Ability enhancement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10875525-B2
Application number	US-201514819237-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 5, 2015
Priority date	Dec 1, 2011
Publication date	Dec 29, 2020
Grant date	Dec 29, 2020

Abstract

Techniques for ability enhancement are described. In some embodiments, devices and systems located in a transportation network share threat information with one another, in order to enhance a user's ability to operate or function in a transportation-related context. In one embodiment, a process in a vehicle receives threat information from a remote device, the threat information based on information about objects or conditions proximate to the remote device. The process then determines that the threat information is relevant to the safe operation of the vehicle. Then, the process modifies operation of the vehicle based on the threat information, such as by presenting a message to the operator of the vehicle and/or controlling the vehicle itself.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for enhancing ability in a transportation-related context, the method comprising:
at a first vehicle, receiving threat information from a remote device, the threat information based at least in part on information about objects and/or conditions proximate to the remote device, the remote device including at least two cameras of a second vehicle, the at least two cameras of the second vehicle capturing views to the front, sides, and rear of the second vehicle, wherein image data of the at least two cameras includes images of the first vehicle, wherein the information about objects and/or conditions proximate to the remote device include one or more of image data, audio data, weather data, and motion-related information, and wherein the received threat information determined at the second vehicle with respect to information about objects and/or conditions received at the second vehicle;
determining that the threat information is relevant to safe operation of the first vehicle based on one or more of location of the first vehicle, direction of travel of the first vehicle, and speed of the first vehicle; and
modifying operation of the first vehicle based on the threat information, wherein modifying operation of the first vehicle includes one or more of changing a steering of the first vehicle, changing a braking of the first vehicle, changing an acceleration of the first vehicle, changing a speed of the first vehicle, changing an engine output of the first vehicle, changing a direction of the first vehicle, and changing a position of the first vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving threat information includes: receiving threat information determined based on information about driving conditions proximate to the remote device.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the information about driving conditions indicates that icy surface conditions, wet surface conditions, oily surface conditions, or a limited visibility condition is/are present proximate to the remote device.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the information about driving conditions indicates that there is an accident proximate to the remote device.

5. The method of claim 1 , further includes:
determining motion-related information of the first vehicle based on the images of the first vehicle from the at least two cameras of the second vehicle.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including contents that are configured, when executed, to cause a computing system to perform a method for enhancing ability in a transportation-related context, the method comprising:
at a first vehicle, receiving threat information from a remote device, the threat information based at least in part on information about objects and/or conditions proximate to the remote device, the remote device including at least two cameras of a second vehicle, the at least two cameras of the second vehicle capturing views to the front, sides, and rear of the second vehicle, wherein image data of the at least two cameras includes images of the first vehicle, wherein the information about objects and/or conditions proximate to the remote device include one or more of image data, audio data, weather data, and motion-related information, and wherein the received threat information determined at the second vehicle with respect to information about objects and/or conditions received at the second vehicle;
determining that the threat information is relevant to safe operation of the first vehicle based on one or more of location of the first vehicle, direction of travel of the first vehicle, and speed of the first vehicle; and
modifying operation of the first vehicle based on the threat information, wherein modifying operation of the first vehicle includes one or more of changing a steering of the first vehicle, changing a braking of the first vehicle, changing an acceleration of the first vehicle, changing a speed of the first vehicle, changing an engine output of the first vehicle, changing a direction of the first vehicle, and changing a position of the first vehicle.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 6 , wherein the receiving threat information includes: receiving threat information determined based on information about driving conditions proximate to the remote device.

8. A computing system for enhancing ability in a transportation-related context, the computing system comprising:
processor;
a memory;
a module that is stored in the memory and that is configured, when executed by the processor, to perform a method comprising:
at a first vehicle, receiving threat information from a remote device, the threat information based at least in part on information about objects and/or conditions proximate to the remote device, the remote including at least two cameras of a second vehicle, the at least two cameras of the second vehicle capturing views to the front, sides, and rear of the second vehicle, wherein image data of the at least two cameras includes images of the first vehicle, wherein the information about objects and/or conditions proximate to the remote device include one or more of image data, audio data, weather data, and motion-related information, and wherein the received threat information determined at the second vehicle with respect to information about objects and/or conditions received at the second vehicle;
determining that the threat information is relevant to safe operation of the first vehicle based on one or more of location of the first vehicle, direction of travel of the first vehicle, and speed of the first vehicle; and
modifying operation of the first vehicle based on the threat information, wherein modifying operation of the first vehicle includes one or more of changing a steering of the first vehicle, changing a braking of the first vehicle, changing an acceleration of the first vehicle, changing a speed of the first vehicle, changing an engine output of the first vehicle, changing a direction of the first vehicle, and changing a position of the first vehicle.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the receiving threat information includes: receiving threat information determined based on information about driving conditions proximate to the remote device.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the information about driving conditions indicates that icy surface conditions, wet surface conditions, oily surface conditions, or a limited visibility condition is/are present proximate to the remote device.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the information about driving conditions indicates that there is an accident proximate to the remote device.

12. The system of claim 8 , further includes:
determining motion-related information of the first vehicle based on the images of the first vehicle from the at least two cameras of the second vehicle.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the information about driving conditions indicates that icy surface conditions, wet surface conditions, oily surface conditions, or a limited visibility condition is/are present proximate to the remote device.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the information about driving conditions indicates that there is an accident proximate to the remote device.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Lord Richard T
• Lord Robert W
• Myhrvold Nathan P
• Tegreene Clarence T
• Hyde Roderick A
• Wood Lowell L
• Ishikawa Muriel Y
• Wood Victoria Y H
• Whitmer Charles
• Bahl Paramvir
• Burger Douglas C
• Chandra Ranveer
• Gates Iii William H
• Holman Pablos
• Kare Jordin T
• Mundie Craig J
• Paek Tim
• Tan Desney S
• Zhong Lin
• Dyor Matthew G

Classifications

• B60T17/22 Primary

  Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices · CPC title

• B60W2555/00

  Input parameters relating to exterior conditions, not covered by groups B60W2552/00, B60W2554/00 · CPC title

• B60W30/09 Primary

  Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering · CPC title

• B60T7/22

  initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle {, or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle} · CPC title

• B60T2201/022

  Collision avoidance systems · CPC title