METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING VEHICLE MANEUVER PLANS

• US 20160358479A1
• Filed: 06/05/2015
• Published: 12/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: RIEDELSHEIMER, Norbert, KROLLER, Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 9,978,284 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0145 for active traffic flow control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/22 Platooning, i.e. convoy of communicating vehicles
• 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

Abstract

An approach is provided for generating maneuver plans for one or more vehicles. A maneuvering platform processes location information, context information, or a combination thereof associated with a vehicle to determine at least one cell of a wireless communication network associated with a current location of the vehicle. The maneuvering platform further assigns the vehicle to a cluster associated with the at least one cell based on an establishment of a communication link between an access node associated with the vehicle and the at least one cell, an association between the current location of the vehicle, the access node associated with the vehicle, or a combination thereof and a geographic coverage range of the at least one cell or a combination thereof.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

processing, by an apparatus, location information, context information, or a combination thereof associated with a vehicle to determine a cell of a wireless communication network associated with a current location of the vehicle;

assigning, by the apparatus, the vehicle to a cluster of one or more other vehicles in wireless communication with the cell based on an establishment of a communication link between the cell and an access node travelling with the vehicle, a geographic coverage range of the cell, or a combination thereof; and

calculating, by the apparatus, coordinated maneuvers to be performed by the vehicle and the one or more other vehicles based on navigation objectives of each vehicle of the cluster.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating, by the apparatus, a performance of the coordinated maneuvers by the vehicle, the one or more other vehicles, or a combination thereof,

wherein the coordinated maneuvers are to be performed sequentially, concurrently, or a combination thereof within a window of time, a window of space, or a combination thereof for controlling the behavior of the vehicle, the one or more other vehicles, or a combination thereof, and

wherein the apparatus is embedded in a node located within a cellular tower of the cell.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

processing traffic regulation information, driving regulation information, routing information, transportation infrastructure information, vehicle information, or a combination thereof associated with the location information, the context information, the current location of the vehicle, or a combination thereof to determine one or more requirements, one or more conditions, or a combination thereof associated with the vehicle, the one or more other vehicles, the current location of travel, or a combination thereof; and

determining the sequence, the concurrency, the window of time, the window of space, an urgency of performance, or a combination thereof of the coordinated maneuvers to be performed by the vehicle, the one or more other vehicles, or a combination thereof based on the one or more requirements, the one or more conditions, or a combination thereof,

wherein the calculation is based on the determined sequence, concurrency, window of time, window of space, urgency of performance, or a combination thereof and the current location of travel is associated with one or more location points, one or more points of interest, one or more roadway segments, one or more lanes, one or more intersections, or a combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the communication link is established between the access node and the cell; and

processing the location information, the context information, or a combination thereof associated with the vehicle as transmitted via the communication link to determine whether it matches (a) location information, context information, or a combination thereof associated with the one or more other vehicles, (b) one or more current or intended maneuvers to be performed by the one or more other vehicles, (c) a current or intended destination of the one or more other vehicles, (d) the cluster associated with the cell, or (e) a combination thereof,

wherein the assignment is further based on the match, and

wherein the apparatus is embedded in a server and communicates with the access node travelling with the vehicle via a cellular tower of the cell.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining a role of the vehicle, each of the one or more other vehicles, or a combination thereof assigned to the cluster based on the match,

wherein the role indicates a participation level, a priority, a status, or a combination thereof of the vehicle, the one or more other vehicles, or a combination thereof for performing the coordinated maneuvers, and the access node is a mobile device associated with the vehicle, a navigation system of the vehicle, a control system of the vehicle, or a combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining no match exists; and

generating the cluster as a new cluster based on the match not existing,

wherein the assignment is based on generation of the new cluster.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

processing updated location information, context information, or a combination thereof associated with the vehicle, the one or more other vehicles, or a combination thereof based on the performance of the coordinated maneuvers to determine a status for indicating (a) a completion or failure of performance of the coordinated maneuvers, (b) whether the cell is still associated with the current region of travel of the vehicle, (c) a change in a role associated with the vehicle, each of the one or more other vehicles, or a combination thereof, or (d) a combination thereof,

wherein the apparatus is embedded in the access node travelling with the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

calculating (a) an adjustment to a number of vehicles assigned to the cluster, (b) one or more maneuvers to be performed by the vehicle, the one or more other vehicles, or a combination thereof in association with a different cell of the wireless communication network, or (c) a combination thereof based on the status,

wherein the one or more maneuvers to be performed by the vehicle, the one or more other vehicles, or a combination thereof in association with the different cell are indicated to the different cell by the cell based on a handover procedure, the communication link between the access node and the cell, or a combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

unassigning the vehicle, the one or more other vehicles, or a combination thereof from the cluster based on the status,

wherein the vehicle, the one or more other vehicles, or a combination thereof is a manually powered vehicle, a driver operated motorized vehicle, an autonomous vehicle, or a combination thereof.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the location information, the context information, or a combination thereof includes global positioning data, motion data, trajectory data, orientation data, routing data, roadway data, environmental data, traffic data, event data, vehicle status data, identification data, capability data, or a combination thereof, and

wherein the assignment is further based on a shared path, route, destination, or a combination thereof, of the vehicle, the one or more other vehicles, or a combination thereof.

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 perform at least the following,

process location information, context information, or a combination thereof associated with a vehicle to determine a cell of a wireless communication network associated with a current location of the vehicle;

assign the vehicle to a cluster of one or more other vehicles in wireless communication with the cell based on an establishment of a communication link between the cell and an access node travelling with the vehicle, a geographic coverage range of the cell, or a combination thereof; and

calculate coordinated maneuvers to be performed by the vehicle and the one or more other vehicles based on navigation objectives of each vehicle of the cluster.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

initiate, by the apparatus, a performance of the coordinated maneuvers by the vehicle, the one or more other vehicles, or a combination thereof,

wherein the coordinated maneuvers are to be performed sequentially, concurrently, or a combination thereof within a window of time, a window of space, or a combination thereof for controlling the behavior of the vehicle, the one or more other vehicles, or a combination thereof.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

process traffic regulation information, driving regulation information, routing information, transportation infrastructure information, vehicle information, or a combination thereof associated with the location information, the context information, the current location of the vehicle, or a combination thereof to determine one or more requirements, one or more conditions, or a combination thereof associated with the vehicle, the one or more other vehicles, the current location of travel, or a combination thereof; and

determine the sequence, the concurrency, the window of time, the window of space, an urgency of performance, or a combination thereof of the coordinated maneuvers to be performed by the vehicle, the one or more other vehicles, or a combination thereof based on the one or more requirements, the one or more conditions, or a combination thereof,

wherein the calculation is based on the determined sequence, concurrency, window of time, window of space, urgency of performance, or a combination thereof and the current location of travel is associated with one or more location points, one or more points of interest, one or more roadway segments, one or more lanes, one or more intersections, or a combination thereof.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine the communication link is established between the access node and the at least one cell; and

process the location information, the context information, or a combination thereof associated with the vehicle as transmitted via the communication link to determine whether it matches (a) location information, context information, or a combination thereof associated with the one or more other vehicles, (b) one or more current or intended maneuvers to be performed by the one or more other vehicles, (c) a current or intended destination of the one or more other vehicles, (d) the cluster associated with the cell, or (e) a combination thereof,

wherein the assignment is based on the match and the communication link is established based on the current location of travel of the vehicle being within range of the cell, the access node being subscribed to a provider of the cell, or a combination thereof.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine a role of the vehicle, each of the one or more other vehicles, or a combination thereof assigned to the cluster based on the match,

wherein the role indicates a participation level, a priority, a status, or a combination thereof of the vehicle, the one or more other vehicles, or a combination thereof for performing the coordinated maneuvers and the access node is a mobile device associated with the vehicle, a navigation system of the vehicle, a control system of the vehicle, or a combination thereof.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine no match exists; and

generate the cluster as a new cluster based on the match not existing,

wherein the assignment is based on generation of the new cluster.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

process updated location information, context information, or a combination thereof associated with the vehicle, the one or more other vehicles, or a combination thereof based on the performance of the coordinated maneuvers to determine a status for indicating (a) a completion or failure of performance of the coordinated maneuvers, (b) whether the cell is still associated with the current region of travel of the vehicle, (c) a change in a role associated with the vehicle, each of the one or more other vehicles, or a combination thereof, or (d) a combination thereof.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to perform:

processing location information, context information, or a combination thereof associated with a vehicle to determine a cell of a wireless communication network associated with a current location of the vehicle;

assigning the vehicle to a cluster of one or more other vehicles in wireless communication with the cell based on an establishment of a communication link between the cell and an access node travelling with the vehicle, a geographic coverage range of the cell, or a combination thereof; and

calculating coordinated maneuvers to be performed by the vehicle and the one or more other vehicles based on navigation objectives of each vehicle of the cluster.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:

initiating a performance of the coordinated maneuvers by the vehicle, the one or more other vehicles, or a combination thereof,

wherein the coordinated maneuvers are to be performed sequentially, concurrently, or a combination thereof within a window of time, a window of space, or a combination thereof for controlling the behavior of the vehicle, the one or more other vehicles, or a combination thereof.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:

processing traffic regulation information, driving regulation information, routing information, transportation infrastructure information, vehicle information, or a combination thereof associated with the location information, the context information, the current location of the vehicle, or a combination thereof to determine one or more requirements, one or more conditions, or a combination thereof associated with the vehicle, the one or more other vehicles, the current location of travel, or a combination thereof; and

determining the sequence, the concurrency, the window of time, the window of space, an urgency of performance, or a combination thereof of the coordinated maneuvers to be performed by the vehicle, the one or more other vehicles, or a combination thereof based on the one or more requirements, the one or more conditions, or a combination thereof,

wherein the calculation is based on the determined sequence, concurrency, window of time, window of space, urgency of performance, or a combination thereof and the current location of travel is associated with one or more location points, one or more points of interest, one or more roadway segments, one or more lanes, one or more intersections, or a combination thereof.

21-48. -48. (canceled)