Abstract: A system and method for providing navigation routing options to a vehicle driver, including estimated fuel consumption and fuel cost. A server collects data from a large number of road vehicles driving different routes, where the data includes road grade, average speed, stop/start and acceleration/deceleration info and vehicle specifications, and the data is collected via a telematics or other wireless system. The server also receives map data, point of interest data and real-time traffic data from their respective providers. When a driver of a road vehicle requests navigation routing from a start point to a destination, the server provides multiple routing options including not only distance and time for each routing option, but also fuel consumption and cost. The estimated fuel consumption is computed using models based on the crowd-sensed data from the other vehicles driving the routes, where the models include a physics-based model and a machine learning model.

Abstract: Sound related vehicle information representing one or more sounds may be received in the processor. The sound related vehicle information may or may not include an audio signal. Spoken dialog of a spoken dialog system associated with the vehicle based on the sound related vehicle information may be modified. The said modification comprises of modifying pitch, pace and timing of audio prompts associated with the said spoken dialog based on the sound related vehicle information.

Abstract: The present application generally relates communications and hazard avoidance within a monitored driving environment. More specifically, the application teaches a mechanism to monitor, identify and locating vulnerable road users in a hazard situation by receiving location and vector information from road users in an environment, determining the probability of a hazard situation arising in response to the location and vector information, and transmitting data to one or more road users in order to avoid the hazard situation.

Abstract: An autonomous-driving vehicle system, for implementation at an autonomous-driving vehicle. The autonomous-driving vehicle system includes a hardware-based processing unit and a non-transitory computer-readable storage device comprising and input module and an activity module. The input module, when executed by the hardware-based processing unit, obtains input data indicating presence of a pedestrian communication device near the autonomous-driving vehicle. The activity module, when executed by the hardware-based processing unit: (i) determines, based on the input data, in a pedestrian-presence determination, that the pedestrian communication device is or will soon be near the autonomous-driving vehicle, and (ii) determines, based on the pedestrian-presence determination, an autonomous-driving action to be implemented by the autonomous-driving vehicle.

Abstract: An automated vehicle includes a control system configured to selectively transfer the automated vehicle from an automated control mode to a manual control mode based on a transfer-of-control criterion. The transfer-of-control criterion is based on a current context of the automated vehicle and a dataset of previous transfer-of-control events and previous contexts associated with the operation of a plurality of additional automated vehicles.

Abstract: A system and method for adapting a speech recognition and generation system. The system and method include providing a speech recognition and generation engine that processes speech received from a user and providing a dictionary adaptation module that adds out of vocabulary words to a baseline dictionary of the speech recognition and generation system. Words are added by extracting words that are encountered and adding out of vocabulary words to the baseline dictionary of the speech recognition and generation system.

Abstract: A method is disclosed that provides text-to-speech (TTS) functionality to a telematics unit of a telematics-equipped vehicle. The method includes: receiving text content to be played back by an audio system of the telematics-equipped vehicle; determining, by a processor, a TTS rendering process to be used for the text content from a plurality of TTS rendering processes, wherein the plurality of TTS rendering processes include local TTS rendering using a local TTS engine at the telematics-equipped vehicle and remote TTS rendering using a remote TTS engine at a communications center; and causing, by the processor, the text content to be rendered as an audio signal for playback by the telematics-equipped vehicle using the determined TTS rendering process.

Abstract: A system for identifying a location of a vehicle user following a collision event and a method of using the system that includes the steps of: receiving an indication of the vehicle collision event at a backend system, wherein the indication is displayed as a graphical user interface; receiving a command at the backend system using the graphical user interface, wherein the command is associated with identifying the location of the vehicle user at a vehicle; and transmitting the command to the vehicle for the vehicle to carry out the command.

Abstract: A method of displaying augmented reality images for an obscured object relative to a real world scene. An image exterior of a vehicle is captured by an image capture device. A portion of an object occluded by a component of the vehicle as viewed by a person within the vehicle is determined by a processor. An augmented reality image is generated representing the portion of the occluded object over the component of the vehicle. The augmented reality image is displayed on an image plane at a depth that correlates with the real world scene.

Abstract: A method of displaying augmented reality images as captured by a primary image capture device. An image is captured exterior of a vehicle by the primary image capture device. The primary image capture device capturing an image of a driver's side adjacent lane. Determining, by a processor, a size of the primary augmented reality image to be displayed to the driver. Generating a primary augmented reality image displayed on a driver side image plane at a depth exterior of the vehicle. The primary augmented reality image generated on the driver side image plane is at a respective distance from the driver side window.

Abstract: A system and method for providing navigation routing options to a vehicle driver, including estimated fuel consumption and fuel cost. A server collects data from a large number of road vehicles driving different routes, where the data includes road grade, average speed, stop/start and acceleration/deceleration info and vehicle specifications, and the data is collected via a telematics or other wireless system. The server also receives map data, point of interest data and real-time traffic data from their respective providers. When a driver of a road vehicle requests navigation routing from a start point to a destination, the server provides multiple routing options including not only distance and time for each routing option, but also fuel consumption and cost. The estimated fuel consumption is computed using models based on the crowd-sensed data from the other vehicles driving the routes, where the models include a physics-based model and a machine learning model.

Abstract: A team-oriented heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system, for use in support of operations of a vehicle. The system includes instructions that cause a processor to perform operations including communicating, to a human user, via a vehicle-user interface, a request to participate regularly, actively, and collaboratively as a member of a collaborative HVAC team, to include the system, in an ongoing team relationship of cooperation regarding operating the team-oriented HVAC system over time. The operations further include providing, to the user, a commitment communication advising the user that the system will be dedicated to participating regularly, actively, and collaboratively as a team member. The operations also include receiving, from the user, an agreement communication to participate as a member of the collaborative HVAC team. And the operations include forming, responsive to receiving the agreement communication, the collaborative HVAC team including the user and team-oriented HVAC system.

Abstract: A vehicle apparatus includes a seat and a transducer configured to vibrate such that a vibration is felt by a person sitting in the seat. A transducer control signal that is transmitted to the transducer is based on output from a sensor of the apparatus configured to measure data including parameters indicative of at least one of a vehicle system function, a vehicle environment, and driver state, or on output from the vehicle system indicating parameters related to the vehicle system, vehicle environment, or driver state.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a vehicle including an eye tracking device. The systems and methods use input from the eye tracking device. The systems and methods are configured to communicate with a driver based on input from the eye tracking device. For example, the systems and methods are configured to generate indicators on a display based on input from the eye tracking device.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a continuous sensory output system and haptic apparatus, including a processor and a computer-readable where the processor to performs operations including receiving a sensor signal containing a sensor data set, applying the sensor data sets to a filter of a software package to form a projection data set, delivering the projection data set to a controller to form an action data set, and performing the action data set to an implementation section to perform the sensory output. Also, disclosed are methods including receiving a sensor signal containing a sensor data set, applying the sensor data sets to a filter of a software package to form a projection data set, delivering the projection data set to a controller to form an action data set, and performing the action data set to an implementation section to perform the sensory output.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for adaptive driver guidance for navigation and location-based services based on user behavior patterns. A driver-facing camera and a gaze tracking system determine the location of the driver's visual focus while an outside-facing camera detects and interprets external driving situations, a microphone and a speech analyzer identify driver vocalizations, and driver-proximate sensors and the driver-facing camera detect driver emotions. The driver's visual focus, the driver vocalizations and the driver emotions, along with vehicle system parameters from a data bus, are used to evaluate driver satisfaction with navigation guidance and determine driver behavior patterns. An adaptive navigation guidance engine modifies navigation guidance content and timing based on the driver satisfaction and behavior patterns. Adaptation of guidance for location-based services is also provided.

Abstract: A system and method of verifying a biometric variable of a handheld wireless device user includes: receiving at a wireless device a biometric variable measured using a handheld wireless device; detecting the biometric variable at the wireless device in response to receiving the biometric variable measured using the handheld wireless device; performing feature recognition at the wireless device on the detected biometric variable; comparing the feature recognition performed at the wireless device with the biometric variable measured using the handheld wireless device; permitting access to one or more features available at the wireless device or the handheld wireless device when the comparison is within a predetermined range of values; and denying access to the wireless device or the handheld device when the comparison is outside of the predetermined range of values.

Abstract: Sound related vehicle information representing one or more sounds may be received in a processor associated with a vehicle. The sound related vehicle information may or may not include an audio signal. An audio signal output to a passenger may be modified based on the sound related vehicle information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for arbitrating spoken dialog services include determining a capability catalog associated with a plurality of devices accessible within an environment. The capability catalog includes a list of the plurality of devices mapped to a list of spoken dialog services provided by each of the plurality of devices. The system arbitrates between the plurality of devices and the spoken dialog services in the capability catalog to determine a selected device and a selected dialog service.

Abstract: Methods and system are provided for managing user preferences. In one embodiment, a method includes: obtaining information about at least one multi-dimensional user preference; and at least one of generating a recommendation and controlling a system feature based on the multi-dimensional user preference.