IP Library Granted Patent US 8,892,310
Granted Patent B1
US 8,892,310 · App. 14/186,416 · Granted Nov 18, 2014

System and method to detect execution of driving maneuvers

Inventors: Jason Palmer (Carlsbad, CA); Slaven Sljivar (San Diego, CA)
Assignee: SmartDrive Systems, Inc.
G05D1/021G05D1/0055
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,892,310
App. No.
14/186,416
Granted
Nov 18, 2014
Kind
B1
Abstract

This disclosure relates to a system and method for detecting execution of driving maneuvers based on pre-determined driving maneuver profiles. Some or all of the system may be installed in a vehicle and/or be otherwise coupled with a vehicle. In some implementations, the system may detect execution of driving maneuvers by the vehicle based on pre-determined driving maneuver profiles. The system may include one or more sensors configured to generate output signals conveying information related to the vehicle. In some implementations, the system may detect execution of the driving maneuvers by the vehicle based on a comparison of the information conveyed by the output signals from the sensors to criteria included in the pre-determined driving maneuver profiles.

Claims (57)

1. A system configured to detect execution of driving maneuvers, the system configured to couple with a vehicle, the system comprising:

one or more sensors configured to generate output signals conveying information related to operation and/or context of the vehicle; and

one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules, the computer program modules comprising:

a maneuver trigger module configured to detect, in real-time or near real-time, execution by the vehicle of a specific driving maneuver based on the information conveyed by the output signals from the one or more sensors, and

a control module configured to, responsive to the detection of the specific driving maneuver, facilitate, in real-time or near real-time, wireless communication of the information conveyed by the output signals for a period of time that includes at least the specific driving maneuver to a remote computing device,

wherein the control module is configured such that the period of time that includes at least the specific driving maneuver includes a pre-maneuver period of time and a post-maneuver period of time,

wherein the pre-maneuver period of time and the post-maneuver period of time are determined after detection of the specific driving maneuver, and

wherein the pre-maneuver period of time and the post-maneuver period of time are determined based on the detected specific driving maneuver.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors are configured such that the information related to operation and/or context of the vehicle includes video information.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control module is configured to, responsive to the detection of the specific driving maneuver, facilitate electronic storage of the information conveyed by the output signals for the period of time that includes at least the specific driving maneuver.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors include at least one camera configured to acquire visual information representing a vehicle environment, the vehicle environment including spaces in and around an interior and an exterior of the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the one or more sensors include multiple cameras positioned about the vehicle, the multiple cameras synchronized to provide a 360 degree view of the inside of the vehicle and a 360 degree view of the outside of the vehicle, and wherein the control module is configured to associate the visual information with the information related to operation and/or context of the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors are configured such that at least one of the one or more sensors is a vehicle subsystem sensor associated with a vehicle engine control module system, the at least one sensor configured to generate output signals conveying information related to mechanical systems of the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the maneuver trigger module is configured such that the specific driving maneuver includes one or more of a swerve, a U-turn, freewheeling, over-revving, lane-departure, short following, imminent collision, a sustained left turn indicating a potential overturn on a cloverleaf, or a sustained right turn indicating a potential overturn on a cloverleaf.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the maneuver trigger module is configured to filter the detected driving maneuver based on pre-determined geo-fences, wherein geo-fences are virtual boundaries that define physical areas where one or more driving maneuvers are permissible or are not permissible.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the maneuver trigger module is configured to filter the detected driving maneuver based on the pre-determined geo-fences and the time of day.

10. A method to detect execution of driving maneuvers, the method comprising:

generating, with one or more sensors, output signals conveying information related to operation and/or context of a vehicle;

detecting, in real-time or near real-time, execution by the vehicle of a specific driving maneuver based on the information conveyed by the output signals from the one or more sensors; and

facilitating, in real-time or near real-time, responsive to the detection of the specific driving maneuver, wireless communication of the information conveyed by the output signals for a period of time that includes at least the specific driving maneuver to a remote computing device,

wherein the period of time that includes at least the specific driving maneuver includes a pre-maneuver period of time and a post-maneuver period of time,

wherein the pre-maneuver period of time and the post-maneuver period of time are determined after detection of the specific driving maneuver, and

wherein the pre-maneuver period of time and the post-maneuver period of time are determined based on the detected specific driving maneuver.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising facilitating, responsive to the detection of the specific driving maneuver, electronic storage of the information conveyed by the output signals for the period of time that includes at least the specific driving maneuver.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising acquiring visual information representing a vehicle environment, the vehicle environment including spaces in and around an interior and an exterior of the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising generating output signals conveying information related to mechanical systems of the vehicle via a vehicle subsystem sensor associated with a vehicle engine control module system.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the specific driving maneuver includes one or more of a swerve, a U-turn, freewheeling, over-revving, lane-departure, short following, imminent collision, a sustained left turn indicating a potential overturn on a cloverleaf, or a sustained right turn indicating a potential overturn on a cloverleaf.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the sustained left turn and/or the sustained right turn are detected based on one or more of a vehicle speed, an engine load, a throttle level, vehicle direction, or a gravitational force being sustained at or above a threshold level for a pre-determined amount of time.

16. A system configured to detect execution of driving maneuvers based on pre-determined driving maneuver profiles, the system configured to couple with a vehicle, the system comprising:

one or more sensors configured to generate output signals conveying information related to operation and/or context of the vehicle; and

one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules, the computer program modules comprising:

a parameter module configured to determine one or more vehicle parameters based on the output signals, the one or more vehicle parameters being related to the operation and/or context of the vehicle;

a profile module configured to obtain one or more pre-determined driving maneuver profiles, the one or more pre-determined driving maneuver profiles including criteria sets associated with driving maneuvers, the one or more pre-determined driving maneuver profiles including a first pre-determined driving maneuver profile having a first criteria set, the first criteria set including a first individual criterion and a second individual criterion;

a maneuver trigger module configured to detect execution by the vehicle of a specific driving maneuver, the specific driving maneuver detected based on the determined vehicle parameters and the obtained pre-determined driving maneuver profiles by comparing the determined vehicle parameters to the criteria sets such that a first specific driving maneuver is detected responsive to the determined parameters satisfying the first individual criterion and the second individual criterion, and

a control module configured to, responsive to the detection of the specific driving maneuver, facilitate, in real-time or near real-time, wireless communication of the information conveyed by the output signals for a period of time that includes at least the specific driving maneuver to a remote computing device,

wherein the control module is configured such that the period of time that includes at least the specific driving maneuver includes a pre-maneuver period of time and a post-maneuver period of time,

wherein the pre-maneuver period of time and the post-maneuver period of time are determined after detection of the specific driving maneuver, and

wherein the pre-maneuver period of time and the post-maneuver period of time are determined based on the detected specific driving maneuver.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the profile module is configured to scale the first individual criterion and/or the second individual criterion in the first pre-determined driving maneuver profile based on the output signals and/or the determined parameters.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the profile module is configured to perform the scaling in real-time or near real-time during operation of the vehicle.

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the profile module is configured such that the first individual criterion and the second individual criterion for the first pre-determined driving maneuver profile are associated with information conveyed by output signals from at least two different sensors.

20. The system of claim 16 , wherein the one or more sensors generate output signals conveying information related to one or more of mechanical systems of the vehicle, movement of the vehicle, an orientation of the vehicle, a geographic position of the vehicle, or a spatial position of the vehicle relative to other objects.

21. The system of claim 16 , wherein the parameter module is configured to determine the one or more vehicle parameters one or more times in an ongoing manner during operation of the vehicle.

22. A method to detect execution of driving maneuvers based on pre-determined driving maneuver profiles, the method comprising:

generating output signals conveying information related to operation and/or context of a vehicle;

determining one or more vehicle parameters based on the output signals, the one or more vehicle parameters being related to the operation and/or context of the vehicle;

obtaining one or more pre-determined driving maneuver profiles, the one or more pre-determined driving maneuver profiles including criteria sets associated with driving maneuvers, the one or more pre-determined driving maneuver profiles including a first pre-determined driving maneuver profile having a first criteria set, the first criteria set including a first individual criterion and a second individual criterion;

detecting execution by the vehicle of a specific driving maneuver, the specific driving maneuver detected based on the determined vehicle parameters and the obtained pre-determined driving maneuver profiles by comparing the determined vehicle parameters to the criteria sets such that a first specific driving maneuver is detected responsive to the determined parameters satisfying the first individual criterion and the second individual criterion; and

facilitating, in real-time or near real-time, responsive to the detection of the specific driving maneuver, wireless communication of the information conveyed by the output signals for a period of time that includes at least the specific driving maneuver to a remote computing device,

wherein the period of time that includes at least the specific driving maneuver includes a pre-maneuver period of time and a post-maneuver period of time,

wherein the pre-maneuver period of time and the post-maneuver period of time are determined after detection of the specific driving maneuver, and

wherein the pre-maneuver period of time and the post-maneuver period of time are determined based on the detected specific driving maneuver.

23. The method of claim 22 , further comprising scaling the first individual criterion and/or the second individual criterion in the first pre-determined driving maneuver profile based on the output signals and/or the determined parameters.

24. The method of claim 23 , further comprising performing the scaling in real-time or near real-time during operation of the vehicle.

25. The method of claim 22 , wherein the first individual criterion and the second individual criterion for the first pre-determined driving maneuver profile are associated with information conveyed by output signals from at least two different sensors.

26. The method of claim 22 , further comprising generating output signals conveying information related to one or more of mechanical systems of the vehicle, movement of the vehicle, an orientation of the vehicle, a geographic position of the vehicle, or a spatial position of the vehicle relative to other objects.

27. The method of claim 22 , further comprising determining the one or more vehicle parameters one or more times in an ongoing manner during operation of the vehicle.

Assignments (16)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT PATENT NUMBER D856640 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 056598 FRAME 0059. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Nov 17, 2021
From: OMNITRACS, LLC; ROADNET TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.; XRS CORPORATION; HYPERQUEST, LLC (F/K/A HYPERQUEST, INC.); AUDATEX NORTH AMERICA, LLC (F/K/A AUDATEX NORTH AMERICA, INC.); CLAIMS SERVICES GROUP, LLC; DMEAUTOMOTIVE LLC; ENSERVIO, LLC (F/K/A ENSERVIO, INC.); MOBILE PRODUCTIVITY, LLC; SEE PROGRESS, LLC (F/K/A SEE PROGRESS, INC.); SOLERA HOLDINGS, LLC (F/K/A SOLERA HOLDINGS, INC.); EDRIVING FLEET LLC; FINANCE EXPRESS LLC
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058175/0775 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT PATENT NUMBER D856640 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 056601 FRAME 0630. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Nov 17, 2021
From: OMNITRACS, LLC; ROADNET TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.; XRS CORPORATION; HYPERQUEST, LLC (F/K/A HYPERQUEST, INC.); AUDATEX NORTH AMERICA, LLC (F/K/A AUDATEX NORTH AMERICA, INC.); CLAIMS SERVICES GROUP, LLC; DMEAUTOMOTIVE LLC; ENSERVIO, LLC (F/K/A ENSERVIO, INC.); MOBILE PRODUCTIVITY, LLC; SEE PROGRESS, LLC (F/K/A SEE PROGRESS, INC.); SOLERA HOLDINGS, LLC (F/K/A SOLERA HOLDINGS, INC.); EDRIVING FLEET LLC; FINANCE EXPRESS LLC
To: GOLDMAN SACHS LENDING PARTNERS LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058174/0907 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 16, 2021
From: OMNITRACS, LLC; ROADNET TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.; XRS CORPORATION; HYPERQUEST, LLC (F/K/A HYPERQUEST, INC.); AUDATEX NORTH AMERICA, LLC (F/K/A AUDATEX NORTH AMERICA, INC.); CLAIMS SERVICES GROUP, LLC; DMEAUTOMOTIVE LLC; ENSERVIO, LLC (F/K/A ENSERVIO, INC.); MOBILE PRODUCTIVITY, LLC; SEE PROGRESS, LLC (F/K/A SEE PROGRESS, INC.); SOLERA HOLDINGS, LLC (F/K/A SOLERA HOLDINGS, INC.); EDRIVING FLEET LLC; FINANCE EXPRESS LLC
To: GOLDMAN SACHS LENDING PARTNERS LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056601/0630 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 16, 2021
From: OMNITRACS, LLC; ROADNET TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.; XRS CORPORATION; HYPERQUEST, LLC (F/K/A HYPERQUEST, INC.); AUDATEX NORTH AMERICA, LLC (F/K/A AUDATEX NORTH AMERICA, INC.); CLAIMS SERVICES GROUP, LLC; DMEAUTOMOTIVE LLC; ENSERVIO, LLC (F/K/A ENSERVIO, INC.); MOBILE PRODUCTIVITY, LLC; SEE PROGRESS, LLC (F/K/A SEE PROGRESS, INC.); SOLERA HOLDINGS, LLC (F/K/A SOLERA HOLDINGS, INC.); EDRIVING FLEET LLC; FINANCE EXPRESS LLC
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056598/0059 →
SECURITY INTEREST RELEASE (REEL/FRAME: 054236/0435) Recorded Jun 8, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS GRANTEE
To: SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 056518/0845 →
SECURITY INTEREST RELEASE (REEL/FRAME: 054236/0320) Recorded Jun 8, 2021
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS GRANTEE
To: SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 056520/0944 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 6, 2020
From: SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 054236/0320 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF GRANT OF A SECURITY INTEREST - PATENTS Recorded Oct 6, 2020
From: TCS TALENTS, LLC, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
To: SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 053983/0525 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 6, 2020
From: SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 054236/0435 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 3, 2019
From: ALLY BANK
To: SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 050246/0118 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 3, 2019
From: SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
To: TCS TALENTS, LLC, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 050255/0071 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 3, 2019
From: ORIX GROWTH CAPITAL, LLC
To: SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 050254/0872 →
RELEASE OF IP SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 3, 2019
From: ALLY BANK
To: SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 050258/0222 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 15, 2019
From: SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
To: ORIX GROWTH CAPITAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 048352/0843 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 26, 2016
From: SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
To: ALLY BANK
Reel/Frame 039841/0148 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 21, 2014
From: PALMER, JASON; SLJIVAR, SLAVEN
To: SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC
Reel/Frame 032269/0794 →