Highway Information (e.g., Weather, Speed Limits, Etc.) Patents (Class 340/905)
  • Patent number: 9602667
    Abstract: A method for managing and routing calls in a telephone system involves receiving an incoming call identified by a specific ANI; providing an option to input a routing key associated with one of multiple function endpoint stations; if the routing key is provided, accessing storage associating individual unique keys with both ANI information and one function endpoint station, locating the routing key, verifying a stored ANI associated with the routing key against the ANI, and if the ANI verifies, automatically routing the call to the associated function endpoint station; and if the routing key is not provided, following interaction with the IVR to connect to one function endpoint station, and upon connection, generating a unique key, storing the unique key along with the specific ANI information and an identifier of the function endpoint station, and making the unique key available for subsequent provision as the routing key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lisa M. Bradley, Aaron J. Quirk, Lin Sun
  • Patent number: 9593959
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, systems, and computer program products for generating a linear projection of a route. In one embodiment, route information is received and parsed. Supplementary route data is received. A linear route is generated and provided to a user, the linear route comprising a straight line and one or more segments extending form the straight line, where ends of the straight line represent a starting point and destination of the linear route, and the one or more segments represent turns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rajesh Kalyanaraman, Senthil K. Venkatesan
  • Patent number: 9592835
    Abstract: A device for detecting the sleepiness of a driver driving a vehicle is designed to determine if the resetting of threshold values for detection of sleepiness is performed based upon its necessity when an interruption of the driving occurs. The inventive device computes successively an eyelid opening/closing characteristic amount from time intervals between transitions between an opened state and a closed state of an eyelid detected successively; sets threshold values using the eyelid opening/closing characteristic amounts obtained in a predetermined period; and judges the driver feels sleepiness when the eyelid opening/closing characteristic amount deviates from a range defined with the threshold values. In restarting the driving after its interruption, it is judged if the resetting of the threshold values is to be performed based on the driver's condition till then, and the resetting is performed, using eyelid opening/closing characteristic amounts obtained after the restarting of the driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Hatakeyama
  • Patent number: 9592762
    Abstract: A vehicle driving assistance apparatus includes a coherent light source, a road surface projection optical system, a road surface wet information retention section, and a control circuit. The road surface projection optical system scans a light source beam emitted from the coherent light source to output a projection beam, and thereby project the light pattern on the road surface around the own vehicle, the light source beam being light. The control circuit is configured to stop the output of the projection beam during a period in which the road surface wet information retention section retains information indicating that the road surface around the own vehicle is wet. The projection beam enters the road surface around the own vehicle at a shallow angle, and projects the light pattern toward a road surface near a boundary of a traveling lane where the own vehicle is traveling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Ushio Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi Okamoto, Hidekazu Hatanaka
  • Patent number: 9576481
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method, apparatus, system and computer program configured to process traffic data and provide relevant information to a driver of a vehicle. A method that is disclosed includes receiving probe data from mobile probes; deriving, from the received probe data, an approximate traffic jam shape and traffic jam area; determining when and at what point a vehicle enters the traffic jam area, and an estimated trajectory of the vehicle within the traffic jam area; and based on the step of determining, generating and sending a message to the vehicle informing the vehicle of at least an estimated time when the vehicle will exit the traffic jam area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: HERE GLOBAL B.V.
    Inventors: Jingwei Xu, Arnold Sheynman, Bruce Bernhardt, Tony Belkin, Weimin Huang
  • Patent number: 9574894
    Abstract: The position and/or movement of at least one device for a user can be monitored over time, and various types of information inferred based on patterns in that user behavior. A device can determine various locations where a user typically stays for a period of time, as well as the routes the user takes to get to those locations. Based upon time, date, and various other information, the device can infer the type of location and/or route, as well as the likelihood that the user will take a given route to one of those locations at any time. By being able to infer future actions and locations of the user at certain times, a device can proactively provide a variety of functionality to the user, such as to provide suggested alternative routes, move meetings, notify others of estimated times of arrival, and perform other such tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Karakotsios, Bradley Bozarth, Ian W. Freed
  • Patent number: 9565513
    Abstract: Systems and methods relating to providing long-range network service to short-range wireless devices are disclosed. The system includes a short-range wireless device, a remote server, and a long-range wireless device for establishing a data path between the short-range wireless device and the remote server. The system performs a described method by using the short-range wireless device to alternate the transmission and concealment of an incitation signal so as to allow the long-range wireless device to establish and maintain the data path without any intervention, supervision, or inputs from a human user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Thirdwayv, Inc.
    Inventors: Bola Malek, Faisal AlToukhy
  • Patent number: 9557178
    Abstract: An indoor positioning system and method of localizing a person/object in an indoor environment by identifying the orientation and direction of a person/object to provide a true location of the person/object without navigation errors. The system comprises magnets disposed on a doorway to create a unique magnetic field; a wireless communication unit comprising a magnetometer sensor to sense perturbations in each of the unique magnetic fields in the event that the person/object with the wireless communication unit passes through the doorway, and generate corresponding signals; a processor receiving the signals and extracting data from the same; and a backend server wirelessly communicating with the wireless communication unit, the backend server processing the data sample received from the wireless communication unit to identify the opening and the wireless communication unit to localize the person/object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Tata Consultancy Services Ltd.
    Inventors: Avik Ghose, Arpan Pal, Anirban Dutta Choudhury, Vivek Chandel, Chirabrata Bhaumik, Tanushyam Chattopadhyay
  • Patent number: 9557179
    Abstract: Method, computer program product, and apparatus for providing navigation guidance to vehicles are disclosed. In some implementations, a navigation device can be configured to determine a dynamic speed limit for a vehicle based on the location of the vehicle in a road segment, and displays the dynamic speed limit in a display of the navigation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Keir Finlow-Bates
  • Patent number: 9551582
    Abstract: A mobile communications device comprising a location sensing system, producing a location output; a memory, storing a set of locations and associated events; a telecommunications device, communicating event and location information between a remote system and said memory; and a processor, processing said location output in conjunction with said stored locations and associated events in said memory, to determine a priority thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Blanding Hovenweep, LLC
    Inventor: Steven M. Hoffberg
  • Patent number: 9554225
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for providing audio to one or more individuals in an operating room. An ultrasonic signal generator may be provided that generates two or more ultrasonic signals that combine to produce an audible signal at a desired location. The audio signal may be perceived by individuals in the operating room to emanate from a surface or location within the operating room, or the audio signal may be generated to provide an audible signal to one or more persons within a particular location within the operating room. Multiple audio signals may be generated to emanate from multiple different locations. Likewise, multiple audio signals may be generated to provide different audible signals in different locations in the operating room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: David J. Van Tol, Anthony B. Ross
  • Patent number: 9547987
    Abstract: Described are methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for conveying vehicle driving information. A server computing device generates a hazard index for a plurality of road segments in a predefined coverage area. The server computing device determines a current hazard value for each of the plurality of road segments based on (i) weather conditions data associated with the road segments, (ii) road conditions data associated with the road segments, and (iii) physical attributes of the road segments. The server computing device determines a predicted hazard value for each of the plurality of road segments and assigns the present hazard value and predicted hazard value to the corresponding road segment. The server computing device receives location data associated with a remote device and transmits hazard information associated with one or more of the plurality of road segments based on the location data and the hazard index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Earth Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Dale Sloop, Robert S. Marshall
  • Patent number: 9549270
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for providing audio to one or more individuals in an operating room. An ultrasonic signal generator may be provided that generates two or more ultrasonic signals that combine to produce an audible signal at a desired location. The audio signal may be perceived by individuals in the operating room to emanate from a surface or location within the operating room, or the audio signal may be generated to provide an audible signal to one or more persons within a particular location within the operating room. Multiple audio signals may be generated to emanate from multiple different locations. Likewise, multiple audio signals may be generated to provide different audible signals in different locations in the operating room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: David J. Van Tol, Anthony B. Ross
  • Patent number: 9542842
    Abstract: A detection device is provided for a motor vehicle (10) for detecting wetness (18) on a roadway (20). The detection device has a moisture-detection unit (12) and an evaluation unit (40) designed to determine wetness (18) on the roadway (20) on the basis of a moisture value (42) detected by the moisture-detection unit (12). The moisture-detection unit (12) is embodied as a sensor unit and is arranged at a rear region of the motor vehicle (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Stefan Eberhardt
  • Patent number: 9544717
    Abstract: An in-vehicle terminal device includes: a wireless LAN communication section capable of performing wireless communication over a short range; a cellular communication section capable of performing wireless communication over a longer range than the wireless LAN communication section; and a communication method selection section which selects the wireless LAN communication section or the cellular communication section according to a real-time communication requirement for data to be transmitted to or received from outside of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kohei Seino
  • Patent number: 9532160
    Abstract: A method for accessing functionality of a mobile electronic device through a vehicle system onboard a motor vehicle. The method includes making functionality of the mobile electronic device accessible through the vehicle system based on where a sensor that the mobile electronic device is paired with is physically located about the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Denso International America, Inc.
    Inventor: Kyle Golsch
  • Patent number: 9529071
    Abstract: Provided is an ultrasonic-wave communication system where the influence of ambient noise and the Doppler effect are suppressed and where a user of a portable terminal is prevented from hearing unwanted sound. After performing encryption processing of store information, a beacon 5 placed in a salesroom 3 sends out store-information-containing beacon information of one channel as ultrasonic waves into the salesroom 3 by combining a control carrier, a first carrier, and a second carrier in such a way that a first carrier signal and a second carrier signal are output between control carrier signals a number of times according to the store information and that a state where the first carrier signal and/or the second carrier signal is output is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Rakuten, Inc.
    Inventors: Yo Shibata, Misato Takahashi, Yuki Sato
  • Patent number: 9528850
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to generating and providing route options for an autonomous vehicle. For example, a user may identify a destination, and in response the vehicle's computer may provide routing options to the user. The routing options may be based on typical navigating considerations such as the total travel time, travel distance, fuel economy, etc. Each routing option may include not only an estimated total time, but also information regarding whether and which portions of the route may be maneuvered under the control of the vehicle alone (fully autonomous), a combination of the vehicle and the driver (semiautonomous), or the driver alone. The time of the longest stretch of driving associated with the autonomous mode as well as map information indicating portions of the routes associated with the type of maneuvering control may also be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Kenneth Hobbs, Lawrence Burns, Brian Douglas Cullinane
  • Patent number: 9521255
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a system for generating an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) database, the system comprising a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory comprising a list of telephone numbers associated with one or more destinations implementing IVR menus, wherein the one or more destinations are grouped based on a plurality of categories of the IVR menus. Further the memory includes instructions executable by said processor for automatically communicating with the one of more destinations, and receiving at least one customization record from said at least one destination to store in the IVR database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Inventors: Tal Lavian, Zvi Or-Bach
  • Patent number: 9518830
    Abstract: Vehicular navigation system updating system includes condition detectors that detect presence of an object or condition potentially interfering with movement of vehicles on a roadway, each condition detector being located on or alongside the roadway or in a vehicle. A signal, data or information about the detected presence of the object or condition is transmitted to a remote site at which a processor generates an update for a map based on the detected presence of the object or condition and directs communication of the map update to vehicles in a vicinity of a location at which the condition detector detected the presence of the object or condition. The vehicular navigation system of each vehicle uses the map with the map update to display or otherwise indicate the presence of the object or condition. Another map update is generated when the absence of the object or condition is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Intelligent Technologies International, Inc.
    Inventor: David S Breed
  • Patent number: 9514651
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses are provided for determining an optimal warning distance for a vehicle. For example, the geographic location of the vehicle is received along with a reaction profile of the operator of the vehicle. Based on the geographic location, a roadway condition is determined. An optimal warning distance is then determined based on a braking distance of the vehicle and the reaction profile of the operator of the vehicle. The operator of the vehicle, or a navigation system of the vehicle itself, is alerted to the roadway condition when the vehicle is located at the optimal warning distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Eric Linder, Gavril Giurgiu, Leon Stenneth
  • Patent number: 9513132
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses are provided for measuring quality in optimal navigation routes. A plurality of nodes having latitude and longitude coordinates is received for analysis. The nodes may be map matched with a road network and a traveled route of the navigation device may be determined. Alternative routes may be calculated between the origin and destination of the traveled route at a time after the traveled route is completed. Comparisons may be made between the traveled route and the alternative routes. The comparison data may be used to develop an improved traffic database or the data may be reported to a navigation device or navigation service provider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventor: James Adeyemi Fowe
  • Patent number: 9499168
    Abstract: Based on a vehicle driving condition indicated by vehicle control information, an image area to be displayed is determined from a panorama image of a vehicle periphery and a judgment is made about a collision possibility between a vehicle outside object appearing in the image area and the vehicle, so that a display image including the image area is generated and displayed on a display 16, and the vehicle is controlled to avoid its collision with the vehicle outside object according to a result of the judgment about the collision possibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Watanabe, Takehisa Mizuguchi, Takeshi Mitsui, Yoshihiro Ogawa, Takafumi Kasuga, Yohei Miki, Takeo Fujita
  • Patent number: 9500491
    Abstract: A method for position determination, in particular of a motor vehicle, includes optically capturing an object having a known geographic position and matching the geographic position of the object with stored map data. The object may be a road sign having distance information, which is optically recognized at the vehicle. The distance information is subsequently evaluated using optical character recognition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignees: AUDI AG, VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventors: Claudia Kratzsch, Sebastian Engel, Hendrik Rössler
  • Patent number: 9495871
    Abstract: A display control device causes a display unit to generate a first predetermined image representing a first presentation image that indicates a first speed limit. Change in a speed limit of a road where a vehicle travels from a first speed limit to a second speed limit different from the first speed limit is recognized. When the recognized change in the speed limit indicates decrease, the first predetermined image is switched by a first switching method so that a second predetermined image representing a second presentation image that indicates the second speed limit is generated. When the recognized change in the speed limit indicates increase, the first predetermined image is switched by a second switching method different from the first switching method so that the second predetermined image is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Mochizuki, Koichi Emura, Eriko Ohdachi
  • Patent number: 9495867
    Abstract: A traffic information processing system includes on-board unit configured to be installed in a vehicle, an on-board unit-equipped vehicle number-detecting unit configured to detect the number of vehicles equipped with on-board unit entering a sample area based on information received from the on-board unit, a total vehicle number-detecting unit configured to detect the number of all vehicles entering the sample area, a vehicle ratio operation unit configured to calculate a value related to a ratio based on the number of vehicles equipped with the on-board unit detected by the on-board unit-equipped vehicle number-detecting unit and the number of all vehicles detected by the total vehicle number-detecting unit, and a total vehicle number-estimating operation unit configured to calculate a total number of vehicles in the zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Korenaga, Hisaji Takeuchi, Ryota Hiura, Tomohiro Murata, Takeshi Nagata, Hiromichi Nakamoto, Seiki Kato
  • Patent number: 9489849
    Abstract: A system for monitoring roadway conditions for a vehicle has a control unit processing data captured by a plurality of existing blind spot information sensors coupled to the vehicle to detect objects around the vehicle, the data processed indicating congestion on the roadway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jumpei Ichinokawa
  • Patent number: 9488490
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses are provided for storing and accessing traffic data images in a limited bandwidth environment. A traffic map image database is stored in a navigation device, where the database includes a plurality of traffic map images. A traffic condition is determined for a location of the navigation device. A traffic map image is retrieved from the database using a processor, where the traffic map image reflects the traffic condition for the location of the navigation device. The traffic map image is displayed on the navigation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Sunil Kumar Chintakindi, Andrew Calkins, Joy Hoeffler, Pedro Alvarez-Tabio Togores
  • Patent number: 9482548
    Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for populating a map interface with a route inspection portal and/or for generating travel route video. In an example, a map interface is populated with a map canvas illustrating a travel route. The map canvas is populated with inspection markers corresponding to imagery depicting travel route portions of the travel route. Responsive to identifying a selection of an inspection marker at an inspection location, imagery depicting the inspection location may be identified. The map canvas is populated with a route inspection portal for the inspection marker. The route inspection portal is populated with the imagery (e.g., street-side imagery of an intersection along the travel route). In an example, a travel route video, comprising video frames corresponding to an ordering of the imagery (e.g., from a start location to an end location) along the travel route, may be generated and/or played.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Yekaterina Grabar, Daniel Dole, Dvir Horovitz, Casey D. Stein
  • Patent number: 9475420
    Abstract: A display apparatus for a vehicle includes a virtual image display device, a detection device, and a picture control device. The virtual image display device emits predetermined light to permit a windshield or a combiner to reflect the predetermined light towards an eye of a driver. The emitted predetermined light is to display a picture. The virtual image display device displays the picture in a displayed area as a virtual image; the picture appears ahead of the vehicle. The detection device detects a target that is an obstacle or an intersection. The picture control device displays the picture to appear below the target in the displayed area, and then moves the picture to a position corresponding to the target apparently while decreasing at least a width of the picture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Kamiya, Kohji Ohyama
  • Patent number: 9476977
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a meteorological observation system using vehicles. The meteorological observation system using vehicles includes a meteorological observation device embedded in each of the vehicles and configured to periodically detect surrounding weather information and to photograph weather conditions, the vehicle configured to run on a road using radar devices for detecting the front and right and left sides of the vehicle, that is, sensors for supporting driving and prevent a collision, and to provide mobility to the meteorological observation device, a meteorological server configured to collect pieces of the weather information from the meteorological observation devices moving in respective areas through wireless communication and to provide the pieces of weather information to a meteorological observation center, the meteorological observation center configured to use information, received from the meteorological server, as statistical data or meteorological observation and forecast data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Sang Hun Lim, Dong Ryul Lee
  • Patent number: 9478132
    Abstract: Described herein is a vehicle system configured to identify and mitigate a risk associated with one or more hazards that may impact a vehicle. The vehicle system may include a service provider computer configured to maintain information related to one or more hazards. In some embodiments, a hazard may be identified based at least in part on its being located within the vicinity of a vehicle. In some embodiments, the service provider computer may generate a mitigation strategy to reduce or eliminate the risk posed by the identified hazard. The mitigation strategy may include one or more actions to be taken by a processor device within the vehicle. Upon being provided with a mitigation strategy, the processor device may execute one or more of the actions in the mitigation strategy without human interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: THUNDER POWER HONG KONG LTD.
    Inventor: Yu-Ting Dai
  • Patent number: 9478130
    Abstract: A system includes one or more traffic guidance nodes (TGNs) and one or more mobile traffic navigating entities (TNEs). The traffic guidance nodes transmit updated information about the local traffic to the one or more mobile traffic navigating entities when the one or more mobile traffic navigating entities are within a range of the one or more traffic guidance nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Maxwell Consulting, LLC
    Inventors: David Alan McDevitt-Pimbley, Joseph Maxwell Pimbley
  • Patent number: 9472096
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for monitoring traffic and roadway water conditions. Traffic flow and roadway flooding is monitored concurrently through a wireless sensor network. The apparatus and system comprises ultrasound rangefinders monitoring traffic flow, flood water conditions, or both. Routing information may be calculated from the traffic conditions, such that routes are calculated to avoid roadways that are impassable or are slow due to traffic conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: KING ABDULLAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: Christian Claudel
  • Patent number: 9463962
    Abstract: A sensor system includes a mounting member, an actuator disposed adjacent the mounting member, and a sensor connected to the actuator for sensing movement of an object using a signal. The actuator moves the sensor from a first sensing position to a second sensing position if the sensor is unable to read the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Mi-Jack Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Nikolay Petrov Petkov, Harvey E. Schmidt, Kenneth Svihlik
  • Patent number: 9466110
    Abstract: In an image processing device (1), the motion detection unit (43) extracts an outline indicating a body from an image of each frame in moving image data of a player and sets a motion reference axis(line) to each part of the body. Then, the motion comparison unit (44) compares a moving image of the player and a moving image of a professional golfer based on a motion of a main motion reference axis(line) and generates moving image data for comparison to which comparison result data is added. Based on this moving image data for comparison, the comparison result display control unit (45) distinguishably displays a difference between the moving image of the player and the moving image of the professional golfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshiki Ishige
  • Patent number: 9460615
    Abstract: A first mobile monitoring system includes one or more mobile monitoring devices, a network, a server and a storage memory. The server is implemented to analyze the collected signals and the traffic information to identify at least one traffic flow according to travel routes of the one or more wireless devices; determine whether the identified at least one traffic flow exceeds an updating threshold based on the collected signals; derive at the server when the traffic flow exceeds the updating threshold, an updating priority indicating an order in which the traffic flows are processed based on the collected signals; and update a dynamic traffic transportation plan map based on the at least one traffic flow, the updating threshold and the updating priority.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: UMM AL-QURA UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Anas Basalamah
  • Patent number: 9460616
    Abstract: To provide different services and information in real time to each automobile or each driver with a high-quality driving assistance or automatic driving system that manages a plurality of mobile objects by communicating with the mobile objects, provided is a system including a mobile object server operable to receive information from each of a plurality of mobile objects within a geographic space and perform a process associated with each mobile object; and a registration server operable to register a first additional process that is to be performed in addition to a first basic process common to the plurality of mobile objects, in association with one mobile object among the plurality of mobile objects. Also provided are a method and program product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiro Miyahira, Gaku Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9430944
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for participative sensing of events and conditions by road vehicles, collection of this data from a large number of road vehicles by a central server, processing the data to identify events and conditions which may be of interest to other vehicles in a particular location, and sending notifications of the events and conditions to vehicles. A large number of vehicles use participative sensing systems to identify a safety-related event or condition which should be reported to the central server—such as a large pothole, an obstacle in the roadway, an icy road surface, a traffic accident, etc. The central server stores and aggregates the data, filters it and ages it. Vehicles requesting advisories from the central server will receive notices of safety-related events and conditions based on their location and heading. Driver warnings can be issued, and vehicle systems may respond to the notices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Donald K. Grimm, Fan Bai, Rozalina Ebrahimian
  • Patent number: 9417329
    Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for initiating at least one process in a vehicle are provided. The apparatus determines an approximate position of the vehicle. In addition, the apparatus determines a shortest time period based on the determined approximate position in which one or more registered drivers of the vehicle is in proximity to the vehicle. Furthermore, the apparatus determines whether to initiate the at least one process within the vehicle based on the determined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Babak Forutanpour, Jeffrey D. Beckley, Shivakumar Balasubramanyam, Martin Renschler
  • Patent number: 9409571
    Abstract: A method supports a vehicle's traffic-light-sequence assistant system that detects traffic light sequences of a traffic light (11) with a camera (1). According to the method, when the traffic light (11) is detected in the field of view (1a ) of the camera (1), a length or an end stopping point (L) of a driving path (W) toward the traffic light (11) is determined by a control unit (3), such that the traffic light will remain within view of the camera when the vehicle drives the determined length along the driving path to the end stopping point, and a control signal (St) concerning the determined length (L) or the end stopping point of the driving path (W) is outputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignees: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbH, Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Stefan Lueke, Stefan Hegemann, Matthias Komar
  • Patent number: 9406229
    Abstract: A traffic flow advisory system includes a locating device for identifying a position of a driven vehicle. A communication device exchanges vehicle position data, speed data, and heading data with remote vehicles. A processor constructs a traffic flow rate in a plurality of road lanes based on the position data and speed data. A human machine interface indicates to a driver of the driven vehicle the traffic flow rate of each of the road lanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Chaminda Basnayake, Donald K. Grimm
  • Patent number: 9399468
    Abstract: Disclosed is a feature for a vehicle that enables taking precautionary actions in response to conditions on the road network around or ahead of the vehicle, in particular, an intersection located at the bottom of a hill. A database that represents the road network is used to determine locations where an intersection of roads is located at the bottom of a hill and then, precautionary action data is added to the database to indicate such locations. A precautionary action system installed in a vehicle uses this database, or a database derived therefrom, in combination with a positioning system to take a precautionary action as the vehicle approaches such a location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventor: Robert Denaro
  • Patent number: 9390621
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring a real traffic flow of an area use images of vehicles and pedestrians taken from the sky in time intervals of an area. The system and method also use continuous tracking data for vehicles and pedestrians, provided by navigator manufacturers, map providers, route applications or by phone carriers. Both images and continuous tracking data are combined and processed by a processor that applies image pattern recognition software to the images so that each vehicle and pedestrian in the images is recognized and labeled for which tracking data is available. The system identifies vehicles and pedestrians contained in both databases and applies a weight to thereto. Accordingly, the system and method are able to estimate the traffic flow and the total number of vehicles and pedestrians for a particular time and area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: CUENDE INFOMETRICS, S.A.
    Inventor: Daniel Cuende Alonso
  • Patent number: 9372089
    Abstract: Traffic patterns are monitored for adherence of a user to a suggested route. Deviations from suggested routes are recorded for later upload and/or analysis. Repeated deviations by one, or more, users following similar navigation routes are identified for possible changes in maps and/or routing algorithms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Albert D. Bennah, William J. Piazza
  • Patent number: 9360331
    Abstract: A method for transferring data from an image-data-based map service for use in an assistance system of a vehicle includes the following: ascertaining the position and/or orientation of the vehicle, retrieving image data of the vehicle surroundings from the image-data-based map service, extracting items of information from the image data of the map service, and transferring the items of information into the assistance system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Henning Von Zitzewitz, Karsten Muehlmann, Jan Egelhaaf, Peter Preissler, Markus Becker, Philipp Lehner, Michael Schumann, Volker Niemz, Raphael Cano, Leo Vepa, Pascal Kanter
  • Patent number: 9349043
    Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus for detecting pedestrians. The image processing apparatus includes a lane detecting module configured to extract a lane coordinate value from an input image and a pedestrian detecting module configured to set, as a pedestrian region of interest (ROI), a region between a first line passing through ends of first left and right lanes and a second line passing through ends of second left and right lanes which are respectively disposed above the left and right lanes, and search for the pedestrian ROI by using a predetermined window to detect a pedestrian region having a pedestrian feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong Kyu Ryu, Byung Jun Kang, Joon Bum Cho
  • Patent number: 9330565
    Abstract: Traffic congestion detection, classification and identification includes analysis of link-speed data representative of vehicular speed and capacity on one or more roadway segments to determine non-linear, multi-segment traffic bottlenecks in a transportation network graph. Link-speed data is processed to detect bottleneck conditions, classify bottlenecks and bottleneck-like traffic features according to their complexity, and identify sustained or recurring bottlenecks. Such a system and method of traffic congestion detection, classification and identification provides a framework for using this link-speed data to detect the head and queue of bottlenecks on a directed graph representing the transportation network, classify the resulting bottlenecks and bottleneck-like traffic features according to the shape of their queue, and identify and measure sustained or recurrent bottlenecks even when the location, or head, of the bottleneck varies slightly across multiple time periods or across multiple days.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: ITERIS, INC.
    Inventors: Karl F. Petty, Andrew J. Moylan
  • Patent number: 9325393
    Abstract: A multi-antenna transmission process provides down-link radio coverage through a transmission system. The transmission system includes at least one multi-radiator transmitting antenna, directed towards a mobile terminal, at least one database associated with at least one coverage cell and a position of the mobile terminal, a processor cooperating with the at least one multi-radiator transmitting antenna and the at least one database to associate a transmission direction with the position of the mobile terminal by detecting a position of the mobile terminal, storing the position into the at least one database, and determining at least one transmission direction from the at least one multi-radiator transmitting antenna to the mobile terminal depending on the position stored in the at least one database, wherein at least one of the transmission parameters set in order to transmit in the transmission direction is associated with the stored position of the mobile terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Sisvel Technology S.R.L.
    Inventor: Alessandro Striuli
  • Patent number: 9323785
    Abstract: The embodiments herein provide a method and system for providing an image based mobile augmented reality. The system comprises a mobile device comprising a camera for capturing plurality of images, a display screen for displaying results, a GPS module for determining geographical coordinates, an input interface and a client application including a client-side database; and a central server comprising a server-side database and an image matching and ranking module comprising one or more image matching algorithms for performing an image search. The method comprises capturing a query image, transmitting query data to the central server, applying one or more image matching and ranking algorithms to identify database images matching to the search query, extracting relevant information, presenting the extracted relevant information as search results to the user and providing an option to the user to interactively communicate with the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: STREAMOID TECHNOLOGIES PRIVATE LIMITED
    Inventors: Prasad Horabailu Laxminarayana Bhat, Haricharan Lakshman, Santhosh Lakshmanarao Ananthapadmanabha Rao, Sridhar Manthani