Vehicle Metadata Gathering and Distribution System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems lack an efficient method to monitor and track changes in traffic environments, such as road conditions and traffic signs, in real-time, which is crucial for road safety and infrastructure maintenance, as they rely on manual data collection or limited sensor capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method that uses sensors on vehicles to gather and process metadata about their surroundings, transmitting this data to a remote server for aggregation and sharing, while adapting algorithm modules based on vehicle characteristics and conditions to improve tracking and monitoring quality and privacy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual data collection methods are used for monitoring road conditions and traffic signs, then system complexity is reduced, but real-time monitoring capability and measurement precision deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereal-time monitoring capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual data collection methods with automated sensor-based systems. Sensors mounted on vehicles automatically capture images and data of road conditions, traffic signs, and surrounding environments, eliminating the need for manual observation and recording while enabling real-time monitoring capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that receives, processes, and analyzes data from multiple vehicle sensors. This centralized processing system coordinates the collection efforts of numerous vehicles, aggregate data from diverse sources, and maintain a comprehensive real-time view of road conditions without requiring direct complex interactions between individual sensing systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If sensor data is collected from multiple vehicles to improve monitoring coverage, then measurement precision and reliability improve, but data processing complexity and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemonitoring coverageVSAvoiddata processing energy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the data processing task into segments: individual vehicle sensors perform initial data capture and preprocessing, then transmit only essential extracted features (such as detected traffic signs, road conditions, obstacles) to the server. This segmentation reduces the data transmission and processing burden on each vehicle, thereby lowering energy consumption while maintaining comprehensive monitoring coverage through aggregated data from multiple vehicles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If algorithm modules are configured adaptively based on vehicle characteristics, then measurement precision and adaptability improve, but device complexity and configuration time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetracking qualityVSAvoidalgorithm configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adaptivity where algorithm modules automatically adjust their parameters and behavior based on real-time vehicle characteristics, sensor capabilities, and environmental conditions. This dynamic configuration allows the system to optimize tracking quality and measurement precision for each specific vehicle without requiring manual setup, as the algorithms self-adjust to match the operational context.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If continuous monitoring of road conditions is performed to detect changes, then reliability and safety improve, but energy consumption and loss of time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroad safety monitoringVSAvoidmonitoring cycle time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic monitoring cycles where vehicles continuously capture and transmit data at optimized intervals. The system balances the frequency of data collection with energy efficiency by transmitting data periodically rather than continuously, while still maintaining reliable detection of road condition changes through coordinated observations from multiple vehicles passing through the same areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP4456033A1Gathering and distributing metadata of a surrounding of a vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.10.30 APTIV TECHNOLOGIES AG
  • EP4456033A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4456033A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4456033A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a computer-implemented method for gathering and distributing metadata of a surrounding of a vehicle during a ride, the method comprises the steps of, at an apparatus arranged in the vehicle, obtaining, from at least one sensor, sensor data representing at least extracts of the surrounding of the vehicle, generating, from the sensor data, metadata using at least one algorithm module, the metadata comprising at least one feature describing a characteristic of the surrounding, and transmitting the metadata to a remote server. In addition, the present disclosure further relates to a computer-implemented method for gathering and distributing metadata of a surrounding of one or more vehicles, the method comprises the steps of, at a remote server, receiving, from the one or more vehicles, metadata generated using at least one algorithm module, wherein the metadata is derived from sensor data of one or more sensors of the one or more vehicles, and storing the metadata in a storage means of the remote server. Furthermore, the present disclosure relates to a corresponding apparatus, a remote server, computer programs, a vehicle and a vehicle management system.