Synchronization of vehicle sensor information

An electronic processing system comprising:

• a memory;
• a data collection unit configured to
• receive first operational data (i) generated by a first unit arranged within a vehicle and (ii) indicative of a first operational parameter of the vehicle, wherein receiving first operational data includes receiving a first plurality of data points indicative of a plurality of respective states of the first operational parameter at a plurality of respective times,
• receive external data that (i) was received by the vehicle from a mobile communication device of a pedestrian external to the vehicle via a wireless link and (ii) is indicative of objects sensed by the mobile communication device, wherein receiving external data includes receiving a second plurality of data points indicative of a plurality of respective states of an environment external to the vehicle at a plurality of respective times,
• receive synchronization data indicating a temporal relationship between the first plurality of data points and the second plurality of data points, and
• store the received first operational data, the received external data, and the received synchronization data in the memory;
• and
• a model generation unit coupled to the data collection unit and configured to generate a virtual model of an event involving the vehicle using the stored first operational data, the stored external data, and the stored synchronization data, wherein generating the virtual model includes:
• generating, using the first plurality of data points, a first visual representation of the plurality of respective states of the first operational parameter,
• generating, using the second plurality of data points, a second visual representation of the plurality of respective states of the environment external to the vehicle, and
• using the synchronization data to cause the first visual representation to be displayed simultaneously with the second visual representation such that the first visual representation is time-aligned with the second visual representation.

A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

• store operational data, external data, and synchronization data in a memory, wherein
• the operational data (i) was generated by a first unit arranged within a vehicle and (ii) is indicative of a first operational parameter of the vehicle, the operational data including a first plurality of data points indicative of a plurality of respective states of the first operational parameter at a plurality of respective times,
• the external data (i) was received by the vehicle from a mobile communication device of a pedestrian external to the vehicle via a wireless link and (ii) is indicative of objects sensed by the mobile communication device, the external data including a second plurality of data points indicative of a plurality of respective states of an environment external to the vehicle at a plurality of respective times, and
• the synchronization data indicates a temporal relationship between the first plurality of data points and the second plurality of data points, and
• generate a virtual model of an event involving the vehicle using the stored operational data, the stored external data, and the stored synchronization data, wherein generating the virtual model includes:
• generating, using the first plurality of data points, a first visual representation of the plurality of respective states of the first operational parameter,
• generating, using the second plurality of data points, a second visual representation of the plurality of respective states of the environment external to the vehicle, and
• using the synchronization data to cause the first visual representation to be displayed simultaneously with the second visual representation such that the first visual representation is time-aligned with the second visual representation.