Detection of traffic violations

• US 9,019,380 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2012
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schenken, Christopher T., Davidson, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): ELAHI, SHAN E
• Application Number:
  US13/473,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20120307064A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• Field of Search: 348/149
• US Class Current: 348/149
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0866 the electronic data carrier being a digital video recorder in combination with video camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/01 Detecting movement of traffic to be counted or controlled G08G1/07 - G08G1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0175 by photographing vehicles, e.g. when violating traffic rules
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/042 using inductive or magnetic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253

Abstract

In general, embodiments of the present invention provide methods, apparatus, systems, computing devices, computing entities, and/or the like for detecting possible traffic violations of vehicles. For example, in one embodiment, this may include receiving an indication that a school bus has entered or is entering a stopped position. After receiving an indication that the school bus has entered or is entering the stopped position, an area proximate the school bus can be monitored to detect possible traffic violations.

Claims

1. A method for detecting possible traffic violations of vehicles, the method comprising:

determining that a school bus is within a zone of interest;

after determining that the school bus is within the zone of interest, receiving, via one or more processors, an indication that the school bus has entered or is entering a stopped position;

after receiving the indication that the school bus has entered or is entering the stopped position within the zone of interest, monitoring, via one or more processors, an area proximate the school bus to detect possible traffic violations; and

detecting a possible traffic violation, wherein (a) the possible traffic violation is detected via at least one of a motion sensor, a sound sensor, or a magnetic sensor, and (b) the possible traffic violation is a vehicle passing the school bus in the area proximate the school bus.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the area proximate the school bus to detect possible traffic violations comprises capturing image data and telematics data.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising, after detecting the possible traffic violation, capturing image data and telematics data.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising, after detecting the possible traffic violation, causing a perceivable indication to be emitted.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication that the school bus has entered or is entering the stopped position is received in response to at least one of the school bus stopping, the school bus decelerating, a door on the school bus opening, or an arm on the school bus extending.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising capturing telematics data after entering the zone of interest.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising validating the captured image data to confirm that an actual traffic violation occurred.

8. A system for detecting possible traffic violations of vehicles, the system comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the system to at least:

determine that a school bus is within a zone of interest;

after determining that the school bus is within the zone of interest, receive an indication that a school bus has entered or is entering a stopped position;

after receiving the indication that the school bus has entered or is entering the stopped position within the zone of interest, monitor an area proximate the school bus to detect possible traffic violations; and

detect a possible traffic violation, wherein (a) the possible traffic violation is detected via at least one of a motion sensor, a sound sensor, or a magnetic sensor, and (b) the possible traffic violation is a vehicle passing the school bus in the area proximate the school bus.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein monitoring the area proximate the school bus to detect possible traffic violations comprises capturing image data and telematics data.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the system to, after detecting the possible traffic violation, capture image data and telematics data.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the system to, after detecting the possible traffic violation, cause a perceivable indication to be emitted.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the indication that the school bus has entered or is entering the stopped position is received in response to at least one of the school bus stopping, the school bus decelerating, a door on the school bus opening, or an arm on the school bus extending.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the system to capture telematics data after entering the zone of interest.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the system to validate the captured image data to confirm that an actual traffic violation occurred.

15. A computer program product for detecting possible traffic violations of vehicles, the computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein to be executed by one or more processors, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

an executable portion, when executed by the one or more processors, configured to determine that a school bus is within a zone of interest;

an executable portion, when executed by the one or more processors, configured to, after determining that the school bus is within the zone of interest, receive an indication that a school bus has entered or is entering a stopped position;

an executable portion, when executed by the one or more processors, configured to, after receiving the indication that the school bus has entered or is entering the stopped position within the zone of interest, monitor an area proximate the school bus to detect possible traffic violations; and

an executable portion, when executed by the one or more processors, configured to detect a possible traffic violation, wherein (a) the possible traffic violation is detected via at least one of a motion sensor, a sound sensor, or a magnetic sensor, and (b) the possible traffic violation is a vehicle passing the school bus in the area proximate the school bus.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein monitoring the area proximate the school bus to detect possible traffic violations comprises capturing image data and telematics data.

17. The computer program product of claim 15 further comprising an executable portion configured to, after detecting the possible traffic violation, capture image data and telematics data.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 further comprising an executable portion configured to, after detecting the possible traffic violation, cause a perceivable indication to be emitted.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the indication that the school bus has entered or is entering the stopped position is received in response to at least one of the school bus stopping, the school bus decelerating, a door on the school bus opening, or an arm on the school bus extending.

20. The computer program product of claim 15 further comprising an executable portion configured to capture telematics data after entering the zone of interest.

21. The computer program product of claim 20 further comprising validating the captured image data to confirm that an actual traffic violation occurred.