System and method of driver assistance for predictive navigation

1 . A method comprising:

determining, by a navigation server, a first vehicle navigating according to first navigational instructions, the navigational instructions comprising one or more navigational steps;

receiving, by the navigation server, from the first vehicle via a communication network, a request for data corresponding to at least one target vehicle proximate to the first vehicle;

identifying, by the navigation server, based at least in part on the request received from the first vehicle, the at least one target vehicle proximate to the first vehicle;

determining, by the navigation server, a plurality of next navigational steps for the at least one target vehicle proximate to the first vehicle, wherein both the first vehicle and the at least one target vehicle are in communication with the navigation server;

providing, to the first vehicle via the communication network, an immediate next navigational step of the plurality of next navigational steps for the at least one target vehicle proximate to the first vehicle;

causing to be provided via a user interface associated with the first vehicle, an indication of the immediate next navigational step of the plurality of next navigational steps for the at least one target vehicle; and

causing the first vehicle to adjust a driving behavior based on the immediate next navigational step for the at least one target vehicle.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the at least one target vehicle proximate to the first vehicle comprises:

determining, by the navigation server, a location of the first vehicle;

determining, by the navigation server, a set of vehicles that are (a) within a first distance of the location of the first vehicle and (b) travelling in the same direction as the first vehicle; and

selecting, by the navigation server, the set of vehicles as the at least one target vehicle.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the at least one target vehicle further comprises:

determining, by the navigation server, an immediate next navigational step for the first vehicle;

determining, by the navigation server, a set of vehicles that have the same immediate next navigational step as the first vehicle; and

selecting, by the navigation server, the set of vehicles as the at least one target vehicle.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the indication of the immediate next navigational step for each of the at least one target vehicle comprises an arrow overlaid on a map, wherein the method further comprises:

generating, by the navigation server, for presentation via the user interface corresponding to the first vehicle, visual indicators for each of the at least one target vehicles.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the at least one target vehicle comprises:

receiving, from the first vehicle via the communication network, sensor data captured by a sensor of the first vehicle and corresponding to a set of vehicles proximate to the first vehicle;

identifying, by the navigation server, the set of vehicles based on the sensor data captured by the first vehicle; and

selecting, by the navigation server, as the at least one target vehicle, the identified set of vehicles.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication of the immediate next navigational step for the at least one target vehicle comprises a visual identification of the immediate next navigational step for the at least one target vehicle, and wherein the visual identification comprises, for each respective target vehicle of the at least one target vehicle a respective arrow overlaid on a map in a position corresponding to the respective target vehicle.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication of the immediate next navigational step for the at least one target vehicle comprises a visual identification of the immediate next navigational step for the at least one target vehicle, the method further comprising:

causing to be provided via the user interface associated with the first vehicle, for each respective target vehicle of the at least one target vehicle, a line overlaid on a map extending from a current location of the respective target vehicle to a next expected turn of the respective target vehicle.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication of the immediate next navigational step for the at least one target vehicle comprises a visual identification of the immediate next navigational step for the at least one target vehicle, the method further comprising, for each respective target vehicle of the at least one target vehicle:

removing the visual identification of the immediate next navigational step in response to the respective target vehicle travelling beyond a threshold distance from the first vehicle.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, via the communication network, a query from the first vehicle, the query corresponding to a second vehicle;

identifying, by the navigation server, the second vehicle based on sensor data from a sensor of the first vehicle;

determining, by the navigation server, an immediate next navigational step of the second vehicle; and

transmitting, via the communication network, the immediate next navigational step of the second vehicle to the first vehicle.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first vehicle is operable in an autonomous mode, the method further comprising:

modifying a speed of the first vehicle based on the immediate next navigational step for the at least one target vehicle.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first vehicle is operable in an autonomous mode, the method further comprising:

modifying one or more of an inter-vehicle distance, braking distance, cruise control setting, or lane position of the first vehicle based on the immediate next navigational step for the at least one target vehicle.

12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, by the navigation server, a probability that the at least one target vehicle is likely to follow the immediate next navigational step based on a navigation history of the at least one target vehicle; and

in response to determining that the probability is greater than a threshold:

providing, to the first vehicle via the communication network, the immediate next navigational step for the at least one target vehicle proximate to the first vehicle; and

causing to be provided via the user interface associated with the first vehicle, the indication of the immediate next navigational step for the at least one target vehicle.

13 . A system comprising:

control circuitry configured to:

determine, by a navigation server, a first vehicle navigating according to first navigational instructions, the navigational instructions comprising one or more navigational steps;

receive, by the navigation server, from the first vehicle via a communication network, a request for data corresponding to at least one target vehicle proximate to the first vehicle;

identify, by the navigation server based at least in part on the request received from the first vehicle, the at least one target vehicle proximate to the first vehicle; and

determine, by the navigation server, a plurality of next navigational steps for the at least one target vehicle proximate to the first vehicle, wherein both the first vehicle and the at least one target vehicle are in communication with the navigation server; and

input/output circuitry configured to:

provide, to the first vehicle via the communication network, an immediate next navigational step of the plurality of next navigational steps for the at least one target vehicle proximate to the first vehicle;

cause to be provided via a user interface associated with the first vehicle, an indication of the immediate next navigational step of the plurality of next navigational steps for the at least one target vehicle; and

cause the first vehicle to adjust a driving behavior based on the immediate next navigational step for the at least one target vehicle.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to identify the at least one target vehicle proximate to the first vehicle by:

determining, by the navigation server, a location of the first vehicle;

determining, by the navigation server, a set of vehicles that are (a) within a first distance of the location of the first vehicle and (b) travelling in the same direction as the first vehicle; and

selecting, by the navigation server, the set of vehicles as the at least one target vehicle.

15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to identify the at least one target vehicle by:

determining, by the navigation server, an immediate next navigational step for the first vehicle;

determining, by the navigation server, a set of vehicles that have the same immediate next navigational step as the first vehicle; and

selecting, by the navigation server, the set of vehicles as the at least one target vehicle.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the indication of the immediate next navigational step for each of the at least one target vehicle comprises an arrow overlaid on a map, wherein the input/output circuitry is further configured to:

generate, by the navigation server, for presentation via the user interface corresponding to the first vehicle, visual indicators for each of the at least one target vehicles.

17 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to identify the at least one target vehicle by:

receiving, from the first vehicle via the communication network, sensor data captured by a sensor of the first vehicle and corresponding to a set of vehicles proximate to the first vehicle;

identifying, by the navigation server, the set of vehicles based on the sensor data captured by the first vehicle; and

selecting, by the navigation server, as the at least one target vehicle, the identified set of vehicles.

18 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the indication of the immediate next navigational step for the at least one target vehicle comprises a visual identification of the immediate next navigational step for the at least one target vehicle, and wherein the visual identification comprises, for each respective target vehicle of the at least one target vehicle a respective arrow overlaid on a map in a position corresponding to the respective target vehicle.

19 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the indication of the immediate next navigational step for the at least one target vehicle comprises a visual identification of the immediate next navigational step for the at least one target vehicle, and wherein the input/output circuitry is further configured to:

cause to be provided via the user interface associated with the first vehicle, for each respective target vehicle of the at least one target vehicle, a line overlaid on a map extending from a current location of the respective target vehicle to a next expected turn of the respective target vehicle.

20 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the indication of the immediate next navigational step for the at least one target vehicle comprises a visual identification of the immediate next navigational step for the at least one target vehicle, and wherein the input/output circuitry is further configured to, for each respective target vehicle of the at least one target vehicle:

cause to be removed the visual identification of the immediate next navigational step in response to the respective target vehicle travelling beyond a threshold distance from the first vehicle.