Vehicle video recording system with driver privacy

Abstract

Methods and devices for controlling a camera on a vehicle may include determining a duty status of a driver of the vehicle. The methods and devices may also include controlling a recording status of at least one camera of a camera system on the vehicle based on the duty status.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of controlling a camera on a vehicle, comprising:
 determining, by a processor, a duty status of a driver of the vehicle;   applying, by the processor, one or more rules based at least upon the duty status of the driver for determining a recording status of at least one camera of a camera system on the vehicle, wherein the recording status include an on status corresponding to recording and an off status corresponding to not recording; and   controlling, by the processor, the recording status of the at least one camera based on the duty status.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the controlling the recording status of the at least one camera comprises:
 setting the recording status of the at least one camera to off when the duty status is off duty; and   setting the recording status of the at least one camera to on when the duty status is on duty.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the duty status is off duty when the duty status is one of off duty, off duty driving, sleeper berth or unknown. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the duty status of on duty when the duty status is one of on duty or on duty driving. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one camera comprises at least one of: at least one interior-recording camera, at least one exterior-recording camera or a dual camera. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a driving status of the vehicle; and   wherein controlling the recording status of the at least one camera further comprises setting the recording status of the at least one camera to off when the driving status indicates parking brake enabled.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein controlling the recording status of the at least one camera further comprises setting the recording status of the at least one camera to off when geolocation of the vehicle indicates the vehicle is in a restricted area or a secured facility. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving the duty status from a duty status application that keeps track of a driver status.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 controlling a microphone status of a microphone located inside the vehicle based on the duty status.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting a critical event; and   wherein controlling the recording status of the at least one camera further comprises changing the recording status of the at least one camera to on when the critical event is triggered even when the duty status is one or more of off duty, sleeper berth, or unknown.   
     
     
         11 . A computer device, comprising:
 a memory to store data and instructions that define a camera privacy manager and a camera control component; and   a processor in communication with the memory;   wherein the processor is configured to execute the camera privacy manager and the camera control component to:
 determine a duty status of a driver of a vehicle; 
   apply one or more rules based at least upon the duty status of the driver for determining a recording status of at least one camera of a camera system on the vehicle, wherein the recording status include an on status corresponding to recording and an off status corresponding to not recording; and   control the recording status of the at least one camera based on the duty status.   
     
     
         12 . The computer device of  claim 11 , wherein the camera control component is further operable to:
 set the recording status of the at least one camera to off when the duty status is off duty; and   set the recording status of the at least one camera to on when the duty status is on duty.   
     
     
         13 . The computer device of  claim 12 , wherein the duty status is off duty when the duty status is one of off duty, off duty driving, sleeper berth or unknown. 
     
     
         14 . The computer device of  claim 11 , wherein the duty status of on duty when the duty status is one of on duty or on duty driving. 
     
     
         15 . The computer device of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one camera comprises at least one of: at least one interior-recording camera, at least one exterior-recording camera or a dual camera. 
     
     
         16 . The computer device of  claim 11 , wherein the camera privacy manager is further operable to determine a driving status of the vehicle and the camera control component is further operable to set the recording status of the at least one camera to off when the driving status indicates parking brake enabled. 
     
     
         17 . The computer device of  claim 11 , wherein the camera control component is further operable to set the recording status of the at least one camera to off when geolocation of the vehicle indicates the vehicle is in a restricted area or a secured facility. 
     
     
         18 . The computer device of  claim 11 , wherein the duty status is received from a duty status application that keeps track of a driver status. 
     
     
         19 . The computer device of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a microphone control component in communication with the memory and the processor operable to control a microphone status of a microphone located inside the vehicle based on the duty status.   
     
     
         20 . The computer device of  claim 11 , wherein the camera privacy manager is further operable to detect a critical event and the camera control component is further operable to change the recording status of the at least one camera to on when the critical event is triggered even when the duty status is one or more of off duty, sleeper berth, or unknown.