Facilitating vehicle merging utilizing road markers

• US 9,076,339 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2013
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Hawkes, Philip Michael, Rose, Gregory Gordon
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US13/769,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20140232560A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 340/905, 340/435, 340901-903, 340/425.5, 340/436, 340/907, 340/932, 340/933, 340/937, 340909-910, 340/438
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0116 from roadside infrastructure, e.g. beacons
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0133 for classifying traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0145 for active traffic flow control
• 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 1/07 Controlling traffic signals
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/075 Ramp control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/164 Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus, system, and method to utilize a plurality of road markers to aid a vehicle in merging into a lane. The lane that the merging vehicle desires to merge into is determined. Further, the position of the merging vehicle is determined. Target vehicles are then notified about the merging vehicle utilizing the plurality of road markers.

Claims

1. A method of utilizing a plurality of road markers to aid a vehicle in merging into a lane comprising:

determining the lane that the merging vehicle desires to merge into;

determining a position of the merging vehicle; and

notifying target vehicles about the merging vehicle utilizing the plurality of road markers, the notifying further comprising transmitting commands to the plurality of road markers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the lane that the merging vehicle desires to merge into further comprises receiving a message from the merging vehicle indicating the direction in which the merging vehicle is merging.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the message from the merging vehicle indicating the direction in which the merging vehicle is merging is generated based upon a driver actuating an indicator.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the indicator is at least one of a lever, a button, or a microphone to receive a sound.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the lane that the merging vehicle desires to merge into further comprises determining the lane based upon the physical characteristics of the lane.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the position of the merging vehicle further comprises receiving a position message indicating the position of the merging vehicle.

7. The method claim 1, wherein notifying the target vehicles about the merging vehicle utilizing the plurality of road markers further comprises changing the presentation of the road markers in front of the target vehicles to provide a visual indication that the merging vehicle is merging lanes.

8. The method claim 7, wherein changing the presentation of the road markers includes emitting a light at a particular frequency and in a particular color.

9. The method claim 8, wherein emitting the light at the particular frequency further indicates a desirable speed to the drivers of the target vehicles.

10. The method claim 1, further comprising changing the presentation of the road markers in front of the merging vehicle to provide a visual indication that it is safe for the merging vehicle to merge lanes.

11. The method claim 10, wherein changing the presentation of the road markers includes emitting a light at a particular frequency and in a particular color.

12. The method claim 11, wherein emitting the light at the particular frequency further indicates a desirable speed to the driver of the merging vehicle.

13. The method claim 10, further comprising changing the presentation of the road markers in front of the merging vehicle to provide a visual indication that it is not safe for the merging vehicle to merge lanes.

14. The method claim 1, wherein notifying the target vehicles about the merging vehicle further comprises commanding a wireless communication to the target vehicles notifying the target vehicles about the merging vehicle.

15. The method claim 14, wherein the notification is at least one of an audio or visual communication.

16. The method claim 1, wherein determining the lane that merging vehicle desires to merge into further comprises receiving a message from the merging vehicle indicating the direction in which the merging vehicle is merging in which the merging vehicle is an automated vehicle and driver input is not utilized.

17. The method claim 1, wherein a merger controlling computer tracks and stores an amount of lane merges by vehicles.

18. A merger controlling computer to command a plurality of road markers to aid a vehicle in merging into a lane comprising:

an interface; and

a processor to control operations including;

determining the lane that the merging vehicle desires to merge into;

determining a position of the merging vehicle; and

transmitting commands through the interface to the plurality of road markers to notify target vehicles about the merging vehicle.

19. The merger controlling computer of claim 18, wherein determining the lane that the merging vehicle desires to merge into further comprises receiving a message from the merging vehicle indicating the direction in which the merging vehicle is merging.

20. The merger controlling computer of claim 19, wherein the message from the merging vehicle indicating the direction in which the merging vehicle is merging is generated based upon a driver actuating an indicator.

21. The merger controlling computer of claim 20, wherein the indicator is at least one of a lever, a button, or a microphone to receive a sound.

22. The merger controlling computer of claim 18, wherein determining the lane that the merging vehicle desires to merge into further comprises determining the lane based upon the physical characteristics of the lane.

23. The merger controlling computer of claim 18, wherein determining the position of the merging vehicle further comprises receiving a position message indicating the position of the merging vehicle.

24. The merger controlling computer of claim 18, wherein notifying the target vehicles about the merging vehicle further comprises transmitting commands to the road markers in front of the target vehicles to provide a visual indication that the merging vehicle is merging lanes.

25. The merger controlling computer of claim 24, wherein commanding the road markers in front of the target vehicles to provide a visual indication further comprises commanding the road markers to emit a light at a particular frequency and in a particular color.

26. The merger controlling computer of claim 25, wherein emitting the light at the particular frequency further indicates a desirable speed to the drivers of the target vehicles.

27. The merger controlling computer of claim 18, further comprising transmitting commands to the road markers in front of the merging vehicle to provide a visual indication that it is safe for the merging vehicle to merge lanes.

28. The merger controlling computer of claim 27, wherein providing the visual indication that it is safe for the merging vehicle to merge lanes includes commanding the road markers in front of the merging vehicle to emit a light at a particular frequency and in a particular color.

29. The merger controlling computer of claim 18, further comprising transmitting commands to the plurality of road markers in front of the merging vehicle to provide a visual indication that it is not safe for the merging vehicle to merge lanes.

30. The merger controlling computer of claim 18, wherein notifying the target vehicles about the merging vehicle further comprises commanding a wireless communication to the target vehicles notifying the target vehicles about the merging vehicle.

31. The merger controlling computer of claim 30, wherein the notification is at least one of an audio or visual communication.

32. The merger controlling computer of claim 18, wherein determining the lane that merging vehicle desires to merge into further comprises receiving a message from the merging vehicle indicating the direction in which the merging vehicle is merging in which the merging vehicle is an automated vehicle and driver input is not utilized.

33. The merger controlling computer of claim 18, wherein the merger controlling computer further tracks and stores an amount of lane merges by vehicles.

34. A merger controlling computer to command a plurality of road markers to aid a vehicle in merging into a lane comprising:

means for determining the lane that the merging vehicle desires to merge into;

means for determining a position of the merging vehicle; and

means for notifying target vehicles about the merging vehicle utilizing the plurality of road markers, the means for notifying further comprising means for transmitting commands to the plurality of road markers.

35. The merger controlling computer of claim 34, wherein determining the lane that the merging vehicle desires to merge into further comprises means for receiving a message from the merging vehicle indicating the direction in which the merging vehicle is merging.

36. The merger controlling computer of claim 35, wherein the message from the merging vehicle indicating the direction in which the merging vehicle is merging is generated based upon a driver actuating an indicator.

37. The merger controlling computer of claim 36, wherein the indicator is at least one of a lever, a button, or a microphone to receive a sound.

38. The merger controlling computer of claim 34, wherein determining the lane that the merging vehicle desires to merge into further comprises means for determining the lane based upon the physical characteristics of the lane.

39. The merger controlling computer of claim 34, wherein determining the position of the merging vehicle further comprises means for receiving a position message indicating the position of the merging vehicle.

40. The merger controlling computer of claim 34, wherein notifying the target vehicles about the merging vehicle utilizing the plurality of road markers further comprises means for changing the presentation of the road markers in front of the target vehicles to provide a visual indication that the merging vehicle is merging lanes.

41. The merger controlling computer of claim 40, wherein changing the presentation of the road markers includes emitting a light at a particular frequency and in a particular color.

42. The merger controlling computer of claim 41, wherein emitting the light at the particular frequency further indicates a desirable speed to the drivers of the target vehicles.

43. The merger controlling computer of claim 34, further comprising means for changing the presentation of the road markers in front of the merging vehicle to provide a visual indication that it is safe for the merging vehicle to merge lanes.

44. The merger controlling computer of claim 43, wherein changing the presentation of the road markers includes emitting a light at a particular frequency and in a particular color.

45. The merger controlling computer of claim 44, wherein emitting the light at the particular frequency further indicates a desirable speed to the driver of the merging vehicle.

46. The merger controlling computer of claim 34, further comprising means for changing the presentation of the road markers in front of the merging vehicle to provide a visual indication that it is not safe for the merging vehicle to merge lanes.

47. The merger controlling computer of claim 34, wherein notifying the target vehicles about the merging vehicle further comprises means for commanding a wireless communication to the target vehicles notifying the target vehicles about the merging vehicle.

48. The merger controlling computer of claim 47, wherein the notification is at least one of an audio or visual communication.

49. A computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising code for;

determining a lane that a merging vehicle desires to merge into;

determining a position of the merging vehicle; and

notifying target vehicles about the merging vehicle utilizing a plurality of road markers, the notifying further comprising transmitting commands to the plurality of road markers.

50. The computer program product of claim 49, wherein determining the lane that the merging vehicle desires to merge into further comprises code for receiving a message from the merging vehicle indicating the direction in which the merging vehicle is merging.

51. The computer program product of claim 50, wherein the message from the merging vehicle indicating the direction in which the merging vehicle is merging is generated based upon a driver actuating an indicator.

52. The computer program product of claim 51, wherein the indicator is at least one of a lever, a button, or a microphone to receive a sound.

53. The computer program product of claim 49, wherein determining the lane that the merging vehicle desires to merge into further comprises code for determining the lane based upon the physical characteristics of the lane.

54. The computer program product of claim 49, wherein determining the position of the merging vehicle further comprises code for receiving a position message indicating the position of the merging vehicle.

55. The computer program product of claim 49, wherein notifying the target vehicles about the merging vehicle utilizing the plurality of road markers further comprises code for changing the presentation of the road markers in front of the target vehicles to provide a visual indication that the merging vehicle is merging lanes.

56. The computer program product of claim 55, wherein changing the presentation of the road markers includes emitting a light at a particular frequency and in a particular color.

57. The computer program product of claim 56, wherein emitting the light at the particular frequency further indicates a desirable speed to the drivers of the target vehicles.

58. The computer program product of claim 49, further comprising code for changing the presentation of the road markers in front of the merging vehicle to provide a visual indication that it is safe for the merging vehicle to merge lanes.

59. The computer program product of claim 58, wherein changing the presentation of the road markers includes emitting a light at a particular frequency and in a particular color.

60. The computer program product of claim 59, wherein emitting the light at the particular frequency further indicates a desirable speed to the driver of the merging vehicle.

61. The computer program product of claim 49, further comprising code for changing the presentation of the road markers in front of the merging vehicle to provide a visual indication that it is not safe for the merging vehicle to merge lanes.

62. The computer program product of claim 49, wherein notifying the target vehicles about the merging vehicle further comprises code for commanding a wireless communication to the target vehicles notifying the target vehicles about the merging vehicle.

63. The computer program product of claim 62, wherein the notification is at least one of an audio or visual communication.