Method and apparatus for notifying drivers of space required for other vehicles

• US 9,047,766 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2013
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Tuukkanen, Marko, Beaurepaire, Jerome
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Mary
• Assistant Examiner(s): BRUSHABER, FREDERICK M
• Application Number:
  US13/859,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20140303880A1
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 701/117
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• 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 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/44 for communication between vehicles and infrastructures, e.g. vehicle-to-cloud [V2C] or vehicle-to-home [V2H]

Abstract

An approach is provided notifying a user while he or she is driving of an unmapped crossing to prevent the user from unintentionally obstructing access to the crossing. A traffic platform processes and/or facilitates a processing of traffic information associated with at least one crossing to determine one or more traffic conditions. The traffic platform determines that the one or more traffic conditions may at least potentially cause at least one obstruction of at least one other crossing by at least one vehicle. The traffic platform further causes, at least in part, a presentation of at least one notification regarding the at least one obstruction to at least one device associated with the at least one vehicle, at least one other vehicle that is potentially affected by the at least one obstruction, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the one or more traffic conditions.

Claims

1. A method comprising facilitating a processing, by at least one processor, traffic information stored on a non-transitory medium and at least one signal, wherein the the traffic information and the at least one signal is based, at least in part, on the following:

retrieving the traffic information associated with at least one crossing to determine one or more traffic conditions, wherein the traffic information stored on the non-transitory medium includes street maps and traffic patterns based upon historic information;

determining one or more traffic conditions may at least potentially cause at least one obstruction of at least one other crossing by at least one vehicle;

receiving the at least one signal, wherein the at least one signal includes an indication of the current lighting conditions; and

presenting at least one notification regarding the at least one obstruction to at least one device associated with the at least one vehicle, at least one other vehicle that is potentially affected by the at least one obstruction, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the one or more traffic conditions and based at least in part upon the indication of the lighting condition, wherein the at least one notification will be presented earlier if the lightning conditions indicate poor visibility.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein the at least one crossing, the at least one other crossing, or a combination thereof is an unmapped vehicular crossing.

3. A method of claim 1, wherein the traffic conditions are further based, at least in part, on the following:

a generation of one or more navigation instructions to cause a prevention of the at least one obstruction,

wherein the at least one notification includes, at least in part, the one or more navigation instructions.

4. A method of claim 3, wherein the one or more navigation instructions include, at least in part, at least one recommendation of an alternative speed, an alternative spacing, an alternative location, or a combination thereof for the at least one vehicle, the at least one other vehicle, or a combination thereof.

5. A method of claim 1, wherein the traffic conditions are further based, at least in part, on the following:

at least one determination that one or more vehicles are stuck ahead of the at least one crossing, attempting to turn into the at least one other crossing, or a combination thereof.

6. A method of claim 1, wherein the at least one notification is further based, at least in part, on the following:

at least one modification of the presentation of the at least one notification based, at least in part, on the one or more traffic conditions, one or more contexts, or a combination thereof.

7. A method of claim 1, wherein the traffic information is further based, at least in part, on the following:

a processing of historical information, statistical information, vehicle location information, time information, or a combination thereof to determine the traffic information.

8. A method of claim 1, wherein the traffic conditions and the at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:

a processing of sensor information associated with the one or more vehicles, the at least one vehicle, the at least one other vehicle, or a combination thereof to determine the traffic information.

9. A method of claim 1, wherein the traffic conditions are further based, at least in part, on the following:

at least one visual depiction of the at least one crossing, the at least one other crossing, or a combination thereof on the at least one device in connection with the at least one notification.

10. A method of claim 1, wherein the traffic conditions are further based, at least in part, on the following:

a processing of status information associated with one or more traffic lights proximate to the at least one crossing, the at least one other crossing, or a combination,

wherein the traffic information is further based, at least in part, on the status information.

11. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

process traffic information stored on a non-transitory medium associated with at least one crossing to determine one or more traffic conditions, wherein the traffic information stored on the non-transitory medium includes street maps and traffic patterns based upon historic information;

determine that the one or more traffic conditions may at least potentially cause at least one obstruction of at least one other crossing by at least one vehicle;

receive at least one signal, wherein the at least one signal includes an indication of the current lighting conditions; and

cause, at least in part, a presentation of at least one notification regarding the at least one obstruction to at least one device associated with the at least one vehicle, at least one other vehicle that is potentially affected by the at least one obstruction, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the one or more traffic conditions, and based at least in part on the indication of the lighting condition, wherein the at least one notification will be presented earlier if the lightning conditions indicate poor visibility.

12. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one crossing, the at least one other crossing, or a combination thereof is an unmapped vehicular crossing.

13. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

cause, at least in part, a generation of one or more navigation instructions to cause a prevention of the at least one obstruction,

wherein the at least one notification includes, at least in part, the one or more navigation instructions.

14. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the one or more navigation instructions include, at least in part, at least one recommendation of an alternative speed, an alternative spacing, an alternative location, or a combination thereof for the at least one vehicle, the at least one other vehicle, or a combination thereof.

15. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine that one or more vehicles are stuck ahead of the at least one crossing, attempting to turn into the at least one other crossing, or a combination thereof,

wherein the traffic conditions are further based, at least in part, on the one or more vehicles.

16. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

cause, at least in part, at least one modification of the presentation of the at least one notification based, at least in part, on the one or more traffic conditions, one or more contexts, or a combination thereof.

17. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

process historical information, statistical information, vehicle location information, time information, or a combination thereof to determine the traffic information.

18. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

process sensor information associated with the one or more vehicles, the at least one vehicle, the at least one other vehicle, or a combination thereof to determine the traffic information.

19. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

cause, at least in part, at least one visual depiction of the at least one crossing, the at least one other crossing, or a combination thereof on the at least one device in connection with the at least one notification.

20. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

process status information associated with one or more traffic lights proximate to the at least one crossing, the at least one other crossing, or a combination,

wherein the traffic information is further based, at least in part, on the status information.