Method and apparatus for providing vehicle synchronization to facilitate a crossing

• US 9,349,293 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2014
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Beaurepaire, Jerome, Beaurepaire, Philippe, Tuukkanen, Marko Tapio
• Primary Examiner(s): Lau, Hoi
• Application Number:
  US14/175,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20150228195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 340/902, 340/905, 340/907, 340/944, 340/686.6, 340/436, 340/435, 340/539.23, 340/908, 701/1, 701/117, 701/36, 701/48, 701/301
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/5035 electronic displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/507 specific to autonomous vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/547 for issuing requests to other traffic participants; for confirming to other traffic participants they can proceed, e.g. they can overtake
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/50 Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 event-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/163 involving continuous checking
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

An approach is provided for determining at least one intention to perform at least one crossing of at least one object within proximity of at least one first vehicle. The approach involves determining at least one second vehicle within proximity of the at least one crossing, the at least one first vehicle, or a combination thereof. The approach further involves causing, at least in part, a signaling among at least one first device associated with the at least one first vehicle and at least one second device associated with the at least one second vehicle, wherein the signaling causes, at least in part, a synchronization of at least one movement, at least one stop, the at least one intention to perform the at least one crossing, or a combination thereof among the at least one first vehicle, the at least one second vehicle, at least one cloud service, or a combination thereof in response to the at least one request.

Claims

1. A method comprising facilitating a processing of and/or processing (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal, the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal based, at least in part, on the following:

at least one determination of at least one intention to perform at least one crossing of at least one object within proximity of at least one first vehicle;

at least one determination of at least one second vehicle within proximity of the at least one crossing, the at least one first vehicle, or a combination thereof;

a signaling among at least one first device associated with the at least one first vehicle and at least one second device associated with the at least one second vehicle,

wherein the signaling causes, at least in part, a synchronization of at least one movement, at least one stop, the at least one intention to perform the at least one crossing, or a combination thereof among the at least one first vehicle, the at least one second vehicle, at least one cloud service, or a combination thereof in response to the at least one intention and;

at least one determination of the at least one intention to perform the at least one crossing based, at least in part, on a signaling from at least one third device associated with the at least one object, a detection of the at least one object, or a combination thereof.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:

a presentation of at least one indicator to the at least one object,

wherein at least one indicator signals to the at least one object that the at least one crossing can or cannot be performed based, at least in part, on the synchronization of at least one movement, the at least one stop, or a combination thereof.

3. A method of claim 2, wherein the at least one indicator includes, at least in part, at least one crossing symbol projected by the at least one first vehicle, the at least one second vehicle, or a combination thereof.

4. A method of claim 3, wherein at least one crossing symbol is projected on to at least one crossing path to be used for that at least one crossing.

5. A method of claim 2, wherein the at least one indicator includes, at least in part, a first colored light for indicating that the at least one crossing can be performed, a second colored light for indicating that the at least one crossing cannot be performed, or a combination thereof.

6. A method of claim 1, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:

at least one determination of the at least one first vehicle, the at least one second vehicle, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on at least one pointing direction of the at least one third device.

7. A method of claim 1, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:

at least one determination of at least one intended path for performing the at least one crossing based, at least in part, on at least one pointing direction of the at least one third device.

8. A method of claim 7, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:

at least one determination of the at least one first vehicle, the at least one second vehicle, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the at least one intended path.

9. A method of claim 1, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:

a transmission of at least one first message indicating a request to synchronize the at least one movement, the at least one stop, or a combination thereof from the at least one first device to that at least one second device; and

at least one determination of a response to the at least one first message from the at least one second device,

wherein the synchronization is based, at least in part, on the response.

10. 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,

determine at least one intention to perform at least one crossing of at least one object within proximity of at least one first vehicle;

determine at least one second vehicle within proximity of the at least one crossing, the at least one first vehicle, or a combination thereof; and

cause, at least in part, a signaling among at least one first device associated with the at least one first vehicle and at least one second device associated with the at least one second vehicle,

wherein the signaling causes, at least in part, a synchronization of at least one movement, at least one stop, the at least one intention to perform the at least one crossing, or a combination thereof among the at least one first vehicle, the at least one second vehicle, at least one cloud service, or a combination thereof in response to the at least one intention; and

determine the at least one intention to perform the at least one crossing based, at least in part, on a signaling from at least one third device associated with at least one object, a detection of the at least one object, or a combination thereof.

11. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

cause, at least in part, a presentation of at least one indicator to the at least one object,

wherein at least one indicator signals to the at least one object that the at least one crossing can or cannot be performed based, at least in part, on the synchronization of at least one movement, the at least one stop, or a combination thereof.

12. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one indicator includes, at least in part, at least one crossing symbol projected by the at least one first vehicle, the at least one second vehicle, or a combination thereof.

13. An apparatus of claim 12, wherein at least one crossing symbol is projected on to at least one crossing path to be used for that at least one crossing.

14. An apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one indicator includes, at least in part, a first colored light for indicating that the at least one crossing can be performed, a second colored light for indicating that the at least one crossing cannot be performed, or a combination thereof.

15. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine the at least one first vehicle, the at least one second vehicle, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on at least one pointing direction of the at least one third device.

16. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine at least one intended path for performing the at least one crossing based, at least in part, on at least one pointing direction of the at least one third device.

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

determine the at least one first vehicle, the at least one second vehicle, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the at least one intended path.

18. An apparatus of claim 10, wherein the signaling comprises:

causing, at least in part, a transmission of at least one first message indicating a request to synchronize the at least one movement, the at least one stop, or a combination thereof from the at least one first device to that at least one second device; and

determining a response to the at least one first message from the at least one second device,

wherein the synchronization is based, at least in part, on the response.