Connected vehicle communication with processing alerts related to traffic lights and cloud systems

• US 9,963,145 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2017
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emerging Automotive, LLC
• Original Assignee: Emerging Automotive, LLC
• Inventors: Penilla, Angel A., Penilla, Albert S.
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, ARUN C
• Application Number:
  US15/469,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20170197617A1
• Time in Patent Office: 409 Days
• Field of Search: 320104
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/18 Braking system
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/20 Steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/09 Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0116 from roadside infrastructure, e.g. beacons
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0129 for creating historical data or processing based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0133 for classifying traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09675 where a selection from the received information takes place in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/163 involving continuous checking
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/164 Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• 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]

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided. One method for processing communication between a vehicle and traffic lights is provided. The method includes processing geo-location for the vehicle using on-board electronics of the vehicle and data obtained from a global positioning system, and determining a heading direction of the vehicle based on changes in the geo-locations of the vehicle. The method includes receiving state information of one or more of traffic lights that are located within an area of influence associated with a current geo-location of the vehicle. The traffic lights are independent of the vehicle and the state information from the one or more traffic lights is processed for the current geo-location of the vehicle and based on the area of influence of the vehicle. As the current geo-location of the vehicle changes the one or more traffic lights identified as relevant to the area of influence changes, and the state information of the one or more traffic lights is received by the on-board electronics of the vehicle directly from the electronics associated with the traffic lights or from a server that captures state information from one or more traffic lights, wherein state information of traffic lights determined to be outside of the area of influence is not processed. The method includes generating an alert for the vehicle. The alert includes control data usable by the on-board electronics of the vehicle to cause a notification to be rendered for an occupant of the vehicle. The notification includes information related to a current or change in state of one or more traffic lights in the area of influence of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for processing communication between a vehicle and a traffic light, comprising,

processing geo-location for the vehicle using on-board electronics of the vehicle and data obtained from a global positioning system;

determining a heading direction of the vehicle based on changes in the geo-locations of the vehicle;

receiving state information of one or more of traffic lights that are located within an area of influence associated with a current geo-location of the vehicle, the traffic lights are independent of the vehicle and the state information from the one or more traffic lights is processed for the current geo-location of the vehicle and based on the area of influence of the vehicle, wherein as the current geo-location of the vehicle changes the one or more traffic lights identified as relevant to the area of influence changes, the state information of the one or more traffic lights is received by the on-board electronics of the vehicle directly from the electronics associated with the traffic lights or from a server that captures state information from one or more traffic lights, wherein state information of traffic lights determined to be outside of the area of influence is not processed; and

generating an alert for the vehicle, the alert includes control data usable by the on-board electronics of the vehicle to cause a notification to be rendered for an occupant of the vehicle, the notification includes information related to a current or change in state of one or more traffic lights in the area of influence of the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising,

identifying a primary traffic light from the one or more traffic lights in the area of influence, the primary traffic light being selected based at least on the determined heading direction of the vehicle;

wherein the heading direction is determined by processing the changes in geo-location of the vehicle to identify a direction of travel and monitoring systems of the vehicle that are indicative movement or intended movement in the heading direction;

wherein electronics of traffic lights include or are interfaced with communication circuitry for making connections to exchange data with the on-board electronics of the vehicle and the server, the exchange of data occurs for at least one of said traffic lights that are in the area of influence.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the monitored systems of the vehicle include processing information regarding steering direction of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the monitored systems of the vehicle include one or more of cameras of the vehicle, ultrasonic sensors of the vehicle, radar of the vehicle, motion sensors of the vehicle, inertial sensors of the vehicle, IR sensors of the vehicle, GPS logic of the vehicle, such that the direction of travel and the monitoring of systems of the vehicle are processed to predict the heading direction and enable the identification of one or more of the traffic lights for processing in the area of influence.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the heading direction is determined by processing the changes in geo-location of the vehicle to identify a direction of travel and monitoring systems of the vehicle that are indicative movement or intended movement in the heading direction, the monitored systems of the vehicle include one or more of cameras of the vehicle, ultrasonic sensors of the vehicle, radar of the vehicle, motion sensors of the vehicle, inertial sensors of the vehicle, IR sensors of the vehicle, GPS logic of the vehicle, such that the direction of travel and the monitoring of systems of the vehicle are processed to predict the heading direction and enable identification of one or more of the traffic lights for processing in the area of influence.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein in addition to said traffic lights, other connected objects usable for generation of the alert include an electronic device, or a drone, or a pedestrian, or a device, wherein said other connected objects have or are associated with a computer or device that enables exchange of data over a network with one or more servers, the vehicle, other vehicles or a combination thereof, wherein the alert is related to a driving safety parameter or to reduce distracted driving.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert is dynamically throttled based on user profile settings of a user account used for interfacing with the vehicle or a service associated with the vehicle, or preferences in the user profile of the user account, or learned preferences associated to the profile settings of the user account, the learned preferences being determined over time based on user interaction with the vehicle or settings associated with the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein traffic lights determined not be in the heading direction are filtered out from processing for generating the alert.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein in addition to traffic lights, other connected objects usable to determining generation of the alert include a second vehicle that is within the area of influence of the vehicle, the second vehicle determined to have a separation distance to the vehicle that is a first vehicle, the control data includes control to assist in accident avoidance between the vehicle and the second vehicle, the control is used to assist in automatic application of one of braking and/or turning of said vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification is rendered by system of the vehicle, or a user device located in the vehicle, or a combination thereof.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the control data is used to trigger activation of tactile feedback to an occupant of the vehicle via a part of the vehicle, tactile feedback being indicative of the current or change in state of one or more traffic lights or other connected objects in the area of influence of the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the control data is used to trigger activation of an audio alert to an occupant of the vehicle via a speaker of the vehicle, the audio alert being indicative of the current or change in state of one or more traffic lights in the area of influence of the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the control data is used to trigger activation of one or more of an audio alert, a tactile alert, or visual alert to an occupant of the vehicle via systems of the vehicle or a user device present in the vehicle, the trigger being indicative of the current or change in state of one or more traffic lights in the area of influence of the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the control data is used to trigger activation of one or more of an audio alert, a tactile alert, or visual alert to an occupant of the vehicle via systems of the vehicle or a user device present in the vehicle, the trigger being indicative of the current or change in state of one or more traffic lights or other connected objects in the area of influence of the vehicle,

wherein change in state that caused the alert is further indicative of a potential collision with another vehicle or a person or a stationary object.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the control data further includes activing automatic collision prevention of the vehicle, the automatic collision prevention is in response to determining presence of the potential collision, the potential collision is determined in response to processing sensor data of the vehicle, the sensor data includes one or more of camera sensors, ultrasonic sensors, radar sensors, infrared (IR) sensors, motion sensors, inertial sensors, or combinations thereof.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein a connected object, in addition to said traffic lights include one or more of another car, or a sensor, or a building, or a road sensor, or a traffic metering sensor, or a global positioning system device, or a stationary device, or a moving device, or an intersection sensor, or a camera, or a motion sensor, or a radar sensor, or multiple traffic lights, or multiple cars, or a connected device, or an internet connected device, or a pedestrian, or a light post, or a light, or combinations thereof;

and further receiving sensor data for a surrounding area of the vehicle for the area of influence, the sensor data is defined by one or more of motion sensors of the vehicle or other vehicles, or one or more cameras of the vehicle or other vehicles, or radar sensors of the vehicle or another vehicle, or biometric sensors of the vehicle, or weight sensors of the vehicle, or temperature sensors of the vehicle or another vehicle, or climate sensors of the vehicle, or tire sensors of the vehicle, or brake sensors of the vehicle or another vehicle, or seat sensors of the vehicle, or occupancy sensors of the vehicle, or user identification sensors of the vehicle, or passenger sensors of the vehicle, or pedestrian sensors around the vehicle, or object sensors around the vehicle, or combinations thereof.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the heading direction obtained from the changes in geo-location of the vehicle identify a direction of travel, and wherein the direction of travel is periodically updated based on indicators processed for changes in the geo-location of the vehicle, and/or turn signal indicator data, and/or steering direction changes, and/or mapped direction data.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification is indicative that active driving should resume, the control data is used to cause one of a disabling, or a fading or reduction in function of content accessible or apps usable via a user interface of the vehicle or a user interface of a user device within the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the control data is used to set a color indicator on a screen of the vehicle or a screen of a device within the vehicle, the color indicator being a color of a traffic light.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein when the color indicator changes to red or stop, a reduction in functional operation of certain applications or content of a screen of the vehicle and/or a screen of the device is processed.