Navigation systems and associated methods

• US 10,222,225 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2017
• Issued: 03/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Rosario, Barbara
• Primary Examiner(s): Dager, Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US15/858,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20180143032A1
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2476 Speech or voice synthesisers, e.g. using a speech chip
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/183 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3602 Input other than that of destination using image analysis, e.g. detection of road signs, lanes, buildings, real preceding vehicles using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3641 Personalized guidance, e.g. limited guidance on previously travelled routes
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3644 Landmark guidance, e.g. using POIs or conspicuous other objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096838 where the user preferences are taken into account or the user selects one route out of a plurality
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096872 where instructions are given per voice
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0969 having a display in the form of a map
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/00 Maps; Plans; Charts; Diagrams, e.g. route diagram star maps G09B27/04; devices for holding or supporting maps A47B97/02; for computing purposes G06G1/14, G09B1/16; display boards G09F

Abstract

Navigation systems and associated methods for providing navigation services are provided. Information associated with a desired route for a vehicle, such as a route between a current location and a desired destination, may be determined. Additionally, contextual information associated with the vehicle may be identified. Based upon the desired route and the contextual information, a direction may be generated for presentation to one or more users, and the generated direction may be output for presentation.

Claims

1. A vehicle electronic system, comprising:

at least one processor;

a first I/O interface to couple to the at least one processor and to receive sensor data from one or more sensors on a vehicle, the one or more sensors including at least one camera;

a second I/O interface to couple to the at least one processor and transmit output information to an output device; and

at least one computer-readable storage device having instructions stored thereon, that when executed by the at least one processor result in operations that include;

identify a first contextual information based on sensor data from the one or more sensors, the first contextual information including image data associated with a driver of the vehicle;

identify a second contextual information associated with a cruise control operation of the vehicle;

determine whether the driver of the vehicle is involved in a cognitive task related to operation of the vehicle based on the first contextual information associated with the driver of the vehicle;

determine whether cruise control operation is ON based on the second contextual information; and

generate an output to cause an indicator to be provided to the driver of the vehicle;

based on the determination whether the driver of the vehicle is involved in a cognitive task related to operation of the vehicle based on the first contextual information; and

based on the determination that the cruise control operation of the vehicle is ON based on the second contextual information.

2. The vehicle electronic system of claim 1 wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, result in operations that include:

determine whether the vehicle is along a particular route; and

generate the output to cause the indicator to be provided to the driver of the vehicle;

based on the determination whether the driver of the vehicle is involved in a cognitive task related to driving based on the first contextual information;

based on the determination whether the cruise control operation of the vehicle is ON based on the second contextual information; and

based on the determination whether the location of the vehicle is along the particular route.

3. The vehicle electronic system of claim 1 wherein the indicator comprises a visual indicator.

4. The vehicle electronic system of claim 1 wherein the indicator comprises an audible indicator.

5. The vehicle electronic system of claim 1 wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, result in operations that include:

determine whether driver involvement in the cognitive task is below a threshold value; and

generate the output to cause the indicator to be provided to the driver of the vehicle;

based on the determination whether the driver of the vehicle is involved in a cognitive task related to operation of the vehicle based on the first contextual information;

based on the determination that the cruise control operation of the vehicle is ON based on the second contextual information; and

based on the determination that the level of driver involvement in the cognitive task is below the threshold value.

6. A vehicle navigation method, comprising:

receiving, by at least one processor via a first input/output (I/O) interface, sensor data from one or more sensors on a vehicle, the sensor data including image data from at least one camera;

identifying a first contextual information based on sensor data from the one or more sensors, the first contextual information including image data associated with a driver of the vehicle;

receiving, by the at least one processor, a second contextual information associated with a cruise control operation of the vehicle;

determining, by the at least one processor, whether the driver of the vehicle is involved in a cognitive task related to vehicle operation based on the first contextual information;

determining, by the at least one processor, whether the cruise control operation is ON based on the second contextual information;

generating, by the at least one processor, data representative of an output that causes an indicator to be provided to the driver of the vehicle;

based on the determination that the driver of the vehicle is involved in a cognitive task related to driving based on the first contextual information; and

based on the determination whether the cruise control operation is ON based on the second contextual information; and

communicating, by the at least one processor, the data representative of the output to provide the indicator to the driver of the vehicle.

7. The vehicle navigation method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining, by the at least one processor, whether the vehicle is along a particular route; and

generating, by the at least one processor, data representative of the output that causes the indicator to be provided to the driver of the vehicle;

based on the determination whether the driver of the vehicle is involved in a cognitive task related to driving based on the first contextual information;

based on the determination whether the cruise control operation is ON based on the second contextual information; and

based on the determination whether the vehicle is located along the particular route.

8. The vehicle navigation method of claim 6 wherein generating data representative of an output that causes an indicator to be provided to the driver of the vehicle comprises:

generating, by the at least one processor, data representative of a video output that causes a visual indicator to be provided to the driver of the vehicle.

9. The vehicle navigation method of claim 6 wherein generating data representative of an output that causes an indicator to be provided to the driver of the vehicle comprises:

generating, by the at least one processor, data representative of an audio output that causes an audible indicator to be provided to the driver of the vehicle.

10. The vehicle navigation method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining, by the at least one processor, whether driver involvement in the cognitive task is below a threshold value; and

generating the output to cause the indicator to be provided to the driver of the vehicle;

based on the determination whether the driver of the vehicle is involved in a cognitive task related to operation of the vehicle based on the first contextual information;

based on the determination that the cruise control operation of the vehicle is ON based on the second contextual information; and

based on the determination that the level of driver involvement in the cognitive task is below the threshold value.

11. A vehicle navigation system, comprising:

means for receiving sensor data from one or more sensors on a vehicle, the sensor data including image data from at least one camera;

means for identifying a first contextual information based on sensor data from the one or more sensors, the first contextual information including image data associated with a driver of the vehicle;

means for receiving a second contextual information associated with a cruise control operation of the vehicle;

means for determining whether the driver of the is involved in a cognitive task related to vehicle operation based on the first contextual information;

means for determining whether the cruise control operation is ON based on the second contextual information;

means for generating data representative of an output that causes an indicator to be provided to the driver of the vehicle;

based on the determination that the driver of the vehicle is involved in a cognitive task related to driving based on the first contextual information; and

based on the determination whether the cruise control operation is ON based on the second contextual information; and

means for providing the data representative of the output to the driver of the vehicle.

12. The vehicle navigation system of claim 11, further comprising:

means for determining whether the vehicle is along a particular route; and

means for generating data representative of the output that causes the indicator to be provided to the driver of the vehicle;

based on the determination whether the driver of the vehicle is involved in a cognitive task related to driving based on the first contextual information;

based on the determination whether the cruise control operation is ON based on the second contextual information; and

based on the determination whether the vehicle is located along the particular route.

13. The vehicle navigation system of claim 11 wherein the means for providing the data representative of the output to the driver of the vehicle comprises:

a visual output means for providing the data representative of the output to the driver of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle navigation system of claim 11 wherein the means for providing the data representative of the output to the driver of the vehicle comprises:

an audible output means for providing the data representative of the output to the driver of the vehicle.

15. The vehicle navigation system of claim 11, further comprising:

means for determining whether driver involvement in the cognitive task is below a threshold value; and

means for generating data representative of the output that causes the indicator to be provided to the driver of the vehicle;

based on the determination whether the driver is involved in a cognitive task related to operation of the vehicle based on the first contextual information;

based on the determination that the cruise control operation of the vehicle is ON based on the second contextual information; and

based on the determination that the level of driver involvement in the cognitive task is below the threshold value.

24. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the indicator comprises an audible indicator.

16. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium that includes instructions that, when executed by a processor, result in operations comprising:

identify a first contextual information based on sensor data from one or more sensors, the first contextual information including image data associated with a driver of a vehicle;

identify a second contextual information associated with a cruise control operation of the vehicle;

determine whether the driver of the vehicle is involved in a cognitive task related to operation of the vehicle based on the first contextual information associated with the driver of the vehicle;

determine whether cruise control operation is ON based on the second contextual information; and

generate an output to cause an indicator to be provided to the driver of the vehicle;

based on the determination whether the driver of the vehicle is involved in a cognitive task related to operation of the vehicle based on the first contextual information; and

based on the determination that the cruise control operation of the vehicle is ON based on the second contextual information.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 16 wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, result in operations that include:

determine whether the vehicle is along a particular route; and

generate the output to cause the indicator to be provided to the driver of the vehicle;

based on the determination whether the driver is involved in a cognitive task related to driving based on the first contextual information;

based on the determination whether the cruise control operation of the vehicle is ON based on the second contextual information; and

based on the determination whether the location of the vehicle is along the particular route.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 16 wherein the instructions that result in operations to generate an output to cause an indicator to be provided to the driver of the vehicle result in operations comprising:

generate an output to cause a visible indicator to be provided to the driver of the vehicle.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 16 wherein the instructions that result in operations to generate an output to cause an indicator to be provided to the driver of the vehicle result in operations comprising:

generate an output to cause an audible indicator to be provided to the driver of the vehicle.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 16 wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, result in operations that include:

determine whether driver involvement in the cognitive task is below a threshold value; and

generate the output to cause the indicator to be provided to the driver of the vehicle;

based on the determination whether the driver of the vehicle is involved in a cognitive task related to operation of the vehicle based on the first contextual information;

based on the determination that the cruise control operation of the vehicle is ON based on the second contextual information; and

based on the determination that the level of driver involvement in the cognitive task is below the threshold value.

21. A vehicle, comprising:

one or more sensors on the vehicle, the one or more sensors including at least one camera to obtain image data associated with a driver of the vehicle;

a global positioning system;

a vehicle electronic system that includes;

at least one processor;

a first I/O interface to couple to the at least one processor and to receive sensor data from the one or more sensors;

a second I/O interface to couple to the at least one processor and transmit output information to an output device; and

at least one computer-readable storage device having instructions stored thereon, that when executed by the at least one processor result in operations that include;

identify a first contextual information based on sensor data from the one or more sensors, the first contextual information including image data associated with a driver of the vehicle;

identify a second contextual information associated with a cruise control operation of the vehicle;

determine whether the driver of the vehicle is involved in a cognitive task related to operation of the vehicle based on the first contextual information associated with the driver of the vehicle;

determine whether cruise control operation is ON based on the second contextual information; and

generate an output to cause an indicator to be provided to the driver of the vehicle;

based on the determination whether the driver of the vehicle is involved in a cognitive task related to operation of the vehicle based on the first contextual information; and

based on the determination that the cruise control operation of the vehicle is ON based on the second contextual information.

22. The vehicle of claim 21 wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, result in operations that include:

determine whether the vehicle is along a particular route; and

generate the output to cause the indicator to be provided to the driver of the vehicle;

based on the determination whether the driver of the vehicle is involved in a cognitive task related to driving based on the first contextual information;

based on the determination whether the cruise control operation of the vehicle is ON based on the second contextual information; and

based on the determination whether the location of the vehicle is along the particular route.

23. The vehicle of claim 21 wherein the indicator comprises a visual indicator.

25. The vehicle of claim 21 wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, result in operations that include:

determine whether driver involvement in the cognitive task is below a threshold value; and

generate the output to cause the indicator to be provided to the driver of the vehicle;

based on the determination whether the driver of the vehicle is involved in a cognitive task related to operation of the vehicle based on the first contextual information;

based on the determination that the cruise control operation of the vehicle is ON based on the second contextual information; and

based on the determination that the level of driver involvement in the cognitive task is below the threshold value.