Automotive imaging system for recording exception events

• US 8,836,784 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2010
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monument Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Fund 83 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Erhardt, Herbert J., Guidash, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Czekaj, Dave
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, NAM D
• Application Number:
  US12/912,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20120105635A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,420 Days
• Field of Search: 348/148
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19647 Systems specially adapted for intrusion detection in or around a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19671 Addition of non-video data, i.e. metadata, to video stream
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12

Abstract

A motor vehicle system for automatically reporting exception events, comprising: one or more digital cameras, at least one digital camera having a primary function; an image memory system for storing digital images; means for detecting exception events; and a wireless communications system for communicating with a central reporting service. A program memory stores executable instruction for causing a processor to perform the steps of: using at least one of the digital cameras to periodically capture digital images at a specified capture frequency; storing the periodically captured digital images in the image memory for a specified period of time; and receiving input from the means for detecting an exception event. In response to the detection of an exception event a communication link is opened to the central reporting service using the wireless communications system, and one or more of the captured digital images are transmitted to the central reporting service.

Claims

1. A system for automatically reporting exception events, the system comprising:

an image capture device having a first function to monitor operation of a motor vehicle, wherein the image capture device comprises a digital camera configured to capture a video sequence of digital images;

an image memory system configured to store digital images captured by the image capture device;

an exception event detection mechanism configured to detect an exception event for the motor vehicle, wherein the exception event detection mechanism is configured to process inputs received from a plurality of sensing devices; and

a processing system configured to;

periodically use the image capture device in a second function different from the first function to capture digital images at a first capture frequency;

store the captured digital images in the image memory system;

receive an input indicating a detection of the exception event from the exception event detection mechanism;

determine a type of the exception event based on data captured by the image capture device in the second function;

store metadata with the captured digital images, wherein the metadata comprises the determined type of the exception event; and

provide a response to the exception event.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the response to the exception event comprises transmission of live video images from the digital camera to a central reporting service.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the response comprises causing the image capture device to capture one or more digital images and transmitting the one or more captured digital images to a central reporting service.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the image capture device comprises a digital camera configured to capture a video sequence of digital images;

and wherein the response comprises transmitting the video sequence of digital images to a second device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the exception event comprises a motor vehicle accident.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the exception event detection mechanism comprises at least one of an accelerometer or an air bag deployment sensor.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the exception event is triggered by detecting that a trailed vehicle has become disengaged or is weaving erratically.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the exception event comprises an unauthorized mode of operation event.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the unauthorized mode of operation event is triggered by detecting that the motor vehicle is traveling at an excessive speed, detecting operation of the motor vehicle at an unauthorized time of day or at an unauthorized location, detecting that the motor vehicle is being driven by an unauthorized person, or detecting that the motor vehicle is being operated erratically.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the exception event comprises a security system event.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the security system event comprises at least one of a theft event or a hijacking event.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the security system event is indicated by a user-activated panic button on a fob, a user-activated panic button located at a fixed location within the motor vehicle, or by a user calling a predetermined phone number.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the theft event is indicated in response to detecting a theft of the motor vehicle, theft of contents of the motor vehicle, or theft of objects external to the motor vehicle.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle is an automobile, a motorcycle, an all-terrain vehicle, a recreational vehicle a boat, or an airplane.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the image capture device is configured to capture images of the surroundings of the motor vehicle.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to terminate the first function of the image capture device in response to the detection of the exception event.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the first capture frequency varies responsive to operational parameters related to motor vehicle operation.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the operational parameters comprise at least one of a motor vehicle location, a speed, or road conditions.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the operational parameters comprise at least one of a motor vehicle location or road conditions.

20. The system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless communications system configured to communicate with a central reporting service, and wherein the response to the exception event comprises:

opening a communication link to the central reporting service using the wireless communications system; and

transmitting one or more of the stored periodically captured digital images to the central reporting service over the communications link.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the metadata comprises at least one of a time, a date, a location, a speed, a direction of travel, or a driver identity.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the image capture device comprises a digital video camera configured to capture a video sequence of digital images, and wherein the processing system is configured to adjust a duration of time or a frame rate of the video sequence based on a type of the exception event.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the first function comprises at least one of a blind spot monitoring function, a lane departure warning function, a collision avoidance function, a traffic sign recognition function, or a drowsy driver detection function.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to store the captured digital images in the image memory system for a specified period of time.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to adjust the first capture frequency based on the type of the exception event.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the metadata comprises a flag indicating the determined type of the exception event.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

use the image capture device in the second function to capture a video; and

adjust a length of the video based on the type of the exception event.

25. A method comprising:

performing, by a processing system, a first function to monitor operation of a motor vehicle via an image capture device, wherein the image capture device comprises a digital camera configured to capture a video sequence of digital images;

periodically using, by the processing system, the digital camera in a second function different from the first function to capture digital images at a first capture frequency;

storing, by the processing system, the periodically captured digital images in the image memory system for a specified period of time;

receiving, at the processing system, an input indicating a detection of an exception event from an exception event detection mechanism, wherein the exception event detection mechanism is configured to process inputs received from a plurality of sensing devices;

determining, by the processing system, a type of the exception event based on data captured by the image capture device in the second function;

storing, by the processing system, metadata with the captured digital images, wherein the metadata comprises the determined type of the exception event; and

providing, by the processing system, a response to the exception event.