Method and Apparatus for Predicting Times of High Driver Demand

• US 20140278087A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Prakah-Asante, Kwaku O., Yang, Hsin-Hsiang, Strumolo, Gary Steven
• Application Number:
  US13/804,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20140278087A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/532
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/00 Purposes of road vehicle drive control systems not related to the control of a particular sub-unit, e.g. of systems using conjoint control of vehicle sub-units
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence

Abstract

A system includes a processor configured to receive information representing a driver demand level for a plurality of driving locations. The processor is further configured to aggregate the received information to identify likely high driving demand areas. The processor is additionally configured to access stored aggregated driving demand information to identify likely high driving demand areas on a current vehicle route. Also, the processor is configured to provide one or more services to reduce driver inattentiveness and to elevate driver focus during travel within the identified areas, based on upcoming identified likely high driving demand areas.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive information representing a driver demand level for a plurality of driving locations;

aggregate the received information to identify likely high driving demand areas;

access stored aggregated driving demand information to identify likely high driving demand areas on a current vehicle route; and

based on upcoming identified likely high driving demand areas, provide one or more services to reduce driver inattentiveness and elevate driver focus during travel within the identified areas.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the received information includes driver control inputs.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the received information includes vehicle environment information.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the received information includes vehicle response information.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

calculate an index value for the demand at each of the driving locations, wherein, if the index value is above a tunable threshold, the aggregation results in an increase of the likelihood of high driving demand for the location, and if the index value is below the tunable threshold, the aggregation results in a decrease of the likelihood of high driving demand for the location.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the services include an automatic do not disturb enablement.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the services include a warning presented to the driver about the upcoming high demand area.

8. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving information representing a driver demand level for a plurality of driving locations;

aggregating the received information to identify likely high driving demand areas;

accessing stored aggregated driving demand information to identify likely high driving demand areas on a current vehicle route; and

based on upcoming identified likely high driving demand areas, providing one or more services to reduce driver inattentiveness and elevate driver focus during travel within the identified areas.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the received information includes driver control inputs.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the received information includes vehicle environment information.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the received information includes vehicle response information.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to:

calculate an index value for the demand at each of the driving locations, wherein, if the index value is above a tunable threshold, the aggregation results in an increase of the likelihood of high driving demand for the location, and if the index value is below the tunable threshold, the aggregation results in a decrease of the likelihood of high driving demand for the location.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the services include an automatic do not disturb enablement.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the services include a warning presented to the driver about the upcoming high demand area.

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

receiving information representing a driver demand level for a plurality of driving locations;

aggregating the received information to identify likely high driving demand areas;

accessing stored aggregated driving demand information to identify likely high driving demand areas on a current vehicle route; and

based on upcoming identified likely high driving demand areas, providing one or more services to reduce driver inattentiveness and to elevate driver focus during travel within the identified areas.

16. The storage medium of claim 15, wherein the received information includes driver control inputs.

17. The storage medium of claim 15, wherein the received information includes vehicle environment information.

18. The storage medium of claim 15, wherein the received information includes vehicle response information.

19. The storage medium of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to:

calculate an index value for the demand at each of the driving locations, wherein, if the index value is above a tunable threshold, the aggregation results in an increase of the likelihood of high driving demand for the location, and if the index value is below the tunable threshold, the aggregation results in a decrease of the likelihood of high driving demand for the location.

20. The storage medium of claim 15, wherein the services include an automatic do not disturb enablement.