Apparatus and method for providing real-time vehicle data capture and vehicle identification

1 . An apparatus for providing real-time vehicle data capture and vehicle identification, the apparatus comprising:

an identification and data capture system (“IDCS”) including:

a display device configured on an external surface of a vehicle door; a media recording unit for capturing data in real-time;

at least one trigger unit for initiating real-time data capturing by the media recording unit; and

at least one computer-readable storage media having stored therein a guardian angel application, and at least one processor for executing the guardian angel application;

a network;

at least one data storage device;

a vehicle management server (“VMS”) having one or more computer programs, one more processors and one or more computer-readable storage media, the server configured to:

create a profile for a user and store the profile in at least one registered user account database stored in the at least one data storage device, the profile includes at least one guardian angel device (“GAD”) designated by the user;

assign a unique account number to the user;

assign storage space in the at least one data storage device to the user to store data associated with the user;

link the unique account number to the storage space assigned to the user; receive data associated with the user from the IDCS;

broadcast the received real-time data to all guardian angel devices (“GADs”) designated by the user; and

storing the received data in the storage space assigned to the user.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the IDCS is further configured to:

send an alert notification to each guardian angel device designated by the user.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an internal vehicle display for displaying the real-time data captured by the at least one camera device.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the external display device is an electronic display configured to display vehicle identification information.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the external display device is integrated on the external surface of a driver-side vehicle door.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the media recording unit includes at least one video recording device integrated within the vehicle at a front view, a left side view, a right side view, and a rear side view.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the media recording unit includes at least one pair of video recording devices, each pair integrated within the vehicle at a front view, a left side view, a right side view, and a rear side view.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 wherein each pair of video recording devices includes a rear-facing video recording device and a front-facing video recording device.

9 . The apparatus of claim 6 wherein each at least one video recording device is configured to capture data within a user-selected field of view designated for the corresponding at least one camera.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the trigger unit alerts the media recording unit when a trigger event occurs.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the IDCS sends a notification to the VMS when a trigger event occurs.

12 . The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the media recording unit activates the at least one video recording unit when a trigger event occurs.

13 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the media recording unit controls the operation of the at least one camera consistent with the user selected field of view.

14 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the trigger unit includes at least one of a push-button switch integrated into the dashboard of the vehicle, voice recognition technology, or Bluetooth™ technology.