Cognitive state supported automotive travel

• US 9,296,395 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2013
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Forcke, Kember Anne-Rivers, Johlic, Marc Kevin, Keohane, Susann Marie, Mueller, Mary Jo
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaawat, Mussa A
• Assistant Examiner(s): JHA, ABDHESH K
• Application Number:
  US14/064,009
• Publication Number:
  US 20150120081A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0818 Inactivity or incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0872 Driver physiology
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/45 External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 Propelling the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/08 related to drivers or passengers

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program product for cognitive state supported automotive travel are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A detection is made that an event in a vehicle is outside of acceptable bounds for that event. A determination is made whether the event being outside of acceptable bounds is a result of a cognitive state of a person operating the vehicle. Responsive to the event being a result of the cognitive state of the person, an indication of the cognitive state of the person being below a threshold level of cognitive abilities is generated. An action corresponding to the cognitive state is performed. The action causes the vehicle to operate with improved safety.

Claims

1. A method for cognitive state supported automotive travel, the method comprising:

configuring, in an application executing using a processor in a vehicle, an integration with a home automation system to identify an objective of a trip from the home automation system;

detecting that an event in the vehicle is outside of acceptable bounds for that event;

establishing a cognitive state of a person operating the vehicle, the establishing using at least one of (i) information from a biometric sensor, (ii) an input from a data processing system accessible in the vehicle, and (iii) an input from the person operating the vehicle;

determining whether the event being outside of acceptable bounds is a result of the cognitive state of the person operating the vehicle;

generating, responsive to the event comprising forgetting the objective by the person as the result of the cognitive state of the person, an indication of the cognitive state of the person being below a threshold level of cognitive abilities; and

performing, using a processor, an action corresponding to the cognitive state, wherein the action causes the vehicle to operate with improved safety.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting the action from a plurality of actions;

determining whether the action has to be performed by another system; and

sending, responsive to the action not having to be performed by another system, a command to a data processing system in the vehicle to change an operation of the vehicle whereby the vehicle operates with the improved safety.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting the action from a plurality of actions;

determining whether the action has to be performed by another system; and

sending, responsive to the action having to be performed by another system, a message to a data processing system from the vehicle over a data network to cause a change an operation of the vehicle whereby the vehicle operates with the improved safety.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the action causes the vehicle to operate with improved safety by directing the vehicle to a second location, wherein the person had planned to travel to a first location prior to the event.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

associating a confidence level with the indication.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting the person with a set of questions and receiving a corresponding set of answers; and

ascertaining the cognitive state responsive to the set of answers exceeding a threshold.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

rejecting the event, responsive to the event not resulting from the cognitive state of the person.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

validating, responsive to the event being a result of the cognitive state of the person, the cognitive state, wherein the validating distinguishes between a plurality of cognitive states that can cause the event, the cognitive state being one of the plurality of cognitive states.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a set of inputs, and

detecting the event based on the values of inputs in the set of inputs.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein a first input in the set of inputs comprises a biometric measurement, wherein a second input in the set of inputs comprises a value provided by a data processing system installed in the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein a third input in the set of inputs comprises an input provided by the person.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, using the integration, whether the person is equipped with a medication prior to operating the vehicle;

assisting, from the application, the person in locating the medication using the home automation system.

12. A computer usable program product comprising a computer usable storage device including computer usable code for cognitive state supported automotive travel, the computer usable code comprising:

computer usable code for configuring, in an application executing using a processor in a vehicle, an integration with a home automation system to identify an objective of a trip from the home automation system;

computer usable code for detecting that an event in the vehicle is outside of acceptable bounds for that event;

computer usable code for establishing a cognitive state of a person operating the vehicle, the computer usable code for establishing using at least one of (i) information from a biometric sensor, (ii) an input from a data processing system accessible in the vehicle, and (iii) an input from the person operating the vehicle;

computer usable code for determining whether the event being outside of acceptable bounds is a result of the cognitive state of the person operating the vehicle;

computer usable code for generating, responsive to the event comprising forgetting the objective by the person as the result of the cognitive state of the person, an indication of the cognitive state of the person being below a threshold level of cognitive abilities; and

computer usable code for performing, using a processor, an action corresponding to the cognitive state, wherein the action causes the vehicle to operate with improved safety.

13. The computer usable program product of claim 12, further comprising:

computer usable code for selecting the action from a plurality of actions;

computer usable code for determining whether the action has to be performed by another system; and

computer usable code for sending, responsive to the action not having to be performed by another system, a command to a data processing system in the vehicle to change an operation of the vehicle whereby the vehicle operates with the improved safety.

14. The computer usable program product of claim 12, further comprising:

computer usable code for selecting the action from a plurality of actions;

computer usable code for determining whether the action has to be performed by another system; and

computer usable code for sending, responsive to the action having to be performed by another system, a message to a data processing system from the vehicle over a data network to cause a change an operation of the vehicle whereby the vehicle operates with the improved safety.

15. The computer usable program product of claim 12, further comprising:

computer usable code for associating a confidence level with the indication.

16. The computer usable program product of claim 12, further comprising:

computer usable code for presenting the person with a set of questions and receiving a corresponding set of answers; and

computer usable code for ascertaining the cognitive state responsive to the set of answers exceeding a threshold.

17. The computer usable program product of claim 12, wherein the computer usable code is stored in a computer readable storage device in a data processing system, and wherein the computer usable code is transferred over a network from a remote data processing system.

18. The computer usable program product of claim 12, wherein the computer usable code is stored in a computer readable storage device in a server data processing system, and wherein the computer usable code is downloaded over a network to a remote data processing system for use in a computer readable storage device associated with the remote data processing system.

19. A data processing system for cognitive state supported automotive travel, the data processing system comprising:

a storage device, wherein the storage device stores computer usable program code; and

a processor, wherein the processor executes the computer usable program code, and wherein the computer usable program code comprises;

computer usable code for configuring, in an application executing using a processor in a vehicle, an integration with a home automation system to identify an objective of a trip from the home automation system;

computer usable code for detecting that an event in the vehicle is outside of acceptable bounds for that event;

computer usable code for establishing a cognitive state of a person operating the vehicle, the computer usable code for establishing using at least one of (i) information from a biometric sensor, (ii) an input from a data processing system accessible in the vehicle, and (iii) an input from the person operating the vehicle;

computer usable code for determining whether the event being outside of acceptable bounds is a result of the cognitive state of the person operating the vehicle;

computer usable code for generating, responsive to the event comprising forgetting the objective by the person as the result of the cognitive state of the person, an indication of the cognitive state of the person being below a threshold level of cognitive abilities; and

computer usable code for performing, using the processor, an action corresponding to the cognitive state, wherein the action causes the vehicle to operate with improved safety.