Drive Recorder Area-Based Recording Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drive recorders lack the ability to control image recording functions based on area-specific information, such as legal restrictions or accident-prone areas.

Innovation Solution

A drive recorder system that communicates with a server apparatus to receive area information, allowing it to control image recording functions such as initiation, suspension, and quality adjustment based on the vehicle's location.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the drive recorder continuously records images without area-based control, then complete accident site information is captured, but storage space is wasted and illegal recording in restricted areas may occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompleteness of accident site informationVSAvoidstorage space waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating recording behavior based on geographic location. Area information is used to identify restricted zones where recording should be suspended or quality reduced, while allowing normal recording in permissive areas. This spatial differentiation resolves the contradiction by optimizing storage usage according to location-specific requirements rather than applying uniform recording policies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic recording control by continuously monitoring the vehicle's position against stored area information. The recording function dynamically adjusts between active and suspended states based on real-time location data, enabling the system to capture necessary accident information while avoiding unnecessary recording in restricted areas, thus optimizing storage space utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If the drive recorder records in all areas with high quality, then detailed evidence is obtained, but energy consumption increases and legal restrictions may be violated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage recording qualityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by implementing location-dependent recording quality control. Area information identifies restricted zones where high-quality recording should be suspended or reduced, while permitting normal quality recording in permissive areas. This spatial differentiation resolves the contradiction by optimizing energy consumption according to location-specific legal requirements rather than maintaining uniform high-quality recording everywhere.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic quality adjustment by continuously monitoring vehicle position against stored area information. The recording quality dynamically adapts between high and reduced states based on real-time location data, enabling the system to maintain detailed evidence capture in permissive areas while reducing energy consumption in restricted areas, thus resolving the contradiction between recording quality and energy usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the drive recorder operates without area information, then device complexity is low, but adaptability to different areas and legal restrictions is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to area-specific conditionsVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing area information (restricted zones, permissive areas, accident-prone areas) in the drive recorder before operation. This pre-loaded geographic data enables the system to quickly adapt to different areas without real-time server communication, enhancing adaptability to area-specific conditions while minimizing the complexity of real-time data processing and server infrastructure requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4036872B1Driving recorder, image recording method, and image recording program
Publication Date: 2025.04.30 JVC KENWOOD CORP
  • EP4036872B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4036872B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4036872B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A drive recorder (1) includes: an imaging unit (11a), an image processing unit (11), a position information acquisition unit (17a), a communication unit (16), and a function control processing unit (17b). The imaging unit (11a) captures an image of a neighborhood of a vehicle. The image processing unit (11) records the image captured by the imaging unit (11a) in a recording medium (12). The position information acquisition unit (17a) acquires position information on the vehicle. The communication unit (16) communicates with a server apparatus (5) to deliver information including the position information. The function control processing unit (17b) acquires area information transmitted from the server apparatus (5) based on the position information, the area information relating to an area in which the vehicle is located.