METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AN INDICATOR OF A RISK LEVEL IN OPERATING SYSTEMS

• US 20150266484A1
• Filed: 10/10/2012
• Published: 09/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP USA, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Moran, Robert, Beattle, Derek, Birnie, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 9,725,096 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/08 related to drivers or passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/09 Driving style or behaviour

Abstract

A method and apparatus for generating an indicator of a risk level in motor vehicle and notifying vehicle systems when a risk level is above a specific threshold includes, receiving a plurality of driver distraction indicators, assigning a weighting value to each indicator, applying a scaling factor to the weighting value assigned to those indicators which are identified as being related, and summing the weighting values to produce an output value indicating a risk level. Distraction indicators can include on-board system and sensor outputs and stored data relating to driver attributes. Related indicators may comprise those distraction indicators relating to environmental conditions (eg. rain and low ambient light levels), or to vehicle performance to driver concentration level (eg. in-car phone and navigation system). The scaling step allows the weighting process to be refined based on the status of other received indicators.

Claims

1. A method for generating an indicator of a risk level in an operating system, the method comprising:

receiving distraction indicators, from one or more sensors or processors, wherein at least one of said distraction indicators is designated as being related to at least one other of said distraction indicators;

assigning a weighting value to each of said distraction indicators;

identifying distraction indicators which are related;

modifying, by a scaling factor, the weighting values assigned to those distraction indicators which are identified as being related; and

summing the weighting values of the distraction indicators to produce an output value indicating a risk level.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

comparing the output value with a predetermined threshold value; and

if the predetermined threshold value is exceeded, generating at least one modified output signal indicating a risk level.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein related distraction indicators comprise at least two distraction indicators relating to environmental conditions, or to system performance, or to an operator concentration level.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein a received distraction indicator is assigned a weighting value which is dependent on the degree to which the distraction indicator constitutes a risk.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the operating system comprises a vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein a distraction indicator comprises at least one of an on-board sensor output, a vehicle driving condition indicator output, stored data relating to driver attributes, an on-board navigation system output.

7. An apparatus for generating an indicator of a risk level in an operating system, the apparatus comprising:

a first module arranged to receive a plurality of distraction indicators, wherein at least one of said distraction indicators is designated as being related to at least one other of said distraction indicators;

a memory for storing weighting values;

a second module arranged to assign a stored weighting value to each of said distraction indicators;

a third module arranged to identify distraction indicators which are related;

a store for storing scaling factors;

a fourth module arranged to modify the weighting values assigned to those distraction indicators which are identified as being related; and

a summer for summing the weighting values to produce an output value indicating a risk level.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising:

a comparator arranged to compare the output value with a predetermined threshold value, and if the threshold value is exceeded, generate a modified output signal indicating a risk level.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein related distraction indicators comprise at least two distraction indicators relating to environmental conditions, or to system performance, or to an operator concentration level.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein a received distraction indicator is assigned a weighting value which is dependent on the degree to which the distraction indicator constitutes a risk.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein a distraction indicator comprises at least one of;

a vehicle on-board sensor output, a vehicle driving condition indicator output, stored data relating to vehicle driver attributes, a vehicle on-board navigation system output.

12. A vehicle comprising the apparatus of claim 7.

13. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the apparatus is implemented in an integrated circuit.

14-15. -15. (canceled)