Enhanced virtual lane marker data for conveying a vehicle operational state

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018370567-A1
Application number	US-201715629046-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 21, 2017
Priority date	Jun 21, 2017
Publication date	Dec 27, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method and device are disclosed. Vehicle sensor data may be compared with a threshold value. When the vehicle sensor data exceeds the threshold value, selecting an appearance mode of a plurality of appearance modes, and applying the first appearance mode to virtual lane marker data to produce enhanced virtual marker data. The enhanced virtual marker data may be transmitted for display by a vehicle graphical user interface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
receiving vehicle sensor data; selecting an appearance mode of a plurality of appearance modes based on the vehicle sensor data in relation to a threshold value; applying the appearance mode to virtual lane marker data to produce enhanced virtual lane marker data, wherein the appearance mode operates to convey the vehicle sensor data in relation to the threshold value; and transmitting the enhanced virtual lane marker data for display by a vehicle graphical user interface.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the enhanced virtual lane marker data, when displayed by the graphical user interface, includes a virtual traffic lane overlay.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the appearance mode, based on the vehicle sensor data in the relation to the threshold value, operates to prompt a user response by:
adjusting a spacing to a spacing value of a first and a second virtual lane marker of the enhanced virtual lane marker data; and dynamically assign a color coding to the first and second virtual lane markers.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein
the vehicle sensor data relating to vehicle velocity data; and the threshold relating to a speed limit value.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the speed limit value comprises at least one of:
a posted speed limit value; a speed limit value based on a weather condition; a speed limit value customary for a geographic region; a speed limit value based on a sensed object; and a speed limit value based on a road condition.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the appearance mode comprises at least one of:
color coding data for first and second virtual lane markers of the enhanced virtual lane marker data; color pattern data for the first and second virtual lane markers; and spacing distance data for first and second virtual lane markers.

7 . A method comprising:
receiving vehicle sensor data; comparing the vehicle sensor data with a threshold value; and when the vehicle sensor data exceeds the threshold value:
selecting an appearance mode of a plurality of appearance modes;
applying the appearance mode to virtual lane marker data to produce enhanced virtual lane marker data, wherein the appearance mode operates to convey the vehicle sensor data in relation to the threshold value via a vehicle graphical user interface; and
transmitting the enhanced virtual lane marker data for display by the vehicle graphical user interface.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the appearance mode functions to prompt a user response by:
adjusting a spacing to a first spacing value of first and second virtual lane markers of the enhanced virtual lane marker data; and assigning a first color coding to the first and second virtual lane markers.

9 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
when the vehicle sensor data exceeds the threshold value for a predetermined time period, selecting a second appearance mode of the plurality of appearance modes; applying the second appearance mode to the virtual lane marker data to produce the enhanced virtual lane marker data, wherein the second appearance mode operates to further convey the vehicle sensor data in relation to the threshold value via the graphical user interface; and transmitting the enhanced virtual lane marker data for display by the vehicle graphical user interface.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the second appearance mode of the plurality of appearance modes functions to further prompt a user response by:
assigning a second color coding and a non-static pattern to the virtual lane marker data.

11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the enhanced virtual lane marker data, when displayed by the vehicle graphical user interface, includes a virtual traffic lane overlay.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein:
the vehicle sensor data includes vehicle velocity data; and the threshold relates to a speed limit value.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the speed limit value comprises at least one of:
a posted speed limit value; a speed limit value based on a weather condition; a speed limit value customary for a geographic region; a speed limit value based on a sensed object; and a speed limit value based on a road condition.

14 . A vehicle control unit comprising:
a communication interface to service communication with a vehicle network; a processor communicably coupled to the communication interface; and memory communicably coupled to the processor and storing:
an appearance module including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
receive vehicle sensor data;
compare the vehicle sensor data with a threshold value; and
when the vehicle sensor data exceeds the threshold value, select an appearance mode of a plurality of appearance modes; and

a graphics engine module including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
apply the appearance mode to virtual lane marker data to produce enhanced virtual maker lane data, wherein the first appearance mode operates to convey the vehicle sensor data in relation to the threshold value via a vehicle graphical user interface; and

a transmission module including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
transmit the enhanced virtual lane marker data as vehicle graphical user interface data via the communications interface for display by the vehicle graphical user interface.

15 . The vehicle control unit of claim 14 , wherein the first appearance mode functions to prompt a user response by:
adjusting a spacing to a first spacing value of first and second virtual lane markers of the enhanced virtual lane marker data; and assigning a first color coding to the first and second virtual lane marker.

16 . The vehicle control unit of claim 14 , wherein:
the appearance module further including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
when the vehicle sensor data exceeds the threshold value for a predetermined time period, selecting a second appearance mode of the plurality of appearance modes; and
the graphics engine module further including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
apply the second appearance mode to affect the display of the enhanced virtual lane marker data, wherein the second appearance mode operates to further convey the vehicle sensor data in relation to the threshold value via the graphical user interface.

17 . The vehicle control unit of claim 16 , wherein another appearance mode functions to further prompt a user response by:
assigning a second color coding to the first and the second virtual lane markers, wherein the second color coding includes a modulating pattern.

18 . The vehicle control unit of claim 14 , wherein the enhanced virtual lane marker data, when displayed by the vehicle graphical user interface, includes a virtual traffic lane overlay.

19 . The vehicle control unit of claim 14 , wherein
the vehicle sensor data includes vehicle velocity data; and the threshold relates to a speed limit value.

20 . The vehicle control unit of claim 19 , wherein the speed limit value comprises at least one of:
a posted speed limit value; a speed limit value based on a weather condition; a speed limit value customary for a geographic region; a speed limit value based on a sensed object; and a speed limit value based on a road condition.

Assignees

• Toyota Res Inst Inc

Inventors

• Rowell Todd J

Classifications

• B60W2555/60

  Traffic rules, e.g. speed limits or right of way · CPC title

• B60W2555/20

  Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain · CPC title

• B60W2520/10

  Longitudinal speed · CPC title

• B60W2050/146

  Display means · CPC title

• B60W50/14

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