SYSTEM AND METHOD TO DETECT EXECUTION OF DRIVING MANEUVERS

• US 20170200333A1
• Filed: 03/14/2017
• Published: 07/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SmartDrive Systems, Inc. (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SmartDrive Systems, Inc. (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Plante, James
• Granted Patent: US 10,706,648 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• 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: G07C 5/0866 the electronic data carrier being a digital video recorder in combination with video camera
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0891 Video recorder in combination with video camera

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle recorder system that is configured with a video camera, a light weight memory system, and a radio communications facility suitable for use in conjunction with an moving vehicle. An automobile equipped with such video recorder system that is used throughout a day of service provides a video record of unusual events which may occur from time-to-time. For example, events such as accidents, near-misses, and excessive speed, among others, trigger a system to preserve video images collected before and after the moment of the event. Replaying these images provides information regarding the cause and true nature of the event. These systems are particularly suitable for vehicle fleets, or other groups of vehicles that can communicate with a common system.

Claims

1. A system configured to manage a fleet of vehicles, wherein the fleet of vehicles includes a first vehicle and a second vehicle, the system comprising:

a web browser interface presented to a user on a workstation; and

a server configured to communicate via a network, wherein the server includes one or more processors configured via instructions to;

receive vehicle information via the network from a first vehicle event recording unit associated with the first vehicle, wherein the first vehicle event recording unit includes a first video camera configured to capture, responsive to a first detection of a first vehicle event, video images of a first environment about the first vehicle during the first vehicle event, wherein vehicle event detection by the first vehicle event recording unit is controlled by first settings, wherein the vehicle information from the first vehicle includes the video images of the first environment and information related to one or more of vehicle lights of the first vehicle, a first engine of the first vehicle, a first drive train of the first vehicle, a first transmission of the first vehicle, vehicle brakes of the first vehicle, and/or vehicle steering information of the first vehicle;

receive vehicle information via the network from a second vehicle event recording unit associated with the second vehicle, wherein the second vehicle event recording unit includes a second video camera configured to capture, responsive to a second detection of a second vehicle event, video images of a second environment about the second vehicle during the second vehicle event, wherein vehicle event detection by the second vehicle event recording unit is controlled by second settings, wherein the vehicle information from the second vehicle includes the video images of the second environment and information related to one or more of vehicle lights of the second vehicle, a second engine of the second vehicle, a second drive train of the second vehicle, a second transmission of the second vehicle, vehicle brakes of the second vehicle, and/or vehicle steering information of the second vehicle;

facilitate first adjustment of the first settings through the web browser interface presented to the user on the workstation, wherein the first adjustment is communicated to the first vehicle event recording unit via the network; and

facilitate second adjustment of the second settings through the web browser interface presented to the user on the workstation, wherein the second adjustment is communicated to the second vehicle event recording unit via the network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle information from the first vehicle is based on a vehicle on-board data system including one or more sensors configured to generate output signals conveying vehicle feedback information, the vehicle feedback information including the information related to one or more of vehicle lights of the first vehicle, a first engine of the first vehicle, a first drive train of the first vehicle, a first transmission of the first vehicle, vehicle brakes of the first vehicle, and/or vehicle steering information of the first vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first vehicle event recording unit further includes a radio transceiver configured to communicate to the server via the network.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to facilitate adjustment of video camera image control settings through the web browser interface, wherein the video camera image control settings control capture by the first video camera of the video images of the first environment about the first vehicle, wherein the adjustment is communicated to the first vehicle event recording unit via the network.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first video camera has a first field-of-view that includes the first environment about the first vehicle.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the video images of the first environment about the first vehicle during the first vehicle event include images of a driver compartment of the first vehicle.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the driver compartment of the first vehicle is illuminated by infrared illumination.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein receipt of the vehicle information from the first vehicle event recording unit is initiated upon establishment of a wireless link between the first vehicle event recording unit and the network.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the wireless link is automatically established when the first vehicle enters a communication space having boundaries defined by network coverage.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the wireless link includes a WiFi connection.

11. A method for managing a fleet of vehicles, wherein the fleet includes a first vehicle and a second vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving vehicle information via a network from a first vehicle event recording unit associated with the first vehicle, wherein the first vehicle event recording unit includes a first video camera that captures, responsive to a first detection of a first vehicle event, video images of a first environment about the first vehicle during the first vehicle event, wherein vehicle event detection by the first vehicle event recording unit is controlled by first settings, wherein the vehicle information from the first vehicle includes the video images of the first environment and information related to one or more of vehicle lights of the first vehicle, a first engine of the first vehicle, a first drive train of the first vehicle, a first transmission of the first vehicle, vehicle brakes of the first vehicle, and/or vehicle steering information of the first vehicle;

receiving vehicle information via the network from a second vehicle event recording unit associated with the second vehicle, wherein the second vehicle event recording unit includes a second video camera that captures, responsive to a second detection of a second vehicle event, video images of a second environment about the second vehicle during the second vehicle event, wherein vehicle event detection by the second vehicle event recording unit is controlled by second settings, wherein the vehicle information from the second vehicle includes the video images of the second environment and information related to one or more of vehicle lights of the second vehicle, a second engine of the second vehicle, a second drive train of the second vehicle, a second transmission of the second vehicle, vehicle brakes of the second vehicle, and/or vehicle steering information of the second vehicle;

presenting a web browser interface to a user on a workstation;

facilitating first adjustment of the first settings through the web browser interface presented to the user on the workstation, wherein the first adjustment is communicated to the first vehicle event recording unit via the network; and

facilitating second adjustment of the second settings through the web browser interface presented to the user on the workstation, wherein the second adjustment is communicated to the second vehicle event recording unit via the network.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the vehicle information from the first vehicle is based on a vehicle on-board data system including one or more sensors that generate output signals conveying vehicle feedback information, the vehicle feedback information including the information related to one or more of vehicle lights of the first vehicle, a first engine of the first vehicle, a first drive train of the first vehicle, a first transmission of the first vehicle, vehicle brakes of the first vehicle, and/or vehicle steering information of the first vehicle.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first vehicle event recording unit further includes a radio transceiver that communicates to the server via the network.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

facilitating adjustment of video camera image control settings through the web browser interface, wherein the video camera image control settings control capture by the first video camera of the video images of the first environment about the first vehicle, wherein the adjustment is communicated to the first vehicle event recording unit via the network.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first video camera has a first field-of-view that includes the first environment about the first vehicle.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the video images of the first environment about the first vehicle during the first vehicle event include images of a driver compartment of the first vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the driver compartment of the first vehicle is illuminated by infrared illumination.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving the vehicle information from the first vehicle event recording unit is initiated upon establishment of a wireless link between the first vehicle event recording unit and the network.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the wireless link is automatically established when the first vehicle enters a communication space having boundaries defined by network coverage.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the wireless link includes a WiFi connection.