Control of Vehicle Features Based on Weather and Location Data

• US 20140309885A1
• Filed: 04/15/2014
• Published: 10/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AutoConnect Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Flextronics America LLC (Flextronics International Limited)
• Inventors: Ricci, Christopher P.
• Application Number:
  US14/253,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20140309885A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/04 Babies, e.g. for SIDS detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4809 Sleep detection, i.e. determining whether a subject is asleep or not
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6808 Diapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/04 Electric stethoscopes microphones, acoustic transducers therefor H04R
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 1/00 Tyres characterised by the chemical composition or the physical arrangement or mixture of the composition
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00742 by detection of the vehicle occupants' presence; by detection of conditions relating to the body of occupants, e.g. using radiant heat detectors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/11 Instrument graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/146 Instrument input by gesture
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/11 Graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/146 Input by gesture
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/15 Output devices or features thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/193 for improving awareness
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/52 Control of displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/20 Output arrangements, i.e. from vehicle to user, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/81 : for controlling displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 : with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/507 : specific to autonomous vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 : for indicating emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/544 : for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle occupants, e.g. for indicating disabled occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 : Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 : Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 : Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/01 : operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 : Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 : a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/20 : Means to switch the anti-theft system on or off
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• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/25 : using biometry
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/257 : Voice recognition
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• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0085 : Setting or resetting initial positions
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• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/10 : Interpretation of driver requests or demands
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• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3484 : Personalized, e.g. from learned user behaviour or user-defined profiles
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• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/365 : Guidance using head up displays or projectors, e.g. virtual vehicles or arrows projected on the windscreen or on the road itself
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• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 : Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
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• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0622 : in relation to access
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0637 : Permissions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0673 : Single storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 : Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 : Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 : Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 : Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/308 : using the Internet of Things
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/321 : using wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/384 : using social networks
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• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 : Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/012 : Providing warranty services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0265 : Vehicular advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0266 : based on the position of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 : Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 : Item locations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 : Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 : Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 : Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/59 : inside of a vehicle, e.g. relating to seat occupancy, driver state or inner lighting conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/593 : Recognising seat occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/15 : Biometric patterns based on physiological signals, e.g. heartbeat, blood flow
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/16 : Human faces, e.g. facial parts, sketches or expressions
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/166 : using acquisition arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/168 : Feature extraction; Face representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/172 : Classification, e.g. identification
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/20 : Movements or behaviour, e.g. gesture recognition recognition of facial expressions G06V40/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/28 : Recognition of hand or arm movements, e.g. recognition of deaf sign language static hand signs G06V40/113
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/02 : Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/08 : Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle or waiting time
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 : using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0833 : using audio means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00563 : using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19647 : Systems specially adapted for intrusion detection in or around a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0205 : Specific application combined with child monitoring using a transmitter-receiver system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 : indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 : Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 : Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/188 : Data fusion; cooperative systems, e.g. voting among different detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/01 : Detecting movement of traffic to be counted or controlled G08G1/07 - G08G1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/07 : Controlling traffic signals
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 : where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 : where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 : where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0968 : Systems involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096805 : where the transmitted instructions are used to compute a route
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 : where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 : where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/164 : Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/207 : with respect to certain areas, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas with possible alerting when inside or outside boundaries
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/10 : Automotive applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/37 : Details of the operation on graphic patterns G09G5/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/02 : using automatic reactions or user delegation, e.g. automatic replies or chatbot-generated messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0236 : Filtering by address, protocol, port number or service, e.g. IP-address or URL
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 : wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 : Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 : involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 : Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2225 : Local VOD servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2265 : Server identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2393 : involving handling client requests scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 : involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 : located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 : Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 : involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 : Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6408 : Unicasting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 : IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 : for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/088 : using filters or firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/68 : Gesture-dependent or behaviour-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0005 : Control or signalling for completing the hand-off
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/34 : Reselection control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 : Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 : for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/30 : Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 : for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 : for in-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 : Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 : Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 : based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 : Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/19 : Connection re-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 : Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 999/00 : dummy group
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 999/99 : dummy group
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 : Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

Systems and method of determining an operating environment of a vehicle and controlling vehicle features. A vehicle control system can determine if one or more predetermined environmental conditions exist and determine a severity of the predetermined environmental condition. The vehicle control system can control and/or activate features of the vehicle and provide alerts based on the predetermined environmental condition.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a microprocessor executable vehicle environment monitoring module of a vehicle, one or more signals from a plurality of sensing elements respecting an environment external to the vehicle;

interpreting, by the microprocessor executable vehicle environment monitoring module, the one or more signals to determine if at least one predetermined environmental condition exists;

determining, by the microprocessor executable vehicle environment monitoring module, that the predetermined environmental condition exists;

determining, by the microprocessor executable vehicle environment monitoring module, a severity of the predetermined environmental condition using one or more of rules and templates in a memory;

determining, by the microprocessor executable vehicle environment monitoring module, if control of one or more vehicle functions is required based on the determined severity;

displaying an alert on an instrument display of the vehicle; and

performing the one or more vehicle functions, wherein the one or more vehicle functions is at least one of activating vehicle head-lights, activating vehicle fog lights, changing a brake system mode, changing a steering system mode, changing a setting of collision avoidance system, changing a setting of an automatic response system, activating a traffic sign translation system, activating an automobile controller, and deactivating multimedia and infotainment systems within the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the instrument display comprises at least one of a configurable dash display and a heads-up display.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert is selected from one or more preconfigured environmental condition alerts, wherein the one or more preconfigured environmental condition alerts comprise one or more of a maximum safe speed to drive, a recommended speed to drive, a fog warning, an ice warning, a snow warning, a water on road warning, an object in road warning, a flood warning, and a high wind warning.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the least one predetermined environmental condition comprises one or more of:

a low visibility condition associated with one or more of rain, fog, dust, smoke, and snow;

a low traction condition associated with one or more of water, ice, snow, and loose material on a road surface;

an obstructed road condition;

a high wind condition; and

a darkness condition.

5. The method of claim 1,

wherein changing the braking mode includes changing the function of brakes of the vehicle based on the predetermined environmental condition;

wherein changing the steering mode includes changing the responsiveness of a steering system of the vehicle based on the predetermined environmental condition;

wherein changing the setting of collision avoidance system comprises selecting a collision avoidance system setting associated with the predetermined environmental condition;

wherein changing the setting of an automatic response system comprises selecting a automatic response system setting associated with the predetermined environmental condition; and

wherein activating the automobile controller comprises the vehicle control system controlling the vehicle and bringing the vehicle to a stop in a safe location.

6. The method of claim 1,

wherein the plurality of sensing elements includes sensors associated with the vehicle, non-vehicle sensors, information from communication networks, and information from a communication device;

wherein sensors associated with the vehicle include one or more of optical sensors, light sensors, photo sensors, inductive sensors, infra-red sensors, thermometers, moisture sensors, wind sensors, wheel state sensors, force sensors, capacitive sensors, laser-based sensors, radar, lidar, ladar, acoustic-type sensors, and a communications module; and

wherein non-vehicle sensors include one or more of sensors located;

in a road, adjacent to the road; and

in a plurality of other vehicles.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is privately owned and is not operated by a government.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein performing one or more vehicle functions comprises at least one of changing a sensitivity of the steering system, changing a response time of the brake system, and limiting a range of motion of a steering wheel.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating a traffic sign translation module and displaying traffic sign information on at least one of a configurable dash display and a heads-up display.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the interpreting further comprises referring to the rules and templates in the memory of the vehicle environment monitoring module, and wherein rules and templates define a plurality of signal conditions corresponding to the plurality of predetermined environmental conditions.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending the alert to a communication device associated with a user, wherein the user is not located in the vehicle, and wherein the communication device is one of a cell phone, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and a personal digital assistant;

modifying, by the user, at least one of the rules and templates in the memory of the vehicle control system using the communication device;

determining, by the microprocessor executable vehicle environment monitoring module, a new determined severity of the predetermined environmental condition using one or more of the modified rules and templates;

determining, by the microprocessor executable vehicle environment monitoring module, if control of one or more additional vehicle functions is required based on the new determined severity; and

performing the one or more additional vehicle functions.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the microprocessor executable vehicle environment monitoring module, an identity of a driver of the vehicle;

accessing, by the microprocessor executable vehicle environment monitoring module, rules and templates associated with the driver;

interpreting, by the microprocessor executable vehicle environment monitoring module, the one or more signals based at least partially on the rules and templates associated with the driver to determine if at least one predetermined environmental condition exists;

determining, by the microprocessor executable vehicle environment monitoring module, the severity of the predetermined environmental condition using the rules and templates associated with the driver;

determining, by the microprocessor executable vehicle environment monitoring module, if control of one or more vehicle functions is required based on the determined severity;

displaying the alert on the instrument display of the vehicle; and

performing the one or more vehicle functions.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the driver is less than 16 years old and the rules prohibit the driver from operating the vehicle at night.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the rules prohibit the driver from operating the vehicle in a low fraction condition associated with one or more of ice and snow on a road surface.

15. A tangible non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a microprocessor executable vehicle environment monitoring module, perform a method comprising:

receiving one or more signals from a plurality of sensing elements respecting an environment external to a vehicle;

interpreting the one or more signals to determine if at least one predetermined environmental condition exists;

determining that the predetermined environmental condition exists;

determining a severity of the predetermined environmental condition using one or more of rules and templates in a memory of the vehicle control system;

determining if control of one or more vehicle functions is required based on the determined severity;

displaying an alert on an instrument display of the vehicle; and

performing the one or more vehicle functions, wherein the one or more vehicle functions is at least one of activating vehicle head-lights, activating vehicle fog lights, changing a brake system mode, changing a steering system mode, changing a setting of collision avoidance system, changing a setting of an automatic response system, activating a traffic sign translation system, activating an automobile controller, and deactivating multimedia and infotainment systems within the vehicle.

16. The tangible non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15:

wherein the plurality of sensing elements includes sensors associated with the vehicle, non-vehicle sensors, information from communication networks, and information from a communication device;

wherein sensors associated with the vehicle include one or more of optical sensors, light sensors, photo sensors, inductive sensors, infra-red sensors, thermometers, moisture sensors, wind sensors, wheel state sensors, force sensors, capacitive sensors, laser-based sensors, radar, lidar, ladar, acoustic-type sensors, and a communications module; and

wherein non-vehicle sensors include one or more of sensors located;

in a road, adjacent to the road; and

in a plurality of other vehicles.

17. The tangible non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving an identity of a driver of the vehicle;

accessing rules and templates associated with the driver;

interpreting the one or more signals based at least partially on the rules and templates associated with the driver to determine if at least one predetermined environmental condition exists;

determining the severity of the predetermined environmental condition using the rules and templates associated with the driver;

determining if control of one or more vehicle functions is required based on the determined severity;

displaying the alert on the instrument display of the vehicle; and

performing the one or more vehicle functions.

18. The tangible non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, further comprising:

sending the alert to a communication device associated with a user, wherein the user is not located in the vehicle, and wherein the communication device is one of a cell phone, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and a personal digital assistant;

modifying, by the user, at least one of the rules and templates associated with the driver using the communication device;

determining a new severity of the predetermined environmental condition using one or more of the modified rules and templates;

determining if control of one or more additional vehicle functions is required based on the new determined severity; and

performing the one or more additional vehicle functions.

19. A vehicle control system of a vehicle, comprising:

a memory; and

a microprocessor in communication with the memory, the microprocessor operable to execute a vehicle environment monitoring module, the vehicle environment monitoring module operable to;

receive one or more signals from a plurality of sensing elements respecting an environment external to the vehicle;

interpret the one or more signals to determine if at least one predetermined environmental condition exists;

determine that the predetermined environmental condition exists;

determine a severity of the predetermined environmental condition using one or more of rules and templates in a memory of the vehicle control system;

determine if control of one or more vehicle functions is required based on the determined severity;

display an alert on an instrument display of the vehicle; and

perform the one or more vehicle functions, wherein the one or more vehicle functions is at least one of activating vehicle head-lights, activating vehicle fog lights, changing a brake system mode, changing a steering system mode, changing a setting of collision avoidance system, changing a setting of an automatic response system, activating a traffic sign translation system, activating an automobile controller, and deactivating multimedia and infotainment systems within the vehicle.

20. The vehicle control system of claim 19, further comprising:

wherein the plurality of sensing elements includes sensors associated with the vehicle, non-vehicle sensors, information from communication networks, and information from a communication device;

wherein sensors associated with the vehicle include one or more of optical sensors, light sensors, photo sensors, inductive sensors, infra-red sensors, thermometers, moisture sensors, wind sensors, wheel state sensors, force sensors, capacitive sensors, laser-based sensors, radar, lidar, ladar, acoustic-type sensors, and a communications module; and

wherein non-vehicle sensors include one or more of sensors located;

in a road, adjacent to the road; and

in a plurality of other vehicles.