Prior art

The analysis of US patent 12236728 (Method and system for logging vehicle behaviour) involves examining its cited prior art to identify the most relevant references and their potential anticipatory effect on the patent's claims under 35 U.S.C. § 102. The core inventive concept of US12236728 revolves around a mobile telecommunications device, such as a smartphone, utilizing its internal sensor set (image, audio, accelerometer, positioning module) to log driving information, determine the start of a driving period without relying on vehicle sensors, process this data, and store it, often for purposes like accident reconstruction, driver behavior modification, or insurance assessment.

Based on a review of the patent citations listed for US12236728B2, many patents demonstrate similar concepts.

Most Relevant Prior Art

While numerous cited patents are highly relevant, US8279018B2 (Method and apparatus for monitoring and providing feedback regarding an operator's driving behavior) stands out as particularly relevant due to its comprehensive description of using a personal communication device with its own sensors for driving behavior monitoring.

• Full Citation: US8279018B2
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2008-01-28, Published: 2012-10-02
• Brief Description: This patent describes a system and method where a device, which can be a personal communication device (like a cellular telephone or PDA), is placed in a vehicle to monitor and provide feedback on driving behavior. The device uses its onboard sensors, such as a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system and accelerometers, to collect data like location, acceleration, speed, and heading. From this data, the system can determine specific driving events like hard braking, rapid acceleration, and excessive cornering force. It can provide real-time feedback to the operator and transmit collected data to a remote server for further analysis, such as generating a driving score. The patent emphasizes the use of the device's onboard sensors for detecting driving behaviors.
• Potential Anticipated Claim(s) under 35 U.S.C. § 102: US8279018B2 potentially anticipates claims of US12236728 related to:
  • A mobile telecommunications device (referred to as a "personal communication device") for logging driving information associated with a vehicle.
  • Comprising a sensor set including an accelerometer and a positioning module (GPS) within the device itself.
  • A processor for processing sensor data from this sensor set to derive driving information (e.g., hard braking, rapid acceleration, cornering force).
  • Storing this derived driving information and transmitting it to a remote system.
  • The implied determination of a driving period based on the device's own sensor data (e.g., detecting movement or specific driving behaviors), which inherently means "without data from sensors of the vehicle."
  • Providing feedback to modify driver behavior.

Other Relevant Prior Art Citations

The following patent citations also demonstrate significant overlap with the claims of US12236728, often explicitly mentioning the use of mobile devices (e.g., smartphones, cell phones) with their internal sensors for vehicle-related data logging.

1. US20080183377A1 - Vehicle monitoring system and method

   • Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2007-02-01, Published: 2008-07-31
   • Brief Description: Describes a vehicle monitoring system using a portable wireless communications device (e.g., cell phone) to collect vehicle operation data. It highlights the use of the device's internal sensors (accelerometer, GPS) and transmission of data to a remote server for analysis and driving behavior rating.
   • Potential Anticipated Claim(s): Claims related to a mobile telecommunications device with its own sensor set (accelerometer, GPS) logging driving information, processing, storing, and transmitting data for driving behavior analysis.

2. US20080208479A1 - Method and system for providing feedback regarding an operator's driving behavior

   • Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2007-02-23, Published: 2008-08-28
   • Brief Description: Similar to US8279018B2, this patent application details a system using a personal communication device (e.g., smartphone) in a vehicle to monitor driving behavior through its onboard sensors (GPS, accelerometers) and provide feedback.
   • Potential Anticipated Claim(s): Claims related to a mobile device using its internal sensors to monitor driving, detect events, and provide feedback.

3. US20090287383A1 - Vehicle data recording and transmission system

   • Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2009-06-12, Published: 2009-11-19
   • Brief Description: Describes a system for recording and transmitting vehicle data, particularly for accident reconstruction, using a portable electronic device (like a cell phone) with sensors (GPS, accelerometer) to record data before, during, and after a collision.
   • Potential Anticipated Claim(s): Claims regarding a portable electronic device (mobile telecommunications device) with internal sensors (GPS, accelerometer) logging driving information, especially for accident-related events, and transmitting this data.

4. US20100191436A1 - System and method for monitoring driver behavior

   • Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2009-01-29, Published: 2010-07-29
   • Brief Description: This patent application describes using a portable device (e.g., smartphone) with built-in sensors (accelerometer, GPS) to detect driving events, send alerts, and upload data for analysis and reporting on driver behavior.
   • Potential Anticipated Claim(s): Claims covering a smartphone with built-in sensors logging driving information, detecting events, and reporting data for driver behavior monitoring.

5. US20100222956A1 - Accident reconstruction system and method

   • Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2009-03-05, Published: 2010-09-02
   • Brief Description: Describes an accident reconstruction system using a portable device to collect data (accelerometers, GPS, potentially images/audio) about vehicle movement before, during, and after an accident.
   • Potential Anticipated Claim(s): Claims involving a portable device with a sensor set (accelerometers, GPS, image, audio) for logging driving information, particularly related to accident detection and recording.

6. US20100312450A1 - Mobile device based accident reconstruction system

   • Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2009-06-08, Published: 2010-12-09
   • Brief Description: This application specifically details a mobile device-based system for accident reconstruction, where the mobile device (e.g., smartphone) uses its built-in sensors (accelerometer, GPS) to collect crash-related data.
   • Potential Anticipated Claim(s): Claims related to a mobile device (smartphone) with built-in sensors (accelerometer, GPS) logging driving information for accident reconstruction.

These references collectively indicate that the concept of using a general-purpose mobile telecommunications device with its internal sensors to log vehicle behavior, detect events, and provide feedback or transmit data was known in the art prior to the priority date of US12236728. The specific emphasis in US12236728 on determining the start of a driving period without vehicle sensor data is a nuance, but many of these prior art systems describe using the mobile device's own sensors for such detection, which inherently supports operation independent of vehicle-specific sensors.