METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CAUSING A CHANGE IN AN ACTION OF A VEHICLE FOR SAFETY

• US 20140145838A1
• Filed: 11/29/2012
• Published: 05/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: TUUKKANEN, Marko Tapio
• Granted Patent: US 9,776,587 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/085 due to special conditions, e.g. adverse weather, type of road, badly illuminated road signs or potential dangers B60Q1/10, B60Q1/12, B60Q1/1423 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/143 combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/41 preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/47 Direct command from other road users, i.e. the command for switching or changing the beam is sent by other vehicles or road devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 event-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/164 Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles

Abstract

An approach for causing a change in an action of a vehicle based on real-time information associated with vehicles is described. A vehicle safety platform may determine at least one distance between a user device and at least another user device based, at least in part, on sensor information associated with at least one of the user device and the at least another user device. The vehicle safety platform may further cause, at least in part, a change in an action of at least one of the user device and the at least another user device, wherein the change in the action is based, at least in part, on the at least one distance.

Claims

1. A method comprising facilitating a processing of and/or processing (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal, the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal based, at least in part, on the following:

at least one determination of at least one distance between a user device and at least another user device based, at least in part, on sensor information associated with at least one of the user device and the at least another user device; and

a change in an action of at least one of the user device and the at least another user device, wherein the change in the action is based, at least in part, on the at least one distance.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein the sensor information includes location information, speed information, angle information, or a combination thereof.

3. A method of claim 1, wherein the change in the action includes an adjustment of at least one light source associated with at least one of the user device and the at least another user device.

4. A method of claim 3, wherein the adjustment includes, at least in part, a tilting, a dimming, a brightening, a turning on/off, or a combination thereof of the at least one light source.

5. A method of claim 3, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:

at least one determination of whether the user device and the at least another user device are heading in a same direction or an opposing direction; and

the adjustment of the at least one light source based, at least in part, on the determination of direction.

6. A method of claim 1, wherein the change in the action includes a presentation of a collision warning associated with at least one of the user device and the at least another user device.

7. A method of claim 6, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:

at least one determination that the user device and the at least another user device are on a collision path based, at least in part, on the at least one distance between the user device and the at least another user device; and

the presentation of the notification based on the determination of the collision path.

8. A method of claim 1, wherein the change in the action is further based on environmental information, specification information, or a combination thereof associated with at least one of the user device and the at least another user device.

9. A method of claim 8, wherein the environmental information includes terrain information, weather information, structural information, or a combination thereof.

10. A method of claim 8, wherein the specification information includes a radius, an angle, functionality, or a combination thereof of at least one light source associated with at least one of the user device and the at least another user device.

11. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

determine at least one distance between a user device and at least another user device based, at least in part, on sensor information associated with at least one of the user device and the at least another user device; and

cause, at least in part, a change in an action of at least one of the user device and the at least another user device, wherein the change in the action is based, at least in part, on the at least one distance.

12. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the sensor information includes location information, speed information, angle information, or a combination thereof.

13. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the change in the action includes an adjustment of at least one light source associated with at least one of the user device and the at least another user device.

14. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the adjustment includes, at least in part, a tilting, a dimming, a brightening, a turning on/off, or a combination thereof of the at least one light source.

15. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine whether the user device and the at least another user device are heading in a same direction or an opposing direction; and

cause, at least in part, the adjustment of the at least one light source based, at least in part, on the determination of direction.

16. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the change in the action includes a presentation of a collision warning associated with at least one of the user device and the at least another user device.

17. An apparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine that the user device and the at least another user device are on a collision path based, at least in part, on the at least one distance between the user device and the at least another user device; and

cause, at least in part, the presentation of the notification based on the determination of the collision path.

18. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the change in the action is further based on environmental information, specification information, or a combination thereof associated with the at least one user device.

19. An apparatus of claim 18, wherein the environmental information includes terrain information, weather information, structural information, or a combination thereof.

20. An apparatus of claim 18, wherein the specification information includes a radius, an angle, functionality, or a combination thereof of at least one light source associated with at least one of the user device and the at least another user device.

21-48. -48. (canceled)