IP Library Granted Patent US 9,942,526
Granted Patent B2
US 9,942,526 · App. 15/201,385 · Granted Apr 10, 2018

Vehicle event recorders with integrated web server

Inventor: James Plante (San Diego, CA)
Assignee: SmartDrive Systems, Inc.
H04N7/188G06F9/4443G06F17/30864G07C5/008G07C5/085G07C5/0891H04L41/22H04L65/60H04L67/12H04L67/42H04N5/23206H04N5/23216H04N5/77H04N7/181H04N7/183
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,942,526
App. No.
15/201,385
Granted
Apr 10, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Vehicle event recorders are arranged with integrated web servers to provide a simple user interface and control mechanism which may be address with commonly available hardware and software. A vehicle event recorder of these inventions couples to a network having a workstation node. The workstation having either of the many available web browsers can be used to view, address, control, perform data transfer, et cetera, by way of data exchange in accordance with simple IP protocols. A vehicle equipped with these systems returns to a household to make a network connection. A local server is used to see all exposed system controls as provided by predefined web pages provided by a web server integrated as part of the vehicle event recorder unit.

Claims (42)

1. A vehicle event recorder comprising:

a video camera configured to acquire visual information representing a vehicle environment, the vehicle environment including spaces in and around an interior of a vehicle and an exterior of the vehicle;

a memory configured to electronically store information; and

a microprocessor configured by machine-readable instructions to:

detect a vehicle event based on vehicle performance information, wherein detection uses an adjustable sensitivity level;

responsive to detection of the vehicle event, effectuate storage of visual information associated with the vehicle event in the memory;

facilitate wireless communication of information between the vehicle event recorder and a remotely located computing device using HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP); and

adjust the adjustable sensitivity level based on information received from the remotely located computing device.

2. The vehicle event recorder of claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor is further configured by machine-readable instructions to cause communication of the visual information associated with the vehicle event stored in the memory to the remotely located computing device.

3. The vehicle event recorder of claim 2 , wherein the remotely located computing device:

determines an adjustment to the adjustable sensitivity level, wherein the adjustment is based on one or more previously detected vehicle events; and

communicates the adjustment to the microprocessor, and wherein the microprocessor adjusts the adjustable sensitivity level based on the adjustment received from the remotely located computing device.

4. The vehicle event recorder of claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor is further configured by machine-readable instructions to adjust the adjustable sensitivity level based on information received from a user via the remotely located computing device.

5. The vehicle event recorder of claim 4 , wherein the microprocessor is further configured by machine-readable instructions such that facilitating wireless communication includes generating one or more web pages for presentation to the user via a web browser on the remotely located computing device, and wherein the one or more web pages are configured to receive entry and/or selection of the information from the user.

6. The vehicle event recorder of claim 5 , wherein the microprocessor is further configured by machine-readable instructions such that the one or more web pages comprise one or more fields configured to receive entry and/or selection of the information from the user.

7. The vehicle event recorder of claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor is further configured by machine-readable instructions such that the detection of the vehicle event is based on the vehicle performance information breaching an event trigger threshold level.

8. The vehicle event recorder of claim 7 , wherein the microprocessor is further configured by machine-readable instructions such that the adjustable sensitivity level is adjusted by an increase and/or decrease in the event trigger threshold level.

9. The vehicle event recorder of claim 8 , wherein the vehicle performance information is based on an acceleration of the vehicle, and wherein the event trigger threshold level is an acceleration threshold level.

10. The vehicle event recorder of claim 1 , further comprising an output port configured to facilitate the wireless communication between the vehicle event recorder and the remotely located computing device.

11. The vehicle event recorder of claim 1 , further comprising

an e-mail server,

wherein the microprocessor is further configured by machine-readable instructions to:

prepare an e-mail message responsive to the detection of the vehicle event; and

send the e-mail message using the e-mail server.

12. A computer implemented method for adjusting vehicle event recorder settings with the vehicle event recorder, the vehicle event recorder comprising a video camera, an electronic memory, and a microprocessor, the method comprising:

acquiring, with the video camera, visual information representing a vehicle environment, the vehicle environment including spaces in and around an interior of a vehicle and an exterior of the vehicle;

detecting a vehicle event based on vehicle performance information, wherein detection uses an adjustable sensitivity level;

responsive to detecting the vehicle event, effectuate, with the microprocessor, storage of visual information associated with the vehicle event in the electronic memory;

facilitating, with the microprocessor, wireless communication of information between the vehicle event recorder and a remotely located computing device using HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP); and

adjusting, with the microprocessor, the adjustable sensitivity level based on information received from the remotely located computing device.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising causing communication of the visual information associated with the vehicle event stored in the electronic memory to the remotely located computing device.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

determining an adjustment to the adjustable sensitivity level, wherein the adjustment is based on one or more previously detected vehicle events;

communicating, by the remotely located computing device, the adjustment to the microprocessor;

wherein adjusting the adjustable sensitivity level is based on the adjustment received from the remotely located computing device.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising adjusting the adjustable sensitivity level based on information received from a user via the remotely located computing device.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein facilitating wireless communication includes generating one or more web pages for presentation to the user via a web browser on the remotely located computing device, wherein the one or more web pages receive entry and/or selection of the information from the user.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the one or more web pages comprise one or more fields that receive entry and/or selection of the information from the user.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the detection of the vehicle event is based on the vehicle performance information breaching an event trigger threshold level.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein adjusting the adjustable sensitivity level is accomplished by an increase and/or decrease in the event trigger threshold level.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the detection of the vehicle event is based on an acceleration of the vehicle, and wherein event trigger threshold level is an acceleration threshold level.

21. The method of claim 12 , further comprising facilitating the wireless communication between the vehicle event recorder and the remotely located computing device with an output port of the vehicle event recorder.

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 →
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 5, 2017
From: PLANTE, JAMES
To: SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 044698/0055 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 26, 2016
From: SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
To: ALLY BANK
Reel/Frame 039841/0148 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 14634688 · Feb 27, 2015
Continuation 11377164 · Mar 16, 2006
Related Publication 20160316179A1 · Oct 27, 2016