BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to transportation systems, and more particularly, to a method and system for monitoring transportation system vehicle operator use of mobile devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Public transit is a part of every-day life in many parts of the world and, in particular, urban environments. With the advent of cellular technologies, talking, texting, and browsing the web on mobile devices, such as cellular phones, has become exceedingly common. A growing problem is the use of mobile devices while driving a motor vehicle, which may cause drivers to pay less attention to the road. Several states have attempted to address this problem by issuing traffic summonses to drivers who use mobile devices while driving without a hands-free device, such as a Bluetooth headset. However, not all states have enacted such prohibitions, in certain states such laws do not apply to all drivers, and the penalties are generally not particularly severe.
More importantly, drivers and operators controlling transit vehicles in various transportation systems such as a taxi system, paratransit system, a school transportation system, a rail system, a bus system and the like, also have the ability to use mobile devices while driving. In the case of drivers of public transportation vehicles, distracted driving caused by mobile device use may have particularly devastating consequences due to the large number of passengers aboard. While transportation system rules and regulations may restrict mobile device use, these rules may be difficult to enforce due to an inability to monitor drivers and operators.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made to address at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention provides a method and system for monitoring transportation system vehicle operator use of mobile devices.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a system is provided for monitoring transportation system vehicle operator use of a mobile device. The system includes a directional antenna for detecting a signal produced by a mobile device within a vehicle operator area of a transit vehicle. The system also includes an antenna controller for receiving the signal from the directional antenna and generating an event signal corresponding to the signal. The system further includes a logic unit for receiving the event signal from the antenna controller, determining a current status of the vehicle, and storing mobile device use event data in a memory based on the event signal and the current status of the vehicle.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for monitoring transportation system vehicle operator use of a mobile device. A directional antenna detects a signal produced by a mobile device within a vehicle operator area of a transit vehicle. The signal is transmitted from the directional antenna to an antenna controller. An event signal corresponding to the signal is generated at the antenna controller and the event signal is transmitted from the antenna controller to a logic unit. The logic unit determines a current status of the vehicle. The logic unit stores mobile device use event data in a memory based on the event signal and the current status of the vehicle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating components of a system for monitoring transportation system vehicle operator use of a mobile device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for monitoring transportation system vehicle operator use of a mobile device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for notifying a transportation system vehicle operator of unauthorized use of a mobile device, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for gathering and storing additional mobile device use event data, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed descriptions of constructions or processes known in the art may be omitted to avoid obscuring the subject matter of the present invention. Further, in the following description of the present invention, various specific definitions found in the following description are provided only to provide a general understanding of the present invention, and it is apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be implemented without such definitions.
Referring initially to FIG. 1, a diagram illustrates a system for monitoring transportation system vehicle operator use of mobile devices, according to an embodiment of the present invention. A mobile device 101 in an operator's area 119 of a transit vehicle 100 is able to transmit and receive a signal 103, such as a cellular signal. The system includes a directional antenna 105 in the operator's area 119 for detecting the transmitted signal. The system also includes an antenna controller 107 that implements the logic and control of the antenna 105. The antenna controller 107 communicates with a logic unit 111 via a network, such as Vehicle Area Network (VAN) 109. The system also includes a video recorder 113, which is connected to the logic unit 111. The video recorder 113 is also connected, via the VAN 109, to a camera 117 overlooking the operator in the operator's area 119. In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 1, the logic unit 111 may be implemented as a vehicle logic unit, and the video recorder 113 may be implemented as a digital video recorder. Further, all elements of FIG. 1 are provided on the transit vehicle 100. While FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the system, components and configurations may vary depending on the vehicle and transportation system type.
Referring to FIG. 2, a flowchart illustrates a method for monitoring transportation system vehicle operator use of mobile devices, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the monitoring system may activate when the transit vehicle is powered up. In step 201, the directional antenna 105 detects the signal 103 produced by the mobile device 101 within the vehicle operator's area 119 of the transit vehicle 100. In step 203, the directional antenna 105 transmits the signal 103 to the antenna controller 107. In step 205, the antenna controller 107 generates an event signal from the received signal 103, and transmits the event signal to the logic unit 111, over, for example, the VAN 109. The event signal may include a date and time that the signal 103 was received by the directional antenna 105. In step 207, the logic unit 111 determines the current status of the vehicle 100. The current status of the vehicle may be, for example, en route, on break, or end of route. In step 209, the logic unit 111 stores mobile device use event data in a memory based on the received event signal and the determined current status of the vehicle. The use event data may be stored for future reporting or administrative actions. Such information can be offloaded from the transit vehicle 100 via a manual transmission, a wireless Local Area Network (LAN), or a real-time wireless transmission. In step 211, it is determined whether operator use of the mobile device is authorized, and a request to discontinue use of the mobile device is sent to the operator when use is not authorized.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the logic unit 111 performs step 211 of FIG. 2 and determines whether the operator may use the mobile device 101 based on the stored mobile device use event data. The logic unit 111 then transmits a message to the operator of the transit vehicle 100, over the VAN 109, requesting that the operator discontinue use of the mobile device 101, when use of the mobile device 101 is not authorized. The message may be displayed to the operator over an operator interface of the transit vehicle 100.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for notifying an operator of unauthorized use of a mobile device, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 3 may be considered a detailed description of step 211 in FIG. 2. In step 301, the logic unit 111 transmits the mobile device use event data to an off-board control system in real-time. The off-board control system is not located on the transit vehicle 100, and the mobile device use event data may be sent via any available wireless communication method. In step 303, the off-board control system determines whether mobile device use is authorized based on the received mobile device use event data. In step 305, the off-board control system transmits a message to the logic unit 111 that requests that the transportation system vehicle operator discontinue use of the mobile device, if it is determined that use of the mobile device is not authorized. This message may be sent via any available wireless communication method. The message may be pre-defined or may be manually written. In step 307, the vehicle logic unit 111 transmits the message to the operator, over the VAN 109, requesting the operator to discontinue use of the mobile device. The message is provided to the operator over the operator interface of the vehicle.
Referring now to FIG. 4, a flowchart illustrates a method for gathering and storing additional mobile device use event data, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 4 may be considered a detailed description of step 209 in FIG. 2. In step 401, the logic unit 111 transmits a command to the video recorder 113 to command the camera 117 to begin recording based on the current status of the vehicle 100 and the received event signal. In step 403, the video recorder 113 transmits a command to the camera, over the VAN 109, to begin recording. In step 405, the camera 117 records the transportation system vehicle operator in the operator's area 119. In step 407, the camera 117 transmits the recording to the video recorder 113 over the VAN 109. In step 409, the video recorder 113 transmits the recording to the logic unit 111. In step 411, the logic unit 111 stores the received recording in the memory with the corresponding event signal and current status as mobile device use event data. The combination of the event signal, the current status and the recording may then be used to determine whether mobile device use is authorized in step 211 of FIG. 2.
While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Patent Grant
8830047
