IP Library Granted Patent US 11,620,862
Granted Patent B1
US 11,620,862 · App. 16/928,137 · Granted Apr 4, 2023

Method and system for reconstructing information about an accident

Inventors: Nolan Serrao (Plano, TX); Ruthie D. Lyle (Durham, NC); Bharat Prasad (San Antonio, TX); Ravi Durairaj (San Antonio, TX)
Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
G07C5/08G06Q40/08G06T13/80G06T17/00
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,620,862
App. No.
16/928,137
Granted
Apr 4, 2023
Kind
B1
Abstract

A system and method for reconstructing information about vehicular accidents is disclosed. The system comprises an onboard computing system in a vehicle with an accident reconstruction system. Using sensed information from vehicle sensors and an animation engine, the system can generate animated videos depicting the accident. The system can also take action in response to information it learns from the animated video and/or an underlying 3D model of the accident used to generate the video.

Claims (28)

1. A method of controlling a vehicle system in response to information from a 3D model of an accident, comprising:

monitoring a set of vehicle sensors for a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle further including an engine;

detecting that an accident has occurred, the accident involving the motor vehicle;

retrieving a set of accident data from the set of vehicle sensors;

generating a 3D model of the accident using the set of accident data;

analyzing the 3D model of the accident and inferring damage to the engine of the motor vehicle from the analysis of the 3D model; and

modifying the operation of the engine, in response to inferring damage from the analysis of the 3D model, to mitigate further damage to the engine.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the 3D model can used to build an animated video of the accident.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein modifying the operation of the engine further comprises stopping a fuel injection system from injecting fuel into cylinders of the engine.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the set of vehicle sensors includes a camera.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the set of vehicle sensors includes a microphone.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further includes a step of assessing a severity of the accident.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the method includes automatically calling emergency services if the severity of the accident is determined to be sufficiently high.

8. A computing system for controlling a vehicle system in response to information from a 3D model of an accident, comprising:

a device processor; and

a non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions executable by the device processor to:

monitor a set of vehicle sensors for a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle further including an engine;

detect that an accident has occurred, the accident involving the motor vehicle;

retrieve a set of accident data from the set of vehicle sensors;

generate a 3D model of the accident using the set of accident data;

analyze the 3D model of the accident and inferring damage to the engine of the motor vehicle from the analysis of the 3D model; and

modify the operation of the engine, in response to inferring damage from the analysis of the 3D model, to mitigate further damage to the engine.

9. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the 3D model can used to build an animated video of the accident.

10. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to modify the operation of the engine by stopping a fuel injection system from injecting fuel into cylinders of the engine.

11. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the set of vehicle sensors includes a camera.

12. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the set of vehicle sensors includes a microphone.

13. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to assess a severity of the accident.

14. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to call emergency services if the severity of the accident is determined to be sufficiently high.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 30, 2023
From: UIPCO, LLC
To: UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION (USAA)
Reel/Frame 062523/0142 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2020
From: SERRAO, NOLAN; LYLE, RUTHIE D.; PRASAD, BHARAT; DURAIRAJ, RAVI
To: UIPCO, LLC
Reel/Frame 053199/0887 →
Continuity (1)
Provisional Application 62874041 · Jul 15, 2019
Cited By (7)
US 12,205,456 US 12,229,316 US 12,282,963 US 12,337,845 US 12,524,967 US 12,542,052 US 12,705,936