System and method for performing interventions in cars using communicated automotive information

• US 7,486,177 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2006
• Issued: 02/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Wilbrink, Tijs I., Walsh, William D., Kelley, Edward E.
• Primary Examiner(s): La; Anh V
• Application Number:
  US11/306,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20080111670A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 340/436, 340/435, 340/438, 340/903, 701/96, 180/167, 180/168, 180/169, 180/170, 342/70, 342/175, 342/195
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/161 Decentralised systems, e.g. inter-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

A system and method for performing real-time interventions in a vehicle based on dangerous conditions. A system is provided that includes: a feature collection system that identifies features on both a current vehicle and at least one nearby vehicle, and stores the features; an events manager that defines a criteria which constitutes a dangerous condition for each of a set of features, and further determines what intervention should take place in response to a dangerous condition; and an information processing system that compares sensor inputs to the criteria to determine if a dangerous condition currently exists.

Claims

1. A real-time intervention system for analyzing information in a vehicle relating to dangerous conditions, comprising:

a feature collection system that identifies features on both a current vehicle and at least one nearby vehicle, and stores the features, wherein at least one of the features is indentified based on input from a communication system of the at least one nearby vehicle;

an events manager that defines a criteria which constitutes a dangerous condition for each of a set of features, and further determines what intervention should take place in response to a dangerous condition; and

an information processing system that compares sensor inputs to the criteria to determine if a dangerous condition currently exists.

2. The real-time intervention system of claim 1, wherein the information processing system initiates an intervention in the event a dangerous condition currently exists.

3. The real-time intervention system of claim 1, wherein the feature collection system identifies features stored in a features profile.

4. The real-time intervention system of claim 1, wherein the feature collection system determines an availability and a status of each identified feature.

5. The real-time intervention system of claim 1, wherein the feature collection system detects external inputs from at least one nearby vehicle.

6. The real-time intervention system of claim 1, wherein the feature collection system collects external conditions selected from the group consisting of:

a road condition, a weather condition, and a road closure.

7. The real-time intervention system of claim 1, further comprising a system for inputting user preferences that augment the criteria regarding what constitutes a dangerous condition.

8. A computer program product stored on a computer useable medium, which when executed, processes information in a vehicle regarding dangerous conditions, the computer program product comprising:

program code configured for identifying features on both a current vehicle and nearby vehicles, and for storing the features, wherein at least one of the features is indentified based on input from a communication system of the at least one nearby vehicle;

program code configured for providing a criteria regarding what constitutes a dangerous condition for each of a set of features, and further determines what intervention should take place in response to a dangerous condition; and

program code configured for comparing sensor inputs to the criteria to determine if a dangerous condition currently exists.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising program code for initiating an intervention in the event a dangerous condition currently exists.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the program code configured for identifying features identifies features stored in a features profile.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the program code configured for identifying features determines an availability and a status of each identified feature.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the program code configured for identifying features detects external inputs from nearby vehicles.

13. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the program code configured for identifying features collects external conditions selected from the group consisting of:

a road condition, a weather condition, and a road closure.

14. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising program code configured for inputting user preferences that augment the criteria regarding what constitutes a dangerous condition.

15. A method of performing interventions in a vehicle based on dangerous conditions, comprising:

identifying features on both a current vehicle and at least one nearby vehicle, wherein at least one of the features is indentified based on input from a communication system of the at least one nearby vehicle;

storing the features in a features table;

implementing an events table having criteria regarding what constitutes a dangerous condition for each of a set of features, and further determines what intervention should take place in response to a dangerous condition;

comparing sensor inputs to criteria in the events table to determine if a dangerous condition currently exists; and

initiating an intervention in the event a dangerous condition currently exists.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of identifying features identifies features stored in a features profile.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of identifying features determines an availability and a status of each identified feature.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of identifying features detects external inputs from at least one nearby vehicle.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of identifying features collects external conditions selected from the group consisting of:

road conditions, weather conditions, and road closures.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising inputting user preferences that augment the criteria regarding what constitutes a dangerous condition.