Specifying unavailable locations for autonomous vehicles

• US 9,631,933 B1
• Filed: 08/29/2014
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Aula, Anne, Cullinane, Brian, Switkin, Daniel Jules, Arden, Jennifer, Hubert, Renaud-Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): Antonucci, Anne M
• Application Number:
  US14/472,900
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 701409
• 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 computing devices, a request for a vehicle from a client computing device, wherein the request identifies a first location;

determining, by the one or more computing devices, whether the first location is within a threshold distance outside of a service area of the vehicle;

when the first location is within the threshold distance outside of the service area of the vehicle, identifying, by the one or more computing devices, 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;

providing, by the one or more computing devices, a map and a marker identifying the position of the second location on the map for display on the client computing device;

after providing the map, receiving, by the one or more computing devices, user input confirming a pickup location within the service area and wherein the pickup location is a location different from the first location; and

in response to receiving the user input, dispatching, by the one or more computing devices, the vehicle to pick up a user at the pickup location by sending an instruction to the vehicle to cause the vehicle to maneuver itself towards picking up the user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing for display with the map and the marker, a street level image corresponding to the second location and a second marker identifying an area around the second location corresponding to a likely location that the vehicle will stop for the passenger.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving user input indicating that the map marker has been moved to a different position on the map;

identifying a third location based on the user input; and

providing a second street level image for display with the map.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the pickup location is the third location.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the pickup location is the second location.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing for display on the client computing device navigation directions between the first location and the second location.

7. A system comprising one or more computing devices configured to:

receive a request for a vehicle from a client computing device, wherein the request identifies a first location;

determine whether the first location is within a threshold distance outside of a service area of the vehicle;

when the first location is within the threshold distance outside of the service area of the vehicle, identify a second location within the service area of the vehicle where the vehicle is able to stop for a passenger based on the first location;

provide a map and a marker identifying the position of the second location on the map for display on the client computing device;

after providing the map, receiving, by the one or more computing devices, user input confirming a pickup location within the service area and wherein the pickup location is a location different from the first location; and

in response to receiving the user input, dispatch the vehicle to the pickup location to pick up a user by sending an instruction to the vehicle to cause the vehicle to maneuver itself towards picking up the user.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the one or more computing devices are further configured to provide for display with the map and the marker, a street level image corresponding to the second location and a second marker identifying an area around the second location corresponding to a likely location that the vehicle will stop for the passenger.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more computing devices are further configured to:

receive user input indicating that the map marker has been moved to a different position on the map;

identify a third location based on the user input; and

provide a second street level image for display with the map.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein

the third location is the pickup location.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein

the second location;

and

is the pickup location.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the one or more computing devices are further configured to provide for display on the client computing device navigation directions between the first location and the second location.

13. A non-transitory, tangible machine 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:

receiving a request for a vehicle from a client computing device, wherein the request identifies a first location;

determining whether the first location is within a threshold outside of a service area of the vehicle;

when the first location is within the threshold distance outside of the service area of the vehicle, identifying a second location within the service area of the vehicle where the vehicle is able to stop for a passenger based on the first location;

providing a map and a marker identifying the position of the second location on the map for display on the client computing device;

after providing the map, receiving user input confirming a pickup location within the service area and wherein the pickup location is a location different from the first location; and

in response to receiving the user input, dispatching the vehicle to the pickup location to pick up a user by sending an instruction to the vehicle to cause the vehicle to maneuver itself towards picking up the user.

14. The medium of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises providing for display with the map and the marker, a street level image corresponding to the second location and a second marker identifying an area around the second location corresponding to a likely location that the vehicle will stop for the passenger.

15. The medium of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving user input indicating that the map marker has been moved to a different position on the map;

identifying a third location based on the user input; and

providing a second street level image for display with the map.

16. The medium of claim 15, wherein

the third location is the pickup location.

17. The medium of claim 13, wherein the pickup location is the second location.