Abstract
A system for acquiring data from vehicle in real time for mapping infrastructure using blockchain technology.
Claims
1. A method for the collection, processing, and dissemination of data and images collected in real-time by a vehicle for mapping and the creation of a virtual environment using blockchain technology.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the collected data is contributed by a plurality of qualified users on an instant or daily basis.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the collected data has been indexed based on time and location of the vehicle.
4. The method of claim 1 whereas the data is distributed to qualified users.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein a double-check methodology is used for information and data integrity, including GPS location, definition of data collected, type of device/equipment and time/date.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the collected data is used for the processing and dissemination of data in real-time of infrastructure for further processing for 2D and 3D digital mapping and emergency responding purposes.
7. The method of claim 5 whereas the blockchain methodology secures the privacy of those qualified to use the method.
Description
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0039] FIG. 1 is a simplified illustration of the blockchain system used with the present invention. In particular, the processes involved in turning raw images into a near real-time depletion of a geographical area including all structures and environmental components while securing the data and the privacy of the contributors is shown.
[0040] FIG. 2 is a description of a typical cityscape and the views of the city that can be provided by a three hundred sixty-degree camera. Regardless of the properties of the camera, recording angles, or the number of cameras fitted to the vehicle, the results would be the same but may require more information to update the image. As vehicle (1) is driving on an everyday task, the images recorded (3) are processed based on their geographical position using GPS and assisted by cellular triangulation. A second vehicle (2) does the same and records the images (4) of the surrounding areas (5) contained within the view of its camera. As more vehicles drive in the same vicinity, the images from their systems will be indexed by location and added to the images from all others that have been in that area. In this way, the image is “maturing” and becoming more accurate, the real-time changes would then be visible to the end-user if so desired.
[0041] FIG. 3 illustrates the image recording and processing of a 360-degree camera. Specifically, a vehicle equipped with this type of system captures multiple images of the same object from different angles recording data of three sides of a structure that can be processed using the position registered by the GPS in the system. A vehicle (6) is illustrated as approaching an object (or building) (7). As it approach the object (7), the vehicle camera has a clear image of the side facing the vehicle as well as the front of the object. A vehicle (8) now approaches the object (7) and has a better view of the front of object (7) and the front and back thereof depending on the size of object (7). The vehicle (6) now continues to move forward and passes object (7) with the perspective changing again. At this point, the system now captures the rear of object (7). Thus, on a single pass, the system acquires sufficient information to render approximately 75% of object (7) into the database collected by multiple enrolled drive-by vehicles made in any time frame. In essence, the system functions as a 3D scanner of objects detected by cameras and various sensors.
[0042] FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 but gives a better idea of how connected vehicles all gathering data from different directions, heights, points of view will all contribute to the maturing of an image based on the position the image was filmed or recorded. Two enrolled vehicles (12) and (14) are illustrated as traveling on a highway in opposite directions. Using the method discussed to FIG. 3, the images of the object (13) are recorded as the vehicles approach, are parallel to and pass by the object (13) while recording the data based on GPS of where the images were recorded. One side of the object (13) is recorded by vehicle (12) and stored in the blockchain data. The other side of the object (13) is being recorded by vehicle (14) thus completing the image on all sides within the blockchain database. This process will repeal countless times maturing the image with every added data point. In this way, an entire city, for example, can be mapped together with other sources (for example, satellite, aircraft captured images or data) all and naturally occurring items that may updated constantly and reflect any changes that may have occurred based on forward-moving time.
[0043] FIG. 5 is an illustration of how the data is removed from the vehicle and added to the blockchain database structure. There are currently two ways the information can be retrieved from the vehicle, the first being Wi-Fi. When a vehicle (18) containing a camera system, GPS, and local storage returns to a home or office after a drive its Wi-Fi transceiver tries to connect with a known Wi-Fi network. These networks are secured with encryption but are password protected allowing easy access to the files or data that have been collected throughout the journey. Vehicle (18) with a Wi-Fi transceiver and antenna connects to a known and secure Wi-Fi network such as a home or office network (16) and then routed to a secure server to be indexed and added to the blockchain-based data collection system. This could happen periodically or automatically when the vehicle becomes in the range of the dedicated Wi-Fi network. When done daily the data collected would be in near real-time and fresh so the data would be very recent. The other way of receiving the data is via the cellular network. The vehicle (18) containing a camera, GPS, and a cellular transceiver (17) could automatically upload the data in real-time to the cellular network (15) on a constant or timed basis. This data could then be processed and used immediately if needed for the most accurate rendition or mapping of the infrastructure and environmental items within the desired area.
[0044] FIG. 6 is an illustration of the process for transferring data from the vehicle (18) to the blockchain encrypted servers. The camera processor or CPU (19) is corrected to the camera system (20) that can be of any specification, such as a 360-degree camera, single front-facing camera, or multiple cameras equipped within the vehicle (18). The system is equipped with a local storage unit (21) that can be any storage medium and which holds the data locally until an outside connection is made via radio (22). Radio (22) contains both a Wi-Fi (24) and cellular transceiver (23) as well as supported antennas for both (25). Components (19), (20), (21), (22), (23), (24), and (25) are all contained within the vehicle (18). The cellular transceiver (23) can always be an operation when the vehicle is in use or be set to transmit at any given set time. The Wi-Fi transceiver (24) is always on standby until it detects the known network that it is paired with for a secure connection at the home or workplace or the user. Once connected via the antenna system (25), the signal or data is transmitted. In the case of Wi-Fi, the signal is sent by the vehicle through the Wi-Fi transceiver (24) through the antenna system (25) to the dedicated and secured Wi-Fi receiver (26) at the user's home or office. The data is then sent to a router that will transmit the data to a known server location within the connector (30) where it will be indexed by location and time. The first index point will be the location of the data first received. In the same manner, the cellular signals will be transmitted from the cellular transceiver (23) through the antenna system (25) to any available cellular receiver (27) and routed to the secure server through the systems router (29) and will be indexed in the connector (30). The cloud-based connector (30) will process and index the data and deliver it to the encrypted blockchain processor (31) where it will be stored, processed, and sent to the cloud server(s), (32), (33), and (34). These servers can be in a central area or be in various locations anywhere needed. The data will be stored securely until needed by a party and delivered in a secure manner to data output (35) whereat the data is encrypted and secured using a blockchain encryption method ensuring the integrity of the data.
[0045] FIG. 7 is an illustration of the blockchain process and the collection and distribution of the data. The video data can be collected from many entities that participate in the mapping program described hereinabove. Vehicles equipped with the camera system could all collect data for various projects and to help enable a low-cost system to aid in autonomous vehicle development and operations. The data collected by the systems in (36) can be comprised of many contributors such as Google® mapping (37), navigation software companies (38), local governments that can include data from police and emergency vehicle (39), the military (40), all forms of current autonomous vehicles (41) as well as the private sector (42). These entities could all be part of the data collection apparatus (36). The data is kept individually and is sent to be indexed and encrypted in the blockchain connector (43). Once the individual data is collected from the various contributors, (44), (45), (46), (47), (48), and (49) it is processed based on location data and time, the location data being the key for the indexing. The information or data is added to the blockchain and sent to the blockchain connector (43). The second data point after location will be time and date. The data is verified by the index of the same location at a different but similar time validating the shared data. All of the data is encrypted to ensure the data has not been compromised, does not expose the contributors, and does not lead to any privacy issues that may occur. After the verification, encryption, and processing of the data it is indexed based on the GPS location and sent to the blockchain connector (50). From there the data is routed to secure cloud servers (51) and (52) where it is securely stored and can no longer be altered. The data may mature as different data points are contributed from different angles and perspective points that will eventually be indexed. The data can be sent to various persons or companies in the data output (53). Once the data has been processed and added to the blockchain, it can only be accessed by secure users that have been granted the rights for the processed data.
[0046] While the invention has been described with reference to its preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements there of without departing from the true spirit and scope or the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its essential teachings.
