MODE SENSITIVE VEHICLE HAZARD WARNING APPARATUSES AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A method of controlling presentation of vehicle hazard warnings to a driver of a vehicle, the method comprising the acts of:
- identifying the driver of the vehicle;
detecting a driving situation based upon information from one or more sensors;
detecting a potential driving hazard;
determining a driving mode;
predicting a response of the identified driver in the driving situation in order to avoid the potential driving hazard;
determining whether to provide a warning to the identified driver, based upon the driving mode and based on the predicted driver response; and
if the warning is determined to be provided, determining one or more modalities of presentation of the warning.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatuses and methods for providing improved in-vehicle warnings are disclosed in which warning systems are sensitive to the typical driving performance of individual drivers in various modes of driving. Various embodiments of the present invention may detect a mode of driving, store information about a driver'"'"'s driving style for each of the different modes, and use this stored information to adjust the timing and nature of warnings for the different modes. Examples of modes include without limitation normal cruising mode, emergency mode, passenger mode, post-emergency mode, pursuit mode, urban mode, suburban mode, rural mode, trailer mode, daytime mode, nighttime mode, and others. By adjusting warnings for individual drivers according to driving context, warnings can be optimized according to the needs of those drivers in different driving situations.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of controlling presentation of vehicle hazard warnings to a driver of a vehicle, the method comprising the acts of:
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identifying the driver of the vehicle; detecting a driving situation based upon information from one or more sensors; detecting a potential driving hazard; determining a driving mode; predicting a response of the identified driver in the driving situation in order to avoid the potential driving hazard; determining whether to provide a warning to the identified driver, based upon the driving mode and based on the predicted driver response; and if the warning is determined to be provided, determining one or more modalities of presentation of the warning. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for providing a warning to a driver when operating a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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a storage module operable to store information regarding past performances of an identified driver of the vehicle; a sensor integration module operable to identify a driving situation based upon information received from one or more sensors; a threat assessment module operable to determine an estimated driver performance parameter that is required for the driver to avoid a potential driving hazard, wherein the threat assessment module is communicably coupled to the sensor integration module and the storage module; a driver mode detection module operable to determine a mode of driving, wherein the driver mode detection module is communicably coupled to the sensor integration module; a driver interface control module operable to determine whether to provide a warning to the driver based upon the mode of driving, wherein the driver interface control module is communicably coupled to the threat assessment module; and one or more warning devices communicably coupled to the driver interface control module. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method of providing a hazard warning to a driver of a vehicle, the method comprising the acts of:
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identifying the driver of the vehicle; detecting a driving situation based upon information from one or more sensors; detecting a potential hazard; detecting a mode of driving; determining a predicted time available for the identified driver to avoid the potential hazard; determining an estimated response time for the identified driver to respond to the potential hazard, based upon the mode of driving; and providing the hazard warning to the identified driver, if the time available for the identified driver to avoid the potential hazard is less than or equal to the estimated response time plus a safety margin, wherein the safety margin is greater than or equal to zero. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification