Patents by Inventor Melissa Cefkin

Melissa Cefkin 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: 11702090
    Abstract: A system for an automated vehicle includes a user input interface and an electronic controller. The electronic controller is programmed with instructions to operate at least one aspect of the automated vehicle, is configured to process information input through the user input interface, the information including data directed to predetermined parameters related to the at least one aspect of the automated vehicle at a predetermined location, and update the instructions based on the information to alter the least one aspect of the automated vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Nissan North America
    Inventors: Erik Stayton, Jingyi Zhang, Melissa Cefkin
  • Patent number: 11120688
    Abstract: Traversing, by an autonomous vehicle, a vehicle transportation network, may include identifying a policy for a scenario-specific operational control evaluation model of a distinct vehicle operational scenario, receiving a candidate vehicle control action from the policy, wherein, in response to a determination that an uncertainty value for the distinct vehicle operational scenario exceeds a defined uncertainty threshold, the candidate vehicle control action is an orientation-adjust vehicle control action, and traversing a portion of the vehicle transportation network in accordance with the candidate vehicle control action, wherein the portion of the vehicle transportation network includes the distinct vehicle operational scenario.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignees: Nissan North America, Inc., The University of Massachusetts
    Inventors: Kyle Hollins Wray, Stefan Witwicki, Shlomo Zilberstein, Melissa Cefkin
  • Patent number: 11119502
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a communication device, a sensor and a controller. The communication device is configured to receive information from at least one of a mobile application connected to the host vehicle and a local knowledge source. The sensor is configured to detect external conditions in a vicinity of the host vehicle equipped with the vehicle control system. The controller is programmed to detect a social place based on the information from at least one of the mobile application connected to the vehicle and the local knowledge source, to select a driving mode based on the social place that was detected, and to control the host vehicle based on the driving mode that was selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Melissa Cefkin
  • Patent number: 10972544
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle communication method comprises sensing a condition associated with the autonomous vehicle, and initiating, by a controller in response to the sensing of the condition, communication pertaining to the autonomous vehicle between a vehicle manager remote to the autonomous vehicle and an external agent external to the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle communication method further comprises controlling the autonomous vehicle remotely in response to a command that is based on the condition associated with the autonomous vehicle and the communication between the vehicle manager and the external agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jingyi Zhang, Erik Stayton, Melissa Cefkin
  • Publication number: 20210039662
    Abstract: A system for an automated vehicle includes a user input interface and an electronic controller. The electronic controller is programmed with instructions to operate at least one aspect of the automated vehicle, is configured to process information input through the user input interface, the information including data directed to predetermined parameters related to the at least one aspect of the automated vehicle at a predetermined location, and update the instructions based on the information to alter the least one aspect of the automated vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Erik STAYTON, Jingyi ZHANG, Melissa CEFKIN
  • Patent number: 10796174
    Abstract: Distance and object based external notification system for automated hailing service is described. An autonomous vehicle (AV) can include a processor configured to execute instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium to detect, based on sensor information, an object within the AV; determine that the object belongs to a recent occupant of the AV; and, in response to the determining that the object belongs to the recent occupant of the AV, select, based on a proximity of the recent occupant to the AV, a notification modality for sending a message to the recent occupant regarding the object; and send the message using the notification modality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignees: Nissan North America, Inc., Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Jingyi Zhang, Simon Tien, Melissa Cefkin, Laura Cesafsky
  • Publication number: 20200202149
    Abstract: Distance and object based external notification system for automated hailing service is described. An autonomous vehicle (AV) can include a processor configured to execute instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium to detect, based on sensor information, an object within the AV; determine that the object belongs to a recent occupant of the AV; and, in response to the determining that the object belongs to the recent occupant of the AV, select, based on a proximity of the recent occupant to the AV, a notification modality for sending a message to the recent occupant regarding the object; and send the message using the notification modality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Jingyi Zhang, Simon Tien, Melissa Cefkin, Laura Cesafsky
  • Patent number: 10543828
    Abstract: Structured multivariate contextual vehicle operation with integrated semiotic control may include identifying operational environment information representing a current operational environment for the vehicle, identifying a vehicle control action for controlling the vehicle to traverse a portion of a vehicle transportation network, identifying vehicle control modification information in response to the operational environment information, identifying vehicle control information in response to the vehicle control modification information and the vehicle control action, and controlling the vehicle to traverse a portion of a vehicle transportation network in accordance with the vehicle control information by controlling the vehicle to traverse the portion of the vehicle transportation network in accordance with the vehicle control information such that controlling the vehicle to traverse the portion of the vehicle transportation network in accordance with the vehicle control information includes controlling the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Stayton, Jingyi Zhang, Melissa Cefkin, Erik Vinkhuyzen
  • Publication number: 20200005645
    Abstract: Traversing, by an autonomous vehicle, a vehicle transportation network, may include identifying a policy for a scenario-specific operational control evaluation model of a distinct vehicle operational scenario, receiving a candidate vehicle control action from the policy, wherein, in response to a determination that an uncertainty value for the distinct vehicle operational scenario exceeds a defined uncertainty threshold, the candidate vehicle control action is an orientation-adjust vehicle control action, and traversing a portion of the vehicle transportation network in accordance with the candidate vehicle control action, wherein the portion of the vehicle transportation network includes the distinct vehicle operational scenario.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Kyle Hollins Wray, Stefan Witwicki, Shlomo Zilberstein, Melissa Cefkin
  • Patent number: 10464473
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes a vehicle body, at least one detector, at least one display and at least one controller. The at least one detector is configured to detect a presence of an external object within a vicinity of the vehicle. The at least one display is supported on the vehicle body. The at least one controller is programmed to determine the presence of the external object upon detection of the external object by the detector. The controller is further programmed to display a rationale indicator on the display to a remote party within the vicinity of the vehicle based on a detection result of the detector indicating the presence of the external object. The rationale indicator is an indication of an external condition occurring in the vicinity of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jingyi Zhang, Melissa Cefkin, Erik Vinkhuyzen
  • Patent number: 10434935
    Abstract: Interactive external vehicle-user communication may include identifying operational environment information representing a current operational environment for an AV; identifying a target external user based on the current operational environment for the AV, the target external user is identified based on sensor information from a sensor of the AV; controlling the AV to output, for the target external user, a first semiotic representation of a control information of the AV related to the operational environment information; receiving an acknowledgement of the first semiotic representation from the target external user; and in response to the acknowledgement, controlling the AV to traverse the portion of the vehicle transportation network, such that controlling the AV to traverse the portion of the vehicle transportation network includes controlling the AV to output a second semiotic representation based on the acknowledgement from the target external user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignees: Nissan North America, Inc., Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Jingyi Zhang, Melissa Cefkin
  • Publication number: 20180354489
    Abstract: Structured multivariate contextual vehicle operation with integrated semiotic control may include identifying operational environment information representing a current operational environment for the vehicle, identifying a vehicle control action for controlling the vehicle to traverse a portion of a vehicle transportation network, identifying vehicle control modification information in response to the operational environment information, identifying vehicle control information in response to the vehicle control modification information and the vehicle control action, and controlling the vehicle to traverse a portion of a vehicle transportation network in accordance with the vehicle control information by controlling the vehicle to traverse the portion of the vehicle transportation network in accordance with the vehicle control information such that controlling the vehicle to traverse the portion of the vehicle transportation network in accordance with the vehicle control information includes controlling the
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Erik Stayton, Jingyi Zhang, Melissa Cefkin, Erik Vinkhuyzen
  • Patent number: 10068285
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to multi-dimensional surface-based bid matching. An aspect includes receiving a bid from a first user, the bid comprising a plurality of ranges, wherein each range of the plurality of ranges corresponds to a respective dimension of a plurality of dimensions. Another aspect includes determining a first bid surface in the plurality of dimensions based on the plurality of ranges of the bid of the first user. Another aspect includes modifying the first bid surface based on a match to the bid of the first user, the match comprising a point on a second bid surface corresponding to a bid from a second user. Another aspect includes wherein, if the first user comprises a work requester, the second user comprises a work producer, and if the first user comprises a work producer, the second user comprises a work requester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Melissa Cefkin, Tobin J. Lehman, Yolanda A. Rankin, H. Raymond Strong, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20180224844
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle communication method comprises sensing a condition associated with the autonomous vehicle, and initiating, by a controller in response to the sensing of the condition, communication pertaining to the autonomous vehicle between a vehicle manager remote to the autonomous vehicle and an external agent external to the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle communication method further comprises controlling the autonomous vehicle remotely in response to a command that is based on the condition associated with the autonomous vehicle and the communication between the vehicle manager and the external agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Jingyi ZHANG, Erik STAYTON, Melissa CEFKIN
  • Publication number: 20180141489
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes a vehicle body, at least one detector, at least one display and at least one controller. The at least one detector is configured to detect a presence of an external object within a vicinity of the vehicle. The at least one display is supported on the vehicle body. The at least one controller is programmed to determine the presence of the external object upon detection of the external object by the detector. The controller is further programmed to display a rationale indicator on the display to a remote party within the vicinity of the vehicle based on a detection result of the detector indicating the presence of the external object. The rationale indicator is an indication of an external condition occurring in the vicinity of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Jingyi ZHANG, Melissa CEFKIN, Erik VINKHUYZEN
  • Publication number: 20180059683
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a communication device, a sensor and a controller. The communication device is configured to receive information from at least one of a mobile application connected to the host vehicle and a local knowledge source. The sensor is configured to detect external conditions in a vicinity of the host vehicle equipped with the vehicle control system. The controller is programmed to detect a social place based on the information from at least one of the mobile application connected to the vehicle and the local knowledge source, to select a driving mode based on the social place that was detected, and to control the host vehicle based on the driving mode that was selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventor: Melissa CEFKIN
  • Patent number: 9878659
    Abstract: A vehicle state indication system includes a detection system and a light indicator. The detection system is configured to sense an external moving object. The light indicator includes a first on mode and second on mode, and being disposed on a vehicle so as to be capable of selectively externally indicating a first state of the vehicle and a second state of the vehicle in a direction of the external moving object detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Blair Williams, Melissa Cefkin
  • Patent number: 9868389
    Abstract: A vehicle state indication system includes a detection system and a text display. The detection system is configured to sense an external moving object. The text display is disposed on a vehicle so as to be capable of selectively externally indicating a first state of the vehicle and a second state of the vehicle in a forward direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Blair Williams, Melissa Cefkin
  • Patent number: 9694736
    Abstract: A vehicle state indication system includes a light indicator and a controller. The light indicator includes a first on mode and second on mode, and is disposed on a vehicle so as to be capable of selectively externally indicating a first state of the vehicle and a second state of the vehicle at least in a forward direction of the vehicle. The controller is programmed to determine whether the vehicle intends to enter the first state or the second state, and to activate the first on mode while the vehicle intends to enter the first state and the second on mode while vehicle intends to enter the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Blair Williams, Melissa Cefkin
  • Publication number: 20170088039
    Abstract: A vehicle state indication system includes a detection system and a light indicator. The detection system is configured to sense an external moving object. The light indicator includes a first on mode and second on mode, and being disposed on a vehicle so as to be capable of selectively externally indicating a first state of the vehicle and a second state of the vehicle in a direction of the external moving object detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Blair WILLIAMS, Melissa CEFKIN