Automobile monitoring for operation analysis

• US 7,584,033 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2004
• Issued: 09/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toronto-Dominion Bank
• Original Assignee: Strategic Design Federation W Incorporated
• Inventors: Mittelsteadt, John, Crawford, Robert J., Mittelsteadt, Lisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Tan Q
• Application Number:
  US11/024,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20050171663A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,708 Days
• Field of Search: 701/33, 701/35, 701/29, 701/93, 340/539.13, 340/438, 340/439, 340/936, 340/988, 705/4
• US Class Current: 701/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/00 Registering or indicating the working of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/006 Indicating maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0875 using magnetic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

An automobile monitoring arrangement tracks and records automobile operation for post-use automobile operation analysis and in a manner with default-operation modes that facilitate use by automobile owners/supervisors and by those supervised by the automobile owners/supervisors. In one specific embodiment, a record of automobile-operation data contains periodic recordings of speed and direction of an automobile while it was being driven, as such data is provided by a conventional electronic compass and the automobile'"'"'s electronic speed indicating signal. A processor performs calculations using speed and directional data to calculate acceleration and rate of directional change. Automobile operation data from the recording devices and the calculations performed is compared to stored reference data to determine if the vehicle was abused or driven in an unsafe manner by the operator. The data is output to a display showing automobile operating data and instances where the automobile was abused or driven in an unsafe manner.

Claims

1. A method for operating an automobile recording mode for automobile operation, the method comprising:

recognizing either a supervisor-automobile-operation status or a non supervisor-automobile-operation status;

in response to recognizing a supervisor-automobile-operation status, automatically disabling the recording mode as a default operation;

in response to recognizing a non supervisor-automobile-operation status, automatically enabling the recording mode as a default operation;

providing automobile-operation data obtained in real time as the automobile is moving, wherein the automobile-operation data is accessible per different secure-access profiles in which,

one of the secure-access profiles permits access of a subset of the automobile-operation data; and

another of the secure-access profiles permits access of another set of the automobile-operation data, the other set including the subset; and

processing the automobile-operation data and determining whether automobile operation is acceptable or unacceptable.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the other of the secure-access profiles permits changing default parameters.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the other of the secure-access profiles permits reviewing and modifying the automobile-operation data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the other of the secure-access profiles permits erasing the automobile-operation data.

5. A method for recording and subsequent monitoring of an operation of an automobile, the method comprising:

recognizing either a supervisor-automobile-operation status or a non supervisor-automobile-operation status;

providing automobile-operation data, including at least one automobile-direction parameter, obtained in real time as the automobile is moving, wherein the automobile-operation data is accessible per different secure-access profiles in which,

one of the secure-access profiles permits access of a subset of the automobile operation data; and

another of the secure-access profiles permits access of another set of the automobile-operation data, the other set including the subset;

in response to recognizing a non supervisor-automobile-operation status, recording the automobile-operation data as a default operation; and

processing the automobile-operation data and determining whether automobile operation is acceptable or unacceptable.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising warning a driver of the automobile that the automobile is turning at a rate that is at or about the desired upper end of a range designated as being within a safe threshold.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising warning a driver of the automobile that operation of the automobile is being monitored.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising warning a driver of the automobile that operation of the automobile is close to an unacceptable threshold.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the warning a driver of the automobile that operation of the automobile is close to an unacceptable threshold includes providing a visual signal.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the warning a driver of the automobile that operation of the automobile is close to an unacceptable threshold includes providing an audible signal.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the warning a driver of the automobile that operation of the automobile is close to an unacceptable threshold includes providing a vibration signal.

12. An arrangement for operating an automobile recording mode for automobile operation, comprising:

means for recognizing either a supervisor-automobile-operation status or a non supervisor-automobile-operation status;

means for in response to recognizing a supervisor-automobile-operation status, automatically disabling the recording mode as a default operation;

means for in response to recognizing a non supervisor-automobile-operation status, automatically enabling the recording mode as a default operation;

providing automobile-operation data obtained in real time as the automobile is moving, wherein the automobile-operation data is accessible per different secure-access profiles in which,

one of the secure-access profiles permits access of a subset of the automobile operation data; and

another of the secure-access profiles permits access of another set of the automobile-operation data, the other set including the subset; and

means for processing the automobile-operation data and determining whether automobile operation is acceptable or unacceptable.

13. The arrangement of claim 12, further comprising:

means for warning a driver of the automobile that the automobile is turning at a rate that is about the desired upper end of a range designated as being within a safe threshold.

14. The arrangement of claim 12, further comprising:

means for warning a driver of the automobile that operation of the automobile is being monitored.

15. The arrangement of claim 12, further comprising:

means for warning a driver of the automobile that operation of the automobile is close to an unacceptable threshold.

16. The arrangement of claim 12, wherein the other of the secure-access profiles permits changing default parameters.

17. The arrangement of claim 12, wherein the other of the secure-access profiles permits reviewing and modifying the automobile-operation data.

18. The arrangement of claim 12, wherein the other of the secure-access profiles permits erasing the automobile-operation data.