METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MONITORING VEHICLE MOVEMENT

• US 20100171641A1
• Filed: 01/08/2009
• Published: 07/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: JOHNSON, FREDERICK I., RAPHAEL, ERIC L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,293,047 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/933
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

A method for monitoring vehicle movement for use in a first vehicle includes the steps of determining a lane location at a first point in time, determining a position of a second vehicle at a second point in time, the second point in time being subsequent to the first point in time, and determining a path of the second vehicle based at least in part on the position of the second vehicle and the lane location.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring vehicle movement for use in a first vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a lane location at a first point in time;

determining a position of a second vehicle at a second point in time, the second point in time being subsequent to the first point in time; and

determining a path of the second vehicle based at least in part on the position of the second vehicle and the lane location.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

storing the lane location in memory.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

comparing the path of the second vehicle with a path of the first vehicle.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of:

providing a warning if the respective paths of the first vehicle and the second vehicle will intersect in a manner that will result in a collision between the first and second vehicles if the first and second vehicles continue in their respective paths.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining additional lane locations at additional points in time, each of the additional points in time being prior to the second point in time; and

determining additional positions of the second vehicle at the additional points in time;

wherein the step of determining the path of the second vehicle comprises the step of;

determining the path of the second vehicle based at least in part on the position of the second vehicle, the additional positions of the second vehicle, the lane location, and the additional lane locations.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the step of determining the lane location comprises the step of determining the lane location at the first point in time, the lane location being at least partially in front of the first vehicle at the first point in time and at least partially behind the first vehicle at the second point in time.

7. A program product for monitoring vehicle movement for use in a first vehicle, the program product comprising:

a program configured to at least facilitate;

determining a lane location at a first point in time;

determining a position of a second vehicle at a second point in time, the second point in time being subsequent to the first point in time; and

determining a path of the second vehicle based at least in part on the position of the second vehicle and the lane location; and

a computer readable signal-bearing media bearing the program.

8. The program product of claim 7, wherein the program is further configured to at least facilitate storing the lane location in memory.

9. The program product of claim 7, wherein the program is further configured to at least facilitate comparing the path of the second vehicle with a path of the first vehicle.

10. The program product of claim 9, wherein the program is further configured to at least facilitate providing a warning if the respective paths of the first vehicle and the second vehicle will intersect in a manner that will result in a collision between the first and second vehicles if the first and second vehicles continue in their respective paths.

11. The program product of claim 7, wherein the program is further configured to at least facilitate:

determining additional lane locations at additional points in time, each of the additional points in time being prior to the second point in time;

determining additional positions of the second vehicle at the additional points in time; and

determining the path of the second vehicle based at least in part on the position of the second vehicle, the additional positions of the second vehicle, the lane location, and the additional lane locations.

12. The program product of claim 7, wherein the lane location is at least partially in front of the first vehicle at the first point in time and at least partially behind the first vehicle at the second point in time.

13. A system for monitoring vehicle movement for use in a first vehicle, the system comprising:

a first detection unit configured to at least facilitate obtaining a lane location at a first point in time;

a second detection unit configured to at least facilitate obtaining a position of a second vehicle at a second point in time, the second point in time being subsequent to the first point in time; and

a processor coupled to the first detection unit and the second detection unit and configured to at least facilitate determining a path of the second vehicle based at least in part on the position of the second vehicle and the lane location.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein further comprising:

a memory configured to at least facilitate storing the lane location.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the processor is further configured to at least facilitate comparing the path of the second vehicle to a path of the first vehicle.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to at least facilitate providing a warning if the respective paths of the first vehicle and the second vehicle will intersect in a manner that will result in a collision between the first and second vehicles if the first and second vehicles continue in their respective paths.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the first detection unit is further configured to at least facilitate obtaining additional lane locations at additional points in time, each of the additional points in time being prior to the second point in time;

the second detection unit is further configured to at least facilitate obtaining additional positions of the second vehicle at the additional points in time; and

the processor is further configured to at least facilitate determining the path of the second vehicle based at least in part on the position of the second vehicle, the additional positions of the second vehicle, the lane location, and additional lane locations.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the lane location is at least partially in front of the first vehicle at the first point in time and at least partially behind the first vehicle at the second point in time.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the first detection unit comprises a lane departure warning system; and

the second detection unit comprises a side blind zone alert system.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein:

the lane departure warning system comprises a camera; and

the side blind zone alert system comprises a radar system.