System and method to monitor and alert vehicle operator of impairment
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for alerting a vehicle operator of operator impairment using a wearable computing device worn by the vehicle operator, comprising:
- initiating, by a mobile computing device, monitoring of a vehicle operator upon generation of a command to begin monitoring when the mobile computing device is within a threshold distance of a vehicle, wherein monitoring includes generating sensor data using one or more of following;
the mobile computing device or the wearable computing device;
monitoring, by the mobile computing device, the vehicle operator by;
causing one or more sensors to generate the sensor data regarding the vehicle operator, wherein the one or more sensors are disposed within one or more of the following;
the mobile computing device or the wearable computing device;
determining that the vehicle operator is impaired based upon the generated sensor data;
communicating an alert indicating that the vehicle operator is impaired to the wearable computing device via a wireless communication link, wherein the alert includes a haptic alert; and
activating a haptic output unit of the wearable computing device to generate the alert.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The method, system, and computer-readable medium facilitates monitoring a vehicle operator during the course of vehicle operation to determine whether the vehicle operator is impaired (e.g., distracted, drowsy, intoxicated) and alerting the vehicle operator using a haptic alert delivered by a wearable computing device worn by the vehicle operator when impairment is detected. The method, system, and computer-readable medium may monitor the vehicle operator, the environment surrounding the vehicle, and/or forces acting on the vehicle using a variety of sensors, including optical sensors or accelerometers. In particular, optical sensors may monitor the vehicle operator to detect eye blinks, head nods, head rotations, and/or gaze fixation. Optical sensors may also monitor the road ahead of the vehicle to detect lane deviation, lane centering, and time to collision. Accelerometers may detect acceleration in the direction of vehicle travel and/or lateral acceleration.
59 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for alerting a vehicle operator of operator impairment using a wearable computing device worn by the vehicle operator, comprising:
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initiating, by a mobile computing device, monitoring of a vehicle operator upon generation of a command to begin monitoring when the mobile computing device is within a threshold distance of a vehicle, wherein monitoring includes generating sensor data using one or more of following;
the mobile computing device or the wearable computing device;monitoring, by the mobile computing device, the vehicle operator by; causing one or more sensors to generate the sensor data regarding the vehicle operator, wherein the one or more sensors are disposed within one or more of the following;
the mobile computing device or the wearable computing device;determining that the vehicle operator is impaired based upon the generated sensor data; communicating an alert indicating that the vehicle operator is impaired to the wearable computing device via a wireless communication link, wherein the alert includes a haptic alert; and activating a haptic output unit of the wearable computing device to generate the alert. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer system for alerting a vehicle operator of operator impairment comprising:
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a mobile computing device having one or more processors and a program memory; a wearable computing device communicatively connected to the mobile computing device; and one or more sensors communicatively connected to the mobile computing device; wherein the program memory stores executable instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the mobile computing device to; initiate monitoring of a vehicle operator upon generation of a command to begin monitoring when the mobile computing device is within a threshold distance of a vehicle, wherein monitoring includes generating sensor data using one or more of following;
the mobile computing device or the wearable computing device;monitor the vehicle operator by the following; causing the one or more sensors to generate the sensor data regarding the vehicle operator, wherein the one or more sensors are disposed within one or more of the following;
the mobile computing device or the wearable computing device;determining that the vehicle operator is impaired based upon the generated sensor data; and generating an alert to warn the vehicle operator based upon the determination that the vehicle operator is impaired, wherein the alert includes a haptic alert; and cause the wearable computing device to activate a haptic output unit of the wearable computing device to generate the alert by communicating the alert to the wearable computing device via a wireless communication link. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for alerting a vehicle operator of operator impairment using a wearable computing device worn by the vehicle operator that, when executed by one or more processors of a computer system, cause the computer system to:
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initiate monitoring of a vehicle operator upon generation of a command to begin monitoring when a mobile computing device is within a threshold distance of the vehicle, wherein monitoring includes generating sensor data using one or more of following;
the mobile computing device or the wearable computing device;monitor the vehicle operator by; causing one or more sensors to generate the sensor data regarding the vehicle operator, wherein the one or more sensors are disposed within one or more of the following;
the mobile computing device or the wearable computing device;determining that the vehicle operator is impaired based upon the generated sensor data; generating an alert to warn the vehicle operator based upon the determination that the vehicle operator is impaired, wherein the alert includes a haptic alert; and communicating the alert to the wearable computing device via a wireless communication link; and activating a haptic output unit of the wearable computing device to generate the alert. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification