Methods and apparatus for state dependent micro-interaction fulfillment

• US 9,248,841 B1
• Filed: 11/24/2014
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: MacNeille, Perry Robinson, Prakah-Asante, Kwaku O., Gusikhin, Oleg Yurievitch, Strumolo, Gary Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAIGE, TYLER D
• Application Number:
  US14/551,753
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 704/275
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/21 Voice
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/08 Interaction between the driver and the control system
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/10 Interpretation of driver requests or demands

Abstract

A system includes a processor configured to begin an instance of a micro-interaction, requiring a driver response to an issued query for completion. The processor is also configured to receive an occupant-issued wait command instructing delay of the micro-interaction. Further, the processor is configured to wait for a predetermined time period in accordance with the occupant-issued wait command and then re-present the micro-interaction for completion.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

begin an instance of a micro-interaction, requiring a driver response to an issued query for completion;

receive an occupant-issued wait command instructing delay of the micro-interaction;

wait for a predetermined time period in accordance with the occupant-issued wait command; and

re-present the micro-interaction for completion.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to receive a conditional in conjunction with the wait command, and wherein the processor is configured to wait until the conditional is met in lieu of waiting for the predetermined time period.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the conditional involves a time period to elapse.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the conditional involves a vehicle state change.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the conditional involves a context change.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to record vehicle states in conjunction with the received wait command.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to record vehicle context in conjunction with the received wait command.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to record micro-interaction-type in conjunction with the received wait command.

9. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive a micro-interaction for occupant presentation;

prior to presenting the micro-interaction in a vehicle, gather data relating to at least one of vehicle context, vehicle system states and micro-interaction-type;

determine if the gathered data matches recorded data defining conditions under which a wait command has been issued with a threshold frequency; and

automatically delay presentation of the micro-interaction until a wait-command-associated wait condition is met.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the wait condition is a NULL condition, and wherein the processor is configured to delay presentation for a predetermined time period associated with a NULL condition.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the condition involves a vehicle state change, and wherein the processor is configured to delay presentation until the vehicle state change occurs.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the condition involves a context change, and wherein the processor is configured to delay presentation until the context change occurs.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the vehicle context includes a time of day.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the vehicle context includes weather conditions at a vehicle location.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the vehicle context includes a traffic-level at a vehicle location.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the vehicle context includes whether or not children are present as vehicle occupants.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein the vehicle context includes a road-type on which the vehicle is traveling.

18. The system of claim 9, wherein the vehicle context includes a day of week.

19. The system of claim 9, wherein the vehicle context includes a vehicle location.

20. A computer-implemented method comprising:

beginning an instance of a micro-interaction, via a vehicle computer, requiring a driver response to an issued query for completion;

receiving an occupant-issued wait command instructing delay of the micro-interaction;

waiting for a predetermined time period in accordance with the occupant-issued wait command; and

re-presenting the micro-interaction for completion.