Granted Patent B2

US 7,113,860 · App. 10/768,384 · Granted Sep 26, 2006

Abstract

Claims (57)

1. A computer program product for providing a cruise control warning system, the product comprising:

a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method comprising:

monitoring a cruise control system to determine if the cruise control system is activated or deactivated for a vehicle;

receiving vehicle operation data for the vehicle;

determining a likelihood that a slippery road condition exists for the vehicle based on the vehicle operation data; and

communicating a warning message indicating the potential slippery road condition to a driver of the vehicle when it has been determined that the likelihood that a slippery road condition exists is larger than a first pre-selected value and the cruise control system is activated; and

transmitting a command to disable the cruise control system if the likelihood that a potential slippery road condition exists is over a second pre-selected value and the cruise control system is activated.

2. A method for providing a cruise control warning system, the method comprising:

monitoring a cruise control system to determine if the cruise control system is activated or deactivated for a vehicle;

receiving vehicle operation data for the vehicle;

determining a likelihood that a slippery road condition exists for the vehicle based on the vehicle operation data;

communicating a warning message to a driver of the vehicle when it has been determined that the likelihood of a slippery road condition is over a first pre-selected value and the cruise control system is activated; and

transmitting a command to disable the cruise control system if the likelihood that a potential slippery road condition exists is over a second pre-selected value and the cruise control system is activated.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the first pre-selected value is lower than the second pre-selected value.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the likelihood that a slippery road condition exists is over the second pre-selected value if the vehicle operation data indicates that a windshield wiper has been activated.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the likelihood that a slippery road condition exists is over the second pre-selected value if one or more of the following conditions are detected in the vehicle operation data for the vehicle;

slippery roads, rain or snow specified by a broadcast on a vehicle broadcasting system for an area where the vehicle is located;

windshield wipers have been activated; and

low traction or wheel spinning.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the likelihood that a slippery road condition exists is over the second pre-selected value if one or more of the following conditions are detected in the vehicle operation data for the vehicle:

slippery roads, rain or snow by a broadcast on a vehicle broadcasting system for an area where the vehicle is located;

an interior temperature control is set to high;

an exterior temperature is below freezing;

a front or rear defogger or defroster is set to on;

windshield wipers have been activated; and

low traction or wheel spinning.

7. The method of claim 2 further comprising transmitting a cruise control disabled message to the driver in response to said transmitting a command to disable the cruise control system.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein the warning message is transmitted to the driver via a driver display panel.

9. The method of claim 2 wherein the wanting message is transmitted to the driver verbally.

10. The method of claim 2 wherein a source for the vehicle operation data includes a broadcast on a vehicle broadcasting system.

11. The method of claim 2 wherein a source for the vehicle operation data includes at least one of a climate control system, a rear defroster system, a windshield wiper system and a traction control system.

12. The method of claim 2 wherein a source for tire vehicle operation data includes at least one of a rain sense sensor, a wheel spin sensor, a vehicle stability enhancement system, a radar and a camera.

13. The method of claim 2 wherein the likelihood that a slippery road condition exists is over the first pre-selected value if one or more of the following conditions are detected in the vehicle operation data for the vehicle:

slippery roads, rain or snow is specified by a broadcast on a vehicle broadcasting system for an area where die vehicle is located;

an interior temperature control that is set to high;

an exterior temperature is below freezing;

a front or rear defogger or defroster is set to on;

a windshield wipers has been activated; and

low traction or wheel spinning is detected.

14. The method of claim 2 wherein the likelihood that a slippery road condition exists is over the first pre-selected value if the vehicle operation data includes an indication that a windshield wiper has been activated.

15. The method of claim 2 wherein the vehicle operation data is real time data.

16. The method of claim 2 wherein the vehicle operation data is near-real time data.

17. The method of claim 2 wherein the cruise control system is an adaptive cruise control system.

18. A system for providing a cruise control warning system, the system comprising:

a network; and

a microprocessor in communication with the network, the microprocessor including instructions to implement a method comprising:

monitoring a cruise control system to determine if the cruise control system is activated or deactivated for a vehicle;

receiving vehicle operation data for the vehicle via the network;

determining a likelihood that a slippery road condition exists for the vehicle based on the vehicle operation data; and

communicating a warning message indicating the potential slippery road condition via the network to a driver of the vehicle when it has been determined that the likelihood a slippery road condition exists is over a first pre-selected value and the cruise control system is activated; and

transmitting a command to disable the cruise control system if the likelihood that a potential slippery road condition exists is over a second pre-selected value and the cruise control system is activated.

19. A method for providing a cruise control warning system, the method comprising:

monitoring a cruise control system to determine if the cruise control system is activated or deactivated for a vehicle;

receiving vehicle operation data for the vehicle;

determining a likelihood that a condition adverse to the use of cruise control exists for the vehicle based on the vehicle operation data; and

communicating a warning message identifying the potential condition adverse to the use of cruise control to a driver of the vehicle when it has been determined that the likelihood of a condition adverse to the use of cruise control is over a first pre-selected value and the cruise control system is activated; and

transmitting a command to disable the cruise control system if the likelihood that a potential condition adverse to the use of cruise control exists is over a second pre-selected value and the cruise control system is activated.

Assignments (13)