Method and apparatus for generating notification of changed conditions behind a vehicle
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for conveying information about a change in conditions behind a vehicle, the method comprising:
- gathering first information about a first set of conditions behind the vehicle at a first time;
gathering second information about a second set of conditions behind the vehicle at a second time later than the first time;
comparing the first information and the second information to determine differences between the first set of conditions and the second set of conditions behind the vehicle;
determining whether the differences meet a notification criterion; and
generating a notification conveying information about a change in conditions behind a vehicle where the differences meet the notification criterion.
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Abstract
According to the present invention, methods and apparatus are provided to generate notification about condition changes behind a vehicle. Information about a first set of conditions behind a vehicle is gathered at a first point in time. Information can be gathered using imaging devices, infrared detectors, distance meters, light intensity sensors, and timing devices. At a later point in time, information about a second set of conditions behind the vehicle is gathered. The information gathered at a first point in time is compared to the information gathered at the later point in time to determine differences between the conditions behind the vehicle. If the differences meet a notification criterion, a notification is generated conveying information about the changed conditions behind the vehicle.
5 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for conveying information about a change in conditions behind a vehicle, the method comprising:
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gathering first information about a first set of conditions behind the vehicle at a first time;
gathering second information about a second set of conditions behind the vehicle at a second time later than the first time;
comparing the first information and the second information to determine differences between the first set of conditions and the second set of conditions behind the vehicle;
determining whether the differences meet a notification criterion; and
generating a notification conveying information about a change in conditions behind a vehicle where the differences meet the notification criterion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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14. A computer-implemented method for conveying information about changed conditions behind a vehicle, the method comprising:
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gathering first information about first rearward conditions;
recognizing that the vehicle is in reverse;
gathering second information about second rearward conditions, wherein gathering second information about second rearward conditions occurs after gathering first information about first rearward conditions;
creating a first archetype from first information about first rearward conditions;
creating a second archetype from second information about second rearward conditions;
comparing the first and second archetypes to determine differences between first rearward conditions and second rearward conditions behind the vehicle; and
generating a notification conveying information about changed conditions behind a vehicle upon determining that the differences meet a notification criterion.
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24. A computer program product comprising a machine readable medium on which is provided program instructions for conveying information about a change in conditions behind a vehicle, the computer program product comprising:
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computer code for gathering first information about a first set of conditions behind the vehicle at a first time;
computer code for gathering second information about a second set of conditions behind the vehicle at a second time later than the first time;
computer code for comparing the first information and the second information to determine differences between the first set of conditions and the second set of conditions behind the vehicle;
computer code for determining whether the differences meet a notification criterion; and
computer code for generating a notification conveying information about a change in conditions behind a vehicle where the differences meet the notification criterion.
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37. An apparatus for conveying information about changed conditions behind a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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a sensor system for generating data representations of a first set of conditions behind a vehicle at a first time and a second set of conditions behind a vehicle at a second time;
a processor coupled to the sensor system, the processor configured to compare the data representations of the first and second set of conditions behind the vehicle to determine differences between the first set of conditions and the second set of conditions;
a notification device coupled to the processor, wherein a notification about changed conditions behind a vehicle is conveyed upon determining that the differences meet a notification criterion.
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Specification