Pickup and drop off zones for autonomous vehicles

• US 9,613,386 B1
• Filed: 12/01/2015
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Arden, Jennifer, Cullinane, Brian Douglas, Chan, Min Li, Hubert, Renaud-Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUYNH, LUAT T
• Application Number:
  US14/955,769
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: 701428, 701 49, 701431, 701437, 701409
• 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 21/362 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: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to providing information about a vehicle dispatched to pick up the user. In one example, a request for the vehicle to stop at a particular location is sent. In response, information identifying a current location of the vehicle is received. A map is generated. The map includes a first marker identifying the received location of the vehicle, a second marker identifying the particular location, and a shape defining an area around the second marker at which the vehicle may stop. The shape has an edge at least a minimum distance greater than zero from the second marker. A route is displayed on the map between the first marker and the shape such that the route ends at the shape and does not reach the second marker. Progress of the vehicle towards the area along the route is displayed based on received updated location information for the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

sending, by a client computing device having one or more processors, a request for a vehicle to stop at a particular location;

in response to the request, receiving, by the client computing device, information identifying a current location of the vehicle;

generating, by the client computing device, a map for display, the map including a first marker identifying the location of the vehicle, a second marker identifying the particular location, and a shape defining an area around the second marker at which the vehicle may stop, the shape having an edge at least a minimum distance greater than zero from the second marker;

displaying, by the client computing device, on a display of the client computing device, a route on the map between the first marker and the shape such that the route ends at the shape and does not reach the second marker;

receiving, by the client computing device, updated location information for the vehicle; and

displaying, by the client computing device, on the display progress of the vehicle towards the area along the route based on the updated location information.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a current location of the client computing device; and

displaying with the map a third marker indicating the current location of the client computing device in order to indicate to a potential passenger the location of the client computing device relative to a pickup location, the area, and the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the particular location is a pickup location for the potential passenger.

4. The method of claim 3, when the vehicle identifies a pickup spot within the area, displaying a fourth marker identifying the pickup spot relative to the second marker.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising when the progress of the vehicle depicts the vehicle entering the area, no longer displaying the area.

6. The method of claim 4, when the vehicle identifies a pickup spot within the area, shrinking the area on the display towards the fourth marker.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, when the progress of the vehicle depicts the vehicle at a certain point within the area, increasing the size of the area on the display.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying, in conjunction with the progress, a status indicator indicating whether the vehicle is currently looking for a spot within the area to stop the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying, in conjunction with the progress, a status indicator indicating whether the vehicle has found a spot within the area to stop the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when the progress of the vehicle depicts the vehicle at a certain point relative to the area, displaying an indication that the vehicle was unable to find a spot within the area to stop; and

displaying a new route towards the area.

11. A system comprising:

a display;

one or more processors configured to;

send a request for a vehicle to stop at a particular location;

in response to the request, receive information identifying a current location of the vehicle;

generate a map for display, the map including a first marker identifying the location of the vehicle, a second marker identifying the particular location, and a shape defining an area around the second marker at which the vehicle may stop, the shape having an edge at least a minimum distance greater than zero from the second marker;

display, on the display, a route on the map between the first marker and the shape such that the route ends at the shape and does not reach the second marker;

receive updated location information for the vehicle; and

display, on the display, progress of the vehicle towards the area along the route based on the updated location information.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

determine a current location of the client computing device; and

display with the map a third marker indicating the current location of the client computing device in order to indicate to a potential passenger the location of the client computing device relative to a pickup location, the area, and the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the particular location is a pickup location for the potential passenger.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to when the vehicle identifies a pickup spot within the area, display a fourth marker identifying the pickup spot relative to the second marker.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to, when the progress of the vehicle depicts the vehicle entering the area, no longer display the area.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to when the vehicle identifies a pickup spot within the area, shrink the area on the display towards the fourth marker.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to, when the progress of the vehicle depicts the vehicle at a certain point within the area, increase the size of the area on the display.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to display, in conjunction with the progress, a status indicator indicating whether the vehicle is currently looking for a spot within the area to stop the vehicle.

19. The system of claim 11, further comprising the vehicle.

20. A non-transitory, tangible, computer readable medium on which instructions are stored, the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method, the method comprising:

sending a request for a vehicle to stop at a particular location;

in response to the request, receiving information identifying a current location of the vehicle;

generating a map for display, the map including a first marker identifying the location of the vehicle, a second marker identifying the particular location, and a shape defining an area around the second marker at which the vehicle may stop, the shape having an edge at least a minimum distance greater than zero from the second marker;

displaying, on the display, a route on the map between the first marker and the shape such that the route ends at the shape and does not reach the second marker;

receiving updated location information for the vehicle; and

displaying, on the display, progress of the vehicle towards the area along the route based on the updated location information.