Vehicle detection

Abstract

In some examples, vehicle detection includes detecting a target vehicle that has at least one designated attribute, confirming that the detected target vehicle is within an unobstructed or partially obstructed line of sight of the first object, and confirming that the target vehicle has been detected within the unobstructed or partially obstructed line of sight of the first object.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 quantifying a magnitude of an obstruction between a target object and a spotter vehicle;   determining whether the quantified magnitude of the obstruction is below a threshold value, wherein the quantified magnitude of the obstruction is permissible to detect the target object when the quantified magnitude of the obstruction is below the threshold value;   in response to a determination that the quantified magnitude of the obstruction is below the threshold value, detecting the target object within a particular distance of the spotter vehicle, wherein the target object moves at least at a threshold rate of speed greater than zero within the particular distance of the spotter vehicle, and wherein the spotter vehicle provides a verified detection of the target object;   confirming the detection of the target object by notifying the detected target object; and   transmitting a payoff of the confirmed detection of the target object, wherein the transmission of the payoff is to at least one of the spotter vehicle and the detected target object.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the target object comprises detecting the target object by a surveillance system associated with the spotter vehicle, and wherein the surveillance system comprises a sonar detector and a radar detector having 360° detection capabilities. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the target object comprises detecting the target object based on at least one attribute associated with the target object. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one attribute associated with the target object comprises at least one of a particular make of the target object, a model of the target object, a color of the target object, and a direction of the target object. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the spotter vehicle from the detected target object, a signal that confirms the detection of the target object. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the payoff comprises at least one of an acknowledgement, a reward, a communication directed to at least one of the spotter vehicle and the detected target object, service provider reward points, an advertisement, a law enforcement communication, and driving assistance. 
     
     
         7 . A vehicle detection system, comprising:
 a detector configured to:
 quantify a magnitude of an obstruction between a target object and a spotter vehicle; 
 determine whether the quantified magnitude of the obstruction is below a threshold value, wherein the quantified magnitude of the obstruction is permissible to detect the target object when the quantified magnitude of the obstruction is below the threshold value; 
 in response to a determination that the quantified magnitude of the obstruction is below the threshold value, detect the target object within a particular distance of the spotter vehicle, wherein the target object moves at least at a threshold rate of speed greater than zero and within the particular distance of the spotter vehicle, and wherein the spotter vehicle provides verified detection of the target object; and 
   a communication interface operatively coupled to the detector, wherein the communication interface is configured to:
 confirm the detection of the target object by notification to the detected target object; and 
 transmit a payoff of the confirmed detection to at least one of the spotter vehicle and the target object. 
   
     
     
         8 . The vehicle detection system of  claim 7 , wherein the detector is configured to detect the target object with a surveillance system associated with the spotter vehicle, and wherein the surveillance system comprises a sonar detector and a radar detector having 360° detection capabilities. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle detection system of  claim 7 , wherein the detector is configured to detect the target object based on at least one attribute associated with the target object. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle detection system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one attribute associated with the target object comprises at least one of a particular make of the target object, a model of the target object, a color of the target object, and a direction of the target object. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle detection system of  claim 7 , wherein the detector includes a camera mounted on or located in the spotter vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle detection system of  claim 7 , wherein the detector includes a laser mounted on or located in the spotter vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle detection system of  claim 7 , wherein the communication interface is further configured to receive a signal, from the target object, that confirms the detection of the target object. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle detection system of  claim 7 , wherein the target object includes a target vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . A method for vehicle detection, the method comprising:
 receiving a request, from a third party entity, to search for a target object, wherein the request comprises at least one attribute associated with the target object;   in response to receiving the request, searching for the target object based on the at least one attribute associated with the target object;   quantifying a magnitude of an obstruction between the searched target object and a spotter vehicle;   determining whether the quantified magnitude of the obstruction is below a threshold value, wherein the quantified magnitude of the obstruction is permissible to detect the target object when the quantified magnitude of the obstruction is below the threshold value;   in response to a determination that the quantified magnitude of the obstruction is below the threshold value, indicating that the target object is detected within a particular distance of the spotter vehicle, wherein the target object is moving at least at a threshold rate of speed greater than zero and within the particular distance of the spotter vehicle, and wherein the spotter vehicle provides a verified detection of the target object; and   confirming the detection of the target object by sending a confirmation signal to the third party entity.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising detecting the target object using a surveillance system associated with the spotter vehicle, wherein the surveillance system comprises a sonar detector and a radar detector having 360° detection capabilities. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein searching for the target object comprises operating a video camera to search for the target object in a line of sight between the target object and the spotter vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising receiving a signal, from the detected target object, that confirms the detection of the target object. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one attribute associated with the target object comprises at least one of a particular make of the target object, a model of the target object, a color of the target object, and a direction of the target object. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the third-party entity includes a service provider. 
     
     
         21 . A detection system, comprising:
 a detector controlled by an application hosted in or on a spotter vehicle, and configured to:
 quantify a magnitude of an obstruction, wherein the magnitude of the obstruction approaches 0% if a line of sight is clear between a target vehicle and both an alternative spotter and the spotter vehicle; 
 determine whether the quantified magnitude of the obstruction is permissible to detect the target vehicle, wherein the quantified magnitude of the obstruction is permissible if below a threshold magnitude of obstruction; and 
 detect based, at least in part, on the quantified magnitude of the obstruction being below the threshold magnitude of obstruction, the target vehicle, wherein the target vehicle has at least one designated attribute, and wherein the spotter vehicle includes a vehicle from which verified detection of the target vehicle is sought; and a first object controlled by the hosted application and configured to: 
 confirm that the detected target vehicle is within a particular distance of the spotter vehicle and moving at least at a threshold rate of speed greater than zero within the particular distance of the spotter vehicle; and 
 confirm detection of the detected target vehicle by transmission of a confirmation signal to at least a third party entity to provide notification of the detection.