Automotive imaging system for recording exception events

摘要

A motor vehicle system for automatically reporting exception events, comprising: one or more digital cameras, at least one digital camera having a primary function; an image memory system for storing digital images; means for detecting exception events; and a wireless communications system for communicating with a central reporting service. A program memory stores executable instruction for causing a processor to perform the steps of: using at least one of the digital cameras to periodically capture digital images at a specified capture frequency; storing the periodically captured digital images in the image memory for a specified period of time; and receiving input from the means for detecting an exception event. In response to the detection of an exception event a communication link is opened to the central reporting service using the wireless communications system, and one or more of the captured digital images are transmitted to the central reporting service.

主权项

1. A system for automatically reporting exception events, the system comprising:
an image capture device having a first function to monitor operation of a motor vehicle, wherein the image capture device comprises a digital camera configured to capture a video sequence of digital images; an image memory system configured to store digital images captured by the image capture device; an exception event detection mechanism configured to detect an exception event for the motor vehicle, wherein the exception event detection mechanism is configured to process inputs received from a plurality of sensing devices; and a processing system configured to:
periodically use the image capture device in a second function different from the first function to capture digital images at a first capture frequency;store the captured digital images in the image memory system;receive an input indicating a detection of the exception event from the exception event detection mechanism;determine a type of the exception event based on data captured by the image capture device in the second function;store metadata with the captured digital images, wherein the metadata comprises the determined type of the exception event; andprovide a response to the exception event.