Driver reaction time measurement

• US 9,493,166 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2015
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated (Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Jones, Andrew R., McConnell, Kevin C., Moore, JR., John E., Boss, Gregory J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Butler, Rodney
• Assistant Examiner(s): BRUSHABER, FREDERICK M
• Application Number:
  US14/636,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20150191177A1
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• 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:

enabling, by a computer processor of a computing system, a plurality of proximity sensors in a vehicle;

determining, by said computer processor based on data received from said plurality of proximity sensors, multiple distances between said vehicle and an additional vehicle adjacent to said vehicle;

detecting, by said computer processor via a mobile device, a traffic signal status with respect to said vehicle;

determining, by said computer processor based on said multiple distances and said traffic signal status, baseline reaction times associated with a set of driving functions executed by a driver of said vehicle, wherein said set of driving functions are executed by said driver during a first driving process of 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;

comparing, by said computer processor, current reaction times with said baseline reaction times, wherein said current reaction times are associated with said currently executed driving functions;

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

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

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

executing, by said computer processor based on said determining that said driver is currently performing a first driving distraction event, specified functions associated with said currently executed driving functions and said first driving distraction event, wherein said executing said specified functions comprises disabling functions of a device associated with said first driving distraction event.

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

alerting said driver of said differences.

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

disabling functions associated with said currently executed driving functions.

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

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

6. 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.

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

notifying an authority of said differences.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining that said driver is currently performing 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.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining that said driver is currently performing 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.

10. A computing system comprising a computer processor coupled to a non-transitory memory device, said non-transitory memory device comprising instructions that when executed by the computer processor implements a method comprising:

enabling, by said computer processor, a plurality of proximity sensors in a vehicle;

determining, by said computer processor based on data received from said plurality of proximity sensors, multiple distances between said vehicle and an additional vehicle adjacent to said vehicle;

detecting, by said computer processor via a mobile device, a traffic signal status with respect to said vehicle;

determining, by said computer processor based on said multiple distances and said traffic signal status, baseline reaction times associated with a set of driving functions executed by a driver of said vehicle, wherein said set of driving functions are executed by said driver during a first driving process of 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;

comparing, by said computer processor, current reaction times with said baseline reaction times, wherein said current reaction times are associated with said currently executed driving functions;

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

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

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

executing, by said computer processor based on said determining that said driver is currently performing a first driving distraction event, specified functions associated with said currently executed driving functions and said first driving distraction event, wherein said executing said specified functions comprises disabling functions of a device associated with said first driving distraction event.

11. The computing system of claim 10, wherein said executing said specified functions further comprises:

alerting said driver of said differences.

12. The computing system of claim 10, wherein said executing said specified functions further comprises:

disabling functions associated with said currently executed driving functions.

13. The computing system of claim 10, wherein said executing said specified functions further comprises:

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

14. The computing system of claim 10, wherein said executing said specified functions further comprises:

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

15. The computing system of claim 10, 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.

16. The computing system of claim 10, wherein said executing said specified functions further comprises:

notifying an authority of said differences.

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

one or more computer-readable, non-transitory storage devices;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more non-transitory storage devices, to enable a plurality of proximity sensors in a vehicle;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more non-transitory storage devices, to determine based on data received from said plurality of proximity sensors, multiple distances between said vehicle and an additional vehicle adjacent to said vehicle;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more non-transitory storage devices, to detect via a mobile device, a traffic signal status with respect to said vehicle;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more non-transitory storage devices, to determine based on said multiple distances and said traffic signal status, baseline reaction times associated with a set of driving functions executed by a driver of said 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 non-transitory storage devices, to determine that said driver is currently driving said vehicle;

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more non-transitory 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 non-transitory storage devices, to compare current reaction times with said baseline reaction times, wherein said current reaction times are associated with said currently executed driving functions;

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

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

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

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more non-transitory storage devices, to execute specified functions associated with currently performing driving functions and a first driving distraction event, wherein executing said specified functions comprises disabling functions of a device associated with said first driving distraction event.