RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION OBJECT TRACKING

• US 20120154174A1
• Filed: 12/21/2010
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Schunder, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,525,694 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/905
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes

Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes detecting, through an RF transceiver in communication with a vehicle computing system, the proximate presence of one or more RFID tags. The method also includes determining, via the vehicle computing system, a type of potential hazard to which the detected tag corresponds. The method further includes notifying, via the vehicle computing system, a driver of the presence of the determined type of potential hazard.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

detecting, through an RF transceiver in communication with a vehicle computing system, the proximate presence of one or more RFID tags;

determining, via the vehicle computing system, a type of potential hazard to which the detected tag corresponds; and

notifying, via the vehicle computing system, a driver of the presence of the determined type of potential hazard.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the potential type of hazard is another vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the potential type of hazard is a bicycle or a pedestrian.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining further includes determining a proximity of the detected one or more RFID tags.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the notifying further includes notifying the driver of the determined proximity of the detected one or more RFID tags.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the proximity is determined to be within a range.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the proximity is determined as an actual value.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining further includes determining a direction, with respect to the orientation of a vehicle which the driver is driving, of the detected one or more RFID tags.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the notifying further includes notifying the driver of the determined direction of the detected one or more RFID tags.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing feedback, via the vehicle computing system, if the driver attempts a driving action that would likely bring the vehicle in contact with an object bearing one of the detected RFID tags.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the feedback includes a warning.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the feedback includes adding resistance to the attempted driving action.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the attempted driving action is a turn.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the attempted driving action is a lane shift.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the attempted driving action is braking.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the attempted driving action is acceleration.

17. A vehicle computing apparatus, comprising:

detecting programmed logic circuitry, to detect, through an RF transceiver in communication with the vehicle computing system, the proximate presence of one or more RFID tags;

determining programmed logic circuitry to determine a type of potential hazard to which the detected tag corresponds; and

notifying programmed logic circuitry to notify a driver of the presence of the determined type of potential hazard.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

feedback causing programmed logic circuitry to cause feedback if the driver attempts a driving action that would likely bring the vehicle in contact with an object bearing one of the detected RFID tags.

19. A computer programmable storage medium, storing instructions that, when executed, cause a vehicle computing system to perform the method comprising:

detecting, through an RF transceiver in communication with the vehicle computing system, the proximate presence of one or more RFID tags;

determining, via the vehicle computing system, a type of potential hazard to which the detected tag corresponds; and

notifying, via the vehicle computing system, a driver of the presence of the determined type of potential hazard.

20. The computer programmable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the method further comprises:

causing feedback, via the vehicle computing system, if the driver attempts a driving action that would likely bring the vehicle in contact with an object bearing one of the detected RFID tags.