Determining vehicle occupant location

• US 9,544,742 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2015
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Van Wiemeersch, John Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DANH C
• Application Number:
  US14/712,994
• Publication Number:
  US 20160337814A1
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/418, 455/556.1, 701/36
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/415 based on motion status or velocity, e.g. for disabling use of mobile phones in a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

A method includes receiving, in a vehicle computer, a message from a first user device including data concerning movement of the first user portable device. The computer associates the movement data with one of a left vehicle door opening and a right vehicle door opening.

Claims

1. A computer, comprising a memory device and a processor storing instructions executable by the processor such that the computer is programmed to:

receive a message from a first user device including data concerning movement of the first user device;

associate the movement data with one of a left vehicle door opening and a right vehicle door opening;

receive a second signal from the first user device;

evaluate a strength of the second signal;

determine a location of a first user associated with the first user portable device based at least in part on the strength of the second signal; and

determine that the first user is located in a front row of the vehicle if the strength is greater than or equal to a first predetermined threshold.

2. The computer of claim 1, further programmed to:

identify a trigger for starting a user location determination process; and

initiate, upon identifying the trigger for starting the user location determination process, a first communication to the first user portable device.

3. The computer of claim 2, further programmed to:

include, in the identification of a trigger, at least one of receiving a command from a fob, detecting a user touching a door handle, receiving an input from a key pad, detecting an unlock event activated by a mechanical key and receiving an input from a timer.

4. The computer of claim 1 wherein the first user device is a wearable portable device.

5. The computer of claim 1, further programmed to:

determine that the first user is located in a front left seat if the movement data is associated with a left door opening and the strength of the second signal is greater than or equal to a first predetermined threshold.

6. The computer of claim 5, further programmed to:

receive a third signal from a second user portable device associated with a second user;

evaluate a strength of the third signal; and

determine that the second user is located in a front right seat if the strength of the third signal is greater than or equal to the first predetermined threshold.

7. The computer of claim 6, wherein the second user device is a wearable portable device.

8. The computer of claim 1, further programmed to:

send instructions to at least one vehicle controller to adjust at least one vehicle component based at least in part on the determined location.

9. The computer of claim 1, wherein the movement data is based at least partially on an output signal from a sensor in the first user portable device.

10. A computer, comprising a memory device and a processor storing instructions executable by the processor such that the computer is programmed to:

receive a first signal from a first user device located outside a vehicle, the first signal including movement data from sensors included in the first user device;

identify, from the movement data, a movement characteristic of opening a vehicle door; and

determine, based at least in part on the identified movement, that the user opened one of a left vehicle door and a right vehicle door.

11. The computer of claim 10, further programmed to:

identify a trigger for starting a user location determination process; and

initiate, upon identifying the trigger for starting the user location determination process, a first communication to the first user portable device.

12. The computer of claim 11, further programmed to:

include, in the identification of a trigger, at least one of receiving a command from a fob, detecting a user touching a door handle, receiving an input from a key pad, detecting an unlock event activated by a mechanical key and receiving an input from a timer.

13. The computer of claim 10 wherein the first user device is a wearable portable device.

14. The computer of claim 10, further programmed to:

receive a second signal from the first user device;

evaluate a strength of the second signal; and

determine a location of a first user associated with the first user portable device based at least in part on the strength of the second signal.

15. The computer of claim 14, further programmed to:

determine that the first user is located in a front row of the vehicle if the strength is greater than or equal to a first predetermined threshold.

16. The computer of claim 14, further programmed to:

determine that the first user is located in a front left seat based on a determination that the user opened the left vehicle door and the strength of the second signal is greater than or equal to a first predetermined threshold.

17. The computer of claim 16, further programmed to:

receive a third signal from a second user portable device associated with a second user;

evaluate a strength of the third signal; and

determine that the second user is located in a front right seat if the strength of the third signal is greater than or equal to the first predetermined threshold.

18. The computer of claim 17, wherein the second user device is a wearable device.

19. The computer of claim 10, further programmed to:

send instructions to at least one vehicle controller to adjust at least one vehicle component based at least in part on the determined location.

20. The computer of claim 10, wherein the movement data is based at least partially on an output signal from a sensor in the first user portable device.