System and method to monitor and alert vehicle operator of impairment
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for alerting a vehicle operator of operator impairment comprising:
- receiving sensor data regarding the potential impairment of the vehicle operator from one or more sensors;
determining, using one or more processors, whether the sensor data indicates the vehicle operator is impaired by (i) calculating a plurality of impairment indicator scores using the received sensor data, (ii) calculating an impairment score associated with a type of impairment based upon the plurality of impairment indicator scores, and (iii) comparing the impairment score to a threshold value to determine whether the vehicle operator is impaired;
selecting, using one or more processors, one or more impairment alerts from a database of potential responses based on the sensor data when the vehicle operator is determined to be impaired, wherein selecting the one or more impairment alerts includes selecting a haptic alert from a plurality of haptic alerts from the database of potential responses; and
presenting the one or more selected impairment alerts to the vehicle operator, wherein the haptic alert is presented using a wearable computing device worn by the vehicle operator and wherein presenting the one or more impairment alerts include automatically preventing presentation of a subsequent alert within a predetermined reset period following presentation of the one or more impairment alerts.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The method, system, and computer-readable medium facilitates monitoring a vehicle operator during the course of vehicle operation to determine whether the vehicle operator is impaired (e.g., distracted, drowsy, intoxicated) and alerting the vehicle operator using a haptic alert delivered by a wearable computing device worn by the vehicle operator when impairment is detected. The method, system, and computer-readable medium may monitor the vehicle operator, the environment surrounding the vehicle, and/or forces acting on the vehicle using a variety of sensors, including optical sensors or accelerometers. In particular, optical sensors may monitor the vehicle operator to detect eye blinks, head nods, head rotations, and/or gaze fixation. Optical sensors may also monitor the road ahead of the vehicle to detect lane deviation, lane centering, and time to collision. Accelerometers may detect acceleration in the direction of vehicle travel and/or lateral acceleration.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for alerting a vehicle operator of operator impairment comprising:
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receiving sensor data regarding the potential impairment of the vehicle operator from one or more sensors; determining, using one or more processors, whether the sensor data indicates the vehicle operator is impaired by (i) calculating a plurality of impairment indicator scores using the received sensor data, (ii) calculating an impairment score associated with a type of impairment based upon the plurality of impairment indicator scores, and (iii) comparing the impairment score to a threshold value to determine whether the vehicle operator is impaired; selecting, using one or more processors, one or more impairment alerts from a database of potential responses based on the sensor data when the vehicle operator is determined to be impaired, wherein selecting the one or more impairment alerts includes selecting a haptic alert from a plurality of haptic alerts from the database of potential responses; and presenting the one or more selected impairment alerts to the vehicle operator, wherein the haptic alert is presented using a wearable computing device worn by the vehicle operator and wherein presenting the one or more impairment alerts include automatically preventing presentation of a subsequent alert within a predetermined reset period following presentation of the one or more impairment alerts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer system for alerting a vehicle operator of operator impairment comprising:
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one or more processors; one or more databases storing information regarding potential responses to impairments; one or more sensors; one or more wearable computing devices; and a program memory storing executable instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the computer system to; receive sensor data regarding the vehicle operator from the one or more sensors; determine whether the vehicle operator is impaired based on the received sensor data by (i) calculating a plurality of impairment indicator scores using the received sensor data, (ii) calculating an impairment score associated with a type of impairment based upon the plurality of impairment indicator scores, and (iii) comparing the impairment score to a threshold value to determine whether the vehicle operator is impaired; select one or more impairment alerts from the one or more databases based on the sensor data when the vehicle operator is determined to be impaired, wherein selecting the one or more impairment alerts includes selecting a haptic alert from a plurality of haptic alerts from the database of potential responses; and deliver the one or more selected impairment alerts to the vehicle operator, wherein the haptic alert is delivered to the vehicle operator using the one or more wearable computing devices and wherein delivering the haptic alert includes automatically preventing delivery of a subsequent alert within a predetermined reset period following delivery of the haptic alert. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that when executed by one or more processors of a computer system cause the computer system to:
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monitor a vehicle operator using sensor data from one or more sensors; determine whether the vehicle operator is impaired based on the received sensor data by (i) calculating a plurality of impairment indicator scores using the received sensor data, (ii) calculating an impairment score associated with a type of impairment based upon the plurality of impairment indicator scores, and (iii) comparing the impairment score to a threshold value to determine whether the vehicle operator is impaired; select one or more impairment alerts from a database of potential responses based on the received sensor data when the vehicle operator is determined to be impaired, wherein selecting the one or more impairment alerts includes selecting a haptic alert from a plurality of haptic alerts from the database of potential responses; and cause the selected one or more impairment alerts to be provided to the vehicle operator, wherein one or more wearable computing devices are caused to provide the haptic alert to the vehicle operator and wherein the one or more wearable computing devices are automatically prevented from providing a subsequent alert within a predetermined reset period following provision of the haptic alert. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification