Patents by Inventor Andrea Bowes Chowanic
Andrea Bowes Chowanic has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11577725Abstract: A system includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to control at least one of a steering system or a propulsion system to operate a vehicle at a speed below a speed threshold. The instructions include instructions to determine whether one or more second vehicles a first distance from the vehicle are traveling below the speed threshold. The instructions include instructions to, upon determining the second vehicles are traveling below the speed threshold, continue to control the steering system or the propulsion system. The instructions include instructions to, upon determining the second vehicles are not traveling below the speed threshold, transition control of the steering system or the propulsion system to a human operator of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2020Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Timothy D. Zwicky, Jeremy Lerner, Md Nahid Pervez, Natalie Arguello, Andrea Bowes Chowanic, Scott Huggins, Jason Joseph Woo, Taylor Hawley, Xingping Chen, Nitendra Nath
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Publication number: 20230029497Abstract: A help system is provided for a vehicle occupant who carries a mobile communication device. The vehicle has a transceiver providing two-way wireless telecommunication and which detects a loss-of-signal condition. A powertrain system provides vehicle movement and is configured for reckoning a path traversed by the vehicle. The help system includes a guidance controller and an interface adapted to connect to the mobile communication device. The guidance controller is configured to A) identify a crossing point when the transceiver detects an initiation of the loss-of-signal condition, B) store a breadcrumb route for returning to the crossing point based on the reckoned path, C) detect a stranded condition of the vehicle during the loss-of-signal condition, D) generate guidance instructions including the breadcrumb route from the vehicle back to the crossing point when the stranded condition is detected, and E) transfer the guidance instructions to the mobile communication device.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2021Publication date: February 2, 2023Inventors: Cynthia M. Neubecker, Adil Nizam Siddiqui, Robert Parenti, Andrea Bowes Chowanic
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Publication number: 20220063620Abstract: A system includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to control at least one of a steering system or a propulsion system to operate a vehicle at a speed below a speed threshold. The instructions include instructions to determine whether one or more second vehicles a first distance from the vehicle are traveling below the speed threshold. The instructions include instructions to, upon determining the second vehicles are traveling below the speed threshold, continue to control the steering system or the propulsion system. The instructions include instructions to, upon determining the second vehicles are not traveling below the speed threshold, transition control of the steering system or the propulsion system to a human operator of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2020Publication date: March 3, 2022Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Timothy D. Zwicky, Jeremy Lerner, MD NAHID Pervez, Natalie Arguello, Andrea Bowes Chowanic, Scott Huggins, Jason Joseph Woo, Taylor Hawley, Xingping Chen, Nitendra Nath
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Patent number: 10955260Abstract: Methods and apparatus to determine a predicted wait time at a commercial point-of-interest for an estimated time-of-arrival are disclosed. An example method includes determining an estimated time-of-arrival of a vehicle at a commercial point-of-interest and obtaining current wait-time data and historical wait-time data for the estimated time-of-arrival for the commercial point-of-interest. The example method includes determining, via a processor, a predicted wait time for the estimated time-of-arrival based on the current wait-time data and the historical wait-time data and communicating the predicted wait time to a user interface of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2016Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Dave A. Herman, Nicholas Colella, Andrea Bowes Chowanic, Colleen M. Cauvet
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Publication number: 20200217683Abstract: An item previously obtained along the route is identified. A location on the route associated with the item is identified. A message is sent to the location to obtain the item. A vehicle component is actuated to move the vehicle to the location. A prompt is sent to the user for options to add a second item or cancel an order.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2017Publication date: July 9, 2020Inventors: David A. HERMAN, Nicholas COLELLA, Colleen CAUVET, Andrea Bowes CHOWANIC
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Patent number: 10699566Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to determine traffic density over a road segment. The processor is also configured to model traffic parameters to maximize traffic flow over the road segment, based on the traffic density and travel characteristic data received from a plurality of vehicles exiting the road segment. The processor is further configured to determine a speed to density curve, using the model, that would maximize traffic flow and send the speed to density curve to a vehicle entering the road segment.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2016Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Perry Robinson MacNeille, Nunzio Decia, Joseph Wisniewski, Andrea Bowes Chowanic
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Patent number: 10445601Abstract: A navigation system for a parking area comprises a plurality of nodes and a server communicating with the nodes. Each node comprises a camera capturing images of the parking area and a low power radio transmitting a radio signal. The server analyzes the images to propose a parking space and provides an arrival sequence of waypoints to the parking space. Each of the waypoints comprises strength and time of flight values of the radio signals.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2016Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Dave A. Herman, Perry R. MacNeille, Andrea Bowes Chowanic
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Publication number: 20190204109Abstract: Methods and apparatus to determine a predicted wait time at a commercial point-of-interest for an estimated time-of-arrival are disclosed. An example method includes determining an estimated time-of-arrival of a vehicle at a commercial point-of-interest and obtaining current wait-time data and historical wait-time data for the estimated time-of-arrival for the commercial point-of-interest. The example method includes determining, via a processor, a predicted wait time for the estimated time-of-arrival based on the current wait-time data and the historical wait-time data and communicating the predicted wait time to a user interface of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2016Publication date: July 4, 2019Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Dave A. HERMAN, Nicholas COLELLA, Andrea Bowes CHOWANIC, Colleen M. CAUVET
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Patent number: 10190358Abstract: A vehicle safe authentication system may include a vehicle safe, a vehicle camera, and a control unit programmed to receive an indication of unauthorized access at the vehicle safe and further programmed to activate the vehicle camera in response to the indication, wherein activation of the camera may include capturing at least one image.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2015Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Omar Makke, Andrea Bowes Chowanic, Manpreet Singh Bajwa
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Patent number: 10140864Abstract: A parking server is queried for parking data descriptive of locations of available on-street parking spots. On a map indicating a current location of a vehicle and an upcoming intersection to be traversed by the vehicle, a depiction of parking availability is overlaid, indicating, for each leg of the intersection, a number of on-street parking spots available down the respective leg according to the parking data.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2017Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Andrea Bowes Chowanic
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Publication number: 20180315311Abstract: A parking server is queried for parking data descriptive of locations of available on-street parking spots. On a map indicating a current location of a vehicle and an upcoming intersection to be traversed by the vehicle, a depiction of parking availability is overlaid, indicating, for each leg of the intersection, a number of on-street parking spots available down the respective leg according to the parking data.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2017Publication date: November 1, 2018Inventor: Andrea Bowes CHOWANIC
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Publication number: 20170297529Abstract: A vehicle computer system, comprising a processor configured to identify a driver of a vehicle utilizing driver profile data received from a driver device communicating with the vehicle, and disable driving of the vehicle in response to the driver profile data and vehicle registration data received from a remote server indicating an issue with a vehicle policy.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2016Publication date: October 19, 2017Inventors: David Hamilton, Andrea Bowes Chowanic, Oliver Lei
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Publication number: 20170263117Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to determine traffic density over a road segment. The processor is also configured to model traffic parameters to maximize traffic flow over the road segment, based on the traffic density and travel characteristic data received from a plurality of vehicles exiting the road segment. The processor is further configured to determine a speed to density curve, using the model, that would maximize traffic flow and send the speed to density curve to a vehicle entering the road segment.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2016Publication date: September 14, 2017Inventors: Perry Robinson MACNEILLE, Nunzio DECIA, Joseph WISNIEWSKI, Andrea Bowes CHOWANIC
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Publication number: 20170243072Abstract: A navigation system for a parking area comprises a plurality of nodes and a server communicating with the nodes. Each node comprises a camera capturing images of the parking area and a low power radio transmitting a radio signal. The server analyzes the images to propose a parking space and provides an arrival sequence of waypoints to the parking space. Each of the waypoints comprises strength and time of flight values of the radio signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2016Publication date: August 24, 2017Inventors: DAVE A. HERMAN, PERRY R. MACNEILLE, ANDREA BOWES CHOWANIC
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Publication number: 20170138112Abstract: A vehicle safe authentication system may include a vehicle safe, a vehicle camera, and a control unit programmed to receive an indication of unauthorized access at the vehicle safe and further programmed to activate the vehicle camera in response to the indication, wherein activation of the camera may include capturing at least one image.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2015Publication date: May 18, 2017Inventors: Omar MAKKE, Andrea Bowes CHOWANIC, Manpreet Singh BAJWA
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Patent number: 8706410Abstract: A computer-implemented method for delivering arrival guidance comprising of receiving inputs defining a destination point of interest (POI). The method includes determining whether the destination POI has a parent-child POI relationship with respect to a second POI. The method further includes outputting guidance at a predetermined distance from the destination POI, wherein the guidance comprises a notification concerning the parent-child relationship between the destination POI and the second POI.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2012Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Andrea Bowes Chowanic
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Publication number: 20140019039Abstract: A computer-implemented method for delivering arrival guidance comprising of receiving inputs defining a destination point of interest (POI). The method includes determining whether the destination POI has a parent-child POI relationship with respect to a second POI. The method further includes outputting guidance at a predetermined distance from the destination POI, wherein the guidance comprises a notification concerning the parent-child relationship between the destination POI and the second POI.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2012Publication date: January 16, 2014Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventor: Andrea Bowes Chowanic
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Patent number: 8305206Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a method for generating a speed alert with an electronic device in a vehicle is provided. The method comprises receiving a vehicle speed signal indicating the speed at which the vehicle is traveling on a road and receiving a speed limit signal indicating the posted speed limit for the road traveled by the vehicle. The method further comprises adding a predetermined speed buffer to the posted speed limit and comparing the posted speed limit and the predetermined speed buffer to the vehicle speed signal. The method further comprises generating an alert if the vehicle speed signal is greater than the posted speed limit and the predetermined speed buffer.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2009Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Thomas Lee Miller, Kenneth Nkosi Williams, Brian Bennie, Vilay Patel, Robert Bruce Kleve, Andrea Bowes Chowanic
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Publication number: 20110032093Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a method for generating a speed alert with an electronic device in a vehicle is provided. The method comprises receiving a vehicle speed signal indicating the speed at which the vehicle is traveling on a road and receiving a speed limit signal indicating the posted speed limit for the road traveled by the vehicle. The method further comprises adding a predetermined speed buffer to the posted speed limit and comparing the posted speed limit and the predetermined speed buffer to the vehicle speed signal. The method further comprises generating an alert if the vehicle speed signal is greater than the posted speed limit and the predetermined speed buffer.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2009Publication date: February 10, 2011Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Thomas Lee Miller, Kenneth Nkosi Williams, Brian Bennie, Vilay Patel, Robert Bruce Kleve, Andrea Bowes Chowanic
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Patent number: 6505118Abstract: An adaptive navigation system for a land vehicle is provided that incorporates learned segments of preferred routes into adaptive calculated routes. The navigation system preferably includes a global positioning system or other sources of locator system data and a data processor that may be programmed with destination data and current location data. The data storage apparatus is capable of recording current location data as the vehicle travels to a destination. The system automatically develops a database of a plurality of segments of preferred routes where those segments are different from the route normally calculated by the data processor. On future occasions when the navigation system is used, the data processor is able to incorporate segments of preferred routes in an adaptive calculated route determination when the segments are within a predetermined degree of similarity to the calculated route.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2001Date of Patent: January 7, 2003Assignee: Ford Motor CompanyInventors: Andrea Bowes Chowanic, Mark Edward Porter, Thomas Joseph Hermann