Driver reaction time measurement

• US 9,073,430 B1
• Filed: 01/07/2014
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Boss, Gregory J., Jones, Andrew R., McConnell, Kevin C., Moore, JR., John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Mary
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brushaber, Frederick
• Application Number:
  US14/149,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20150191083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/066 actuating a signalling device B60K28/063 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0075 Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/229 Attention level, e.g. attentive to driving, reading or sleeping
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/10 Historical data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/08 related to drivers or passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/30 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/90 Driver alarms

Abstract

A method and system for measuring driver reaction times is provided. The method includes identifying a driver of a vehicle and determining reaction times associated with a set of driving functions executed by the driver during a first driving process. The driver is determined to be currently driving the vehicle and currently executed driving functions are monitored. Current reaction times associated with the currently executed driving functions are identified and compared to the reaction times. Differences between the current reaction times and the reaction times are determined and logged. The differences indicate that the driver is currently executing a first driving distraction event and in response specified functions associated with the currently executed driving functions and/or the first driving distraction event are executed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining, by a computer processor of a computing system, reaction times associated with a set of driving functions executed by a driver of a vehicle, wherein said set of driving functions are executed by said driver during a first driving process of said vehicle;

after said determining said reaction times, detecting by said computer processor, said driver in said vehicle;

determining, by said computer processor, that said driver is currently driving said vehicle;

monitoring, by said computer processor, currently executed driving functions associated with said set of driving functions;

identifying, by said computer processor, current reaction times associated with said currently executed driving functions;

comparing, by said computer processor, said current reaction times with said reaction times;

determining, by said computer processor based on results of said comparing, differences between said current reaction times with said reaction times;

logging, by said computer processor, said differences to a driver action log;

determining, by said computer processor based on said driver action log, that said driver is currently executing a first driving distraction event; and

executing, by said computer processor based on said determining that said driver is currently executing a first driving distraction event, specified functions associated with at least one of said currently executed driving functions and said first driving distraction event.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said executing said specified functions comprises:

alerting said driver of said differences.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said executing said specified functions comprises:

disabling functions associated with said currently executed driving functions.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said executing said specified functions comprises:

modifying attributes of a function associated with said currently executed driving functions.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said executing said specified functions comprises:

disabling functions of a device associated with said first driving distraction event.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said executing said specified functions comprises:

modifying functions of a device associated with said first driving distraction event.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

comparing, by said computer processor, said differences to predetermined thresholds; and

determining, by said computer processor based on results of said comparing said differences to said predetermined thresholds, that said differences exceed said predetermined thresholds, wherein said executing is further based on said differences exceeding said predetermined thresholds.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said executing said specified functions comprises:

notifying an authority of said differences.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining that said driver is currently executing a first driving distraction event comprises:

enabling a video retrieval device in said vehicle;

retrieving a video stream of said driver during said currently executed driving functions;

analyzing said video stream; and

determining said first driving distraction event based on results of said analyzing.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining that said driver is currently executing a first driving distraction event comprises:

monitoring devices enabled within said vehicle;

analyzing results of said monitoring; and

determining said first driving distraction event based on results of said analyzing.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing at least one support service for at least one of creating, integrating, hosting, maintaining, and deploying computer-readable code in the computing system, said code being executed by the computer processor to implement said determining said reaction times, said detecting, said determining that said driver is currently driving said vehicle, said monitoring, said identifying, said comparing, said determining said differences, said logging, said determining that said driver is currently executing said first driving distraction event, and said executing.

12. A computing system comprising a computer processor coupled to a computer-readable memory unit, said memory unit comprising instructions that when executed by the computer processor implements a method comprising:

determining, by said computer processor, reaction times associated with a set of driving functions executed by a driver of a vehicle, wherein said set of driving functions are executed by said driver during a first driving process of said vehicle;

after said determining said reaction times, detecting by said computer processor, said driver in said vehicle;

determining, by said computer processor, that said driver is currently driving said vehicle;

monitoring, by said computer processor, currently executed driving functions associated with said set of driving functions;

identifying, by said computer processor, current reaction times associated with said currently executed driving functions;

comparing, by said computer processor, said current reaction times with said reaction times;

determining, by said computer processor based on results of said comparing, differences between said current reaction times with said reaction times;

logging, by said computer processor, said differences to a driver action log;

determining, by said computer processor based on said driver action log, that said driver is currently executing a first driving distraction event; and

executing, by said computer processor based on said determining that said driver is currently executing a first driving distraction event, specified functions associated with at least one of said currently executed driving functions and said first driving distraction event.

13. The computing system of claim 12, wherein said executing said specified functions comprises:

alerting said driver of said differences.

14. The computing system of claim 12, wherein said executing said specified functions comprises:

disabling functions associated with said currently executed driving functions.

15. The computing system of claim 12, wherein said executing said specified functions comprises:

modifying attributes of a function associated with said currently executed driving functions.

16. The computing system of claim 12, wherein said executing said specified functions comprises:

disabling functions of a device associated with said first driving distraction event.

17. The computing system of claim 12, wherein said executing said specified functions comprises:

modifying functions of a device associated with said first driving distraction event.

18. The computing system of claim 12, wherein said method further comprises:

comparing, by said computer processor, said differences to predetermined thresholds; and

determining, by said computer processor based on results of said comparing said differences to said predetermined thresholds, that said differences exceed said predetermined thresholds, wherein said executing is further based on said differences exceeding said predetermined thresholds.

19. The computing system of claim 12, wherein said executing said specified functions comprises:

notifying an authority of said differences.

20. A computer program product for technical solution analysis, the computer program product comprising:

one or more computer-readable, tangible storage devices;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to determine reaction times associated with a set of driving functions executed by a driver of a vehicle, wherein said set of driving functions are executed by said driver during a first driving process of said vehicle;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to detect said driver in said vehicle after determining said reaction times;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to determine that said driver is currently driving said vehicle;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to monitor currently executed driving functions associated with said set of driving functions;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to identify current reaction times associated with said currently executed driving functions;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to compare said current reaction times with said reaction times;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to determine differences between said current reaction times with said reaction times;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to log said differences to a driver action log;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to determine that said driver is currently executing a first driving distraction event; and

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to execute specified functions associated with at least one of currently executed driving functions and a first driving distraction event.