Near miss system

• US 9,886,856 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2014
• Issued: 02/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HERE Global B.V. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Dougherty, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): SHERWIN, RYAN W
• Application Number:
  US14/560,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20160163198A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 event-triggered

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatuses are described for communicating the occurrence of incident near misses between vehicles. In one embodiment, for example, a controller receives sensor data related to an operation of a vehicle. The sensor data is analyzed to determine whether a near collision has occurred with respect to the vehicle. A warning message is generated and transmitted in response to the determination that a near collision occurred.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving sensor data related to an operation of a first vehicle;

receiving location data indicative of a location of the first vehicle;

identifying a variable distance threshold based on the operation of the first vehicle or the location of the first vehicle;

analyzing the sensor data to determine whether a near collision has occurred based on the variable distance threshold;

generating a warning message in response to the determination of the near collision after the near collision has occurred;

selecting a second vehicle, that is in proximity to the first vehicle at a time of the near collision, based on the location data for the first vehicle; and

sending the warning message to the second vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor data includes data from a brake sensor, a steering sensor, a proximity sensor, or an accelerometer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the warning message to the mobile device comprises:

broadcasting the warning message to a plurality of mobile devices.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

identifying a geographic region based on the location data; and

selecting the plurality of mobile devices within the geographic region.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device displays a warning to a user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device provides automated driving assistance in response to the warning message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor data is generated by a camera or a ranging device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the warning message to the mobile device comprises wireless communication between vehicles.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a first vehicle, and the mobile device is an autonomous driving system of a second 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;

receive sensor data describing a maneuver of a vehicle;

receive location data indicative of a geographic location of the vehicle;

identify a variable distance threshold based on the operation of the vehicle or the location of the vehicle;

analyze the sensor data, using the variable distance threshold, to determine whether a near miss has occurred with respect to the vehicle and an obstacle;

generate a warning message in response to the near miss;

select a mobile device that is in proximity to the vehicle at a time of the near miss based on the location data for the vehicle; and

send the warning message to the mobile device.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the vehicle is a first vehicle, and the mobile device is associated with a second vehicle.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the near miss is an unplanned event that had potential to cause damage to the vehicle but damage was avoided.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the sensor data includes data from a brake sensor, a steering sensor, a proximity sensor, or an accelerometer.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the warning message is broadcasted to a plurality of mobile devices.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the warning message is broadcasted according to a range of wireless communication.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the warning message is broadcasted according to a geographic region based on the location data.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the mobile device provides automated driving assistance in response to the warning message.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions that when executed are operable to:

receive sensor data related to an operation of a vehicle;

identify a variable distance threshold based on the operation of the vehicle or a location of the vehicle;

analyze the sensor data, using the variable distance threshold, to determine whether a near miss has occurred with respect to the vehicle;

generate a warning message in response to the determination that a near miss has occurred; and

transmit the warning message to the at least one nearby vehicle or device therein within a predetermined distance of the near miss.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the warning message is automatically generated and transmitted in response to the determination that a near miss has occurred.