METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE OPERATION ANALYSIS

• US 20170291611A1
• Filed: 04/06/2016
• Published: 10/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Corp.
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Innes, Timothy, Mitchell, Stephen, Naing, Soe, O'Donnell, Matthew, Silva, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 10,189,479 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/4041 Position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/60 Traffic rules, e.g. speed limits or right of way
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/45 External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/09 Driving style or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0841 Registering performance data recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/44 for communication between vehicles and infrastructures, e.g. vehicle-to-cloud [V2C] or vehicle-to-home [V2H]

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed to monitor and evaluate vehicle operator behavior. An example method includes processing, using a particularly programmed processor, image data obtained with respect to a vehicle to identify an object in the image data. The example method includes measuring, using the mobile device, a geographic location of the vehicle. The example method includes determining, using the mobile device, an operating state of the vehicle. The example method includes analyzing the object in the image data, the geographic location, and the operating state of the vehicle to determine a behavior of the vehicle. The example method includes generating a score for a driver associated with the vehicle by comparing the behavior of the vehicle with a reference behavior, the reference behavior quantified by one or more driving metrics. The example method includes outputting the score.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

processing, using a mobile device including a processor, image data obtained with respect to a vehicle to identify an object in the image data;

measuring, using the mobile device, a geographic location of the vehicle;

determining, using the mobile device, an operating state of the vehicle;

analyzing the object in the image data, the geographic location, and the operating state of the vehicle to determine a behavior of the vehicle;

generating a score for a driver associated with the vehicle by comparing the behavior of the vehicle with a reference behavior, the reference behavior quantified by one or more driving metrics; and

outputting the score.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing further includes processing the image data using an artificial neural network with independent component analysis to identify an object in the image data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing further includes processing the image data using an artificial neural network with cascade learning to identify an object in the image data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing further includes calculating a proximity of the object to the vehicle based on the image data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the object is indicative of a driver event.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating state includes a speed of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more driving metrics includes at least one of:

a) compliance with stop signs, b) compliance with traffic lights, c) compliance with speed limits, d) turn signal usage, e) cornering g-force, f) lane centering, or g) lead car proximity.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference behavior is described by a driver event rule.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the score includes an overall score and scores for each of the one or more driving metrics.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing and generating are facilitated via an application server.

11. A device comprising:

a memory including machine readable instructions; and

a processor to execute the instructions to;

process image data obtained with respect to a vehicle to identify an object in the image data;

measure a geographic location of the vehicle;

determine an operating state of the vehicle;

analyze the object in the image data, the geographic location, and the operating state of the vehicle to determine a behavior of the vehicle;

generate a score for a driver associated with the vehicle by comparing the behavior of the vehicle with a reference behavior, the reference behavior quantified by one or more driving metrics; and

output the score.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further to execute the instructions to process the image data using an artificial neural network with independent component analysis to identify an object in the image data.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further to execute the instructions to process the image data using an artificial neural network with cascade learning to identify an object in the image data.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further to execute the instructions to analyze the object in the image data by calculating a proximity of the object to the vehicle based on the image data.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the object is indicative of a driver event.

16. The device of claim 11, wherein the operating state includes a speed of the vehicle.

17. The device of claim 11, wherein the one or more driving metrics includes at least one of:

a) compliance with stop signs, b) compliance with traffic lights, c) compliance with speed limits, d) turn signal usage, e) cornering g-force, f) lane centering, or g) lead car proximity.

18. The device of claim 11, wherein the reference behavior is described by a driver event rule.

19. The device of claim 11, wherein the score includes an overall score and scores for each of the one or more driving metrics.

20. A tangible machine-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to perform operations comprising:

processing image data obtained with respect to a vehicle to identify an object in the image data;

measuring a geographic location of the vehicle;

determining an operating state of the vehicle;

analyzing the object in the image data, the geographic location, and the operating state of the vehicle to determine a behavior of the vehicle;

generating a score for a driver associated with the vehicle by comparing the behavior of the vehicle with a reference behavior, the reference behavior quantified by one or more driving metrics; and

outputting the score.

21-28. -28. (canceled)