Vehicle detection

• US 10,085,231 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2017
• Issued: 09/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Jain, Amit, Russell, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barakat, Mohamed
• Application Number:
  US15/839,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20180103447A1
• Time in Patent Office: 287 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

This application is directed to a method for initiating a driver mode or a passenger mode of an electronic device. A first wireless device determines whether a second wireless device associated with the user is communicatively connected to a vehicle. The second wireless device is distinct from the first wireless device. In accordance with determination that the second wireless device is connected to the vehicle, the first wireless device causes at least one of the first wireless device, the second wireless device and the vehicle kit device to operate in the driver mode configured for exchanging information between a driver and the vehicle. In accordance with determination that the second wireless device is not connected to the vehicle, the first wireless device detects that the first client device operates in proximity to the vehicle, and prevents the first and second wireless devices from operating in the driver mode.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

at a first wireless device associated with a user, wherein the first wireless device comprises one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs to be executed by the one or more processors;

executing a vehicle detection application, including;

determining whether a second wireless device that is associated with the user is communicatively connected to a vehicle, wherein the second wireless device is distinct from the first wireless device;

in accordance with determination that the second wireless device is connected to the vehicle, causing at least one of the first wireless device, the second wireless device and the vehicle to operate in a driver mode configured for exchanging information between a driver and the vehicle; and

in accordance with determination that the second wireless device is not connected to the vehicle, detecting that the first wireless device operates in proximity to the vehicle, and preventing the first and second wireless devices from operating in the driver mode.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in accordance with a determination that the user is the passenger, causing at least one of the first wireless device, the second wireless device and the vehicle to operate in a passenger mode.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the user is determined as the passenger of the vehicle based on sensor data configured to indicate that at least one of the first wireless device and the second wireless device is moving at a speed or acceleration corresponding to vehicle movement.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein operating in the passenger mode comprises causing the at least one of the first wireless device, the second wireless device and the vehicle to present data relevant to a vehicle passenger.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the data relevant to the vehicle passenger comprises one or more visual alerts.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein operating in the driver mode comprises causing the at least one of the first wireless device, the second wireless device and the vehicle to present data relevant to a vehicle driver.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein causing the at least one of the first wireless device, the second wireless device and the vehicle to present data relevant to the vehicle driver comprises presenting traffic data, vehicle operational data, or telephonic data in such a manner as to reduce a possible distraction to the driver of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the data relevant to the vehicle driver comprises a subset of a map data, driving directions data, points-of-interest data, fuel data, vehicle service station data, vehicle operational data, and traffic data.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the data relevant to the vehicle driver comprises one or more audible alerts configured to limit a possible distraction of the driver of the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the second wireless device is communicatively connected to the vehicle comprises receiving a message from the second wireless device, and wherein the message comprises an indication that the second wireless device is communicatively connected to the vehicle.

11. A wearable wireless device, comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing one or more programs to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

executing a vehicle detection application, including;

determining whether a second wireless device that is associated with the user is communicatively connected to a vehicle, wherein the second wireless device is distinct from the wearable wireless device;

in accordance with determination that the second wireless device is connected to the vehicle, causing at least one of the wearable wireless device, the second wireless device and the vehicle to operate in a driver mode configured for exchanging information between a driver and the vehicle; and

in accordance with determination that the second wireless device is not connected to the vehicle, detecting that the wearable wireless device operates in proximity to the vehicle, and preventing the wearable and second wireless devices from operating in the driver mode.

12. The wearable wireless device of claim 11, wherein determining whether the second wireless device is communicatively connected to the vehicle comprises detecting communication packets transmitted from the vehicle to the second wireless device, and wherein the communication packets comprise an identifier of the second wireless device.

13. The wearable wireless device of claim 11, wherein detecting the vehicle further comprises scanning for communication packets.

14. The wearable wireless device of claim 11, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for:

in accordance with a determination that the user is a passenger, causing at least one of the wearable wireless device, the second wireless device and the vehicle to operate in a passenger mode.

15. The wearable wireless device of claim 11, wherein determining that the second wireless device is communicatively connected to the vehicle further comprises receiving an indication from the second wireless device, and the indication includes a name of the vehicle, a manufacturer of the vehicle, or a combination thereof.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium, storing one or more programs for execution by one or more processors of a first wireless device associated with a user, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:

executing a vehicle detection application, including;

determining whether a second wireless device that is associated with the user is communicatively connected to a vehicle, wherein the second wireless device is distinct from the first wireless device;

in accordance with determination that the second wireless device is connected to the vehicle, causing at least one of the first wireless device, the second wireless device and the vehicle to operate in a driver mode configured for exchanging information between a driver and the vehicle; and

in accordance with determination that the second wireless device is not connected to the vehicle, detecting that the first wireless device operates in proximity to the vehicle, and preventing the first and second wireless devices from operating in the driver mode.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for:

in accordance with a determination that the user is a passenger, causing at least one of the first wireless device, the second wireless device and the vehicle to operate in a passenger mode.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein determining that the second wireless device is communicatively connected to the vehicle further comprises:

receiving a device identifier of the vehicle from the second wireless device; and

searching a database configured to associate device identifiers to device manufacturers to determine a manufacturer of the vehicle.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the device identifier of the vehicle comprises a media access control (MAC) address of the vehicle.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the first wireless device comprises a wearable wireless electronic device, and the second wireless device comprises a mobile electronic device.