Method and apparatus for improving a vehicle safety system using a transponder and GPS

• US 6,662,108 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2002
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: MacNeille, Perry Robinson, Miller, Ronald Hugh
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gibson, Eric M
• Application Number:
  US09/683,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20030130794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 701/45, 701/207, 701/213, 701/301, 701/214, 701/215, 340/903, 340/435, 340/436, 342/357.06, 342/357.12, 342/357.17, 342/357.15
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/164 Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for operating a pre-crash sensing system for a first vehicle having a global positioning system (GPS). The method includes receiving an acquired GPS satellite identifier and generating first vehicle location data with the GPS system. The first vehicle location is transmitted along with the satellite identifier to a second vehicle across a wireless vehicle network. Location information is also received for a detected second vehicle. In response, the first vehicle transmits a request for updated second vehicle location information using a coordinating satellite identifier. The coordinating satellite identifier is then used by the second vehicle to update the second vehicle location data. In this way, both communicating vehicles are generating and sharing location information from a commonly acquired GPS source.

Claims

1. A method for operating a pre-crash sensing system for a first vehicle having a global positioning system (GPS), the method comprising:

receiving an acquired GPS satellite identifier;

generating first vehicle location data with said GPS;

transmitting said first vehicle location data and said satellite identifier to a second vehicle across a wireless vehicle network;

receiving second vehicle location data from said second vehicle; and

generating a coordinating satellite identifier for said second vehicle to acquire for updating said second vehicle location data.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said second vehicle location data includes a second satellite identifier.

3. A method according to claim 1 further comprising transmitting said coordinating satellite identifier to said second vehicle across said vehicle network;

and

using said coordinating satellite identifier to update said first and second vehicle location data.

4. A method according to claim 3 further comprising transmitting said updated first vehicle location to said second vehicle across said vehicle network, and receiving updated second vehicle location data from said second vehicle.

5. A method according to claim 4 further comprising generating a crash threat assessment as a function of said updated first and second vehicle location data.

6. A method according to claim 4 further comprising, in response to receiving said updated second vehicle location data, generating augmented first vehicle location data as a function of said updated second vehicle location data.

7. A method according to claim 1 further comprising, in response to receiving said second vehicle location data, generating augmented first vehicle location data as a function of said second vehicle location data.

8. A method of communicating between a first vehicle and a second vehicle wherein each vehicle includes a GPS unit, the method comprising:

generating first vehicle location data with said first vehicle GPS;

transmitting a coordinating source identifier to said second vehicle across a wireless vehicle network;

generating second vehicle location data with said second vehicle GPS using data received from a GPS source corresponding to said coordinating source identifier; and

receiving at said first vehicle said second vehicle location data.

9. A method according to claim 8 further comprising generating at said first vehicle a crash threat assessment as a function of said second vehicle location data.

10. A method according to claim 8 further comprising transmitting said first vehicle location data to said second vehicle.

11. A method according to claim 8 wherein a plurality of other vehicles are in communication with said wireless vehicle network and wherein the method further comprises transmitting said coordinating source identifier to said plurality of other vehicles on said wireless vehicle network;

and

generating vehicle location data at said plurality of other vehicles using data received from a GPS source corresponding to said coordinating source identifier; and

receiving at said first vehicle, vehicle location data for said plurality of other vehicles.

12. A method according to claim 8 further comprising, in response to receiving said second vehicle location data, generating augmented first vehicle location data as a function of said second vehicle location data.

13. A communication system for communicating between a first vehicle and a second vehicle comprising:

a first vehicle having a first GPS, a first transponder, and a controller;

a second vehicle having a second GPS and a second transponder,

wherein said first and second vehicles are in operative communication across a vehicle network through said first and second transponders and said controller is programmed to generate first vehicle location data with said first GPS, transmit a coordinating source identifier to said second vehicle across said vehicle network, and receive second vehicle location data generated by said second GPS using data received from a GPS source corresponding to said coordinating source identifier.

14. A communication system according to claim 13 wherein said first vehicle further comprises an object detection system for generating an object detection signal and said controller is programmed to generate a crash treat assessment as a function of said second vehicle location data and said object detection signal.

15. A communication system according to claim 13 wherein said controller is adapted to receive second vehicle data wirelessly from said second vehicle to generate a crash threat assessment as a function of said second vehicle data.

16. A communication system according to claim 13 wherein said source identifier is an acquired satellite identifier.

17. A communication system according to claim 13 wherein said first vehicle further comprises a data storage device in operative communication with said controller, said data storage device for storing vehicle data, GPS data and object detection sensor data.