Vehicle communication with connected objects in proximity to the vehicle using cloud systems

• US 10,576,969 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2018
• Issued: 03/03/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emerging Automotive, LLC
• Original Assignee: Emerging Automotive, LLC
• Inventors: Penilla, Angel A., Penilla, Albert S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Arun C
• Application Number:
  US15/972,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20180251128A1
• Time in Patent Office: 667 Days
• Field of Search: 320104
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/18 Braking system
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/20 Steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/09 Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0116 from roadside infrastructure, e.g. beacons
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0129 for creating historical data or processing based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0133 for classifying traffic situation
• 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 1/09675 where a selection from the received information takes place in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/163 involving continuous checking
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/164 Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 : for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided. One method includes processing communication with a vehicle and connected objects. The processing is by one or more servers of a cloud system where said vehicle is associated for receiving services. The connected objects include objects having communication capabilities that are either fixed at specific locations as infrastructure where the vehicle is traversing or is moving in location in areas proximate to where the vehicle is traversing. The method includes receiving by a server of the cloud system, geo-location for the vehicle using on-board electronics of the vehicle and data obtained from a global positioning system. Determining a heading direction of the vehicle based on detected changes in the geo-locations of the vehicle. Receiving state data from connected objects, and selecting one or more of the connected objects based on a current geo-location of the vehicle and the heading direction of the vehicle. The state data from the selected connected objects is processed to determine control data for the vehicle. Then, sending the control data to the vehicle, for processing by the on-board electronics of the vehicle, to cause an action by a system of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for processing communication with a vehicle and connected objects, the processing being by one or more servers of a cloud system where said vehicle is associated for receiving services, the connected objects include objects having communication capabilities that are either fixed at specific locations as infrastructure where the vehicle is traversing or is moving in location in areas proximate to where the vehicle is traversing, comprising:

receiving by a server of the cloud system, geo-location for the vehicle using on-board electronics of the vehicle and data obtained from a global positioning system;

determining a heading direction of the vehicle based on detected changes in the geo-locations of the vehicle;

receiving state data from connected objects;

selecting one or more of the connected objects, by the one or more servers of the cloud system, based on a current geo-location of the vehicle and the heading direction of the vehicle, the state data from the selected connected objects being processed to determine control data for the vehicle; and

sending, by the one or more servers of the cloud system, the control data to the vehicle for processing by the on-board electronics of the vehicle to cause an action by a system of the vehicle;

wherein the one or more servers of the cloud system are defined by data processors that are located in one or more data centers and/or internet connected devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the action by the system is a notification that provides information related to a current or a change in said state data of said connected objects and the current geo-location of the vehicle and the heading direction.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the heading direction is determined by processing changes in geo-location of the vehicle and processing data obtained from monitoring one or more systems of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the monitored systems of the vehicle include one or more of a steering direction of the vehicle and data captured from one or more of cameras of the vehicle, ultrasonic sensors of the vehicle, or radar of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said connected objects include one or more of traffic lights, or electronic devices, or drones, or pedestrians, or devices;

wherein said connected objects have or are associated with a computer or device that enables exchange of data over a network with said one or more servers, the vehicle, other vehicles or a combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the control data to the vehicle is limited based on user profile settings of a user account used for interfacing with the vehicle or a service associated with the cloud system,

wherein entered preferences or learned preferences in the user profile settings are used to determine when to limit sending the control data;

wherein the learned preferences are determined over time based on user interaction with the vehicle or settings associated with the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said connected objects include a second vehicle that is within an area of influence of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the action by the system of the vehicle is to trigger activation of tactile feedback to an occupant of the vehicle via a part of the vehicle, the tactile feedback being indicative of a current or a change in the state data of one or more connected objects in an area of influence of the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the action by the system is to trigger activation of an audio alert to an occupant of the vehicle via a speaker of the vehicle, the audio alert being indicative of a corrective action suggested to be taken by the vehicle for safety.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said corrective action suggested to be taken is to avoid or reduce a potential for collision of the vehicle with another vehicle or with a person or with a stationary object.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the action by the system is to trigger activation of one or more of an audio alert, a tactile alert, or visual alert to an occupant of the vehicle via systems of the vehicle or a user device present in the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the corrective action suggested is further determined based on processing sensor data of the vehicle, the sensor data includes one or more of camera sensors, ultrasonic sensors, radar sensors, infrared (IR) sensors, motion sensors, inertial sensors, GPS data, or combination of two or more thereof.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said action by the system is one of assisted braking, assisted turning, or a combination of both.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein a connected object of said one or more connection objects is one of a traffic light, or another vehicle, or a sensor, or a building, or a road sensor, or a traffic metering sensor, or a global positioning system device, or a stationary device, or a moving device, or an intersection sensor, or a camera, or a motion sensor, or a radar sensor, or multiple traffic lights, or multiple vehicles, or a connected device, or an internet connected device, or a pedestrian, or a light post, or a light, or combinations of two or more thereof.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising,

receiving sensor data for a surrounding region of the vehicle for an area of influence, the sensor data is defined by one or more of motion sensors of the vehicle or other vehicles, or one or more cameras of the vehicle or other vehicles, or radar sensors of the vehicle or another vehicle, or biometric sensors of the vehicle, or weight sensors of the vehicle, or temperature sensors of the vehicle or another vehicle, or climate sensors of the vehicle, or tire sensors of the vehicle, or brake sensors of the vehicle or another vehicle, or seat sensors of the vehicle, or occupancy sensors of the vehicle, or user identification sensors of the vehicle, or passenger sensors of the vehicle, or pedestrian sensors around the vehicle, or object sensors around the vehicle, or combinations of two or more thereof.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the heading direction is further determined based on indicators processed for changes in the geo-location of the vehicle and turn signal indicator data from the vehicle, or changes in steering directions or mapped online direction data.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the action by the system of the vehicle is to produce or deliver a notification that is indicative that active driving should resume after a stop.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the action by the system of the vehicle is to cause a disabling, or a fading, or a reduction in function or use of content accessible via apps usable in a user interface of the vehicle or a user interface of a user device within the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein action is further used to set a color indicator on a screen of the vehicle or a screen of a device within the vehicle, the color indicator being a color of a traffic light.

20. A method for processing communication with a vehicle and connected objects, the processing being by one or more servers of a cloud system where said vehicle is associated for receiving services, the connected objects include objects having communication capabilities that are either fixed at specific locations as infrastructure where the vehicle is traversing or is moving in location in areas proximate to where the vehicle is traversing, comprising:

receiving by a server of the cloud system, geo-location for the vehicle using on-board electronics of the vehicle and data obtained from a global positioning system;

determining a heading direction of the vehicle based on detected changes in the geo-locations of the vehicle;

receiving state data from connected objects;

selecting, by the one or more servers of the cloud system, one or more of the connected objects based on a current geo-location of the vehicle and the heading direction of the vehicle, the state data from the selected connected objects being processed to determine control data for the vehicle; and

sending, by the one or more servers of the cloud system, the control data to the vehicle for processing by the on-board electronics of the vehicle to cause an action by a system of the vehicle, the action by the system includes outputting an audio alert for an occupant of the vehicle, the audio alert being indicative of a corrective action suggested to be taken by the vehicle for safety;

wherein the one or more servers of the cloud system are defined by data processors that are located in one or more data centers and/or internet connected devices.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein sending the control data to the vehicle is throttled based on user profile settings of a user account used for interfacing with the vehicle or a service associated with the cloud system and said corrective action suggested to be taken is to avoid or reduce a potential for collision of the vehicle with another vehicle or with a person or with a stationary object.