System and method for determining a workload level of a driver

• US 7,428,449 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2006
• Issued: 09/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Temic Automotive of North America, Incorporated (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Fehr, Walton L., Picard, Rosalind, Hansman, R. John Jr., Gardner, Judith L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli; Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US11/375,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20070219672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0075 Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/22 Psychological state; Stress level or workload
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/45 External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/65 Data transmitted between vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/08 related to drivers or passengers

Abstract

System and method for determining a workload level for a driver of a vehicle. The system includes a transceiver, a positioning unit, and a controller. The transceiver is capable of receiving data from a remote location. The data includes a remote workload level and a remote geographic position associated with the remote workload level. The positioning unit is capable of determining a current position of the vehicle. The controller is configured to compare the current position of the vehicle with the remote geographic location. If the current position of the vehicle is within a predetermined range of the remote geographic position, then a workload level for the vehicle will include at least in part the remote workload level.

Claims

1. A method for determining a workload level for a driver of a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving data from a remote location, the data including a remote workload level and information associated with the remote workload level;

determining a current characteristic of the vehicle;

comparing the current characteristic of the vehicle with the information associated with the remote workload level;

determining a current workload level of the driver of the vehicle, the current workload level being based at least in part on the remote workload level.

2. The method in claim 1 wherein the information associated with the remote workload level includes at least a remote geographic position, a velocity, a heading, or an acceleration.

3. The method in claim 1 wherein the remote workload level is based on data from a plurality of sensors in at least a second vehicle.

4. The method in claim 1 further comprising the step of receiving data from a plurality of other remote locations, the data including a plurality of other remote workload levels, wherein the current workload level being based further on the plurality of other remote workload levels.

5. The method in claim 3 wherein at least one of the sensors is capable of identifying a road condition.

6. The method in claim 1 wherein the remote location is a central service center, the central service center being responsible for gathering a plurality of other workload levels from a plurality of other vehicles.

7. The method in claim 1 wherein the current workload level is used by a controller in the vehicle to prioritize information presented to the driver of the vehicle.

8. A method for determining workload levels of drivers in vehicles, the method comprising:

determining a first workload level for a first driver of a first vehicle;

determining a first position of the first vehicle;

associating the first workload level with the first position;

transmitting the first workload level and the first position to a second vehicle; and

determining a second workload level for a second driver of the second vehicle,

wherein the second workload level is determined at least in part based on the first workload level and the first position.

9. The method in claim 8 wherein the first workload level is based on data from a plurality of sensors in the first vehicle.

10. The method in claim 9 wherein at least one of the sensors includes an image sensor associated with a camera, the camera monitoring an external environment of the second vehicle.

11. The method in claim 9 wherein at least one of the sensors includes an image sensor associated with a camera, the camera monitoring an internal cabin of the second vehicle.

12. The method in claim 9 wherein at least one of the sensors is capable of identifying a road condition.

13. The method in claim 8 wherein the transmission of the first workload level to the second vehicle includes transmission through a central service center, the central service center responsible for gathering a plurality of other workload levels from a plurality of other vehicles.

14. The method in claim 8 wherein the second workload level is used by a controller in the second vehicle to prioritize information presented to the second driver of the second vehicle.

15. The method in claim 8 wherein a controller in the second vehicle compares the first position associated with the first workload level with a second position of the second vehicle, and wherein if the first position is within a predetermined range of the second position, then the second workload level is determined at least in part based on the first workload level.

16. A system for determining a workload level of a driver of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a transceiver for receiving data from a remote location, the data including a remote workload level and a remote geographic position associated with the remote workload level;

a positioning unit for determining a current position of the vehicle; and

a controller for comparing the current position of the vehicle with the remote geographic position, and determining a current workload level, the current workload level determined at least in part based on the remote workload level if the current position of the vehicle is within a predetermined range of the remote geographic position.

17. The system in claim 16 wherein the received data is derived from a plurality of sensors in a second vehicle.

18. The system in claim 17 wherein at least one of the sensors includes an image sensor associated with a camera, the camera monitoring an external environment of the second vehicle.

19. The system in claim 17 wherein at least one of the sensors includes an image sensor associated with a camera, the camera monitoring an internal cabin of the second vehicle.

20. The system in claim 17 further comprising user interface that provides information to the driver, the controller further prioritizing the information provided to the driver based at least in part on the remote workload level.