Intelligent vehicle horn

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12280715-B2
Application number	US-202318459554-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 1, 2023
Priority date	Sep 1, 2023
Publication date	Apr 22, 2025
Grant date	Apr 22, 2025

Abstract

A computer-implemented method to send targeted messages based on a driver's intent. The method includes identifying, by a sending vehicle, one or more additional vehicles in the vicinity of the sending vehicle, including a first vehicle. Monitoring a set of data related to a current scenario for the sending vehicle and determining, based on a current scenario, an intent score for the sending vehicle. The method includes activating a horn device associated with the sending vehicle. The method further includes determining, in response to the activating, the intent score is above an intent threshold for the first vehicle. The method includes generating, in response to the intent score being above the intent threshold, a message; and sending, to a target vehicle, the message. Further aspects of the present disclosure are directed to systems and computer program products containing functionality consistent with the method described above.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
identifying, by a sending vehicle, one or more additional vehicles in a vicinity of the sending vehicle, including a first vehicle;
monitoring a set of data related to a current scenario for the sending vehicle;
determining, based on the current scenario, an intent score for the sending vehicle;
activating a horn device associated with the sending vehicle;
determining, in response to the activating, the intent score is above an intent threshold for the first vehicle;
generating, in response to the intent score being above the intent threshold, a message; and
sending, to a target vehicle, the message.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the intent score represents a confidence of a user in the sending vehicle that intends to send a particular message to a particular target.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the intent score includes a zone score that represents a likelihood the particular target will correctly interpret the particular message, a message score that represents the particular message is intended to be sent by the user, and a target score that represents that the user intends the particular target to receive the particular message.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the generating the intent score includes generating the intent score for each of the one or more additional vehicles.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein the intent score includes generating the message score for two or more potential messages and two or more target scores, and each of the two or more target scores is based on and associated with one of the two or more message scores.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the set of data is received from the sending vehicle, the one or more additional vehicles, and at least one Internet of Things device.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
preventing, in response to the intent score being above the threshold, the horn device from sounding a general broadcast horn, wherein the horn device is configured to make a noise in response to the activation.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, based on the current scenario, an expected action for the one or more additional vehicles, wherein the intent score is based on a difference between the expected action of the first vehicle and an actual action of the first vehicle.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a second activation of the horn device at a second time;
determining a second intent score for the second time is below the threshold; and
sounding, in response to the second intent score being below the threshold, the general broadcast horn.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the intent score is generated by an intent predictor that includes at least one learning model.

11. A system comprising:
a processor; and
a computer-readable storage medium communicatively coupled to the processor and storing program instructions which, when executed by the processor, are configured to cause the processor to:
identify, by a sending vehicle, one or more additional vehicles in a vicinity of the sending vehicle, including a first vehicle;
monitor a set of data related to a current scenario for the sending vehicle;
determine, based on the current scenario, an intent score for the sending vehicle;
activate a horn device associated with the sending vehicle;
determine, in response to the activating, the intent score is above an intent threshold for the first vehicle;
generate, in response to the intent score being above the intent threshold, a message; and
send, to a target vehicle, the message.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the intent score represents a confidence that a user in the sending vehicle intends to send a particular message to a particular target.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the intent score includes a zone score the represents a likelihood the particular target will correctly interpret the particular message, a message score that represents the particular message is intended to be sent by the user, and a target score that represents the user intends the particular target to receive the particular message.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the program instructions, when executed by the processor, are further configured to the processor to:
determine, based on the current scenario, an expected action for the one or more additional vehicles, wherein the intent score is based on a difference between the expected action of the first vehicle and an actual action of the first vehicle.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the program instructions, when executed by the processor, are further configured to the processor to:
prevent, in response to the intent score being above the threshold, the horn device from sounding a general broadcast horn, wherein the horn device is configured to make a noise in response to the activation.

16. A computer program product, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a processing unit to cause the processing unit to:
identify, by a sending vehicle, one or more additional vehicles in a vicinity of the sending vehicle, including a first vehicle;
monitor a set of data related to a current scenario for the sending vehicle;
determine, based on the current scenario, an intent score for the sending vehicle;
activate a horn device associated with the sending vehicle;
determine, in response to the activating, the intent score is above an intent threshold for the first vehicle;
generate, in response to the intent score being above the intent threshold, a message; and
send, to a target vehicle, the message.

17. The computer program product of claim 16 , wherein the intent score represents a confidence that a user in the sending vehicle intends to send a particular message to a particular target.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein the intent score includes a zone score the represents a likelihood the particular target will correctly interpret the particular message, a message score that represents the particular message is intended to be sent by the user, and a target score that represents the user intends the particular target to receive the particular message.

19. The computer program product of claim 16 , wherein the program instructions, when executed by the processing unit, are further configured to the processing unit to:
determine, based on the current scenario, an expected action for the one or more additional vehicles, wherein the intent score is based on a difference between the expected action of the first vehicle and an actual action of the first vehicle.

20. The computer program product of claim 16 , wherein the program instructions, when executed by the processing unit, are further configured to the processing unit to:
initiate, in response to the determination the intent score is below the threshold, the horn device to emit a general broadcast horn sound.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Liu Su
• Majdabadi Hamid
• Yan Shunguo
• Davis Michael

Classifications

• G06V20/56

  exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle · CPC title

• H04W4/46 Primary

  for vehicle-to-vehicle communication [V2V] · CPC title

• B60Q5/006

  indicating risk of collision between vehicles or with pedestrians · CPC title

• B60Q5/005 Primary

  automatically actuated · CPC title