Apparatus and methods for providing vehicle driving information

• US 10,150,410 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2016
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Medenica, Zeljko, Saigusa, Shigenobu, Kamata, Yutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): McNally, Kerri L
• Application Number:
  US15/386,868
• Publication Number:
  US 20180170256A1
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 340439
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0231 Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/037 for occupant comfort , e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel

Abstract

An information providing system for a vehicle is provided. The vehicle is operable by a driver capable of exhibiting driving behavior, the driving behavior being a recorded frequency of occurrences. The system can include a processor that is configured to: obtain a first driving pattern from the driving behavior, the first driving pattern being specified when the same driving behavior is repeated above a threshold frequency; select at least one functionality based on the first driving pattern obtained; and recommend the at least one functionality selected by the selector to the driver.

Claims

1. An information providing system for a vehicle that is operable by a driver capable of exhibiting driving behavior, the driving behavior being a recorded frequency of occurrences, the system comprising:

a processor configured to;

obtain a first driving pattern from the driving behavior, the first driving pattern being specified when the same driving behavior is repeated above a threshold frequency;

select at least one functionality based on the first driving pattern obtained; and

prompt the driver for teaching relating to the at least one functionality selected by the processor by presenting information on the at least one functionality prior to enablement thereof,

wherein the processor records the driving behavior on a daily basis, and the first driving pattern is specified when the same driving behavior is repeated more than a predetermined number of days in a certain period of time.

2. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the processor obtains a second driving pattern, the second driving pattern is about whether the driver has used the function before or not, and the processor selects the functionality based on the second driving pattern.

3. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the processor selects the functionality from preselected functionalities or the functionalities other driver uses until the first driving pattern is determined.

4. The information providing system according to claim 3, wherein the processor obtains a second driving pattern, and the second driving pattern is about whether the driver has used the functionality before or not, and the processor selects the functionality based on the second driving pattern.

5. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the processor obtains the driving behavior to specify the first driving pattern with respect to each driver who uses same vehicle.

6. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the processor has a list of predetermined driving patterns to compare with the driving behavior, and the a new predetermined driving pattern is added to the list in response to detecting a third driving pattern from another driver'"'"'s driving behavior.

7. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the processor asks the driver if the processor can show the driver functionality on a display, and upon being declined, the processor sends the information about the functionality to a mobile device or server having an internet connection.

8. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one functionality includes a first functionality and a second functionality, and the processor prompts the driver for teaching relating to the second functionality for a predetermined amount of time to show the driver an explanation thereof that is shorter than a predetermined amount of time that the processor prompts the driver for teaching relating to the first functionality for, and the processor shows only the explanation of the second functionality when the vehicle comes to a stop.

9. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the processor reminds the driver of the functionality if the vehicle comes to a situation suitable to use the functionality while driving, after the processor prompts the driver for teaching relating to the at least one functionality.

19. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the processor prompts the driver for teaching relating to the at least one functionality selected by the processor only when the vehicle comes to a stop.

20. The information providing system according to claim 19, wherein the processor prompts the driver for teaching relating to the at least one functionality selected by the processor for a predetermined amount of time.

21. The information providing system according to claim 20, wherein the processor stops prompting the driver for teaching relating to the at least one functionality selected by the processor upon expiration of the predetermined amount of time.

22. The information providing system according to claim 20, wherein the processor stops prompting the driver for teaching relating to the at least one functionality selected by the processor upon initiating movement of the vehicle.

10. A method of providing information for a vehicle that is operable by a driver capable of exhibiting driving behavior, the driving behavior being a recorded frequency of occurrences, the method comprising:

obtaining a first driving pattern from the driving behavior, the first driving pattern being specified when the same driving behavior is repeated above a threshold frequency;

selecting at least one functionality based on the first driving pattern; and

prompting the driver for teaching relating to the at least one functionality by presenting information on the at least one functionality prior to enablement thereof,

wherein obtaining the first driving pattern from the driving behavior occurs on a daily basis, and the first driving pattern is specified when the same driving behavior is repeated more than a predetermined number of days in a certain period of time.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising obtaining a second driving pattern, the second driving pattern is about whether the driver has used the function before or not, and the functionality is selected based on the second driving pattern.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein selecting at least one functionality based on the first driving pattern selects the functionality from preselected functionalities or the functionalities other driver uses until the first driving pattern is determined.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising obtaining a second driving pattern, and the second driving pattern is about whether the driver has used the functionality before or not, and the functionality is selected based on the second driving pattern.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein obtaining a first driving pattern from a driving behavior specifies the first driving pattern with respect to each driver who uses same vehicle.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein obtaining a first driving pattern from a driving behavior includes comparing a list of predetermined driving patterns with the driving behavior, and a new predetermined driving pattern is added to the list in response to detecting a third driving pattern from another driver'"'"'s driving behavior.

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein prompting the driver for teaching relating to the at least one functionality includes asking the driver if a display can show the driver functionality, and when declined, sending the information about the functionality to the driver'"'"'s mobile device or server on the internet.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein the at least one functionality includes a first functionality and a second functionality, and prompting the driver for teaching relating to the at least one functionality includes prompting the driver for teaching relating to the second functionality for a predetermined amount of time to show the driver an explanation thereof that is shorter than a predetermined amount of time that the first functionality is prompted for teaching, and information on only the second functionality is presented when the vehicle comes to a stop.

23. The method according to claim 10, wherein prompting the driver for teaching relating to the functionality only occurs when the vehicle comes to a stop.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein prompting the driver for teaching relating to the functionality only occurs for a predetermined amount of time.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein prompting the driver for teaching relating to the functionality ceases upon expiration of the predetermined amount of time.

26. The method according to claim 24, wherein prompting the driver for teaching relating to the functionality ceases upon initiating movement of the vehicle.

18. A method of providing information for a vehicle that is operable by a driver capable of exhibiting driving behavior, the driving behavior being a recorded frequency of occurrences, the method comprising:

obtaining a first driving pattern from the driving behavior, the first driving pattern being specified when the same driving behavior is repeated above a threshold frequency;

selecting at least one functionality based on the first driving pattern; and

prompting the driver for teaching relating to the at least one functionality by presenting information on the at least one functionality prior to enablement thereof,

wherein prompting the driver for teaching relating to the functionality includes reminding the driver of the functionality if the vehicle comes to a situation suitable to use the functionality while driving, after the functionality is recommended.