Automated setting of cruising speeds

• US 10,486,696 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2015
• Issued: 11/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Canale, John F., Pelaez, Raul A., Shatraw, Mark A., Stocker, IV, Charles J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewandroski, Sara J
• Application Number:
  US14/862,471
• Publication Number:
  US 20170080932A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,525 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/62 Seat occupation; Passenger presence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/982 Active Cruise Control, e.g. DISTRONIC type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2310/24 Speed setting methods
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2310/242 setting initial target speed, e.g. initial algorithms
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2310/30 Mode switching, e.g. changing from one cruise control mode to another
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0024 for identifying, categorising or investigation of the occupant or object on the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0035 characterised by the sensor data transmission, e.g. wired connections or wireless transmitters therefor; characterised by the sensor data processing, e.g. seat sensor signal amplification or electric circuits for providing seat sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/24 Cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01512 Passenger detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0809 Driver authorisation; Driver identity check
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0881 Seat occupation; Driver or passenger presence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0063 Manual parameter input, manual setting means, manual initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0075 Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0088 Adaptive recalibration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/043 Identity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/215 Selection or confirmation of options
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/45 External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/103 : Speed profile
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2756/10 : Involving external transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 : Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/08 : related to drivers or passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0098 : Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/143 : Speed control
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9321 : Velocity regulation, e.g. cruise control
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/23 : Updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24 : Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/59 : inside of a vehicle, e.g. relating to seat occupancy, driver state or inner lighting conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/166 : using acquisition arrangements

Abstract

An approach to setting a cruise control speed based on identifying a vehicle operator and analyzing metadata associated with the vehicle operator. The identity of the vehicle operator and any passengers is determined based on identity sensors in the vehicle or by manual identity entry. Metadata, associated with the vehicle operator, is retrieved from the metadata database, located either locally or remotely. The metadata is analyzed based on factors such as the current route and the identity of any passengers. The cruise control speed is set based on the results of the analysis. Any changes to the setting are updated in the metadata database.

Claims

1. A method for setting a cruise control speed, the method comprising:

determining an identity of an operator of a vehicle, comprises detecting an identity encoded on a fob used to start the vehicle and using one or more identity sensors associated with the vehicle wherein the one or more identity sensors comprise biometric sensors and cameras for facial recognition;

determining the identities of one or more passengers of the vehicle comprises manually entering the identities of the one or more passengers with a data entry pad and using the one or more identity sensors associated with the vehicle;

retrieving metadata associated with a travel route, the identity of the operator and the identities of the one or more passengers; and

setting a cruise control speed based on an analysis of the metadata wherein the analysis comprises selecting the cruise control speed based on the travel route, the identity of the operator and the identity of the one or more passengers of the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein speed setting changes made by the operator are updated in the metadata associated with the operator.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the metadata is stored on at least one of a metadata database associated with the vehicle and a metadata database associated with a server communicatively connected to the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the analysis of the metadata further comprises selecting a cruise control speed based on a travel route.

5. A computer program product for setting a cruise control speed, the computer program product comprising:

one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media and program instructions stored on the one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to determine an identity of an operator of a vehicle, comprises detecting an identity encoded on a fob used to start the vehicle and using one or more identity sensors associated with the vehicle wherein the one or more identity sensors comprise biometric sensors and cameras for facial recognition;

program instructions to determine the identities of one or more passengers of the vehicle comprises manually entering the identities of the one or more passengers with a data entry pad and using the one or more identity sensors associated with the vehicle;

program instructions to retrieve metadata associated with a travel route, the identity of the operator and the identities of the one or more passengers; and

program instructions to set a cruise control speed based on an analysis of the metadata wherein the analysis comprises selecting the cruise control speed based on the travel route, the identity of the operator and the identity of the one or more passengers of the vehicle.

6. The computer program product of claim 5, wherein speed setting changes made by the operator are updated in the metadata associated with the operator.

7. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the metadata is stored on at least one of a metadata database associated with the vehicle and a metadata database associated with a server communicatively connected to the vehicle.

8. The computer program product of claim 5, wherein the analysis of the metadata further comprises selecting a cruise control speed based on a travel route.

9. A computer system for setting a cruise control speed, the computer system comprising:

one or more computer processors;

one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media;

program instructions stored on the one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more computer processors, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to determine an identity of an operator of a vehicle, comprises detecting an identity encoded on a fob used to start the vehicle and using one or more identity sensors associated with the vehicle wherein the one or more identity sensors comprise biometric sensors and cameras for facial recognition;

program instructions to determine the identities of one or more passengers of the vehicle comprises manually entering the identities of the one or more passengers with a data entry pad and using the one or more identity sensors associated with the vehicle;

program instructions to retrieve metadata associated with a travel route, the identity of the operator and the identities of the one or more passengers; and

program instructions to set a cruise control speed based on an analysis of the metadata wherein the analysis comprises selecting the cruise control speed based on the identity of the operator and the identity of the one or more passengers of the vehicle.

10. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the analysis of the metadata further comprises selecting a cruise control speed based on a travel route.