Technology for generating alternate navigation directions for vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10151594-B1
Application number	US-201815872282-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jan 16, 2018
Priority date	Jan 19, 2017
Publication date	Dec 11, 2018
Grant date	Dec 11, 2018

Abstract

Systems and methods for generating alternate navigation directions for vehicles are provided. According to certain aspects, image sensor data of a vehicle operator may be used to determine the emotional state of vehicle operators in a plurality of vehicles in proximity to each other. The plurality of vehicles in proximity to each other may be considered to be a group of vehicles. If it is determined that more than one vehicle operator in the group of vehicles is frustrated, the electronic device of a vehicle operator of an approaching vehicle may notify the vehicle operator that there is a nearby group of vehicles with frustrated vehicle operators. The electronic device of the vehicle operator of the vehicle approaching the group of vehicles with frustrated vehicle operators may generate and provide alternate navigation directions to the vehicle operator in order to avoid the group of vehicles with frustrated vehicle operators.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A computer-implemented method in an electronic device for dynamically modifying a route, the method comprising:
receiving, from a first electronic device associated with a first vehicle located at a first location, a first set of image data depicting a first operator of the first vehicle;
receiving, from a second electronic device associated with a second vehicle located at a second location, a second set of image data depicting a second operator of the second vehicle, the second location within a threshold distance from the first location;
analyzing, by a computer processor, the first set of image data and the second set of image data;
determining, based on the analyzing, that each of the first operator and the second operator is frustrated;
identifying a third vehicle located at a third location behind the first location and the second location;
generating, based on the third location, an alternate route to avoid the first location and the second location; and
transmitting, via a network connection, the alternate route to a third electronic device associated with the third vehicle.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein analyzing the first set of image data and the second set of image data comprises:
comparing the first set of image data and the second set of image data to a set of baseline image data indicating a set of emotions;
identifying, based on the comparing, characteristics indicative of one or more emotions from the first set of image data and the second set of image data; and
determining, based on the characteristics indicative of the one or more emotions, a percentage likelihood that each of the first operator and the second operator is frustrated.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating a log including the first location and the second location.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the third vehicle located at the third location behind the first location and the second location comprises:
calculating a distance between the third location and at least one of the first location and the second location; and
determining that the distance is less than a predetermined threshold.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the third vehicle located at the third location behind the first location and the second location comprises:
accessing (i) a first set of movement information associated with operation of the first vehicle, (ii) a second set of movement information associated with operation of the second vehicle, and (iii) a third set of movement information associated with operation of the third vehicle; and
determining, based on the first set of movement information, the second set of movement information, and the third set of movement information, that the third vehicle is located at the third location behind the first location and the second location.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting, to the third electronic device via the network connection, a notification indicating that the third vehicle is approaching frustrated vehicle operators.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein generating, based on the third location, the alternate route to avoid the first location and the second location comprises:
identifying a destination location associated with the third vehicle;
determining a set of roadways from the third location to the destination location, the set of roadways excluding the first location and the second location; and
generating the alternate route according to the set of roadways.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein determining the set of roadways from the third location to the destination location comprises:
determining the set of roadways based on at least one of: at least one location of at least one additional frustrated vehicle operator, a set of traffic conditions, a minimum distance to the final destination, and a minimum time to travel to the final destination.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein generating, based on the third location, the alternate route to avoid the first location and the second location comprises:
identifying a preferred alternate route to the final destination of the third vehicle; and
generating the alternate route based on the preferred alternate route.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the alternate route to the third electronic device associated with the third vehicle comprises:
transmitting, via the network connection, the alternate route to the third electronic device associated with the third vehicle, the alternate route causing the third electronic device to display, via a user interface, the alternate route.

11. A system for dynamically modifying a route comprising:
a first electronic device associated with a first vehicle located at a first location;
a second electronic device associated with a second vehicle located at a second location;
a memory configured to store non-transitory computer executable instructions; and
a processor interfacing with the image sensor and the memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute the non-transitory computer executable instructions to cause the processor to:
receive, from a first electronic device associated with a first vehicle located at a first location, a first set of image data depicting a first operator of the first vehicle,
receive, from a second electronic device associated with a second vehicle located at a second location, a second set of image data depicting a second operator of the second vehicle, the second location within a threshold distance from the first location,
analyze, by a computer processor, the first set of image data and the second set of image data,
determine, based on the analyzing, that each of the first operator and the second operator is frustrated,
identify a third vehicle located at a third location behind the first location and the second location,
generate, based on the third location, an alternate route to avoid the first location and the second location, and
transmit, via a network connection, the alternate route to a third electronic device associated with the third vehicle.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein to analyze the first set of image data and the second set of image data, the processor is configured to:
compare the first set of image data and the second set of image data to a set of baseline image data indication a set of emotions;
identify, based on the comparing, characteristics indicative of one or more emotions from the first set of image data and the second set of image data; and
determine, based on the characteristics indicative of the one or more emotions, a percentage likelihood that each of the first operator and the second operator is frustrated.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
generate a including the first location and the second location.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein to identify the third vehicle located at the third location behind the first location and the second location, the processor is configured to:
calculate a distance between the third location and at least one of the first location and the second location; and
determine that the distance is less than a predetermined threshold.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein to identify the third vehicle located at the third location behind the first location and the second location, the processor is configured to:
access (

Assignees

• State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co

Inventors

• Chan Aaron Scott
• Sanchez Kenneth J

Classifications

• G01C21/3461 Primary

  Preferred or disfavoured areas, e.g. dangerous zones, toll or emission zones, intersections, manoeuvre types or segments such as motorways, toll roads or ferries · CPC title

• G01C21/3492

  employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical (traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968) · CPC title

• B60W40/09

  Driving style or behaviour · CPC title

• G01C21/3415

  Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents · CPC title

• B60W2040/0872

  Driver physiology · CPC title