Method and apparatus for providing vehicle synchronization to facilitate a crossing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9349293-B2
Application number	US-201414175690-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 7, 2014
Priority date	Feb 7, 2014
Publication date	May 24, 2016
Grant date	May 24, 2016

Abstract

An approach is provided for determining at least one intention to perform at least one crossing of at least one object within proximity of at least one first vehicle. The approach involves determining at least one second vehicle within proximity of the at least one crossing, the at least one first vehicle, or a combination thereof. The approach further involves causing, at least in part, a signaling among at least one first device associated with the at least one first vehicle and at least one second device associated with the at least one second vehicle, wherein the signaling causes, at least in part, a synchronization of at least one movement, at least one stop, the at least one intention to perform the at least one crossing, or a combination thereof among the at least one first vehicle, the at least one second vehicle, at least one cloud service, or a combination thereof in response to the at least one request.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising facilitating a processing of and/or processing (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal, the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal based, at least in part, on the following:
at least one determination of at least one intention to perform at least one crossing of at least one object within proximity of at least one first vehicle;
at least one determination of at least one second vehicle within proximity of the at least one crossing, the at least one first vehicle, or a combination thereof;
a signaling among at least one first device associated with the at least one first vehicle and at least one second device associated with the at least one second vehicle,
wherein the signaling causes, at least in part, a synchronization of at least one movement, at least one stop, the at least one intention to perform the at least one crossing, or a combination thereof among the at least one first vehicle, the at least one second vehicle, at least one cloud service, or a combination thereof in response to the at least one intention and;
at least one determination of the at least one intention to perform the at least one crossing based, at least in part, on a signaling from at least one third device associated with the at least one object, a detection of the at least one object, or a combination thereof.

2. A method of claim 1 , wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:
a presentation of at least one indicator to the at least one object,
wherein at least one indicator signals to the at least one object that the at least one crossing can or cannot be performed based, at least in part, on the synchronization of at least one movement, the at least one stop, or a combination thereof.

3. A method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one indicator includes, at least in part, at least one crossing symbol projected by the at least one first vehicle, the at least one second vehicle, or a combination thereof.

4. A method of claim 3 , wherein at least one crossing symbol is projected on to at least one crossing path to be used for that at least one crossing.

5. A method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one indicator includes, at least in part, a first colored light for indicating that the at least one crossing can be performed, a second colored light for indicating that the at least one crossing cannot be performed, or a combination thereof.

6. A method of claim 1 , wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:
at least one determination of the at least one first vehicle, the at least one second vehicle, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on at least one pointing direction of the at least one third device.

7. A method of claim 1 , wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:
at least one determination of at least one intended path for performing the at least one crossing based, at least in part, on at least one pointing direction of the at least one third device.

8. A method of claim 7 , wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:
at least one determination of the at least one first vehicle, the at least one second vehicle, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the at least one intended path.

9. A method of claim 1 , wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the following:
a transmission of at least one first message indicating a request to synchronize the at least one movement, the at least one stop, or a combination thereof from the at least one first device to that at least one second device; and
at least one determination of a response to the at least one first message from the at least one second device,
wherein the synchronization is based, at least in part, on the response.

10. An apparatus comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,
the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,
determine at least one intention to perform at least one crossing of at least one object within proximity of at least one first vehicle;
determine at least one second vehicle within proximity of the at least one crossing, the at least one first vehicle, or a combination thereof; and
cause, at least in part, a signaling among at least one first device associated with the at least one first vehicle and at least one second device associated with the at least one second vehicle,
wherein the signaling causes, at least in part, a synchronization of at least one movement, at least one stop, the at least one intention to perform the at least one crossing, or a combination thereof among the at least one first vehicle, the at least one second vehicle, at least one cloud service, or a combination thereof in response to the at least one intention; and
determine the at least one intention to perform the at least one crossing based, at least in part, on a signaling from at least one third device associated with at least one object, a detection of the at least one object, or a combination thereof.

11. An apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
cause, at least in part, a presentation of at least one indicator to the at least one object,
wherein at least one indicator signals to the at least one object that the at least one crossing can or cannot be performed based, at least in part, on the synchronization of at least one movement, the at least one stop, or a combination thereof.

12. An apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the at least one indicator includes, at least in part, at least one crossing symbol projected by the at least one first vehicle, the at least one second vehicle, or a combination thereof.

13. An apparatus of claim 12 , wherein at least one crossing symbol is projected on to at least one crossing path to be used for that at least one crossing.

14. An apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the at least one indicator includes, at least in part, a first colored light for indicating that the at least one crossing can be performed, a second colored light for indicating that the at least one crossing cannot be performed, or a combination thereof.

15. An apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
determine the at least one first vehicle, the at least one second vehicle, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on at least one pointing direction of the at least one third device.

16. An apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
determine at least one intended path for performing the at least one crossing based, at least in part, on at least one pointing direction of the at least one third device.

17. An apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to:
determine the at least one first vehicle, the at least one second vehicle, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the at least one intended path.

18. An apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the signaling comprises:
causing, at least in part, a transmission of at least one first message indicating a request to synchronize t

Assignees

• Beaurepaire Jerome
• Beaurepaire Philippe
• Tuukkanen Marko Tapio
• Here Global Bv

Inventors

• Beaurepaire Jerome
• Beaurepaire Philippe
• Tuukkanen Marko Tapio

Classifications

• B60Q1/50

  for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking · CPC title

• B60Q2400/50

  Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body · CPC title

• G08G1/163

  involving continuous checking · CPC title

• G08G1/166 Primary

  for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes · CPC title

• G08G1/0962

  having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages · CPC title