Distributed vehicle event recorder systems having a portable memory data transfer system
View Patent ↗Data transfer systems for vehicle event recorders are provided as: a vehicle event recorder, a vehicle event recorder resident memory, and upload module in conjunction with, a communication port suitable for coupling with, a portable memory device, a server computer datastore, a server download module in conjunction with, a similar cooperating communications port. The portable memory device is arranged to operably couple with the communications ports of both the vehicle event recorder and the server computer and to be repeatedly moved between the two. The upload/download modules are arranged to transfer data to/from the portable memory in an orderly fashion in which no files are removed from the vehicle event recorder resident memory without first having been successfully transferred to the server computer datastore.
1. A vehicle event recorder system comprising:
a camera configured to capture image data, wherein the camera has a field of view arranged to include an environment in and/or around a vehicle, wherein the camera is configured to be mounted in the vehicle;
one or more sensors configured to generate output signals conveying vehicle information related to operation of the vehicle, wherein the one or more sensors are carried by the vehicle;
resident memory configured to electronically store information, wherein the resident memory is carried by the vehicle;
a microprocessor configured to:
detect vehicle events based on the generated output signals,
create event record datasets responsive to detection of the vehicle events, wherein the event record datasets include the captured image data and the vehicle information, and
effectuate storage of the event record datasets in the resident memory, wherein the event record datasets include a particular event record dataset;
a communications port configured to facilitate communication between the resident memory and an external computing system;
the external computing system comprising:
storage configured to electronically store information,
an external system communications port configured to facilitate communication with the communications port, and
a download module communicatively coupled to the storage and the external system communications port, wherein the download module is configured to facilitate transfer of information via the external system communications port to the storage, wherein the download module is further configured to transmit an indication through the external system communications port, wherein the indication indicates that the particular event record dataset has been successfully stored in the storage; and
an upload module communicatively coupled to the resident memory and the communications port, wherein, responsive to receiving the indication from the download module, the upload module of the vehicle event recorder is configured to cause the resident memory to mark the particular event record dataset for erasing and/or overwriting.
2. The vehicle event recorder system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an on-board diagnostics system configured to associate data provided by the on-board diagnostic system with captured image data, and wherein the event record datasets include data provided by the on-board diagnostic system.
3. The vehicle event recorder system of claim 1 , wherein the communications port includes an electromechanical coupling operable for repeated coupling and decoupling.
4. The vehicle event recorder system of claim 1 , wherein the external system communications port includes an electromechanical coupling operable for repeated coupling and decoupling.
5. The vehicle event recorder system of claim 1 , wherein the communications port includes a first electromechanical coupling operable for repeated coupling and decoupling, wherein the external system communications port includes a second electromechanical coupling operable for repeated coupling and decoupling, and wherein the first electromechanical coupling is configured to couple with the second electromechanical coupling.
6. The vehicle event recorder system of claim 5 , wherein the first electromechanical coupling conforms to protocol and structure defined in at least one of USB flash, CompactFlash, and Secure Disk flash.
7. The vehicle event recorder system of claim 1 , wherein multiple indications that indicate successful storage of multiple corresponding event record datasets are included in a computer readable control file.
8. The vehicle event recorder system of claim 1 , wherein the upload module is further configured to process the computer readable control file.
9. The vehicle event recorder system of claim 8 , wherein the download module is further configured to process the computer readable control file.
10. The vehicle event recorder system of claim 1 , wherein the resident memory includes portable memory.
11. The vehicle event recorder system of claim 1 , wherein the download module is further configured to transmit a second indication through the external system communications port, wherein the second indication indicates that the particular event record dataset has not been successfully stored in the storage, wherein, responsive to receiving the second indication from the download module, the upload module of the vehicle event recorder is further configured to retransmit the particular event record dataset from the resident memory via the communications port.
12. The vehicle event recorder system of claim 1 , wherein the particular event record dataset corresponds to a collision.