SENSOR DATA NETWORK

• US 20180170400A1
• Filed: 12/14/2017
• Published: 06/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2016
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Mahnke, Holger, Zanati, Abdellatif, Doescher, Michael Johannes
• Granted Patent: US 10,272,927 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/86 Combinations of radar systems with non-radar systems, e.g. sonar, direction finder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/878 Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector G01S13/874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9316 combined with communication equipment with other vehicles or with base stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9323 Alternative operation using light waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/40 Means for monitoring or calibrating
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/497 Means for monitoring or calibrating
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/22 Platooning, i.e. convoy of communicating vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/26 at least one of which is mobile

Abstract

An apparatus includes a processor configured to receive first sensor data from a sensor system of the first entity and a receiver. The receiver is configured to receive second sensor data from a second entity in the vehicle to vehicle network over a communication network and provide the second sensor data to the processor. The second sensor data comprises a first type of sensor data having a first bandwidth requirement. The processor is further configured to determine an available bandwidth of the communication system; and when the first bandwidth requirement exceeds the communication bandwidth, select a second type of sensor data having a second bandwidth requirement. The second bandwidth requirement is less than the first bandwidth requirement. The processor is further configured to process the first and second sensor data to at least partially determine an environment surrounding the first entity.

Claims

1. An apparatus forming part of a first entity in a vehicle to vehicle network, the apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to receive first sensor data from a sensor system of the first entity; and

a receiver configured to;

receive second sensor data from a second entity in the vehicle to vehicle network over a communication network; and

provide the second sensor data to the processor, wherein the second sensor data comprises a first type of sensor data having a first bandwidth requirement;

wherein the processor is further configured to;

determine an available bandwidth of the communication system;

when the first bandwidth requirement exceeds the communication bandwidth, select a second type of sensor data having a second bandwidth requirement, where the second bandwidth requirement is less than the first bandwidth requirement; and

process the first and second sensor data to at least partially determine an environment surrounding the first entity.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second sensor data corresponds to sensor data of a sensory system of the second entity.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to carry out an error check on the received second sensor data.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the determination of the available bandwidth is carried out in dependence on the outcome of the error check.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to compare the received second sensor data to the first sensor data.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the determination of the available bandwidth is carried out in dependence on the comparison of the first and second sensor data.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further configured to transmit an acknowledgment to the second entity in response to receiving the second sensor data.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus is configured to receive an indication of a selection of a type of sensor data from the second entity.

9. A method comprising:

receiving first sensor data from a sensor system of a first entity in a vehicle to vehicle network;

receiving second sensor data from a sensor system of a second entity in the vehicle to vehicle network over a communication network, wherein the second sensor data comprises a first type of sensor data having a first bandwidth requirement;

determining an available bandwidth of the communication system;

when the first bandwidth requirement exceeds the communication bandwidth, select a second type of sensor data having a second bandwidth requirement, where the second bandwidth requirement is less than the first bandwidth requirement; and

processing the first and second sensor data and the second sensor data to at least partially determine an environment surrounding the first entity.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second sensor data corresponds to sensor data of a sensory system of the second entity.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

carrying out an error check on the received second sensor data.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein determining the available bandwidth is carried out in dependence on the outcome of the error check.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

comparing the received second sensor data to the first sensor data.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein determining the available bandwidth is carried out in dependence on the comparison of the first and second sensor data.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

transmitting an acknowledgment to the second entity in response to receiving the second sensor data.