Autonomous vehicle operation using altered traffic regulations

• US 10,156,845 B1
• Filed: 06/20/2017
• Issued: 12/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Greenberger, Jeremy A., Hardee, Christopher J., Schneider, Scott E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elchanti, Hussein
• Application Number:
  US15/627,563
• Publication Number:
  US 20180364715A1
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• 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: G08G 1/093 Data selection, e.g. prioritizing information, managing message queues, selecting the information to be output
• 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

Embodiments include method, systems and computer program products for autonomous vehicle operation using altered traffic regulations. The computer-implemented method includes receiving, by a processor, request data that represents a request to use altered traffic regulations. The processor determines a current location of one or more autonomous vehicles associated with the request. The processor determines that an authority associated with the processor governs at least a portion of a road network associated with the request. The processor determines resolution of the request, wherein determining the resolution is based at least in part on a determination that the authority associated with the processor governs the associated portion of the road network associated with the request. The processor generates resolution data representing the resolution and transmits the resolution data.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for autonomous vehicle operation using altered traffic regulations, the method comprising:

receiving, by a processor, request data that represents a request to use altered traffic regulations;

determining, by the processor, a current location of one or more autonomous vehicles associated with the request;

determining, by the processor, that an authority associated with the processor governs at least a portion of a road network associated with the request;

determining a resolution, by the processor, of the request, wherein determining the resolution is based at least in part on a determination that the authority associated with the processor governs the associated portion of the road network associated with the request;

generating resolution data representing the resolution;

transmitting, by the processor, the resolution data; and

granting, denying or modifying the request to use altered traffic regulations.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising forwarding the request to another authority when the authority associated with the processor does not govern the associated portion of the road network associated with the request to use altered traffic regulations.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the altered traffic regulations comprise an altered speed that can be higher or lower than a designated speed limit for an associated portion of the road network, an ability to use lanes on a road segment that are normally restricted from use by the autonomous vehicle at a time a request to use altered traffic regulations is received, an ability by the autonomous vehicle to temporarily alter traffic signal operation on an associated portion of the road network, an ability to change traffic flow directions of designated lanes of a road segment, or request a cleared path for the autonomous vehicle.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising receiving, from the one or more autonomous vehicles, data related to information associated with at least one of the following:

a nature of an emergency associated with the request to use altered traffic regulations, an identity of one or more occupants of the one or more requesting autonomous vehicles, a vehicle type and/or identity for the one or more autonomous vehicles, vehicle capabilities of the one or more autonomous vehicles, or a route and/or destination of the one or more autonomous vehicles.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the altered traffic regulations are deviations from normal traffic rules for the associated portion of the road network.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising notifying authorities and other vehicles traveling along the associated portion of the road network to the granting or modification of the request to use altered traffic regulations for the one or more vehicles.

7. A computer program product for autonomous vehicle operation using altered traffic regulations, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon first program instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to;

receive request data that represents a request to use altered traffic regulations;

determine a current location of one or more autonomous vehicles associated with the request;

determine that an authority associated with the processor governs at least a portion of a road network associated with the request;

determine a resolution of the request to use altered traffic regulations, wherein the determination of the resolution is based at least in part on a determination that the authority associated with the processor governs the associated portion of the road network associated with the request to use altered traffic regulations;

generate resolution data representing the resolution; and

transmit the resolution data, wherein the resolution comprises granting, denying or modifying request to use altered traffic regulations.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the processor is further operable to forward the request to use altered traffic regulations to another authority when the authority associated with the processor does not govern the associated portion of the road network associated with the request to use altered traffic regulations.

9. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the altered traffic regulations comprise an altered speed that can be higher or lower than a designated speed limit for an associated portion of the road network, an ability to use lanes on a road segment that are normally restricted from use by the autonomous vehicle at a time a request to use altered traffic regulations is received, an ability by the autonomous vehicle to temporarily alter traffic signal operation on an associated portion of the road network, an ability to change traffic flow directions of designated lanes of a road segment, or request a cleared path for the autonomous vehicle.

10. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the processor is further operable to receive, from the one or more autonomous vehicles, data related to information associated with at least one of the following:

a nature of an emergency associated with the request to use altered traffic regulations, an identity of one or more occupants of the one or more requesting autonomous vehicles, a vehicle type and/or identity for the one or more autonomous vehicles, vehicle capabilities of the one or more autonomous vehicles, or a route and/or destination of the one or more autonomous vehicles.

11. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the altered traffic regulations are deviations from normal traffic rules for the associated portion of the road network.

12. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the processor is further operable to notify authorities and other vehicles traveling along the associated portion of the road network to the granting or modification of the request to use altered traffic regulations from the one or more vehicles.

13. A system for autonomous vehicle operation using altered traffic regulations, the system comprising:

a processor;

a storage medium, the storage medium being coupled to the processor;

the processor configured to;

receive request data that represents a request to use altered traffic regulations;

determine a current location of one or more autonomous vehicles associated with the request;

determine that an authority associated with the processor governs at least a portion of a road network associated with the request;

determine a resolution of the request to use altered traffic regulations, wherein the determination of the resolution is based at least in part on a determination that the authority associated with the processor governs the associated portion of the road network associated with the request to use altered traffic regulations;

generate resolution data representing the resolution; and

transmit the resolution data, wherein the resolution comprises granting, denying or modifying request to use altered traffic regulations.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further operable to forward the request to use altered traffic regulations to another authority when the authority associated with the processor does not govern the associated portion of the road network associated with the request to use altered traffic regulations.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further operable to receive, from the one or more autonomous vehicles, data related to information associated with at least one of the following:

a nature of an emergency associated with the request to use altered traffic regulations, an identity of one or more occupants of the one or more requesting autonomous vehicles, a vehicle type and/or identity for the one or more autonomous vehicles, vehicle capabilities of the one or more autonomous vehicles, or a route and/or destination of the one or more autonomous vehicles.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the altered traffic regulations comprise an altered speed that can be higher or lower than a designated speed limit for an associated portion of the road network, an ability to use lanes on a road segment that are normally restricted from use by the autonomous vehicle at a time a request to use altered traffic regulations is received, an ability by the autonomous vehicle to temporarily alter traffic signal operation on an associated portion of the road network, an ability to change traffic flow directions of designated lanes of a road segment, or request a cleared path for the autonomous vehicle.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further operable to notify authorities and other vehicles traveling along the associated portion of the road network to the granting or modification of the request to use altered traffic regulations from the one or more vehicles.