WO2015036798A1 - Reporting details of an accident or incident using a mobile device - Google Patents

Reporting details of an accident or incident using a mobile device Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2015036798A1
WO2015036798A1 PCT/GB2014/052796 GB2014052796W WO2015036798A1 WO 2015036798 A1 WO2015036798 A1 WO 2015036798A1 GB 2014052796 W GB2014052796 W GB 2014052796W WO 2015036798 A1 WO2015036798 A1 WO 2015036798A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
input
smart phone
report
camera
accelerometer
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2014/052796
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Anthony RHOADES
Original Assignee
Pre-Chasm Research Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Pre-Chasm Research Limited filed Critical Pre-Chasm Research Limited
Publication of WO2015036798A1 publication Critical patent/WO2015036798A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
    • G06Q10/10—Office automation; Time management
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/02—Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
    • G06F3/033—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor
    • G06F3/0346—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F40/00—Handling natural language data
    • G06F40/10—Text processing
    • G06F40/166—Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
    • G06F40/174—Form filling; Merging

Definitions

  • This invention relates to creating reports on events.
  • Insurance companies require the production of a report of the circumstances of a road traffic accident.
  • a claimant will, some considerable time after the event, usually, will be furnished with a claim form in which details of the incident need to be entered, usually with a sketch or sketches of the scene, details about the weather and road surface condition and so forth.
  • the report will be created on the basis of the claimant's memory of the event, and may be flavoured with a subjective interpretation of the incident tending to place blame on another party or parties.
  • the present invention provides an improved method for preparing a report on an event.
  • the invention comprises a method for preparing a report on an event, comprising presenting via an app for a smart phone or other computing/communication equipment a plurality of data input requests structured so as to facilitate the input of information in a prescribed format by at least one method selected from the group consisting of manual input using a keyboard or keypad, oral input using speech recognition software, touch screen input, photographic input using the camera of the smart phone, and automatically, using a service provided on the smart phone.
  • a service provided on the smart phone may comprise a GPS facility that automatically records the location of the incident, and that may be used to map the scene of the event.
  • a GPS facility may also provide information about vehicle speed and direction of travel immediately preceding an incident, continuously recording such information during a trip perhaps on a limited retention basis so that, say, the last ten or twenty seconds of data are retained and would be frozen at the time of an incident.
  • Such a facility could also be used to monitor a driver's behaviour for the duration of a trip, noting any untoward features such as excessive speed, deviation from expected line, too fast cornering and such.
  • a driver could be alerted to any such behaviour, and the facility might be connected to immobilise the vehicle, perhaps after a controlled reduction in speed, and perhaps after an assessment of the suitability of the location.
  • accelerometer can provide information about an impact, and the accelerometer can be used in conjunction with the GPS facility in monitoring for untoward driving behaviour.
  • An accelerometer may, on detecting an impact, may automatically trigger an action such as freezing any limited retention data, raising an alarm, as by calling an emergency service, and opening the app.
  • the camera of a smart phone may also be used to gather information about driving conditions, driving behaviour, and particularly to record the moments before an incident, again on a limited retention basis, this in addition to or in place of the GPS and accelerometer data aforementioned.
  • the phone may be placed in a dashboard mounted docking station, where it can also be used in GPS routing mode.
  • Such service may also comprise a weather reporting service noting the weather at the scene and time of the event.
  • Such service may also comprise a databank, which may be on board the smart phone or may be on a remote database accessed by the smart phone, containing details about an insured vehicle, such details comprising, for example, the log book details, a service history, a condition assessment, particularly a tyre condition assessment.
  • a databank which may be on board the smart phone or may be on a remote database accessed by the smart phone, containing details about an insured vehicle, such details comprising, for example, the log book details, a service history, a condition assessment, particularly a tyre condition assessment.
  • Figure 1 is a flowchart showing the progression through stages in preparation of the report
  • Figure 2 shows a smart phone in a docking station on a vehicle dashboard;
  • the drawings illustrate presenting a report on a road traffic event involving a collision between two vehicles.
  • the report is prepared on a smart phone 11, Figure 2, which can sit, as illustrated, in a docking station 12 on a vehicle dashboard 13 with the screen 14 facing the driver of the vehicle and its camera, not visible, facing forward towards the road 15.
  • the phone 11 is, of course, removable from the docking station 12 for ease of data entry and communication. In the docking station, it is connected to a charger.
  • the smart phone is equipped with GPS and has an accelerometer.
  • the GPS facility can be used to show a map and directions on the screen 14 in the ordinary way.
  • An app has been downloaded on to the phone 11 to manage the preparation of a report for an insurer.
  • the app is activated. This may be done manually, as by
  • Touching a screen icon or it may be done automatically by the phone's accelerometer detecting an impact.
  • This is the start, 111 in the flowchart of Figure 1.
  • This causes a screen to be displayed, step 112, which requests data input.
  • the input requested at this stage might be details of the driver and the vehicle, to the extent that these details are not already available from the phone's memory or stored on an insurer's database.
  • the details may include insurance policy details, driver's licence and road tax disc details, and, to the extent they are available, similar details of any other party.
  • the request may, if the phone does not have an actual keyboard, present a virtual keyboard or open a speech recognition facility.
  • step 113 in the flowchart which requests confirmation of date, time and location and an assessment of weather and road conditions.
  • the screen might now display short cut touch screen icons, for example showing bright sunlight, overcast, rain symbols and so forth, likewise for wet, dry or flooded road surface.
  • the next screen at step 114 asks for a graphical representation of the scene of the event, which might be effected by removing the phone 11 from its docking station 12 and used to take photographs of the scene, or by drawing a simple diagram, for example using a stylus to indicate the road layout and dragging in an automobile icon, an omnibus icon, a motor cycle icon and so forth. Three such diagrams might be requested, one pre-impact, one at impact and one post-impact, for example.
  • the basic road layout may, of course, be derived from a GPS map.
  • a new screen, at step 115, will request further data entry, in particular, the name and other details of any other party involved, the name and details of any witnesses, whether the police or other agency was involved.
  • a new screen at step 116 will request details of any injuries, to the driver and/or passengers or another party, while a further screen, at step 117, will ask for details of vehicular damage, displaying an image of the vehicle on which damage areas can be indicated, again by use of the stylus, with an associated panel in which the damage can be described, again using keyboard or voice recognition input.
  • a similar arrangement could be used for details of personal injuries.
  • a final screen at step 117 will present a list of options such as requesting a replacement or hire car, a tow truck, or an appointment at a repair shop, and will upload details to the insurer or any other appropriate recipient.
  • the process terminates at step 118, the phone being returned to other duties.
  • the phone 11, in its docking station 12, may, when the vehicle is being driven, take continual video footage of the road ahead. In order to avoid memory overload, only the last ten or twenty seconds need be retained as on a loop.
  • the phone's accelerometer may, on detecting an impact, freeze those video frames, allowing the camera to continue taking video until instructed to stop for evidential purposes.
  • the GPS facility could loop the last ten or twenty seconds of data.
  • the GPS facility either alone or in conjunction with the camera taking continuous video and even the accelerometer, maintain a check on the driving behaviour, logging reckless driving incidents, drawing such to the driver's attention, even intervening by safely immobilising the vehicle.

Abstract

A method for preparing a report on an event, comprising presenting via an app for a smart phone a plurality of data input requests structured so as to facilitate the input of information in a prescribed format by at least one method selected from the group consisting of manual input using a keyboard or keypad, oral input using speech recognition software, photographic input using the camera of the smart phone, and automatically, using a service provided on the smart phone.

Description

REPORTING DETAILS OF AN ACCIDENT OR INCIDENT USING A MOBILE DEVICE
This invention relates to creating reports on events.
There are occasions when a report needs to be created by a person who may be unused to generating reports, who may not know the format and necessary content of a report, and who may have limited time in which to create the report. Such a report might be a report of a road traffic accident.
Insurance companies require the production of a report of the circumstances of a road traffic accident. A claimant will, some considerable time after the event, usually, will be furnished with a claim form in which details of the incident need to be entered, usually with a sketch or sketches of the scene, details about the weather and road surface condition and so forth. By and large, the report will be created on the basis of the claimant's memory of the event, and may be flavoured with a subjective interpretation of the incident tending to place blame on another party or parties. The present invention provides an improved method for preparing a report on an event.
The invention comprises a method for preparing a report on an event, comprising presenting via an app for a smart phone or other computing/communication equipment a plurality of data input requests structured so as to facilitate the input of information in a prescribed format by at least one method selected from the group consisting of manual input using a keyboard or keypad, oral input using speech recognition software, touch screen input, photographic input using the camera of the smart phone, and automatically, using a service provided on the smart phone. Such service provided on the smart phone may comprise a GPS facility that automatically records the location of the incident, and that may be used to map the scene of the event. A GPS facility may also provide information about vehicle speed and direction of travel immediately preceding an incident, continuously recording such information during a trip perhaps on a limited retention basis so that, say, the last ten or twenty seconds of data are retained and would be frozen at the time of an incident. Such a facility could also be used to monitor a driver's behaviour for the duration of a trip, noting any untoward features such as excessive speed, deviation from expected line, too fast cornering and such. A driver could be alerted to any such behaviour, and the facility might be connected to immobilise the vehicle, perhaps after a controlled reduction in speed, and perhaps after an assessment of the suitability of the location. A smart phone incorporating an
accelerometer can provide information about an impact, and the accelerometer can be used in conjunction with the GPS facility in monitoring for untoward driving behaviour.
An accelerometer may, on detecting an impact, may automatically trigger an action such as freezing any limited retention data, raising an alarm, as by calling an emergency service, and opening the app. The camera of a smart phone may also be used to gather information about driving conditions, driving behaviour, and particularly to record the moments before an incident, again on a limited retention basis, this in addition to or in place of the GPS and accelerometer data aforementioned. The phone may be placed in a dashboard mounted docking station, where it can also be used in GPS routing mode.
Such service may also comprise a weather reporting service noting the weather at the scene and time of the event.
Such service may also comprise a databank, which may be on board the smart phone or may be on a remote database accessed by the smart phone, containing details about an insured vehicle, such details comprising, for example, the log book details, a service history, a condition assessment, particularly a tyre condition assessment.
A method for preparing a report according to the invention, and other associated or independent inventive measures, will now be described with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a flowchart showing the progression through stages in preparation of the report;
Figure 2 shows a smart phone in a docking station on a vehicle dashboard; The drawings illustrate presenting a report on a road traffic event involving a collision between two vehicles. The report is prepared on a smart phone 11, Figure 2, which can sit, as illustrated, in a docking station 12 on a vehicle dashboard 13 with the screen 14 facing the driver of the vehicle and its camera, not visible, facing forward towards the road 15. The phone 11 is, of course, removable from the docking station 12 for ease of data entry and communication. In the docking station, it is connected to a charger.
It is assumed that the smart phone is equipped with GPS and has an accelerometer.
The GPS facility can be used to show a map and directions on the screen 14 in the ordinary way.
An app has been downloaded on to the phone 11 to manage the preparation of a report for an insurer. When an incident occurs, the app is activated. This may be done manually, as by
Touching a screen icon, or it may be done automatically by the phone's accelerometer detecting an impact. This is the start, 111 in the flowchart of Figure 1. This causes a screen to be displayed, step 112, which requests data input. The input requested at this stage might be details of the driver and the vehicle, to the extent that these details are not already available from the phone's memory or stored on an insurer's database. The details may include insurance policy details, driver's licence and road tax disc details, and, to the extent they are available, similar details of any other party. The request may, if the phone does not have an actual keyboard, present a virtual keyboard or open a speech recognition facility. When the requested data has been entered, another screen is displayed, step 113 in the flowchart, which requests confirmation of date, time and location and an assessment of weather and road conditions. The screen might now display short cut touch screen icons, for example showing bright sunlight, overcast, rain symbols and so forth, likewise for wet, dry or flooded road surface.
The next screen at step 114 asks for a graphical representation of the scene of the event, which might be effected by removing the phone 11 from its docking station 12 and used to take photographs of the scene, or by drawing a simple diagram, for example using a stylus to indicate the road layout and dragging in an automobile icon, an omnibus icon, a motor cycle icon and so forth. Three such diagrams might be requested, one pre-impact, one at impact and one post-impact, for example. The basic road layout may, of course, be derived from a GPS map.
A new screen, at step 115, will request further data entry, in particular, the name and other details of any other party involved, the name and details of any witnesses, whether the police or other agency was involved.
A new screen at step 116 will request details of any injuries, to the driver and/or passengers or another party, while a further screen, at step 117, will ask for details of vehicular damage, displaying an image of the vehicle on which damage areas can be indicated, again by use of the stylus, with an associated panel in which the damage can be described, again using keyboard or voice recognition input. A similar arrangement could be used for details of personal injuries. A final screen at step 117 will present a list of options such as requesting a replacement or hire car, a tow truck, or an appointment at a repair shop, and will upload details to the insurer or any other appropriate recipient.
The process terminates at step 118, the phone being returned to other duties.
It will be appreciated that elements of reporting as above described will be appropriate for on the spot entry, other elements may be added later, or, indeed, if there is no chance of on the spot entry, the whole report may be prepared after the event. This reporting procedure may be integrated with other vehicular functionality.
In particular, the phone 11, in its docking station 12, may, when the vehicle is being driven, take continual video footage of the road ahead. In order to avoid memory overload, only the last ten or twenty seconds need be retained as on a loop. The phone's accelerometer may, on detecting an impact, freeze those video frames, allowing the camera to continue taking video until instructed to stop for evidential purposes. Similarly, the GPS facility could loop the last ten or twenty seconds of data.
The GPS facility, either alone or in conjunction with the camera taking continuous video and even the accelerometer, maintain a check on the driving behaviour, logging reckless driving incidents, drawing such to the driver's attention, even intervening by safely immobilising the vehicle.
While the method for preparing a report has been described with particular reference to a road traffic event, it will also be found useful in the preparation of other kinds of report. And while particular reference has been made to a smart phone, clearly all required functionality could be provided in an onboard computer or built in satellite navigation sytsem.

Claims

Claims:
1 A method for preparing a report on an event, comprising presenting via an app for a smart phone or other computing/communication equipment a plurality of data input requests structured so as to facilitate the input of information in a prescribed format by at least one method selected from the group consisting of manual input using a keyboard or keypad, oral input using speech recognition software, touch screen input, photographic input using the camera of the smart phone, and automatically, using a service provided on the smart phone.
2 A method according to claim 1, in which a series of data input requests is presented on successive screens. 3 A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which short cut touch screen icons are used for fast data input.
4 A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, adapted for preparing a report of a road traffic event.
5 A method according to claim 3, integrated with GPS input.
6 A method according to claim 5, integrated with accelerometer input. 7 A method according to claim 6, in which the app is activated by the accelerometer detecting an impact.
8 A method according to any one of claims 4 to 7, integrated with camera input. 9 A method according to claim 8, in which the phone sits in a dashboard mounted docking station to image the road ahead.
10 A method according to claim 9, in which the screen is used for GPS navigation. 11 A method according to any one of claims 4 to 10, in which camera and/or GPS and/or accelerometer data are collected on a limited retention basis.
PCT/GB2014/052796 2013-09-16 2014-09-16 Reporting details of an accident or incident using a mobile device WO2015036798A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1316462.9A GB2518230A (en) 2013-09-16 2013-09-16 Creating reports
GB1316462.9 2013-09-16

Publications (1)

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WO2015036798A1 true WO2015036798A1 (en) 2015-03-19

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WO (1) WO2015036798A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10819944B2 (en) 2016-12-16 2020-10-27 Seagate Technology Llc Mobile wireless drive storage for mobile phone used as car dashboard camera

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10819944B2 (en) 2016-12-16 2020-10-27 Seagate Technology Llc Mobile wireless drive storage for mobile phone used as car dashboard camera

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Publication number Publication date
GB201316462D0 (en) 2013-10-30
GB2518230A (en) 2015-03-18

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