METHOD OF DETERMINING A STATUS OF A VEHICLE ON A ROADWAY AND METHOD AND SYSTEM OF COMMUNICATING THE SAME

• US 20120303203A1
• Filed: 05/23/2011
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Otterson, Scott W., Olsen, Jeffrey J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,738,214 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/012 from other sources than vehicle or roadside beacons, e.g. mobile networks
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0133 for classifying traffic situation

Abstract

A method of determining a status of a vehicle on a roadway, in one example, includes monitoring a then-current vehicle speed by an in-vehicle processor, and during the monitoring, determining that the speed has exceeded a pre-established threshold speed. When the speed exceeds the threshold speed, an algorithm is triggered. Upon triggering the algorithm, a sub-routine is initiated that determines if the vehicle is caught in a traffic jam. Also disclosed herein is a method and system for communicating the vehicle status determination to an outside entity.

Claims

1. A method of determining a status of a vehicle on a roadway, comprising:

monitoring a then-current vehicle speed by a processor operatively disposed in the vehicle, the processor executing computer readable code encoded on a computer readable medium;

during the monitoring, via the processor executing the computer readable code, determining that the then-current vehicle speed has exceeded a threshold speed; and

triggering an algorithm upon determining that the then-current vehicle speed has exceeded the threshold speed, the algorithm including computer readable code encoded on the computer readable medium of the processor, wherein triggering the algorithm initiates a sub-routine which includes computer readable code for;

processing data over a predetermined time interval to obtain input data, the data being chosen from an average vehicle speed, a vehicle heading signal, and combinations thereof;

one of maintaining or incrementing a jam score based on the input data, the incrementing including changing the jam score by a single numerical digit;

processing updated data over at least one other predetermined time interval to obtain updated input data;

one of maintaining or incrementing the jam score based on the updated input data; and

when the jam score reaches a predefined jam score, the method further includes triggering an indicator signifying that the vehicle is then-currently in a traffic jam;

or

when the jam score is maintained below the predefined jam score, the method further includes repeating the processing of updated data and the one of maintaining or incrementing the jam score until the algorithm is stopped or the jam score reaches the predefined jam score.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein prior to the monitoring, the method further comprises triggering the monitoring upon i) detecting that the vehicle ignition is in an ON state and the vehicle transmission system is in an operational mode other than park mode, or ii) detecting that a time period has elapsed.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein subsequent to processing and prior to one of maintaining or incrementing, the method further includes:

assigning the input data a start counter value;

determining if the assigned start counter value exceeds a threshold start counter value; and

initiating the one of maintaining or incrementing when the assigned start counter value exceeds the threshold start counter value.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein subsequent to processing and prior to one of maintaining or incrementing, the method further includes:

assigning the input data a start counter value;

determining if the assigned start counter value exceeds a threshold start counter value; and

when the assigned start counter value is less than or equal to the threshold start counter value, the method further includes;

increasing a time period for obtaining data;

processing the data obtained during the increased time period;

incrementing the assigned start counter value by a single numerical digit; and

when the incremented start counter value exceeds the threshold start counter value, initiating the one of maintaining or incrementing.

5. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein during an iteration of the sub-routine, the method further includes:

sampling vehicle data; and

caching the vehicle data in a memory operatively associated with the processor in the vehicle, the cached vehicle data being used as, or to obtain input data for a subsequent iteration of the sub-routine.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein upon triggering the identifier, the method further comprises triggering a method for communicating the identifier to an entity outside of the vehicle.

7. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein during the sub-routine and wherein the jam score equals a value of one, the method further comprises:

obtaining then-current vehicle location information from an in-vehicle location detection unit; and

storing the then-current vehicle location information in a memory operatively associated with the processor in the vehicle.

8. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein upon triggering the indicator signifying that the vehicle is then-currently caught in the traffic jam, the method further comprises:

continuously executing the sub-routine so that additional updated data is processed; and

upon resetting the jam score based upon the processed additional updated data, one of i) triggering an other indicator, or ii) switching the indicator to signify that the vehicle is no longer in the traffic jam.

9. The method as defined in claim 8 wherein upon triggering the other indicator or switching the indicator, the method further comprises triggering a method for communicating the other indicator or the switched indicator to an entity outside of the vehicle.

10. A method of communicating a status of a vehicle on a roadway, comprising:

monitoring a then-current vehicle speed utilizing vehicle speed signals obtained by a processor operatively associated with a telematics unit disposed in a vehicle from an other processor operatively associated with an in-vehicle speed sensor, the processor associated with the telematics unit executing computer readable code encoded on a computer readable medium;

executing an algorithm encoded on the computer readable medium of the processor associated with the telematics unit upon determining, by the processor during the monitoring, that the then-current vehicle speed has exceeded a pre-established threshold value;

upon executing the algorithm, generating an indicator signifying that the vehicle is then-currently caught in a traffic jam; and

via the telematics unit, communicating vehicle status data pertaining to the indicator to an outside entity.

11. The method as defined in claim 10 wherein the algorithm includes a sub-routine including:

computer readable code for processing data over a predetermined time interval to obtain input data, the data being chosen from an average vehicle speed, a vehicle heading signal, and combinations thereof;

computer readable code one of maintaining or incrementing a jam score based on the input data, the incrementing including changing the jam score by a single numerical digit;

computer readable code for processing updated data over at least one other predetermined time interval to obtain updated input data;

computer readable code for one of maintaining or incrementing the jam score based on the updated input data;

computer readable code for triggering an indicator signifying that the vehicle is then-currently in a traffic jam when the jam score reaches a predefined jam score; and

computer readable code for repeating the processing of updated data and the one of maintaining or incrementing the jam score when the jam score is maintained below the predefined jam score.

12. The method as defined in claim 10 wherein the communicating of the vehicle status data includes transmitting vehicle status data to a telematics service center during a vehicle data upload event.

13. The method as defined in claim 12 wherein upon receiving the vehicle status data at the telematics service center, the method further comprises one of i) transmitting, via a communications module at the telematics service center, the vehicle status data to an other facility, or ii) posting, via one of a processor or a data aggregator at the telematics service center, the vehicle status data onto a remotely accessible networking page.

14. The method as defined in claim 10 wherein the communicating of the vehicle status data includes, via the telematics unit, automatically posting the vehicle status data on a remotely accessible networking page.

15. The method as defined in claim 10 wherein the communicating of the vehicle status data includes:

transmitting the vehicle status data from the telematics unit to a mobile communications device, the transmitting being accomplished via a short range wireless connection established between the telematics unit and the mobile communications device; and

via an application resident on the mobile communications device, automatically posting the vehicle status data on a remotely accessible networking page.

16. A system for communicating a status of a vehicle on a roadway, comprising:

at least one vehicle speed sensor operatively disposed in the vehicle for generating signals pertaining to a then-current speed of the vehicle;

a telematics unit operatively disposed in the vehicle, the telematics unit including a processor executing computer readable code encoded on a computer readable medium of the processor for determining that a then-current speed of the vehicle has exceeded a pre-established threshold value;

an algorithm encoded on the computer readable medium of the processor, the algorithm being executable upon determining, via the processor, that the then-current speed of the vehicle has exceeded the pre-established threshold value, the algorithm including a sub-routine which includes;

computer readable code for processing data over a predetermined time interval to obtain input data, the data being chosen from an average vehicle speed, a vehicle heading signal, and combinations thereof;

computer readable code one of maintaining or incrementing a jam score based on the input data, the incrementing including changing the jam score by a single numerical digit;

computer readable code for processing updated data over at least one other predetermined time interval to obtain updated input data;

computer readable code for one of maintaining or incrementing the jam score based on the updated input data;

computer readable code for triggering an indicator signifying that the vehicle is then-currently in a traffic jam when the jam score reaches a predefined jam score; and

computer readable code for repeating the processing of updated data and the one of maintaining or incrementing the jam score when the jam score is maintained below the predefined jam score;

wherein the telematics unit communicates vehicle status data pertaining to the indicator to an outside entity.

17. The system as defined in claim 16 wherein the outside entity is a telematics service center in selective communication with the telematics unit, the telematics service center including:

a data aggregator for processing the vehicle status data received from the telematics unit during a vehicle data upload event initiated by a vehicle data upload unit operatively associated with the telematics unit; and

a communications module for transmitting the vehicle status data to an other facility.

18. The system as defined in claim 16, further comprising:

a telematics service center in selective communication with the telematics unit, the telematics service center including a data aggregator for processing the vehicle status data received from the telematics unit during a vehicle data upload event initiated by a vehicle data upload unit operatively associated with the telematics unit; and

a remotely accessible networking page upon which a post containing the vehicle status data is posted by one of the data aggregator or a processor at the telematics service center.

19. The system as defined in claim 16, further comprising a remotely accessible networking page upon which the vehicle status data is posted directly from the telematics unit.

20. The system as defined in claim 16 wherein the sub-routine further includes:

computer readable code for continuously executing the sub-routine so that additional updated data is processed;

computer readable code for resetting the jam score based upon the processed additional updated data; and

computer readable code for one of i) triggering an other indicator, or ii) switching the indicator to signify that the vehicle is no longer in the traffic jam.

21. The system as defined in claim 20 wherein the outside entity is a telematics service center in selective communication with the telematics unit, the telematics service center including:

a data aggregator for processing other vehicle status data received from the telematics unit during a vehicle data upload event initiated by a vehicle data upload unit operatively associated with the telematics unit; and

a communications module for transmitting the other vehicle status data to an other facility.

22. The system as defined in claim 20, further comprising:

a telematics service center in selective communication with the telematics unit, the telematics service center including a data aggregator for processing other vehicle status data received from the telematics unit during a vehicle data upload event initiated by a vehicle data upload unit operatively associated with the telematics unit; and

a remotely accessible networking page upon which a post containing the other vehicle status data is posted by one of the data aggregator or a processor at the telematics service center.

23. The system as defined in claim 20, further comprising a remotely accessible networking page upon which an other vehicle status data is posted directly from the telematics unit.