Vehicular Communication Arrangement and Method

• US 20070005609A1
• Filed: 08/14/2006
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intelligent Technologies International, Inc.
• Inventors: Breed, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,629,899 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2863 backward facing
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0071 Controller overrides driver automatically
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0073 Driver overrides controller
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0075 Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/046 involving external transmission of data to or from the vehicle, e.g. via telemetry, satellite, Global Positioning System [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/048 displaying data transmitted between vehicles, e.g. for platooning, control of inter-vehicle distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/40 Photo, light or radio wave sensitive means, e.g. infrared sensors
• 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 2420/52 Radar, Lidar
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/4029 Pedestrians
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/4041 Position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/406 Traffic density
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/80 Spatial relation or speed relative to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 : of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/02 : Control of vehicle driving stability
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/04 : related to roll-over prevention
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/095 : Predicting travel path or likelihood of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/14 : Adaptive cruise control
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 : Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18154 : Approaching an intersection
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18159 : Traversing an intersection
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18172 : Preventing, or responsive to skidding of wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/06 : Road conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/072 : Curvature of the road
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/076 : Slope angle of the road
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/00 : Details of control systems for road vehicle drive control not related to the control of a particular sub-unit , e.g. process diagnostic or vehicle driver interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 : Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 : specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/30 : Map- or contour-matching
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 : Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/865 : Combination of radar systems with lidar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/867 : Combination of radar systems with cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 : of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/86 : Combinations of lidar systems with systems other than lidar, radar or sonar, e.g. with direction finders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 : for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/17 : Emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/41 : Differential correction, e.g. DGPS [differential GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 : Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/50 : whereby the position solution is constrained to lie upon a particular curve or surface, e.g. for locomotives on railway tracks
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2007/4975 : of sensor obstruction by, e.g. dirt- or ice-coating, e.g. by reflection measurement on front-screen
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9315 : Monitoring blind spots
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9316 : combined with communication equipment with other vehicles or with base stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9318 : Controlling the steering
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93185 : Controlling the brakes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9319 : Controlling the accelerator
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 : using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9321 : Velocity regulation, e.g. cruise control
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9322 : using additional data, e.g. driver condition, road state or weather data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 : in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93272 : in the back of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93273 : on the top of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9329 : cooperating with reflectors or transponders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/002 : for traffic control, mobile tracking, guidance, surveillance or anti-collision
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0072 : Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0221 : involving a learning process
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0225 : involving docking at a fixed facility, e.g. base station or loading bay parking aids B62D15/027
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0246 : using a video camera in combination with image processing means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0257 : using a radar radar systems designed for anti-collision purposes between land vehicles or between land vehicle and fixed obstacles G01S13/931
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/027 : comprising intertial navigation means, e.g. azimuth detector inertial navigation G01C21/16; inertial navigation combined with non-inertial navigation instruments G01C21/165
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0274 : using mapping information stored in a memory device navigation using map-matching G01C21/30
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 : using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 2201/0213 : Road vehicle, e.g. car or truck
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 : Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 : where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/161 : Decentralised systems, e.g. inter-vehicle communication
• 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: G08G 1/165 : for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 : for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 : Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

Method for transmitting data from infrastructure to vehicles includes arranging a transmitter apart from the vehicles, providing information relating to operation of at least one vehicle or of an occupant of a vehicle to the transmitter, transmitting the information from the transmitter to the at least one vehicle, and receiving the transmitted information at the at least one vehicle. Transmitters may be arranged on a roadway on which the vehicles travel, at a gas station or other vehicle-accessible commercial or public location such as a mall, at the vehicle operator'"'"'s home and on a road sign, basically anywhere in range of a traveling vehicle. The information to be transmitted to the vehicle may be prioritized and transmitted via the transmitter based on the prioritization.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting data from infrastructure to vehicles, comprising:

arranging a transmitter apart from the vehicles;

providing information relating to operation of at least one vehicle or of an occupant of a vehicle to the transmitter;

transmitting the information from the transmitter to the at least one vehicle; and

receiving the transmitted information at the at least one vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information is map information, further comprising:

directing a signal to at least one area covered by a segment of the map relating to the latest update information for that segment;

receiving the signal at the vehicle; and

determining in the vehicle whether the vehicle has the latest updated map information for the segment in which the vehicle is located and if not, downloading an update for the vehicle'"'"'s map information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the information is map information, further comprising:

arranging the transmitter before a section of road; and

providing information to the transmitter relating to data about the section of road after the transmitter for transmission to vehicles in range of the transmitter.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the information is map information, and the transmitter is a movable transmitter, further comprising:

moving the transmitter to a site before a section of road undergoing construction, subject to blockage or for which map data is otherwise unavailable; and

providing information about the section of road to the transmitter for transmission to vehicles in range of the transmitter while the transmitter is at the site before the section of road.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

embedding sensors in or alongside the road surface to obtain data about the road surface; and

directing information from the sensors to the transmitter for transmission to vehicles in range of the transmitter and traveling or expected to travel over the road surface in or alongside which the sensors are embedded.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the information provided to the transmitter is weather information, road surface information, traffic information, speed limit information or information about construction.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of transmitters is placed on or alongside a road, further comprising directing signals from the transmitters which enable the vehicle to determine its position using the transmitted signals and information about the position of the transmitters.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of transmitters comprises a group of a plurality of linked MIR, IR or RF transmitters which direct signals to a common area through which vehicles pass.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of transmitters comprises a group of a plurality of RFID devices, further comprising arranging at least one interrogator on the vehicle to cause the RFID devices to direct signals in response to an interrogation signal from the interrogator.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling the vehicle to determine its position using a GPS-based system, the information provided to the transmitter being DGPS correction updates.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the information includes information about points of interest, information about the presence of animals in proximity to the road, information about signs relating to the road, accidents, congestion, speed limits, route guidance, location-based services, emergency or other information from police, fire or ambulance services, or information generated by probe vehicles.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

arranging a transmitter on the vehicle to transmit information about the vehicle to the transmitter for retransmission to a remote location;

generating diagnostic or prognostic information on the vehicle; and

transmitting the diagnostic or prognostic information from the vehicle to the transmitter.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prioritizing the information to be transmitted to the vehicle; and

transmitting the information based on the prioritization.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling an occupant of the vehicle to request information to be transmitted via the transmitter, the requested information being provided to the transmitter for retransmission to the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a condition requiring transmission of information to the vehicle; and

transmitting the information to the vehicle upon detection of the condition.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying an occupant of the vehicle; and

transmitting information to the vehicle via the transmitter based on the identification of the occupant.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

storing personal data for occupants at one or more sites accessible via the Internet;

determining where a particular person'"'"'s personal data is stored upon identification of the occupant; and

transmitting the personal data from the determined storage location to the vehicle via the transmitter upon identification of the occupant.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the information is transmitted to the vehicle when the vehicle is not operating.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the information is transmitted to the vehicle when the vehicle is operating.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is arranged on a roadway on which the vehicles travel.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is arranged at a gas station or other vehicle-accessible commercial or public location.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is arranged at the vehicle operator'"'"'s home.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is arranged on a road sign.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising coupling the transmitter to the Internet such that information is provided to the transmitter for transmission to the vehicles via the Internet.

25. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the vehicle with a receiver capable of receiving cell phone communications, the transmitter being arranged to transmit a communication to the receiver.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining information about weather or road conditions in vicinity of the transmitter;

determining a maximum speed limit for roads in the vicinity of the transmitter based on the information about the weather or road conditions; and

providing the maximum speed limit information to the transmitter for transmission to the vehicles.