Systems and methods for recording evidence data

Abstract

This provides a computer implementation method for recording evidence data. [Solution] The method comprises the steps of: allocating storage space for digital evidence data in physical memory located on a recording device and isolated from the outside of the device; acquiring evidence data following the detection of a predetermined event; recording the evidence data in the storage space; associating the evidence data with digital proof data that includes at least the date and time of acquisition corresponding to the date and time of acquisition of the evidence data, i.e., the date and time when the predetermined event occurred; transmitting only the proof data via encrypted communication means to a storage environment located outside the device and accessible by at least one external user; and storing the proof data in the storage environment in such a manner that at least an external user can view the proof data after its acquisition.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a system and method for recording a type of evidentiary data specified in the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] In particular, the present invention relates to a system and method that can be implemented on both a moving vehicle and a fixed device such as a speed camera for recording evidentiary data related to road vehicles.

Background Art

[0003] As is known, general road vehicles such as automobiles, for example, are equipped with an on-board system adapted to record information in the event of an accident.

[0004] A system particularly used in the automotive sector is the event data recorder, also known as EDR (Event Data Recorder) by its initials.

[0005] The EDR substantially records information related to an accident, which is collected and analyzed after the accident to determine what the vehicle did before, during, and after the event.

[0006] Therefore, the EDR defines a simple tamper-resistant closed system with a read-write memory similar to the black box found in aircraft.

[0007] The known techniques described include several significant drawbacks.

[0008] In particular, the EDR system is closed and therefore does not permit communication of its data externally. Thus, the latter remains in the state recorded in the EDR memory and can only be accessed after an event that activates the EDR, such as an accident. This means that while the EDR is theoretically tamper-proof, instead the data contained therein can be manipulated without leaving a trace during the event and the authentication.

[0009] Therefore, third-party entities such as insurance companies can hardly truly trust the truthfulness of the data contained within.

[0010] Furthermore, in most cases, the third-party entity is the owner of the data storage system, and these data storage systems are closed systems themselves and cannot communicate with the EDR in real time during the event occurrence phase. [Overview of the Initiative]

[0011] In this context, the fundamental technical problem of the present invention is to devise a system and method for recording evidence data that can substantially overcome at least some of the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0012] Within the scope of the technical problems described above, a key objective of the present invention is to realize a system and method for recording evidence data that enables the proof of the truthfulness of the evidence material associated with the evidence data, thereby ensuring that the material is reliable when it is examined by a third-party entity, such as an insurance company or a judicial body.

[0013] Another important objective of the present invention is to implement a system and method for recording evidence data that is compatible with systems currently in common use mounted on vehicles or on ground devices such as speed cameras, and which integrates with the closure of a system without the need to cause a breach within a security system.

[0014] The technical challenges and stated objectives are addressed by the system and method for recording evidentiary data claimed in attached claim 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] In this specification, when measured values, values, shapes, and geometric references (such as perpendicular and parallel) are associated with words such as “about” or other similar terms such as “approximately” or “substantially,” they should be understood to include inaccuracies due to measurement errors or production and / or manufacturing errors, and in particular, slight deviations from the value, measured value, shape, or geometric reference to which they are associated. For example, when such a term is associated with a value, it preferably indicates a deviation of no more than 10% of the value itself.

[0016] Furthermore, when terms such as “primary,” “secondary,” “upper,” “lower,” “principal,” and “secondary” are used, they do not necessarily indicate order, priority of relationships, or relative position, but may simply be used to more clearly distinguish between different components.

[0017] Unless otherwise specified, terms such as “processing,” “computing,” “determining,” “calculating,” or similar, arising from the following considerations, shall be considered to refer to the operation and / or method of a computer or similar electronic computing device that manipulates and / or converts data, which is represented as physical quantities such as the amount of electrons in the registers and / or memory of a computer system, to other data, which is also represented as physical quantities in the computer system, registers, or other storage, transmission, or display devices.

[0018] Unless otherwise indicated, the measurements and data reported in this text should be considered to have been performed in accordance with the International Standard Atmosphere (ICAO) (ISO 2533:1975).

[0019] The method for recording evidence data according to the present invention is adapted to enable the proof of such evidence data. However, this method does not directly manipulate the evidence data, but rather intervenes in the proof as described below.

[0020] Evidence data is any kind, preferably digital, that is useful to an organization, for example, to resolve uncertain or conflicting situations, in the field of automobiles, though not necessarily.

[0021] In practice, the evidence data is preferably digital images or videos. These may be, for example, data or photographs from recordings taken inside the vehicle's cabin, or photographs taken by a fixed roadside device, such as a speed camera.

[0022] The method generally includes an allocation phase, in which storage space is allocated within physical memory. This storage space is essentially space adapted to enable the storage of digital evidence data. The physical memory may therefore consist of a hard disk or an SSD.

[0023] Generally, physical memory is preferably located in the recording device. The recording device includes at least one processing unit adapted to coordinate different stages of the method, and an acquisition module configured to detect evidence data through a sensor or camera. The processing unit may be implemented by a high-performance microprocessor or microcontroller and may optionally be supported by a dedicated coprocessor for specific tasks such as real-time video processing, data encryption, or analysis of signals from sensors. It is responsible for managing the data flow, time synchronization between multiple sources, and monitoring the proper functioning of subsystems, thereby ensuring the integrity of the recording method.

[0024] The acquisition module may include various types of sensors, such as high-resolution cameras, directional microphones, motion sensors, LiDAR, or environmental sensors, each configured to sample data at a frequency and resolution suitable for specific evidence needs. The acquired data is generally time-stamped by an internal clock or an external time stamping system to ensure the traceability and legal validity of the records.

[0025] The device further includes a physical memory management module configured to control the write operation and to ensure that the stored data cannot be accessed externally without authorization. The module may include hardware encryption functions, access permission management, and anti-tamper protection, such as the use of write-once memory or recording to an encrypted medium using a key inside the processing unit. Conceptually, the memory management module may be extended to include data redundancy and backup algorithms, an optimized compression system for reducing the required storage space, and an automatic data integrity verification mechanism using checksums or digital signatures.

[0026] More specifically, the recording device may be integrated into the module architecture, where each module (acquisition, processing, memory, user interface) communicates through a secure bus or an encrypted communication protocol. This enables the system to be scaled to add additional sensors or acquisition channels without compromising the overall data integrity. Additionally, an on-board artificial intelligence algorithm may be implemented for data preprocessing, such as automatic object recognition, noise filtering, or signal classification, thereby reducing the post-processing load and increasing the reliability of the recorded information.

[0027] Conceptually, the device may be further extended to interact with a secure network system, enabling data transmission to a remote or certified cloud server while always maintaining traceability and anti-tamper protection, thus creating an end-to-end data collection and management ecosystem compliant with regulatory requirements and high security standards.

[0028] More specifically, the recording device may consist of, for example, an EDR system installed in a vehicle. Alternatively, the recording device may consist of a roadside speed control device, such as a common speed camera.

[0029] In either case, preferably, the physical memory is isolated from outside the device. Thus, it is proven that the physical memory is inaccessible from the outside.

[0030] Thus, the method includes an acquisition stage.

[0031] In the acquisition stage, preferably, evidentiary data is acquired. The acquisition can be performed, for example, by optical or thermal acquisition means. More specifically, in fact, the acquisition can be performed by an optical or thermal camera.

[0032] In a further embodiment, the acquisition may also include other types of sensors such as radar, LIDAR, microphones, accelerometers, or environmental sensors adapted to detect physical, auditory, or motion parameters useful for constituting digital evidentiary data. By integrating multiple types of sensors, the system can operate in complex contexts such as indoor and outdoor environments, low visibility conditions, or dynamic situations. Data from each sensor may be synchronized in time and pre-processed through dedicated algorithms to improve accuracy and reliability. Thanks to this modular approach, the device can be adapted to different application scenarios such as security, industrial monitoring, smart mobility, or environmental monitoring, and is not limited to only image acquisition, thus expanding the possibility of collecting and analyzing digital evidence.

[0033] Furthermore, acquisition is preferably performed following the detection of a predetermined event. The predetermined event is defined as a condition that determines the automatic operation of the system and can be configured according to a specific application. The event may consist of an abnormal condition of the vehicle, an environmental parameter detected by a sensor, a sudden change in pressure, temperature, or vibration, or the exceeding of a preset threshold for any monitored signal. The event may be detected by a combination of one or more sensors, either by conditional operation logic or based on a real-time data analysis algorithm. In this way, the present invention generalizes the operation of the system, ensuring flexibility and adaptability, maintaining independence from a single application context, and enabling use in different situations without requiring hardware reconfiguration. Therefore, the predetermined event may be given, for example, by an accident, rather than by exceeding a predetermined speed limit.

[0034] In variations of the application, a given event may also include environmental or operating conditions such as sudden deceleration, abrupt changes in trajectory, unauthorized opening of access, or other signals detected by onboard sensors or external control devices. Such events may be combined with each other through threshold logic or correlation algorithms to improve the reliability of detection. The system may also integrate filtering and preprocessing algorithms to distinguish critical events from background noise. In this way, automated operation is proven to be more accurate, contextualized to actual operating conditions, and to improve the safety and traceability of data acquisition.

[0035] The detection of such predetermined events can be performed using sensors or other technologies that are common in automobiles, such as those adapted to enable the activation of airbags or other similar devices.

[0036] Therefore, a sensor that enables detection, and a processor that receives a signal in response and operates other devices, are devices known to those skilled in the art and do not require any further explanation.

[0037] The method further includes a recording stage.

[0038] During the recording phase, the evidence data is recorded in storage space. In this case, technologies already known in the automotive field, such as the EDR system installed in the vehicle, or the black box or recording system found in a typical speed camera, may be used.

[0039] In further applications, the system may be used to record and verify evidentiary data acquired from video surveillance systems in public areas, industrial devices for process monitoring, or access control systems, ensuring the verifiability of data collection even in such contexts. Thanks to encryption and time stamping mechanisms, the data remains protected from unauthorized access and tampering. Furthermore, the system's modular architecture facilitates the integration of new information sources and expands its applicability to different situations without compromising the integrity of the records. However, the method involves further steps.

[0040] In fact, the method also includes an association stage. In the association stage, favorably, digital proof data is associated with the evidence data. Proof data is, in effect, data that can prove the validity of the evidence data for subsequent examination of the record.

[0041] Preferably, the proof data includes at least the date and time of acquisition. Furthermore, the proof data may also include a unique identifier generated by a one-way cryptographic algorithm, preferably a hash function or equivalent, thereby enabling the proof data to be permanently linked to the certificate without directly containing the content of the evidence. The system generates such proof data through a specific module configured to associate each piece of proof data with at least a time criterion and a unique identifier. The unique identifier may be computed using a standard cryptographic hash function such as SHA-256 or similar to ensure resistance to collisions and unauthorized modifications. The module may also include integrity checks, automated verification, and recording of associated metadata. Thus, each certificate becomes secure and verifiable digital evidence while separately preserving the original content of the data. This architecture ensures traceability, immutability, and protection of the evidence data, even in complex or distributed contexts. The date and time of acquisition may be determined, for example, by using the clock of a general electronic processor, possibly the same processor controlling the EDR, or another processor present in the vehicle or roadside device.

[0042] In a preferred embodiment, the generation of the time reference may be performed by an authorized synchronization system, such as the NTP protocol or a time signal distributed by a satellite network, to ensure that the recorded time is verifiable by an external entity. Such a system may be integrated into a dedicated hardware module, such as a GPS receiver or authorized clock, which provides a higher level of accuracy and reliability. Furthermore, the time reference may be digitally signed to prevent subsequent alteration. In this way, each piece of evidence data is linked to a robust and legally enforceable time trace. In all cases, the date and time of acquisition correspond to the date and time the acquisition phase was performed, and therefore to the date and time the given event occurred.

[0043] This means that proof data does not contain evidence data itself, but only data that makes it possible to associate, and therefore link, evidence data with proof data. In this regard, the latter may include a unique identification code, such as a hash code or the like.

[0044] Advantageously, the method also includes a transmission stage.

[0045] During the transmission phase, the method includes transmitting only the certification data to the storage environment via encrypted communication means.

[0046] The encrypted communication means consists of one or more of the following: blockchain, VPN, and end-to-end encryption, or other similar systems. The secure communication channel is dedicated solely to the transmission of proof data and may use standard protocols such as TLS or IPsec applicable to various network architectures, in which case the confidentiality and integrity of the information being transmitted is guaranteed. Generally, the method provides that the transfer of proof data takes place only through a secure channel established by a communication module of a system that can integrate a public key authentication mechanism and automated management of digital certificates. The dedicated channel described above reduces the risk of interference or alteration and guarantees the evidentiary validity of the information, even in distributed scenarios or across heterogeneous network infrastructures.

[0047] The storage environment may differ from physical memory. This storage environment may be implemented as a distributed system on a remote server, private cloud infrastructure, or blockchain node, and is organized to maintain an indexed register of proof data, including a time reference and a unique identifier, to enable subsequent verification by authorized users. The external storage environment is considered an independent logical structure configured to receive, store, and protect proof data through redundancy and encryption mechanisms. It may employ different configurations, ranging from a centralized server to a distributed system across several nodes, thus ensuring scalability and resilience against failure or tampering. The indexed register is transactionally updated to ensure the integrity and immutability of the recorded information. Thus, each verification by an authorized external party is traceable, secure, and enforceable within a legal or procedural context.

[0048] Therefore, the storage environment is preferably, and advantageously, located outside the recording device. Furthermore, the storage environment is preferably accessible by at least one user located outside the recording device.

[0049] In a further configuration, the storage environment may be organized with redundancy or replication mechanisms across multiple nodes to ensure the availability of proof data even if a single storage unit fails or malfunctions.

[0050] External users may consist of, for example, insurance entities or judicial bodies, or any user generally tasked with examining evidence data and requiring verification of its authenticity. Access to the storage environment by external users may be regulated by authentication and authorization mechanisms, preferably including digital credentials, electronic certificates, or multi-factor systems, to ensure that only qualified individuals are permitted to perform the examinations. The infrastructure may integrate identity management protocols (IAM) and a centralized revocation system to prevent unauthorized use. Preferably, each access is recorded in a detailed system log including the date, time, credentials used, and type of action performed, to enable complete traceability of the activity. The logs themselves may be digitally signed to prevent unauthorized modification or deletion. Furthermore, the environment may implement periodic audit checks and automated alerts in the event of anomalies in access. Such measures enhance the evidentiary reliability of the data and ensure that each examination is verifiable in a legal or procedural context. In this way, the storage infrastructure maintains a high level of security, transparency, and operational accountability. Naturally, the method also includes a storage phase.

[0051] In the storage phase, the method stores the proof data in the storage environment. Thus, the method enables at least external users to view the proof data following its acquisition. In fact, external users may recalculate identifiers from the proof data made available by the recording device and compare them to those stored in the external environment; the correspondence between the two values ​​represents an objective guarantee that the proof data has not been altered since their recording. Therefore, by examining the stored proof data, external users may autonomously recalculate identifiers and compare them to the stored ones to verify their correspondence with the original proof data. The identicalness of the two values ​​represents an objective guarantee that the recorded proof data has not been tampered with. In variations of application, to maintain the validity and reliability of the information over the long term, the storage of proof data may include long-term archiving mechanisms such as periodic updates of digital signatures, data migration to updated media, or replication to distributed nodes. Furthermore, to maintain their validity even in the event of technological advancements, a continuous monitoring system may be implemented to verify the integrity of the archive and promptly report any anomalies.

[0052] The method preferably includes a deletion step, though not necessarily. If present, the deletion step includes deleting the proof data present in the storage environment. Particularly advantageous is that the deletion is performed if the proof data has not been viewed by at least one user over a predetermined verification period.

[0053] Thus, evidence data can be validated by proof data over a useful period, but it is ensured that unnecessary load is not placed on the storage environment by useless proof data.

[0054] Data deletion is preferably carried out through a secure procedure that includes overwrite techniques or equivalents suitable for preventing the subsequent recovery of deleted proof data. Such deletion functions are specified to apply only to data stored locally in the recording device or its associated temporary memory. For data recorded in distributed blockchain-type registers, they cannot be technically deleted, but can only be decommissioned and marked or declared in order to maintain their immutability and, at the same time, ensure historical traceability and the enforceability of the records made to third parties. As already stated, all the methods described are preferably implemented by a computer or electronic processor.

[0055] Therefore, the present invention also enables the implementation of a novel system for recording evidence data. The system includes means for implementing the method according to the present invention.

[0056] Thus, if, for example, the evidence data is a digital image or video, the system preferably includes one or more optical or thermal cameras.

[0057] Furthermore, the system may be integrated into different types of devices.

[0058] For example, the present invention enables the implementation of a new vehicle that includes the system according to the present invention.

[0059] In this case, preferably, the recording device consists of an EDR system mounted on the vehicle itself.

[0060] Therefore, a given event may consist of an accident, and consequently, the evidence data may consist of one or more frames relating to the interior and / or exterior of the vehicle.

[0061] For example, the system may be configured to acquire a frame of the user located in the driver's seat of a vehicle, and to verify whether the user's behavior complied with traffic rules or similar regulations.

[0062] Alternatively, the present invention may enable the implementation of a new roadside speed control device, such as a speed camera, that includes a system according to the present invention.

[0063] In this case, preferably, the roadside device constitutes the recording device. Therefore, a predetermined event may consist of a vehicle passing near the device exceeding a predetermined speed limit, such as an urban speed limit. Thus, the evidence data may consist of one or more frames relating to the passing vehicle in order to record the vehicle's registration plate.

[0064] Since the method is implemented by a computer, preferably the present invention also includes a new computer program and a new storage medium.

[0065] In particular, the present invention also includes a computer program having instructions, which enable the processor to execute the method according to the present invention once the program is executed by the processor.

[0066] The computer program is structured in separate software modules for isolated physical memory, including at least an event detection module, an evidence data acquisition module, a proof module, a secure transmission module, and a management module. Such modules may reside on the same device or be distributed between recording devices and external storage environments, communicating via standard protocols and secure channels. Each module is preferably independent and has a defined interface to ensure the system's extensibility, updateability, and interoperability. The computer program may be implemented in different languages ​​and environments while maintaining a state in which the logical sequence of stages remains unchanged, and may be executable on resource-constrained embedded systems, on mobile devices, or on remote servers. In variations of the application, modules may be augmented with artificial intelligence algorithms for automated analysis of evidence data or with internal audit functions. Such a module architecture ensures a proper separation of functions without compromising the integrity of the proof method, reduces the risk of vulnerabilities, and allows for system evolution. Consequently, the present invention also comprises a computer-readable storage medium having instructions, which, when executed by a processor, enable the processor to perform the method according to the present invention.

[0067] The system and method for recording evidence data according to the present invention achieve significant advantages.

[0068] In practice, systems and methods for recording evidence data enable the proof of the truthfulness of the evidence data and guarantee its reliability when it is examined by a third-party entity, such as an insurance company or a judicial body.

[0069] In particular, the system implements functional separation between evidence data and proof data to ensure that the two sets of information follow different channels and management logics. This separation offers the advantage that evidence data remains stored locally in isolated physical memory and is not transmitted externally, thereby reducing the risk of dissemination of sensitive information or unauthorized access. Proof data, which is transmitted separately and stored in the external environment, instead ensures that the integrity of the evidence data can be verified without manipulating or duplicating it.

[0070] This will increase overall system security because any changes to the evidence data cannot be consistently replicated in the already archived evidence data, and any attempts at tampering will be immediately detectable.

[0071] A further advantage is the reduced load on the network and storage. This is because proof data is much smaller in size than evidence data, and therefore can be efficiently transmitted and stored even in resource-constrained contexts.

[0072] Furthermore, the presence of proof data in an external environment allows an authorized third party to perform independent verification through simple cryptographic comparisons without needing direct access to the original data.

[0073] Thus, the system ensures an optimal balance between integrity, confidentiality, and efficiency, resulting in compatibility with different application scenarios and easy integration with existing infrastructure. Consequently, the systems and methods for recording evidence data are compatible with systems currently in common use mounted on vehicles or on ground devices such as speed cameras. In particular, the systems and methods for recording evidence data are not hindered by the need to act as interfaces between different closed systems that they must communicate with, and they can be integrated with them without the need to cause a breach within the security system.

[0074] The present invention is open to variations that fall within the scope of the inventive concept as defined by the claims.

[0075] Within this scope, all details may be replaced by equivalent elements, and materials, shapes, and dimensions may be arbitrary.

Claims

1. - The step of allocating storage space for digital evidence data in physical memory located on the recording device and isolated from the outside of the recording device; - The step of acquiring the evidence data following the detection of a predetermined event; - The step of recording the aforementioned evidence data in the storage space; A computer implementation method for recording evidence data, comprising: moreover, - A step of associating the evidence data with digital proof data that includes at least the date and time of acquisition corresponding to the date and time the acquisition was performed, i.e., the date and time the predetermined event occurred; - A step of transmitting only the certification data via encrypted means to a storage environment located outside the recording device and accessible by at least one user outside the recording device; - The step of storing the proof data in the storage environment in such a manner that at least the external user can view the proof data after obtaining the evidence data. A computer implementation method comprising the above.

2. The computer implementation method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of deleting the certification data in the storage environment if the certification data has not been viewed by at least one user for a predetermined appraisal period.

3. The computer implementation method according to claim 1, wherein the means of communication comprises one or more of blockchain, VPN, and end-to-end encryption.

4. The computer implementation method according to claim 1, wherein the evidence data is a digital image or video.

5. A system for recording evidence data, comprising means for implementing the computer implementation method described in any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The system according to claim 5, comprising means for implementing the computer implementation method according to claim 4, which includes one or more optical or thermal cameras.

7. A vehicle comprising the system according to claim 5, wherein the recording device comprises an EDR system mounted on the vehicle, the predetermined event comprises an accident, and the evidence data comprises one or more frames relating to the interior and / or exterior of the vehicle, in particular to a user located in the driver's seat of the vehicle.

8. A roadside speed control device comprising the system described in claim 5, wherein the roadside speed control device constitutes the recording device, the predetermined event is comprised of a vehicle passing near the recording device exceeding a predetermined speed limit, and the evidence data comprises one or more frames relating to the passing vehicle.

9. A computer program comprising instructions, wherein, when the computer program is executed by a processor, the instructions enable the processor to execute the computer implementation method described in any one of claims 1 to 4.

10. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, wherein, when executed by a processor, the instructions enable the processor to execute the computer implementation method described in any one of claims 1 to 4.