Video recording device for vehicle and driving information providing method thereof

• US 8,423,235 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2010
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mtekvision Co.Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Mtekvision Co.Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Kam-Youn
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Tyler J
• Application Number:
  US12/880,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20110066317A1
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 701/31.4, 340/937
• US Class Current: 701/31.4
• 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

A vehicle video recording device and a driving information providing method are provided. The vehicle video recording device includes: a sensing unit that includes one or more of a positioning unit, an inertia sensor unit, and an environment sensor unit so as to output sensed information; a vehicle information collecting unit that collects vehicle information from one or more of one or more sensors and a self-diagnosis device disposed in a vehicle; and a driving information generating unit that generates driving information depending on use or nonuse of the vehicle on the basis of one or more of the sensed information and the vehicle information. Accordingly, it is possible to continuously manage information on a driving time of a vehicle or the accident possibility in driving a vehicle, thereby giving an advantage or a disadvantage to a driver.

Claims

1. A vehicle video recording device for recording an outside video, comprising:

a sensing unit that includes one or more of a positioning unit, an inertia sensor unit, and an environment sensor unit so as to output sensed information;

a vehicle information collecting unit that collects vehicle information from one or more of one or more sensors and a self-diagnosis device disposed in a vehicle; and

a driving information generating unit that generates driving information during use and nonuse of the vehicle on a basis of one or more of the sensed information and the vehicle information,

wherein different sets of the driving information are generated depending on whether the vehicle is in use or nonuse, and

wherein the different sets of driving information includes;

a first set generated during use of the vehicle, the first set comprising at least one of a driving date, a traveling distance, a traveling speed, a direction indicator signal, a safety belt wearing signal, an acceleration pedal signal, a brake signal, a residual fuel signal, and ejected fuel signal; and

a second set generated during nonuse of the vehicle, the second set comprising at least one of the traveling distance and GPS positional coordinates.

2. The vehicle video recording device according to claim 1, wherein the driving information is transmitted to a control center via a network.

3. The vehicle video recording device according to claim 2, further comprising a data processor that generates an encrypted data file corresponding to the outside video,

wherein decryption key information for decrypting the encrypted data file is supplied from the control center after the driving information is transmitted.

4. The vehicle video recording device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an auxiliary power supply unit that supplies driving power when the driving power is not supplied from the vehicle; and

a control unit that determines whether the vehicle video recording device is in a deactivated state at a predetermined time, switches the vehicle video recording device to an activated state using the auxiliary power supply unit so as to generate the driving information when the vehicle video recording device is in a deactivated state, and switches the vehicle video recording device to the deactivated state after the driving information is generated.

5. The vehicle video recording device according to claim 4, wherein the driving information generating unit further generates one or more of verification information for verifying the driving information and verification result information.

6. The vehicle video recording device according to claim 5, wherein the driving information is verified by determining whether position information included in the driving information generated after the vehicle video recording device is switched to the activated state is matched with position information included in the driving information generated and stored just before.

7. The vehicle video recording device according to claim 5, wherein the driving information is verified by determining whether video data generated when the vehicle video recording device is switched to the activated state is matched with video data stored just before within a margin of error.

8. The vehicle video recording device according to claim 5, wherein a battery voltage of the vehicle is measured in real time, and when the battery voltage varies by a threshold voltage or more within a designated time range, position information and time information at that time are stored as the verification information.

9. A driving information generating method that is performed by a vehicle video recording device recording an outside video, the comprising:

acquiring vehicle information and sensed information using a self-diagnosis device and one or more sensors; and

generating driving information during use and nonuse of a vehicle on a basis of one or more of the sensed information and the vehicle information,

wherein different sets of the driving information are generated depending on whether the vehicle is in use or in nonuse, and

wherein the different sets of driving information includes;

a first set generated during use of the vehicle, the first set comprising at least one of a driving date, a traveling distance, a traveling speed, a direction indicator signal, a safety belt wearing signal, an acceleration pedal signal, a brake signal, a residual fuel signal, and ejected fuel signal; and

a second set generated during nonuse of the vehicle, the second set comprising at least one of the traveling distance and GPS positional coordinates.

10. The driving information generating method according to claim 9, wherein the driving information is transmitted to a control center via a network.

11. The driving information generating method according to claim 9, further comprising:

generating an encrypted data file corresponding to the outside video; and

receiving decryption key information for decrypting the encrypted data file after the driving information is transmitted.

12. The driving information generating method according to claim 9, further comprising:

determining whether the vehicle video recording device is in a deactivated state at a predetermined time and switching the vehicle video recording device to an activated state using an auxiliary power supply unit when it is determined that the vehicle video recording device in the deactivated state;

generating the driving information; and

switching the vehicle video recording device to the deactivated state.

13. The driving information generating method according to claim 12, further comprising a step of further generating one or more of verification information for verifying the driving information and verification result information.

14. The driving information generating method according to claim 12, wherein the driving information is verified by determining whether position information included in the driving information generated after the vehicle video recording device is switched to the activated state is matched with position information included in the driving information generated and stored just before.

15. The driving information generating method according to claim 12, wherein the driving information is verified by determining whether video data generated when the vehicle video recording device is switched to the activated state is matched with video data stored just before within a margin of error.

16. The driving information generating method according to claim 13, wherein a battery voltage of the vehicle is measured in real time, and when the battery voltage varies by a threshold voltage or more within a designated time range, position information and time information at that time are stored as the verification information.

17. A non-transitory recording medium having recorded thereon a program which can be read by a digital processor and in which command words executable by a vehicle video recording device are materially described so as to carry out the driving information generating method according to claim 9.