Method and apparatus for generating notification of changed conditions behind a vehicle
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for conveying information about a change in conditions behind a vehicle, the method comprising:
- gathering first information about a first set of conditions behind the vehicle at a first time;
gathering second information about a second set of conditions behind the vehicle at a second time later than the first time;
comparing the first information and the second information to determine a plurality of differences between the first set of conditions and the second set of conditions behind the vehicle;
determining whether the plurality of differences meet a notification criterion, wherein determining whether the plurality of differences meet the notification criterion comprises combining the plurality of differences with a plurality of weighting factors to derive a composite difference; and
generating a notification conveying information about a change in conditions behind a vehicle where the plurality of differences meet the notification criterion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
According to the present invention, methods and apparatus are provided to generate notification about condition changes behind a vehicle. Information about a first set of conditions behind a vehicle is gathered at a first point in time. Information can be gathered using imaging devices, infrared detectors, distance meters, light intensity sensors, and timing devices. At a later point in time, information about a second set of conditions behind the vehicle is gathered. The information gathered at a first point in time is compared to the information gathered at the later point in time to determine differences between the conditions behind the vehicle. If the differences meet a notification criterion, a notification is generated conveying information about the changed conditions behind the vehicle.
58 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for conveying information about a change in conditions behind a vehicle, the method comprising:
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gathering first information about a first set of conditions behind the vehicle at a first time;
gathering second information about a second set of conditions behind the vehicle at a second time later than the first time;
comparing the first information and the second information to determine a plurality of differences between the first set of conditions and the second set of conditions behind the vehicle;
determining whether the plurality of differences meet a notification criterion, wherein determining whether the plurality of differences meet the notification criterion comprises combining the plurality of differences with a plurality of weighting factors to derive a composite difference; and
generating a notification conveying information about a change in conditions behind a vehicle where the plurality of differences meet the notification criterion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
creating a first archetype from first information about first conditions; and
creating a second archetype from second information about second conditions.
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7. The method of claim 6, wherein comparing the first information and the second information further comprises:
subtracting the first archetype from the second archetype to determine the difference between first information and second information.
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8. The method of claim 7, wherein comparing the first information and the second information further comprises:
assigning a quantitative value to the difference between first information and second information.
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9. The method of claim 8, wherein significant differences between first information and second information exist when the quantitative value exceeds a predetermined value.
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10. The method of claim 6, wherein comparing the first information and the second information further comprises determining differences in light intensity levels.
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11. The method of claim 6, wherein the first archetype and the second archetype are generated using digital imagery.
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12. The method of claim 6, wherein the first archetype and the second archetype are generated using infrared imagery.
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13. The method of claim 8, wherein the quantitative value is multiplied by a weighting factor.
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14. A computer-implemented method for conveying information about changed conditions behind a vehicle, the method comprising:
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gathering first information about first rearward conditions;
recognizing that the vehicle is in reverse;
gathering second information about second rearward conditions, wherein gathering second information about second rearward conditions occurs after gathering first information about first rearward conditions;
creating a first archetype from first information about first rearward conditions;
creating a second archetype from second information about second rearward conditions;
comparing the first and second archetypes to determine differences between first rearward conditions and second rearward conditions behind the vehicle; and
generating a notification conveying information about changed conditions behind a vehicle upon determining that the differences resemble a third archetype stored in a database. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
subtracting the first archetype from the second archetype to determine the difference between first information and second information.
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18. The method of claim 17, wherein comparing the first information and the second information further comprises:
assigning a quantitative value to the difference between first information and second information.
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19. The method of claim 18, wherein significant differences between first information and second information exist when the quantitative value exceeds a predetermined value.
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20. The method of claim 14, wherein comparing the first information and the second information further comprises determining differences in light intensity levels.
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21. The method of claim 14, wherein the first archetype and the second archetype are generated using digital imagery.
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22. The method of claim 14, wherein the first archetype and the second archetype are generated using infrared imagery.
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23. The method of claim 18, wherein the quantitative value is multiplied by a weighting factor.
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24. A computer program product comprising a machine readable medium on which is provided program instructions for conveying information about a change in conditions behind a vehicle, the computer program product comprising:
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computer code for gathering first information about a first set of conditions behind the vehicle at a first time;
computer code for gathering second information about a second set of conditions behind the vehicle at a second time later than the first time;
computer code for comparing the first information and the second information to determine a plurality of differences between the first set of conditions and the second set of conditions behind the vehicle;
computer code for determining whether the plurality of differences meet a notification criterion, wherein determining whether the plurality of differences meet the notification criterion comprises combining the plurality of differences with a plurality of weighting factors to derive a composite difference; and
computer code for generating a notification conveying information about a change in conditions behind a vehicle where the plurality of differences meet the notification criterion. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
creating a first archetype from first information about first conditions; and
creating a second archetype from second information about second conditions.
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30. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein comparing the first information and the second information further comprises:
subtracting the first archetype from the second archetype to determine the difference between first information and second information.
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31. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein comparing the first information and the second information further comprises:
assigning a quantitative value to the difference between first information and second information.
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32. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein significant differences between first information and second information exist when the quantitative value exceeds a predetermined value.
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33. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein comparing the first information and the second information further comprises determining differences in light intensity levels.
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34. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein the first archetype and the second archetype are generated using digital imagery.
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35. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein the first archetype and the second archetype are generated using infrared imagery.
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36. The computer program product of claim 31, wherein the quantitative value is multiplied by a weighting factor.
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37. An apparatus for conveying information about changed conditions behind a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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a sensor system for generating data representations of a first set of conditions behind a vehicle at a first time and a second set of conditions behind a vehicle at a second time;
a processor coupled to the sensor system, the processor configured to compare the data representations of the first and second set of conditions behind the vehicle to determine a composite difference between the first set of conditions and the second set of conditions, wherein determining the composite difference comprises determining a plurality of differences and combining the plurality of differences using weighting factors;
a notification device coupled to the processor, wherein a notification about changed conditions behind a vehicle is conveyed upon determining that the differences meet a notification criterion. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
creating a first archetype from first information about first conditions; and
creating a second archetype from second information about second conditions.
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43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein comparing the first information and the second information further comprises:
subtracting the first archetype from the second archetype to determine the difference between first information and second information.
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44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein comparing the first information and the second information further comprises:
assigning a quantitative value to the difference between first information and second information.
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45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein significant differences between first information and second information exist when the quantitative value exceeds a predetermined value.
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46. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein comparing the first information and the second information further comprises determining differences in light intensity levels.
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47. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the first archetype and the second archetype are generated using digital imagery.
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48. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the first archetype and the second archetype are generated using infrared imagery.
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49. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the quantitative value is multiplied by a weighting factor.
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50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the quantitative value and the weighting factor are used to determine a composite value.
Specification