IP Library Granted Patent US 11,631,287
Granted Patent B2
US 11,631,287 · App. 16/891,486 · Granted Apr 18, 2023

Systems and method to trigger vehicle events based on contextual information

Inventors: Jason Palmer (Carlsbad, CA); Mark Freitas (San Diego, CA); Daniel A. Deninger (Carlsbad, CA); David Forney (La Jolla, CA); Slaven Sljivar (San Diego, CA); Alekh Vaidya (San Diego, CA); Jeffrey Griswold (San Diego, CA)
Assignee: SmartDrive Systems, Inc.
G07C5/0808B60W40/04B60W40/09G01C21/26G07C5/0816B60W2420/403B60W2510/0604B60W2510/0666B60W2510/182B60W2520/10B60W2520/105B60W2520/125B60W2540/18B60W2552/00B60W2554/00B60W2555/20B60W2556/10G07C5/008G07C5/0841
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 11,631,287
App. No.
16/891,486
Granted
Apr 18, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

This disclosure relates to a system and method for detecting vehicle events. Some or all of the system may be installed in a vehicle, operate at the vehicle, and/or be otherwise coupled with a vehicle. The system includes one or more sensors configured to generate output signals conveying information related to the vehicle. The system receives contextual information from a source external to the vehicle. The system detects a vehicle event based on the information conveyed by the output signals from the sensors and the received contextual information.

Claims (47)

1. A system configured to detect vehicle events, the system configured to couple with a vehicle, wherein the vehicle is configured to carry one or more sensors that generate output signals conveying information related to one or more operating parameters of the vehicle, the system comprising:

one or more processors configured to:

determine an operating parameter of the vehicle based on the generated output signals;

receive contextual information related to two or more current environmental conditions, wherein the two or more current environmental conditions include a weather condition related to weather local to the vehicle, and a visibility condition related to visibility within a predetermined distance of the vehicle;

determine a speed limit at which vehicle events related to unsafe vehicle speed are detected, wherein the speed limit varies based on the weather condition;

determine a threshold value for the weather condition such that, responsive to the weather condition breaching the threshold value, the weather local to the vehicle is characterized as in breach of the threshold value, wherein the threshold value varies based on the visibility condition;

at the vehicle, detect a vehicle event based on a combination of:

(i) the operating parameter of the vehicle representing a breach of the speed limit, and

(ii) the weather local to the vehicle being characterized as in breach of the threshold value; and

create a vehicle event record based on the detected vehicle event.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the operating parameter represents current vehicle speed of the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors include a geolocation sensor, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine and/or obtain current geographical information of the vehicle, wherein the current geographical information of the vehicle includes Global Positioning System (GPS) information of the vehicle, and wherein receiving the contextual information related to the weather condition is further based on the GPS information of the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the contextual information is received from one or more sources external to the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the weather condition is related to weather within a second predetermined distance of the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein weather local to the vehicle characterized as in breach of the threshold value is severe weather.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein a sensitivity of detection of the vehicle event is increased as a trip duration increases.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising electronic storage configured to store information, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

store the vehicle event record in the electronic storage; and

effectuate presentation to a user of the system, via a user interface, of a notification based on the vehicle event record.

9. The system of claim 1 , further wherein the one or more sensors include a video camera, and wherein the one or more sensors are configured such that the information related to the one or more operating parameters of the vehicle includes video information.

10. A system configured to detect vehicle events, the system configured to couple with a vehicle, the vehicle being configured to carry one or more sensors that generate output signals conveying information related to one or more operating conditions of the vehicle, the system comprising:

one or more processors configured to:

determine a first operating parameter and a second operating parameter of the vehicle based on the generated output signals, wherein the first operating parameter corresponds to a first moment in time, wherein the second operating parameter corresponds to a second moment in time, and wherein the second moment in time is subsequent to the first moment in time;

at the vehicle, analyze the first operating parameter and determine that no vehicle event has occurred that needs to be reported;

receive contextual information related to two or more current environmental conditions, wherein the two or more current environmental conditions include a weather condition related to weather local to the vehicle, and a visibility condition related to visibility within a predetermined distance of the vehicle;

determine a speed limit at which vehicle events related to unsafe vehicle speed are detected, wherein the speed limit varies based on the weather condition;

determine a threshold value for the weather condition such that, responsive to the weather condition breaching the threshold value, the weather local to the vehicle is characterized as in breach of the threshold value, wherein the threshold value varies based on the visibility condition;

at the vehicle, detect a vehicle event based on a combination of:

(i) the second operating parameter of the vehicle representing a breach of the speed limit, and

(ii) the weather local to the vehicle being characterized as in breach of the threshold value;

create a vehicle event record based on the detected vehicle event;

store the vehicle event record in an electronic storage; and

effectuate presentation to a user of the system, via a user interface, of a notification based on the vehicle event record.

11. A method to detect vehicle events for a vehicle, the vehicle being configured to carry one or more sensors that generate output signals conveying information related to operating parameters of the vehicle, the method being implemented in a computer system that includes the one or more sensors and one or more physical processors, the method comprising:

receiving contextual information related to two or more current environmental conditions, wherein the two or more current environmental conditions include a weather condition related to weather local to the vehicle, and a visibility condition related to visibility within a predetermined distance of the vehicle;

determining a speed limit at which vehicle events related to unsafe vehicle speed are detected, wherein the speed limit varies based on the weather condition;

determining a threshold value for the weather condition such that, responsive to the weather condition breaching the threshold value, the weather local to the vehicle is characterized as in breach of the threshold value, wherein the threshold value varies based on the visibility condition;

detecting, at the vehicle, a vehicle event based on a combination of:

(i) one or more of the operating parameters of the vehicle representing a vehicle speed that breaches the speed limit, and

(ii) the weather local to the vehicle being characterized as in breach of the threshold value; and

creating a vehicle event record based on the detected vehicle event.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

storing the vehicle event record in an electronic storage; and

effectuating presentation to a user of the system, via a user interface, of a notification based on the vehicle event record.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein at least some of the contextual information is received from one or more sources external to the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more sensors include a video camera, and wherein the information related to the operating parameters of the vehicle includes video information.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining and/or obtaining current geographical information of the vehicle, wherein the current geographical information of the vehicle includes Global Positioning System (GPS) information of the vehicle, and wherein receiving the contextual information related to the weather condition is further based on the GPS information of the vehicle.

Assignments (9)
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 →
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 →
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: 054236/0320) Recorded Jun 8, 2021
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS GRANTEE
To: SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 056520/0944 →
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 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 6, 2020
From: SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 054236/0435 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 6, 2020
From: SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 054236/0320 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 3, 2020
From: PALMER, JASON; FREITAS, MARK; DENINGER, DANIEL A.; FORNEY, DAVID; SLJIVAR, SLAVEN; VAIDYA, ALEKH; GRISWOLD, JEFFREY
To: SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 052824/0088 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15727227 · Oct 6, 2017
Continuation 15006066 · Jan 25, 2016
Related Publication 20200294334A1 · Sep 17, 2020