Method and system for enabling precautionary actions in a vehicle

• US 8,965,685 B1
• Filed: 04/07/2006
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Denaro, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Holwerda, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US11/400,151
• Time in Patent Office: 3,245 Days
• Field of Search: 701/207, 701/200, 701/117, 701/119, 701/400, 701408-499, 701500-541, 180/170, 180/171, 180/178, 180/179, 340/435, 340/438, 340/901, 340/905
• US Class Current: 701/423
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence

Abstract

A feature for a motor vehicle that takes precautionary actions in response to conditions on the road network in the vicinity ahead of the vehicle. The feature uses a data representation of the road network extending from the current vehicle position out to an extent. The data representation of the road network is used to identify conditions, if any, that warrant taking a precautionary action. The type of conditions about which actions are to be taken may be identified in a data file. A precautionary action is taken as the vehicle approaches the location of the condition. The precautionary action may be a message provided to the vehicle driver to alert the driver about the condition. Alternatively, the action may be a modification of the vehicle operation, such as slowing down or stopping the vehicle, speeding up the vehicle, changing direction, and so on.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-implemented method embedded in a computer readable medium for taking a precautionary action in a vehicle comprising:

determining a current position of the vehicle;

using a data representation of a road network to determine a part of the road network around the current position of the vehicle, wherein the part of the road network includes a portion of each road accessible from the current position of the vehicle and extending out to a threshold;

using the data representation of the road network to identify conditions, if any, corresponding to locations along said part of the road network around the current position of the vehicle that warrant taking the precautionary action;

when more than one condition is identified from the current position of the vehicle, using a data file that lists conditions by priority to determine which of the conditions has a level of importance greater than any other of the conditions, wherein the data file is stored in a non-volatile portion of memory prior to vehicle operation; and

taking the precautionary action for the condition that has a level of importance greater than any other of the conditions.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the data file is stored in the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said conditions is a sharp turn.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said conditions is a traffic signal.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said conditions is a speed limit change.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said conditions is a hill.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said conditions is a lane count change.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said conditions is a no-passing zone.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said conditions is a stop sign.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said conditions is a dangerous intersection.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the precautionary action comprises providing a message to alert a driver of the vehicle about the associated condition.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the message is provided to the driver prior to a decision point on the road network leading to a location associated with said condition.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the precautionary action comprises:

stopping the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the precautionary action comprises:

slowing down the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the precautionary action comprises:

preloading the vehicle brakes.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the precautionary action comprises:

speeding up the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the precautionary action comprises:

changing a direction of travel of the vehicle.

18. A computer-implemented method embedded in a non-transitory computer readable medium for taking a precautionary action in a vehicle comprising:

determining a current position of the vehicle;

using a data representation of a road network to determine a part of the road network around the current position of the vehicle, wherein the part of the road network includes a portion of each road accessible from the current position of the vehicle and extending out to a threshold;

upon determining that a driver of the vehicle is not being provided guidance to follow a route to a desired destination, using the data representation of the road network to identify each condition, if any, corresponding to a location along said part of the road network around the current position of the vehicle that warrants taking the precautionary action;

using a priority list to identify relative priority of the identified conditions if more than one condition is identified from the current position of the vehicle, wherein the priority list is stored in a non-volatile portion of memory prior to vehicle operation; and

taking the precautionary actions in an order corresponding to the priority list.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the precautionary action comprises providing a message to alert the driver of the vehicle about the condition.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

upon determining that the driver of the vehicle is being provided guidance to follow a route to a desired destination, using the data representation of the road network to identify conditions, if any, corresponding to locations along said part of the road network around the current position of the vehicle and that coincide with said route that warrants taking the precautionary action; and

taking the precautionary action in response to any of said conditions.

21. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs;

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least perform a method for taking a precautionary action in a vehicle comprising;

determining a current position of the vehicle;

using a data representation of a road network to determine a part of the road network around the current position of the vehicle, wherein the part of the road network includes a portion of each road accessible from the current position of the vehicle and extending out to a threshold;

using the data representation of the road network to identify conditions, if any, corresponding to locations along said part of the road network around the current position of the vehicle that warrant taking the precautionary action;

when more than one condition is identified from the current position of the vehicle, using a data file that lists conditions by priority to determine which of the conditions has a level of importance greater than any other of the conditions, wherein the data file is stored in a nonvolatile portion of memory prior to vehicle operation; and

taking the precautionary action for the condition that has a level of importance greater than any other of the conditions.