METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A COLLISION ALERT

• US 20160280132A1
• Filed: 03/24/2015
• Published: 09/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: PALANIMUTHU, Manikandan
• Granted Patent: US 9,694,747 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9323 Alternative operation using light waves
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/163 involving continuous checking

Abstract

An approach is provided for generating a collision alert based on the stopping distance associated with a vehicle based on an identifying characteristic. The approach includes detecting an identifying characteristic of a first vehicle traveling in front of a second vehicle. The approach also includes querying for a stopping distance associated with the first vehicle based on the identifying characteristic. The approach further includes determining an approach speed at which the second vehicle is approaching the first vehicle; and generating a collision alert based on the stopping distance and the approach speed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting an identifying characteristic of a first vehicle traveling in front of a second vehicle;

querying for a stopping distance associated with the first vehicle based on the identifying characteristic;

determining an approach speed at which the second vehicle is approaching the first vehicle; and

generating a collision alert based on the stopping distance and the approach speed.

2. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating a vehicle-to-vehicle communication link between the first vehicle and the second vehicle; and

detecting the identifying characteristic via the vehicle-to-vehicle communication link.

3. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating a capturing of an image of the first vehicle; and

processing the image to determine the identifying characteristic based on a pattern of one or more vehicle features visible in the image.

4. A method of claim 3, wherein the one or more vehicle features include one or more lights mounted on the first vehicle.

5. A method of claim 1, wherein the identifying characteristic includes a make, a model, a year, a vehicle identification number, or a combination thereof associated with the first vehicle.

6. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

calculating the approach speed based on data indicating a rate of change of a distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle.

7. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

calculating an alert trigger value based on the stopping distance of the first vehicle, another stopping distance of the second vehicle, the approach speed, or a combination thereof; and

initiating the generating of the collision alert, a presentation of the collision alert, or a combination thereof based on the alert trigger value.

8. A method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining contextual information associated with the first vehicle;

the second vehicle;

an environment in which the first vehicle, the second vehicle, or a combination thereof are traveling in;

or a combination thereof,

wherein the stopping distance, the other stopping distance, the alert trigger value, the collision alert, or a combination thereof are further based on the contextual information.

9. An apparatus comprising a processor configured to:

detect an identifying characteristic of a first vehicle traveling in front of a second vehicle;

query for a stopping distance associated with the first vehicle based on the identifying characteristic;

determine an approach speed at which the second vehicle is approaching the first vehicle; and

generate a collision alert based on the stopping distance and the approach speed.

10. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

initiate a vehicle-to-vehicle communication link between the first vehicle and the second vehicle; and

detect the identifying characteristic via the vehicle-to-vehicle communication link.

11. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

initiate a capturing of an image of the first vehicle; and

process the image to determine the identifying characteristic based on a pattern of one or more vehicle features visible in the image.

12. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one or more vehicle features include one or more lights mounted on the first vehicle.

13. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the identifying characteristic includes a make, a model, a year, a vehicle identification number, or a combination thereof associated with the first vehicle.

14. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

calculate the approach speed based on data indicating a rate of change of a distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle.

15. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

calculate an alert trigger value based on the stopping distance of the first vehicle, another stopping distance of the second vehicle, the approach speed, or a combination thereof; and

initiate the generating of the collision alert, a presentation of the collision alert, or a combination thereof based on the alert trigger value.

16. An apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine contextual information associated with the first vehicle;

the second vehicle;

an environment in which the first vehicle, the second vehicle, or a combination thereof are traveling in;

or a combination thereof,

wherein the stopping distance, the other stopping distance, the alert trigger value, the collision alert, or a combination thereof are further based on the contextual information.

17. A system comprising:

a collision alert platform configured to detect an identifying characteristic of a first vehicle traveling in front of a second vehicle, query for a stopping distance associated with the first vehicle based on the identifying characteristic, determine an approach speed at which the second vehicle is approaching the first vehicle, and generate a collision alert based on the stopping distance and the approach speed.

18. A system of claim 17, wherein the collision alert platform is further configured to:

initiate a vehicle-to-vehicle communication link between the first vehicle and the second vehicle; and

detect the identifying characteristic via the vehicle-to-vehicle communication link.

19. A system of claim 17, wherein the collision alert platform is further configured to:

initiate a capturing of an image of the first vehicle; and

process the image to determine the identifying characteristic based on a pattern of one or more vehicle features visible in the image.

20. A system of claim 19, wherein the one or more vehicle features include one or more lights mounted on the first vehicle.