Device with vehicle interface for sensor data storage and transfer

• US 9,430,883 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2014
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Busse, Martin A, Chitnis, Siddharth
• Primary Examiner(s): Tissot, Adam
• Assistant Examiner(s): NESLEY, TIMOTHY ALAN
• Application Number:
  US14/458,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20160049017A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 701 36- 49, 348 1401- 1416, 348143-160, 180271-290
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0866 the electronic data carrier being a digital video recorder in combination with video camera

Abstract

A device may store and transmit data collected from sensors within a vehicle. The device may include at least one communication interface; a memory configured to store instructions; and a processor, coupled to the at least one communication interface and the memory. The processor may be configured to execute the instructions stored in the memory. The instructions may cause the processor to receive an initiation signal from an on-board interface associated with a vehicle, establish communications with the on-board interface and at least one vehicle sensor in response to the initiation signal, receive a first data stream from the at least one vehicle sensor, generate a second data stream from the least one internal sensor, combine the first data stream and the second data stream into a combined stream, store the combined stream in the memory, and wirelessly transmit the combined stream to a remote storage and retrieval system.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving an initiation signal from an on-board interface associated with a vehicle;

establishing communications with the on-board interface and at least one vehicle sensor in response to the initiation signal, wherein establishing communications further comprises automatically executing an application in response to receiving the initiation signal, and determining application default settings associated with at least one of the at least one vehicle sensor or at least one internal sensor;

receiving a first data stream from the at least one vehicle sensor;

measuring at least one physical property through the at least one internal sensor associated with a mobile device;

generating a second data stream based on the at least one measured physical property;

combining the first data stream and the second data stream into a combined stream, wherein the first data stream and the second data stream are selectively combined based on the application default settings;

storing the combined stream in the mobile device; and

wirelessly transmitting the combined stream to a remote storage and retrieval system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the on-board interface includes a wireless transmitter, and receiving the initiation signal further comprises:

receiving a near field communications (NFC) signal from the wireless transmitter.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing communications with the at least one vehicle sensor further comprises:

communicating with the at least one vehicle sensor through at least one of the on-board interface or a wireless interface.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving a request from a remote device, wherein the establishing communications with the at least one vehicle sensor is based upon the remote request; and

communicating with the at least one vehicle sensor through an On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) interface.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a position of the vehicle; and

setting the application default settings based on the position.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a notification regarding the storing and transmitting of the first data stream and the second data stream; and

receiving permissions for storing and transmitting the first data stream and second data stream in response to the notification,

wherein the first data stream and the second data stream are selectively combined based on the permissions.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the first data stream from the at least one vehicle sensor further comprises receiving at least one of video data, proximity data, occupancy sensor data, airbag deployment status data, acceleration data, velocity data, or position data.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving power from the on-board interface for at least one of charging batteries or operation within the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one internal sensor includes at least one of a first camera, a second camera, an accelerometer, or a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing communications with the at least one vehicle sensor further comprises:

communicating with the at least one vehicle sensor through at least one of the on-board interface or a wireless interface, wherein the on-board interface includes a wireless transmitter, and receiving the initiation signal further comprises receiving a near field communications signal from the wireless transmitter.

11. A mobile device, comprising:

at least one communication interface;

at least one internal sensor;

a memory configured to store instructions; and

a processor, coupled to the at least one communication interface, the at least one internal sensor, and the memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions stored in the memory to;

receive an initiation signal from an on-board interface associated with a vehicle,

establish communications with the on-board interface and at least one vehicle sensor in response to the initiation signal, wherein the instructions to establish communications further cause the processor to automatically execute an application in response to receiving the initiation signal, and determine application default settings associated with at least one of the at least one vehicle sensor or the at least one internal sensor,

receive a first data stream from the at least one vehicle sensor,

generate a second data stream from the least one internal sensor,

combine the first data stream and the second data stream into a combined stream, wherein the first data stream and the second data stream are selectively combined based on the application default settings,

store the combined stream in the memory, and

wirelessly transmit the combined stream to a remote storage and retrieval system.

12. The mobile device of claim 11, further comprising:

a near field communications (NFC) transceiver to receive the initiation signal from an NFC transceiver associated with the on-board interface.

13. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the instructions to establish communications with the at least one vehicle sensor further cause the processor to:

communicate with the at least one vehicle sensor through at least one of the on-board interface or a wireless interface.

14. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the instructions to establish communications with the at least one vehicle sensor further cause the processor to:

receive a request from a remote device, wherein establishing communications with the at least one vehicle sensor is based upon the request, and

communicate with the at least one vehicle sensor through an On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) interface.

15. The mobile device of claim 11, further comprising instructions for causing the processor to:

determine a position of the vehicle; and

set the application default settings based on the position.

16. The mobile device of claim 11, further comprising instructions for causing the processor to:

provide a notification regarding the storing and transmitting of the first data stream and the second data stream; and

receive permissions for storing and transmitting the first data stream and the second data stream in response to the notification,

wherein the first data stream and the second data stream are selectively combined based on the permissions.

17. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the instructions to receive the first data stream from the at least one vehicle sensor further cause the processor to:

receive at least one of video data, proximity data, occupancy sensor data, airbag deployment status data, acceleration data, velocity data, or position data.

18. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the internal sensor further comprises at least one of a first camera, a second camera, an accelerometer, or a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

receive an initiation signal from an on-board interface associated with a vehicle;

establish communications with the on-board interface and at least one vehicle sensor in response to the initiation signal, wherein the instructions to establish communications further cause the processor to automatically execute an application in response to receiving the initiation signal, and determine application default settings associated with at least one of the at least one vehicle sensor or at least one internal sensor;

receive a first data stream from the at least one vehicle sensor;

measure at least one physical property through the at least one internal sensor associated with a mobile device;

generate a second data stream based on the at least one measured physical property;

combine the first data stream and the second data stream into a combined stream, wherein the first data stream and the second data stream are selectively combined based on the application default settings;

store the combined stream in the mobile device; and

wirelessly transmit the combined stream to a remote storage and retrieval system.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions to establish communications with the at least one vehicle sensor further cause the processor to:

communicate with the at least one vehicle sensor through at least one of the on-board interface or a wireless interface, wherein the on-board interface includes a wireless transmitter, and the instructions to receive the initiation signal further causes the process to receive a near field communications signal from the wireless transmitter.