Smart Vehicle Apparatus, System, and Method

• US 20180178781A1
• Filed: 12/23/2016
• Published: 06/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Funk, Tom, Carpenter, Phil, Walker, William R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,150,471 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/408 Radar; Laser, e.g. lidar
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/54 Audio sensitive means, e.g. ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/801 Lateral distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/65 Data transmitted between vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2754/30 Longitudinal distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/08 Active safety systems predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision or attempting to minimise its consequences
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/46 for vehicle-to-vehicle communication [V2V]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing Internet of Things (“IoT”) functionality. In some embodiments, a computing system or IoT management node might receive sensor data from one or more IoT-capable sensors, analyze the sensor data to determine one or more actions to be taken, and identify one or more devices (e.g., household devices associated with a customer premises; vehicular components associated with a vehicle; devices disposed in, on, or along a roadway; devices disposed throughout a population area; etc.) for performing the determined one or more first actions. The computing system or IoT management node then autonomously controls each of the identified one or more devices to perform tasks based on the determined one or more first actions to be taken, thereby implementing smart environment functionality (e.g., smart home, building, or customer premises functionality, smart vehicle functionality, smart roadway functionality, smart city functionality, and so on).

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, with a computing system, at least one first sensor data from each of one or more Internet of Things (“

IoT”

)-capable devices via machine-to-machine communications, each of the one or more IoT-capable devices comprising one or more first sensors that collect the at least one first sensor data;

analyzing, with the computing system, the at least one first sensor data to determine one or more first actions to be taken;

identifying, with the computing system, one or more vehicular components associated with a vehicle for performing the determined one or more first actions to be taken, based on the at least one first sensor data from each of the one or more IoT-capable devices; and

autonomously controlling, with the computing system, each of the identified one or more vehicular components to perform one or more tasks, based on the determined one or more first actions to be taken.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein autonomously controlling, with the computing system, each of the identified one or more vehicular components to perform the one or more tasks comprises sending, with the computing system, one or more first control instructions to each of the identified one or more vehicular components to perform the one or more tasks, based on the determined one or more first actions to be taken.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing system comprises one of a single processor disposed within the vehicle, a plurality of processors disposed within the vehicle, an IoT management node disposed within the vehicle, an IoT management node disposed at a customer premises associated with an owner of the vehicle, an IoT management node disposed at a business premises associated with a company that owns or operates the vehicle, an IoT management node disposed at a service provider facility associated with providing services to the owner of the vehicle, a server computer remote from the vehicle, a cloud computing system, a distributed computing system that integrates computing resources from one or more IoT-capable devices, or a combination of two or more of these computing systems.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the at least one first sensor data from each of the one or more IoT-capable devices via machine-to-machine communications comprises receiving, with the computing system, at least one first sensor data from each of the one or more IoT-capable devices via machine-to-machine communications, via one or more first application programming interfaces (“

APIs”

) established between the computing system and each of the one or more IoT-capable devices.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein autonomously controlling, with the computing system, each of the identified one or more vehicular components to perform the one or more tasks comprises autonomously controlling, with the computing system, each of the identified one or more vehicular components, via one or more second APIs established between the computing system and each of the one or more vehicular components.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one first sensor data that are received from each of the one or more IoT-capable devices each comprises sensor data that exceeds a predetermined threshold for each corresponding type of sensor, wherein sensor data that do not exceed the predetermined threshold for each corresponding type of sensor are prevented from being sent to the computing system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified one or more vehicular components comprise at least one of a vehicle brake system, a vehicle gear system, a vehicle electronic throttle control system, a vehicle steering system, a vehicle turn signal system, a vehicle heads-up display system, a vehicle digital instrument gauge cluster, a vehicle display device, or a vehicle speaker system, wherein the one or more IoT-capable devices comprise at least one of a vehicle camera-based collision avoidance system, a vehicle radar-based proximity detection system, a vehicle lidar-based proximity detection system, a vehicle sonar-based proximity detection system, a location sensor, or a transceiver device in communication with a corresponding transceiver device in each of one or more nearby vehicles, wherein autonomously controlling, with the computing system, each of the identified one or more vehicular components to perform the one or more tasks comprises autonomously controlling, with the computing system, at least one of the vehicle brake system, the vehicle gear system, the vehicle electronic throttle control system, the vehicle steering system, or the vehicle turn signal system to maintain at least a predetermined safe distance between the vehicle and any adjacent vehicles based at least in part on data from each of at least one of the vehicle camera-based collision avoidance system, the vehicle radar-based proximity detection system, the vehicle lidar-based proximity detection system, the vehicle sonar-based proximity detection system, or the transceiver device in communication with the corresponding transceiver device in each of the one or more nearby vehicles, and autonomously controlling, with the computing system, at least one of the vehicle heads-up display system, the vehicle digital instrument gauge cluster, the vehicle display device, or the vehicle speaker system to alert a driver of the vehicle in response to any necessary changes in operating the vehicle due to maintaining the at least the predetermined safe distance between the vehicle and any adjacent vehicles.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified one or more vehicular components comprise at least one of a vehicle brake system, a vehicle gear system, a vehicle electronic throttle control system, a vehicle steering system, a vehicle turn signal system, a vehicle heads-up display system, a vehicle digital instrument gauge cluster, a vehicle display device, a vehicle speaker system, a vehicle hazard light system, or a vehicle self-diagnostics system, wherein the one or more IoT-capable devices comprise at least one of a vehicle camera-based collision avoidance system, a vehicle radar-based proximity detection system, a vehicle lidar-based proximity detection system, a vehicle sonar-based proximity detection system, or a transceiver device in communication with a corresponding transceiver device in each of one or more nearby vehicles, wherein autonomously controlling, with the computing system, each of the identified one or more vehicular components to perform one or more tasks comprises autonomously controlling, with the computing system, at least one of the vehicle brake system, the vehicle gear system, the vehicle electronic throttle control system, the vehicle steering system, or the vehicle turn signal system to safely navigate the vehicle to a safe road-side location while avoiding collisions with other vehicles and any obstacles, based at least in part on data from the vehicle self-diagnostics system and data from each of at least one of the vehicle camera-based collision avoidance system, the vehicle radar-based proximity detection system, the vehicle lidar-based proximity detection system, the vehicle sonar-based proximity detection system, or the transceiver device in communication with the corresponding transceiver device in each of the one or more nearby vehicles, autonomously controlling, with the computing system, at least one of vehicle hazard light system or the transceiver device in communication with the corresponding transceiver device in each of the one or more nearby vehicles to alert other drivers and other vehicles of problems with operation of the vehicle, and autonomously controlling, with the computing system, at least one of the vehicle heads-up display system, the vehicle digital instrument gauge cluster, the vehicle display device, or the vehicle speaker system to alert a driver of the vehicle of the problems with the operation of the vehicle and status related to safely navigating the vehicle to a safe road-side location while avoiding collisions with other vehicles and any obstacles.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the identified one or more vehicular components further comprise a vehicle communications system, wherein autonomously controlling, with the computing system, each of the identified one or more vehicular components to perform one or more tasks further comprises autonomously controlling, with the computing system, the vehicle communications system to send at least one of a message to one of a towing company or a roadside assistance service to send a tow truck, a message to a vehicle servicing company regarding the problems with the operation of the vehicle and regarding the vehicle being en route, a message to emergency responders regarding the problems with the operation of the vehicle and location of the vehicle, or a message to one or more of friends or family members of occupants of the vehicle regarding the problems with the operation of the vehicle, the location of the vehicle, and status of the occupants of the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified one or more vehicular components comprise at least one of a vehicle brake system, a vehicle gear system, a vehicle electronic throttle control system, a vehicle steering system, a vehicle turn signal system, a vehicle heads-up display system, a vehicle digital instrument gauge cluster, a vehicle display device, or a vehicle speaker system, wherein the one or more IoT-capable devices comprise at least one of a transceiver device in communication with a corresponding transceiver device in each of one or more nearby vehicles, a transceiver in communication with one or more roadway IoT-capable devices, or the one or more roadway IoT-capable devices, the one or more roadway IoT-capable devices comprising IoT-capable devices embedded in one or more of at least one roadway structure, at least one street lamp, at least one sidewalk structure, or at least one apparatus each mounted to one or more of the at least one roadway structure, the at least one street lamp, or the at least one sidewalk structure, wherein autonomously controlling, with the computing system, each of the identified one or more vehicular components to perform one or more tasks comprises autonomously controlling, with the computing system, at least one of the vehicle brake system, the vehicle gear system, the vehicle electronic throttle control system, the vehicle steering system, or the vehicle turn signal system to perform one of driving within a lane, changing lanes, entering a freeway, exiting a freeway, moving to a shoulder of a road, slowing the vehicle, accelerating the vehicle, or stopping the vehicle, each based on data from at least one of the transceiver in communication with the corresponding transceiver device in each of one or more nearby vehicles, the transceiver in communication with the one or more roadway IoT-capable devices, or the one or more roadway IoT-capable devices, and autonomously controlling, with the computing system, at least one of the vehicle heads-up display system, the vehicle digital instrument gauge cluster, the vehicle display device, or the vehicle speaker system to alert a driver of the vehicle in response to any necessary changes in operating the vehicle due to performing the one of driving within a lane, changing lanes, entering a freeway, exiting a freeway, moving to a shoulder of a road, slowing the vehicle, accelerating the vehicle, or stopping the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the identified one or more vehicular components comprise at least one of a vehicle communications system or a transceiver in communication with an external IoT-capable device that is external to the vehicle, wherein the one or more IoT-capable devices comprise at least one of a speed sensor, one or more brake sensors, a location sensor, an air quality sensor, one or more cameras, one or more smoke detectors, one or more tire pressure sensors, an engine temperature sensor, a fuel level sensor, one or more fluid leak detectors, one or more proximity sensors, one or more occupant sensors, one or more impact sensors, one or more stress sensors, or one or more suspension system diagnostic sensors.

12. A system, comprising:

one or more Internet of Things (“

IoT”

)-capable devices, each comprising;

one or more first sensors;

a first transceiver;

at least one first processor; and

a first non-transitory computer readable medium communicatively coupled to the at least one first processor, the first non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer software comprising a first set of instructions that, when executed by the at least one first processor, causes the IoT-capable device to;

receive at least one first sensor data from the one or more first sensors; and

send the at least one first sensor data to a computing system via machine-to-machine communications, via the first transceiver;

the computing system, comprising;

a second transceiver;

at least one second processor;

a second non-transitory computer readable medium communicatively coupled to the at least one second processor, the second non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer software comprising a second set of instructions that, when executed by the at least one second processor, causes the computing system to;

receive the at least one first sensor data from each of the one or more IoT-capable devices via machine-to-machine communications via the second transceiver;

analyze the at least one first sensor data to determine one or more first actions to be taken;

identify one or more vehicular components associated with a vehicle for performing the determined one or more first actions to be taken, based on the at least one first sensor data from each of the one or more IoT-capable devices; and

autonomously control each of the identified one or more vehicular components to perform one or more tasks, based on the determined one or more first actions to be taken, by sending control instructions to each of the identified one or more vehicular components; and

the one or more vehicular components associated with the vehicle, each comprising;

a third transceiver;

at least one third processor;

a third non-transitory computer readable medium communicatively coupled to the at least one third processor, the third non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer software comprising a third set of instructions that, when executed by the at least one third processor, causes the vehicular component to;

receive the control instructions from the computing system; and

perform one or more tasks of the vehicle based on the control instructions.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein receiving the at least one first sensor data from each of the one or more IoT-capable devices via machine-to-machine communications comprises receiving at least one first sensor data from each of the one or more IoT-capable devices via machine-to-machine communications, via one or more first application programming interfaces (“

APIs”

) established between the computing system and each of the one or more IoT-capable devices.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein autonomously controlling each of the identified one or more vehicular components to perform the one or more tasks comprises autonomously controlling each of the identified one or more vehicular components, via one or more second APIs established between the computing system and each of the one or more vehicular components.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the first set of instructions, when executed by the at least one first processor, further causes the IoT-capable device to:

determine whether at least one first sensor data from the one or more first sensors exceeds a predetermined threshold for each corresponding type of sensor;

wherein sending the at least one first sensor data to the computing system via machine-to-machine communications, via the first transceiver, comprises sending the at least one first sensor data to the computing system via machine-to-machine communications, via the first transceiver, in response to a determination that the at least one first sensor data from the one or more first sensors exceeds the predetermined threshold for each corresponding type of sensor; and

in response to a determination that at least one second sensor data from the one or more first sensors does not exceed the predetermined threshold for at least one corresponding type of sensor, prevent the at least one second sensor data from being sent to the computing system.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the identified one or more vehicular components comprise at least one of a vehicle communications system or a transceiver in communication with an external IoT-capable device that is external to the vehicle, wherein the one or more IoT-capable devices comprise at least one of a speed sensor, one or more brake sensors, a location sensor, an air quality sensor, one or more cameras, one or more tire pressure sensors, an engine temperature sensor, a fuel level sensor, one or more proximity sensors, one or more occupant sensors, one or more impact sensors, one or more stress sensors, or one or more suspension system diagnostic sensors.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the computing system comprises one of a single processor disposed within the vehicle, a plurality of processors disposed within the vehicle, an IoT management node disposed within the vehicle, an IoT management node disposed at a customer premises associated with an owner of the vehicle, an IoT management node disposed at a business premises associated with a company that owns or operates the vehicle, an IoT management node disposed at a service provider facility associated with providing services to the owner of the vehicle, a server computer remote from the vehicle, a cloud computing system, a distributed computing system that integrates computing resources from one or more IoT-capable devices, or a combination of two or more of these computing systems.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

one or more first processors; and

a non-transitory computer readable medium communicatively coupled with the one or more first processors, the non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer software comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by the one or more first processors, causes the apparatus to;

receive at least one first sensor data from each of one or more Internet of Things (“

IoT”

)-capable devices via machine-to-machine communications, each of the one or more IoT-capable devices comprising one or more first sensors that collect the at least one first sensor data;

analyze the at least one first sensor data to determine one or more first actions to be taken;

identify one or more vehicular components associated with a vehicle for performing the determined one or more first actions to be taken, based on the at least one first sensor data from each of the one or more IoT-capable devices; and

autonomously control each of the identified one or more vehicular components to perform one or more tasks, based on the determined one or more first actions to be taken.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the apparatus is one of a processing device disposed within the vehicle, an IoT management node disposed within the vehicle, an IoT management node disposed at a customer premises associated with an owner of the vehicle, an IoT management node disposed at a business premises associated with a company that owns or operates the vehicle, an IoT management node disposed at a service provider facility associated with providing services to the owner of the vehicle, a server computer remote from the vehicle, or a distributed computing system that integrates computing resources from one or more IoT-capable devices.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein autonomously controlling each of the identified one or more vehicular components to perform the one or more tasks comprises sending one or more first control instructions to each of the identified one or more vehicular components to perform the one or more tasks, based on the determined one or more first actions to be taken.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein receiving the at least one first sensor data from each of the one or more IoT-capable devices via machine-to-machine communications comprises receiving at least one first sensor data from each of the one or more IoT-capable devices via machine-to-machine communications, via one or more first application programming interfaces (“

APIs”

) established between the computing system and each of the one or more IoT-capable devices.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein autonomously controlling each of the identified one or more vehicular components to perform the one or more tasks comprises autonomously controlling each of the identified one or more vehicular components, via one or more second APIs established between the computing system and each of the one or more vehicular components.