Medical applications in telematics

• US 7,266,430 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2003
• Issued: 09/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Basson, Sara H., Kanevsky, Dimitri, Fairweather, Peter G.
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US10/744,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20050137753A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,352 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/35, 701/36, 701/45, 701/63, 340/425.5, 340/438, 340/439, 381/FOR.110, 704/200, 704/246
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/066 actuating a signalling device B60K28/063 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network

Abstract

A vehicle control system and method for facilitating operation of a vehicle by a driver with a potentially debilitating condition. At least one sensor provides sensor data corresponding to at least one of a vehicle condition or a driver condition. A database includes potentially debilitating condition data and symptoms data corresponding thereto. A central processing unit is in data communication with the database and the at least one sensor. The central processing monitors the operation of the vehicle by the driver based on the sensor data and the database.

Claims

1. A vehicle control system for facilitating operation of a vehicle by a driver with a potentially debilitating condition, comprising:

at least one sensor providing sensor data for at least one of a vehicle condition or a driver condition;

a database including potentially debilitating condition data and symptoms data corresponding thereto; and

a central processing unit in data communication with the database and the at least one sensor, the central processing unit monitoring the operation of the vehicle by the driver based on the sensor data and the database,

wherein the central processing unit includes a conversation planner, the conversation planner engaging in conversation with the driver and evaluate the condition of the driver,

wherein the conversation planner includes;

a grammar module formatting the driver'"'"'s verbal input into an understandable grammar format for further interpretation;

an understanding module, the understanding module;

determining the context of speech input by the driver based on input from the grammar module;

determine a condition of the driver based on the driver'"'"'s verbal input and responses to verbal inquiries and commands; and

a sentence generator, the sentence generator preparing text for the driver based on at instruction from at least one of the grammar module and the understanding module.

2. The vehicle control system according to claim 1, wherein the conversation planner further includes a grammar control module in communication with the understanding module, the grammar control module generating data corresponding to driving performance of the driver.

3. The vehicle control system according to claim 2, wherein the understanding module further determines the condition of the driver based on data generated by the grammar control module.

4. The vehicle control system according to claim 3, wherein the grammar control module is one of a driver conditions grammar control module, a road situation grammar control module and a symptoms grammar control module.

5. The vehicle control system according to claim 3, wherein the grammar control module determines the verbal inquiry and provides an evaluation of the response to the verbal inquiry to the understanding module based on a constraint domain of acceptable responses.

6. The vehicle control system according to claim 1, further including a normalizer in operative communication with the central processing unit and a vehicle operation input device, the normalizer being operable to distinguish between a driver'"'"'s tremor and an acceptable interaction with the vehicle operation input device.

7. The vehicle control system according to claim 6, wherein the normalizer includes a processor distinguishing between a driver'"'"'s tremor and an acceptable interaction with the vehicle operation input device based on or more of vehicle location prediction data, vehicle control data, road data, history data, navigation goal data and expected movement data.

8. A method for facilitating operation of a vehicle by a driver with a potentially debilitating condition, comprising:

receiving data from a sensor, the sensor monitoring at least one of a vehicle condition or a driver condition;

storing potentially debilitating condition data and symptoms data corresponding thereto in a database;

monitoring the operation of the vehicle by the driver based on the sensor data, the debilitating condition data and the symptoms data;

wherein monitoring includes engaging in conversation with the driver and evaluating the condition of the driver based on the conversation; and

,

wherein engaging in conversation with the driver and evaluating the condition of the driver based on the conversation includes;

formatting the driver'"'"'s verbal input into an understandable grammar format for further interpretation;

determining the context of speech input by the driver based on the formatter verbal input;

determining a condition of the driver based on the driver'"'"'s verbal input and responses to verbal inquiries and commands; and

preparing text for the driver.

9. The vehicle operation facilitation method according to claim 8, wherein engaging in conversation with the driver and evaluating the condition of the driver based on the conversation further includes generating data corresponding to driving performance of the driver.

10. The vehicle operation facilitation method according to claim 8 further comprising:

determining a verbal inquiry based on at least one of the sensor data and responses by the driver to previous verbal inquiries; and

evaluating a response to the verbal inquiry based on a constraint domain of acceptable responses.

11. A method for facilitating operation of a vehicle by a driver with a potentially debilitating condition, comprising:

receiving data from a sensor, the sensor monitoring at least one of a vehicle condition or a driver condition;

storing potentially debilitating condition data and symptoms data corresponding thereto in a database; and

,

monitoring the operation of the vehicle by the driver based on the sensor data, the debilitating condition data and the symptoms data;

wherein the monitoring further comprises distinguishing between a driver'"'"'s tremor and an acceptable interaction with a vehicle operation input device.

12. The vehicle operation facilitation method according to claim 11, wherein distinguishing between a driver'"'"'s tremor and an acceptable interaction with the vehicle operation input device is based on or more of vehicle location prediction data, vehicle control data, road data, history data, navigation goal data and expected movement data.