Specifying unavailable locations for autonomous vehicles

• US 9,599,477 B1
• Filed: 08/31/2015
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Aula, Anne Kristiina, Cullinane, Brian Douglas, Switkin, Daniel Jules, Arden, Jennifer, Hubert, Renaud-Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafi, Muhammad
• Application Number:
  US14/840,515
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 701/409
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/408 Radar; Laser, e.g. lidar
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/20 Static objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/40 Dynamic objects, e.g. animals, windblown objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/24 Direction of travel
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/06 Automatic manoeuvring for parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/0025 specially adapted for specific operations
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/00253 Taxi operations
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 Parking performed automatically
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/76 responsive to devices carried by persons or objects, e.g. magnets or reflectors E05F15/77 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/426 against unauthorised use, e.g. keys
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3438 Rendez-vous, i.e. searching a destination where several users can meet, and the routes to this destination for these users; Ride sharing, i.e. searching a route such that at least two users can share a vehicle for at least part of the route
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3614 through interaction with a road map, e.g. selecting a POI icon on a road map
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3667 : Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/367 : Details, e.g. road map scale, orientation, zooming, illumination, level of detail, scrolling of road map or positioning of current position marker
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 : characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0212 : with means for defining a desired trajectory involving a plurality of land vehicles G05D1/0287
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0238 : using obstacle or wall sensors G05D1/0246 and G05D1/0289 take precedence; lidar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S17/93
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 : Meeting or appointment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 : Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 : Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/586 : of parking space
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 : communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/14 : indicating individual free spaces in parking areas

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a vehicle for maneuvering a passenger to a destination autonomously. The vehicle includes one or more computing devices that receive a request for a vehicle from a client computing device. The request identifies a first location. The one or more computing devices also determine whether the first location is within a threshold outside of a service area of the vehicle. When the location is within the threshold distance outside of the service area of the vehicle, the one or more computing devices identify a second location within the service area of the vehicle where the vehicle is able to stop for a passenger and based on the first location. The one or more computing devices then provide a map and a marker identifying the position of the second location on the map for display on the client computing device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by one or more vehicle dispatching server computing devices from one or more computing devices, information identifying that a user has requested a vehicle in conjunction with a calendar entry in a calendar of the user;

receiving, by the one or more vehicle dispatching server computing devices, information identifying a location associated with the calendar entry;

providing, to a client computing device associated with the user, information identifying a pickup location for the user;

receiving, by the one or more vehicle dispatching server computing devices, confirmation of the pickup location;

in response to receiving the confirmation, dispatching, by one or more vehicle dispatching server computing devices, a vehicle to pick up the user; and

providing, by the one or more vehicle dispatching server computing devices, the pickup location to the dispatched vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more computing devices include the client computing device associated with the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more computing devices includes an email server system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the pickup location corresponds to the location.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the pickup location is the location associated with the calendar entry and the method further comprises, prior to providing the pickup location for the user, confirming that the location associated with the calendar entry is within a service area for the dispatched vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in conjunction with providing the pickup location for the user, providing to the client computing an image of the pickup location and a map that includes the pickup location for display to the user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the confirmation of the pickup location is received in response to providing the image and the map.

8. A system comprising one or more vehicle dispatching server computing devices each having one or more processors configured to:

receive from one or more computing devices, information identifying that a user has requested a vehicle in conjunction with a calendar entry in a calendar of the user;

receive information identifying a location associated with the calendar entry;

provide, to a client computing device associated with the user, information identifying a pickup location for the user;

receive confirmation of the pickup location;

in response to receiving the confirmation, dispatch a vehicle to pick up the user; and

provide the pickup location to the dispatched vehicle.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more computing devices include the client computing device associated with the user.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more computing devices includes an email server system.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the pickup location corresponds to the location.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising the dispatched vehicle.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the pickup location is the location associated with the calendar entry and the method further comprises, prior to providing the pickup location for the user, confirming that the location associated with the calendar entry is within a service area for the dispatched vehicle.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising, in conjunction with providing the pickup location for the user, providing to the client computing an image of the pickup location and a map that includes the pickup location for display to the user.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the confirmation of the pickup location is received in response to providing the image and the map.

16. A non-transitory, computer readable recording medium on which instructions are stored, the instructions, when performed by one or more processors of one or more vehicle dispatching server computing devices, cause the one or more processors to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving from one or more computing devices, information identifying that a user has requested a vehicle in conjunction with a calendar entry in a calendar of the user;

receiving information identifying a location associated with the calendar entry;

providing, to a client computing device associated with the user, information identifying a pickup location for the user;

receiving confirmation of the pickup location;

in response to receiving the confirmation, dispatching a vehicle to pick up the user; and

providing a pickup location to the dispatched vehicle.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the one or more computing devices include the client computing device associated with the user.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the one or more computing devices includes an email server system.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the pickup location corresponds to the location.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the pickup location is the location associated with the calendar entry and the method further comprises, prior to providing the pickup location for the user, confirming that the location associated with the calendar entry is within a service area for the dispatched vehicle.