Preemptive control of a vehicle computer system based on local and environmental sensing

• US 6,349,246 B1
• Filed: 04/24/2000
• Issued: 02/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Smith, Gordon James, Van Leeuwen, George Willard
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US09/557,269
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/2, 701/24, 701/33, 701/34, 701/35, 701/36, 340/901, 340/425.5, 340/500, 307/9.1
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance

Abstract

Method and apparatus for controlling data communications in response to environmental cues. The transmission and/or reception of data by a computer disposed onboard a vehicle may be controlled to avoid loss of data, unintentional transmission of data, etc., where predetermined environmental conditions are detected. In one embodiment, information is buffered when a predetermined condition is satisfied. The predetermined condition may include, for example, deceleration/acceleration, loss of traction, impact to the vehicle, impaired visibility conditions, loss of air pressure in a tire, engine stall and the like.

Claims

1. A computer system for detecting and responding to operating conditions of a vehicle, the computer system comprising:

(a) one or more sensors configured to collect operating condition information;

(b) a signal processing unit coupled to the one or more sensors and configured to receive and process at least the operating condition information; and

(c) one or more peripheral devices coupled to the signal processing unit, wherein each of the peripheral devices is for use by an occupant of the vehicle;

wherein the signal processing unit is configured to modify the operation of at least one of the peripheral devices when the occurrence of an emergency operating condition is determined during a data processing session between the occupant and the signal processing unit.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the input and output devices comprise multi-media devices.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the peripheral devices comprise recording devices, playback devices and wireless communication devices.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the signal processing unit comprises a buffer memory configured to temporarily store information input to the peripheral devices when the signal processing unit detects the emergency operating condition.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the emergency operating condition comprises environmental conditions.

6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the signal processing unit comprises one or more comparators coupled to the sensors and configured to output an interrupt signal when the threshold values are satisfied.

7. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the signal processing unit comprises a memory containing threshold values that, when satisfied, cause the signal processing unit to determine the occurrence of an emergency operating condition.

8. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the memory further contains action data representing processing actions taken by the signal processing unit when the threshold values are satisfied.

29. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the peripheral devices are not configured to control the operation of the vehicle.

9. A computer system for detecting and responding to operating conditions of a vehicle, the computer system comprising:

(a) one or more sensors configured to collect operating condition information;

(b) at least one input/output (I/O) device disposed in a cab portion of the vehicle and configured for use by an occupant of the vehicle;

(c) a signal processing unit comprising a memory containing predetermined operating condition threshold values and a buffer memory and coupled to the one or more sensors and the at least one I/O device; and

(d) a transceiver coupled to the signal processing unit configured for wireless communications with remote sources;

wherein the signal processing unit is configured to process at least the operating condition information and to cause at least one of (i) preserving a state of a data processing session during which the occupant is interfacing with the at least one I/O device and (ii) terminating a communication link when one or more of the predetermined operation condition threshold values are satisfied and wherein the buffer memory is configured to store information received from at least one of the I/O device and the transceiver when the predetermined operation condition threshold values are satisfied.

10. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the signal processing unit is configured to cause the at least one of preserving the state of the data processing session and terminating the communication link by modifying data flow between the I/O device, the transceiver, the buffer memory and the signal processing unit when one or more of the predetermined operating condition threshold values are satisfied.

11. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the I/O device comprises a multi-media device.

12. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to collect operating condition information selected from the group consisting of acceleration, deceleration, steering behavior, loss of traction, atmospheric conditions, obstacles in a path of travel, tire pressure, wheel balance, collision with an object, engine operation, braking system operation, deployment of an airbag system, an emergency broadcast system alert on the I/O device and a combination thereof.

13. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to collect operating condition information comprising emergency operating condition information.

14. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the memory further contains action data representing the action taken by the signal processing unit in response to operating condition information that satisfies one or more of the predetermined operating condition threshold values.

15. A signal bearing medium containing a program which, when executed by one or more processors, causes a computer system disposed on a vehicle to perform steps, comprising:

receiving vehicle operating condition information;

determining whether one or more operating condition information thresholds are satisfied; and

if one or more operating condition information thresholds are satisfied, preserving a state of a data processing session between a user disposed in the vehicle and the computer system, wherein the user interfaces with the computer system using at least one peripheral device.

16. The signal bearing medium of claim 15, wherein determining whether one or more operating condition information thresholds are satisfied comprises determining whether an emergency operating condition exists.

17. The signal bearing medium of claim 15, further comprising, if one or more operating condition information thresholds are satisfied, providing a warning signal to an output device.

18. The signal bearing medium of claim 15, further comprising interrupting data flow between the at least one peripheral device and the computer system.

19. The signal bearing medium of claim 15, wherein the computer system comprises a transceiver and wherein the data processing session comprises at least one of receiving information by the transceiver from a remote source and inputting information to the at least one peripheral device.

20. The signal bearing medium of claim 15, wherein preserving the state of the data processing session comprises storing communication information in a buffer memory.

21. The signal bearing medium of claim 20, wherein storing communication information in the buffer memory comprises saving a pointer to a memory address.

22. The signal bearing medium of claim 20, further comprising outputting the information stored in the buffer memory.

23. A method of processing data by a computer system disposable in a vehicle, comprising:

detecting operating condition information;

determining whether the operating condition information satisfies predetermined threshold values; and

if the threshold values are satisfied and if a user is interfacing with the computer system via a peripheral device, preserving a state of a data processing session by modifying at least one of the transmission and reception of data between the computer system and a remote device.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising outputting a warning signal to one or more output devices disposed in the vehicle.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the predetermined threshold values are selected to determine the occurrence of emergency operating conditions.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the emergency operating conditions is selected from the group consisting of acceleration, deceleration, steering behavior, loss of traction, atmospheric conditions, obstacles in a path of travel, tire pressure, wheel balance, collision with an object, engine operation;

braking system operation;

deployment of an airbag system;

an emergency broadcast system alert on output devices and a combination thereof.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising buffering the data if the predetermined threshold values are satisfied.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising retrieving the buffered data.

30. A method of processing data by a computer system disposable in a vehicle, comprising:

detecting operating condition information;

determining whether the operating condition information satisfies predetermined threshold values; and

if the threshold values are satisfied, preserving a state of a data processing session by modifying at least one of the transmission and reception of data, wherein preserving the state of the data processing session comprises;

determining whether the computer system is receiving data from a remote source; and

if the computer system is receiving data from the remote source, buffering at least information received subsequent to determining that the operating condition information satisfies predetermined threshold values;

if the computer system is not receiving data from the remote source, determining whether data is being manipulated locally on the computer system by a user disposed in the vehicle; and

if data is being manipulated locally on the computer system by the user, buffering information contained in a memory of the computer system.

31. A method of processing data by a computer system disposable in a vehicle, comprising:

detecting operating condition information;

determining whether the operating condition information satisfies predetermined threshold values; and

if the threshold values are satisfied, preserving a state of a data processing session by modifying at least one of the transmission and reception of data, wherein preserving the state of the data processing session further comprises;

if the computer system is not receiving data from the remote source, determining whether data is being transmitted to the remote source; and

if data is being transmitted to the remote source, terminating transmission of data.