GUIDANCE ASSIST VEHICLE MODULE

• US 20150235556A1
• Filed: 12/02/2014
• Published: 08/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Almaguide Llc
• Original Assignee: Almaguide Llc
• Inventors: Gordon, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,286,800 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09 Arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions railroad crossing signals B61L; reflectors E01F, G08B; indicating arrangements for variable information by selection or combination of individual elements G09F9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

The automated lane management assist method, data structure and system receive unprocessed lane-specific limited-access highway information, including lane use and speed limits, from freeway transportation management centers or traffic management centers, process and convert the unprocessed information to a form that assists in the selection of driving lanes and target speeds for vehicles, and communicate the processed information to the vehicles by suitable means. The Guidance Assist Vehicle Module combines the processed information with information from the vehicle and the driver including the information on appropriate lane changes and speed commands to the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of assisting in selection of driving lanes and target speeds for a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

a. receiving real-time conditions data from several miles downstream of the vehicle;

b. determining vehicle characteristics, requirements and constraints including vehicle characteristics, freeway exit requirements for the trip, vehicle speed and position; and

c. providing data to the motorist to use.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining motorist preferences including toll preferences and driver aggressiveness preferences.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the real-time conditions data includes one or more of average vehicle speeds by lane, roadway incident status, lane blockages, lane closures, roadway lane traffic controls and speed advisories, and weather.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising using data from a traffic management center and processed by a special module described in an earlier patent application “

Management Center Module for Advanced Lane Management Assist for Automated Vehicles and Conventionally Driven Vehicles”

or its equivalent as a data source.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a spatial data structure defined in an earlier patent application “

Management Center Module for Advanced Lane Management Assist for Automated Vehicles and Conventionally Driven Vehicles ”

to compute the appropriate lane and target speed.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising processing the data in the vehicle or at a site external to the vehicle to develop the appropriate lane and target speed.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the appropriate lane and target speed information by a driver operating a conventional vehicle of by an automated or semi-automated vehicle.