Operational mode change based on vehicle occupancy for an autonomous vehicle

• US 10,493,957 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2016
• Issued: 12/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Tarte, Christopher T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Antonucci, Anne M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stroud, James E
• Application Number:
  US15/240,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20180050664A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 701 36
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/31 of human presence inside or outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0055 with safety arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication

Abstract

Provided is a device and method for applying a control state based on vehicle occupancy of an autonomous vehicle. The method includes sensing an identification parameter for each of a set of initial vehicle occupants. The method prioritizes the vehicle authority level for the each vehicle occupant of the set of initial vehicle occupants, and producing an initial vehicle control priority among the set of initial vehicle occupants. Based on the initial vehicle control priority, applying the vehicle control state parameter to an autonomous vehicle operational mode. The method, when a vehicle occupancy change event occurs, senses an identification parameter for each vehicle occupant of a set of subsequent vehicle occupants. The method continues by prioritizing the vehicle authority level for the each vehicle occupant of the set of subsequent vehicle occupants and producing a subsequent vehicle control priority among the set of subsequent vehicle occupants. Based on the subsequent vehicle control priority, the method proceeds by replacing the vehicle control state parameter to the autonomous vehicle operational mode.

Claims

1. A method for applying a vehicle control state parameter based on vehicle occupancy of an autonomous vehicle, the method comprising:

sensing an identification parameter for each of a set of initial vehicle occupants, wherein the identification parameter includes a vehicle authority level and the vehicle control state parameter;

prioritizing the vehicle authority level for the each of the set of initial vehicle occupants and producing an initial vehicle control priority among the set of initial vehicle occupants;

based on the initial vehicle control priority, applying the vehicle control state parameter to an autonomous vehicle operational mode;

determining whether a vehicle occupancy change event occurs based at least on a velocity of the autonomous vehicle; and

when the vehicle occupancy change event occurs;

re-sensing the identification parameter for each vehicle occupant of a set of subsequent vehicle occupants;

transmitting a notification including at least information pertaining to the set of subsequent vehicle occupants to one or more user devices associated with one or more persons specified by the vehicle control state parameter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information pertaining to the set of subsequent vehicle occupants is in the form of at least one of:

a listing of the set of subsequent vehicle occupants;

an image of an interior of the vehicle; and

a video image of the interior of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the notification further includes information indicating a location mapping of at least one of the image and the video image.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the notification includes at least the information pertaining to the set of subsequent vehicle occupants and a mapping of a path from a current location of the vehicle to a destination location.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensing further comprises at least one of:

receiving biometric input data input through a graphic user interface;

sensing weight data for each autonomous vehicle seating position;

receiving radio frequency identification (RFID) data from an RFID tag; and

receiving electronic signature data from a handheld mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein when the vehicle occupancy change event occurs, further comprising:

identifying the subsequent vehicle occupant having a vehicle control priority among the set of subsequent vehicle occupants; and

transitioning control of the autonomous vehicle to the subsequent vehicle occupant having the vehicle control priority by applying the vehicle control state parameter of the subsequent vehicle occupant to the autonomous vehicle operational mode.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when the set of subsequent vehicle occupants is a null set, returning the autonomous vehicle to a predesignated location.

8. A method for applying a vehicle control state parameter based on vehicle occupancy to an autonomous vehicle, the method comprising:

sensing a first set of vehicle occupants of the autonomous vehicle, wherein the first set of vehicle occupants each possessing an identification parameter source associating a vehicle authority level and the vehicle control state parameter;

determining a first vehicle control priority based on the vehicle authority level for the each vehicle occupant of the first set of vehicle occupants;

applying the vehicle control state parameter to an autonomous vehicle operational mode based on the first vehicle control priority;

determining whether a vehicle occupancy change event occurs based at least on a velocity of the autonomous vehicle; and

when the vehicle occupancy change event occurs;

re-sensing a second set of vehicle occupants of the autonomous vehicle, wherein the second set of vehicle occupants possessing the identification parameter source including the vehicle authority level and the vehicle control state parameter;

transmitting a notification including at least information pertaining to the second set of vehicle occupants to one or more user devices associated with one or more persons specified by the vehicle control state parameter.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the information pertaining to the second set of vehicle occupants is in the form of at least one of:

a listing of the second set of vehicle occupants;

an image of an interior of the vehicle; and

a video image of the interior of the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the notification further includes information indicating a location mapping of at least one of the image and the video image.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the notification includes at least the information pertaining to the second set of vehicle occupants and a mapping of a path from a current location of the vehicle to a destination location.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the sensing further comprises:

receiving biometric input data input through a graphic user interface;

sensing weight data for each autonomous vehicle seating position;

receiving radio frequency identification (RFID) data from an RFID tag; and

receiving electronic signature data from a handheld mobile device.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein when the vehicle occupancy change event occurs, further comprising:

identifying the one vehicle occupant of the second set of vehicle occupants having a vehicle control priority among the second set of vehicle occupants; and

transitioning control of the autonomous vehicle to the one vehicle occupant having the vehicle control priority by applying the vehicle control state parameter of the one vehicle occupant to the autonomous vehicle operational mode.

14. An occupancy control unit for applying a vehicle control state parameter based on vehicle occupancy of an autonomous vehicle, the occupancy control unit comprising:

a wireless communication interface to service communications with user equipment and with a vehicle network;

one or more processors coupled to the wireless communication interface, the one or more processors for controlling operations of the occupancy control unit;

a memory coupled to the one or more processors, the memory for storing data and program instructions used by the one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to;

sense an identification parameter for each vehicle occupant of a set of initial vehicle occupants, wherein the identification parameter includes a vehicle authority level and the vehicle control state parameter;

determine an initial vehicle control priority based on the vehicle authority level for the each vehicle occupant of the set of initial vehicle occupants;

apply the vehicle control state parameter based on the initial vehicle control priority;

determine whether a vehicle occupancy change event occurs based at least on a velocity of the autonomous vehicle; and

when the vehicle occupancy change event occurs;

re-sense the identification parameter for each vehicle occupant of a set of subsequent vehicle occupants;

transmit a notification including at least information pertaining to the set of subsequent vehicle occupants to one or more user devices associated with one or more persons specified by the vehicle control state parameter.

15. The occupancy control unit of claim 14, wherein the information pertaining to the set of subsequent vehicle occupants is in the form of at least one of:

a listing of the set of subsequent vehicle occupants;

an image of an interior of the vehicle; and

a video image of the interior of the vehicle.

16. The occupancy control unit of claim 15, wherein the notification further includes information indicating a location mapping of at least one of the image and the video image.

17. The occupancy control unit of claim 15, wherein the notification includes at least the information pertaining to the set of subsequent vehicle occupants and a mapping of a path from a current location of the vehicle to a destination location.

18. The occupancy control unit of claim 14, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute further instructions stored in the memory to sense the identification parameter for the each vehicle occupant by at least one of:

receiving biometric input data input;

sensing weight data, via a weight sensor, for each autonomous vehicle seating position;

receiving, via the wireless communication interface, radio frequency identification (RFID) data from an RFID tag; and

receiving, via the wireless communication interface, electronic sensor data from a handheld mobile device.

19. The occupancy control unit of claim 14, wherein when the vehicle occupancy change event occurs, the one or more processors are further configured to execute further instructions stored in the memory to:

identify the subsequent vehicle occupant having a vehicle control priority among the set of subsequent vehicle occupants; and

transition control of the autonomous vehicle to the subsequent vehicle occupant having the vehicle control priority by applying the vehicle control state parameter of the subsequent vehicle occupant to an autonomous vehicle operational mode.

20. The occupancy control unit of claim 14, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute further instructions stored in the memory to:

when the set of subsequent vehicle occupants is a null set, return the autonomous vehicle to a predesignated location.