Method and system for identifying a situation with a potentially in-alert driver

• US 9,618,345 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2015
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: Davidsson, Staffan, Maresch, Johan
• Primary Examiner(s): Kan, Yuri
• Application Number:
  US14/862,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20160097645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 701 36, 701409, 701208, 340576, 7071041
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 31/00 Predictive alarm systems characterised by extrapolation or other computation using updated historic data

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method performed by a road segment determining system for identifying beforehand a situation with a potentially in-alert driver of a vehicle. The road segment determining system determines a position of the vehicle, and further determines pre-stored road characteristics of a road segment assumed or known to be ahead of the vehicle. Moreover, the road segment determining system determines the road segment to be monotonous based on comparing at least a first road parameter of the pre-stored road characteristics with predetermined monotonous road criteria. The disclosure also relates to a road segment determining system in accordance with the foregoing, a vehicle comprising at least a portion of the road segment determining system, and a user device comprising at least a portion of the road segment determining system.

Claims

1. A method performed by a road segment determining system for identifying beforehand a situation with a potentially in-alert driver of a vehicle, the method comprising:

determining a position of the vehicle;

determining pre-stored road characteristics of a road segment assumed or known to be ahead of the vehicle, wherein the pre-stored road characteristics comprise geo-tagged driver behavior data parameters that indicate characteristics of driver behavior associated with the road segment for a plurality of vehicles having previously been driven along the road segment; and

determining whether or not the road segment is monotonous based on comparing at least a first geo-tagged driver behavior data parameter of the pre-stored road characteristics with predetermined monotonous road criteria comprising preferences for geo-tagged driver behavior data, the predetermined monotonous road criteria referring to preferences making up the criteria for under what circumstances a road section is considered to be monotonous.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the pre-stored road characteristics are available prior to the vehicle being in a vicinity of the road segment.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the pre-stored road characteristics comprise:

digital map data of the road segment.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the pre-stored road characteristics comprise:

digital map data parameters indicating characteristics of the road segment which potentially affect alertness of the driver.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

initiating, by the road segment determining system, an activity adapted to avoid the situation with the potentially in-alert driver of the vehicle and/or adapted to improve alertness of the driver, if it is determined that the road segment is monotonous.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the activity comprises:

a software-based function adapted to cognitively stimulate the driver, wherein the software-based function includes executable instructions stored on a non-transitory medium; and

/or

a function considered to be driver-distracting and which is prohibited from use during absence of the determination that the road segment is monotonous.

7. The method according to claim 5 wherein the activity comprises a software-based alertness task application including executable instructions stored on a non-transitory medium.

18. The method according to claim 1 wherein the geo-tagged driver behavior data parameters comprise one or more of a parameter indicating a number of monitored driver behaviors with a high level of in-alertness, a parameter indicating a number of monitored driver behaviors with a medium level of in-alertness, or a parameter indicating a number of monitored driver behaviors with a low level of in-alertness.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein the predetermined monotonous road criteria comprise one or more of a threshold for a number of monitored driver behaviors with a high level of in-alertness, a threshold for a number of monitored driver behaviors with a medium level of in-alertness, or a threshold for a number of monitored driver behaviors with a low level of in-alertness.

8. A road segment determining system adapted for identifying beforehand a situation with a potentially in-alert driver of a vehicle, the road segment determining system comprising:

a position determining unit adapted for determining a position of the vehicle;

a characteristics determining unit adapted for determining pre-stored road characteristics of a road segment assumed or known to be ahead of the vehicle, wherein the pre-stored road characteristics comprise geo-tagged driver behavior data parameters that indicate characteristics of driver behavior associated with the road segment for a plurality of vehicles having previously been driven along the road segment; and

a monotonous road determining unit adapted for determining whether or not the road segment is monotonous based on comparing at least a first geo-tagged driver behavior data parameter of the pre-stored road characteristics with predetermined monotonous road criteria comprising preferences for geo-tagged driver behavior data, the predetermined monotonous road criteria referring to preferences making up the criteria for under what circumstances a road section is considered to be monotonous.

9. The road segment determining system according to claim 8 wherein the pre-stored road characteristics are available prior to the vehicle being in a vicinity of the road segment.

10. The road segment determining system according to claim 8 wherein the pre-stored road characteristics comprise:

digital map data of the road segment.

11. The road segment determining system according to claim 10 wherein the pre-stored road characteristics comprise:

digital map data parameters indicating characteristics of the road segment which potentially affect alertness of the driver.

12. The road segment determining system according to claim 8 further comprising:

an initiating unit adapted for initiating an activity adapted to avoid the situation with the potentially in-alert driver of the vehicle and/or adapted to improve alertness of the driver, if it is determined that the road segment is monotonous.

13. The road segment determining system according to claim 12 wherein the activity comprises:

a software-based function adapted to cognitively stimulate the driver, wherein the software-based function includes executable instructions stored on a non-transitory medium; and

/or

a function considered to be driver-distracting and which is prohibited from use during absence of the determination that the road segment is monotonous.

14. The road segment determining system according to claim 12 wherein the activity comprises a software-based alertness task application including executable instructions stored on a non-transitory medium.

15. A vehicle comprising the road segment determining system according to claim 8.

16. A user device comprising the road segment determining system according to claim 8.

17. A computer program product comprising a computer program including computer program code stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium for execution by a computer or a processor to:

determine a position of a vehicle;

determine pre-stored road characteristics of a road segment assumed or known to be ahead of the vehicle, wherein the pre-stored road characteristics comprise geo-tagged driver behavior data parameters that indicate characteristics of driver behavior associated with the road segment for a plurality of vehicles having previously been driven along the road segment; and

determine whether or not the road segment is monotonous based on comparing at least a first geo-tagged driver behavior data parameter of the pre-stored road characteristics with predetermined monotonous road criteria comprising preferences for geo-tagged driver behavior data, the predetermined monotonous road criteria referring to preferences making up the criteria for under what circumstances a road section is considered to be monotonous;

whereby a situation with a potentially in-alert driver of a vehicle may be identified beforehand.