Automated Driver Alert System

• US 20130257631A1
• Filed: 11/30/2011
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Lortz, Victor B., Rathi, Somya, Kesavan, Vijay Sarathi, Rangarajan, Anand P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,305,459 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/901
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/023 for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/008 with transmission via TV or radio broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/015 with provision for distinguishing between two or more types of vehicles, e.g. between motor-cars and cycles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0175 by photographing vehicles, e.g. when violating traffic rules
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

In accordance with some embodiments, an automated system may be implemented in which alerts to drivers are automatically distributed and implemented at the driver'"'"'s vehicle. Thus, in some embodiments, no involvement by the driver is needed and everything may be done in an automated fashion including filtering alerts and responding to alerts. In some embodiments, each vehicle need not provide its current location to the Amber Alert System, providing greater privacy in some cases.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

sending a driver alert to a receiving vehicle together with implementation information to enable a search, for a target vehicle, to be implemented automatically by the receiving vehicle using the implementation information.

2. The method of claim 1 including sending the alert to a receiving vehicle without the receiving vehicle identifying itself.

3. The method of claim 1 including sending the alert with a time duration.

4. The method of claim 1 including sending the alert with a geographic limitation.

5. The method of claim 1 including sending the alert with machine implementable instructions for conducting a search for the target vehicle.

6. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions executed by a computer to:

send a driver alert to a receiving vehicle together with implementation information to enable a search, for a target vehicle, to be implemented automatically by the receiving vehicle using the implementation information.

7. The medium of claim 6 further storing instructions to send the alert to a receiving vehicle without the sending vehicle identifying itself.

8. The medium of claim 6 further storing instructions to send the alert with a time duration.

9. The medium of claim 6 further storing instructions to send the alert with a geographic limitation.

10. The medium of claim 6 further storing instructions to send the alert with machine implementable instructions for conducting a search for the target vehicle.

11. A apparatus comprising:

a processor to send a driver alert to a receiving vehicle together with implementation information to enable a search, for a target vehicle, to be implemented automatically by the receiving vehicle using the implementation information; and

a storage coupled to said processor.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 said processor to enable a receiving vehicle to receive the alert without the receiving vehicle identifying itself.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 said processor to send the alert with a time duration.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 said processor to send the alert with a geographic limitation.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 said processor to send the alert with machine implementable instructions for conducting a search for the target vehicle.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a processor to receive a driver alert together with implementation information to enable a search for a target vehicle, said processor to automatically implement the search using the implementation information; and

a storage coupled to said processor.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 including a camera to automatically analyze information about a target vehicle and to identify the target vehicle.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, said apparatus to receive the alert without identifying itself.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, said apparatus to enforce a time duration contained in the alert.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, said apparatus to enforce a geographical limitation in the alert.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, said apparatus including a camera to automatically conduct a visual search for the target vehicle.

22. The apparatus of claim 16, said apparatus to parse information from the alert and to use the information to determine what to look for and how to report the results of a search.

23. The apparatus of claim 16, said apparatus to use video analytics to analyze video taken by the apparatus and to determine if a target vehicle has been located.

24. The apparatus of claim 16, said apparatus mounted on a vehicle.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said apparatus is an in-vehicle infotainment system.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said apparatus is a cellular telephone.