload mode, wherein the video file is automatically transmitted to a remote server upon receipt of the critical trigger by the vehicle camera while in the automatic upload mode; and

wherein the vehicle camera interfaces with an electromagnetic signal detector comprising a signal detection component that detects at least one of a radar signal and/or a laser signal emitted by speed measurement equipment.

21. The vehicle camera of claim 20, wherein the critical trigger comprises at least one of a G-Force threshold, a vehicle diagnostic trigger, a safety trigger, a person entering the camera view and/or a theft event trigger.

22. The vehicle camera of claim 21, wherein the safety trigger comprises at least one of an impact trigger, an airbag deployment trigger, a lane departure and/or a distance to object trigger.

23. The vehicle camera of claim 20, wherein the remote server stores the video file in a database upon receipt by the remote server.

24. The vehicle camera of claim 20, wherein the remote server analyzes the video file upon receipt by the remote server.

25. The vehicle camera of claim 24, wherein the remote server determines whether an emergency response is needed based on the analysis.

26. The vehicle camera of claim 25, wherein the remote server initiates a call for the emergency response based on the determination.

27. The vehicle camera of claim 20, wherein the vehicle camera is integrated with the electromagnetic signal detector.

28. The vehicle camera of claim 20, wherein the critical trigger comprises a detection of the at least one of the radar signal and/or the laser signal emitted by the speed measurement equipment.

29. The vehicle camera of claim 20, further comprising a vehicle having a vehicle communication element configured to communicate over the communication standard and a vehicle information system comprising vehicle operation data, and wherein the vehicle camera receives the vehicle operation data over the communication standard, and the vehicle camera incorporates the vehicle operation data into the video file.

30. The vehicle camera of claim 29, wherein the vehicle operation data comprises at least one of a vehicle diagnostic reading, a vehicle speed, a vehicle acceleration, a brake reading and/or a safety trigger indication.

31. A system for use in a vehicle including a vehicle camera that interfaces with an external device that is separate from the vehicle camera, wherein the external device communicates a prediction to a user, the system comprising:

the vehicle camera comprising;

a) an imaging component, which captures at least one image and creates an image file,

b) a memory component designed to electronically store the image file, and

c) a camera communication element configured to communicate over a short-range communication standard; and

the external device comprising;

d) a user interface that receives input from the user and communicates information to the user, and

e) an external device communication element configured to communicate over the short-range communication standard, wherein the external device communication element communicates with the camera communication element over the short-range communication standard; and

wherein the external device exchanges data with the vehicle camera, wherein a geographic location of the vehicle camera is compiled with the image file to create a location identified image file, and wherein the location identified image file includes a timestamp,

wherein the system receives the prediction, which is of an alert level associated with the geographic location of the vehicle camera, and wherein the user interface communicates the prediction to the user,

wherein the prediction is generated based on an analysis of a plurality of data entries associated with the geographic location of the vehicle camera, and

wherein the location identified image file is analyzed with optical recognition to identify at least one of a potential threat and/or a potential false alert source, wherein the analysis is initiated automatically or by the input received by the user interface, and

wherein the vehicle camera interfaces with an electromagnetic signal detector comprising a signal detection component that detects at least one of a radar signal and/or a laser signal emitted by speed measurement equipment.

32. The vehicle camera of claim 31, wherein the external device receives the prediction from a remote server over a wide-area communication standard.

33. The vehicle camera of claim 31, wherein the vehicle camera receives the prediction from a remote server over a wide-area communication standard and communicates the prediction to the external device over the short-range communication standard.