Technique for operating a vehicle effectively and safely

• US 7,535,344 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Auto Director Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: American Calcar, Inc.
• Inventors: Obradovich, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland; Donnie L
• Application Number:
  US11/417,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20060202808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.33, 340/425.5, 701/49
• US Class Current: 340/426.33
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/04 mounted on the wheel or tyre
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/20 Devices for measuring or signalling tyre temperature only
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2210/13 Aquaplaning, hydroplaning
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2210/32 Vehicle surroundings
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2220/02 Driver type; Driving style; Driver adaptive features
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/172 Determining control parameters used in the regulation, e.g. by calculations involving measured or detected parameters B60T8/17551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/20 Tyre data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/22 Psychological state; Stress level or workload
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/221 Physiology, e.g. weight, heartbeat, health or special needs
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/26 Incapacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/00 Input parameters relating to infrastructure
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/406 Traffic density
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/801 Lateral distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 : Propelling the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18145 : Cornering
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0098 : Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/025 : Active steering aids, e.g. helping the driver by actively influencing the steering system after environment evaluation B62D1/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3484 : Personalized, e.g. from learned user behaviour or user-defined profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/221 : Column-oriented storage; Management thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 : Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/00 : Methods or arrangements for processing data by operating upon the order or content of the data handled logic circuits H03K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/165 : for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 : for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 : Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/08 : Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2553 : Binding renewal aspects, e.g. using keep-alive messages

Abstract

A control system is employed in a vehicle to assist a user to operate the vehicle effectively and safely. In accordance with the invention, the system provides driving assistance to the user by taking into account the user'"'"'s physical condition, the vehicle condition and the surrounding conditions. The surrounding conditions include, e.g., road, weather and traffic conditions, external to the vehicle. The vehicle condition concerns the conditions of the brakes, steering, tires, radiator, etc. of the vehicle. Signs of fatigue, stress and illness of the user are monitored by the control system to assess the user'"'"'s physical condition.

Claims

1. A method for use in a system for personalizing a vehicle, comprising:

establishing preferences in at least first and second profiles of a user, which are associated with at least first and second modes of driving by the user, respectively;

maintaining at least first and second settings of a component of the vehicle, which correspond to the first and second profiles of the user, the first setting being in accordance with one or more of the preferences in the first profile, and the second setting being in accordance with one or more of the preferences in the second profile;

allowing a selection of one of the first and second profiles of the user, which are associated with the respective first and second modes of driving by the user;

applying to the component a setting corresponding to the selected profile; and

providing displayable data concerning the component in the setting corresponding to the selected profile.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first mode of driving includes leisure driving and the second mode of driving includes non-leisure driving.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the first profile includes a vacation profile.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the second profile includes a commuter profile.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the second profile includes an emergency profile.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least first and second settings are maintained outside the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising providing to the vehicle the setting corresponding to the selected profile in a wireless manner.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein the non-leisure driving includes time-efficient driving.

9. The method of claim 2 wherein the non-leisure driving includes aggressive driving.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the vehicle includes an automobile.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the component provides an entertainment.

12. A system for personalizing a vehicle, comprising:

an interface for establishing preferences in at least first and second profiles of a user, which are associated with at least first and second modes of driving by the user, respectively;

data storage for maintaining at least first and second settings of component of the vehicle, which correspond to the first and second profiles of the user, the first setting being in accordance with one or more of the preferences in the first profile, and the second setting being in accordance with one or more of the preferences in the second profile;

an input element for selecting one of the first and second profiles of the user, which are associated with the respective first and second modes of driving by the user;

a processor configured to apply to the component a setting corresponding to the selected profile; and

a display for providing thereon data concerning the component in the setting corresponding to the selected profile.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the first mode of driving includes leisure driving and the second mode of driving includes non-leisure driving.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the first profile includes a vacation profile.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the second profile includes a commuter profile.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the second profile includes an emergency profile.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein the at least first and second settings are maintained outside the vehicle.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the setting corresponding to the selected profile is provided to the vehicle in a wireless manner.

19. The system of claim 13 wherein the non-leisure driving includes time-efficient driving.

20. The system of claim 13 wherein the non-leisure driving includes aggressive driving.

21. The system of claim 12 wherein the vehicle includes an automobile.

22. The system of claim 12 wherein the component provides an entertainment.

23. The system of claim 12 wherein the interface includes the input device.