Driver information and dialog system

• US 8,223,005 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2007
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Koenig, Winfried
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl
• Application Number:
  US12/312,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20100127843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,777 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/439, 340/540, 340/903, 701/123, 701/1, 701/200, 701/22, 701/23, 701/29, 702/182, 702/183, 702/188, 702/22
• US Class Current: 340/439
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/09 Driving style or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention

Abstract

A driver information and dialog system disposed in a vehicle and relating to driver behavior data and driver condition data, having a data acquisition device and an input/output device, the output device informing the driver about a collecting, storage, use, processing, and or transmission of driver behavior data and driver condition data, and the input device allowing the driver to transmit his decision consenting to or denying the collecting, storage, use, processing, and/or transmission of driver behavior data and driver condition data. Furthermore, a method for informing the driver and for dialog with the driver regarding driver behavior data and driver condition data collected in a vehicle, the driver being informed about the collecting, storage, use, processing, and/or transmission of driver behavior data and driver condition data, and the driver making decisions about the collecting, storage, use, processing, and/or transmission of driver behavior data and driver condition data.

Claims

1. A driver information and dialog system that is situated in a vehicle, comprising:

a data acquisition device;

an output device informing a driver of the vehicle about at least one of a collecting, storage, use, processing and transmission of driver behavior data and driver condition data; and

an input device allowing the driver to transmit a decision of the driver consenting to or denying the at least one of the collecting, storage, use, processing, and transmission of driver behavior data and driver condition data, wherein the input device is configured for receiving a plurality of consent decisions that are inputtable in the alternative and that differ with respect to an amount of driver behavior data and an amount of driver condition data indicated to be at least one of collected, stored, used, processed, and transmitted.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the data acquisition device acquires data from at least one of (a) a navigation system, (b) at least one driving condition sensor, (c) at least one driver assistance system, (d) a driver monitoring sensor system, and (e) a driver condition sensor system.

3. The system according to claim 2, further comprising an evaluation system for receiving the acquired data.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the output device provides output to the driver in accordance with the amount of driver behavior data and the amount of driver condition data indicated by the decision, the output including at least one of (a) driver behavior information, (b) driver condition information, and (c) suggestions to the driver, as a function of at least one evaluation result of the evaluation system.

5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a data transmission system for exchanging data with at least one stationary device.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the decision is customizable via a user interface of the input device, the user interface including a selectable option for a general scope of advising and a selectable option for a general level of confidentiality.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the decision is customizable via a user interface of the input device, the user interface including separate recording, storage and transmission options for each category in the following list of categories:

vehicle speed, distance to a preceding vehicle, lane departure, driver circulation, and driver tiredness.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

the decision is customizable via a user interface of the input device, the user interface presenting the driver with a selectable choice between an expert mode and a comfort mode;

the comfort mode includes a selectable option for a general scope of advising and a selectable option for a general level of confidentiality; and

the expert mode includes separate selectable recording, storage and transmission options for each category in the following list of categories;

vehicle speed, distance to a preceding vehicle, lane departure, driver circulation, and driver tiredness.

9. A method for informing a driver of a vehicle and for having a dialog with the driver regarding driver behavior data and driver condition data, the method comprising:

informing the driver about at least one of a collecting, storage, use, processing, and transmission of driver behavior data and driver condition data in the vehicle; and

receiving a decision of the driver about the at least one of the collecting, storage, use, processing, and transmission of driver behavior data and driver condition data, wherein the decision is input via an input device that is configured for receiving a plurality of consent decisions that are inputtable in the alternative and that differ with respect to an amount of driver behavior data and an amount of driver condition data indicated to be at least one of collected, stored, used, processed, and transmitted.