Abstract:
A system and method are provided for collecting data from many vehicles. A vehicle unit with several connectivity options is installed in each vehicle. Each vehicle unit transmits driving characteristic information to a server which records all of the data it receives. In addition, the server is able to interact with the vehicle unit to provide information. A user then requests a particular report or statistic from the server. The server then takes the driving characteristic information from each vehicle including, but not limited to: emissions information, a global navigation satellite system, vehicle brand, geographic area, time of day, crashes, average speed, speed variances, accelerations, acceleration variation, sudden acceleration frequency, sudden deceleration frequency, and car location, and compiles it into data. The server then provides reports and statistics and transmits the report or statistic to the user requesting it.

Description:
[0001]    The application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/042,468 which was filed on Apr. 4, 2008. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a device and method for recording driving characteristics. 
         [0003]    The use of data derived from vehicles being driven and known driving tools, such as various road maps, by drivers of the vehicle are well known in the art. GPS devices commonly use this data to employ better route setting techniques. In addition, the use of mobile cellular phone networks can be used to connect vehicles to each other as well as to a larger network of mobile stations creating a network of vehicles. 
         [0004]    Business&#39; often are in need of detailed statistics with regards to driving characteristics to increase their own efficiency and effectiveness. There is no access to such statistics, except at the individual vehicle level. For example, it may be possible to monitor emissions based on what is expected from a particular vehicle, but not track precise emissions in a specific area or over a specific time period in more than one vehicle. In another example, an insurance company is able to determine when a crash occurs based on it being reported to them, but does not have knowledge of unreported crashes nor information on the likelihood that a crash would occur in that area. 
         [0005]    More particularly, this invention relates to a method and device for recording driving characteristics. These recorded characteristics are then utilized to monitor and compile vehicle usage data which greatly assists in formulating useful driving data such as determining insurance premium, determining traffic, detecting crash events and mapping emissions geographically. 
         [0006]    Several current systems provide means to determine some driving characteristics of a particular car. However, these systems have several weaknesses. For one, they utilize cell phone network connectivity only. For another, they do not provide a way of recording data from multiple cars and analyzing it. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention provides a system and method for collecting data from many vehicles. The system includes a multitude of vehicles. Each vehicle includes a vehicle unit with several connectivity options. Each vehicle unit transmits driving characteristic information to a server which records all of the data it receives. In addition, the server is able to interact with the vehicle unit to provide information. 
         [0008]    A user then requests a particular report or statistic from the server. The server then takes the driving characteristic information from each vehicle including, but not limited to: emissions information, a global navigation satellite system, vehicle brand, geographic area, time of day, crashes, average speed, speed variances, accelerations, acceleration variation, sudden acceleration frequency, sudden deceleration frequency, and car location, and compiles it into data. The server then provides reports and statistics and transmits the report or statistic to the user requesting it. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of the multi-vehicle data collection system and method of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0010]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a schematic representation of the system  10  is shown and includes a plurality of vehicles  12  with a one or more vehicle units  14  installed within the vehicle (three are shown, but it is contemplated that the vehicle units  14  would be installed in thousands of vehicles in an area). The vehicle unit  14  is attached and connected to receive power from a vehicle power source. Power from the vehicle can originate from a non-switched fuse box, OBD-II port  55 , or other powered connection within the vehicle  12  as known. The vehicle unit  14  includes a processor and storage and is suitably programmed to perform the functions described herein. 
         [0011]    Each vehicle unit  14  includes at least one wireless communication circuit  17 , such as a Bluetooth communication circuit, GPRS, WiFi, WiMax, cell phone, satellite phone or other wireless communication protocol, or more than one protocol. If the wireless communication circuit  17  includes Bluetooth (or equivalent), it communicates with a wireless device  19 , which is preferably a smart PDA or other portable wireless communication device  19  in order to communicate with cell towers  21 . In this manner, the vehicle units  14  are able to exchange information with a server  22 . The vehicle units  14  are further able to directly connect to the server  22  to communicate information regarding the vehicle  12  and receive information directly from the server relating to other characteristics. The server  22  includes at least one computer processor, and computer storage device. In addition, in one embodiment, more than one server can be connected via known methods, to share information. In another embodiment, the more than one servers can divide the processes such that a first server collects data and transmit it to second server which processes it and creates a report. 
         [0012]    The system  10  has the ability to determine the location of each of the vehicle units  14  using any of numerous existing techniques (or several). First, the vehicle unit  14  may include a GPS receiver  16 . Location can be determined from a global navigation satellite system, GSM locatilization, DSRC, WiMAX, or other known methods. The GPS receiver can send the vehicle  12  location to the vehicle unit  14  and the server  22 . Alternatively, or additionally, the server  22  can determine the positions of the devices  19  using GPRS triangulation from cell towers  21 . Using cell tower triangulation, the location of the device  19  is determined at the servers  22  and can remain at the server  22  or can also be transmitted to the vehicle unit  14 . Optionally, the vehicle unit  14  can include a three-axis accelerometer  46  for determining an acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle  12 , from which speed and position information can be determined. The accelerometer  46  can also determine that a collision has occurred and can determine driving habits of the driver (e.g. hard accelerations or decelerations). The vehicle unit  14  also receives speed and heading information from the On Board Diagnostics port OBD  55 . Speed and heading can be used to determine location of the vehicle unit  14 . 
         [0013]    However the location of the vehicle units  14  (and vehicles  12 ) is determined, the location and the time in certain geographic areas (e.g. zip codes) can be used to determine insurance rates in several ways. Some insurance premiums are based upon miles driven and based upon geographic areas in which the miles are driven. The premiums may also be based upon the driver&#39;s driving habits, such as hard accelerations, speed, time of day, day of the week, and type of roads among others. 
         [0014]    Car emission data, such as real time emission levels, can be obtained by the vehicle unit  14  from the OBD  55 . The vehicle unit  14  can receive emission level readings from the OBD and send the emission levels, with tags indicating the time and location of each reading, to the server  22  in the ways listed to be stored by the server  22 . In one embodiment, the vehicle unit  14  can send the information at pre-set time intervals. Alternatively, real time data can be continually uploaded from the vehicle unit  14  to the server  22 , or on demand whenever needed. 
         [0015]    Each car may optionally include external environmental sensors, such as CO 2 , CO, particulate, etc. sensor  48 . The sensors  48  send information about external environmental conditions, with tags indicating the time and location of each reading, to the vehicle unit  14  for transmission to the server  22 . Alternatively, these sensors  48  can send information about detected crash events by the vehicle  12  to the vehicle unit  14  for transmission to the server  22 . 
         [0016]    In a geographic area, if a large number of vehicles  12  include the vehicle units  14 , the server  22  can gather data that is useful for environmental, traffic and other purposes. Alternatively, if only a small number of vehicles  12  include the vehicle units  14 , data for that geographic area can begin to be accumulated by the server  22  while individual car information is also stored. The server  22  gathers real-time information about locations of the vehicles, their speed at their locations, excessive speed events, sudden speed changes, acceleration, excessive acceleration, sudden acceleration changes, crash events, car emission data (CO 2 , etc.). The server  22  can compile the driving characteristics to generate real-time reports or historical averages and trends  30 , such as, but not limited to the following: 
         [0017]    1. Compute the aggregate of emissions from all vehicles  12 . 
         [0018]    The server  22  is able to produce statistics and reports  30  based on the overall emissions level for all vehicles  12  connected via the vehicle unit  14 . In one embodiment, governmental and environmental agencies would be able to use these reports  30  to determine the overall effectiveness of emissions reduction programs as well as examine future needs in the field. 
         [0019]    2. Compute the aggregate of emissions from vehicles  12  within a certain geographical zone. 
         [0020]    The server  22  is able to take the recorded data from vehicles  12  and compile it into data for any set geographic area, such that the aggregate can be easily computed by the server  22  for any selected geographic area. In one embodiment, this allows the server  22  to produce statistics and reports  30  of changes in emission levels from year to year, or in real time, over the same geographic zone. In another embodiment, the server  22  can produce statistics and reports  30  comparing different geographic zones to determine their emission levels and contributions. 
         [0021]    3. Compute the aggregate of emissions from vehicles  12  within a certain geographical zone during a certain period of time. 
         [0022]    The server  22  is able to take recorded data from vehicles  12  and compile it into data for any set geographic area over any set period of time, such that the aggregate can be easily computed for any adjusted geographic area. In one embodiment, this allows the server  22  to produce reports  30  of changes in aggregate emission levels for any preset time period, such as months, weeks, or several years. In another embodiment, real time data can be compared at certain time periods, such as time of day, to determine applicable emissions levels. 
         [0023]    4. Compute aggregate of emissions from vehicles  12  within a certain road segment for a certain period of time. 
         [0024]    The vehicle unit  14  is able to send the location of the vehicle  12  to the server  22 , or alternatively, the server  22  is able to receive the location from a GPS system  16  directly, In one embodiment, the server  22  produces a report  30  of the aggregate of all real time data of emissions from any car found to be within a certain road segment. In another embodiment, aggregate data determined by the server  22  can be used to compare emissions on different road segments for environmental or insurance purposes. 
         [0025]    5. Compute aggregates of emissions of a certain vehicle  12  brand. 
         [0026]    In another embodiment, the server  22  is able to create statistics and reports  30  on aggregate emission levels based on the vehicles  12  brand, as such information can be relayed from the vehicle unit  14  pre-set with the information or alternatively via the OBD  55 . The server  22  can alternatively, create reports and statistics  30  based on comparisons of the aggregate emission levels of different vehicle  12  brands. 
         [0027]    6. Compute crash frequency within a certain geographical area, for a certain period of time. 
         [0028]    The server  22  is able to create statistics and reports  30  based on crash events in any particular geographical area, based upon the location of the vehicle  12  and the reporting of a crash event. In one embodiment, the vehicle unit  14  delivers the real time location information of the vehicle  12 , and through one of numerous methods, is informed of a crash event, transmitting this information to the server  22 . The server  22  records the crash event and real time location of the vehicle  12  when the event is transmitted. The server  22  then creates a record of the crash events during a particular time and in a particular geographic area based on what has been transmitted to it from numerous vehicle units. In another embodiment, the particular time can be considered to be a time of day, with or without the geographic area restriction. In another embodiment, the server  22  can cross reference the recorded crash events, with time and location tags, and show the effect on nearby traffic and emissions by cross-referencing the crash events. 
         [0029]    7. Compute average speed, speed variances, accelerations, acceleration variation, sudden acceleration/deceleration frequency of vehicles within a certain geographical area and a certain period of time. 
         [0030]    The server  22  is able to compute a large number of driving characteristics from information about the vehicle  12 , such as average speed, speed variances, accelerations, acceleration variation, and sudden acceleration/deceleration frequency. In one embodiment, the vehicle unit relays one or more characteristics about the vehicle  12  continually over a period of time, while the vehicle  12  is in a certain geographical location. The aggregate of this information from many vehicles  12  can then be incorporated by the server  22  into statistics and reports  30  showing, for example, correlation between increased average speed and crash events, or in another example, increased acceleration variation and emission output. The server  22  could also create statistics showing the correlation between acceleration an crashes, crashes and emissions, or any number of driving characteristics. 
         [0031]    8. Estimate car density as function of location and time. 
         [0032]    The vehicle unit  14  is providing the server  22  with real time location and time of each individual vehicle  12 . In one embodiment, the server  22  compiles a first report  30  determining the amount of vehicles  12  in any particular geographic location at or during any specific time period. In another embodiment, the server  22  compiles a second report  30  internally using the data of the second report to determine any correlation or relation to crash events. 
         [0033]    9. Project traffic congestion 
         [0034]    Traffic congestion and traffic conditions for a given road segment can be real-time predicted based on historical speed/acceleration profiles for the segment fused with real-time information gathered by pooling current speed and acceleration readings from a select group of vehicles  12  known to be driving on the segment. In this case the server  22  will send a message to vehicles  12  in the area asking them to report their current speed and acceleration values for a period of time starting at current time back in the past for a certain period of time. This information is combined with historical data for the segment to determine traffic conditions, an estimate of how long a certain traffic condition will last and for how far on the segment. Processing of reported acceleration instances in conjunction with speed limits along the segment and other road segments in the area can help deduce if a crash took place, where on the road segment a certain traffic condition is expected to change (e.g, end of traffic jam condition). This information can be communicated to the vehicles  12  in the surrounding area, so that the vehicle&#39;s driver or the vehicle&#39;s navigation system can determine whether to avoid the particular road segment. 
         [0035]    10. Project all above into zip code maps. 
         [0036]    The server  22  records and saves all of the information sent to it by the vehicle unit  14 . The server  22  compiles statistics and reports  30  on driving characteristics including, but not limited to, crash events, average speed, speed variances, accelerations, acceleration variation, sudden acceleration/deceleration frequency, and emissions outputs based upon their occurrences in different zip codes. The server  22  provides the aggregate report per zip code or other geographic boundaries for any information requested by users  24 . 
         [0037]    The statistics and reports  30  compiled by the server are then reported to multiple parties  24 . As stated previously, they can be used to improve pricing on insurance premiums. They can further be used to report information such as traffic density, detect crash events and mapping emissions geographically, information which is useful to numerous parties for a multitude of reasons. 
         [0038]    These reports can also be delivered in terms of usage summaries  28  and given to the driver of vehicles  12  to improve performance. For example, as an alternative to periodic emissions testing for vehicles  12 , the server  22  can detect a particular condition in the vehicle from the information received by the vehicle unit  14  from the OBD  55  and instruct the owner of the vehicle  12  to bring the vehicle  12  to a certified testing station for emissions testing. 
         [0039]    Further, the server  22  can also use the external environmental sensors  48  on vehicles  12  for real-time samples of environmental conditions in geographic areas. The information can be used to help focus efforts at reducing emissions or reducing traffic and improving traffic flow. 
         [0040]    Thus reports can be used to improve solutions including, but not limited to reducing emissions in a geographic area, improving traffic flow, reducing crash events, monitoring excessive speed, and setting insurance premiums. 
         [0041]    Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.