System and method to provide valet instructions for a self-driving vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9377315-B2
Application number	US-201414520382-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 22, 2014
Priority date	Oct 22, 2014
Publication date	Jun 28, 2016
Grant date	Jun 28, 2016

Abstract

A vehicle computer system in an autonomous vehicle includes a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a remote device. The vehicle computer system also includes a processor in communication with the wireless transceiver. The processor is configured to receive instructions from the remote device to initiate an automatic valet-mode, receive data from the remote device indicative of a user's pick-up location, and send instructions to a vehicle module instructing the vehicle to drive to the user's pick-up location.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle computer system in an autonomous vehicle, comprising:
a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a remote device of a user;
a processor in communication with the wireless transceiver, the processor configured to:
receive instructions from the remote device to initiate an automatic valet-mode;
receive data from the remote device indicative of a user's pick-up location;
determine a vehicle malfunction based upon vehicle data and a pick-up request or drop-off request of the user;
output an error message to the remote device, wherein the error message is attributable to a vehicle controller error affecting the pick-up request or drop-off request; and
send instructions to a vehicle module instructing the vehicle to drive to the user's pick-up location.

2. The vehicle computer system in an autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive data from the remote device indicative of a user's pick-up time.

3. The vehicle computer system in an autonomous vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine a departure time of the vehicle, wherein the departure time is determined utilizing a travel time from a vehicle's current location to the user's pick-up location, and the user's pick-up time.

4. The vehicle computer system in an autonomous vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the processor is further configured to utilize traffic data to calculate the departure time of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle computer system in an autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the remote device is an off-board server or nomadic device.

6. The vehicle computer system in an autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine a status related to the automatic-valet mode and send a notification indicating the status to the remote device.

7. The vehicle computer system in an autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive data indicative of a parking location of the vehicle and a drop-off location of the user.

8. The vehicle computer system in an autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle module is an advanced driver assistance system.

9. The vehicle computer system in an autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the pick-up time is an on-demand pick-up or a future time.

10. The vehicle computer system in an autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to send the data from the remote device indicating a vehicle's current location.

11. The vehicle computer system in an autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to send the remote device route data indicating a vehicle's route based on a vehicle's current location and the user's pick-up location.

12. The vehicle computer system in an autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the error message is output to the remote-device initiating the automatic valet mode.

13. The vehicle computer system in an autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle malfunction includes a vehicle battery level below a threshold to drive to the user's pick-up location.

14. The vehicle computer system in an autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle malfunction includes a fuel level below a threshold to drive to the user's pick-up location.

15. The vehicle computer system in an autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to output the malfunction after autonomously driving to the user's pick-up location.

16. The vehicle computer system in an autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to output the malfunction before autonomously driving to the user's pick-up location.

17. The vehicle computer system in an autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine the malfunction after autonomously driving to the user's pick-up location.

18. A vehicle computer system, comprising:
an input-controller configured to receive instructions from a related to an automatic valet mode of an autonomous vehicle;
a processor communicating with the input-controller configured to:
receive input from the input-controller activating the automatic valet mode and setting a pick-up location and a pick-up time;
output a vehicle error in response to vehicle data indicating a vehicle controller error affecting a pick-up or a drop-off request of the user;
send instructions to a vehicle module instructing the vehicle to drive to the pick-up location at the pick-up time.

19. The vehicle computer system of claim 18 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine a departure time of the vehicle, wherein the departure time is determined utilizing a travel time from a vehicle's current location to the pick-up location, and the pick-up time.

20. A system in an autonomous vehicle, comprising:
a processor, in response to instructions received from a mobile phone-initiating an autonomous valet mode including a pick-up location and time, send instructions to a vehicle controller instructing the vehicle to execute autonomous drive commands to drive to the pick-up location before the pick-up time; and output a vehicle to the mobile phone indicating a vehicle controller error affecting a user pickup request.

Assignees

• Myine Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Grover Joey Ray
• Smereka Scott
• Fischer Joel J

Classifications

• G06Q10/02

  Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events · CPC title

• G05B19/0423 Primary

  Input/output · CPC title

• G01C21/34 Primary

  Route searching; Route guidance · CPC title

• G08G1/005

  including pedestrian guidance indicator · CPC title

• G08G1/096827

  where the route is computed onboard · CPC title