WO2015052517A1

WO2015052517A1 - A vehicle data recordal and transmission device

Info

Publication number: WO2015052517A1
Application number: PCT/GB2014/053032
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gavin Michael URTEL
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-10-09
Filing date: 2014-10-08
Publication date: 2015-04-16
Anticipated expiration: 2016-04-09
Also published as: GB2521505A; GB201417788D0

Abstract

A vehicle data recordal and transmission device is housed in a casing (101) fixed behind the dashboard (102) of a goods vehicle (103). It is a sell-contained device, connected only by ports (104). These comprise: video feeds ports (1041), a telecommunication aerial port (1042), a telephone microphone and speaker port (1043), an emergency button port (1044), a GPS aerial port (1045) and a vehicle power port (1046). Within the casing are: A controller (105) connected to the video feeds ports (1041); A solid state drive memory (106) connected to the controller for storing video feeds in 15 second data packets; A GPS unit (107) for storing position co-ordinates speed and acceleration at the beginning of each data packet period; A telecommunications unit (108) connected to the telephone aerial port (1042) and the controller (105) for transmission of stored data in response to a driver request or a remote request; An accelerometer (109) in event of an accident causing vehicle acceleration above a threshold, typically 20g; An identification circuit (110) via which each transmitted data packet can be prefaced by the identity of the vehicle in which it is installed; A charging circuit (111) and a battery (112) connected to the vehicle power port (1046).

Description

A VEHICLE DATA RECORDAL AND TRANSMISSION DEVICE

The present invention relates to a vehicle data recordal and transmission device.

Accident data capture apparatus exists. For instance a flight recorder on an aircraft is commonly known as a "black box". Black boxes have been proposed for other vehicles. For instance the abstract of KR101260628 states as follows:

PURPOSE: A black box for a vehicle including a sudden unintended acceleration confirming function is provided to clearly and easily confirm the fault of a driver in a sudden unintended acceleration accident by storing the surrounding images of the vehicle and images of a pedal unit together. CONSTITUTION: A black box for a vehicle including a sudden unintended acceleration confirming function comprises a pedal filming unit. The pedal filming unit films a pedal unit (3 10) and stores the control images of the pedal unit. One side of the pedal unit comprises a brake pedal (3 1 1 ) and an accelerating pedal (312) and includes a pedal unit camera (210).

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved vehicle data recordal and transmission device.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a vehicle data recordal and transmission device comprising:

• a data memory adapted and arranged to memorise identity of a vehicle in which the device is to be installed in use and to record vehicle location & speed and vehicle video data,

• a GPS module adapted and arranged to pass vehicle location and speed to the data memory,

• at least one video port for passing vehicle video to the data memory,

· a control module for addressing location, speed and video data to the memory in sequentially addressed and retrievable packets of data, • a telecommunication module adapted and arranged to transmit packets of data retrieved from the memory, in response to a transmission request, and to receive such a request.

Preferably, the device also includes:

• a battery for powering the device, when the vehicle is switched off, for

receiving such a request and

• means for charging the battery when the vehicle is switched on.

Whilst it is envisaged that the memory could be removable from the device, the preferred arrangement is for the memory to be permanently installed in the device in the interests of tamper-proofing. At least where a plurality of video data-streams are to recorded from a plurality of cameras via a plurality of video ports, the memory is preferably a solid-state storage-device/drive.

The GPS module can be a conventional GPS module. The device can be provided with its own GPS aerial in the device. However since the device preferably has a metal case, it preferably has a port for an external GPS aerial.

The control module is preferably adapted to address the data-streams to the memory in packets of less than one minute of video data and preferably of the order of a quarter of a minute, say between ten and twenty seconds of video data. Such short packets are appropriate for vehicle accidents and other emergencies which are apt to have a start-to-finish duration of less than a minute. Further, short duration packets can be more readily transmitted in real time.

Normally the telecommunications module will be a GSM or cell phone module. Preferably, the module will be adapted for transmissions from the device to be in accordance with a mobile or cellular data communication protocol. However, interests of economy of battery life, the device is preferably adapted to receive requests for vehicle data in text or SMS format, whereby the device can retrieve transmission requests with economic battery usage. In addition to being adapted to transmit vehicle data in response to a remote request, the device is preferably adapted to transmit vehicle data in response to a local event. For this it preferably has a driver request/alarm button. Further it preferably has an accelerometer arranged to detect an unusual vehicle acceleration of the order of that expected in an accident. Not all accidents involve acceleration high enough to trigger airbag release, which normally occurs at 60g acceleration. Preferably transmission is initiated by an acceleration of the order of 20g.

Preferably the device is adapted for voice communication as well as data communication, whereby on transmission resulting from a local event, an operator at a remote base station can communicate with a driver of the vehicle to offer assistance and/or record a driver's description of the event which led to the local event.

In such event, the device is adapted to transmit vehicle video information in real time after or multiplexed with transmission of vehicle video information leading up to the event.

It is envisaged that the device could include a module utilising facial recognition software for identifying the current driver of the vehicle from video data coming from a camera focused on the driver.

Normally the device will be used with four cameras in addition to the driver camera, one at each windscreen pillar able to photograph, via use of a wide angle lens, events in front of and to the respective side of the vehicle and one at each rear corner of the vehicle for photographing behind the vehicle and again to the respective side thereof.

In a first embodiment, there is provided an accident data capture apparatus for a road vehicle, the apparatus including:

• at least one video camera for recording events outside the road vehicle;

• a recorder for the events, the recording having:

• a memory in which the events and identity the vehicle are recorded

• means for transmitting an excerpt of the events and • means for initiating transmission of the excerpt.

Normally two video cameras will be provided, one installed on the offside of the car facing forwards and the other also installed on the offside facing backwards. Conveniently these can be installed at the top of the vehicles A and C posts. Other positions and numbers of cameras can be provided.

Preferably the cameras have wide angle lenses, which will normally be fish- eye lenses.

All video data can be recorded from all cameras for as long as the recorders memory is not full, thereafter oldest data can be overwritten with new data. To economise on memory usage, all data for a previous period such as the previous ten minutes continues to be memorised, whilst earlier data is chopped and memorised in economic packets.

Preferably additional vehicle data will be memorised, such as vehicle speed, instantaneous acceleration and GPS derived vehicle location. Again vehicle identification is also permanently memorised.

Conveniently the transmission means is a GSM telephone module. Whilst a driver's telephone installed in the car could be used, for reliability a dedicated telephone module and dedicated SIM card is preferably provided in the recorder. Normally the recorder will be adapted for secure installation out of sight in the vehicle in a position that is not readily accessible.

Conveniently the recorder will be programmed to dial up a designated server and transmit an excerpt of the most recent information upto, including and after the accident. After transmission of this information, the further data can be transmitted from earlier before the accident and later after it.

The means for initiating a transmission is typically an accelerometer. such as an airbag initiation accelerometer, but conveniently set to initiate transmission at a lower level of acceleralion/decelcralion than airbag initiation. Often accidents occur with acceleration levels below that at which airbags are set to inflate.

Means may be provided for a driver to initiate a transmission.

Normally the recorder will be programmed to start recording video information from the cameras as soon as the vehicle's ignition switch is turned on and/or the vehicle's engine is started. Correspondingly it will be programmed to switch off a brief period after the vehicle has stopped and the engine has been stopped. For car's having automatic engine switch off at traffic lights, an equivalent signal can be used to slop recording, such as opening of the driver's door and locking of the car.

Means can be provided for recording to continue with the ear parked as in a car park or on a street. Such recording can be discontinuous and may be altered to being continuous in the event of collision of a third party with the vehicle.

A dashboard control can be provided for initiating stationary recording. Addilionally or alternatively a remote control can be provided.

A further dashboard alert that transmission is imminent and control to cancel transmission can be provided.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided, a method of vehicle data recordal and transmission, the method consisting in the steps of :

• memorising the identity of a vehicle, its location and vehicle video in

sequentially addressed and retrievable packets of data.

• detecting a transmission requirement at the vehicle for a telecommunication module to transmit certain packets of the memorised vehicle data and · retrieving and transmitting the requested packets of the memorised vehicle data. Preferably, the step of detecting of a transmission requirement is performed by receiving a request via a telecommunications module at the vehicle to transmit certain packets of the memorised vehicle data.

Preferably:

• the telecommunications module is a GSM or cell phone module;

• module is adapted for transmissions from the device to be in accordance with a mobile or cellular data communication protocol; and

• the step of receiving a request is performed by the module polling for an SMS or text message and receiving such request as an SMS or text message.

The step of detecting of a transmission requirement can performed by a vehicle driver making a transmission request by actuating a control in the vehicle. Alternatively, or in addition, the step of detecting of a transmission requirement is performed by detection of a g-threshold signal from an accelerometer installed in the vehicle.

To help understanding of the invention, two specific embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a plan view of an accide n t about to happen between two cars;

Figure 2 is block diagram accident data capture apparatus in accordance with the invention;

Figure 3 a perspective view of a se cond vehicle data recordal and

transmission device according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a block diagram of the d evice of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic plan vie w of the device of Figure 3 installed in a vehicle.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, Figure 1 shows a first car 1 driving along a road and about to be run into by a second car 2 driving into the path of the first. The first car is equipped with wide angle cameras 3,4 (or respective arrays of cameras to provide wide angles a). The cameras are installed at the top of the car's A and C posts and arranged to see in front of the car, along the driver's side and behind the car. The cameras have fish eye lenses. Typically the A post camera will see the beginning and progress of the accident and the C post camera will see the progress of the accident if the car 1 turns away from car 2 and is struck in the side with a glancing or heavy impact blow.

The cameras are connected to a recorder 5 securely installed behind the car's dashboard to be normally inaccessible. The recorder's ECU feeds video data from the cameras to a memory 6. Further inputs are on set up and not shown the car's identity and the dial up number of a server to receive accident data, a switched live voltage from the ignition switch 7, an engine running signal from the engine 8, a speed signal from the speedometer 9, an acceleration signal from an accelerometer 1 0 and a GPS unit I I . A dashboard display and switch interface 12 is also provided.

The recorder is programmed to record video from the cameras at all times that the engine of the car is running, after switching ON of the ignition. Inputs from the speedometer, accelerometer and GPS unit are also memorised.

In event of a high acceleration input, indicating an accident, the recorded data running up to, during and after the accident is transmitted via a GSM telephone module 14 with an aerial 1 5 and its SIM card 16. The transmission is delayed until the accident has finished in the sense that the car is stationery. Imminence of transmission is indicated on the dashboard unit. An input from the driver can override transmission. Similarly an input can initiate transmission of a dangerous manoeuvre by another driver, which did not cause an accident causing an unusual acceleration such as to initiate transmission automatically.

A further input can cause continued recording after parking and locking of the car. Such recording could be started remotely by a non-shown remote control unit.

Further a remote initiation of transmission of recorded information

appertaining to a particular time and date may the initiated from a secure server. Turning on to Figures 3 to 5, a vehicle data recordal and transmission device is housed in a casing 101 fixed behind the dashboard 102 of a goods vehicle 1 03. It is a self-contained device, connected only by ports 104. These comprise:

• Video feeds ports 1041 ,

• A telecommunication aerial port 1042,

• A telephone microphone and speaker port 1 043.

• An emergency button port 1044,

• A GPS aerial port 1045,

• A vehicle power port 1046.

The components within the casing are:

• A controller 1 05 connected to the video feeds ports 1 041

• A solid state drive memory 106 connected to the controller to receive and store video feeds from the ports 1041 . The controller times each video feed to be stored in 15 second data packets, storage starting again every 1 seconds at a new address in the memory;

• A GPS unit 107 connected to the GPS aerial port 1045 and the controller 105 for storage of position co-ordinates speed and acceleration at the beginning of each data packet period and at intervals therethrough if required;

• A telecommunications unit 108 connected to the telephone aerial port 1 042 and the controller 305 for transmission of stored data in accordance a received transmission request, to the emergency button port 1044, for initiation of a transmission in event of a accident and a transmission request initiated by the driver. In addition, the telecommunication unit 1 08 is connected to the telephone microphone and speaker port 1 043 for telephone conversation with the driver;

• An accelerometer 109 is also connected to the telecommunications unit 108 for initiating a data transmission in event of an accident causing vehicle acceleration above a threshold, typically 20g;

• An identification circuit 1 10 is connected to the memory, whereby each transmitted data packet can be prefaced by the identity of the unit, i.e. the vehicle in which it is installed; • A charging circuit 1 1 1 and a battery 1 12 is connected to the vehicle power port 1046. The charging circuit charges the battery whilst the vehicle's electrical circuits are switched on. The battery is connect to the above circuits for powering them.

The vehicle has an internal camera 1 14 arranged in the cab to monitor the identity of the driver and at each corner of the vehicle a camera 1 15, 1 16, 1 17, 1 18 arranged respectively to record events at its side of the vehicle and front or behind it respectively. The cameras are connected to the video feeds ports 1041 and are identified by having their own IP addresses. Readily reachable by the driver is an emergency button 1 19 for initiating transmission of video data prior to pressing of the button and continuing real time video data transmission after the event causing the driver to press the button. Also mounted on the dashboard is a loudspeaker 120 and microphone 121 for conversation with the driver after a driver initiated transmission.

Telecommunication and GPS aerials 122, 123 are mounted on the roof of the vehicle.

Throughout driving of the vehicle, detected by the device by the vehicle 's electrical system being ON, and indeed when the vehicle is stopped, the

telecommunications unit polls the local mobile/cellular network for messages in SMS/text format for itself. Normally there will be no such message. However there may be such a message to transmit stored or real time vehicle data. Alternative messages may be to enable the controller to configure itself to receive a software update.

The order of magnitude of the video streams should be noted as typically I l Gigibytes per hour. Given that the vehicle cannot be driven 24 hours a day, without driver change at the end of each shift, a currently available 2Terrabyte is expected to record vehicle data for 3 or 4 weeks. When the memory is full, new data is written over the oldest data on a rolling basis. Further given that a vehicle, particularly a goods or fare-paying passenger vehicle, is valuable and unlikely to remain unused fo a significant period, the battery is sized to provide for message polling and transmission if requested for three weeks. The invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above described embodiment. For instance a status display can be provided, adapted to display messages such as:

Recording as normal

Transmitting in response to Routine Request

About to transmit in response to Emergency

Press to CANCEL Emergency Transmission

Transmitting in response to Emergency Request

Further, the emergency button circuit can be adapted to be made via a remote operation from a portable unit carried by the driver when he is out of the cab of the vehicle.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A vehicle data recordal and transmission device comprising:

• at least one video port for passing vehicle video to the data memory,

• a control module for addressing location, speed and video data to the memory in sequentially addressed and retrievable packets of data and

• a telecommunication module adapted and arranged to transmit packets of data retrieved from the memory, in response to a transmission request, and to receive such a request.

2. A vehicle data recordal and transmission device as claimed in Claim 1. including · a battery for powering the device, when the vehicle is switched off, for

receiving such a request and

• means for charging the battery when the vehicle is switched on.

3. A vehicle data recordal and transmission device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the memory is removable from the device.

4. A vehicle data recordal and transmission device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the memory is permanently installed in the device.

5. A vehicle data recordal and transmission device as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the memory is a solid-state storage-device.

6. A vehicle data recordal and transmission device as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the said at least one video port is a plurality of video ports for passing vehicle video from a plurality of cameras as a plurality of video data-streams to recorded to the memory.

7. A vehicle data recordal and transmission device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the GPS module has its own aerial in the device.

8. A vehicle data recordal and transmission device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the device has a metal case and includes a port for an external GPS aerial.

9. A vehicle data recordal and transmission device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the control module is adapted to address the data-streams to the memory in packets of less than one minute of video data.

10. A vehicle data recordal and transmission device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the control module is adapted to address the data-streams to the memory in packets of between ten and twenty seconds of video data.

1 i . A vehicle data recordal and transmission device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the telecommunications module is a GSM or cell phone module.

12. A vehicle data recordal and transmission device as claimed in claim 1 1 , wherein the module is adapted for transmissions from the device to be in accordance with a mobile or cellular data communication protocol.

13. A vehicle data recordal and transmission device as claimed in claim 1 1 or claim 12, wherein the module is adapted to receive requests for vehicle data in text or SMS format.

14. A vehicle data recordal and transmission device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the device is adapted to transmit vehicle data in response to a remote request.

15. A vehicle data recordal and transmission device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the device is adapted to transmit vehicle data in response to a local event.

16. A vehicle data recordal and transmission device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the device has or is provided with connection for a driver request/alarm button.

17. A vehicle data recordal and transmission device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the device includes an accelerometer arranged to detect an unusual vehicle acceleration of the order of that expected in an accident.

18. A vehicle data recordal and transmission device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the device is adapted to initiate transmission is initiated by an acceleration of the order o 20g.

1 . A vehicle data recordal and transmission device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the device is adapted for voice communication as well as data communication, whereby on transmission resulting from a local event, an operator at a remote base station can communicate with a driver of the vehicle to offer assistance and/or record a driver's description of the event which led to the local event.

20. A vehicle data recordal and transmission device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the device is adapted to transmit vehicle video information in real time after or multiplexed with transmission of vehicle video information leading up to the event.

21 . A vehicle data recordal and transmission device as claimed in any preceding 5 claim, including a module utilising facial recognition software for identifying the current driver of the vehicle from video data coming from a camera focused on the driver.

22. A vehicle data recordai and transmission device as claimed in any preceding claim, including at least one video camera connected to the said at least one video

10 port.

23. A vehicle data recordal and transmission device as claimed in claim 22, including a said camera installed on at least one side of the vehicle facing forwards & backwards along the side of the vehicle and another said camera installed on at least one side of the vehicle facing backwards & forwards along the side of the vehicle.

1 5 24. A vehicle data recordal and transmission device as claimed in claim 23, wherein one said camera is at each A post or front corner of the vehicle and one said camera is at each C post or rear corner of the vehicle.

25. A method of vehicle data recordal and transmission, the method consisting in the steps of :

0 · memorising the identity of a vehicle, its location and vehicle video in

sequentially addressed and retrievable packets of data,

• delecting a transmission requirement at the vehicle for a telecommunication module to transmit certain packets of the memorised vehicle data and

• retrieving and transmitting the requested packets of the memorised vehicle5 data.

26. A method of vehicle data recordal and transmission as claimed in claim 25, wherein the step of detecting of a transmission requirement is performed by receiving a request via a telecommunications module at the vehicle to transmit certain packets of the memorised vehicle data.

0 27. A method of vehicle data recordai and transmission as claimed in claim 26,

wherein:

• the telecommunications module is a GSM or cell phone module; • module is adapted for transmissions from the device to be in accordance with a mobile or cellular data communication protocol; and

28. A method of vehicle data recordal and transmission as claimed in claim 25, wherein the step of detecting of a transmission requirement is performed by a vehicle driver making a transmission request by actuating a control in the vehicle.

29. A method of vehicle data recordal and transmission as claimed in claim 25, wherein the step of detecting of a transmission requirement is performed by detection of a g -threshold signal from an accelerometer installed in the vehicle.