Methods and Apparatus for Adaptive Vehicle Response to Air Quality States

• US 20120293315A1
• Filed: 05/18/2011
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Strumolo, Gary Steven, Prasad, Krishnaswamy Venkatesh, Schunder, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,449,514 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station

Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes connecting to a remote system and requesting data relating to a quality of air level in the vicinity of a known vehicle location. The method further includes receiving data relating to the quality of air level and comparing the data to one or more predetermined threshold levels of tolerance. If the data exceeds at least one threshold level of tolerance an automatic vehicle computing system response is instructed. In this example, the method also includes activating one or more vehicle systems in response to the data exceeding the at least one threshold level of tolerance.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

connecting to a remote system and requesting data relating to a quality of air level in the vicinity of a known vehicle location;

receiving data relating to the quality of air level;

comparing the data to one or more predetermined threshold levels of tolerance, wherein, if the data exceeds at least one threshold level of tolerance an automatic vehicle computing system response is instructed; and

activating one or more vehicle systems in response to the data exceeding the at least one threshold level of tolerance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data relates to a man-made pollutant.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data relates to a naturally occurring pollutant.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the pollutant is pollen.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting the presence of an occupant for whom data relating to levels of tolerance is pre-stored and accessible by a vehicle computing system; and

utilizing the pre-stored data relating to levels of tolerance to perform the comparing.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the activated vehicle system is a navigation system and the activating further comprises re-routing the vehicle to avoid an area where the data exceeds the at least one threshold level of tolerance.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the activated vehicle system is a warning system that alerts the passengers of the results of the comparing.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the warning includes information relating to the quality of air level.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the activated vehicle system is a navigation system and the activating further comprises re-routing the vehicle to a nearby store where a vehicle system determines that medication can be obtained.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the method further includes providing an option to contact the store through a vehicle computing system, and, if the option is elected, contacting the store through the vehicle computing system to allow a passenger to request medication.

11. A computer implemented method comprising:

comparing data relating to a quality of air level in the vicinity of a known vehicle location to one or more predetermined threshold levels of tolerance, wherein, if the data exceeds at least one threshold level of tolerance a vehicle routing system is instructed to determine if a secondary route to a requested destination exists that avoids at least some portion of an area, as indicated by the data, wherein one or more threshold levels of tolerance is exceeded;

receiving data relating to the route and data relating to at least one primary route to the requested destination, wherein the at least one primary route is a route based at least in part on time efficiency;

comparing a projected time difference between the secondary route and the primary route; and

presenting the secondary route as a route to be traveled if the projected time difference is below a threshold level of time difference.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the presenting comprises presenting the route as a selectable alternative to the primary route.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the data relates to a man-made pollutant.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the data relates to a naturally occurring pollutant.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the pollutant is pollen.

16. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor of a vehicle computing system, cause the vehicle computing system to execute the method comprising:

connecting to a remote system and requesting data relating to a quality of air level in the vicinity of a known vehicle location;

receiving data relating to the quality of air level;

comparing the data to one or more predetermined threshold levels of tolerance, wherein, if the data exceeds at least one threshold level of tolerance an automatic vehicle computing system response is instructed; and

activating one or more vehicle systems in response to the data exceeding the at least one threshold level of tolerance.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the data relates to a man-made pollutant.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the data relates to a naturally occurring pollutant.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the pollutant is pollen.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the method executed by the vehicle computing system further comprises:

detecting the presence of an occupant for whom data relating to levels of tolerance is pre-stored and accessible by a vehicle computing system; and

utilizing the pre-stored data relating to levels of tolerance to perform the comparing.