Dynamic lane definition

• US 10,048,688 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2016
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Ramasamy, Bala
• Primary Examiner(s): Melton, Todd M
• Application Number:
  US15/192,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20170371337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• 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 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/10 Number of lanes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/35 Road bumpiness, e.g. potholes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/53 Road markings, e.g. lane marker or crosswalk
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/80 Spatial relation or speed relative to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/60 Traffic rules, e.g. speed limits or right of way
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/45 External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2756/10 Involving external transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18163 Lane change; Overtaking manoeuvres
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/06 Road conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/0016 of the vehicle or its occupants
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/588 Recognition of the road, e.g. of lane markings; Recognition of the vehicle driving pattern in relation to the road
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/015 with provision for distinguishing between two or more types of vehicles, e.g. between motor-cars and cycles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/056 with provision for distinguishing direction of travel
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station

Abstract

Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for automated dynamic lane definition are presented. One example method includes the steps of accessing vehicle information for a vehicle travelling on the road; accessing road information for a road; and defining at least one lane for the road based on the road information and the vehicle information.

Claims

1. A method for dynamic lane definition, comprising:

accessing, by a processor, vehicle information for a vehicle travelling on a road;

accessing, by the processor, road information for the road; and

dynamically defining, by the processor, at least one lane for the road based on the road information and the vehicle information, and

providing the at least one lane to the vehicle;

wherein dynamically defining the at least one lane comprises defining a position of the at least one lane on the road, and

wherein dynamically defining the at least one lane comprises eliminating at least one previously defined lane for the road or adding at least one previously undefined lane for the road.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein dynamically defining the at least one lane further comprises defining one or more lane parameters, the one or more lane parameters comprising one or more of at least one of a characteristic of a vehicle permitted to travel on the at least one lane, a width of the at least one lane, an offset of the at least one lane from a given point along the road, a segment length of the at least one lane, a direction of travel of the at least one lane, a number of the at least one lane travelling in the direction of travel of the at least one lane, a duration of the at least one lane, a prohibition of use of the at least one lane, or a total number of lanes including the at least one lane, or any combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein dynamically defining the at least one lane is further based on a time of day.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein dynamically defining the at least one lane comprises defining a lane pocket within a lane.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein defining the lane pocket is based on a pothole, debris, or obstruction in the road.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein dynamically defining the at least one lane comprises changing a direction of travel in the lane or prohibiting travel in the lane.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle information comprises at least one of a make of the vehicle, a model of the vehicle, a length of the vehicle, a width of the vehicle, a speed of the vehicle, a heading of the vehicle, or a route or destination of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle information comprises an operating mode of the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request for a lane on the road from the vehicle; and

wherein dynamically defining the at least one lane is comprises;

determining a size of the vehicle based on the vehicle information;

determining a width of a first lane based on the size of the vehicle;

determining a length of the first lane;

determining a location for the first lane, and

adding the first lane to the road; and

further comprising;

generating a lane assignment of the vehicle to the first lane; and

providing the lane and the lane assignment to the vehicle in response to the request.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein dynamically defining the at least one lane further comprises determining the road has no defined lanes.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the location of the first lane is centered on the vehicle, and wherein the first lane has a fixed length and travels with the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the location of the first lane is centered on the vehicle based on a position of a global navigation satellite system (“

GNSS”

) receiver on the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein dynamically defining the at least one lane comprises defining a idleness period for a first lane, and further comprising eliminating the first lane in response to determining the first lane has been idle for a time greater than the idleness period.

14. A system for dynamic lane definition, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and

a processor in communication with the non-transitory computer-readable medium, the processor configured to execute program code stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium, the program code comprising program code configured to cause the processor to;

access road information for a road;

access vehicle information for a vehicle travelling on the road; and

dynamically define at least one lane for the road based on the road information and the vehicle information, and

provide the at least one lane to the vehicle;

wherein dynamically defining the at least one lane comprises defining a position of the at least one lane on the road, and

wherein dynamically defining the at least one lane comprises eliminating at least one previously defined lane for the road or adding at least one previously undefined lane for the road.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the program code is further configured to cause the processor to define the at least one lane for the road further based on a time of day.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the program code is further configured to cause the processor to define a lane pocket within the at least one lane.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the program code is further configured to cause the processor to define a lane pocket based on a pothole, debris, or obstruction in the road.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the program code is further configured to cause the processor to change a direction of travel in the lane or prohibit travel in the lane.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the vehicle information comprises at least one of a make of the vehicle, a model of the vehicle, a length of the vehicle, a width of the vehicle, a speed of the vehicle, a heading of the vehicle, or a route or destination of the vehicle.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the vehicle information comprises an operating mode of the vehicle.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising processor-executable program code, the program code configured to cause a processor to:

access road information for a road;

access vehicle information for a vehicle travelling on the road; and

dynamically define at least one lane for the road based on the road information and the vehicle information, and

provide the at least one lane to the vehicle;

wherein dynamically defining the at least one lane comprises defining a position of the at least one lane on the road, and

wherein dynamically defining the at least one lane comprises eliminating at least one previously defined lane for the road or adding at least one previously undefined lane for the road.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the program code is further configured to cause the processor to dynamically define the at least one lane for the road further based on a time of day.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the program code is further configured to cause the processor to change a direction of travel in the lane or prohibit travel in the lane.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the vehicle information comprises at least one of a make of the vehicle, a model of the vehicle, a length of the vehicle, a width of the vehicle, a speed of the vehicle, a heading of the vehicle, an operating mode of the vehicle, or a route or destination of the vehicle.

25. A system for dynamic lane definition, comprising:

means for accessing road information for a road;

means for accessing vehicle information for a vehicle travelling on the road; and

means for dynamically defining at least one lane for the road based on the road information and the vehicle information, and

means for providing the at least one lane to the vehicle;

wherein dynamically defining the at least one lane comprises defining a position of the at least one lane on the road, and

wherein dynamically defining the at least one lane comprises eliminating at least one previously defined lane for the road or adding at least one previously undefined lane for the road.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the means for dynamically defining the lane comprises:

means for determining a number of lanes for the road;

means for defining a plurality of lanes for the road based on the number of lanes for the road, and

means for defining widths for each of the defined plurality of lanes.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the vehicle information comprises an operating mode of the vehicle.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the means for dynamically defining the lane comprises defining a lane pocket within the at least one lane based on a pothole, debris, or obstruction in the road.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein the means for dynamically defining the lane comprises changing a direction of travel in the lane or prohibiting travel in the lane.