Vehicle Occupant Mobile Phone Detection via Image Comparison

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current vehicle systems lack effective methods to determine whether a vehicle occupant is using a mobile telephone, contributing to increased driver risk due to complex operating environments and increased complexities in vehicle systems.

Innovation Solution

A device and method that utilize previously classified image data from a database and current image data from vehicle interior sensors to detect whether a vehicle occupant is using a mobile telephone by comparing the two, incorporating features such as tracking the driver's face, hands, and postures to differentiate between various actions and identify the use of a mobile device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If vehicle systems are made more complex with additional entertainment and operator interfaces, then functionality and user capability are improved, but driver risk increases due to increased complexity and distraction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle system functionalityVSAvoiddriver safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors driver behavior through image sensors and provides feedback by detecting mobile telephone use. The monitoring module captures images, the classification module compares them against classified image data to identify phone usage, and the system can trigger warnings or notifications to the driver, creating a closed-loop feedback system that addresses safety concerns while preserving system functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary monitoring and classification system between the driver and the vehicle's complex systems. This intermediary layer (comprising image sensors, processing modules, and classification algorithms) acts as a mediator that detects phone usage without interfering with the entertainment and operator interface systems, allowing both functionality and safety to coexist

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If image data analysis is used to detect mobile telephone use, then detection accuracy is improved, but processing time and computational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemobile telephone use detection accuracyVSAvoiddata processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary classification of image data in advance, creating a library of classified images representing various driver actions including mobile telephone use. When monitoring, the system compares current images against this pre-classified database rather than analyzing each image from scratch, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining detection accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates copies of classified image data representing typical driver behaviors and phone usage patterns. Instead of performing complex real-time analysis, the system compares captured images against these pre-created copies/classifications, enabling rapid detection with minimal processing time while maintaining high accuracy through pattern matching

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS10223603B1Apparatuses, systems, and methods for determining when a vehicle occupant is using a mobile telephone

Publication Date: 2019.03.05 STATE FARM MUTAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY

AI summary

Apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for determining when a vehicle occupant is using a mobile telephone. More particularly, apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for determining when a vehicle occupant is using a mobile telephone based on digital image data.