DEVICE AND METHOD FOR HANDHELD DEVICE BASED VEHICLE MONITORING AND DRIVER ASSISTANCE

• US 20100157061A1
• Filed: 12/24/2008
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Earnix, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Earnix, Ltd.
• Inventors: Katsman, Igor, Nudel, Denis
• Application Number:
  US12/343,710
• Publication Number:
  US 20100157061A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/149
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0866 the electronic data carrier being a digital video recorder in combination with video camera

Abstract

A method of operating a general purpose handheld communication device to monitor traffic events is disclosed. The handheld communication device is detachably mountable on a vehicle and includes a motion sensor, a video imaging sensor, a data processor, data storage medium, and data communication module. The method includes acquiring motion data using the motion sensor; identifying a traffic event based on the motion data; acquiring visual data using the video imaging sensor; saving data that includes the acquired visual data and motion data on the data storage medium; and communicating the saved data using the communication module.

Claims

1. A method of operating a general purpose handheld communication device to monitor traffic events, the handheld communication device being detachably mountable on a vehicle and including a motion sensor, a video imaging sensor, a data processor, data storage medium, and data communication module, the method comprising:

acquiring motion data using the motion sensor;

identifying a traffic event based on the motion data;

acquiring visual data using the video imaging sensor;

saving data that includes the acquired visual data and motion data on the data storage medium; and

communicating the saved data using the communication module.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising receiving a user request to acquire visual data, and acquiring visual data pursuant to said user request.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising video processing by the data processor, on the acquired visual data to identify and determine a license plate number.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, comprising comparing the determined license plate number with a database that includes a list of license plate numbers and issuing a video or audio alert when the determined license plate number matches a number that appears in the list.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising video processing, using the data processor, of the acquired visual data to identify a hazardous or potentially hazardous traffic situation, and upon identification of such situation, issuing an audio or video alert.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising determining whether the identified traffic event is a hazardous or potentially hazardous traffic situation, and upon identification of such situation issuing an audio or video alert.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising requesting a user to provide identification data relating to an entity selected from a group of entities that includes vehicles and persons.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

providing a server adapted to communicate over a communication network, with the handheld communication device;

storing on the server the saved data relating to the traffic event;

assigning a score to an entity selected from a group of entities that includes vehicles and persons, the entity relating to the traffic event; and

saving the score in a database that includes a list of scores of a plurality of entities.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising verifying correct positioning and orientation of the handheld communication device when mounting on the vehicle, using visual indication on a display screen of the handheld communication device.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising acquiring data from a proximity sensor, processing, using the data processor, acquired proximity data to identify a hazardous or potentially hazardous traffic situation, and upon identification of such situation, issuing an audio or video alert.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising processing the acquired visual data or motion data using a technique selected from a group of techniques that includes:

time stamping, attaching location data, encryption and access control.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising communicating a notification of the traffic event to a predefined party.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising displaying the saved data on a display screen of the handheld communication device.

14. A computer readable medium containing computer executable instructions, that when executed cause a data processor of a general purpose handheld communication device including a motion sensor, a video imaging sensor, the data processor, data storage medium, and data communication module to carry out the steps of:

acquiring motion data using the motion sensor, and identifying a traffic event based on the motion data;

acquiring visual data using the video imaging sensor;

saving data that includes the acquired visual data and motion data on the data storage medium; and

communicating the saved data to another device using the communication module.

15. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 14, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for:

receiving a user request to acquire visual data, acquiring visual data pursuant to said user request and saving the visual data on the data storage medium.

16. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 14, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for:

video processing by the data processor, on the acquired visual data to identify and determine a license plate number.

17. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 16, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for:

comparing the determined license plate number with a database that includes a list of license plate numbers and issuing a video or audio alert when the determined license plate number matches a number that appears in the list.

18. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 14, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for:

video processing, using the data processor, of the acquired visual data to identify a hazardous or potentially hazardous traffic situation, and upon identification of such situation, issuing an audio or video alert.

19. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 14, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for:

determining whether the identified traffic event is a hazardous or potentially hazardous traffic situation, and upon identification of such situation issuing an audio or video alert.

20. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 14, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for:

requesting a user to provide identification data relating to an entity selected from a group of entities that includes vehicles and persons.

21. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 14, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for:

verifying correct positioning and orientation of the handheld communication device when mounting on the vehicle, using visual indication on a display screen of the handheld communication device.

22. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 14, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for:

acquiring data from a proximity sensor, processing, using the data processor, acquired proximity data to identify a hazardous or potentially hazardous traffic situation, and upon identification of such situation, issuing an audio or video alert.

23. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 14, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for:

processing the acquired visual data or motion data using a technique selected from a group of techniques that includes;

time stamping, attaching location data, encryption and access control.

24. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 14, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for:

communicating a notification of the traffic event to a predefined party.

25. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 14, wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for:

displaying the saved data on a display screen of the handheld communication device.