Controlled display of warning information

• US 10,446,018 B1
• Filed: 09/23/2016
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Han, Byron B., Bronder, Kjell F., Herz, Scott M., Webb, Russell Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Mirza F
• Application Number:
  US15/275,107
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/178 Warnings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/5899 Internet
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/592 Data transfer involving external databases
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/741 Instruments adapted for user detection
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/65 Instruments specially adapted for specific vehicle types or users, e.g. for left- or right-hand drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/654 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/85 Arrangements for transferring vehicle- or driver-related data
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/02 Monitoring continuously signalling or alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources

Abstract

Some embodiments provide a warning prompt control module which adjustably controls the display of warning prompts for vehicle elements in a vehicle, based on a determined profile with which the occupant is associated. An occupant detected in the vehicle interior can be associated with a profile based on a sensor data representation of the occupant correlating with a sensor data representation included in the profile, accessing a profile from a device supporting the occupant, etc. A profile can include interaction history data which indicate historical interactions with warning prompts for a vehicle element. Displaying a warning prompt for a vehicle element can be adjustably controlled based on the interaction history data, included in a profile, which is associated with the vehicle element.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a warning prompt control module configured to be installed in a vehicle and to adjustably control warning prompts displayed by the vehicle based on warning prompt interaction histories, wherein the warning prompt control module is configured to;

determine a sensor data representation of an occupant device located in an interior of the vehicle based on processing sensor data generated by one or more sensor devices installed in the vehicle;

associate the sensor data representation of the occupant device with a warning prompt interaction history, wherein the warning prompt interaction history includes data about past user interactions with displayed warning prompts associated with the occupant device and with a particular vehicle element included in the vehicle; and

adjustably display warning prompts for the particular vehicle element included in the vehicle, via an interface of the vehicle, in response to trigger events associated with the particular vehicle element, based on the warning prompt interaction history associated with the occupant device so that the manner in which a particular warning prompt is displayed is altered for subsequent displays of the particular warning prompt;

wherein to adjustably display warning prompts for the particular vehicle element included in the vehicle, the warning prompt control module is configured to;

adjust content displayed in the warning prompts;

selectively display a warning prompt response interface in the warning prompts;

or

adjust a display time of the warning prompts.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the warning prompt control module is configured to:

monitor interaction with the displayed warning prompts; and

adjust the warning prompt interaction history based on the monitored interaction.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the warning prompt control module is configured to:

monitor driving performance subsequent to the monitored interaction with the displayed warning prompts; and

adjust the warning prompt interaction history based on the monitored driving performance.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein to adjustably display warning prompts for the particular vehicle element, the warning prompt control module is configured to:

display a particular warning prompt, of a plurality of warning prompts associated with the particular vehicle element, based on a determination that a quantity of the past user interactions with the displayed warning prompts associated with the particular vehicle element in the warning prompt interaction history at least meets a threshold quantity associated with the particular warning prompt.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the warning prompt control module is configured to:

access at least the sensor data representation of the occupant device from a remote system, which is external to the vehicle, via a communication network.

11. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the warning prompt control module is further configured to:

associate an occupant located in an interior of the vehicle with a particular profile associated with the occupant device, based at least in part upon the sensor data representation of the occupant device and accessing data associated with the particular profile from the occupant device;

wherein to associate the sensor data representation of the occupant device with the warning prompt interaction history further comprises;

associating the particular profile with the warning prompt interaction history, and

wherein to adjustably display warning prompts for the particular vehicle element, via an interface of the vehicle, in response to trigger events associated with the vehicle element, based on the warning prompt interaction history further comprises;

adjustably displaying warning prompts for the particular vehicle element based on the warning prompt interaction history associated with the particular profile and the particular vehicle element.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the warning prompt control module is configured to:

monitor interaction with the displayed warning prompts; and

adjust the warning prompt interaction history based on the monitored interaction.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the warning prompt control module is configured to:

monitor driving performance subsequent to the monitored interaction with the displayed warning prompts; and

adjust the warning prompt interaction history based on the monitored driving performance.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein to adjustably display warning prompts for the particular vehicle element, the warning prompt control module is configured to:

display a particular warning prompt, of a plurality of warning prompts associated with the particular vehicle element, based on a determination that a quantity of the past user interactions with the displayed warning prompts associated with the particular vehicle element in the warning prompt interaction history at least meets a threshold quantity associated with the particular warning prompt.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the data associated with the particular profile accessed from the occupant device comprises a sensor data representation associated with the particular profile; and

to associate the occupant located in an interior of the vehicle with a particular profile associated with the occupant device, the warning prompt control module is configured to base the association at least in part upon a correlation of a sensor data representation of the occupant with the sensor data representation associated with the particular profile.

6. A method, comprising:

adjustably controlling warning prompts displayed by the vehicle based on warning prompt interaction histories, wherein the adjustably controlling comprises;

associating an occupant located in an interior of the vehicle with a particular profile, of a plurality of profiles, based on a comparison between a sensor data representation of the occupant and a sensor data representation associated with the particular profile; and

adjustably displaying warning prompts for a particular vehicle element included in the vehicle, via an interface of the vehicle, in response to trigger events associated with the particular vehicle element, based on a warning prompt interaction history associated with the particular profile and the particular vehicle element so that the manner in which a particular warning prompt is displayed is altered for subsequent displays of the particular warning prompt, wherein the warning prompt interaction history includes data about past user interactions with displayed warning prompts associated with the particular profile and with the particular vehicle element; and

wherein adjustably displaying the warning prompts for the particular vehicle element included in the vehicle comprises one or more of;

adjusting content displayed in the warning prompts;

selectively displaying a warning prompt response interface in the warning prompts;

or

adjusting a display time of the warning prompts.

7. The method of claim 6, comprising:

monitoring interaction with the displayed warning prompts; and

adjusting the warning prompt interaction history based on the monitored interaction.

8. The method of claim 7, comprising:

monitoring driving performance subsequent to the monitored interaction with the displayed warning prompts; and

adjust the warning prompt interaction history based on the monitored driving performance.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein adjustably displaying warning prompts for the particular vehicle element comprises:

displaying a particular warning prompt, of a plurality of warning prompts associated with the particular vehicle element, based on a determination that a quantity of the past user interactions with the displayed warning prompts associated with the particular vehicle element in the warning prompt interaction history at least meets a threshold quantity associated with the particular warning prompt.

10. The method of claim 6, comprising:

determining the sensor data representation of the occupant based on processing sensor data generated by one or more sensor devices installed in the vehicle; and

accessing at least the sensor data representation associated with the entry of the profile from a remote system, which is external to the vehicle, via a communication network.

16. A vehicle, comprising:

a controller comprising one or more processors and a memory storing program instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to;

associate an occupant located in an interior of the vehicle with a particular profile, of a plurality of profiles, based on a comparison between a sensor data representation of the occupant and a sensor data representation associated with the particular profile; and

adjustably display warning prompts for a particular vehicle element included in the vehicle, via an interface of the vehicle, in response to trigger events associated with the particular vehicle element, based on a warning prompt interaction history associated with the particular profile and the particular vehicle element so that the manner in which a particular warning prompt is displayed is altered for subsequent displays of the particular warning prompt, wherein the warning prompt interaction history includes data about past user interactions with displayed warning prompts associated with the particular profile and with the particular vehicle element;

wherein the controller is configured to be installed in a vehicle; and

wherein to adjustably display the warning prompts for the particular vehicle element included in the vehicle, the program instructions are executable by the one or more processors to;

adjust content displayed in the warning prompts;

selectively display a warning prompt response interface in the warning prompts;

or

adjust a display time of the warning prompts.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the program instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to:

monitor interaction with the displayed warning prompts; and

adjust the warning prompt interaction history based on the monitored interaction.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the program instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to:

monitor driving performance subsequent to the monitored interaction with the displayed warning prompts; and

adjust the warning prompt interaction history based on the monitored driving performance.

19. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein to adjustably display warning prompts for the particular vehicle element, the program instructions are executable by the one or more processors to:

display a particular warning prompt, of a plurality of warning prompts associated with the particular vehicle element, based on a determination that a quantity of the past user interactions with the displayed warning prompts associated with the particular vehicle element in the warning prompt interaction history at least meet a threshold quantity associated with the particular warning prompt.

20. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the program instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to:

determine the sensor data representation of the occupant based on processing sensor data generated by one or more sensor devices installed in the vehicle; and

access at least the sensor data representation associated with the profile from a remote system, which is external to the vehicle, via a communication network.

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

associate an occupant located in an interior of the vehicle with a particular profile, of a plurality of profiles, based on a comparison between a sensor data representation of the occupant and a sensor data representation associated with the particular profile; and

adjustably display warning prompts for a particular vehicle element included in the vehicle, via an interface of the vehicle, in response to trigger events associated with the particular vehicle element, based on a warning prompt interaction history associated with the particular profile and the particular vehicle element so that the manner in which a particular warning prompt is displayed is altered for subsequent displays of the particular warning prompt, wherein the warning prompt interaction history includes data about past user interactions with displayed warning prompts associated with the particular profile and with the particular vehicle element; and

wherein to adjustably display the warning prompts for the particular vehicle element included in the vehicle, the program instructions are executable by the one or more processors to;

adjust content displayed in the warning prompts;

selectively display a warning prompt response interface in the warning prompts;

or

adjust a display time of the warning prompts.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the program instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to:

monitor interaction with the displayed warning prompts; and

adjust the warning prompt interaction history based on the monitored interaction.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the program instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to:

monitor driving performance subsequent to the monitored interaction with the displayed warning prompts; and

adjust the warning prompt interaction history based on the monitored driving performance.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein to adjustably display warning prompts for the particular vehicle element, the program instructions are executable by the one or more processors to:

display a particular warning prompt, of a plurality of warning prompts associated with the particular vehicle element, based on a determination that a quantity of the past user interactions with the displayed warning prompts associated with the particular vehicle element in the warning prompt interaction history at least meet a threshold quantity associated with the particular warning prompt.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the program instructions are further executable by the one or more processors to:

determine the sensor data representation of the occupant based on processing sensor data generated by one or more sensor devices installed in the vehicle; and

access at least the sensor data representation associated with the profile from a remote system, which is external to the vehicle, via a communication network.