METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING NOTIFICATIONS ON RECONFIGURATION OF A USER ENVIRONMENT

• US 20170060397A1
• Filed: 08/28/2015
• Published: 03/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: JUNGE, Mary Anne, BRESNAHAN, Gregg, GIGLIOTTI, William, HALIK, James, MAUER, David
• Granted Patent: US 10,055,111 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/037 for occupant comfort , e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel

Abstract

An approach is provided for determining and presenting notifications and options to users for reconfiguring a vehicle environment of the users. The approach includes determining whether to initiate a reconfiguration of a vehicle environment for one or more users based, at least in part, on one or more reconfiguration criteria. The approach also includes determining a reconfiguration model for the vehicle environment based, at least in part, on one or more preferences associated with the one or more users. The approach further includes causing, at least in part, a presentation of one or more notifications about the reconfiguration model to the one or more users. Furthermore, the approach includes determining one or more responses from the one or more users based, at least in part, on the presentation. Additionally, the approach includes initiating the reconfiguration of the vehicle environment based, at least in part, on the one or more responses.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining whether to initiate a reconfiguration of at least one vehicle environment for one or more users based, at least in part, on one or more reconfiguration criteria;

determining at least one reconfiguration model for the at least one vehicle environment based, at least in part, on one or more preferences associated with the one or more users;

causing, at least in part, a presentation of one or more notifications about the at least one reconfiguration model to the one or more users;

determining one or more responses from the one or more users based, at least in part, on the presentation; and

initiating the reconfiguration of the at least one vehicle environment based, at least in part, on the one or more responses.

2. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing, at least in part, the presentation of the one or more notifications via one or more user devices, one or more features in the at least one vehicle environment, or a combination thereof.

3. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining one or more common characteristics associated with the one or more users; and

determining the at least one reconfiguration model based, at least in part, on the one or more common characteristics.

4. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an estimated time of travel information from an origin point to a destination point for at least one vehicle associated with the at least one vehicle environment,

wherein the at least one reconfiguration model for the at least one vehicle environment, the one or more notifications, or a combination thereof is based, at least in part, on the estimated time of travel.

5. A method of claim 4, further comprising:

identifying one or more activities, one or more services, or a combination thereof available at the destination point; and

causing, at least in part, the presentation of the one or more notifications based, at least in part, on the one or more activities, the one or more services, or a combination thereof.

6. A method of claim 4, further comprising:

causing, at least in part, the presentation of the one or more notifications, one or more user instructions, or a combination thereof to at least one controlling user; and

initiating the reconfiguration of the at least one vehicle environment based, at least in part, on one or more responses from the at least one controlling user.

7. A method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining one or more autonomous, semi-autonomous, or a combination thereof functions of the at least one vehicle in the at least one reconfiguration model; and

causing, at least in part, a presentation of the one or more functions in the one or more notifications to the one or more users.

8. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining one or more unexpected activities associated with the one or more users;

causing, at least in part, a presentation of one or more other notifications, one or more user instructions, or a combination thereof to the one or more users; and

initiating the reconfiguration of the at least one vehicle environment based, at least in part, on one or more responses from the one or more users to the one or more other notifications, the one or more user instructions, or a combination thereof.

9. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating a reconfiguration of a physical attribute of one or more features in the at least one vehicle environment based, at least in part, on one or more responses from the one or more users.

10. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing, at least in part, a graphical representation of the at least one reconfiguration model in the one or more notifications to the one or more users; and

determining one or more user interactions with the graphical representation from the one or more users to configure one or more parameters of the at least one reconfiguration model.

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,

determine whether to initiate a reconfiguration of at least one vehicle environment for one or more users based, at least in part, on one or more reconfiguration criteria;

determine at least one reconfiguration model for the at least one vehicle environment based, at least in part, on one or more preferences associated with the one or more users;

cause, at least in part, a presentation of one or more notifications about the at least one reconfiguration model to the one or more users;

determine one or more responses from the one or more users based, at least in part, on the presentation; and

initiate the reconfiguration of the at least one vehicle environment based, at least in part, on the one or more responses.

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

determine one or more common characteristics associated with the one or more users; and

determine the at least one reconfiguration model based, at least in part, on the one or more common characteristics.

13. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine an estimated time of travel information from an origin point to a destination point for at least one vehicle associated with the at least one vehicle environment,

wherein the at least one reconfiguration model for the at least one vehicle environment, the one or more notifications, or a combination thereof is based, at least in part, on the estimated time of travel.

14. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

identify one or more activities, one or more services, or a combination thereof available at the destination point; and

cause, at least in part, the presentation of the one or more notifications based, at least in part, on the one or more activities, the one or more services, or a combination thereof.

15. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

cause, at least in part, the presentation of the one or more notifications, one or more user instructions, or a combination thereof to at least one controlling user; and

initiate the reconfiguration of the at least one vehicle environment based, at least in part, on one or more responses from the at least one controlling user.

16. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine one or more autonomous, semi-autonomous, or a combination thereof functions of the at least one vehicle in the at least one reconfiguration model; and

cause, at least in part, a presentation of the one or more functions in the one or more notifications to the one or more users.

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

determine one or more unexpected activities associated with the one or more users;

cause, at least in part, a presentation of one or more other notifications, one or more user instructions, or a combination thereof to the one or more users; and

initiate the reconfiguration of the at least one vehicle environment based, at least in part, on one or more responses from the one or more users to the one or more other notifications, the one or more user instructions, or 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 at least perform the following steps:

determine whether to initiate a reconfiguration of at least one vehicle environment for one or more users based, at least in part, on one or more reconfiguration criteria; and

cause, at least in part, a presentation of one or more notifications about the reconfiguration to the one or more users based, at least in part, on the one or more reconfiguration criteria.

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

determine the one or more reconfiguration criteria based, at least in part, on a geo-location information, environmental information, a travel route information, or a combination thereof of at least one vehicle associated with the at least one vehicle environment.

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

determine an estimated remaining travel time, remaining distance, or a combination thereof thresholds associated with a destination point for the at least one vehicle; and

cause, at least in part, the presentation of the one or more notifications based, at least in part, on the thresholds.

21-49. -49. (canceled)