METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR ALTERING ATTENTION OF AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE OPERATOR

• US 20120200404A1
• Filed: 02/09/2011
• Published: 08/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sitting Man LLC
• Original Assignee: Sitting Man LLC
• Inventors: Morris, Robert Paul
• Application Number:
  US13/023,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20120200404A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/164 Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles

Abstract

Methods and systems are described for altering attention of an automotive vehicle operator. Interaction information is received that is based on a first interaction that includes a first operator of a first automotive vehicle. A second automotive vehicle is detected, wherein the second automotive vehicle is operated by a second operator. Based on the interaction information, attention information for identifying an attention output is determined. The attention information is sent, for presenting the attention output, by an output device, to alter a second interaction that includes the second operator.

Claims

1. A method for altering attention of an automotive vehicle operator, the method comprising:

receiving interaction information based on a first interaction that includes a first operator of a first automotive vehicle;

detecting a second automotive vehicle, wherein the second automotive vehicle is operated by a second operator;

determining, based on the interaction information, attention information for identifying an attention output; and

sending the attention information for presenting the attention output, by an output device, to alter a second interaction that includes the second operator.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the interaction information is based on at least one of an input detected, by an input device not included in the first automotive vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the input device includes at least one of an input component of a personal electronic device, a galvanic skin detector, a detector of a bodily substance produced by the first operator, motion detector, gaze detector, and a detector of a specified substance in the first operator.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the interaction information is based on not detecting an input from the first operator during a specified time period.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the interaction information identifies a measure of interaction measured according to a specified metric.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the interaction information is received by at least one of the first automotive vehicle, the second automotive vehicle, and a node not included in the first automotive vehicle and not included in the second automotive vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the interaction information is identified by a message received via a network.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the message is sent from one of the first automotive vehicle, the second automotive vehicle, and a node not included in the first automotive vehicle and not included in the second automotive vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting the second automotive vehicle includes sensing the second automotive vehicle via a user input device, a light sensing device, a sound sensing device, an electromagnetic signal sensing device, a motion sensing device, a heat sensing device, a code scanning device, a location sensing device, and a network interface hardware component.

10. The method of claim 9 further includes receiving second vehicle information identifying the second automotive vehicle, in response to a user input sensed via the user input device.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein detecting the second automotive vehicle includes receiving a message via a network operatively coupled to the network interface hardware component.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the second automotive vehicle is detected by at least one of the first automotive vehicle, the second automotive vehicle, and a node not included in the first automotive vehicle and not included in the second automotive vehicle.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the presentation information is determined based on at least one of the first operator, the second operator, the first automotive vehicle, the second automotive vehicle, an ambient condition, a user communications address of a communicant in a communication, a velocity of at least one of the first automotive vehicle and the second automotive vehicle, an acceleration of at least one of the first automotive vehicle and the second automotive vehicle, a topographic attribute of a route of at least one of the first automotive vehicle and the second automotive vehicle, a count of occupants in at least one of the first automotive vehicle and the second automotive vehicle, a measure of sound, and a third automotive vehicle.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the presentation information identifies at least one of an object for the second operator to interact with, an object included in the first interaction, a direction in space of an object included in the first interaction, a measure of interaction, a type of sensory input detected by the first operator in the first interaction, a type of sensory input to be detected by the second operator, at least a portion of the first automotive vehicle, an attribute of the first automotive vehicle, and an attribute of the first operator.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the interaction information, the presentation information, and sending the presentation information is based on at least one an attribute of the second operator, a count of occupants in at least one of the first automotive vehicle and the second automotive vehicle, an attribute of at least one of first automotive vehicle and the second automotive vehicle, a speed of at least one of first automotive vehicle and the second automotive vehicle, a direction of movement of at least one of first automotive vehicle and the second automotive vehicle, a movement of a steering mechanism of at least one of first automotive vehicle and the second automotive vehicle, an ambient condition, a topographic attribute of a location including the first automotive vehicle and the second automotive vehicle, a road, information from a sensor external to the first automotive vehicle and the second automotive vehicle, and information from a sensor included in at least one of first automotive vehicle and the second automotive vehicle.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the attention output includes at least one of an audio interface element, a tactile interface element, a visual interface element, and an olfactory interface element.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the presentation information includes time information identifying a duration for presenting the attention output to maintain the attention of the second operator.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the presentation information is sent to change the second interaction by directing the second operator to visually interact with the first automotive vehicle.

19. A system for altering attention of an automotive vehicle operator, the system comprising:

an interaction monitor component, a vehicle detector component, and an attention control component, and an attention director component adapted for operation in an execution environment;

the interaction monitor component configured for receiving interaction information based on a first interaction that includes a first operator of a first automotive vehicle;

the vehicle detector component configured for detecting a second automotive vehicle, wherein the second automotive vehicle is operated by a second operator;

the attention control component configured for determining, based on the interaction information, attention information for identifying an attention output; and

the attention director component configured for sending the attention information for presenting the attention output, by an output device, to alter a second interaction that includes the second operator

20. A computer-readable medium embodying a computer program, executable by a machine, for altering attention of an automotive vehicle operator, the computer program comprising executable instructions for:

receiving interaction information based on a first interaction that includes a first operator of a first automotive vehicle;

detecting a second automotive vehicle, wherein the second automotive vehicle is operated by a second operator;

determining, based on the interaction information, attention information for identifying an attention output; and

sending the attention information for presenting the attention output, by an output device, to alter a second interaction that includes the second operator.