Systems and methods for safe communication

• US 9,667,576 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2014
• Issued: 05/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Smith, Michael, Yun, Churu, Brown, Matt, Miller, Ross, Conway, Matt, Feit, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Karikari, Kwasi
• Application Number:
  US14/573,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20160065516A1
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 4554142
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/02 using automatic reactions or user delegation, e.g. automatic replies or chatbot-generated messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A method and system for use in managing communication messages are provided. The system includes a display unit and one or more processors communicatively coupled to one or more memory devices and the display unit. The one or more processors are programmed to receive an incoming message for a driver of the vehicle, determine if the driver is experiencing a high-intensity situation, automatically respond to the incoming message with a reply message to the sender of the incoming message if the driver is experiencing the high-intensity situation, and automatically notify the driver, after the high-intensity situation has ended, that the incoming message was received.

Claims

1. A system for use in managing text messages, said system comprising:

a display unit; and

one or more processors communicatively coupled to one or more memory devices, said one or more processors communicatively coupled to said display unit, said one or more processors programmed to;

receive an incoming text message for a driver of a vehicle;

receive biometric sensor information about the driver of the vehicle;

determine if the driver is experiencing a high-intensity situation based in part on the biometric sensor information and if the driver is operating the vehicle in a curved segment of a road;

automatically respond to the incoming text message with a reply text message to a sender of the incoming text message if the driver is experiencing the high-intensity situation; and

automatically notify the driver, after the high-intensity situation has ended, that the incoming text message was received.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more processors are programmed to automatically notify the driver without intentional delay that an incoming text message was received if the driver is not experiencing the high-intensity situation.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more processors are programmed to receive an incoming text message for a driver of the vehicle from a mobile communication device associated with the driver.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more processors are programmed to receive an indication of forces acting on the vehicle from an accelerometer.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more processors are programmed to respond to the incoming text message with a text reply message that includes information relating to the high-intensity situation.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more processors are programmed to respond to the incoming text message with a reply text message recorded by the driver after receiving the incoming text message.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the biometric information includes at least one of eye movement, heart rate, and seat back pressure.

8. A computer-based method for managing communication information in a vehicle, said method implemented using a computer device coupled to a memory device, said method comprising:

receiving, by the computing device, an incoming text message for a driver of the vehicle;

receiving biometric sensor information about the driver of the vehicle;

determining, by the computing device, if the driver is experiencing a high-intensity situation based in part on the biometric sensor information and if the driver is operating the vehicle in a curved segment of a road;

automatically responding to the incoming text message with a reply text message to a sender of the incoming text message if the driver is experiencing a high-intensity situation;

automatically notifying the driver that an incoming text message was received if the driver is not experiencing a high-intensity situation; and

automatically notifying the driver, after the high-intensity situation has ended, that the incoming text message was received.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein determining, by the computing device, if the driver is experiencing a high-intensity situation comprises receiving a selection of a threshold level of the high-intensity situation.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving, by the computing device, an incoming text message for a driver of the vehicle comprises receiving an incoming text message for a driver of the vehicle from the sender and relayed through a mobile communication device associated with the driver.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein determining if the driver is operating the vehicle while the vehicle is in a curved segment of a road comprises:

receiving a geoposition of the vehicle;

receiving geodata of an area surrounding the geoposition;

determining a position of the vehicle with respect to the curved segment of the road.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein automatically responding to the incoming text message comprises responding to the incoming text message with a pre-composed reply text message.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the biometric information includes at least one of eye movement, heart rate, and seat back pressure.

14. An automotive communication information management system comprising:

a display unit accessible to an operator of an automotive vehicle; and

one or more processors communicatively coupled to one or more memory devices, said one or more processors communicatively coupled to said display unit, said one or more processors programmed to;

receive an incoming text message addressed to the operator;

receive biometric sensor information about the driver of the vehicle;

determine if the operator is experiencing a high-intensity situation based in part on the biometric sensor information and if the operator is operating the vehicle in a curved segment of a road;

automatically respond to the incoming text message with a reply text message to a sender of the incoming text message if the operator is experiencing the high-intensity situation;

automatically notify the operator that an incoming text message was received if the operator is not experiencing the high-intensity situation; and

automatically notify the operator, after the high-intensity situation has ended, that the incoming text message was received.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said one or more processors are programmed to receive an incoming text message from a mobile communication device associated with the operator.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein said one or more processors are programmed to receive an indication of forces acting on the vehicle from an accelerometer.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein said one or more processors are programmed to respond to the incoming text message with a pre-composed reply text message.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein said one or more processors are programmed to respond to the incoming text message with a reply text message that includes information relating to the high-intensity situation.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein said one or more processors are programmed to respond to the incoming text message with a reply text message recorded by the operator after receiving the incoming text message.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the biometric information includes at least one of eye movement, heart rate, and seat back pressure.