On-vehicle Image Recorder Memory Management for Other Vehicle Events

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional driving recorders cannot effectively detect and record events occurring in other vehicles, as they overwrite captured image data, making it difficult for drivers to operate the recorder during events, especially when seated in the front passenger seat.

Innovation Solution

An on-vehicle image recording apparatus that includes an image data acquisition unit, an extraction unit to identify the image area of another vehicle, a determination unit to assess changes, and a writing controller to prevent overwriting by storing relevant image data in a non-volatile buffer when a predetermined change is detected, ensuring event data from other vehicles is preserved.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If image data is written into memory by ring buffer form, then memory space is efficiently utilized, but image data of events in other vehicles is overwritten and lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvememory utilization efficiencyVSAvoidimage data loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of other vehicles and their changes before the ring buffer overwrites the data. By identifying target vehicles and monitoring their changes in advance, the system can intervene to protect important image data before it is lost, resolving the contradiction between efficient memory usage and data preservation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors image data for changes in detected other vehicles and uses this feedback to dynamically control the writing process. When changes are detected, the system adjusts memory writing behavior to preserve the relevant image data, thereby maintaining both memory efficiency and preventing information loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of information

If manual operation is required to move image data to non-overwritten memory area, then event data can be preserved, but driver operation becomes difficult during driving

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevent data preservationVSAvoiddriver operation difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automatic detection of other vehicles and automatic protection of their image data without requiring manual driver intervention. The determination unit autonomously identifies when to preserve data based on detected changes, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the need for difficult manual operations during driving

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The determination unit acts as an intermediary between the image data acquisition and the memory writing process. It automatically analyzes image data for changes and controls the writing controller to protect important data, serving as an intelligent mediator that eliminates the need for manual driver operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Area of stationary object

If driving recorder is installed on the back side of the rearview mirror, then it can capture front view images, but front passenger seat occupants cannot easily operate it

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage capture coverageVSAvoidpassenger seat accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The driving recorder operates autonomously without requiring manual input from passengers. It automatically detects other vehicles, monitors their changes, and protects relevant image data, making the system fully self-servicing and eliminating accessibility issues for front passenger occupants

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If conventional driving recorder only detects events in own vehicle, then it can reliably record accidents, but it cannot detect events in other vehicles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevent detection reliabilityVSAvoidevent detection scope

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system extends its detection capability from only own-vehicle events to include other-vehicle events as well. By adding the extraction unit and determination unit that specifically monitor other vehicles, the system becomes multi-functional while maintaining its original reliable accident detection capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the detection function into two independent parts: detection of own-vehicle events (original function) and detection of other-vehicle events (new function). This segmentation allows each detection module to specialize in its target, improving both reliability for own-vehicle events and expanding versatility to include other-vehicle events

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10739367B2On-vehicle image recording apparatus, on-vehicle image recording method, and on-vehicle image recording program

Publication Date: 2020.08.11 JVC KENWOOD CORP

AI summary

A driving recorder includes: an image data acquisition unit; an extraction unit; a determination unit; and a writing controller. The writing controller configured to write, when the determination unit has determined that a change in the other vehicle does not coincide with a predetermined reference change, the image data into a memory by a ring buffer form, and write, when the determination unit has determined that the change coincides with the predetermined reference change, the image data for a predetermined period of time including the plurality of pieces of image data regarding which the determination has been made in such a way that the image data is not overwritten by other data.