Method and system for smart use of in-car time with advanced pilot assist and autonomous drive

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10351139-B2
Application number	US-201615205200-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 8, 2016
Priority date	Jul 10, 2015
Publication date	Jul 16, 2019
Grant date	Jul 16, 2019

Abstract

A system and method for planning activities for a driver of a vehicle, where a scheduled route is planned for the vehicle, include an assignment unit configured for assigning a pilot assisted driving mode to a first part of the scheduled route and assigning an autonomous driving mode a second part of the scheduled route, the assignment of the driving mode determined based on a first parameter. An interface is configured for indicating the first and second parts of the scheduled route to the driver, and a proposal unit is configured for, upon execution of the assigned driving mode in the vehicle, proposing a first activity to the driver for the first part of the scheduled route and a second activity for the second part of the scheduled route, the proposal of an activity determined based a second parameter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for planning activities for a driver of a vehicle, where a route is planned for the vehicle to drive along by a route planning device in the vehicle, the system comprising:
an assignment unit configured for assigning a driving mode, comprising a pilot assisted driving mode or an autonomous driving mode, the pilot assisted driving mode, wherein at least two vehicle controls can be automated in unison, assigned to one or more first parts of the planned route, and the autonomous driving mode assigned to one or more second parts of the planned route, wherein the assignment of the driving mode is determined based on one or more first parameters;
at least one interface configured for indicating the one or more first and second parts of the planned route to the driver; and
a proposal unit configured for proposing, upon execution of the assigned driving mode in the vehicle, one or more first in-vehicle activities to the driver for the one or more first parts of the planned route, and for proposing one or more second in-vehicle activities to the driver for the one or more second parts of the planned route, wherein each proposal of an activity is determined based on one or more second parameters;
wherein the one or more proposed first and second in-vehicle activities, respectively, are based on a requirement of attention of the driver in the one or more first and second parts of the planned route, respectively, wherein the one or more first parts of the planned route require visual attention of the driver on a road and/or traffic, and the one or more second parts of the planned route allow visual attention of the driver to be diverted from the road and/or traffic, and wherein the system is configured for selecting the planned route from a selection of at least two possible routes, the selection of the planned route based on a personal profile of the driver, wherein the personal profile of the driver comprises calendar appointments, to-do lists, or planned activities; and
wherein the system is configured for shutting down a media content transmitted to the driver in response to the one or more first and/or second parts of the planned route having been traveled.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the one or more first parameters comprise one or more of a type of road, traffic conditions, weather conditions, and availability of map information.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein the one or more second parameters comprise one or more of a time length of the first part and the second part of the planned route, the driving mode assigned to the first part and the second part of the planned route, the personal profile of the driver, and a predefined preference of the driver.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein the one or more proposed first and the second activities are customized for the driver, and wherein the customization of activities in the form of media content is based on the personal profile of the driver comprising areas of interest, gender, age, predefined media providers and/or predefined media content.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein the system is configured for providing the driver with an option of storing an activity to be proposed.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the system comprises one or more interfaces, including the at least one interface for indicating the first and second parts of the planned route, and wherein the system is configured for displaying on the one or more interfaces each of the activities and corresponding lengths of time periods for each activity.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein the system is configured for calculating and/or obtaining the one or more first and second parts of the planned route based on one or more of destination, route, traffic conditions, road types, road characteristics, map information, crowd sourcing and/or data logging.

8. A vehicle comprising:
a system for planning activities for a driver of a vehicle, where a route is planned for the vehicle to drive along by a route planning device in the vehicle, the system comprising,
an assignment unit configured for assigning a driving mode comprising a pilot assisted driving mode or an autonomous driving mode, the pilot assisted driving mode, wherein at least two vehicle controls can be automated in unison, assigned to one or more first parts of the planned route, and the autonomous driving mode assigned to one or more second parts of the planned route, wherein the assignment of the driving mode is determined based on one or more first parameters;
at least one interface configured for indicating the one or more first and second parts of the planned route to the driver; and
a proposal unit configured for proposing, upon execution of the assigned driving mode in the vehicle, one or more first in-vehicle activities to the driver for the one or more first parts of the planned route, and for proposing one or more second in-vehicle activities to the driver for the one or more second parts of the planned route, wherein each proposal of an activity is determined based on one or more second parameters;

wherein the one or more proposed first and second in-vehicle activities, respectively, are based on a requirement of attention of the driver in the one or more first and second parts of the planned route, respectively, wherein the one or more first parts of the planned route require visual attention of the driver on a road and/or traffic, and the one or more second parts of the planned route allow visual attention of the driver to be diverted from the road and/or traffic, and wherein the system is configured for selecting the planned route from a selection of at least two possible routes, the selection of the planned route based on a personal profile of the driver, wherein the personal profile of the driver comprises calendar appointments, to-do lists, or planned activities; and
wherein the system is configured for shutting down a media content transmitted to the driver in response to the one or more first and/or second parts of the planned route having been traveled.

9. A method for planning activities for a driver of a vehicle, where a route is planned for the vehicle to drive along by a route planning device in the vehicle, the method comprising:
assigning a pilot assisted driving mode, wherein at least two vehicle controls can be automated in unison, to one or more first parts of the planned route by an assignment unit configured for assigning a driving mode;
assigning an autonomous driving mode to one or more second parts of the planned route by the assignment unit;
indicating the one or more first and second parts of the planned route to the driver by at least one interface;
executing the assigned driving modes in the vehicle for the respective first and second parts of the planned route by an execution unit;
proposing one or more first in-vehicle activities to the driver for the one or more first parts of the planned route by a proposal unit; and
proposing one or more second in-vehicle activities to the driver for the one or more second parts of the planned route by the proposal unit;
wherein the assignment of the driving mode is determined based on one or more first parameters, and each proposal of an activity is determined based on one or more second parameters, and wherein the one or more proposed first and second in-vehicle activities, respectively, are based on a requirement of attention of the driver in the one or more first and second parts of the planned route, respectively, wherein the one or more first parts of the planned route require visual attention of the driver on a road and/or traffic, and the one or more second parts of the planned route allow

Assignees

• Volvo Car Corp

Inventors

• Christensen Claus
• Hedegaard Christian
• Bove Thomas

Classifications

• B60W2552/05

  Type of road, e.g. motorways, local streets, paved or unpaved roads · CPC title

• B60W2556/00

  Input parameters relating to data · CPC title

• B60W2554/00

  Input parameters relating to objects · CPC title

• B60W50/08 Primary

  Interaction between the driver and the control system · CPC title

• B60W50/14 Primary

  Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention · CPC title