Policy-based convergence point recommendations for convoys

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9784587-B1
Application number	US-201615086241-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Mar 31, 2016
Priority date	Mar 31, 2016
Publication date	Oct 10, 2017
Grant date	Oct 10, 2017

Abstract

A method includes applying a correlation rule defining a correlation relationship between a first and second object and determining, using a processor, whether a first motion vector of the first object is correlated at a threshold level of correlation with a second motion vector of the second object, the correlation relationship between the first and second objects identifying the threshold level of correlation between the first and second motion vectors. The method also includes, in response to determining that the first motion vector is not correlated at the threshold level with the second motion vector, determining a convergence point for the first and second objects in accordance with a policy. The method further includes transmitting instructions for arriving at the convergence point to the first and second objects.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
applying a correlation rule defining a correlation relationship between a first and second object;
determining, using a processor, whether a first motion vector of the first object is correlated at a threshold level of correlation with a second motion vector of the second object, the correlation relationship between the first and second objects identifying the threshold level of correlation between the first and second motion vectors;
in response to determining that the first motion vector is not correlated at the threshold level with the second motion vector, determining a convergence point for the first and second objects in accordance with a policy; and
transmitting instructions for arriving at the convergence point to the first and second objects.

2. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein, further in response to determining that the first motion vector is not correlated at the threshold level with the second motion vector:
determining a new convoy path from the convergence point to a destination point of a predetermined convoy path.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a first amount of time for the first object to reach the convergence point;
determining a second amount of time for the second object to reach the convergence point; and
determining an estimated amount of time to convergence between the first object and the second object.

4. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the policy specifies a level of urgency for convergence of the first and second objects, the level of urgency defining an upper bound on an amount of time that the first and second object can be outside the threshold level of correlation.

5. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the first and second object are part of a convoy of a plurality of other objects traveling along a predetermined convoy path terminating at a destination point.

6. The method of claim 5 ,
wherein the policy prioritizes, in the event that the first and second objects become separated, arriving at the destination point in a shortest possible time over converging with the first or second object in the shortest possible time.

7. The method of claim 5 ,
wherein the policy prioritizes, in the event that the first and second objects are determined to be outside the threshold level of correlation, converging with the first or second object in a shortest possible time at the expense of arriving at the destination point in the shortest possible time.

8. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the correlation rule is an asymmetrical correlation rule that further defines a baseline movement for the first object.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
determining whether the first object is within the baseline movement; and
in response to determining that the first object is not within the baseline movement:
determining a convergence point for the first and second objects in accordance with the policy.

10. The method of claim 2 ,
wherein, in response to receiving information regarding travel on the new convoy path, determining a third convoy path for the first and second objects between a current location of the first and second objects and the destination point.

11. The method of claim 10 ,
wherein determining the third path comprises:
analyzing terrain between the current location and the destination point; and
determining a secure path for traversing the terrain between the convergence point and the destination point.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a first path for the first object to reach the convergence point based on the policy; and
determining a second path for the second object to reach the convergence point,
wherein the instructions describe the first and second paths.

13. The method of claim 12 ,
wherein determining the first path for the first object comprises analyzing terrain between the first object and the convergence point and determining a secure path between the first object and the convergence point based on the terrain and capabilities of the first object.

14. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the first object is an automobile, and wherein determining whether a first motion vector of the first object is correlated at the threshold level of correlation with a second motion vector of the second object is based in part on status data for the first object, the status data indicating that the automobile is disabled.

15. The method of claim 14 ,
wherein the status data comprises:
fuel level;
tire pressure; and
average speed.

16. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the policy is configured to minimize travel time for the first object to reach a destination point, and
wherein the convergence point is determined in coordination with the policy to minimize travel time for the first object.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that are executable to cause a system to perform operations comprising:
applying a correlation rule defining a correlation relationship between a first object and a predetermined convoy path;
determining whether a first motion vector of the first object is correlated at a threshold level of correlation with the predetermined convoy path, the correlation relationship identifying the threshold level of correlation between the first motion vector and the predetermined convoy path;
in response to determining that the first motion vector is not correlated at the threshold level, determining a convergence point for the first object and a second object in accordance with a policy,
wherein the policy is configured to minimize time where the first object is separated from the second object, and
wherein the convergence point is determined in coordination with the policy to minimize time that the first object is separated from the second object; and
transmitting instructions for arriving at the convergence point to the first and second objects.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the instructions are further executable to cause the system to perform:
determining a first path for the first object to reach the convergence point based on the policy; and
determining a second path for the second object to reach the convergence point,
wherein the instructions describe the first and second paths.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18 ,
wherein the convergence point corresponds to a position of the first object, and
wherein the second path for the second object to arrive at the convergence point is determined to minimize travel distance for the second object.

20. A computer comprising:
a processor; and
a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-readable instructions that are executable by the processor to cause the computer to perform:
applying a correlation rule defining a correlation relationship between a first object and a second object;
determining whether a first object is correlated at a threshold level of correlation with a second object, the correlation relationship between the first and second objects identifying the threshold level of correlation between the first and second objects;
in response to determining that the first object is not correlated at the threshold level with the second object, determining a convergence point for the first and second objects in accordance with a policy;
determining a deficiency with respect to capabilities of the first object based on the motion data;
determini

Assignees

• Greenspan Steven L
• Velez-Rojas Maria C
• Mankovskii Serguei
• Ca Inc

Inventors

• Greenspan Steven L
• Velez-Rojas Maria C
• Mankovskii Serguei

Classifications

• G01C21/3438 Primary

  Rendezvous; Ride sharing · CPC title

• G01C21/3492

  employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical (traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968) · CPC title