IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,325,429
Granted Patent B2
US 12,325,429 · App. 18/098,779 · Granted Jun 10, 2025

Method and system for crowd sourced dangerous driving detection and accident mitigation

Inventors: Neil Patrick Adams (Waterloo, CA); Jeremy Lawson Kominar (Waterloo, CA)
Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
B60W40/09G06V20/625B60W2420/403B60W2554/4045
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,325,429
App. No.
18/098,779
Granted
Jun 10, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method at a computing device for a vehicle, the method including observing, using sensors of the vehicle, behavior of an external road user; producing at the computing device a normalized safety score for the external road user; recording identifying information for the external road user; and reporting the normalized safety score and identifying information to a server.

Claims (41)

1. A method at a computing device for a vehicle, the method comprising:

obtaining, using sensors of the vehicle, sensor data relating to a behavior of an external road user;

providing the sensor data to abstraction layers between the computing device and sensors of the vehicle to produce abstracted data;

providing the abstracted data to a synthetic sensor to produce a normalized safety score for the external road user;

recording identifying information for the external road user; and

reporting the normalized safety score and identifying information to a server.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reporting comprises obtaining a threshold number of normalized safety scores for a plurality of external road users prior to sending a report to the server.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reporting comprises waiting a threshold time period from sending a first report to the sending of a second report.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the behavior comprises at least one of: whether the external road user signals turns or lane changes; whether the vehicle is speeding; whether the vehicle is passing on an incorrect side; whether the vehicle brakes beyond a threshold braking rate; whether the vehicle is veering into another lane; whether the vehicle has functioning lights; whether the vehicle is emitting smoke; whether the vehicle has tire tread above a threshold level; whether the vehicle has parts that are partially detached from the vehicle; and whether the vehicle is following traffic regulations.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying information comprises a picture or video of the external road user.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying information comprises the computing device performing image processing to obtain at least one of a license plate number; a make; a model; a color; and markings for the external road user.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, at the computing device, a safety report from the server; and

performing an action at the computing device.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the action comprises at least one of:

providing a notification regarding a dangerous road user to a user interface; and

automatically performing a vehicle maneuver at the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the safety report comprises areas to avoid based on road users having a safety score below a safety threshold level and a confidence level above confidence threshold level being in the areas.

10. A computing device for a vehicle, the computing device comprising:

a processor; and

a communications subsystem, wherein the computing device is configured to:

obtain, using sensors of the vehicle, sensor data relating to a behavior of an external road user;

provide the sensor data to abstraction layers between the computing device and sensors of the vehicle to produce abstracted data;

provide the abstracted data to a synthetic sensor to produce a normalized safety score for the external road user;

record identifying information for the external road user; and

report the normalized safety score and identifying information to a server.

11. The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the computing device is configured to report by obtaining a threshold number of normalized safety scores for a plurality of external road users prior to sending a report to the server.

12. The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the computing device is configured to report by waiting a threshold time period from sending a first report to the sending of a second report.

13. The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the behavior comprises at least one of: whether the external road user signals turns or lane changes; whether the vehicle is speeding; whether the vehicle is passing on an incorrect side; whether the vehicle brakes beyond a threshold braking rate; whether the vehicle is veering into another lane; whether the vehicle has functioning lights; whether the vehicle is emitting smoke; whether the vehicle has tire tread above a threshold level; whether the vehicle has parts that are partially detached from the vehicle; and whether the vehicle is following traffic regulations.

14. The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the identifying information comprises the computing device performing image processing to obtain at least one of a license plate number; a make; a model; a color; and markings for the external road user.

15. The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the computing device is further configured to:

receive a safety report from the server; and

perform an action at the computing device.

16. The computing device of claim 15 , wherein the action comprises at least one of: providing a notification regarding a dangerous road user to a user interface; and automatically performing a vehicle maneuver at the vehicle.

17. The computing device of claim 15 , wherein the safety report comprises areas to avoid based on road users having a safety score below a safety threshold level and a confidence level above confidence threshold level being in the areas.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium for storing instruction code, which, when executed by a processor of a computing device for a vehicle cause the computing device to:

obtain, using sensors of the vehicle, sensor data relating to a behavior of an external road user;

provide the sensor data to abstraction layers between the computing device and sensors of the vehicle to produce abstracted data;

provide the abstracted data to a synthetic sensor to produce a normalized safety score for the external road user;

record identifying information for the external road user; and

report the normalized safety score and identifying information to a server.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 31, 2023
From: KOMINAR, JEREMY LAWSON; ADAMS, NEIL PATRICK
To: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 062550/0211 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240246544A1 · Jul 25, 2024
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