Patents by Inventor Chang-Heng Wang

Chang-Heng Wang 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).

  • Patent number: 11935310
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to managing a vehicular micro cloud. A method may include determining join/leave protocols for a vehicular micro cloud and transmitting the join/leave protocols to a local vehicle in a vicinity of the vehicular micro cloud prior to the local vehicle joining the vehicular micro cloud. The join/leave protocols can define at least: 1) a procedure for the local vehicle to join the vehicular micro cloud and contribute computing resources to a collaborative micro cloud task, and 2) a protocol for handing an incomplete task when the local vehicle leaves the vehicular micro cloud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Seyhan Ucar, Takamasa Higuchi, Chang-Heng Wang, Enes Krijestorac, Onur Altintas
  • Patent number: 11881107
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to improving the identification of available parking spaces by inferring when a vehicle is likely to depart. In one embodiment, a method includes, responsive to acquiring sensor data about a surrounding environment including at least one parked vehicle, extracting a feature from the sensor data about a context of the parked vehicle. The method includes analyzing the feature to determine a status of the vehicle in relation to whether the vehicle is remaining parked. The method includes providing the status to inform additional vehicles about an availability of a parking spot of the parked vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Seyhan Ucar, Takamasa Higuchi, Chang-Heng Wang, Onur Altintas
  • Publication number: 20230361862
    Abstract: A method for operating a satellite communication system includes: interconnecting a first controller of a first satellite constellation and a second controller of a second satellite constellation in the satellite communication system to form an interconnected constellation, wherein the second satellite constellation is different from the first satellite constellation, and the interconnected constellation comprises the first satellite constellation and the second satellite constellation; utilizing the first controller to obtain first control information on the first satellite constellation, and receive second control information on the second satellite constellation from the second controller; and performing data communication via the interconnected constellation according to the first control information and the second control information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: YU-JIU WANG, BOR-CHING SU, CHANG-HENG WANG
  • Patent number: 11762648
    Abstract: A method may include determining whether a plurality of vehicles, each having an application installed are expected to be present within a predetermined distance of a location of an event. The method may further include comparing versions of the applications among the plurality of vehicles and, in response to determining that the plurality of vehicles are expected to be present within the predetermined distance of the location and determining that the versions of the applications among the plurality of vehicles are different, adjusting a version of the application installed in one or more of the plurality of vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Seyhan Ucar, Takamasa Higuchi, Chang-Heng Wang, Onur Altintas
  • Publication number: 20230276482
    Abstract: One example embodiment provides one or more of: measuring, via a user equipment (UE), sidelink received signal strength indicator (SL-RSSI) values and sidelink reference signal power received (SL-RSRP) values from a current window of a communication channel shared among a plurality of UEs, measuring, via the UE, the SL-RSRP values from a frequency-domain and a time-domain of a current window of a communication channel shared among the plurality of UEs, excluding a first subset of communication resources from a next window of the communication channel based on the RSSI values in the current window, excluding a first subset of communication resources from a next window of the communication channel based on the SL-RSRP values from a time-domain, excluding a second subset of communication resources from the next window of the communication channel based on the RSRP values, excluding a second subset of communication resources from the next window of the communication channel based on the SL-RSRP values from a freq
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Isfar Tariq, Takayuki Shimizu, Chang-Heng Wang, Hongsheng Lu, John Kenney
  • Publication number: 20230276409
    Abstract: One example embodiment provides one or more of: measuring, via a user equipment (UE), sidelink received signal strength indicator (SL-RSSI) values and sidelink reference signal power received (SL-RSRP) values from a current window of a communication channel shared among a plurality of UEs, excluding a first subset of communication resources from a next window of the communication channel based on the SL-RSSI values in the current window, excluding a second subset of communication resources from the next window of the communication channel based on the SL-RSRP values, and selecting and reserving a resource(s) remaining in the next window of the communication channel after exclusion of the first and second subsets of communication resources from the next window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Isfar Tariq, Takayuki Shimizu, Chang-Heng Wang, Hongsheng Lu, John Kenney
  • Patent number: 11708070
    Abstract: A message can be received from a first object. The message can include information about a position of the first object. An electromagnetic energy can be caused to be transmitted in a direction of the first object at a time in which the first object is in motion. A reflection of the electromagnetic energy can be received from the direction of the first object. A first possible position of a second object can be determined based on the reflection of the electromagnetic energy having traveled entirely along a path defined by a line formed by the first object and the vehicle. A second possible position of the second object can be determined based on the reflection of the electromagnetic energy having traveled along a path outside of the line. An actual position of the second object being the second possible position of the second object can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Takayuki Shimizu, Onur Altintas, Chang-Heng Wang
  • Publication number: 20230213354
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for utilizing sensor data from sensors of different modalities and from different vehicles to generate a combined image of an environment. Sensor data, such as a point cloud, generated by a LiDAR sensor on a first vehicle may be combined with sensor data, such as image data, generated by a camera on a second vehicle. The point cloud and image data may be combined to provide benefits over either data individually and processed to provide an improved image of the environment of the first and second vehicles. Either vehicle can perform this processing when receiving the sensor data from the other vehicle. An external system can also do the processing when receiving the sensor data from both vehicles. The improved image can then be used by one or both of the vehicles to improve, for example, automated travel through or obstacle identification in the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: XUEWEI QI, RUI GUO, PRASHANT TIWARI, CHANG-HENG WANG, TAKAYUKI SHIMIZU
  • Publication number: 20230196917
    Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to improving the identification of available parking spaces by inferring when a vehicle is likely to depart. In one embodiment, a method includes, responsive to acquiring sensor data about a surrounding environment including at least one parked vehicle, extracting a feature from the sensor data about a context of the parked vehicle. The method includes analyzing the feature to determine a status of the vehicle in relation to whether the vehicle is remaining parked. The method includes providing the status to inform additional vehicles about an availability of a parking spot of the parked vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Seyhan Ucar, Takamasa Higuchi, Chang-Heng Wang, Onur Altintas
  • Patent number: 11631324
    Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to improving right-of-way determinations at an intersection. In one embodiment, a method includes acquire, in a lead vehicle that is a cloud leader of a micro-cloud, observations about the intersection for a set of vehicles including at least one remote vehicle. The set of vehicles are approaching the intersection. The remote vehicle and the lead vehicle are members of the micro-cloud. The method includes deriving an assignment of right-of-ways indicating an order about how the set of vehicles may proceed through the intersection. The method includes providing the assignment to at least the remote vehicle to control right-of-way at the intersection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Takamasa Higuchi, Seyhan Ucar, Chang-Heng Wang, Onur Altintas
  • Publication number: 20230098141
    Abstract: System, methods, and embodiments described herein relate to dynamically generating a wide field-of-view three-dimensional pseudo point cloud of an environment around a vehicle. A disclosed method may include capturing, via a camera, a first view in a first image, determining a first depth map based on the first image, obtaining, from an external system, a second image of a second view that overlaps the first view and a second depth map based on the second image, inputting the first image and second image into a self-supervised homograph network that is trained to output a homographic transformation matrix between the first image and the second image, and generating a three-dimensional pseudo point cloud that combines the first depth map and the second depth map based on the homographic transformation matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Xuewei Qi, Rui Guo, Prashant Tiwari, Chang-Heng Wang, Takayuki Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20230079176
    Abstract: A system for determining an existence of a change in a region can include a processor, a communications device, and a memory. The memory can store a change determination module and a communications module. The change determination module can cause the processor to: (1) determine, in response to having obtained an indication of a possible change in the region, a location of a connected car in a vicinity of the region and facts about a sensor disposed on the connected car and (2) determine a strategy to obtain data about the possible change. The strategy can be based on at least one of the location of the connected car or the facts about the sensor. The communications module can cause the processor to transmit, via the communications device and to the connected car, an instruction to control, according to the strategy, the sensor to obtain the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Seyhan Ucar, Takamasa Higuchi, Chang-Heng Wang, Onur Altintas
  • Patent number: 11603101
    Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to resolving a standoff by a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes generating a happens-before relationship that explains events between the vehicle and other vehicles before the standoff. The standoff may be a dispute for a right of way between the vehicle and the other vehicles. The method also includes identifying the standoff using a causality relationship analysis according to the happens-before relationship. The method also includes generating a mitigation plan for the standoff that forms standoff solutions in association with the standoff being similar to a prior standoff. The method also includes resolving the standoff by causing vehicle maneuvers associated with the vehicle according to the standoff solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Seyhan Ucar, Takamasa Higuchi, Chang-Heng Wang, Dylan J. Lebedin, Onur Altintas
  • Publication number: 20230059486
    Abstract: A system for exploiting a non-transmission-designated interval in a cycle of a protocol can include a processor and a memory. The memory can store a retrieval module, an alternative transmission determination module, and a schedule module. The retrieval module can cause the processor to retrieve, by a specific node associated with a set of nodes in a network, information about the set. The information can include, for a node in the set, identifications of a frequency and a time slot of a transmission-designated interval in a cycle of the protocol. The alternative transmission determination module can cause the processor to determine, based on the information, an existence, in the set, of a non-transmission-designated interval that has a duration greater than a threshold duration. The schedule module can cause the processor to schedule, in response to the existence, the specific node to produce a transmission during the non-transmission-designated interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Ceyhun D. Ozkaptan, Chang-Heng Wang, Onur Altintas
  • Publication number: 20230051511
    Abstract: A method includes receiving first data from one or more vehicles in a geographic area, the first data indicating operation of an active safety system by at least one of the one or more vehicles, receiving second data indicating driving performance of the one or more vehicles, determining whether the driving performance of the one or more vehicles in the geographic area is improved or diminished by the use of the active safety system based on the first data and the second data, and transmitting a signal to a vehicle approaching the geographic area to cause the vehicle approaching the geographic area to activate or deactivate the active safety system based on the determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Seyhan Ucar, Takamasa Higuchi, Onur Altintas, Chang-Heng Wang
  • Publication number: 20220300267
    Abstract: A method may include determining whether a plurality of vehicles, each having an application installed are expected to be present within a predetermined distance of a location of an event. The method may further include comparing versions of the applications among the plurality of vehicles and, in response to determining that the plurality of vehicles are expected to be present within the predetermined distance of the location and determining that the versions of the applications among the plurality of vehicles are different, adjusting a version of the application installed in one or more of the plurality of vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Seyhan Ucar, Takamasa Higuchi, Chang-Heng Wang, Onur Altintas
  • Patent number: 11418597
    Abstract: A system, method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium allows for value-anticipating task offloading. The system may include one or more processors and a memory having a task manager module. The task manager module causes the one or more processors to receive a task identifier of a computational task for an application being utilized by a vehicle processor of a vehicle and a state vector describing at least one state of the vehicle and determine, using a utility function, a utility score of the computational task using the task identifier and the state vector which represents an improvement in a functioning of the application if the computational task is offloaded to an external system for processing. Based on the utility score, the one or more processors may offload the computational task to the external system, process the computational task by the vehicle processor of the vehicle, or discard the computational task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Takamasa Higuchi, Seyhan Ucar, Chang-Heng Wang, Onur Altintas
  • Publication number: 20220250636
    Abstract: The disclosure includes embodiments for resolving vehicle application version differences for connected vehicles. A method includes determining a common vehicle application that is installed in both a remote connected vehicle and an ego vehicle and identifying version differences in a common vehicle application installed in both the ego vehicle and the remote connected vehicle. The method includes forming a vehicular micro cloud. The method includes determining a maximum possible functionality of the common vehicle application. The method includes determining a set of tasks to be completed to achieve the maximum possible functionality. The method includes assigning a first subset of the set of tasks to the ego vehicle and a second subset of the set of tasks to the remote connected vehicle. The method includes using the vehicular micro cloud to cause the ego vehicle to complete the first subset and the remote connected vehicle to complete the second subset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Seyhan Ucar, Takamasa Higuchi, Chang-Heng Wang, Onur Altintas
  • Publication number: 20220250656
    Abstract: Systems and methods for vehicular-network-assisted federated machine learning are disclosed herein. One embodiment transmits first metadata from a connected vehicle to at least one other connected vehicle; receives, at the connected vehicle, second metadata from the at least one other connected vehicle; receives, at the connected vehicle based on analysis of the first and second metadata, a notification that the connected vehicle has been elected to participate in the current training phase of a federated machine learning process; receives, at the connected vehicle, instructions to prepare the connected vehicle for the next training phase; trains a machine learning model to perform a task at the connected vehicle during the current training phase to produce a locally trained machine learning model; and submits the locally trained machine learning model for aggregation with at least one other locally trained machine learning model to produce an aggregated locally trained machine learning model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Seyhan Ucar, Takamasa Higuchi, Chang-Heng Wang, Enes Krijestorac, Onur Altintas
  • Publication number: 20220245385
    Abstract: A method includes receiving first environment information related to a first vehicular task from a host vehicle, comparing the first environment information to second environment information captured when a member vehicle performed a second vehicular task corresponding to the first vehicular task using a second set of operating criteria, and determining a first set of operating criteria for performing the first vehicular task based on a similarity score between the first environment information and the second environment information and a success or accuracy rate of the second vehicular task performed by the member vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Seyhan Ucar, Takamasa Higuchi, Chang-Heng Wang, Onur Altintas