Vehicle recording control device and recording control method

Abstract

To appropriately record an event.SOLUTION: A control device 100 includes: a shooting data acquisition unit 111 that acquires video data shot by a camera 211 that shoots the surroundings of a vehicle; an event detection unit 117 that detects an event based on acceleration added to the vehicle; an operation control unit 116 that accepts an event recording operation through a user operation; and a recording control unit 122 that records the video data acquired by the shooting data acquisition unit 111 and in a case where the operation control unit 116 accepts the event recording operation, and in a case where acceleration more than or equal to a predetermined value not determined by the event detection unit 117 as an event is detected before the event recording operation is accepted, generates, from the video data, event data that tracks further than that in a case where acceleration more than or equal to the predetermined value not determined by the event detection unit 117 as an event is not detected before the event recording operation is accepted, and stores the event data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle recording control device and a recording control method.

Background Art

[0002] Event recording in a vehicle's drive recorder can be based on detecting a collision by acceleration or by a user operation. Also, a technique for changing the event recording time of a drive recorder has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The technique described in Patent Document 1 lengthens the event recording time before event detection based on the traveling speed of the vehicle.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Event data is, for example, video data for a period such as 10 seconds before and after the event detection time or the operation reception time. However, event recording by a user operation may result in a time lag from the occurrence of an event that the user wants to save as event data until the operation is performed, depending on the situation where the operation for instructing event recording is performed, and the user may not be able to quickly give an instruction for event recording. For this reason, there are cases where events are not appropriately recorded in the recorded event data. Event recording by a user operation is performed when recording an accident of another vehicle where the own vehicle is not a party, when recording events other than an accident based on the user's interest, etc., and also when there is a possibility that the own vehicle is a party to an accident, but acceleration-based event recording is not performed, such as when the magnitude of the acceleration applied to the own vehicle is not judged as an event.

[0005] This disclosure is made in view of the above and aims to ensure that events are properly recorded. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the objective, the vehicle recording control device according to this disclosure includes: an image data acquisition unit that acquires video data captured by a camera that photographs the area around the vehicle; an event detection unit that detects events based on acceleration applied to the vehicle; an operation control unit that accepts event recording operations by the user; and a recording control unit that records the video data acquired by the image data acquisition unit, and when the operation control unit accepts an event recording operation, if acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that the event detection unit does not consider to be an event has been detected before the event recording operation is accepted, the recording control unit generates and stores event data from the video data for a longer period of time than when acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that the event detection unit does not consider to be an event has been detected before the event recording operation is accepted.

[0007] The recording control method according to this disclosure is performed by a vehicle recording control device, which includes: an acquisition step of captured video data captured by a camera that photographs the area around a vehicle; an event detection step of detecting an event based on acceleration applied to the vehicle; an operation control step of accepting an event recording operation by a user; and a recording control step of recording the video data acquired by the acquisition step, and if an event recording operation is accepted by the operation control step, if an acceleration of a predetermined value or higher that is not judged as an event by the event detection step was detected before the event recording operation was accepted, the recording control device generates and saves event data from the video data for a longer period than in the case where an acceleration of a predetermined value or higher that is not judged as an event by the event detection step was not detected before the event recording operation was accepted. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] This disclosure has the effect of enabling proper recording of events. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a vehicle recording device having a control device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows an example of the recording period for event data. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing flow in the control device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows another example of the recording period for event data. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing flow in the control device according to the second embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Embodiments of the vehicle recording control device and recording control method according to this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

[0011] [First Embodiment] <Vehicle recording device> Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a vehicle recording device 10 having a vehicle recording control device (hereinafter referred to as "control device") 100 according to the first embodiment. The vehicle recording device 10 is a so-called drive recorder that records events that occur in a vehicle. If the vehicle recording device 10 detects an acceleration of a predetermined value or higher that is not judged as an event before it receives an operation to record an event, it generates and saves event data video data from a longer period of time than when no acceleration of a predetermined value or higher that is not judged as an event is detected before it receives an operation to record an event.

[0012] The vehicle recording device 10 may be a portable device usable in a vehicle, in addition to one mounted on the vehicle. Furthermore, the vehicle recording device 10 may be implemented by including functions or configurations of devices or navigation devices that are pre-installed in the vehicle. The vehicle recording device 10 includes a camera 211, a recording unit 212, an operation unit 213, an acceleration sensor 214, a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) receiving unit 215, a display unit 216, and a control device 100.

[0013] Camera 211 is a camera that photographs the area around the vehicle. Camera 211 may be a group of multiple cameras. Camera 211 is positioned, for example, in the front of the vehicle's interior so as to be able to photograph the area in front of the vehicle. In this embodiment, camera 211 continuously captures images while the vehicle's accessory power is ON. Camera 211 outputs the captured video data to the captured data acquisition unit 111 of the control device 100. The video data is, for example, a moving image consisting of 27.5 frames per second.

[0014] The recording unit 212 is used for temporary storage of data in the vehicle recording device 10. The recording unit 212 is, for example, a semiconductor memory element such as RAM (Random Access Memory) or flash memory, or a memory card. Alternatively, it may be an external recording unit wirelessly connected via a communication device (not shown). The recording unit 212 records loop recording video data or event data based on control signals output from the recording control unit 122 of the control device 100.

[0015] The operation unit 213 can receive various operations on the vehicle recording device 10. The operation unit 213 is, for example, a touch panel superimposed on the display screen of the display unit 216. The operation unit 213 may also be, for example, a microphone that picks up voice commands spoken by the user. For example, the operation unit 213 can receive an operation to manually save the captured video data as event data to the recording unit 212. For example, the operation unit 213 can receive an operation to play back loop recording video data or event data recorded in the recording unit 212. For example, the operation unit 213 can receive an operation to erase event data recorded in the recording unit 212. For example, the operation unit 213 can receive an operation to terminate loop recording. The operation unit 213 outputs operation information to the operation control unit 116 of the control device 100.

[0016] The acceleration sensor 214 is a sensor that detects acceleration occurring in the vehicle. The acceleration sensor 214 outputs the detection result to the event detection unit 117 of the control device 100. The acceleration sensor 214 is a sensor that detects acceleration in, for example, three axes. The three axes are the longitudinal direction, lateral direction, and vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0017] The GNSS receiving unit 215 consists of a GNSS receiver and the like that receives GNSS signals from GNSS satellites. The GNSS receiving unit 215 outputs the received position information signal to the position information acquisition unit 118 of the control device 100.

[0018] The display unit 216 is, for example, a display device unique to the vehicle recording device 10, or a display device shared with another system including a navigation system. The display unit 216 may be integrally formed with the camera 211. The display unit 216 is a display including, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display. In the present embodiment, the display unit 216 is disposed on the dashboard, instrument panel, center console, etc. in front of the driver of the vehicle. The display unit 216 displays an image based on the video signal output from the display control unit 119 of the control device 100. The display unit 216 displays the video captured by the camera 211 or the video recorded in the recording unit 212.

[0019] <Vehicle recording control device> The control device 100 is an arithmetic processing device (control device) composed of, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control device 100 loads the stored program into the memory and executes the instructions included in the program. The control device 100 includes an internal memory not shown, and the internal memory is used for temporary storage of data in the control device 100. As functions realized by its configuration and program, the control device 100 has a shooting data acquisition unit 111, a buffer memory 112, a shooting data processing unit 113, an operation control unit 116, an event detection unit 117, a position information acquisition unit 118, a display control unit 119, a playback control unit 121, and a recording control unit 122.

[0020] The shooting data acquisition unit 111 acquires the peripheral video data captured by the camera 211 that shoots the periphery of the vehicle. The shooting data acquisition unit 111 outputs the acquired video data to the buffer memory 112.

[0021] The buffer memory 112 is an internal memory included in the control device 100, and is a memory that temporarily records the video data for a certain period of time acquired by the shooting data acquisition unit 111 while updating it.

[0022] The shooting data processing unit 113 converts the video data temporarily stored in the buffer memory 112 into an arbitrary file format, such as MP4, encoded using an arbitrary codec, such as H.264 or MPEG-4 (Moving Picture Experts Group). The shooting data processing unit 113 generates a file of video data for a certain period of time from the video data temporarily stored in the buffer memory 112. Specifically, the shooting data processing unit 113 generates a file of 60 seconds of video data in recording order from the video data temporarily stored in the buffer memory 112. The shooting data processing unit 113 outputs the generated video data to the recording control unit 122. The shooting data processing unit 113 also decodes the generated video data through the playback control unit 121 and outputs it to the display control unit 119. The duration of the video data generated as a file is 60 seconds as an example, but is not limited to this. The video data referred to here may include audio in addition to the video captured by the camera 211.

[0023] The operation control unit 116 acquires operation information for operations received by the operation unit 213. For example, the operation control unit 116 acquires save operation information indicating a manual save operation of video data, playback operation information indicating a playback operation, or erase operation information indicating an erase operation of video data, and outputs a control signal. For example, the operation control unit 116 acquires end operation information indicating an operation to end loop recording and outputs a control signal. For example, the operation control unit 116 accepts event recording operations by user operations. Event recording operations by user operations accepted by the operation control unit 116 include, for example, event recording operations instructed by operations such as touch panel operation, and event recording operations instructed by inputting voice commands.

[0024] The event detection unit 117 detects events based on the acceleration applied to the vehicle. More specifically, the event detection unit 117 detects events based on the detection results of the acceleration sensor 214. The event detection unit 117 detects that an event has occurred if the acceleration information acquired by the event detection unit 117 from the acceleration sensor 214 is above a threshold.

[0025] The location information acquisition unit 118 acquires location information indicating the vehicle's current location. Based on the GNSS signal received by the GNSS receiver unit 215, the location information acquisition unit 118 calculates the vehicle's current location information using a known method.

[0026] The display control unit 119 controls the display of video data in the display unit 216. The display control unit 119 outputs a video signal that causes the video data to be output to the display unit 216. More specifically, the display control unit 119 outputs a video signal to be displayed by playing back the video captured by the camera 211, or loop recording video data or event data recorded in the recording unit 212.

[0027] The playback control unit 121 controls the playback operation based on the playback control signal output from the operation control unit 116 to play back the loop recording video data or event data recorded in the recording unit 212. The playback control unit 121 includes a decoder (not shown) and plays back various types of data by decoding the supplied compressed data.

[0028] The recording control unit 122 controls the recording unit 212 to record the video data, which has been filed by the shooting data processing unit 113. When the vehicle's accessory power is ON, or during the period when loop recording processing is performed, the recording control unit 122 records the video data filed by the shooting data processing unit 113 as overwritable video data in the recording unit 212. More specifically, during the period when loop recording processing is performed, the recording control unit 122 continues to record the video data generated by the shooting data processing unit 113 in the recording unit 212, and when the capacity of the recording unit 212 becomes full, it overwrites the oldest video data with new video data.

[0029] When an event is detected by the event detection unit 117, the recording control unit 122 saves video data corresponding to the detected event. The video data corresponding to the detected event is video data for a predetermined period in the video data generated by the shooting data processing unit 113. The recording control unit 122 saves the video data corresponding to the detected event as event data that cannot be overwritten in the recording unit 212. When an event is detected by the event detection unit 117, the recording control unit 122 copies video data for a predetermined period of about 10 seconds before and after the time the event was detected (hereinafter referred to as the "event detection time") from the buffer memory 112 and saves it as event data. For example, the recording control unit 122 generates and saves event data from video data from a point in time from a first retrospective period P1 before the event detection time to a point in time after a first elapsed period P1' from the event detection time.

[0030] The recording control unit 122 records the video data acquired by the shooting data acquisition unit 111, and when the operation control unit 116 receives an operation to record an event, if acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that the event detection unit 117 does not consider to be an event is detected within a predetermined period prior to the time when the operation to record an event is received by the user, either through manual operation or voice command (hereinafter referred to as the "event operation acceptance time"), the recording control unit 122 generates and saves event data from the video data for a longer period than when acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that the event detection unit 117 does not consider to be an event is detected within a predetermined period prior to the event operation acceptance time. More specifically, the recording control unit 122 records the video data acquired by the shooting data acquisition unit 111, and if acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that the event detection unit 117 does not consider to be an event is detected within a predetermined period prior to the event operation acceptance time, the recording control unit 122 generates and saves event data for a longer period than when when acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that the event detection unit 117 does not consider to be an event is detected within a predetermined period prior to the event operation acceptance time.

[0031] An acceleration above a predetermined value that is not judged as an event is an acceleration below the acceleration detected as an event. For example, if detecting an acceleration of 1.0G is judged as an event, then an acceleration of 0.5G or more but less than 1.0G is an acceleration above a predetermined value that is not judged as an event. Specifically, this refers to a state in which an acceleration above a predetermined value is applied, such as a collision between a vehicle and an object or sudden braking, but the acceleration is less than the acceleration that is judged as an event.

[0032] The specified period is, for example, 30 to 120 seconds.

[0033] If the operation control unit 116 detects acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that is not considered an event within a predetermined period prior to the event operation reception, the recording control unit 122 generates and saves event data from the video data for a longer period than when acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that is not considered an event is detected within the predetermined period prior to the event operation reception. In other words, if acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that is not considered an event is detected within a predetermined period prior to the event operation reception, the recording control unit 122 saves event data for a longer period than when acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that is not considered an event is detected within the predetermined period prior to the event operation reception.

[0034] In this embodiment, when the acceleration greater than or equal to a predetermined value that is not determined as an event by the event detection unit 117 is detected within a predetermined period before the recording control unit 122 receives an operation for recording an event, the recording control unit 122 generates event data from video data in which the second retrospective period P2 from the time point when the operation for recording the event is received is longer than the first retrospective period P1 from the time point when the operation for recording the event is received when the acceleration greater than or equal to the predetermined value that is not determined as an event by the event detection unit 117 is not detected within the predetermined period before the operation for recording the event is received, and stores the event data. More specifically, when the acceleration greater than or equal to a predetermined value that is not determined as an event is detected within a predetermined period before the event operation reception time point, the recording control unit 122 sets the second retrospective period P2 (P1 < P2) from the event operation reception time point to be longer than the first retrospective period P1 from the event detection time point compared to the case where the acceleration greater than or equal to the predetermined value that is not determined as an event is not detected within the predetermined period before the event operation reception time point, and stores the event data. For example, the recording control unit 122 generates and stores event data from the video data from the time point retroactively by the second retrospective period P2 from the event operation reception time point to the time point after the second elapsed period P2' (P1' = P2') from the event operation reception time point.

[0035] Figure 2 shows an example of the recording period for event data. For loop recording video data, the video data generated by the shooting data processing unit 113 is continuously recorded for the duration of the loop recording process. The period for event data generated by an event recording operation when no acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that is not judged as an event is detected within a predetermined period prior to the event operation reception time is from the time P1 back from the event operation reception time to the time P1' after the event operation reception time. The period for event data generated by an event recording operation when acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that is not judged as an event is detected within a predetermined period prior to the event operation reception time is from the time P2 back from the event operation reception time to the time P2' after the event operation reception time. The period for event data generated by an event recording operation when acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that is not judged as an event is detected within a predetermined period prior to the event operation reception time is longer than the period for event data generated by an event recording operation when no acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that is not judged as an event is detected within a predetermined period prior to the event operation reception time. For example, if the first retrospective period P1 is 10 seconds, the second retrospective period P2 will be set to 15 to 20 seconds, for instance. Also, the first elapsed period P1' and the second elapsed period P2' will be set to 10 seconds, for example.

[0036] <Information processing in vehicle recording and control systems> Next, the processing flow in the control device 100 will be explained using Figure 3. While the vehicle recording device 10 is running, the processing shown in the flowchart in Figure 3 is executed.

[0037] The control device 100 starts loop recording (step S201). More specifically, the shooting data processing unit 113 starts loop recording. The control device 100 also starts event detection. The start of event detection is the detection of acceleration by the acceleration sensor 214 at a set acceleration threshold by the event detection unit 117, and the detection of acceptance of an event recording operation by the operation control unit 116. The control device 100 proceeds to step S202.

[0038] The control device 100 determines whether or not an event has been detected based on the detection result by the event detection unit 117 (step S202). If the acceleration detected by the event detection unit 117 is greater than or equal to a threshold, it determines that an event has been detected (Yes in step S202) and proceeds to step S203. Alternatively, if the event detection unit 117 determines that the acceleration detected is not greater than or equal to a threshold, it determines that no event has been detected (No in step S202) and proceeds to step S204.

[0039] If it is determined that an event has been detected (Yes in step S202), the recording control unit 122 generates and saves event data for a first retrospective period P1 from the time of event detection (step S203). More specifically, the recording control unit 122 causes the recording unit 212 to save video data captured between the time P1 from the time of event detection and the time after the first elapsed period P1' from the time of event detection as event data, with overwriting prohibited. The control device 100 then proceeds to step S208.

[0040] If it is determined that no event has been detected (No in step S202), it is determined whether or not an event recording operation has been accepted (step S204). If the operation control unit 116 determines that an event recording operation by the user has been accepted (Yes in step S204), the process proceeds to step S205. If the operation control unit 116 does not determine that an event recording operation by the user has been accepted (No in step S204), the process proceeds to step S208.

[0041] If the control device 100 determines that it has received an operation to record an event (Yes in step S204), it determines whether it detected an acceleration of a predetermined value or higher that is not an event within a predetermined period prior to receiving the operation to record an event (step S205). More specifically, the control device 100 determines whether it detected an acceleration of a predetermined value or higher that is not considered an event within a predetermined period prior to receiving the operation to record an event. If the control device 100 determines that it detected an acceleration of a predetermined value or higher that is not an event within a predetermined period prior to receiving the operation to record an event (Yes in step S205), it proceeds to step S206. If the control device 100 does not determine that it detected an acceleration of a predetermined value or higher that is not an event within a predetermined period prior to receiving the operation to record an event (No in step S205), it proceeds to step S207.

[0042] If it is determined that an acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that is not an event has been detected within a predetermined period prior to the acceptance of the event recording operation (Yes in step S205), the recording control unit 122 generates and saves event data from the time of the event recording operation to a second retrospective period P2 (step S206). More specifically, the recording control unit 122 causes the recording unit 212 to save video data captured between the time of the event operation acceptance to a time after the second elapsed period P2' from the time of the event operation acceptance as event data, with overwriting prohibited. The control device 100 then proceeds to step S208.

[0043] If the recording control unit 122 does not determine that an acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that is not an event was detected within a predetermined period prior to the acceptance of the event recording operation (No in step S205), it generates and saves event data for a first retrospective period P1 from the time of the event recording operation (step S207). More specifically, the recording control unit 122 causes the recording unit 212 to save video data captured between the time of the event operation acceptance (from the time of the first retrospective period P1) and the time after the first elapsed period P1' from the time of the event operation acceptance) as event data, with overwriting prohibited. The control device 100 proceeds to step S208.

[0044] The control device 100 determines whether or not to terminate the loop recording (step S208). For example, it is determined that the loop recording should be terminated when the vehicle's power or motor is turned OFF, or when the operation unit 213 is operated. If the control device 100 determines that the loop recording should be terminated (Yes in step S208), it terminates this process. If the control device 100 does not determine that the loop recording should be terminated (No in step S208), it executes the process in step S202 again.

[0045] <Effects> As described above, in this embodiment, when an event recording operation is received, if acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that is not considered an event is detected within a predetermined period prior to the time the event operation is received, event data going back a longer period can be generated and saved from the video data compared to the case where acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that is not considered an event is not detected within the predetermined period prior to the time the event operation is received. According to this embodiment, if the user is unable to promptly give an event recording instruction, and there is a time lag between the occurrence of an event that should be saved as event data and the operation is performed, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of events not being properly recorded in the recorded event data. In this way, according to this embodiment, events can be recorded appropriately.

[0046] In this embodiment, event data can be generated and saved from video data such that the second retrospective period P2 from the time of event operation reception, when acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that is not judged as an event is detected within a predetermined period prior to the time of event operation reception, is longer than the first retrospective period P1 from the time of event recording operation reception, when acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that is not judged as an event is not detected within a predetermined period prior to the time of event operation reception.

[0047] [Second Embodiment] The vehicle recording device 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 4 and 5. Figure 4 is a diagram showing another example of the event data recording period. Figure 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing flow in the control device according to the second embodiment. The basic configuration of the vehicle recording device 10 is the same as that of the vehicle recording device 10 of the first embodiment. In the following description, components similar to those of the vehicle recording device 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals or corresponding reference numerals, and their detailed descriptions are omitted. In this embodiment, the processing in the recording control unit 122 differs from that of the first embodiment.

[0048] If the recording control unit 122 has not detected an acceleration value exceeding a predetermined value that the event detection unit 117 does not consider to be an event within a predetermined period prior to the acceptance of the event recording operation, it uses the time when the event recording operation was accepted as the second starting point and saves the video data for a predetermined period before and after the second starting point as event data. If an acceleration value exceeding a predetermined value that the event detection unit 117 does not consider to be an event has been detected within a predetermined period prior to the acceptance of the event recording operation, it uses the time when the acceleration value exceeding a predetermined value that the event detection unit 117 does not consider to be an event was detected as the third starting point and generates and saves event data from the video data for a predetermined period before and after the third starting point.

[0049] The recording period for event data will be explained using Figure 4. If no acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that is not considered an event is detected within a predetermined period prior to the event operation reception time, the event data period is a predetermined period before and after the event operation reception time, with the event operation reception time as the second starting point. Specifically, it is the period from the time when the first retrospective period P1 is moved back from the second starting point to the time after the first elapsed period P1' has elapsed from the second starting point. If acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that is not considered an event is detected within a predetermined period prior to the event operation reception time, the event data period is a predetermined period before and after the third starting point, with the time when acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that is not considered an event is detected as the third starting point. Specifically, it is the period from the time when the third retrospective period P3 is moved back from the third starting point to the time after the third elapsed period P3' has elapsed from the third starting point. For example, the third retrospective period P3 and the third elapsed period P3' can be set to 15 seconds to 20 seconds, etc. The second retrospective period P2 and the second elapsed period P2' are the same as in the first embodiment.

[0050] Next, the processing flow in the control device 100 will be explained using Figure 5. The processing in steps S211 to S215 and step S218 is the same as the processing in steps S201 to S205 and step S208 of the flowchart shown in Figure 3.

[0051] If it is determined that an acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that is not an event has been detected within a predetermined period prior to the acceptance of the event recording operation (Yes in step S215), the recording control unit 122 saves the video footage for a predetermined period before and after the third starting point, which is the time when the acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that is not an event was detected, as event data (step S216). More specifically, the recording control unit 122 generates event data from video data captured between the time P3 before the third starting point and the time P3' after the third elapsed period from the third starting point, and saves it to the recording unit 212. The control device 100 proceeds to step S218.

[0052] If the recording control unit 122 does not determine that it has detected an acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that is not an event within a predetermined period prior to the acceptance of the event recording operation (No in step S215), it saves the video footage for a predetermined period before and after the second base point, which is the time of the event recording operation, as event data (step S217). More specifically, the recording control unit 122 causes the recording unit 212 to save the video data captured between the time P2 back from the second base point and the time P2' after the second elapsed period from the second base point as event data. The control device 100 proceeds to step S218.

[0053] As described above, in this embodiment, if no acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that is not considered an event is detected within a predetermined period prior to the event operation reception time, the video data for a predetermined period before and after the event operation reception time is used as the second starting point, and the video data for a predetermined period before and after the second starting point is saved as event data. If acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that is not considered an event is detected within a predetermined period prior to the event operation reception time, the time when acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that is not considered an event is detected is used as the third starting point, and event data can be generated and saved from the video data for a predetermined period before and after the third starting point.

[0054] The vehicle recording device 10 according to this disclosure may be implemented in various different forms other than those described above.

[0055] The components of the illustrated vehicle recording device 10 are functionally conceptual and do not necessarily have to be physically configured as shown. In other words, the specific form of each device is not limited to that shown, and all or part of them may be functionally or physically distributed or integrated in any unit depending on the processing load and usage conditions of each device.

[0056] The configuration of the vehicle recording device 10 is realized, for example, as software, such as a program loaded into memory. In the above embodiment, these were described as functional blocks realized by the cooperation of hardware or software. That is, these functional blocks can be realized in various forms by hardware alone, software alone, or a combination thereof.

[0057] The above-described components include those that are easily conceivable by those skilled in the art, and those that are substantially identical. Furthermore, the above-described components can be combined as appropriate. In addition, various omissions, substitutions, or modifications of the components are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 10. Vehicle recording device 100 Control device (vehicle recording control device) 111 Shooting data acquisition unit 112 buffer memory 113 Shooting Data Processing Unit 116 Operation Control Unit 117 Event Detection Unit 118 Location information acquisition unit 119 Display Control Unit 121 Regeneration Control Unit 122 Recording Control Unit 211 Camera 212 Records Section 213 Operation section 214 Accelerometer 215 GNSS receiver 216 Display section P1 First retrospective period P1' First elapsed period P2 Second Retrospective Period P2' Second Transition Period P3 Third Retrospective Period P3' Third Transition Period

Claims

1. A shooting data acquisition unit that acquires video data captured by a camera that photographs the area around the vehicle, An event detection unit detects an event based on the acceleration applied to the vehicle, An operation control unit that accepts user-initiated event recording operations, When the aforementioned shooting data acquisition unit records the video data acquired and the operation control unit receives an operation to record an event, if, before the operation to record an event was received, an acceleration of a predetermined value or higher that the event detection unit does not consider to be an event was detected, the recording control unit generates and saves event data from the video data for a period including the time when the acceleration of a predetermined value or higher that the event detection unit does not consider to be an event was detected, going back a longer period than when no acceleration of a predetermined value or higher that the event detection unit does not consider to be an event was detected before the operation to record an event. A vehicle recording control device equipped with the following features.

2. The recording control unit generates and saves event data from the video data such that, before receiving an operation to record an event, the second retrospective period from the time the event recording operation is received is longer than the first retrospective period from the time the event recording operation is received when no acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that the event detection unit does not consider to be an event is detected before receiving an operation to record an event. The vehicle recording control device according to claim 1.

3. If, before receiving an operation to record an event, the recording control unit has not detected an acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that the event detection unit does not consider to be an event, it uses the time when the operation to record an event was received as a second starting point and saves the video data for a predetermined period before and after the second starting point as event data. If, before receiving an operation to record an event, an acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that the event detection unit does not consider to be an event has been detected, it uses the time when the acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that the event detection unit does not consider to be an event was detected as a third starting point and generates and saves event data from the video data for a predetermined period before and after the third starting point. The vehicle recording control device according to claim 1.

4. When an event is detected by the event detection unit, the recording control unit generates and stores event data from the video data, going back a first period of time from the time of event detection. A vehicle recording control device according to claim 2 or 3.

5. The process involves acquiring video data captured by a camera that films the area around the vehicle, and An event detection step that detects an event based on the acceleration applied to the vehicle, An operation control step that accepts user-initiated event recording operations, The recording control step records the video data acquired by the aforementioned shooting data acquisition step, and when an operation to record an event is accepted by the operation control step, if an acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that is not judged as an event by the event detection step was detected before the operation to record an event was accepted, the recording control step generates and saves event data from the video data for a period including the time when the acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that is not judged as an event by the event detection step was detected, going back a longer period than when no acceleration exceeding a predetermined value that is not judged as an event by the event detection step was detected before the operation to record an event was accepted. A recording control method performed by a vehicle recording control device.

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