Event-recorder for transmitting and storing electronic signature data

• US 6,737,954 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2001
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Chainer, Timothy J., Greengard, Claude A., Wu, Chai W., Tresser, Charles P.
• Primary Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US09/989,468
• Publication Number:
  US 20020075167A1
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 340/436, 340/432, 340/901, 340/903, 340/904, 340/905, 340/10.1, 340/438, 340/439, 340/441, 340/539.1, 340/3.3, 340/3.31, 340/3.4
• US Class Current: 340/3.3
• 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 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

An electronic event recorder for attachment to a vehicle is provided which can broadcast encrypted signature and data, thereby leaving behind an electronic version of a “fingerprint” in the event of an accident or traffic violation. The fingerprint, captured by an external data acquisition system or another vehicle so equipped, provides a history of events related to the vehicle. The event recorder is preferably integrated on a smart card and housed in a tamper proof casing. In a first mode of operation, monitoring stations along the roadways periodically send an interrogation signal, such as when radar detects that the vehicle is speeding. Upon receiving the interrogation signal the smart card transmits the vehicle'"'"'s signature information to the monitoring station where it is time and date stamped along with the speed of the vehicle. In a second mode of operation, when a sensor detects a sudden or violent acceleration or deceleration, such as occurs during a collision, a smart card mounted in each car will exchange signature information automatically. This is particularly useful when the collision occurs in a parking lot when one of the hit vehicles is typically unattended.

Claims

1. An electronic event recorder for monitoring vehicles, comprising:

sensor means for sensing the occurrence of an event;

a memory for storing signature data related to a vehicle;

at least one of a transmitter and a receiver, said transmitter for transmitting said signature data upon the occurrence of an event detected by said sensor means,

said receiver for receiving data from a remote transmitter; and

a microprocessor for controlling said sensor means, said memory, said transmitter and said receiver, wherein upon the occurrence of an event sensed by said sensor means, said microprocessor causes said transmitter to transmit said signature data to a remote receiver,

wherein said sensor means comprises a collision sensor for sensing a collision with another vehicle, said receiver for receiving signature data from said other vehicle for storing in said memory.

2. An electronic event recorder for monitoring vehicles as recited in claim 1 wherein said signature data comprises at least one of vehicle registration, license plate number, vehicle cargo, vehicle weight, vehicle size, vehicle speed data, vehicle exterior light status data, and weather data.

3. An electronic event recorder for monitoring vehicles as recited in claim 1 wherein said sensor means comprises acceleration and deceleration sensors wherein a sensed acceleration or deceleration exceeding a threshold value indicates a collision.

4. A system for monitoring vehicles, comprising:

a first event recorder carried by a first vehicle;

a second event recorder carried by one of a second vehicle and a roadside monitoring station;

said first event recorder comprising;

a first event sensor means for sensing an event;

a first memory for storing vehicle signature data; and

a first transceiver for transmitting vehicle signature data to, and receiving signature data from, said second event recorder;

said second event recorder comprising;

a second memory for storing vehicle signature data; and

a second transceiver for transmitting data to, and receiving vehicle signature data from, said first event recorder,

wherein when said first event sensor means senses an event, said first event recorder transmits it vehicle signature data stored in said first memory to said second transceiver in said second event recorder to be stored in said second memory.

5. A system for monitoring vehicles as recited in claim 4 wherein said first sensor means detects an interrogation signal from said second event recorder when said second event recorder resides in said roadside monitoring station.

6. A system for monitoring vehicles as recited in claim 4 wherein said second event recorder further comprises a second sensor means,

wherein said first sensor means and said second sensor means comprise collision sensors for sensing a collision with another vehicle wherein said second event recorder transmits vehicle signature data stored in said second memory to said first transceiver in said first event recorder to be stored in said first memory.

7. A system for monitoring vehicles as recited in claim 4 wherein said signature data comprises at least one of vehicle registration, license plate number, vehicle cargo, vehicle weight, vehicle size, vehicle speed data, vehicle exterior light status data, and weather data.

8. A system for monitoring vehicles as recited in claim 4 wherein said first event recorder and said second event recorder are integrated on smart cards.

9. A system for monitoring vehicles as recited in claim 8 wherein said smart cards are housed in housings which are tamper evident.

10. A system for monitoring vehicles as recited in claim 9 wherein tampering with said housing disables a monitored vehicle.

11. A method for exchanging vehicle signature data upon the occurrence of an event, comprising the steps of:

detecting an interrogation signal from a remote station;

transmitting first vehicle signature data if said interrogation signal is detected to said remote station;

detecting one of an acceleration and deceleration exceeding a threshold value indicating a collision has occurred with a second vehicle, and, if a collision has occurred;

transmitting said first vehicle signature data to be stored in a memory in said second vehicle; and

transmitting second vehicle signature data to be stored in a memory in said first vehicle.

12. A method for exchanging vehicle signature data upon the occurrence of an event as recited in claim 11 wherein said first vehicle signature data and said second vehicle signature data comprises at least one of registration data, license plate number, cargo data, weight data, vehicle size data, vehicle speed data, vehicle exterior light status data, and weather data.

13. A method for exchanging vehicle signature data upon the occurrence of an event as recited in claim 11 wherein at least one of said interrogation signal, said first vehicle signature data and said second vehicle signature data are encrypted.

14. A method for exchanging vehicle signature data upon the occurrence of an event as recited in claim 11 wherein said remote station is a roadside station positioned at an intersection and further comprises the step of receiving and storing a traffic light status transmitted by said remote station at time of collision.