Method and apparatus for causing a change in an action of a vehicle for safety

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9776587-B2
Application number	US-201213689131-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 29, 2012
Priority date	Nov 29, 2012
Publication date	Oct 3, 2017
Grant date	Oct 3, 2017

Abstract

An approach for causing a change in an action of a vehicle based on real-time information associated with vehicles is described. A vehicle safety platform may determine at least one distance between a user device and at least another user device based, at least in part, on sensor information associated with at least one of the user device and the at least another user device. The vehicle safety platform may further cause, at least in part, a change in an action of at least one of the user device and the at least another user device, wherein the change in the action is based, at least in part, on the at least one distance.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
determining, by an apparatus, speeds of a first vehicle and at least one second vehicle, an amount of environment light surrounding the first and second vehicles, a dark area surrounding the first and second vehicles, at least one distance between the first and second vehicles, a brightness and a length of a first headlight source of the first vehicle, and a brightness and a length of a second headlight source of the second vehicle, wherein the determination is based, at least in part, on sensor information associated with a device in the first vehicle and sensor information associated with at least another device in the second vehicle, the device and the at least another device communicate respective sensor information over a communication network to the apparatus; and
initiating, by the apparatus, an illumination of the dark area using the first headlight source and the second headlight source and a reduction of a dazzling effect of the first headlight source and the second headlight source based on the speeds, the amount of environment light, the at least one distance, and the brightness and the lengths of the first and second headlight sources.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor information includes location information, speed information, angle information, or a combination thereof, and the dazzling effect is adjusted more as the at least one distance becomes shorter, and wherein the dark area surrounding the first and second vehicles includes a dark area between the first and second vehicles.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dazzling effect is adjusted, at least in part, via a tilting, a dimming, a brightening, a turning on/off, or a combination thereof of at least one of the first headlight source and the second headlight source.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: determining whether the device and the at least another device are heading in a same direction or an opposing direction, wherein the dazzling effect is reduced based, at least in part, on the determination of direction.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: determining that the device and the at least another device are on a collision path based, at least in part, on the at least one distance.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising: initiating a presentation of a collision warning associated with at least one of the device and the at least another device based on the determination of the collision path.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dazzling effect is further reduced based on environmental information, specification information, or a combination thereof associated with at least one of the device and the at least another device.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the environmental information includes terrain information, weather information, structural information, or a combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the specification information includes a radius, an angle, functionality, or a combination thereof of at least one of the first headlight source and the second headlight source.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is embedded in a server.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is embedded in the device, the at least another device, or a combination thereof.

12. 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 speeds of a first vehicle and at least one second vehicle, an amount of environment light surrounding the first and second vehicles, a dark area surrounding the first and second vehicles, at least one distance between the first and second vehicles, a brightness and a length of a first headlight source of the first vehicle, and a brightness and a length of a second headlight source of the second vehicle, wherein the determination is based, at least in part, on sensor information associated with a device in the first vehicle and sensor information associated with at least another device in the second vehicle, the device and the at least another device communicate respective sensor information over a communication network to the apparatus; and

initiate an illumination of the dark area using the first headlight source and the second headlight source and a reduction of a dazzling effect of the first headlight source and the second headlight source based on the speeds, the amount of environment light, the at least one distance, and the brightness and the lengths of the first and second headlight sources.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the sensor information includes location information, speed information, angle information, or a combination thereof.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the dazzling effect is adjusted, at least in part, via a tilting, a dimming, a brightening, a turning on/off, or a combination thereof of at least one of the first headlight source and the second headlight source.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to: determine whether the device and the at least another device are heading in a same direction or an opposing direction, wherein the dazzling effect is reduced based, at least in part, on the determination of direction.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to: determine that the device and the at least another device are on a collision path based, at least in part, on the at least one distance.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to: initiate a presentation of a collision warning associated with at least one of the device and the at least another device based on the determination of the collision path.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the dazzling effect is further reduced based on environmental information, specification information, or a combination thereof associated with at least one of the device and the at least another device.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the environmental information includes terrain information, weather information, structural information, or a combination thereof.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the specification information includes a radius, an angle, functionality, or a combination thereof of at least one of the first headlight source and the second headlight source.

Assignees

• Tuukkanen Marko Tapio
• Here Global Bv

Inventors

• Tuukkanen Marko Tapio

Classifications

• B60Q2300/41

  preceding vehicle · CPC title

• B60Q1/085 Primary

  due to special conditions, e.g. adverse weather, type of road, badly illuminated road signs or potential dangers (B60Q1/10, B60Q1/12, B60Q1/1423 take precedence) · CPC title

• G08G1/164

  Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles · CPC title

• B60Q9/008

  for anti-collision purposes · CPC title

• B60Q2300/47

  Direct command from other road users, i.e. the command for switching or changing the beam is sent by other vehicles or road devices · CPC title