Radio frequency identification object tracking

• US 8,525,694 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2010
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Schunder, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): MCNALLY, KERRI L
• Application Number:
  US12/974,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20120154174A1
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 340/901, 340/905
• US Class Current: 340/901
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes

Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes detecting, through an RF transceiver in communication with a vehicle computing system, the proximate presence of one or more RFID tags. The method also includes determining, via the vehicle computing system, a type of potential hazard to which the detected tag corresponds. The method further includes notifying, via the vehicle computing system, a driver of the presence of the determined type of potential hazard.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

detecting, through an RF transceiver communicating with a vehicle computing system (VCS), the proximate presence of an RFID tag;

determining, via the VCS, a hazard type associated with the detected tag;

notifying a driver of the hazard; and

adding resistance against an attempted braking action that is determined to likely bring the vehicle in contact with the hazard.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the potential type of hazard is another vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the potential type of hazard is a bicycle or a pedestrian.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining further includes determining a proximity of the detected RFID tag.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the notifying further includes notifying the driver of the determined proximity of the detected RFID tag.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the proximity is determined to be within a range.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the proximity is determined as an actual value.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining further includes determining a direction, with respect to the orientation of a vehicle which the driver is driving, of the detected RFID tag.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the notifying further includes notifying the driver of the determined direction of the detected RFID tag.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing feedback, via the vehicle computing system, if the driver attempts a driving action that would likely bring the vehicle in contact with an object bearing the detected RFID tag.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the feedback includes a warning.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the feedback includes adding resistance to the attempted driving action.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the attempted driving action is a turn.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the attempted driving action is a lane shift.

15. A vehicle system, comprising:

an RF transceiver in communication with a processor, configured to detect the proximate presence of an RFID tag; and

wherein the processor is configured to;

determine a hazard type associated with the tag;

notify a driver of the presence of the determined type of potential hazard; and

add resistance against an attempted braking action that is determined to likely bring the vehicle in contact with the hazard.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

at least one feedback causing logic routine, stored in a memory of the vehicle computing system and executable by a processor of the vehicle computing system, operable to cause feedback if the driver attempts a driving action that would likely bring the vehicle in contact with an object bearing the detected RFID tag.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, storing instructions that, when executed, cause a vehicle computing system to perform a method comprising:

detecting, through an RF transceiver the proximate presence of an RFID tag;

determining a type to which the detected tag corresponds;

notifying a driver of the hazard; and

adding resistance against an attempted braking action that is determined to likely bring the vehicle in contact with the hazard.

18. The computer programmable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

causing feedback, via the vehicle computing system, if the driver attempts a driving action that would likely bring the vehicle in contact with an object bearing the detected RFID tag.