Methods and systems for cloud and wireless data exchanges for vehicle accident avoidance controls and notifications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10274948-B2
Application number	US-201715404574-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 12, 2017
Priority date	Apr 22, 2011
Publication date	Apr 30, 2019
Grant date	Apr 30, 2019

Abstract

Methods, computer systems, and servers for processing collision avoidance feedback to vehicles using vehicle-to-vehicle wireless communication, are provided. One method includes detecting proximity separation between a first vehicle and a second vehicle (e.g., and other vehicles within the proximity separation). At least one of the sensors of the first vehicle or the second vehicle determines that a proximity separation is less than a threshold distance. A pairing algorithm is triggered between electronics of the first and second vehicle to enable direct communication for data exchange between the first and second vehicles. The method includes triggering a warning to one or both of the first and second vehicles if the data exchange determines that a probability exists that a heading of the first or second vehicles will result in a collision between the first and second vehicles. The method may initiate corrective action by one or both of the first or second vehicles if the data exchange between the first and second vehicles increases the probability that the heading will result in a collision between the first and second vehicles.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for providing collision avoidance feedback to vehicles, wherein electronics are incorporated in a first vehicle that receive input from at least one sensor of the first vehicle and electronics that are incorporated in a second vehicle receive input from at least one sensor of the second vehicle, comprising,
detecting a proximity separation between the first vehicle and the second vehicle, wherein for when at least one of the sensors of the first vehicle or the second vehicle determine that the proximity separation is less than a threshold distance a pairing algorithm is triggered between the electronics of the first vehicle and the second vehicle to enable direct communication for data exchange between the first vehicle and the second vehicle, wherein when the pairing algorithm is triggered, the data exchange between the first vehicle and the second vehicle includes,
transmitting data by the first vehicle to the second vehicle;
transmitting data by the second vehicle to the first vehicle;
receiving data by the first vehicle from the second vehicle; and
receiving data by the second vehicle from the first vehicle

wherein the data transmitted by the first and the second vehicle include at least speed data, heading data and global position system (GPS) data, wherein the second vehicle is within a sphere of influence relative to the first vehicle when the proximity separation is less than the threshold distance, and one or more other vehicles within the sphere of influence also trigger the pairing algorithm to participate in said data exchange while in the sphere of influence and discontinue the data exchange for vehicles leaving the sphere of influence;
triggering a warning to one or both of the first vehicle and the second vehicle if the data exchange determines that a probability exists that a current heading of the first vehicle or the second vehicle will result in a collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle; and
initiating corrective action by one or both of the first vehicle or the second vehicle if the data exchange between the first vehicle and the second vehicle increase the probability that the current heading will result in the collision between the first vehicle and the second vehicle;
wherein the detecting of the proximity separation, the triggering of the warning and the initiating the corrective action is triggered by the electronics of the first vehicle and/or the second vehicle;
wherein the direct communication enabled after the pairing algorithm is triggered is wireless communication;
wherein the warning is supplied to either the first vehicle or the second vehicle in an output form to alert a human occupant;
wherein the corrective action includes at least one or more of application of brakes, application of auto-turning a steering wheel, a switch to auto-drive mode, acceleration, or acceleration and deceleration.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the warning includes at least one or more of a sound warning, an audio spoken sound, tactile feedback to a component of the vehicle, or light signals within the vehicle.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising,
storing a history event log of occurrences and actions taken when triggering a warning or taking corrective action, the history event log being communicated over the Internet to cloud processing systems for remote storage and remote access.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising,
triggering recording of audio and video surrounding the first vehicle or the second vehicle when it is determined that the probability exists that the current heading of the first vehicle or the second vehicle will result in the collision; and
transmitting the recording over the Internet to cloud processing systems for remote storage and remote access.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , further comprising,
forwarding a notification regarding the recording to one or more predetermined recipients that include, to an account of a user, to an account of a rental car company, or to an account of a service provider,
wherein the notification is one of an email, a text message, a social network message, a phone call, an audio alert, or an audio/visual alert.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the notification includes a clip of the recording or access to the recording on the remote storage via access to an account user name and password.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the notification is sent to an insurance broker if it is determined that a collision actually occurred, or enables user permissions for sending to the insurance broker or third party.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the notification for when a collision actually occurs includes data regarding a heading, or speed, or weather conditions, or video clips, or license plate images, or person identification data, or combinations thereof.

9. A method for providing collision avoidance feedback to vehicles, wherein electronics are incorporated in a first vehicle that receives input from at least one sensor of the first vehicle and electronics are incorporated in a second vehicle receive input from at least one sensor of the second vehicle, comprising,
processing position data of the first vehicle using at least the first sensor of the first vehicle, the position data used to identify vehicles in an area around the first vehicle;
detecting the second vehicle being in the area around the first vehicle and within a proximity separation of the first vehicle;
for when the second vehicle is within the proximity separation of the first vehicle establishing wireless communication via a pairing algorithm between the first vehicle and the second vehicle, the wireless communication used to exchange data that includes position data between the first and second vehicles, the exchange of data is used to identify changes in position data of the first vehicle or the second vehicle and to track a speed of either the first or second vehicle and to track a heading of either the first or second vehicle, wherein the second vehicle is within a sphere of influence relative to the first vehicle when the proximity separation is less than a threshold distance, and one or more other vehicles within the sphere of influence also trigger the pairing algorithm to exchange data while in the sphere of influence and discontinue the exchange of data for vehicles leaving the sphere of influence;
triggering a warning in one or both of the first and second vehicles if the exchange of data determines that a speed and a heading of the first or second vehicle will result in a collision between the first and second vehicles, the warning being one of a sound warning, an audio spoken sound, tactile feedback to a component of the vehicle, light signals within the vehicle, or a combination of two or more thereof; and
initiating corrective action by one or both of the first or second vehicles if the exchange of data between the first and second vehicles identifies a lack of change in the speed or the heading to avoid the collision, the corrective action including one of an application of brakes, application of auto-turning of a steering wheel, a switch to auto-drive mode, an acceleration, an acceleration and deceleration, or combinations of two or more thereof;
wherein detecting that the second vehicle is within the proximity separation is enabled by processing sensor data obtained from sensors of either the first and second vehicles, the sensors include global positioning sensors, or audio sensors, or camera sensors, or ultrasonic sensors, or infrared

Assignees

• Penilla Angel A
• Penilla Albert S
• Emerging Automotive Llc

Inventors

• Penilla Angel A
• Penilla Albert S

Classifications

• B60W2554/00

  Input parameters relating to objects · CPC title

• B60W2554/801

  Lateral distance · CPC title

• B60W2556/00

  Input parameters relating to data · CPC title

• B60W2754/10

  Spatial relation or speed relative to objects · CPC title

• B60W2556/50

  of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data · CPC title