Abstract:
Aspects of the disclosure relate to verifying the completion of a circuit around a vehicle. A location of an individual can be detected in relation to a vehicle within a time period to determine whether a circuit around the vehicle was properly completed by the individual. Upon determining completion of a proper circuit, the vehicle can be qualified.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Some vehicles have large blind spots, or areas that cannot be directly observed by a driver while at the controls of a vehicle under existing driving conditions, e.g., as a driver operates a vehicle while seated at a steering wheel in a generally forward-facing direction. For example, visibility behind a driver can be reduced by pillars, headrests, passengers, cargo, and so forth. Blind spots can also occur in front of a driver as a result of, for instance, a windshield pillar, a side-view mirror, and/or an interior rear-view mirror. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0002]    This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
         [0003]    Aspects of the disclosure relate to verifying the completion of a circuit around a vehicle. A location of an individual can be detected in relation to a vehicle within a time period to determine whether a circuit around the vehicle was properly completed by the individual. Upon determining completion of a proper circuit, the vehicle can be qualified. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    The Detailed Description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. The use of the same reference numbers in different instances in the description and the figures may indicate similar or identical items. 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic illustration of a system for verifying that an operator has completed a circuit, where the circuit is performed in a clockwise direction around an environment in accordance with example implementations of the present disclosure. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic illustration of a system for verifying that an operator has completed a circuit around a vehicle in accordance with example implementations of the present disclosure. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic illustration of a system for verifying that an operator has completed a circuit in accordance with example implementations of the present disclosure. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating a system for verifying that an operator has completed a circuit, where the system can communicate with a remote monitoring authority in accordance with example implementations of the present disclosure. 
           [0009]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are flow diagrams illustrating a method for verifying that an operator has completed a circuit in accordance with example implementations of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Overview 
       [0010]    Some vehicles have large blind spots, or areas that cannot be directly observed by a driver while at the controls of a vehicle under existing driving conditions, e.g., as a driver operates a vehicle while seated at a steering wheel in a generally forward-facing direction. For example, visibility behind a driver can be reduced by pillars, headrests, passengers, cargo, and so forth. Blind spots can also occur in front of a driver as a result of, for instance, a windshield pillar, a side-view mirror, and/or an interior rear-view mirror. Vehicles with large blind spots to the rear, including sports utility vehicles (SUVs) and vans, are becoming more prevalent in urban and suburban environments, where backing in constricted space is normal practice. Front- and back-over accidents involving injury and property damage are also occurring at an increasing rate. Furthermore, commercial freight, farm, and construction vehicles can have even larger blind spots than urban vehicles, and can be attractive to small children. 
         [0011]    Various programs and systems have been introduced in an effort to reduce these accidents. For example, backing indicators can be used to provide an audible alert to nearby individuals that a vehicle is backing. Backing alerts can be used to sense the presence of something in the path of a backing vehicle and notify the operator to take action. Optical monitoring equipment such as cameras can also be used to provide an operator with various views external to a vehicle. However, in many instances, it may still be desirable for a vehicle operator to visually inspect conditions around a vehicle before operating the vehicle. Thus, some businesses require that employees walk around a vehicle before getting behind the wheel of the vehicle, sometimes referred to as a “360 Walk Around” or “Circle of Safety.” In this type of procedure, an employee may be required to follow an inspection routine defined by a business each time the employee exits and reenters a vehicle. For example, the employee may be instructed to place cones around a vehicle and/or walk behind the vehicle before driving away. However, it may be difficult to verify that an employee performs such a procedure. 
         [0012]    Accordingly, techniques are described for verifying that an individual (hereinafter referred to as an “operator”) has completed a circuit around an environment within a predetermined time interval. In some instances, the environment can be the exterior and/or the interior of a vehicle, such as a fleet vehicle, and techniques in accordance with the present disclosure can be used to prevent operation of the vehicle until the circuit has been completed. For example, a fleet operator may require that a circuit is completed within a predetermined time interval before a vehicle may be started and/or operated. 
         [0013]    In implementations, a system for verifying that an operator has completed a circuit around an environment can be included in the startup process of, for example, a vehicle. The system can be included with a vehicle by way of factory installation, as an after-market kit, and so forth. In some instances, a system can include a “Circle of Safety” procedure as part of a vehicle&#39;s startup process. Such configurations can be used in fleet (e.g., commercial) operations, personal (e.g., non-commercial) applications, and so forth. However, these particular applications are provided by way of example only and are not meant to be restrictive of the present disclosure. Thus, in other examples, techniques of the present disclosure can be used for other applications including, but not necessarily limited to: construction vehicles, farm vehicles, aircraft (e.g., personal aircraft), and so forth. 
       Example Implementations 
       [0014]    Referring generally to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , a system  100  for verifying that an operator  102  has completed a circuit  104  around an environment, such as the exterior and/or the interior of a vehicle  200 , is described. The system  100  includes a number of sensors (e.g., a first sensor  106 , a second sensor  108 , and possibly one or more additional sensors  110 ) configured to determine the presence of the operator  102  with respect to a number of areas in an environment, such as a first area  112 , a second area  114 , and possibly one or more additional areas  116 . In some instances, the first area  112 , the second area  114 , and/or additional areas  116  can be located external to the vehicle  200 . For example, an area  112 ,  114 ,  116  can comprise an area adjacent to the exterior of the vehicle  200  corresponding to a hatch for a gas container. In other instances, the first area  112 , the second area  114 , and/or additional areas  116  can be located internal to the vehicle  200 . For instance, an area  112 ,  114 ,  116  can comprise an area adjacent to an interior wall of a tractor trailer. In this type of configuration, the operator  102  may be required to inspect cargo (e.g., to verify that freight is sufficiently secured within the vehicle  200 , to inspect hazardous material transported using the vehicle  200 , and so on). 
         [0015]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the first sensor  106  can be configured to determine the presence and/or the absence of the operator  102  with respect to the first area  112  (e.g., where the first area  112  is associated with the exterior and/or the interior of the vehicle  200 ). Similarly, the second sensor  108  can be configured to determine the presence and/or the absence of the operator  102  with respect to the second area  114  (e.g., where the second area  114  is associated with the exterior and/or the interior of the vehicle  200 ). Further, one or more additional sensors  110  can be configured to determine the presence and/or the absence of the operator  102  with respect to additional areas  116  (e.g., where the additional areas  116  are associated with the exterior and/or the interior of the vehicle  200 ). In this manner, the first sensor  106  can be used to provide an indication of the presence of the operator  102  with respect to the first area  112 ; the second sensor  108  can be used to provide an indication of the presence of the operator  102  with respect to the second area  114 ; and so forth. 
         [0016]    It should be noted that for the purposes of the present disclosure, determining the absence of the operator  102  with respect to a particular area or a number of areas can be used to determine the presence of the operator  102  with respect to a different area. For instance, in a closed environment where the operator  102  can be located in one of a finite number of areas, such as a garage, the absence of the operator in one or more areas can be associated with the presence of the operator  102  in another area. 
         [0017]    The first sensor  106 , the second sensor  108 , and possibly the additional sensors  110  can use various sensing techniques to determine the presence and/or the absence of the operator  102  in a particular environment, such as with respect to the exterior and/or the interior of the vehicle  200 . For example, in some instances, one or more sensors can be implemented using a proximity sensor to indicate the presence and/or the absence of a mobile device  118 , such as a key fob, a smart key, and so forth. In a particular example, a sensor can be implemented using a radio frequency identification (RFID) signal receiving device configured to indicate the proximity of an RFID tag in a key fob that can be held in a pocket, a hand, and so forth. For example, when an “unlock” button on the mobile device  118  is pressed, the parking lights of the vehicle  200  can be activated which, in turn, can activate sequentially located RFID devices connected to the parking lights. However, this implementation is provided by way of example only and is not meant to be restrictive of the present disclosure. Thus, in other implementations, the mobile device  118  can be implemented using a variety of instrumentation, including, but not necessarily limited to: a mobile phone; a position-determining device; a hand-held portable computer; a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA); a multimedia device; a device worn by the operator  102  (e.g., a watch or a badge); and so forth. 
         [0018]    Further, a sensor configured using RFID technology is provided by way of example only and is not meant to be restrictive of the present disclosure. Thus, one or more sensors can be implemented using an image capture device (e.g., a camera), a photoelectric sensor, a sonic sensor (e.g., an ultrasonic sensor), and/or another type of sensor. One or more of the sensors can be configured to sense the presence and/or the absence of the operator  102  by determining the presence and/or the absence of the operator  102  between two sensor portions, determining a distance between the operator  102  and a sensor, determining contact by the operator  102  with a sensor, and so forth. In some instances, one or more sensors can comprise equipment included with the vehicle  200 , such as the ignition of the vehicle  200 . In this configuration, the presence and/or the absence of the operator at the first area  112  can be determined by activation of the ignition of the vehicle  200 . 
         [0019]    The first sensor  106 , the second sensor  108 , and/or additional sensors  110  can be communicatively coupled with a controller  120 . In implementations, each sensor is configured to provide the controller  120  with an indication of the presence of the operator  102  with respect to an area associated with the corresponding sensor. The controller  120  is configured to assess communication from the sensors to ensure proper sequence and timing of movement by the operator  102 . In some instances, the controller  120  can allow and/or prevent operation of, for example, the vehicle  200  based upon communication with the sensors. For the purposes of the present disclosure, providing an indication of the presence of the operator  102  with respect to an area associated with a sensor can include providing information regarding the operator  102  and/or information associated with the presence of the operator within a particular area. For example, such indication can include, but is not necessarily limited to: a duration of time the operator  102  spends in a particular area, an amount of movement the operator  102  engages in while in a particular area, the identity of the operator  102  (e.g., a badge number), and so forth. For instance, an operator may be required to check the air pressure of a tire located in a particular area, and the amount of time the operator is required to spend at a location associated with the tire can be specified accordingly. 
         [0020]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the controller  120  can use indications received from one or more of the sensors to verify that the operator  102  has completed a circuit  104  around an environment. With reference to  FIG. 2 , the environment can be the exterior of the vehicle  200 . For example, a number of sensors can be located at various locations near the exterior of the vehicle  200 . However, the exterior of the vehicle  200  is provided by way of example only and is not meant to be restrictive of the present disclosure. Thus, in other instances, sensors can be located at various locations for sensing the operator  102  in positions in the interior of the vehicle  200 . Further, the vehicle  200  is provided by way of example only, and an environment can also be external and/or internal to a structure, such as a garage, and so forth. 
         [0021]    In implementations, the controller  120  associates a time with each indication received from the various sensors. For example, when a first indication is received from the first sensor  106 , the first indication is associated with a time that the first indication is received (or transmitted), e.g., using a timestamp. When a second indication is subsequently received from the second sensor  108 , the second indication is associated with a time (e.g., a timestamp) that the second indication is received (or transmitted), and so forth. Then, when another indication is received from a sensor indicating that the circuit  104  has been completed (e.g., from the first sensor  106  and/or from another sensor associated with the first area  112 ), this indication is also associated with a time of reception (or transmission), e.g., using another timestamp. For example, in an instance where two sensors are used with the system  100 , a third indication can be received from the first sensor  106  and associated with a particular time. In an instance where four sensors are used with the system  100  (e.g., as illustrated in  FIG. 2 ), a fifth indication can be received from the first sensor  106  and associated with a particular time. 
         [0022]    It should be noted that, for the purposes of the present disclosure, the term “first sensor” can be used to describe a sensor positioned at or near the beginning of the circuit  104  that the operator  102  performs. Thus, terms such as “first sensor,” “second sensor,” and so forth are not meant to be restrictive of the position of a sensor with respect to a particular location, such as a particular position on the vehicle  200 . For example, in an instance where the operator  102  starts the circuit  104  at or near the driver-side door of the vehicle  200 , the first sensor  106  can comprise a sensor positioned proximate to a front driver-side parking light (e.g., as illustrated in  FIG. 2 ). In an instance where the operator  102  starts a circuit at or near the rear of the vehicle  200 , a first sensor can comprise a sensor positioned proximate to a rear passenger-side light, and so forth. Accordingly, terms such as “second sensor,” “additional sensor,” and so on can be used to refer to sensors as they are sequentially encountered during completion of the circuit  104 , and do not necessarily indicate or limit a sensor to a particular positional orientation. 
         [0023]    By determining a time difference between the first time and the last time associated with the circuit  104  (e.g., the third time as described in the example above), the controller  120  can verify the operator  102  has completed the circuit  104  within a specific timeframe. In implementations, when the time difference is less than, or at least substantially equal to, a predetermined time interval, the controller  120  can verify completion of the circuit  104  by the operator  102  within the predetermined time interval. However, verification of the circuit  104  is not necessarily limited to completion within a specific timeframe. For example, the operator  102  can also be required to move in a particular pattern to complete the circuit  104 . Thus, in some instances, the system  100  can verify that the presence and/or the absence of the operator is indicated in a particular sequence (e.g., in a clockwise manner with respect to a group of sensors, a counterclockwise manner with respect to a group of sensors, and so forth). 
         [0024]    In some instances, the controller  120  is also operatively coupled with the vehicle  200  and configured to qualify the vehicle  200  (e.g., to control one or more operations of the vehicle  200 ). For example, the controller  120  can be coupled with a starter  202  of the vehicle  200  and used to allow and/or prevent starting of the vehicle&#39;s drive assembly (e.g., operation of an engine  204 ). In some instances, the controller  120  can be implemented using a kill switch configured to deactivate the engine  204 . In other instances, the controller  120  can be implemented to selectively allow activation of the starter  202 . In implementations, the controller  120  can also be operatively coupled with other components of the vehicle  200  (e.g., to control operation of the vehicle&#39;s horn, brakes, parking lights, and so forth). For example, the controller  120  can be configured to operate the vehicle&#39;s brakes to inhibit the vehicle from moving. In some instances, operation of the vehicle  200  can be allowed and/or prevented based upon other conditions in addition to completion (or non-completion) of the circuit  104 . For example, operation of the vehicle  200  can be prevented until the operator  102  enters a cabin, buckles a seatbelt, and so forth. Further, it should be noted that the system  100  and/or the vehicle  200  can include a bypass process and/or monitor to allow starting of the vehicle  200  in case of a power failure, emergency condition, and so forth, which can prevent the operator  102  from performing the circuit  104 . 
         [0025]    In an instance where the operator  102  determines not to use a particular protocol that involves completing the circuit  104 , the system  100  and/or the vehicle  200  can initiate a variety of actions which can be defined by, for example, a fleet operator. Some of these actions include, but are not necessarily limited to: a prolonged sounding of the vehicle&#39;s horn, communication of the bypass operation to a fleet operator (e.g., using GPS, a smart device, and so forth), a visible signal (e.g., an indicator light) that is reset by a fleet operator, or no action. 
         [0026]    The controller  120  can include a processor  122 , a network interface  124 , and a memory  126 . The processor  122  provides processing functionality for the controller  120  and can include any number of processors, micro-controllers, or other processing systems and resident or external memory for storing data and other information accessed or generated by the controller  120 . The processor  122  can execute one or more software programs that implement techniques described herein. The processor  122  is not limited by the materials from which it is formed or the processing mechanisms employed therein and, as such, can be implemented via semiconductor(s) and/or transistors (e.g., using electronic integrated circuit (IC) components), and so forth. For example, the controller  120  can be implemented using an electronic timer  128  and one or more additional timers  130 . In this type of configuration, performance of the circuit  104  is not necessarily recorded or logged by the system  100 . 
         [0027]    The network interface  124  is operatively configured to communicate with components of the system  100 . For example, the network interface  124  can be configured to transmit data for storage in the system  100 , retrieve data from storage in the system  100 , and so forth. The network interface  124  is also communicatively coupled with the processor  122  (e.g., to facilitate data transfer between components of the system  100  and the processor  122 ). The network interface  124  provides functionality to enable the system  100  to communicate using one or more networks. In implementations, the network interface  124  can include a variety of components including, but not necessarily limited to: cellular telephone transceivers, modems, routers, wireless access points, and so forth, and associated software employed by these components (e.g., drivers, configuration software, and so on). In  FIG. 4 , the network interface  124  is illustrated as a component of the system  100 . However, one or more components of the network interface  124  can be implemented as external components communicatively coupled to the system  100  via a wired and/or wireless connection. 
         [0028]    The network interface  124  can be configured to connect to a network  132 . The network  132  can assume a wide variety of configurations. For example, the network  132  can comprise, but is not necessarily limited to: a wide-area cellular telephone network, such as a 3G cellular network, a 4G cellular network, or a global system for mobile communications (GSM) network; a wireless computer communications network, such as a WiFi network (e.g., a wireless local area network (WLAN) operated using IEEE 802.11 network standards); an internet; the Internet; a wide area network (WAN); a local area network (LAN); a personal area network (PAN) (e.g., a wireless personal area network (WPAN) operated using IEEE 802.15 network standards); a public telephone network; an extranet; an intranet; and so on. However, this list is provided by way of example only and is not meant to be restrictive of the present disclosure. Further, the network  132  can be configured to include a single network or multiple networks across different access points. The system  100  can also comprise and/or connect to one or more input/output (I/O) devices (e.g., via the network interface  124 ) including, but not necessarily limited to: a display, a mouse, a touchpad, a keyboard, and so on. 
         [0029]    In implementations, the network interface  124  can be used to communicatively couple the system  100  to one or more external entities. For example, the network interface  124  can be used to connect the system  100  to a remote monitoring authority  134 , such as a fleet operator, and so forth. Information regarding whether the operator  102  has completed a circuit  104  around an environment (e.g., the exterior and/or the interior of the vehicle  200 ) can be transmitted to the remote monitoring authority  134  at various intervals. For example, such information can be transmitted each time a circuit  104  is completed (or not completed), each time a vehicle  200  is stopped and restarted, periodically (e.g., hourly, daily, and so forth), at random or pseudorandom time intervals, and so on. The transmission can be requested and/or scheduled by the remote monitoring authority  134 , by the operator  102 , and so forth. 
         [0030]    Additional information can be collected and associated with completion (or non-completion) of a circuit  104  and/or transmitted to the remote monitoring authority  134 . The additional information can include, but is not necessarily limited to: positional information (e.g., as collected by a position-determining device, such as a global positioning system (GPS) device), information regarding a time when a circuit  104  is completed (or not completed), information regarding a time interval during which a circuit  104  is completed, information regarding one or more environmental conditions (e.g., a moisture level, a noise level, an ambient light level), and so on. In implementations, the remote monitoring authority  134  can qualify the vehicle  200  based upon information received using the network interface  124 . Further, the controller  120  can allow and/or prevent operation of the vehicle  200  based upon information received from the remote monitoring authority  134 . The remote monitoring authority  134  can qualify a vehicle  200  based upon completion of the circuit  104  and/or based upon other information which can include, but is not necessarily limited to: the identity of the operator  102 , an operator&#39;s driving performance record, and so forth. 
         [0031]    The memory  126  is an example of tangible computer-readable storage medium that provides storage functionality to store various data associated with operation of the controller  120 , such as software programs and/or code segments, or other data to instruct the processor  122 , and possibly other components of the controller  120 , to perform the steps described herein. Although a single memory  126  is shown, a wide variety of types and combinations of memory can be employed. The memory  126  can be integral with the processor  122 , can comprise stand-alone memory, or can be a combination of both. The memory  126  can include, but is not necessarily limited to: removable and non-removable memory components, such as random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory (e.g., a secure digital (SD) memory card, a mini-SD memory card, and/or a micro-SD memory card), magnetic memory, optical memory, universal serial bus (USB) memory devices, and so forth. In embodiments, the memory  126  can include removable integrated circuit card (ICC) memory, such as memory provided by a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, a universal subscriber identity module (USIM) card, a universal integrated circuit card (UICC), and so on. 
       Example Process 
       [0032]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , example techniques are described for verifying that an individual has completed a circuit around an environment within a predetermined time interval.  FIGS. 5A and 5B  depict a process  500 , in an example implementation, for verifying completion by an individual of a circuit around an environment, such as the exterior and/or the interior of a vehicle, e.g., as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4  and described above. 
         [0033]    In the process  500  illustrated, a first indication of a presence of an individual with respect to a first area is received. The first indication is associated with a first time (Block  510 ). Then, a second indication of a presence of the individual with respect to a second area is received. The second indication is associated with a second time subsequent to the first time (Block  520 ). In some instances, another indication of a presence of the individual with respect to another area is received. The additional indication is associated with a third time subsequent to the second time (Block  530 ). Next, another indication of a presence of the individual with respect to the first area is received. This indication is associated with a fourth time subsequent to the second time (and possibly the third time) (Block  540 ). 
         [0034]    Then, a time difference is determined between the first time and the fourth time (Block  550 ). Next, whether a circuit has been completed by the individual within a predetermined time interval is verified when the time difference is equal to or less than a predetermined time interval (Block  560 ). The verification can be used to qualify a vehicle, such as the vehicle  200  described in  FIGS. 2 through 4 . In implementations where more than two sensors are used to sense the presence and/or the absence of an operator, verification of whether a circuit has been completed can include determining whether the circuit has been properly completed in an appropriate sequence. For example, when an indication is received and associated with a third time (e.g., as described in Block  530 ), verifying that a circuit has been properly completed can include determining that the third time is subsequent to the second time and prior to the fourth time. In some instances, activation of a vehicle is allowed based upon the verification (Block  570 ), e.g., when the vehicle has been qualified, as described above. In implementations, one or more of a prolonged sounding of a vehicle&#39;s horn, communication to a remote monitoring authority, and/or a visible signal can be initiated when the vehicle is started without verification (Block  580 ). 
       Conclusion 
       [0035]    Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or process operations, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.