Autonomous vehicle monitoring and control

• US 9,720,418 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2014
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (HERE Holding Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (HERE Holding Corporation)
• Inventors: Stenneth, Leon Oliver
• Primary Examiner(s): KLEINMAN, LAIL A
• Application Number:
  US14/287,898
• Publication Number:
  US 20150346718A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,162 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0276 using signals provided by a source external to the vehicle involving a plurality of vehicles G05D1/0287; automatically controlling vehicle speed responsive to externally generated signals B60K31/0058
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0282 generated in a local control room
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0611 Request for offers or quotes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/00 Registering or indicating the working of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/123 indicating the position of vehicles, e.g. scheduled vehicles; Managing passenger vehicles circulating according to a fixed timetable, e.g. buses, trains, tramstransmission of navigation instructions to vehicles G08G1/0968

Abstract

An autonomous vehicle may be partially controlled or monitored by a remote endpoint assigned to the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle sends one or more assisted driving messages directly to the autonomous vehicle or through a server. The server may identify multiple potential remote driving endpoints and assign one or more of the potential remote driving endpoints to the autonomous vehicle. The one or more potential remote driving endpoints return a command to the autonomous vehicle directly or through the server.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying, using a processor, one or more remote driving endpoints;

receiving a route from an autonomous vehicle;

selecting, using the processor, a remote driving endpoint associated with a remote driving endpoint user, from a plurality of remote driving endpoints and based on the route received from the autonomous vehicle, wherein the remote driving endpoint is configured to monitor the an autonomous vehicle;

receiving one or more assisted driving messages from the autonomous vehicle,

wherein the one or more assisted driving messages describe one or more conditions of the autonomous vehicle;

sending the one or more assisted driving messages to the remote driving endpoint; and

receiving a command from the remote driving endpoint and based on the remote driving endpoint monitoring the autonomous vehicle through the one or more assisted driving messages.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a maximum price from the autonomous vehicle; and

receiving a price bid from each of the one or more remote driving endpoints.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a time for a route from the autonomous vehicle, wherein the remote driving endpoint is assigned based on the time for the route.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an acknowledgement message for the remote driving endpoint from the autonomous vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a profile for each of the one or more remote driving endpoints; and

comparing the profiles for the remote driving endpoints based on at least one preference associated with the autonomous vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending the command from the remote driving endpoint to the autonomous vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the command is a driving command for the autonomous vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the command is an audible alert.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the autonomous vehicle is a semi-autonomous vehicle or fully autonomous vehicle.

10. 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;

receiving a request for remote monitoring and at least one parameter for remote monitoring from an autonomous vehicle;

assigning a remote driving endpoint to the autonomous vehicle based on the at least one parameter;

sending one or more assisted driving messages to the remote driving endpoint; and

receiving a command from the remote driving endpoint,

wherein the at least one parameter includes a route to a destination and a maximum price for monitoring assisted driving messages along the route to the destination.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, 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:

receiving bids from a plurality of remote driving endpoints; and

selecting the remote driving endpoint assigned to the autonomous vehicle based on the at least one parameter and the bids.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, 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:

receiving profiles from a plurality of remote driving endpoints; and

selecting the remote driving endpoint assigned to the autonomous vehicle based on the at least one parameter and the profiles.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, 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:

receiving schedules from a plurality of remote driving endpoints; and

selecting the remote driving endpoint assigned to the autonomous vehicle based on the at least one parameter and the schedules.

14. A method comprising:

identifying, using a processor, one or more remote driving endpoints;

assigning, using the processor, a remote driving endpoint and associated remote driving endpoint user to monitor an autonomous vehicle;

receiving one or more assisted driving messages from the autonomous vehicle, wherein the one or more assisted driving messages describe one or more conditions of the autonomous vehicle;

sending the one or more assisted driving messages to the remote driving endpoint;

receiving a command from the remote driving endpoint and based on the remote driving endpoint monitoring the autonomous vehicle through the one or more assisted driving messages; and

receiving a route or a time for the route from the autonomous vehicle, wherein the remote driving endpoint user is assigned based on the route or the time for the route.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

sending the command from the remote driving endpoint to the autonomous vehicle.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the command is a driving command for steering, speed adjusting, gear shifting, or braking the autonomous vehicle.

17. A method comprising:

identifying, using a processor, one or more remote driving endpoints;

assigning, using the processor, a remote driving endpoint to monitor an autonomous vehicle;

receiving one or more assisted driving messages from the autonomous vehicle,

wherein the one or more assisted driving messages describe one or more conditions of the autonomous vehicle;

sending the one or more assisted driving messages to the remote driving endpoint;

receiving a command from the remote driving endpoint and based on the remote driving endpoint monitoring the autonomous vehicle through the one or more assisted driving messages;

receiving a maximum price from the autonomous vehicle; and

receiving a price bid from each of the one or more remote driving endpoints;

wherein the assigning is based on a route received from the autonomous vehicle.