Abstract:
The invention relates to a system and method for capturing and preserving vehicle event data. A vehicle-mount computer is adapted to capture video and other data relating to the operation of the vehicle. Event sensors inform the system of the occurrence of a vehicle event, which may include a sudden deceleration or change in yaw indicative of a vehicle accident. Upon the occurrence of a vehicle event, the system preserves the data for later use in the investigation of the vehicle event.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to computer systems, and, more specifically, to a system and method for capturing and preserving vehicle event data using a vehicle-mount computer. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Businesses have achieved greater productivity in recent years by deploying mobile computing devices into the field to assist workers. For example, workers use vehicle-mount computers to help compile important data in the field. Vehicle-mount computers are computing devices that are specially designed to mount to a vehicle and be used by the vehicle operator. For instance, several types of vehicle-mount computers are available for installation in forklifts, cranes and other industrial vehicles and commercial vehicles. A forklift operator can, for example, view and record inventory data directly from the cabin of the forklift through a vehicle-mount computer. The vehicle-mount computer may display the exact location in the warehouse where the forklift operator can find the next item to be loaded onto a shipping container. In addition, the forklift operator can use the vehicle-mount computer to enter information in real-time regarding shipped or inventoried products. Whereas inventory tracking once required time-intensive and error-prone centralized data processing techniques, vehicle-mount computers deployed in the field now allow for real-time inventory tracking using a distributed network of computers. 
         [0003]    Although businesses have effectively employed vehicle-mount computers to increase worker productivity and improve the tracking of goods along the supply chain, the safety of workers in the field and the protection of the business&#39; transportation assets continue to be areas of concern for businesses. Forklift operators, for example, can encounter accidents as they navigate their vehicles through large, busy warehouses and loading docks where they load and unload heavy, sometimes unstable, cargo. When an accident involving a forklift occurs, it is sometimes difficult for the business to obtain accurate information regarding the precise circumstances leading up to the accident. A lack of reliable information regarding the cause of an accident can impede efforts to implement procedures or other measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. In addition, to the extent that there may be legal implications resulting from an accident involving a forklift, a lack of reliable information regarding the accident could unnecessarily expose the business to legal liability, including third-party liability. 
         [0004]    What is needed is a way to harness the computing capabilities of a vehicle-mount computer in a novel way that allows for the collection of data regarding an incident involving the industrial vehicle (e.g., vehicle event data) which houses the vehicle-mount computer. In particular, there exists a need for a system that augments existing vehicle-mount computer designs to allow these vehicle-mount computers to obtain and store video data relating to a vehicle event. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In one aspect, the present invention embraces a system for capturing and preserving vehicle event data. 
         [0006]    In another aspect, the present invention embraces a method of capturing and preserving vehicle event data. 
         [0007]    In another aspect, the present invention embraces a vehicle adapted to capture and preserve vehicle event data. 
         [0008]    The foregoing, as well as other objectives and advantages of the invention, and the manner in which the same are accomplished, are further specified within the following detailed description and its accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram illustrating the components of an exemplary system according to the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart depicting the logical operation of an exemplary video manager of an exemplary system according to the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an exemplary vehicle adapted to capture and preserve vehicle event data according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    The present invention embraces a system and method for capturing and preserving vehicle event data. In particular, the present invention embraces a system and method for capturing and preserving vehicle event data using a vehicle-mount computer. 
         [0013]    In an exemplary embodiment, the system for capturing and preserving vehicle event data according to the present invention includes a vehicle-mount computer having a central processing unit, a main memory, a system bus, a mass storage device, an operating system stored on the mass storage device and executed by the central processing unit, an input device for receiving input from a user, a display device, and a video manager adapted to preserve a designated duration of pre-event video and a designated duration of post-event video. Typically, the components of the vehicle-mount computer are operably connected to each other by the system bus. The exemplary system also includes an event sensor operably connected to the vehicle-mount computer, as well as an imaging device operably connected to the vehicle-mount computer. 
         [0014]    In an exemplary embodiment, the method for capturing and preserving vehicle event data according to the present invention includes the step of providing a vehicle-mount computer having a central processing unit, a system bus, a main memory, a mass storage device, an operating system stored on the mass storage device and executed by the central processing unit, an input device for receiving input from a user, a display device, a network adapter, and a video manager adapted to preserve a designated duration of pre-event video and a designated duration of post-event video. The exemplary method according to the present invention further includes the steps of connecting an event sensor to the vehicle-mount computer, connecting an imaging device to the vehicle-mount computer, and, upon detection of a vehicle event by an event sensor, preserving a designated duration of pre-event video and a designated duration of post-event video. 
         [0015]    In an exemplary embodiment, the vehicle adapted to capture and preserve vehicle event data according to the present invention includes a vehicle, a vehicle-mount computer having a central processing unit, a system bus, a main memory, a mass storage device, an operating system stored on the mass storage device and executed by the central processing unit, an input device for receiving input from a user, a display device, and a video manager adapted to preserve a designated duration of pre-event video and a designated duration of post-event video. The vehicle-mount computer is mounted to the vehicle. The exemplary vehicle according to the present invention further includes an event sensor operably connected to the vehicle-mount computer and an imaging device operably connected to the vehicle-mount computer. 
         [0016]    Typical vehicles employing the system for capturing and preserving vehicle event data according to the present invention include forklifts, cranes and similar industrial vehicles (e.g., vehicles used primarily in an industrial, factory or warehouse setting). References in the disclosure and in the drawings to particular types of vehicles are not intended to limit the disclosure in any way to particular vehicles. 
         [0017]    Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram illustrating the components of an exemplary system  10  according to the present invention. A vehicle-mount computer  20  includes a mass storage device  40  for storing an operating system  45  and application programs  50 . The mass storage device  40  may store other types of information. The operating system  45  is software that controls the overall operation of the vehicle-mount computer  20 , including process scheduling and management, process protection, and memory management. Examples of a suitable operating system include, without limitation, WINDOWS® 7 and WINDOWS® EMBEDDED COMPACT (i.e., WINDOWS® CE) from MICROSOFT® CORPORATION of Redmond, Wash., and the LINUX® open source operating system. Typically, the operating system  45  is loaded by booting the vehicle-mount computer  20  and is executed directly by the central processing unit  25 . An application program  50  is an executable software program designed to help the vehicle operator perform specific tasks. The application programs  50  may load automatically upon execution of the operating system  45  or in response to a command input from the vehicle operator. A main memory  30  provides for storage of instructions and data directly accessible by the central processing unit  25 . Main memory  30  may include random-access memory  32  (RAM) and read-only memory  34  (ROM). The ROM  34  may permanently store firmware or a basic input/output system (BIOS), which provide the first instructions to the vehicle-mount computer  20  when it boots up. The RAM  32  typically serves as temporary and immediately accessible storage for the operating system  45  and application programs  50 . The mass storage device  40  may be any of the various types of computer components capable of storing large amounts of data in a persisting (i.e., non-volatile) and machine-readable manner. Typically, the mass storage device  40  will be a hard disk drive. Alternatively, the mass storage device  40  may be a solid state drive, optical drive, removable flash drive or other component with similar storage capabilities. 
         [0018]    A display device  70  is operably connected to the vehicle-mount computer  20 . The display device  70  displays information to the user in the form of text or graphical output generated by the vehicle-mount computer  20 . Typically, the display device  70  is a liquid crystal display (LCD) video monitor. An input device  75  is operably connected to the vehicle-mount computer. The input device  75  facilitates the input of instructions by the user. Typically, the input device  75  is a keyboard and/or a mouse. A barcode scanner  80  is operably attached to the vehicle-mount computer  20 . The barcode scanner  80  serves as an alternate method of receiving user input, and provides for quick, reliable (e.g., not susceptible to typographical errors) data entry. 
         [0019]    An exemplary embodiment of the vehicle-mount computer  20  of the system  10  according to the present invention also includes a network interface  60 . The network interface  60  is logically connected to a communications network  65 , thereby enabling the vehicle-mount computer  20  to communicate with the communications network  65 . The communications network  65  may be any collection of computers or communication devices interconnected by communication channels. The communication channels may be wired or wireless. Examples of such communication networks include, without limitation, local area networks, the Internet, and cellular networks. The connection to the communications network  65  allows the vehicle-mount computer  20  to communicate with other network nodes. For example, a central dispatcher could send instructions (e.g., a delivery schedule) from a scheduling server to the vehicle operator via the communications network  65 . 
         [0020]    An imaging device  90  is operably connected to the vehicle-mount computer  20 . The imaging device  90  is capable of capturing images (e.g., moving images) and transmitting those images in electronic format (e.g., a digital video signal) to the vehicle-mount computer  20 . Typically, the imaging device  90  is a video camera. More typically, the imaging device  90  is a universal serial bus (USB) video camera (e.g., a webcam). USB video cameras advantageously provide a suitable picture quality and frame rate at an affordable price compared to traditional, large-format video cameras. Furthermore, USB video cameras can be readily connected to various types of vehicle-mount computers  20 , many of which now feature at least one USB port for connecting devices, such as the USB camera, transmitting data on the universal serial bus standard. In addition, USB video cameras are typically lightweight, making installation (e.g., mounting) of the USB camera onto the vehicle  100  relatively simple (e.g., by using a light-weight mounting bracket). The imaging device  90  may be tethered to the vehicle-mount computer via a USB cable, or it may be integrated into the vehicle-mount computer. The imaging device  90  may be capable of capturing sound, which sound may be recorded with the video images. Alternatively, a separate sound capturing device (e.g., a microphone) may be operably connected to the vehicle-mount computer  20  to capture sound associated with a vehicle event. This may be useful, for example, to capture any utterances of the vehicle operator during a vehicle event. 
         [0021]    In an alternative embodiment, the imaging device  90  is integral with a barcode scanner  80 . Adapting the barcode scanner  80  to incorporate imaging device  90  capabilities allows for fewer peripheral devices from the vehicle-mount computer  20 . The barcode scanner  80  is removably mounted to the vehicle  100  in an orientation that allows for the capture of video data from the desired location proximate to or inside the vehicle  100 . For example, the barcode scanner  80  having an integrated imaging device  90  could, when placed in a holster at the front of the vehicle cabin, obtain images proximate to the rear of the vehicle  100 . In this orientation, the imaging device  90  could provide the vehicle operator with a live video feed of the area proximate the rear of the vehicle  100 , which could assist when operating the vehicle  100  in reverse (e.g., a back-up camera). 
         [0022]    Digital video typically represents very large amounts of data requiring extremely large memory capacity for long-term storage. With vehicle-mount computers  20  in particular, there is not nearly enough memory storage space to permanently store all video data captured by the imaging device  90 . It is necessary to distinguish between data that is relevant to a vehicle event and data that is not relevant. Data that is not relevant is discarded; data that is relevant is preserved. This culling of data is achieved by a video manager  55 . Typically, the video manager  55  is an application residing on the mass storage device  40 . 
         [0023]    The video manager  55  is configured to identify and preserve data (e.g., vehicle event data) that is relevant to a vehicle event. Vehicle event data includes video images depicting the vehicle event as well as other relevant data such as vehicle speed, vehicle position, and forklift position. A vehicle event is any occurrence that the vehicle owner or operator desires to be a triggering mechanism for the preservation of vehicle event data connected with such occurrence. For example, a vehicle event may be the occurrence of a sudden acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle  100 , which sudden acceleration or deceleration may be indicative of an accident involving the vehicle  100 . A vehicle event may also include the occurrence of a rollover of the vehicle  100 . A vehicle event may also include the non-movement of the vehicle for a specified period of time (e.g., ten minutes), which non-movement may indicate a period of unacceptable non-productivity by the vehicle operator. The video manager  55  is informed of the occurrence of a vehicle event by readings received from an event sensor  95  that is operably connected to the vehicle-mount computer  20 . An event sensor  95  may include an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an impact sensor, a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver, a user-activated switch, and/or any other device capable of detecting a vehicle event. By way of example, an accelerometer may be used to detect sudden vehicle acceleration or deceleration; a gyroscope may be used to detect vehicle rollover; and a GPS receiver may be used to detect extended periods of inactivity (e.g., non-movement). Although  FIG. 1  depicts the event sensor  95  as being a peripheral device to the vehicle-mount computer  20 , the precise configuration of the event sensor  95  depends upon the application. Typically, an event sensor  95  such as an accelerometer or GPS receiver would be integrated into the vehicle-mount computer  20  (as opposed to being an external, peripheral device). The representation in  FIG. 1  is intended to clarify the interaction between the vehicle-mount computer  20  and the event sensor  95 , and is not intended to suggest a limitation on the location of the event sensor  95 . The event sensor  95  may thus be integral with the vehicle-mount computer  20 , or the event sensor  95  may be external to the vehicle-mount computer  20 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart depicting the logical operation of an exemplary video manager  55  of an exemplary system  10  according to the present invention. The video manager  55  is configured to at least temporarily store on the mass storage device  40  a specified duration of video captured by the imaging device  90 , possibly in addition to other types of vehicle event data. For example, the video manager  55  may be configured to write to the mass storage device  40  fifteen minutes worth of video footage captured from an imaging device  90  positioned to capture images of the area in front of the vehicle  100 . If the video manager  55  does not receive an indication from an event sensor  95  that a vehicle event has occurred, then the captured images are overwritten as new images are obtained. This approach prevents the mass storage device  40  from becoming quickly filled with data. Once an event sensor  95  detects a vehicle event, the video manager  55  preserves a designated duration of video captured immediately before the vehicle event. For example, the video manager  55  may be configured to preserve the video captured in the five minutes preceding the vehicle event. In addition, the video manager  55  may be configured to preserve a designated duration of video (e.g., five minute duration) immediately following a vehicle event. By preserving the video images (and potentially other vehicle event data) immediately preceding and immediately following the vehicle event, the system  10  affords investigators or other interested parties access to only the most relevant data, while not making unreasonable demands on system storage resources. The video manager  55  preserves the vehicle event data by storing it on the mass storage device  40  and/or transmitting it via the communications network  65  to a central hub (e.g., a dispatcher) along with instructions that the vehicle event data is not to be overwritten. Transmission of vehicle event data, including video footage of a vehicle event, over the communications network  65  to a central hub can facilitate virtually instantaneous assessment of the incident involving the vehicle. For example, if a dispatcher receives video footage showing a collision with a pedestrian, the dispatcher would immediately know to contact emergency personnel without waiting on the vehicle operator to report the incident. 
         [0025]    In another aspect, the invention embraces a vehicle adapted to capture and preserve vehicle event data.  FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an exemplary vehicle  100  adapted to capture and preserve vehicle event data according to the present invention. A vehicle-mount computer  20  is mounted to the interior (e.g., cabin) of the vehicle  100 . An imaging device  90  is mounted to the front exterior of the vehicle  100  and is operably connected to the vehicle-mount computer  20  (e.g., by a USB cable). The imaging device  90  is oriented to capture images of the area in front of the vehicle  100 . It will be understood that the system  10  could include multiple imaging devices  90  oriented to capture video from different areas of the vehicle&#39;s  100  exterior or interior. For example, one imaging device  90  could be positioned to capture video images of the vehicle operator. 
         [0026]    In the specification and figures, typical embodiments of the invention have been disclosed. The present invention is not limited to such exemplary embodiments. Unless otherwise noted, specific terms have been used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation.