Patent Application
20210245712
The present invention relates to a security system for a vehicle and a method of use thereof, and more particularly the present invention relates to an automotive imaging securing system for capturing an immediate environment of the automobile upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.
Prior art is rich in security systems for vehicles that provide protection against theft. The known security systems are based on different technical advancements including a better locking system, biometric access to the vehicle, tracking of the vehicle through a remote app, remote stalling of the vehicle, and like events. Additionally, known are security systems that can notify thefts and intrusions in the vehicle.
However, the vehicles may not only be secure against theft but also damage. Incidents of intension and unintentional damage to the vehicles are on the rise. For example, someone may hit a parked vehicle and drive off. It is very difficult to track or identify the miscreant driver or the vehicle. Also, accidents may happen on the road while driving. Besides someone may, for whatsoever reason, intentionally damage a vehicle and flee.
Thus, a long-term desire is there for an automotive security system that can help to identify a miscreant that damaged a vehicle.
The following presents a simplified summary of one or more embodiments of the present invention in order to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all embodiments nor delineate the scope of any or all embodiments. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more embodiments in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The principal object of the present invention is therefore directed to an automotive imaging security system that can help in identifying a miscreant that damaged a vehicle.
It is another object of the present invention that the system can notify an owner of the vehicle about a predetermined event.
It is still another object of the present invention that the system can notify an owner of the vehicle in case of vehicle damage.
It is yet another object of the present invention that the system can provide evidence against a miscreant for vehicle damage or theft.
It is a further object of the present invention that the system can provide a near-real-time video feed of the vehicle damaged or being damage.
In one aspect, disclosed is an automotive imaging security system for vehicles having at least two cameras coupled to the vehicle's body and configured to capture an immediate environment of the vehicle. The automotive imaging security system further comprises one or more sensors configured to activate the camera upon detecting a predetermined event.
In one aspect, the predetermined event is impacting on the vehicle having the disclosed system. The impact may be on an external body of the vehicle and include forceful intrusion in the vehicle or theft.
In one aspect, the predetermined event can be the presence of a key fob within a predefined range from the vehicle but outside the vehicle.
In one aspect, the disclosed system includes a control unit operably coupled to the cameras and the sensors. The control unit including network circuitry for communicating with one or more remote devices or a server including a cloud server.
In one aspect, the control unit can transmit a near-real-time video feed of the cameras to the remote device or the server, wherein the near-time video feed can be recorded on the user device or the server. The near-time video feed can also be viewed on the user device.
In one aspect, the disclosed control unit of the system can send notifications to the remote device on sensing the predetermined event.
In one aspect, the system can also include an alarm operably coupled to the control unit. The control unit on detecting the damage, forceful intrusion, or theft of the vehicle can trigger the alarm.
In one aspect, the disclosed control unit of the system can receive commands from the remote device, such as turning the alarm off.
These and other objects and advantages of the embodiments herein and the summary will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings
The accompanying figures, which are incorporated herein, form part of the specification and illustrate embodiments of the present invention. Together with the description, the figures further explain the principles of the present invention and to enable a person skilled in the relevant arts to make and use the invention.
Subject matter will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. Subject matter may, however, be embodied in a variety of different forms and, therefore, covered or claimed subject matter is intended to be construed as not being limited to any exemplary embodiments set forth herein; exemplary embodiments are provided merely to be illustrative. Likewise, a reasonably broad scope for claimed or covered subject matter is intended. Among other things, for example, the subject matter may be embodied as methods, devices, components, or systems. The following detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be taken in a limiting sense.
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Likewise, the term “embodiments of the present invention” does not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage, or mode of operation.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of embodiments of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising,”, “includes” and/or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
The following detailed description includes the best currently contemplated mode or modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention will be best defined by the allowed claims of any resulting patent.
Disclosed is an automotive imaging security system for vehicles that can record any activity in the immediate environment of the vehicle on the occurrence of a predetermined event. The immediate environment includes a space around the vehicle within a predefined distance range from the vehicle. For example, the space within 15-20 feet or 10-15 feet from the vehicle. The predetermined event can be an event related to the vehicle, which can be preconfigured in the disclosed system, and the occurrence of which activates the disclosed system. In one case, the predetermined event can be an impact on the outside of the vehicle at rest, for example hitting the parked vehicle by an object or another vehicle. In one aspect, the predetermined event can be forced intrusion in the vehicle. In one aspect, the predetermined event can be the forceful or unlawful unlocking of the vehicle for theft or other reasons. In one aspect, the predetermined event can be the presence of a key fob, having the keys of the vehicle, within the proximity of the vehicle. The proximity can be a predefined distance from the vehicle, such as within 15 feet, 10 feet, or 6 feet. One or more of the predetermined events can be pre-configured in the disclosed system. Additionally, an option can be provided to add a new predetermined event or remove an old one from the system. Moreover, the parameters of the predetermined event, such as distance from the vehicle can be modified at any time before and after installation of the disclosed system in the vehicle. An option can also be provided that allows the owner to choose between the preconfigured events in the disclosed system. The system can be installed in new vehicles as well as retrofitted in the old vehicles.
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The control unit upon receiving the signal from the sensor indicating any of the above events can activate the cameras to start recording the immediate environment of the vehicle. For example, on detecting the key fob within the pre-defined range of the vehicle, the control unit can start the cameras, wherein at least one of the cameras can focus on the person carrying the key fob. Although all the cameras may work and capture the complete vicinity of the vehicle. Similarly, in case the vehicle is hit by another vehicle, the control unit can activate the cameras to capture the car. Also, at least one camera can focus on the number plate and/or driver in the miscreant vehicle. Similarly, in the case of intrusion or forceful unlocking/breaking of the lock, the control unit can activate the cameras.
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The control unit can transmit the video feed from the camera, in near real-time, to the server and the user device. The server can be a cloud server, which can connect the control unit to the user device. The user device can be a computing system, such as smartphone, laptop, computer, desktop, workstation, tablet computer, smartwatch, and like devices. The user device can also be a standalone recorder for recording the video feed from the cameras. The recorder in one case can be installed in the vehicle itself or outside the vehicle. For example, the recorder can be installed at the home of the owner. Alternatively, the video feed can be recorded at the server or the cloud server, which can be accessed by the user device anytime. The access to the server can be secured, for example, the owner can be provided with a username and password for authenticating the user device to connect to the server for gaining access to the near real-time video feed or the recordings.
An interface can be provided on the user device which may include an admin panel to configure or modify the settings of the disclosed system. The interface may also allow viewing the near real-time video feed from the cameras. The interface may also allow connecting to the server or the recorder for accessing the live video or the recordings. Through the interface, a user may also modify the position of the lenses of the camera, such as to focus on an object. The interface on the user device can be provided as application software. In one case, the application software can be downloaded from an application distribution platform, such as App Store, Google Play, Chrome Webstore, and Amazon Appstore. Alternatively, the interface can also be provided through world-wide-web and accessible on the user's device through a web browser, such as Chrome.
While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above-described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.
