System and method for hazard detection and sharing

• US 9,031,779 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2012
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Djugash, Joseph Maria Angelo
• Primary Examiner(s): Badii, Behrang
• Assistant Examiner(s): TESTARDI, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US13/484,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20130325325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• Field of Search: 701/423, 701/425
• US Class Current: 701/425
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3461 Preferred or disfavoured areas, e.g. dangerous zones, toll or emission zones, intersections, manoeuvre types, segments such as motorways, toll roads, ferries
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3691 Retrieval, searching and output of information related to real-time traffic, weather, or environmental conditions arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions G08G1/09
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/012 from other sources than vehicle or roadside beacons, e.g. mobile networks
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0129 for creating historical data or processing based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0141 for traffic information dissemination
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/02 using treadles built into the road pads or other sensitive devices responsive to passage of vehicles E01F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA

Abstract

A system and method for a navigation system including a hazard avoidance feature is disclosed. The system and method allows for professionals, civilians, vehicles, robots and computer systems to collaborate and share information regarding hazards, defects, obstacles, flaws, and other abnormalities that exist in any environment. Routes may be planned that avoid these hazards reducing lost time or frustration. Moreover, the system and method is configured for participants to detect, catalog, and share information related to obstacles.

Claims

1. A computer-based method comprising the steps of:

receiving, at a processor, first data defining a hazard sensed by a first sensor on a first device and confirmation data sensed by a second sensor on a second device, the second sensor having a greater accuracy than the first sensor and the confirmation data being used to confirm the hazard sensed by the first sensor;

storing, in a memory, second data defining the hazard based on the confirmation data;

receiving, at the processor;

a selection of a class of hazards to be avoided, and

a request for updated hazard information within a geographic boundary from a navigation device;

determining, by the navigation device, a proposed route based on;

a destination,

the second data, and

the class of hazards to be avoided; and

displaying, on a display of the navigation device, the proposed route.

2. The computer-based method of claim 1, wherein the hazard is at least one of a geographic hazard, issue in need of repair, an impediment to rate of travel, an impediment to safety, a nuisance, a detour or a strain on travel.

3. The computer-lased method of claim 1, wherein the hazard affects the time needed to reach the destination.

4. The computer-based method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting to a provider, via a network device, the second data in response to the hazard being at least one of removed or investigated.

5. The computer-based method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting to a responsible repair person, via a network device, the second data.

6. The computer-based method of claim 1, wherein the hazard is at least one of located in a building, on a path, in a park, on a sidewalk, or in a shopping mall.

7. The computer-based method of claim 1, wherein aspects of the computer-based method are provided by a mobile app.

8. The computer-based method of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is at least one of an image sensor, a vibration sensor, a sound sensor, a proximity detector, a position detector, a force sensor, a distance sensor, a laser scanner or a radar sensor.

9. The computer-based method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the proposed route includes at least a portion of a path, a road, a hallway, a park, a waterway, a staircase, a trail or an elevator.

10. The computer-based method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the processor, repair data associated with the hazard from a repair person responsible for the hazard'"'"'s repair; and

modifying, in the memory, the second data based on the repair data.

11. The computer-based method of claim 1, further comprising verifying, by the processor, the identity of a user of the first device.

12. The computer-based method of claim 1, wherein the navigation device is configured to display the proposed route on a display.

13. The computer-based method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, via a network device, the second data to the navigation device in substantially real-time.

14. The computer-based method of claim 1, wherein the class of hazards are selected based on a user profile.

15. The computer-based method of claim 1, wherein the second data is detected by a passive sensor.

16. A system comprising:

a processor configured to identify hazards,

a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the processor,

the tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving, by the processor, first data defining a hazard sensed by a first sensor on a first device and confirmation data sensed by a second sensor on a second device, the second sensor having a greater accuracy than the first sensor and the confirmation data being used to confirm the hazard sensed by the first sensor;

storing, in a memory, second data defining the hazard based on the confirmation data;

receiving, by the processor;

a selection of a class of hazards to be avoided, and

a request, from a navigation device, for updated hazard information within a geographic boundary;

determining, by the navigation device, a proposed route based on;

a destination,

the second data, and

the class of hazards to be avoided; and

displaying, on a display of the navigation device, the proposed route.

17. An article of manufacture including a non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a computer-based system configured to identify hazards, cause the computer-based system to perform operations comprising:

receiving, by the computer-based system, first data defining a hazard sensed by a first sensor on a first device and confirmation data sensed by a second sensor on a second device, the second sensor having a greater accuracy than the first sensor and the confirmation data being used to confirm the hazard sensed by the first sensor;

storing, by the computer-based system, second data defining the hazard based on the confirmation data;

receiving, by the computer-based system;

a selection of a class of hazards to be avoided, and

a request, from a navigation device, for updated hazard information within a geographic boundary;

determining, by the navigation device, a proposed route based on;

a destination,

the second data, and

the class of hazards to be avoided; and

displaying, on a display of the navigation device, the proposed route.