GB2425427A

GB2425427A - A method of monitoring an environment in which a vehicle is operating

Info

Publication number: GB2425427A
Application number: GB0508257A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frank Myers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-04-23
Filing date: 2005-04-23
Publication date: 2006-10-25
Also published as: GB0508257D0

Abstract

A method of monitoring an environment in which a vehicle 10 is operating including recording image data with a camera, writing said image data to the vehicle's 10 memory 25, storing the image data in the memory 25 for a storage period, then writing to the memory 25 fresh image data recorded by the recording device in a subsequently recording period, first deleting or thus overwriting the image data previously recorded (FIFO memory). The method is intended to aid in forensic, police or insurance investigations in case of a collision or accident.

Description

Title: A Method of Monitoring an Environment in which a Vehicle is

Operating

Description of Invention

This invention relates to a method of monitoring an environment in which a vehicle is operating.

It is frequently a forensic requirement to be able to determine the nature and/or cause of an accident, which requirement can be frustrated by the unreliable and inconsistent evidence of withesses. Hence it is desirable to record images of the environment in which a vehicle is operating to aid forensic investigation, for example, in the case of a collision between two road vehicles, to determine which of the vehicle operators may have been at fault.

It is known to provide on a vehicle a CCTV camera for example, which records image data relating to the vehicle's environment as the vehicle travels.

The image data is recorded onto some medium, and may later be retrieved for viewing. However, this introduces a maintenance function, as it is necessary to replace the recording medium or wipe the image data from it, or where the data is stored in a memory, to delete the data to free up space for a new recording.

According to a first aspect of the invention I provide a method of monitoring an environment in which a vehicle is operating including recording image data relating to the vehicle's environment utilising an image recording device, writing the image data to a memory, storing the image data in the memory for a storage period, then writing to the memory fresh image data recorded by the recording device in a subsequently recording period, first deleting or thus overwriting the image data previously recorded.

Thus the method enables images of the vehicle environment to be recorded continuously into memory, but no maintenance function is required as recorded image data is automatically deleted or overwritten after the storage period to free up space for a new recording.

In a preferred method, the recording device is a video recording device, i.e. a device which is capable of recording moving images, and preferably digitally. For example the recording device may be a digital video camera although preferably the camera has no facility included for viewing any images recorded. In each case, the recording device may include a wide angle lens which permits a wide area of the vehicle's environment to be monitored, and if desired the recording device may record not only directly received images from immediately in front of the recording device, but via one or more mirrors, from behind and/or to the side of the recording device, and thus the image data recorded may be of a complex image with multiple views of the vehicle's environment.

It is envisaged that the image data recorded for an incident such as an accident, would be retrievable for viewing on a remote (i.e. not in or on the vehicle) image monitor e.g. for forensic investigation. Thus the method may include preventing image data recorded and stored during a selected recording period in which an incident may have occurred, subsequently being deleted or overwritten by fresh image data, and retrieving the stored image data from the memory.

Preserving image data from being deleted or overwritten may be achieved by operating a control, e.g. manually by a vehicle operator in the event of say, a minor collision, but the method may include preserving the stored image data automatically in the event of the vehicle being disabled, e.g. by switching off an ignition or other actuator switch of a vehicle engine, or by the operation of a sensor, such as an inertia sensor, sensing that the vehicle has been in an accident.

In each case, the image data recorded in the immediately previous recording period would be preserved for later retrieval.

The memory may be a single part memory into which data is continuously recorded and deleted or overwritten during performance of the method, until image data is preserved. However, preferably, the memory includes a plurality of parts into which data is sequentially written and deleted/overwritten when the other or others of the memory parts are substantially full of image data. The use of multiple memory parts may considerably simplify control algorithms.

The memory or a module thereof containing the preserved image data, may be removable to a remote location and the method may include removing the memory or memory module for image retrieval, or data may be retrieved from the memory using a line or wireless connection.

According to a second aspect of the invention I provide a method of retrieving image data relating to an environment in which a vehicle is operating, which has been recorded by an image recording device during a selected recording period, the method including recording image data relating to the vehicle's environment utilising an image recording device for an initial recording period, writing the image data to a memory, storing the image data in the memory for a storage period, then writing to the memory fresh image data recorded by the recording device in a subsequent recording period, first deleting or thus overwriting the image data previously recorded, and repeating the recording, writing, storing and deleting/overwriting of data cycle for a plurality of times, and during the selected recording period, operating a control which has the effect of preserving image data recorded and stored during the selected recording period, against subsequently being deleted or overwritten by fresh image data, and retrieving the stored image data from the memory.

According to a third aspect of the invention I provide a system for monitoring the environment in which a vehicle is operating including an image recording device for recording image data relating to the vehicle's environment, a memory into which the recorded data is written and stored for a predetermined period, and a controller either to delete stored image data and then to write to the memory fresh image data recorded by the recording device in a subsequent recording period, or to overwrite the image data previously recorded with fresh image data.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention we provide a vehicle including a monitoring system of the third aspect of the invention.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which is an illustrative view of vehicle having a system for monitoring the vehicle's environment by the method of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a vehicle 10 which in this example is an automobile, but could be any other kind of land, air or sea vehicle the environment of which it is desired to monitor.

The vehicle 10 is in this example driven by a vehicle operator 11 but could be automatically and/or remotely controlled as desired.

Mounted on the vehicle 10 is an image recording device 14 of a monitoring system 16, in this case a digital video camera for capturing moving images, but without any facility for viewing images recorded by the camera 14.

In another example, the recording device 14 may capture still images and record still image data, but a video camera is preferred.

It can be seen that the camera 14 can record image data relating to the vehicle's environment immediately in front of the vehicle, transmitted to the camera 14 by light signals indicated at 15, subject of course to the camera 14 being mounted in a position such that such light signals are not obstructed. Also though in this example, the video camera 14 is capable of recording image data relating to the vehicle's environment behind the vehicle 10, transmitted to the camera 14 via a rear view mirror 16, and even of the vehicle's environment at at least one side of the vehicle 10 by a side view mirror. In another example, multiple recording devices may be used instead of or in addition to mirrors to record image data relating to multiple views of the vehicle's environment.

In the example illustrated, where a single recording device 14 only is used, the image for which data is recorded will be complex, and an example of the complex image is illustrated at 20. A main part 21 of the image will relate to the vehicle's environment in front of the vehicle 10, but the main part 21 will be overlaid with a first auxiliary image 22 relating to the vehicle's environment behind the vehicle 10, and a second auxiliary image 23 relating to the vehicle's environment to the one side of the vehicle 10.

Although the image may be unclear to a viewer (although neither the recording device 14 of the vehicle 10 have any facility to view the image) , upon forensic analysis as part of a forensic investigation, as described below, the recorded image data may be useable to determine the nature and cause of a recorded incident.

According to the method of the invention, the recorded image data is written to a memory 25, of the system 16, where the image data is stored for a storage period before being overwritten by fresh image data relating to subsequently recorded image data. In the case of the memory 25 being a single part memory into which image data is continuously written and overwritten, the storage period would be the time until the memory is full and thus some data needs to be deleted to free up space in the memory 25 for the storage of fresh image data. In such a case, preferably all data would remain stored for a period of at least two minutes and preferably about 5 minutes, with the oldest recorded image data being overwritten continuously.

In the example illustrated though, to simplify the control methodology and algorithms, the memory 25 includes first and second memory parts 26, 27 although more memory parts may be provided as required.

Thus during an initial recording period, image data is written to a first of the memory parts 26, and when the memory part 26 is full, subsequently recorded image data is written to the second memory part 27. When the second memory part 27 is full, subsequently recorded image data is written to the first memory part 26 overwriting any data in the first memory part 26, or the first memory part 26 may be cleared of data prior to the fresh image data being written into the first memory part 26, by deleting the previously stored image data. When the first memory part 26 is full with fresh image data, the second memory part 27 is cleared or overwritten with subsequently recorded fresh image data.

Thus in a multiple memory part memory 25 as illustrated, the storage time for image data in each memory part 26, 27 would be at least the time it takes to fill the other or each other memory part with data.

Preferably again, all data would remain stored for a period of at least two minutes and preferably about 5 minutes, but this storage period may be considerably longer where a multiple memory part memory 25 is provided.

In the event of an incident, such as a collision with another vehicle, the operator 11 may operate a control indicated at 30 which signals a system controller 32 to command the memory 25 to cease accepting fresh image data from the camera 14. Thus any image data stored in the memory 25 is prevented from being overwritten or deleted. This may alternatively or additionally achieved by the controller 32 instructing the camera 14 to cease recording image data. In each case, the image data in the memory 25 is preserved for later retrieval and forensic investigation, for example in an effort to determine the cause of the collision and which vehicle operator 11 was at fault.

As mentioned above, neither the camera 14 or the vehicle 10 have any facility for viewing the images for which data has been recorded by the camera 14. Thus the image data stored in the memory 25 needs to be retrieved for image viewing.

In one example, the monitoring system 16 may accept the connection of a line 35 for downloading the image data to a computer 36, where the image for which data is stored may be manipulated for viewing. The computer 35 may be progranmied to separate the three front, side and back views recorded by the camera 14, as required for optimum forensic examination. Also, if the camera 14 is provided with a wide angle lens to enable the widest image view to be recorded, the computer 36 may manipulate the image to present on an image monitor 37, the most helpful image for the investigation.

In another example, stored image data may be retrieved by a wireless connection. In yet another example, the memory 25, or at least a module of the memory 25 containing the image data to be retrieved, may be removable from the vehicle 10 and system 16 for loading into a remote data reader, for example provided at or adjacent to the computer 36.

The controller 32 may act otherwise than in response to operation the control 30 by the operator 11 to prevent image data being overwritten or deleted from the memory 25 thus to preserve the image data which is stored in the memory 25. For example, the vehicle 10 may be equipped with an inertia switch 39 such as a mercury switch, which opens or closes to signal the controller 32 that an accident has occurred and thus that the image data recorded over the last few minutes, which may contain vital information relating to the accident, needs to be preserved. Any other means for ensuring that the image data is preserved in the memory in the event of an accident or other incident for which image data may be useful, may be provided.

In any event, when the vehicle's ignition switch is switched off, this may have the effect of signalling the controller 32 to preserve the image data, or in the case of a vehicle having other than an internal combustion engine with an ignition switch, the operation of another vehicle actuator disabling switch may have this effect.

If desired, the monitoring system 16 described may be integrated with a vehicle security system, with the camera 14 recording image data when the vehicle is parked or otherwise is inoperative, so as possibly to record the image of a thief breaking into or vandalising the vehicle 10. One or more security sensors may thus provide an input to the controller 32 to have the effect of preserving image data in the memory 25 in the event that a relevant incident is sensed.

It will be appreciated that the implementations of the invention described are purely illustrative and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring an environment in which a vehicle is operating including recording image data relating to the vehicle's environment utilising an image recording device, writing the image data to a memory, storing the image data in the memory for a storage period, then writing to the memory fresh image data recorded by the recording device in a subsequently recording period, first deleting or thus overwriting the image data previously recorded.

2. A method according to claim I wherein the recording device is a video recording device capable of recording moving images.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the recording device is a digital video camera with no facility included for viewing any images recorded.

4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the method includes recording directly received images from immediately in front of the recording device, and via one or more mirrors, from behind and/or to the side of the recording device, so that the image data recorded is of a complex image with multiple views of the vehicle's environment.

5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the method includes, in response to an incident, preventing image data recorded and stored during a selected recording period, subsequently being deleted or overwritten by fresh image data, and retrieving the stored image data from the memory.

6. A method according to claim 5 which includes operating a control to prevent image data recorded and stored during a selected recording period, subsequently being deleted or overwritten by fresh image data.

7. A method according to claim 5 wherein the method includes preserving the stored image data automatically in the event of the vehicle being disabled, by one or more of - switching off an actuator switch of a vehicle engine; and - by the operation of a sensor sensing that the vehicle has been in an accident.

8. A method according to any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the memory is a single part memory and the method includes continuously recording and deleting or overwriting into the memory image data, until image data is preserved.

9. A method according to any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the memory includes a plurality of parts and the method includes sequentially writing and deleting/overwriting data into one memory part until the other or others of the memory parts are substantially full of image data.

10. A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the memory or a module thereof containing the preserved image data, is removable, the method including removing the memory or memory module to a remote location for image retrieval.

11. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the method includes retrieving data from the memory using a line or wireless connection.

12. A method of monitoring an environment in which a vehicle is operating substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

13. A method of retrieving image data relating to an environment in which a vehicle is operating, which has been recorded by an image recording device during a selected recording period, the method including recording image data relating to the vehicle's environment utilising an image recording device for an initial recording period, writing the image data to a memory, storing the image data in the memory for a storage period, then writing to the memory fresh image data recorded by the recording device in a subsequent recording period, first deleting or thus overwriting the image data previously recorded, and repeating the recording, writing, storing and deleting/overwriting of data cycle for a plurality of times, and during the selected recording period, operating a control which has the effect of preserving image data recorded and stored during the selected recording period, against subsequently being deleted or overwritten by fresh image data, and retrieving the stored image data from the memory.

14. A system for monitoring the environment in which a vehicle is operating including an image recording device for recording image data relating to the vehicle's environment, a memory into which the recorded data is written and stored for a predetermined period, and a controller either to delete stored image data and then to write to the memory fresh image data recorded by the recording device in a subsequent recording period, or to overwrite the image data previously recorded with fresh image data.

15. A system for monitoring the environment in which a vehicle is operating substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawing.

16. A vehicle including a monitoring system of claim 14 or claim 15.

17. Any novel feature or novel combination of features herein described and/or as shown in the accompanying drawing.