US6161071A — Method and system for an in-vehicle computing arc…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 177 words

A method for operating software applications in a land-based vehicle using a data network comprised of a plurality of interconnected processors, comprising the steps of: developing a data model of the vehicle and an environment of the vehicle, wherein the data model is formed using information from a first group of sensors that obtain information about vehicle internal operations and vehicle movement and position in relation to the environment around the vehicle; a second group of sensors that obtain information about the environment of the vehicle; and a geographic database installed in the vehicle, wherein the geographic database contains data about geographic features in an area in which the vehicle is located; obtaining driver input from a driver interface; executing a plurality of operations applications, each of which determines a respective desired vehicle operation using the data model; determining a resolved vehicle operation using the driver input and the respective desired vehicle operations from the plurality of operations applications; and outputting commands to actuators associated with vehicle hardware components, wherein said commands effect said resolved vehicle operation.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 177 words

A method for operating software applications in a land-based vehicle using a data network comprised of a plurality of interconnected processors, comprising the steps of: developing a data model of the vehicle and an environment of the vehicle, wherein the data model is formed using information from a first group of sensors that obtain information about vehicle internal operations and vehicle movement and position in relation to the environment around the vehicle; a second group of sensors that obtain information about the environment of the vehicle; and a geographic database installed in the vehicle, wherein the geographic database contains data about geographic features in an area in which the vehicle is located; obtaining driver input from a driver interface; executing a plurality of operations applications, each of which determines a respective desired vehicle operation using the data model; determining a resolved vehicle operation using the driver input and the respective desired vehicle operations from the plurality of operations applications; and outputting commands to actuators associated with vehicle hardware components, wherein said commands effect said resolved vehicle operation.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 95 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the data model includes information about objects around the vehicle, including other vehicles that are located ahead of the vehicle, and wherein the plurality of operations applications includes an adaptive cruise control application that performs the step of: calculating and updating a required speed of the vehicle to maintain an appropriate distance between the vehicle and the other vehicles located ahead of the vehicle; and wherein the step of determining a resolved vehicle operation comprises the step of: using the appropriate distance calculated by the adaptive cruise control application.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 93 words

The method of claim 2 wherein said vehicle includes route calculation and guidance applications that perform the steps of: receiving input from a driver indicating a desired destination; determining a calculated route to the desired destination along roads in the area in which the vehicle is located; and providing the driver with guidance to follow the calculated route; and wherein said adaptive cruise control application performs the step of: using the calculated route to determine what portion of the environment around the vehicle is located ahead of the vehicle along the calculated route.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 93 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the data model includes status data, and wherein the plurality of operations applications includes an automated mayday application that performs the steps of: scanning the status data in said data model for triggering events; and upon detection of a triggering event in said status data in said data model, constructing an automated mayday message that indicates said triggering event; and wherein the step of determining a resolved vehicle operation comprises the step of sending the automated mayday message from a wireless communication system installed in the vehicle.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 4 wherein said automated mayday application further performs the step of: including data about a medical history of the vehicle driver in said automated mayday message.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 4 wherein said automated mayday application further performs the step of: including data about medical histories of passengers in said automated mayday message.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 4 wherein said automated mayday application further performs the step of: including data identifying a geographic position of the vehicle in said automated mayday message.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 4 wherein the status data includes data about a driver of the vehicle.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 4 wherein the status data includes data about vehicle hardware systems.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 4 further comprising: storing data in a drive recorder included in the vehicle, wherein the data stored indicates that the automated mayday message was sent in response to the triggering event.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 134 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the data model includes status data, wherein the vehicle includes a manual mayday application wherein a driver requests that a wireless mayday message for help be sent, wherein the plurality of operations applications includes an automated mayday application that performs the steps of: scanning the status data in said data model for triggering events; and upon detection of a triggering event in said status data, constructing an automated mayday message that indicates said triggering event; receiving said request from said manual mayday application; and integrating the request from said manual mayday application with the automated mayday message to form an integrated mayday message; and wherein the step of determining a resolved vehicle operation includes sending said integrated mayday message from a wireless communication system installed in the vehicle.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 134 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the data model includes information about obstacles detected around the vehicle, wherein said obstacles are detected by a process that identifies objects around the vehicle by location and speed relative to the vehicle, and wherein the plurality of operations applications includes an obstacle warning application that includes the steps of: relating the speed of the vehicle to the obstacles detected around the vehicle; determining whether to provide a warning to the vehicle driver based upon said relating step; and if a warning to the driver is determined to be warranted, requesting that a command be provided to the driver, and wherein the step of determining a resolved vehicle operation includes commanding operation of user interface hardware included in the vehicle hardware to display a warning to the driver.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 69 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of operations applications includes an external reporter application that performs the steps of: compiling data from the second group of sensors about external conditions, including precipitation and hazardous road conditions, into an external report; and requesting that the external report be transmitted by communications hardware included in said vehicle hardware components to a service provider to be relayed to other vehicles.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 282 words

An in-vehicle computing architecture for a motorized land-based vehicle that has a plurality of hardware systems, the in-vehicle computing architecture comprising: a first group of sensor devices responsive to environmental conditions around the vehicle, wherein said first group of sensor devices provides outputs indicative of sensed environmental conditions around the vehicle; a second group of sensor devices responsive to said plurality of hardware systems, wherein said second group of sensor devices provides outputs indicative of operating states of said plurality of hardware systems; a map database containing data that represent geographic features in a geographic area around the vehicle; a plurality of processors interconnected to form a data network across which programs share data; vehicle-environment modeling programming executed on said data network and coupled to receive said outputs of said first and second groups of sensor devices, wherein said vehicle-environment modeling programming uses data from said map database and said outputs from said first and second groups of sensor devices to provide and continuously update a data model that represents said vehicle, environmental conditions around said vehicle, and geographic features around said vehicle; vehicle operations programming applications executed on said data network, wherein said vehicle operations programming applications determine desired vehicle operations based upon analysis of said data model and provide outputs indicative thereof; a driver interface that receives inputs from a driver of said vehicle and provides outputs indicative thereof; and vehicle critical control programming executed on said data network, wherein said vehicle critical control programming receives said outputs from said vehicle operations programming applications and said driver interface, determines resolved operations for said hardware systems, and provides output commands indicative of said resolved operations to said plurality of hardware systems.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 282 words

An in-vehicle computing architecture for a motorized land-based vehicle that has a plurality of hardware systems, the in-vehicle computing architecture comprising: a first group of sensor devices responsive to environmental conditions around the vehicle, wherein said first group of sensor devices provides outputs indicative of sensed environmental conditions around the vehicle; a second group of sensor devices responsive to said plurality of hardware systems, wherein said second group of sensor devices provides outputs indicative of operating states of said plurality of hardware systems; a map database containing data that represent geographic features in a geographic area around the vehicle; a plurality of processors interconnected to form a data network across which programs share data; vehicle-environment modeling programming executed on said data network and coupled to receive said outputs of said first and second groups of sensor devices, wherein said vehicle-environment modeling programming uses data from said map database and said outputs from said first and second groups of sensor devices to provide and continuously update a data model that represents said vehicle, environmental conditions around said vehicle, and geographic features around said vehicle; vehicle operations programming applications executed on said data network, wherein said vehicle operations programming applications determine desired vehicle operations based upon analysis of said data model and provide outputs indicative thereof; a driver interface that receives inputs from a driver of said vehicle and provides outputs indicative thereof; and vehicle critical control programming executed on said data network, wherein said vehicle critical control programming receives said outputs from said vehicle operations programming applications and said driver interface, determines resolved operations for said hardware systems, and provides output commands indicative of said resolved operations to said plurality of hardware systems.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 45 words

The in-vehicle computing architecture of claim 14 further comprising: a first programming interface to which said first and second groups of sensor devices provide their outputs and from which said vehicle-environment modeling programming receives said outputs from said first and second groups of sensor devices.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 36 words

The in-vehicle computing architecture of claim 14 further comprising: a second programming interface to which said vehicle critical control programming provides said output commands and from which said plurality of hardware systems receive the output commands.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 53 words

The in-vehicle computing architecture of claim 14 further comprising: a drive recorder application that stores data from said first group of sensor devices, said second group of sensor devices, said vehicle-environment modeling programming, said vehicle operations programming applications, and said driver interface in a non-volatile drive recorder memory storage installed in the vehicle.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 131 words

The in-vehicle computing architecture of claim 14 wherein said vehicle operations programming applications comprise: an adaptive cruise control application that analyzes the data in said data model, provides an output indicating a vehicle speed to maintain an appropriate distance between the vehicle and obstacles ahead of the vehicle, and then updates said output; an automated mayday application that analyzes status data in said data model and provides an output to send a wireless communication requesting roadside assistance upon detection of a triggering event in said status data; and an obstacle warning application that analyzes data in said data model to detect obstacles located around the vehicle and provides an output to furnish a warning to the driver of the vehicle upon detection of an obstacle with which the vehicle might collide.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 186 words

An adaptive cruise control system implemented in a vehicle, the adaptive cruise control system comprising: a first group of sensor devices installed in the vehicle that sense features around the vehicle; a second group of sensor devices installed in the vehicle that sense vehicle hardware systems; a map database installed in the vehicle, wherein said map database includes data representing features in a geographic area around the vehicle; data modeling programming that uses outputs from the first group of sensors, the second group of sensors, and the map database to construct a data model of the vehicle and the area around the vehicle; a driver interface into which a driver of the vehicle provides input to indicate desired vehicle operation; an adaptive cruise control application that uses the data model to determine an appropriate vehicle operation, including maintenance of an appropriate distance between the vehicle and obstacles ahead of the vehicle; and critical vehicle programming that receives outputs from the adaptive cruise control application and the driver interface, determines a resolved vehicle operation, and outputs commands to vehicle hardware systems to effect said resolved vehicle operation.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 186 words

An adaptive cruise control system implemented in a vehicle, the adaptive cruise control system comprising: a first group of sensor devices installed in the vehicle that sense features around the vehicle; a second group of sensor devices installed in the vehicle that sense vehicle hardware systems; a map database installed in the vehicle, wherein said map database includes data representing features in a geographic area around the vehicle; data modeling programming that uses outputs from the first group of sensors, the second group of sensors, and the map database to construct a data model of the vehicle and the area around the vehicle; a driver interface into which a driver of the vehicle provides input to indicate desired vehicle operation; an adaptive cruise control application that uses the data model to determine an appropriate vehicle operation, including maintenance of an appropriate distance between the vehicle and obstacles ahead of the vehicle; and critical vehicle programming that receives outputs from the adaptive cruise control application and the driver interface, determines a resolved vehicle operation, and outputs commands to vehicle hardware systems to effect said resolved vehicle operation.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 36 words

The invention of claim 19 wherein said data modeling programming, said adaptive cruise control application, and said critical vehicle programming are implemented on a data network in said vehicle formed of a plurality of interconnected processors.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 89 words

The invention of claim 19 further comprising: a route calculation application responsive to input from the driver indicating a desired destination and determining a route along a road network located in said geographic area to said desired destination; and a route guidance application that uses said determined route to explicate maneuvering instructions to the driver to follow said determined route; and further wherein said adaptive cruise control application uses said determined route to identify what portion of the geographic area is ahead of the vehicle along the determined route.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 204 words

An obstacle detection system implemented in a vehicle, comprising: a first group of sensor devices installed in the vehicle an area around the vehicle; a second group of sensor devices installed in the vehicle that sense vehicle hardware systems; a map database installed in the vehicle, wherein said map database includes data representing features in the area around the vehicle; and data modeling programming that uses outputs from the first group of sensors, the second group of sensors, and the map database to construct a data model of the vehicle and the area around the vehicle; wherein said data modeling programming comprises: an image processing program that uses data from the first group of sensors to obtain images of the area around the vehicle and scan for objects in said images; an object identifier program that uses data from the image processing program that relates the objects found in said scanned images and data from the map database to identify said found objects; and an obstacle detection program that receives data from the object identifier program identifying said objects and determines whether said identified objects are obstacles to be avoided; and wherein said data model includes an identification of said obstacles to be avoided.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 204 words

An obstacle detection system implemented in a vehicle, comprising: a first group of sensor devices installed in the vehicle an area around the vehicle; a second group of sensor devices installed in the vehicle that sense vehicle hardware systems; a map database installed in the vehicle, wherein said map database includes data representing features in the area around the vehicle; and data modeling programming that uses outputs from the first group of sensors, the second group of sensors, and the map database to construct a data model of the vehicle and the area around the vehicle; wherein said data modeling programming comprises: an image processing program that uses data from the first group of sensors to obtain images of the area around the vehicle and scan for objects in said images; an object identifier program that uses data from the image processing program that relates the objects found in said scanned images and data from the map database to identify said found objects; and an obstacle detection program that receives data from the object identifier program identifying said objects and determines whether said identified objects are obstacles to be avoided; and wherein said data model includes an identification of said obstacles to be avoided.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 59 words

The obstacle detection system of claim 22 further comprising: a communications manager that receives data from outside the vehicle relating to obstacles detected by other vehicles in the area around the vehicle; and wherein said obstacle detection program receives said data from the communications manager and uses said data from the communication manager when identifying detected objects as obstacles.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 50 words

The obstacle detection system of claim 22 further comprising: a communications manager that receives said data from said obstacle detection program that identify objects around the vehicle as obstacles and transmits said data to a service provider in order that said data be relayed to other vehicles in said area.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 165 words

An in-vehicle computing architecture for a motorized land-based vehicle that has a plurality of hardware systems, the in-vehicle computing architecture comprising: sensor devices responsive to said plurality of hardware systems and to environmental conditions around the vehicle, wherein said sensor devices provide outputs indicative of sensed hardware systems and environmental conditions; a plurality of processors interconnected to form a data network across which programs share data; driver assistance applications executed on said data network, wherein said driver assistance applications receive the outputs of said sensor devices and provide essential vehicle control and safety features; mobile services and information programming applications executed on said data network, wherein said mobile services and information programming applications provide driver and passenger entertainment, non-emergency communications, convenience, and navigation functions; and an internal firewall system that restricts exchange of data between the driver assistance applications and the mobile services and information applications in order to prevent information from the mobile services and information applications from interfering with the driver assistance applications.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 165 words

An in-vehicle computing architecture for a motorized land-based vehicle that has a plurality of hardware systems, the in-vehicle computing architecture comprising: sensor devices responsive to said plurality of hardware systems and to environmental conditions around the vehicle, wherein said sensor devices provide outputs indicative of sensed hardware systems and environmental conditions; a plurality of processors interconnected to form a data network across which programs share data; driver assistance applications executed on said data network, wherein said driver assistance applications receive the outputs of said sensor devices and provide essential vehicle control and safety features; mobile services and information programming applications executed on said data network, wherein said mobile services and information programming applications provide driver and passenger entertainment, non-emergency communications, convenience, and navigation functions; and an internal firewall system that restricts exchange of data between the driver assistance applications and the mobile services and information applications in order to prevent information from the mobile services and information applications from interfering with the driver assistance applications.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 134 words

An in-vehicle computing architecture for a motorized land-based vehicle that has a plurality of hardware systems, the in-vehicle computing architecture comprising: sensor devices responsive to said plurality of hardware systems and to environmental conditions around the vehicle, wherein said sensor devices provide outputs indicative of sensed hardware systems and environmental conditions; a plurality of processors interconnected to form a data network across which programs share data; in-vehicle applications executed on said data network and responsive to said outputs of said sensor devices; a communications system that provides for exchange of data between the in-vehicle applications and a remote service over a wireless communications medium; and an external firewall system that restricts provision of data to the in-vehicle applications in order to prevent information from external of the vehicle from interfering with the in-vehicle applications.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 134 words

An in-vehicle computing architecture for a motorized land-based vehicle that has a plurality of hardware systems, the in-vehicle computing architecture comprising: sensor devices responsive to said plurality of hardware systems and to environmental conditions around the vehicle, wherein said sensor devices provide outputs indicative of sensed hardware systems and environmental conditions; a plurality of processors interconnected to form a data network across which programs share data; in-vehicle applications executed on said data network and responsive to said outputs of said sensor devices; a communications system that provides for exchange of data between the in-vehicle applications and a remote service over a wireless communications medium; and an external firewall system that restricts provision of data to the in-vehicle applications in order to prevent information from external of the vehicle from interfering with the in-vehicle applications.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 117 words

The invention of claim 26 wherein said in-vehicle applications include driver assistance applications executed on said data network, wherein said driver assistance applications receive the outputs of said sensor devices and provide essential vehicle control and safety features; and mobile services and information programming applications executed on said data network, wherein said mobile services and information programming applications provide driver and passenger entertainment, non-emergency communications, convenience, and navigation functions; and further wherein said in-vehicle architecture further comprises: an internal firewall system that restricts exchange of data between the driver assistance applications and the mobile services and information applications in order to prevent information from the mobile services and information applications from interfering with the driver assistance applications.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-12-12	2004-06-12	2004-12-12	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-12-12	2008-06-12	2008-12-12	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-12-12	2012-06-12	2012-12-12	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and system for an in-vehicle computing architecture

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