Method and Apparatus for Subjective Command Control of Vehicle Systems

• US 20140067201A1
• Filed: 09/04/2012
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Prasad, Krishnaswamy Venkatesh, Filev, Dimitar Petrov, Gusikhin, Oleg Yurievitch, Visintainer, Randal Henry
• Granted Patent: US 9,809,185 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0373 Voice control in general G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 Execution procedure of a spoken command

Abstract

A system includes a processor in communication with at least one input, and configured to control at least one vehicle system. The processor is further configured to receive a command including a subjective element. The processor is also configured to access a mapping associated with a user from whom the command originated to retrieve a user-specific meaning, the mapping defining user-specific meanings for at least one subjective element. Further, the processor is configured to apply a user-specific meaning to an implementation of the command, such that a vehicle system is adjusted in accordance with both the subjective element and the user-specific meaning associated therewith.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor in communication with at least one input, and configured to control at least one vehicle system, wherein

the processor is further configured to receive a command including a subjective element,

access a mapping associated with a user from whom the command originated to retrieve a user-specific meaning, the mapping defining user-specific meanings for at least one subjective element, and

apply a user-specific meaning to an implementation of the command, such that a vehicle system is adjusted in accordance with both the subjective element and the user-specific meaning associated therewith.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle system is an HVAC system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle system is a sound system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to retrieve the mapping from a remote source.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operable to detect a manual change to the vehicle system implemented following adjustment based on the subjective element and to update the mapping based on the manual change such that the mapping more accurately reflects a user intention, as evidenced by the manual change.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to upload the updated mapping to a remote source.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor is configured to detect manual changes and update the mapping for only a predefined period of time following adjustment based on the subjective element.

8. A system comprising:

a processor in communication with at least one input, and configured to control at least one vehicle system, wherein

the processor is configured to adjust the vehicle system in accordance with a command including at least one subjective element, the adjustment being based at least in part on a user-specific profile defining a meaning for the subjective element and an objective portion of the command.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the objective element denotes an increase or decrease in a system setting and the subjective element denotes a degree of increase or decrease.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to apply the increase or decrease based on at least one instance of previously observed behavior in accordance with an application of the subjective command, the previously observed behavior having been saved in the user profile.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the previously observed behavior includes a manual adjustment of the vehicle system following an automatic adjustment of the system responsive to the subjective command.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the manual adjustment is factored into a user specific meaning for the subjective element, such that a processor retrieved meaning of the subjective element at a future time will reflect at least some portion of the manual adjustment.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to detect manual adjustments to the vehicle system for some period of time following adjustment in accordance with the command, wherein the processor is further configured to update the user-specific profile such that the meaning of the subjective element reflects the manual adjustment(s).

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the method comprising:

receiving a command including a subjective element;

accessing a user-associated mapping, defining a user-specific meaning for the subjective element; and

applying the user-specific meaning to an implementation of the command to adjust a vehicle system in accordance with both the subjective element and the user-specific meaning associated therewith.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the vehicle system is an HVAC system.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the vehicle system is a sound system.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to retrieve the mapping from a remote source.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the processor is further operable to detect a manual change to the vehicle system implemented following adjustment based on the subjective element and to update the mapping based on the manual change such that the mapping more accurately reflects a user intention, as evidenced by the manual change.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to upload the updated mapping to a remote source.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the processor is configured to detect manual changes and update the mapping for only a predefined period of time following adjustment based on the subjective element.