Autonomous Vehicle Monitoring and Control

• US 20150346718A1
• Filed: 05/27/2014
• Published: 12/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Stenneth, Leon Oliver
• Granted Patent: US 9,720,418 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0276 using signals provided by a source external to the vehicle involving a plurality of vehicles G05D1/0287; automatically controlling vehicle speed responsive to externally generated signals B60K31/0058
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0282 generated in a local control room
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/00 Registering or indicating the working of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/123 indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, tramstransmission of navigation instructions to vehicles G08G1/0968

Abstract

An autonomous vehicle may be partially controlled or monitored by a remote endpoint assigned to the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle sends one or more assisted driving messages directly to the autonomous vehicle or through a server. The server may identify multiple potential remote driving endpoints and assign one or more of the potential remote driving endpoints to the autonomous vehicle. The one or more potential remote driving endpoints return a command to the autonomous vehicle directly or through the server.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying, using a processor, one or more remote driving endpoints;

assigning, using the processor, a remote driving endpoint to an autonomous vehicle;

receiving one or more assisted driving messages from the autonomous vehicle;

sending the one or more assisted driving messages to the remote driving endpoint; and

receiving a command from the remote driving endpoint.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a route from the autonomous vehicle, wherein the remote driving endpoint is assigned based on the route.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a maximum price from the autonomous vehicle; and

receiving a price bid from each of the one or more remote driving endpoints.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a time for a route from the autonomous vehicle, wherein the remote driving endpoint is assigned based on the time for the route.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an acknowledgement message for the remote driving endpoint from the autonomous vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a profile for each of the one or more remote driving endpoints; and

comparing the profiles for the remote driving endpoints based on at least one preference associated with the autonomous vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending the command from the remote driving endpoint to the autonomous vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the command is a driving command for the autonomous vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the command is an audible alert.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the autonomous vehicle is a semi-autonomous vehicle or fully autonomous vehicle.

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 at least perform;

receiving a request for remote monitoring and at least one parameter for remote monitoring from an autonomous vehicle;

assigning a remote driving endpoint to the autonomous vehicle based on the at least one parameter;

sending one or more assisted driving messages to the remote driving endpoint; and

receiving a command from the remote driving endpoint.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one parameter includes a route to a destination and a maximum price for monitoring assisted driving messages along the route to the destination.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one parameter includes a priority or threshold value for a performance history of the remote driving endpoint or a rating of the remote driving endpoint.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least perform:

receiving bids from a plurality of remote driving endpoints; and

selecting the remote driving endpoint assigned to the autonomous vehicle based on the at least one parameter and the bids.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least perform:

receiving profiles from a plurality of remote driving endpoints; and

selecting the remote driving endpoint assigned to the autonomous vehicle based on the at least one parameter and the profiles.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least perform:

receiving schedules from a plurality of remote driving endpoints; and

selecting the remote driving endpoint assigned to the autonomous vehicle based on the at least one parameter and the schedules.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions that when executed are configured to cause at least one processor to perform:

sending a request for remote monitoring and at least one parameter to a server;

receiving an assignment to a remote driving endpoint from the server, wherein the assignment is based on the at least one parameter;

generating one or more assisted driving messages; and

sending the one or more assisted driving messages to the remote driving endpoint.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving condition data from one or more devices,

wherein the one or more assisted driving messages are generated based on the condition data.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the condition data is any combination of traffic conditions, upcoming traffic conditions, weather conditions, weather forecast conditions, and upcoming geographic conditions.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving a driving command from the remote driving endpoint.