Highway Information (e.g., Weather, Speed Limits, Etc.) Patents (Class 340/905)
  • Patent number: 10621865
    Abstract: A road condition monitoring system capable of measuring the radiance reflected by an area of interest or the thermal radiance emitted by an area of interest in wavelengths range containing a crossover point between the curves representing the absorption of electromagnetic radiation by ice and water. A detector configured to measure the radiance in a first band having wavelengths in a spectral band on a first side of the crossover point and output a first band signal, and measure the radiance in a second band having wavelengths in a spectral band on a second opposing side of the crossover point and output a second band signal. A data processing unit configured to determine the ratio of the first band signal to the second band signal and compare the ratio to predetermined critical ratios to output a determination signal indicating the presence of water or various types of ice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventor: Nilton O. Rennó
  • Patent number: 10615830
    Abstract: The application relates to a device and to a method for detecting a Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC) signal in a motor vehicle, in particular having a module with a “C2X” communication system and/or “Car2Car” communication system of a motor vehicle, wherein after amplitude demodulation of a received signal, one or more properties of the received signal are examined by a protocol detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Morhart, Thomas Georgi, Andre Merten, Christian Kursawe, Christian Fruth
  • Patent number: 10611373
    Abstract: The technology relates to determining a future heading of an object. In order to do so, sensor data, including information identifying a bounding box representing an object in a vehicle's environment and locations of sensor data points corresponding to the object, may be received. Based on dimensions of the bounding box, an area corresponding to a wheel of the object may be identified. An orientation of the wheel may then be estimated based on the sensor data points having locations within the area. The estimation may then be used to determine a future heading of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventor: Jens-Steffen Ralf Gutmann
  • Patent number: 10609301
    Abstract: An imaging control apparatus configured to effectively avoid image capturing competition in a scene in which a large number of infrared cameras capture images. The imaging control apparatus includes an image acquisition unit that acquires an infrared image generated by an infrared camera imaging reflected light of emitted infrared rays, and a control unit that controls a setting for the generation of the infrared image on the basis of a control parameter transmitted to another apparatus or received from another apparatus via a communication interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuro Kawai, Masatoshi Yokokawa, Toshiyuki Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10605611
    Abstract: A navigation device includes: a memory storing map data of a map used for route searching; a traffic information receiving unit receiving traffic information from an external server; a matching unit matching a traffic event included in the received traffic information to the map used for route searching based on the traffic information; and a correction unit performing correction by removing a portion matched to an expressway of the map from a section to which the traffic event is matched on the map by the matching unit. The traffic event includes a closed event on a slip road, and the traffic event is matched to the expressway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Kangwon Park
  • Patent number: 10589751
    Abstract: Systems and methods of operating an autonomous vehicle to perform an autonomous maneuver. One system includes a human machine interface and an electronic controller electrically coupled to the human machine interface. The electronic controller includes an electronic processor configured to detect at least one driving condition and determine the autonomous maneuver based on the at least one driving condition. The electronic processor is also configured to display, via the human machine interface, a maneuver notification before performing the autonomous maneuver. The electronic processor is further configured to control the autonomous vehicle to perform the autonomous maneuver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Akos Nagy, Shetty Rajaram, Jeorg Vetter, Tatiana Mamaeva, Christian Kremer, Jan Becker
  • Patent number: 10593197
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for improving vehicle awareness and safety by generating and transmitting alerts in response to detecting a hazard in the environment omnidirectional to a vehicle awareness system. Omnidirectional environment data, representing kinematic information pertaining to one or more physically detectable elements omnidirectional to the primary vehicle, is acquired by one or more sensors communicatively coupled to ta vehicle. The system analyzes the omnidirectional environment data to detect if one or more hazards in the omnidirectional environment data, representing a change in the kinetic behavior of the one or more physically detectable elements omnidirectional to the vehicle awareness system, has occurred. When the system detects one or more hazards in the omnidirectional environment data, the system generates and transmits an alert to vehicles, vehicle operators, mobile devices, or pedestrians at risk from the hazard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: John A. Nepomuceno, Leo Chan, Steven C. Cielocha, Roxane Lyons, Matthew S. Megyese, William J. Leise, Jennifer Criswell Kellett, Kristopher Keith Gaudin, Jennifer L. Crawford, Jeremy Myers, Edward P. Matesevac, III, Rajiv C. Shah
  • Patent number: 10584518
    Abstract: An automatic alarm system for a vehicle includes a sensor adapted to detect electromagnetic data, a computer system, and an automatic alarm mechanism. The computer system receives data from the sensor. A computer process analyzes the data from the sensor to determine whether a pattern from the electromagnetic data has been detected, accesses a library of known patterns of electromagnetic data emitted by emergency vehicles, and compares the pattern of electromagnetic data detected by the sensor with the known patterns of electromagnetic data emitted by emergency vehicles that are stored in the library. The automatic alarm mechanism activates in response to the processor determining that the comparison matches a known pattern of electromagnetic data for an emergency vehicle resulting in the computer processor sending a first signal to activate an alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Leo Chan, Kristopher Keith Gaudin, Roxane Lyons, William J. Leise, John A. Nepomuceno, Rajiv C. Shah, Edward P. Matesevac, III, Jennifer Criswell Kellett, Steven C. Cielocha, Jeremy Myers, Matthew S. Megyese, Jennifer L. Crawford
  • Patent number: 10584971
    Abstract: Systems and methods to provide accurate and timely maps to autonomous vehicles. The system can utilize local map data from a plurality of electronic devices via a data gathering application (“app”). The system can compare local map data to existing global maps to identify differences and update the global maps and/or indicate that the global maps need to be updated. The system can receive camera, GPS, cellular location services, accelerometer, magnetometer, and other sensor data from the plurality of electronic devices. The system can provide incentives to users to drive on routes or proximate areas-of-interest. This can include routes or areas-of-interest that are frequently used by the autonomous vehicles in the system. This can also include routes that include accidents, construction sites, and other differences that can receive more frequent updates. The app can include a user interface (UI) to enable users to provide updates related to certain conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventor: Jacob Lee Askeland
  • Patent number: 10579062
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer system generates a first vehicular path based on map information. The system collects data points representing geographical coordinates of vehicles that drove on a vehicular path lane at different points in time. The system segments the first vehicular path into path segments based on the collected data points. For each of the path segments, the system applies a smoothing function to select a subset of the data points that are within a predetermined proximity of the corresponding path segment and calculates a segment reference point to represent the path segment by combining the selected data points. The segment reference points of the path segments of the first vehicular path are interpolated to generate a second vehicular path such that the second vehicular path is used as a reference line to control ADVs driving on the first vehicular path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: BAIDU USA LLC
    Inventors: Weicheng Zhu, Li Zhuang, Qi Luo, Qi Kong, Fan Zhu
  • Patent number: 10572096
    Abstract: A terminal device for securely displaying information is provided. The terminal device includes a monitoring module configured to monitor a display position of a Digital Object Unique Identifier (DOI) and a display position of other information on a page displayed on the terminal device, and a processing module configured to hide at least a portion of the other information that overlaps the DOI to expose the DOI when it is detected that the display position of the other information overlaps the display position of the DOI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
    Inventor: Min Zhang
  • Patent number: 10573175
    Abstract: A driver assistance system for a vehicle includes image obtaining unit configured to obtain data in proximity to the vehicle, determine a regulation value based on the data, and at least one sensor unit configured to provide state information related to a state of the vehicle. Processing unit also includes being configured to determine whether a zone condition applies based on the data, confirm a validity of the detected regulation value based on the state information, the determined regulation value, the zone condition, and an age of the data, the processing unit is configured to revoke the validity, and wherein, upon determination of a zone condition, the processing unit is configured to increase the predetermined threshold duration. The processing unit is also configured to cause the regulation value to be displayed when the validity is confirmed and to prevent display of the regulation value when the validity is revoked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR EUROPE
    Inventors: Yuzo Kaneshige, Tomoya Kawasaki, Christophe Gillet, Tom Rycken, Tomoya Sano
  • Patent number: 10571292
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method and a system for determining a route from a motor vehicle location to a destination, in which a vehicle control unit transmits an emergency call to a recipient of a central exchange. In the process, a computing device at the central exchange determines the route to the destination. In the process, the computing device of the central exchange takes into account, in selecting the destination, a first time period which the motor vehicle requires to traverse the route and a second time period which a rescue vehicle requires to reach the destination. The computing device selects the destination such that a sum of the two time periods is minimal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Christian Schmell, Johannes Kniep, Günter Hildebrandt, Christoph Weigand, Florian Schwensfeier
  • Patent number: 10562524
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a vehicle can be implemented with a drive-by-wire controller which operates subsystems of the vehicle such as throttle, brakes, and steering based on electrical signals from transducers on the vehicle controls and without a direct physical link between the controls, such as the steering wheel, and the components of the corresponding vehicle subsystem. In such cases, the stability control feature of the vehicle can be adapted to detect conditions such as oversteering which can make the vehicle unstable and unsafe and can adjust the steering and other controls of the vehicle to correct the unstable or unsafe condition regardless of the physical input on the steering wheel and other controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: NIO USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Sai Maharaja Swamidason
  • Patent number: 10558898
    Abstract: A method for generating a graph comprises receiving a plurality of GPS data collected as a user performs a workout, the GPS data comprising a plurality of latitude and longitude positions. The method further comprises identifying from within the plurality of GPS data at least two nodes, each of the at least two nodes comprising a cluster of GPS data points which are determined to be within a previously specified range to a latitude and longitude pair representative of a center of the cluster. Additionally, the method comprises determining a sequence of the at least two nodes through which a user traversed based at least in part on the collected GPS data. The method also comprises generating a map indicative of a route of the user taken during the workout based at least in part on the determined sequence of the at least two nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Under Armour, Inc.
    Inventor: Kyler Maxwell Eastman
  • Patent number: 10551204
    Abstract: A route search system including an electronic control unit configured to perform: acquiring estimated weather information, the estimated weather information being information about weather that is estimated in a region where a candidate of a first route from a departure place to a destination place exists; acquiring reference weather information, the reference weather information being decided based on statistical information about weather information in a predetermined behavior range of a user; and searching the first route by preferentially selecting a first road over a second road, and outputting information about the first route, the first road being a road in a first region where the estimated weather information is not worse than the reference weather information, the second road being a road in a second region where the estimated weather information is worse than the reference weather information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Sasaki, Yuji Sato, Xin Jin
  • Patent number: 10546400
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to define bi-directional road geometry based upon a plurality of probe points. An orientation representative of one or more probe points is determined and a seed point representative of one or more probe points is then determined. The seed point is based on a determination of a constrained weighted center of mass of the one or more probe points. The movement of the constrained weighted center of mass is limited to a direction based upon respective headings of the one or more probe points. Polylines are created to be representative of a bi-directional road geometry. The polylines are created to be representative of one direction of travel along the bi-directional road geometry by extending a first polyline in the orientation from the seed point and by extending a second polyline in an opposite orientation from the seed point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventor: Ole Henry Dorum
  • Patent number: 10540890
    Abstract: A construction-related information estimation system includes a moving body correspondence information terminal configured to move together with a moving body that moves on a target road, the target road being a road on which a construction site that is a place which is estimated to be under a construction is located or that is located near the construction site, and transmit terminal information including a terminal ID signal that is its own identification information and its own position information, and an information processing device configured to have map information including information on the construction site and the target road and receive the terminal ID signal and the position information transmitted from the moving body correspondence information terminal. The information processing device is configured to estimate a current situation of the target road based on the terminal information and the map information acquired from the moving body correspondence information terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shigeharu Teshima
  • Patent number: 10525975
    Abstract: A method for regulating a speed of a vehicle, in which a cruise control unit is provided to set a speed and a sensor system, which is directed in a direction of travel, is provided to detect an environment by spatially resolving electromagnetic radiation, the method including: defining a specified speed; setting a safety speed that is reduced with respect to the specified speed by the cruise control unit; detecting a lane change of the vehicle by the sensor system; detecting an exit ramp within a predicted travel path of the vehicle using the sensor system; and limiting the speed that is settable by the cruise control unit to a value below the specified speed. Also described is a related device and vehicle having such a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHRZEUGE GMBH
    Inventors: Mátyás Krabot, Simon Felipe Duque Velez
  • Patent number: 10527449
    Abstract: Techniques enable selection of traffic cameras for display to a user, where the techniques involve determining a primary route and an alternate route, determining a first intersection between the primary route and the alternate route, and obtaining camera metadata identifying multiple cameras, where the camera metadata defines aspects such as positioning data, direction, status data, and image data for individual traffic cameras. The techniques also involve determining a priority score for individual cameras using the camera metadata, where the priority score is based, at least in part, on proximity to the first intersection between the primary route and the alternate route. The techniques then involve selecting at least one traffic camera based on the priority score of the camera and communicating image data of the camera for display on a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Jeff West, David Grochocki, Jr., Geoffrey T. Ebersol
  • Patent number: 10531254
    Abstract: The disclosure includes embodiments for establishing millimeter wave vehicle-to-vehicle communications for data sharing. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving, at an ego vehicle, a first beacon from a first vehicle, wherein the first beacon includes first scheduling information and first localization information and the first beacon is broadcast as a millimeter wave (mmWave) communication. The method includes determining a schedule based on the first scheduling information. The method includes broadcasting a second beacon based on the schedule. The method includes establishing a current link between the ego vehicle and the first vehicle. The method includes transmitting data to the first vehicle using the current link based on the schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Inventors: Vutha Va, Takayuki Shimizu, Gaurav Bansal
  • Patent number: 10529231
    Abstract: Users who are traveling on a path between a first location and a second location may be informed by navigation devices about the user's selected route. The path may also feature two or more lanes, which may present comparative advantages (e.g., a toll-restricted lane may present less traffic, and a toll-free lane may present more traffic at a reduced cost). Presented herein are techniques for enabling navigation devices to advise users about the lanes of the path. A travel service may collect information about the respective lanes, such as traffic density and the typical travel duration of users utilizing the lane during various periods, and may transmit information about the predicted travel durations of the respective lanes to the device. Such information may enable the device to advise the user to choose a selected lane, according to the predicted travel durations of the lanes of the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: INRIX Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher L. Scofield
  • Patent number: 10521847
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems, media, and methods to provide a coarse qualification process, the coarse qualification process comprising specifying filters and associated ranking characteristics for service providers, the filters comprising at least location, availability, and skills, and resolving practical concerns by displaying candidate service providers based on the filters and ranked based on the ranking characteristics; provide a qualification refinement process, the qualification refinement process comprising modifying the filters and ranking characteristics, applying the refined filters and ranking characteristics, and displaying refined candidate service providers; and provide a service provider booking process, the service provider booking process comprising resolving emotional concerns by viewing service provider video clips, wherein the time to resolve emotional concerns is less than an optimal customer review period, and resolving rational concerns by viewing service provider qualifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: ONEVA, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Page Gardyne, Anita Lynne Darden Gardyne
  • Patent number: 10514262
    Abstract: Methods and systems provide an interactive venue seat map that shows where a user's contacts or friends are sitting to help the user select seats when purchasing tickets for an event, such as a concert or sporting event. The tickets can be purchased from an online ticket seller, such as StubHub, Inc. Information regarding where the friends are sitting can be obtained from a ticker server of the online ticket seller, a social network, or a list of contacts. The interactive venue map can show the seats or sections where the friends are sitting using photos of the friends. The user can use the map to determine which seats the user would like to purchase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: EBAY INC.
    Inventors: Oliver Oxenham, Wesley Allan Oxenham
  • Patent number: 10514696
    Abstract: A method is disclosed comprising: obtaining data associated with each road segment of at least one road segment, said data comprising: a representative of at least one link associated with the respective road segment; obtaining probe data associated with the respective road segment, the probe data comprising: at least one piece of position information; determining a sinuous driving metric, which is a value being indicative of a sinuosity of driving on the respective road segment based at least partially on the probe data and its allocation with respect to the respective road segment. It is further disclosed an according apparatus, computer program and system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Digan Conor, Toby Tennent, James Fowe, Filippo Pellolio
  • Patent number: 10507807
    Abstract: A traffic light detection system for a vehicle is provided. The system may include at least one processing device programmed to receive, from at least one image capture device, a plurality of images representative of an area forward of the vehicle, the area including a traffic light fixture having at least one traffic light. The at least one processing device may also be programmed to analyze at least one of the plurality of images to determine a status of the at least one traffic light, and determine an estimated amount of time until the vehicle will reach an intersection associated with the traffic light fixture. The at least one processing device may further be programmed to cause a system response based on the status of at least one traffic light and the estimated amount of time until the vehicle will reach the intersection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: MOBILEYE VISION TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventor: Itai Ben Shalom
  • Patent number: 10504094
    Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatus, and non-transitory computer readable media are described for using a vehicle as a payment device. Various aspects may include receiving a selection of a stored financial card or financial account at a vehicle head unit. The selected financial card or financial account may be transmitted to a point-of-sale (POS) terminal for making a payment by transmitting a tokenized card number to the POS terminal. The tokenized card number may be transmitted over a very short-range communication link to ensure that the transmission is secure. For example, electronic circuitry may be attached to the exterior of the vehicle, where the electronic circuitry may be within a threshold distance (e.g. one inch, three inches, six inches, one foot, three feet, etc.) of the POS terminal. The tokenized card number may be transmitted from the vehicle head unit to the electronic circuitry and then to the POS terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Kristopher Keith Gaudin, Leo Nelson Chan, Justin Davis
  • Patent number: 10501088
    Abstract: A road surface state determination apparatus of the present disclosure includes an acquisition interface configured to acquire an image representing a road surface imaged by a camera, and a controller configured to determine whether the road surface is wet or dry on the basis of a spatial change in luminance of pixels in a continuous region included in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Yoshikawa, Takatoshi Nakata, Tomohiro Mitsugi
  • Patent number: 10495480
    Abstract: Various embodiments include an automated travel lane recommendation implemented for a vehicle in response to traffic conditions in the vehicle's vicinity, including characteristics of traffic flow of nearby lanes of travel. In some examples, sensors implemented as part of a vehicle collect data about available lanes and other vehicles and obstructions in the vicinity of the vehicle or along the vehicle's route of travel. According to some examples, sensor fusion logic processes sensor data to calculate metrics associated with traffic conditions relevant to the vehicle. In some embodiments, a preferred travel lane for the vehicle is calculated using a combination of a cost function of traffic metrics with other available information. The preferred travel lane is presented to an operator or control system of the vehicle in some examples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Sayanan V. Sivaraman
  • Patent number: 10497256
    Abstract: An approach is provided for automatically evaluating a road closure report (e.g., to reject or confirm the report). The approach, for example, involves processing the road closure report to determine one or more road links that are associated with a road closure. The approach also involves constructing a closure link graph comprising the road links, upstream road links, and downstream road links relative. The upstream and downstream road links are open for travel. The approach further involves retrieving probe data collected from vehicles traveling on roadways corresponding to the closure link graph. The approach further involves processing the probe data to calculate vehicle paths traversing the closure link graph. The approach then involves classifying a closure status of the road links based on the vehicle paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventor: Omer Mubarek
  • Patent number: 10479374
    Abstract: Systems and methods for customizing connections to a vehicle of one or more occupants equipped with a wearable device. The system a memory that stores instructions for customizing connections to a vehicle of one or more occupants equipped with a wearable device. The system also includes a processor configured to execute the instructions. The instructions cause the processor to: detect one or more occupants of the vehicle equipped with a respective wearable device; determine a status of each of the one or more occupants equipped with the wearable device based on one or more motions; and customize the connections to the vehicle based on the status of each of the one or more occupants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Bonnie Hu Chen
  • Patent number: 10482762
    Abstract: A vehicular vision and alert system includes a camera disposed at a windshield of a vehicle so as to have a field of view forward of the vehicle as the vehicle travels along a traffic lane of a road. Other vehicles traveling along another traffic lane of multiple traffic lanes of the road travel in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the vehicle as the vehicle travels along its traffic lane. With the camera disposed at the vehicle, the system determines a traffic pattern of the other vehicles traveling along the other traffic lane. Responsive at least in part to the determined traffic pattern of the other vehicles traveling along the other traffic lane, the system transmits a traffic alert communication to a remote system, and the traffic alert communication is indicative of the determined traffic pattern of the other vehicles traveling along the other traffic lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Krishna Koravadi
  • Patent number: 10475336
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for forecasting the traffic condition pattern by an analysis of traffic data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: BLUESIGNAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Seng Tae Baik
  • Patent number: 10467482
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and an arrangement for assessing the roadway surface being driven on by a vehicle. In a method according to the disclosure, on the basis of at least one image recorded with a camera that is present on the vehicle, the roadway surface being driven on by the vehicle is classified using a classifier. The classifier is trained on the basis of image features that are extracted from the at least one image, wherein a plurality of image details are defined in the at least one image. The extraction of image features is performed independently for each of these image details.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohsen Lakehal-Ayat, Joost Potma, Michael Seemann
  • Patent number: 10467883
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and method for monitoring movement in relation to locations about which data is available from one or more sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: BI Incorporated
    Inventors: James J. Buck, Jr., Joseph P. Newell, Cady Lynn Brooks
  • Patent number: 10451436
    Abstract: A map application is provided that receives calendars from one or more sources. Each calendar may include events, and each event may be associated with a location and a time period. The events may be a temporary event that may impact traffic around the location of the event for the time period associated with the event. When a request for a route for a future trip is received by the map application, the map application may generate a route in response to the request. The map application may determine if any of the events associated with a calendar impact the route. An event may impact the route if the route passes near the location associated with the event during the time period associated with the event. If the route is impacted by an event, an alternative route is generated or a new time is recommended for the future trip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Myron Clifford Thomas, Felix Gerard Torquil Ifor Andrew
  • Patent number: 10453335
    Abstract: A traffic routing and analysis system uses data from individual cellular or mobile devices to determine traffic density within a transportation network, such as subways, busses, roads, pedestrian walkways, or other networks. The system may use historical data derived from monitoring people's travel patterns, and may compare historical data to real time or near real time data to detect abnormalities. The system may be used for policy analysis, predicted commute times and route selection based on traffic patterns, as well as broadcast statistics that may be displayed to commuters. The system may be accessed through an application programming interface (API) for various applications, which may include applications that run on mobile devices, desktop or cloud based computers, or other devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: DataSpark, Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas Martin Holleczek, Yunye Jin, The Anh Dang, Deepak Jayakumaran, Amy Xuemei Shi-Nash
  • Patent number: 10451433
    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: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Kenneth Hobbs, Lawrence Burns, Brian Cullinane
  • Patent number: 10446033
    Abstract: A communication from a second vehicle is received. Upon failing to detect the second vehicle based on first vehicle sensor data, a message indicating a forward collision warning is sent. Upon detecting the second vehicle based on the first vehicle sensor data, the forward collision warning is suppressed and a first vehicle brake is actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron L. Mills, Gopichandra Surnilla, Chet Hearn
  • Patent number: 10444020
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided in order to define the road geometry based upon a plurality of probe points. In the context of a method, a seed point is determined that is representative of one or more probe points. The method determines the seed point by determining a weighted center of mass of the one or more probe points. The method also includes determining an orientation representative of one or more probe points proximate the seed point and creating a polyline representative of the road geometry. In this regard, the method creates the polyline by extending the polyline in the orientation from the seed point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventor: Ole Henry Dorum
  • Patent number: 10444062
    Abstract: A computer system measures noise in an urban environment using data records providing a location of a noise, a time stamp associated with the noise, and a noise category. Such data records are sparse with respect to both locations and time. The computer system also accesses other information that defines correlations of among different locations and among different time slots. Such correlation data can include geographic information and historical sample data. By applying this correlated information to the sparse data records about noise, the computer system can derive noise level and noise category information over a larger geographical area. Such information can be provided continually based on received data records about noise, typically in a matter of minutes after receiving the noise data for any given time slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Yu Zheng, Eric Chang
  • Patent number: 10441017
    Abstract: Disclosed is a user head mounted protection apparatus. The user head mounted protection apparatus includes a warning element management device that identifies a warning element by using sensing information generated by sensing a nearby object to generate location information of the warning element, a sensor that detects a rotation of the user head mounted protection apparatus to generate rotation angle information, a corrector that corrects the location information of the warning element by using the rotation angle information, a sound source processor that binaurally renders a sound source by using the location information of the warning element or the corrected location information, and an output device that outputs the binaurally rendered sound source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: HUMAX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yong Joo Kim
  • Patent number: 10435034
    Abstract: A method for warning of the wrong-way travel of a vehicle after an accident and/or a safety-critical driving situation, especially after an interim standstill of the vehicle, the method including a detecting task, in which a change in a direction of travel of the vehicle after an accident is detected. Finally, the method includes a task of providing a warning signal, the warning signal being provided as a function of a detected change in the direction of travel of the vehicle, to output the warning of the wrong-way travel of the vehicle after the accident and/or the safety-critical driving situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Koehler, Johannes Ludwig Foltin
  • Patent number: 10427672
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle configured for active sensing may also be configured to weigh expected information gains from active-sensing actions against risk costs associated with the active-sensing actions. An example method involves: (a) receiving information from one or more sensors of an autonomous vehicle, (b) determining a risk-cost framework that indicates risk costs across a range of degrees to which an active-sensing action can be performed, wherein the active-sensing action comprises an action that is performable by the autonomous vehicle to potentially improve the information upon which at least one of the control processes for the autonomous vehicle is based, (c) determining an information-improvement expectation framework across the range of degrees to which the active-sensing action can be performed, and (d) applying the risk-cost framework and the information-improvement expectation framework to determine a degree to which the active-sensing action should be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Eric Teller, Peter Lombrozo
  • Patent number: 10427486
    Abstract: A vehicle system may include a controller configured to receive a height selection indicating a vehicle height from a plurality of vehicle height options, detect, via a first sensor, a low clearance structure and determine a clearance height, compare the vehicle height with the clearance height; and generate an alert in response to the vehicle height being greater than the clearance height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Bruce Kleve, Anthony Gerald King, Brian Wolski
  • Patent number: 10424200
    Abstract: A speed controlling method for a vehicle comprises obtaining a driving speed limit of a road ahead from a navigation system of the vehicle. A current driving speed of the vehicle is detected and if the current driving speed of the vehicle is greater than the limit ahead, a driver of the vehicle is informed that he must slow down in a distance between the vehicle and a speed measuring device located on the road ahead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignees: Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chun-Kai Peng, Wei Wu
  • Patent number: 10417266
    Abstract: Systems and processes for operating an intelligent automated assistant to provide a set of predicted responses are provided. An example method includes, at an electronic device having one or more processors, receiving one or more messages and analyzing the unstructured natural language information of the one or more messages. The method also includes determining, based on the analysis of the unstructured natural language information, whether one or more predicted responses are to be provided. The method further includes, in accordance with a determination that one or more predicted responses are to be provided, determining, from a plurality of sets of candidate predicted responses, one set of predicted responses to be provided to the user based on context information. The method further includes providing the determined set of one or more predicted responses to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alkeshkumar Patel, Jerome R. Bellegarda
  • Patent number: 10417906
    Abstract: A plurality of instances of probe data are received. Each instance is matched to a link of a digital map. A distance parameter for each instance is determined based on the link. Based on a vehicle lane pattern for the link, a most likely lane for each instance is determined based on the corresponding distance parameter. Probe trajectories are constructed based on sequences of instances of probe data identified in the plurality of instances of probe data. At least one of the probe trajectories is analyzed based at least in part on lane change probabilities to generate at least one lane level trajectory. Lane level traffic information is determined based on the at least one lane level trajectory and the corresponding instances of probe data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: HERE GLOBAL B.V.
    Inventors: James Fowe, Bruce Bernhardt, Filippo Pellolio
  • Patent number: 10410160
    Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for detecting traffic impacting snow or freezing rain weather events using data obtained from roadway weather information systems and traffic data monitoring systems, determining when such events end based upon weather and traffic pattern information, and calculating the effectiveness of roadway maintenance efforts after the detected end of such a traffic impacting snow or freezing rain weather event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: State of Ohio, Department of Transportation
    Inventors: John A. MacAdam, David L. Holstein, Thomas M. Lyden, Sonja R. Simpson, Scott E. Lucas
  • Patent number: 10409286
    Abstract: Example highway detection systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method receives data from a vehicle data bus in a first vehicle and detects a speed of the first vehicle based on the received data. The method also determines a speed of an oncoming vehicle and a lateral distance between the first vehicle and the oncoming vehicle based on the received data. One or more processors determine whether the first vehicle is driving on a highway based on the speed of the first vehicle, the speed of the oncoming vehicle, and the lateral distance between the first vehicle and the oncoming vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy D Zwicky, Kyle J Carey, Surjya Sarathi Ray