Method and apparatus for causing a change in an action of a vehicle for safety

• US 9,776,587 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2012
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Tuukkanen, Marko Tapio
• Primary Examiner(s): Tun, Nay
• Application Number:
  US13/689,131
• Publication Number:
  US 20140145838A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,769 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/085 due to special conditions, e.g. adverse weather, type of road, badly illuminated road signs or potential dangers B60Q1/10, B60Q1/12, B60Q1/1423 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/143 combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/41 preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/47 Direct command from other road users, i.e. the command for switching or changing the beam is sent by other vehicles or road devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 event-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/164 Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles

Abstract

An approach for causing a change in an action of a vehicle based on real-time information associated with vehicles is described. A vehicle safety platform may determine at least one distance between a user device and at least another user device based, at least in part, on sensor information associated with at least one of the user device and the at least another user device. The vehicle safety platform may further cause, at least in part, a change in an action of at least one of the user device and the at least another user device, wherein the change in the action is based, at least in part, on the at least one distance.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining, by an apparatus, speeds of a first vehicle and at least one second vehicle, an amount of environment light surrounding the first and second vehicles, a dark area surrounding the first and second vehicles, at least one distance between the first and second vehicles, a brightness and a length of a first headlight source of the first vehicle, and a brightness and a length of a second headlight source of the second vehicle, wherein the determination is based, at least in part, on sensor information associated with a device in the first vehicle and sensor information associated with at least another device in the second vehicle, the device and the at least another device communicate respective sensor information over a communication network to the apparatus; and

initiating, by the apparatus, an illumination of the dark area using the first headlight source and the second headlight source and a reduction of a dazzling effect of the first headlight source and the second headlight source based on the speeds, the amount of environment light, the at least one distance, and the brightness and the lengths of the first and second headlight sources.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor information includes location information, speed information, angle information, or a combination thereof, and the dazzling effect is adjusted more as the at least one distance becomes shorter, and wherein the dark area surrounding the first and second vehicles includes a dark area between the first and second vehicles.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the dazzling effect is adjusted, at least in part, via a tilting, a dimming, a brightening, a turning on/off, or a combination thereof of at least one of the first headlight source and the second headlight source.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the device and the at least another device are heading in a same direction or an opposing direction, wherein the dazzling effect is reduced based, at least in part, on the determination of direction.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the device and the at least another device are on a collision path based, at least in part, on the at least one distance.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

initiating a presentation of a collision warning associated with at least one of the device and the at least another device based on the determination of the collision path.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the dazzling effect is further reduced based on environmental information, specification information, or a combination thereof associated with at least one of the device and the at least another device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the environmental information includes terrain information, weather information, structural information, or a combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the specification information includes a radius, an angle, functionality, or a combination thereof of at least one of the first headlight source and the second headlight source.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is embedded in a server.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is embedded in the device, the at least another device, or a combination thereof.

12. 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 perform at least the following,

determine speeds of a first vehicle and at least one second vehicle, an amount of environment light surrounding the first and second vehicles, a dark area surrounding the first and second vehicles, at least one distance between the first and second vehicles, a brightness and a length of a first headlight source of the first vehicle, and a brightness and a length of a second headlight source of the second vehicle, wherein the determination is based, at least in part, on sensor information associated with a device in the first vehicle and sensor information associated with at least another device in the second vehicle, the device and the at least another device communicate respective sensor information over a communication network to the apparatus; and

initiate an illumination of the dark area using the first headlight source and the second headlight source and a reduction of a dazzling effect of the first headlight source and the second headlight source based on the speeds, the amount of environment light, the at least one distance, and the brightness and the lengths of the first and second headlight sources.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the sensor information includes location information, speed information, angle information, or a combination thereof.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the dazzling effect is adjusted, at least in part, via a tilting, a dimming, a brightening, a turning on/off, or a combination thereof of at least one of the first headlight source and the second headlight source.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine whether the device and the at least another device are heading in a same direction or an opposing direction, wherein the dazzling effect is reduced based, at least in part, on the determination of direction.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine that the device and the at least another device are on a collision path based, at least in part, on the at least one distance.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

initiate a presentation of a collision warning associated with at least one of the device and the at least another device based on the determination of the collision path.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the dazzling effect is further reduced based on environmental information, specification information, or a combination thereof associated with at least one of the device and the at least another device.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the environmental information includes terrain information, weather information, structural information, or a combination thereof.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the specification information includes a radius, an angle, functionality, or a combination thereof of at least one of the first headlight source and the second headlight source.