Patent ID: 9514626
Filing Date: 2016-12-06
CPC Classification: G08B

Claim Text:
1. A method for monitoring the alertness of an operator of a vehicle, the method comprising: using a sensor to detect a first plurality of positions of the operator's head relative to the sensor during a first period of time; calculating a first set of head movement data using the first plurality of positions of the operator's head detected during the first period of time; calculating a first power spectrum of the first set of head movement data; using the sensor to detect a second plurality of positions of the operator's head relative to the sensor over a second period of time; calculating a second set of head movement data using the second plurality of positions of the operator's head detected during the second period of time; calculating a second power spectrum of the second set of head movement data; comparing the second power spectrum to the first power spectrum to determine whether the second power spectrum has a greater magnitude than the first power spectrum at a characteristic frequency to evaluate the alertness of the operator; using the sensor to detect a third plurality of positions of the operator's head relative to the sensor over a third period of time; calculating a third set of head movement data using the third plurality of positions of the operator's head detected during the third period of time; calculating a third power spectrum of the third set of head movement data; and comparing the third power spectrum to the first power spectrum to determine whether the third power spectrum has a greater magnitude than the first power spectrum at a characteristic frequency to evaluate the alertness of the operator during the third period of time.