APPARATUS, METHOD, COMPUTER PROGRAM AND USER DEVICE FOR ENABLING CONTROL OF A VEHICLE

• US 20160041556A1
• Filed: 07/16/2015
• Published: 02/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: MATTILA, Ville-Veikko
• Granted Patent: US 9,746,339 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3661 Guidance output on an external device, e.g. car radio
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/163 involving continuous checking

Abstract

An apparatus, method and computer program wherein the method comprises: processing circuitry; and memory circuitry including computer program code; the memory circuitry and the computer program code configured to, with the processing circuitry, cause the apparatus at least to perform: identifying at least one user device associated with a user;

• • enabling information indicative of an intended path of a vehicle to be provided to the at least one identified user device; determining whether or not the apparatus has received a notification that the user has acknowledged the information indicative of the intended path of the vehicle; and if the apparatus has not received the notification, enabling modification of the intended path of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

processing circuitry; and

memory circuitry including computer program code;

the memory circuitry and the computer program code configured to, with the processing circuitry, cause the apparatus at least to perform;

identifying at least one user device associated with a user;

enabling information indicative of an intended path of a vehicle to be provided to the at least one identified user device;

determining whether the apparatus has received a notification that the user has acknowledged the information indicative of the intended path of the vehicle; and

if the apparatus has not received the notification, enabling modification of the intended path of the vehicle.

2. An apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is configured to obtain information from at least one user device wherein the obtained information comprises information indicative of paths of travel of a user associated with the at least one user device.

3. An apparatus of claim 2 wherein the apparatus is configured to use the obtained information to identify at least one user device associated with a user having a path of travel which is likely to be affected by the intended path of a vehicle.

4. An apparatus of claim 3 wherein the information indicative of the intended path of the vehicle is provided to user devices associated with users which are most likely to be affected by the intended path of the vehicle.

5. An apparatus of claim 1 wherein enabling modification of the intended path of the vehicle comprises at least one of, reducing the speed of the vehicle, changing the direction of the vehicle, changing a lane of the vehicle.

6. An apparatus of claim 1 wherein the user device comprises a near eye display.

7. An apparatus of claim 6 wherein the information indicative of the intended path of the vehicle is displayed on the near eye display.

8. An apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is configured to establish a local wireless communication link between the apparatus and the user device to enable information to be exchanged between the apparatus and the user device.

9. An apparatus of claim 1 wherein information relating to the location of the user is used to determine whether the vehicle is visible to the user.

10. A method comprising:

identifying at least one user device associated with a user;

enabling information indicative of an intended path of a vehicle to be provided to the at least one identified user device;

determining whether the apparatus has received a notification that the user has acknowledged the information indicative of the intended path of the vehicle; and

if the apparatus has not received the notification, enabling modification of the intended path of the vehicle.

11. A method of claim 10 further comprising obtaining information from at least one user device wherein the obtained information comprises information indicative of paths of travel of a user associated with the at least one user device.

12. A method of claim 11 further comprising using the obtained information to identify at least one user device associated with a user having a path of travel which is likely to be affected by the intended path of a vehicle.

13. A method of claim 12 further comprising providing the information indicative of the intended path of the vehicle to user devices associated with users which are most likely to be affected by the intended path of the vehicle.

14. A method of claim 10 wherein enabling modification of the intended path of the vehicle comprises at least one of, reducing the speed of the vehicle, changing the direction of the vehicle, changing a lane of the vehicle.

15. A method of claim 10 wherein the user device comprises a near eye display.

16. A method of claim 15 wherein the information indicative of the intended path of the vehicle is displayed on the near eye display.

17. A method of claim 10 further comprising establishing a local wireless communication link between the apparatus and the user device to enable information to be exchanged between the apparatus and the user device.

18. A method of claim 10 wherein information relating to the location of the user is used to determine whether the vehicle is visible to the user.

19. A method of claim 18 wherein the information relating to the location of the user comprises three-dimensional model information of an area around the user.

20. A user device comprising:

processing circuitry; and

memory circuitry including computer program code;

the memory circuitry and the computer program code configured to, with the processing circuitry, cause the user device at least to perform;

receiving information indicative of an intended path of a vehicle;

providing the information indicative of the intended path of a vehicle to a user;

determining whether the user has acknowledged the information indicative of the intended path of the vehicle; and

if it is determined that the user has acknowledged the information indicative of the intended path of the vehicle, transmitting a notification indicating that the user has acknowledged the information indicative of the intended path of the vehicle.

21. A method comprising:

receiving information indicative of an intended path of a vehicle;

providing the information indicative of the intended path of a vehicle to a user;

determining whether the user has acknowledged the information indicative of the intended path of the vehicle; and

if it is determined that the user has acknowledged the information indicative of the intended path of the vehicle, transmitting a notification indicating that the user has acknowledged the information indicative of the intended path of the vehicle.