Communicating position information between vehicles

• US 6,791,471 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2002
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ent Services Development Corporation LP (DXC Technology Company)
• Original Assignee: Electronic Data Systems Corporation (Perspecta, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wehner, Lawrence C., Crowder, Michael A., DePrez, Mary K.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US10/260,528
• Publication Number:
  US 20040061600A1
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 340/903, 340/904, 340/988, 340/426.16, 340/438, 340/441, 340/435, 340/436, 701/301
• US Class Current: 340/903
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0072 Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/163 involving continuous checking
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

Wireless communication between vehicles may permit position information about one vehicle to be communicated directly to another vehicle. Such an information exchange between vehicles may increase the awareness of an operator of a vehicle to other vehicles in the surrounding environment and may help a vehicle operator operate the vehicle more safely. Vehicles may share through the use of wireless communications position, direction, speed, or other information, such as the deployment of safety devices or the presence of particular types of vehicles (e.g., an emergency vehicle or school bus). The vehicle that receives a wireless communication compares the position, direction, and speed of incoming information from another vehicle to the vehicle'"'"'s own speed, direction, and position to determine whether action is required. The action taken by the vehicle may include providing general or specific warnings to the operator of the vehicle or, in some cases, taking direct action, such as turning off cruise control, applying brakes, or deploying traction control.

Claims

1. A method for communicating position information between vehicles, the method comprising:

broadcasting from a first vehicle a message using a wireless communication pathway, the message describing a position of the first vehicle, a speed of the first vehicle, a direction in which the first vehicle is traveling and status information of the first vehicle wherein the status information indicates a status of a system in the first vehicle or indicates an abrupt change in speed or direction of the first vehicle;

receiving the message at a second vehicle;

determining a position of the second vehicle, a speed of the second vehicle, and a direction in which the second vehicle is traveling; and

comparing the position of the first vehicle, the speed of the first vehicle, and the direction in which the first vehicle is traveling with the position of the second vehicle, the speed of the second vehicle, and the direction in which the second vehicle is traveling to determine whether an action is required by the second vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining status information of the second vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising comparing the position, speed, direction, and status information of the first vehicle with the position, speed, direction, and status information of the second vehicle to determine whether an action is required by the second vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating one or more warnings to the operator of the second vehicle when an action is required.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein generating one or more warnings comprises generating one or more of an audible warning, a visual warning or a haptic warning.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising controlling one or more components of the second vehicle when an action is required.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising permitting user selection of components of the second vehicle that are controlled when an action is required.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein controlling one or more components of the second vehicle comprises controlling one or more of a cruise control system, a braking system, an anti-lock braking system, a traction control system, or a throttle.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising detecting a significant change in the position of the first vehicle, the speed of the first vehicle, the direction in which the first vehicle is traveling, or a status of the first vehicle, wherein broadcasting the message from the first vehicle comprises broadcasting the message using the wireless communication pathway only when a significant change is detected in one or more of the position, speed, travel direction or status of the first vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the status information of the first vehicle comprises a status indicating one or more of a deployment of one or more airbags, an application of traction control, a non-moving status of the first vehicle, an abrupt change of direction, rapid acceleration, or rapid deceleration.

11. A vehicle that processes position information received from other vehicles, the vehicle comprising a processor connected to a storage device and connected to one or more input/output devices, with the processor being configured to:

receive from a second vehicle a message sent using a wireless communication pathway, the message describing a position of the second vehicle, a speed of the second vehicle, a direction in which the second vehicle is traveling and status information of the first vehicle wherein the status information of the first vehicle indicates a status of a system in the first vehicle or indicates an abrupt change in speed or direction of the first vehicle;

determine a position of the vehicle, a speed of the vehicle, and a direction in which the vehicle is traveling; and

compare the position, speed, and travel direction of the vehicle with the position, speed, and travel direction of the second vehicle to determine whether an action is required by the second vehicle.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the processor is further configured to determine status information of the vehicle.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the processor is further configured to compare the position, speed, travel direction, and status information of the vehicle with the position, speed, travel direction and status information of the second vehicle to determine whether an action is required by the vehicle.

14. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the processor is further configured to generate one or more warnings to the operator of the vehicle based on the received message when an action is required.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 wherein the processor is configured to generate one or more of an audible warning, a visual warning or a haptic warning.

16. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the processor is further configured to control one or more components of the vehicle when an action is required.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein the processor is further configured to permit user selection of components of the vehicle that are controlled when an action is required.

18. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein the one or more components of the vehicle comprises a cruise control system, a braking system, anti-lock braking system, traction controls system, or a throttle.

19. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the vehicle comprises an automobile, a truck, a train, or a bus.

20. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the one or more input/output devices comprise one or more of a sound system speaker, a dashboard light, or a haptic control for a steering wheel which is capable of vibrating the steering wheel.

21. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the status information of the first vehicle comprises a status indicating one or more of a deployment of one or more airbags, an application of traction control, a non-moving status of the first vehicle, an abrupt change of direction, rapid acceleration, or rapid deceleration.

22. A method for communicating position information between vehicles, the method comprising:

broadcasting from a first vehicle a message using a wireless communication pathway, the message describing a position of the first vehicle, a speed of the first vehicle, a direction in which the first vehicle is traveling, and a type of the first vehicle wherein the type of the first vehicle is an approaching emergency vehicle or a bus that is loading or unloading passengers;

receiving the message at a second vehicle;

determining a position of the second vehicle, a speed of the second vehicle, and a direction in which the second vehicle is traveling; and

comparing the position of the first vehicle, the speed of the first vehicle, the direction in which the first vehicle is traveling, and the type of the first vehicle with the position of the second vehicle, the speed of the second vehicle, and the direction in which the second vehicle is traveling to determine whether an action is required by the second vehicle.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the type of the first vehicle comprises a school bus that is loading or unloading school children.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising generating one or more warnings to the operator of the second vehicle when the first vehicle is an emergency vehicle approaching the second vehicle.

25. The method of claim 22 further comprising generating one or more warnings to the operator of the second vehicle when the first vehicle is a bus that is unloading or unloading passengers, the bus is in a travel path of the second vehicle, and the second vehicle is approaching the bus.

26. A vehicle that processes position information received from other vehicles, the vehicle comprising a processor connected to a storage device and connected to one or more input/output devices, with the processor being configured to:

receive from a second vehicle a message sent using a wireless communication pathway, the message describing a position of the second vehicle, a speed of the second vehicle, a direction in which the second vehicle is traveling, and a type of the first vehicle wherein the type of the first vehicle is an approaching emergency vehicle or a bus that is loading or unloading passengers;

determine a position of the vehicle, a speed of the vehicle, and a direction in which the vehicle is traveling; and

compare the position, speed, and travel direction of the vehicle with the position, speed, and travel direction of the second vehicle to determine whether an action is required by the vehicle.

27. The vehicle of claim 26 wherein the type of the first vehicle comprises a school bus that is loading or unloading school children.

28. The vehicle of claim 26 wherein the processor is further configured to generate one or more warnings to the operator of the second vehicle when the first vehicle is an emergency vehicle approaching the second vehicle.

29. The vehicle of claim 26 wherein the processor is further configured to generate one or more warnings to the operator of the second vehicle when the first vehicle is bus that is loading or unloading passengers, the bus is in travel path of the second vehicle, and the second vehicle is approaching the bus.