Vehicle information processing method, apparatus therefor and vehicle therewith

• US 6,957,128 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2000
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Ito, Hajime, Sugiura, Masuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Hernandez, Olga
• Application Number:
  US09/699,371
• Time in Patent Office: 1,813 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/36, 701/200, 340/853.2, 340/870.16, 340/901, 340/945, 340/984, 340/988, 340/425.5, 340/500
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages

Abstract

For example, if multiple pieces of information arrive at and/or are generated in a vehicle at the same time, MMS optimizes selection of information to be communicated, selection of information communicating means, selection of information communication style and selection of various parameters such as communication timing, according to priority order given integrally to the multiple pieces of information, so as to communicate the multiple pieces of information to a vehicle driver effectively. Further, it communicates information effectively using appropriate resources corresponding to a parameter selected by this optimization.

Claims

1. A vehicle information processing method for processing diversified pieces of information in a vehicle, including a message comprising at least one of a message arriving at the vehicle and a message generated in a vehicle, comprising:

integrating said diversified pieces of information;

assigning each of the integrated pieces of information with a priority value indicating an importance of each piece of information; and

when one or more pieces of information are processed in said vehicle, allocating one or more appropriate resources selected from a plurality of diversified resources to the integrated pieces of information according to an order based upon the priority value assigned to each of the integrated pieces of information and conveying to an operator of the vehicle at least one of such pieces information or a suggested action for the operator to undertake through the one or more appropriate resources,

wherein the diversified resources include one or more information communicating means prepared for one or more organs of sense so that the conveying includes communicating each piece of information to the operator by appealing to a combination of one or more organs of sense.

2. A vehicle information processing method according to claim 1 wherein the importance of said each piece of information is defined so as to include a level of danger introduced from a degree of seriousness of a situation which may occur if the same piece of information is neglected and the priority value is assigned to said each piece of information based on said level of danger.

3. A vehicle information processing method according to claim 2 wherein the importance of said each piece of information is further defined so as to include a level of urgency introduced from a length of reaction time required by the operator recognizing each piece of information, and the priority value is assigned to said each piece of information based on said level of danger and said level of urgency.

4. A vehicle information processing method according to claim 1, wherein the diversified resources include one or more information communicating styles corresponding to a characteristic of each information communicating means.

5. A vehicle information processing method according to claim 1, wherein the diversified resources include an information communicating style suitable for the operator to understand a situation.

6. A vehicle information processing method according to claim 1, wherein the diversified resources include an information communicating style suitable for the operator to recognize an intended reaction.

7. A vehicle information processing method according to claim 1, wherein conveying comprises selecting a combination of one or more appropriate resources from said diversified resources based on at least one of the quantity of each piece of information to be communicated, a content of each piece of information, an appropriate communication timing, importance of each piece of information, and an information communicating capacity inherent in each of said diversified resources to communicate each piece of information to the operator using the selected resources.

8. A vehicle information processing method according to claim 1, wherein the diversified resources include a self-traveling control means for controlling self-traveling of said vehicle based on each piece of information.

9. A vehicle information processing method according to claim 8, wherein said self-traveling control means has a function for controlling at least one of a speed of said vehicle and a steering angle thereof based on each piece of information so as to aim at the self-traveling of said vehicle.

10. A vehicle information processing apparatus for processing diversified pieces of information in a vehicle, including a message comprising at least one of a message arriving at the vehicle and a message generated in the vehicle, comprising:

a priority order control means for integrating said diversified pieces of information and assigning each of the integrated pieces of information with a priority value indicating an importance of each piece of information; and

a resource allocation control means for, when one or more pieces of information are processed in said vehicle, allocating one or more appropriate resources selected from a plurality of diversified resources to the integrated pieces of information according to an order based upon the priority value assigned to each of the integrated pieces of information and conveying to an operator of the vehicle at least one of such pieces information or a suggested action for the operator to undertake through the one or more appropriate resources,

wherein the diversified resources include one or more information communicating means prepared for one or more organs of sense so that the conveying includes communicating each piece of information to the operator by appealing to a combination of one or more organs of sense.

11. A vehicle information processing apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the importance of said each piece of information is defined so as to include a level of danger introduced from a degree of seriousness of a situation which may occur if the same piece of information is neglected,

said priority order control means assigning said each piece of information with the priority value based on said level of danger.

12. A vehicle information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the importance of said each piece of information is further defined so as to include a level of urgency introduced from a length of reaction time required by the operator recognizing each piece of information,

said priority order control means assigning said each piece of information with the priority value based on said level of danger and said level of urgency.

13. A vehicle information processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the diversified resources include one or more information communicating styles corresponding to a characteristic of each information communicating means.

14. A vehicle information processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the diversified resources include an information communicating style suitable for the operator to understand a situation.

15. A vehicle information processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the diversified resources include an information communicating style suitable for the operator to recognize an intended reaction.

16. A vehicle information processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein conveying comprises selecting a combination of one or more appropriate resources from said diversified resources based on at least one of the quantity of each piece of information, a content of each piece of information, an appropriate communication timing, importance of each piece of information, and an information communicating capacity inherent in each of said diversified resources and said information communicating means selected by said resource allocation control means communicates each piece of information to the operator using the resources selected by said resource allocation control means.

17. A vehicle information processing apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the diversified resources include a self-traveling control means for controlling self-traveling of said vehicle based on each piece of information.

18. A vehicle information processing apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said self-traveling control means has a function for controlling at least one of a speed of said vehicle and a steering angle thereof based on each piece of information so as to aim at the self-traveling of said vehicle.

19. A vehicle and a vehicle information processing apparatus for processing diversified pieces of information, including a message comprising at least one of a message arriving at the vehicle and a message generated in the vehicle, comprising:

a priority order control means for integrating said diversified pieces of information and assigning each of the integrated pieces of information with a priority value indicating an importance of each piece of information; and

a resource allocation control means for, when one or more pieces of information are processed in the vehicle, allocating one or more appropriate resources selected from a plurality of diversified resources to the integrated pieces of information according to an order based upon the priority value assigned to each of the integrated pieces of information and conveying to an operator of the vehicle at least one of such pieces information or a suggested action for the operator to undertake through the one or more appropriate resources;

wherein the diversified resources include one or more information communicating means prepared for one or more organs of sense so that the conveying includes communicating each piece of information to the operator by appealing to a combination of one or more organs of sense.