Automated lane assignment for vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10309789-B2
Application number	US-201615081665-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 25, 2016
Priority date	Mar 25, 2016
Publication date	Jun 4, 2019
Grant date	Jun 4, 2019

Abstract

Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for automated lane assignment for vehicles are presented. One example method includes the steps of accessing vehicle information of at least one vehicle, the vehicle information including a priority level of a plurality of priority levels associated with each of the at least one vehicle; accessing lane information associated with a road, the lane information comprising information corresponding to at least two lanes of travel in a direction; and assigning at least one of the at least one vehicle to a lane of travel on the road based at least in part on the vehicle information and the lane information. Another example method further includes the step of accessing second vehicle information of a second vehicle, wherein assigning the first vehicle to the lane of travel is further based on the second vehicle information.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for dynamic vehicle lane assignment for a vehicle, comprising:
accessing, by a lane assignment server, vehicle information of a plurality of vehicles, wherein the plurality of vehicles are capable of operating in multiple driving modes, the vehicle information including, for a first vehicle and a second vehicle of the plurality of vehicles, a driving mode, comprising an autonomous driving mode, a semi-autonomous driving mode, or a manual driving mode;
accessing, by the lane assignment server, lane information associated with a road, the lane information comprising information corresponding to at least two lanes of travel in a first direction on the road;
determining, by the lane assignment server, a first driving mode of the first vehicle and a second driving mode of the second vehicle,
assigning, by the lane assignment server, the first and second vehicles to a first lane of travel responsive to a determination that the first and second driving modes are the same driving mode; and
assigning, by the lane assignment server, the first vehicles to a first lane of travel and the second vehicle to a second lane of travel different than the first lane of travel responsive to a determination that the first driving mode being the manual driving mode and the second driving mode being the autonomous driving mode or the semi-autonomous driving mode.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle information further includes a priority level, and wherein the priority level is based, at least in part, on the vehicle driving mode, wherein the vehicle driving mode is selected from the group consisting of an autonomous mode, a semi-autonomous mode, and a manual mode.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle information further includes a priority level, and wherein the priority level includes a high priority and a lower priority, and wherein the assigning the first and second vehicles to the first or second lanes of travel comprises assigning one of the first or second vehicles to the first lane responsive to the priority level of the respective first or second vehicle being the high priority and assigning the other of the first or second vehicle to the second lane of travel responsive to the priority level being the lower priority.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein assigning the first or second vehicle to the first or second lane is further based on a predetermined route or lane configuration of the road.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising accessing second vehicle information of the second vehicle, and wherein assigning the first vehicle to the first lane is further based on the second vehicle information.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the accessing the second vehicle information of the second vehicle comprises receiving the second vehicle information from the second vehicle by the first vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting first vehicle information of the first vehicle to a second vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lane information comprises a driving mode, a direction of travel, a physical characteristic, speed information, lane closure information, lane restriction information, or any combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing an indication of the lane assignment to an operator of the first or second vehicle.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program code, the program code configured to be executable by a processor and to cause the processor to:
access, by a lane assignment server, vehicle information of a plurality of vehicles, wherein the plurality of vehicles are capable of operating in multiple driving modes, the vehicle information including, for a first vehicle and a second vehicle of the plurality of vehicles, a driving mode, comprising an autonomous driving mode, a semi-autonomous driving mode, or a manual driving mode;
access, by the lane assignment server, lane information associated with a road, the lane information comprising information corresponding to at least two lanes of travel in a first direction on the road;
determine, by the lane assignment server, a first driving mode of the first vehicle and a second driving mode of the second vehicle,
assign, by the lane assignment server, the first and second vehicles to a first lane of travel responsive to a determination that the first and second driving modes are the same driving mode; and
assign, by the lane assignment server, the first vehicle to a first lane of travel and the second vehicle to a second lane of travel different than the first lane of travel responsive to a determination that the first driving mode being the manual driving mode and the second driving mode being the autonomous driving mode or the semi-autonomous driving mode.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the vehicle information further includes a priority level, and wherein the priority level is based, at least in part, on the driving mode, wherein the driving mode is selected from the group consisting of an autonomous mode, a semi-autonomous mode, and a manual mode.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the priority level includes a high priority and a lower priority, and wherein the program code configured to be executable by a processor and to cause the processor to assign the first and second vehicles to the first or second lanes of travel comprises program code configured to be executable by a processor and to cause the processor to assign one of the first or second vehicles to the first lane responsive to the priority level of the respective first or second vehicle being the high priority and assign the other of the first or second vehicle to the second lane of travel responsive to the priority level being the lower priority.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the program code configured to be executable by a processor and to cause the processor to assign the first or second vehicle to the lane of travel is further based on a predetermined route or lane configuration of the road.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , further comprising program code configured to be executable by a processor and to cause the processor to access second vehicle information of the second vehicle, and wherein assigning the first vehicle to the first lane is further based on the second vehicle information.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the program code configured to be executable by a processor and to cause the processor to access the second vehicle information of the second vehicle comprises program code configured to be executable by a processor and to cause the processor to receive the second vehicle information from the second vehicle by the first vehicle.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , further comprising program code configured to be executable by a processor and to cause the processor to transmit first vehicle information of the first vehicle to a second vehicle.

17. A lane assignment system comprising:
a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and
a processor in communication with the non-transitory computer-readable medium and configured to execute program code stored in the non-transitory computer readable medium to:
access vehicle information of a plurality of vehicles, wherein the plurality of vehicles are capable of operating in multiple driving modes, the vehicle information including, the vehicle information including, for a first vehicle and a second vehicle of the plurality of vehicles, a driving mode

Assignees

• Qualcomm Inc

Inventors

• Ramasamy Bala

Classifications

• G08G1/096725

  where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control · CPC title

• G08G1/167

  Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection · CPC title

• G01C21/34 Primary

  Route searching; Route guidance · CPC title

• G08G1/0145

  for active traffic flow control · CPC title

• G08G1/096758

  where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information · CPC title