IP Library Granted Patent US 7,474,961
Granted Patent B2
US 7,474,961 · App. 11/051,414 · Granted Jan 6, 2009

System to determine the path of a vehicle

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,474,961
App. No.
11/051,414
Granted
Jan 6, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method of selecting a most likely path of a vehicle from a list of candidate paths. If only one candidate path exists, that path is identified as the most likely path. For multiple candidate paths, cost functions determine the weight of various parameters associated with each candidate. The parameters may include lane information, the vehicle speed, the vehicle travel direction, the lateral speed of the vehicle, the state of various signals, such as the turn signals. From the various weights determined by the cost functions, the candidate path with the highest confidence level is determined to be the most likely path.

Claims (31)

1. A system for determining the most likely driving path of a vehicle moving along a roadway, comprising:

a map database;

a map matching module which determines the vehicle's position on a map associated with the map database; and

a look ahead module which evaluates the map for a curve ahead of the vehicle, the look ahead module determining a list of candidates of probable driving paths through the curve, each candidate being associated with one or more parameters having a weight determined by a respective cost function, the look ahead module analyzing the weights to determine the most likely path of the vehicle through the curve.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the candidate path with the highest total weight is selected as the most likely path.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the look ahead module is implemented with different cost functions associated with various roadway scenarios the vehicle potentially encounters.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more parameters includes the heading angle of the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the one or more parameters includes the lateral position of the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more parameters includes the length of time for the vehicle to reach a curve in the roadway.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the curve is an exit ramp.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more parameters includes the length of time a turn signal is activated.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more parameters includes the acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more parameters includes the vehicle speed and the posted speed for the roadway to determine if the vehicle is on a service drive.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more parameters includes the boundary type of a lane in the roadway.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the boundary type is solid.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the boundary type is dashed.

14. A method for determining the most likely driving path of a vehicle moving along a roadway, comprising:

determining the vehicle's position on a map associated with a map database;

evaluating the map for a curve ahead of the vehicle;

determining a list of candidates of probable driving paths through the curve, each candidate being associated with one or more parameters having a weight determined by a respective cost function; and

analyzing the weights to determine the most likely path of the vehicle through the curve.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the candidate path with the highest total weight is selected as the most likely path.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the one or more parameters includes the heading angle of the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the one or more parameters includes the lateral position of the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the one or more parameters includes the length of time for the vehicle to reach a curve in the roadway.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the one or more parameters includes the length of time a turn signal is activated.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein the one or more parameters includes the acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle.

21. The method of claim 14 wherein the one or more parameters includes the vehicle speed and the posted speed for the roadway to determine if the vehicle is on a service drive.

22. The method of claim 14 wherein the one or more parameters includes the boundary type of a lane in the roadway.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the boundary type is solid.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the boundary type is dashed.

Assignments (12)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Jun 9, 2014
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: VISTEON CORPORATION; VC AVIATION SERVICES, LLC; VISTEON ELECTRONICS CORPORATION; VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; VISTEON INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; VISTEON GLOBAL TREASURY, INC.; VISTEON EUROPEAN HOLDINGS, INC.; VISTEON SYSTEMS, LLC; VISTEON INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, INC.
Reel/Frame 033107/0717 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 18, 2014
From: VISTEON CORPORATION, AS GRANTOR; VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC., AS GRANTOR
To: CITIBANK., N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 032713/0065 →
RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY AGAINST SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS ON REEL 025241 FRAME 0317 Recorded Apr 26, 2011
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: VISTEON CORPORATION; VC AVIATION SERVICES, LLC; VISTEON ELECTRONICS CORPORATION; VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; VISTEON INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; VISTEON GLOBAL TREASURY, INC.; VISTEON EUROPEAN HOLDING, INC.; VISTEON SYSTEMS, LLC; VISTEON INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, INC.
Reel/Frame 026178/0412 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 19, 2010
From: VISTEON CORPORATION; VC AVIATION SERVICES, LLC; VISTEON ELECTRONICS CORPORATION; VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; VISTEON INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; VISTEON GLOBAL TREASURY, INC.; VISTEON EUROPEAN HOLDING, INC.; VISTEON SYSTEMS, LLC; VISTEON INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 025241/0317 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT (REVOLVER) Recorded Oct 19, 2010
From: VISTEON CORPORATION; VC AVIATION SERVICES, LLC; VISTEON ELECTRONICS CORPORATION; VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; VISTEON INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; VISTEON GLOBAL TREASURY, INC.; VISTEON EUROPEAN HOLDINGS, INC.; VISTEON SYSTEMS, LLC; VISTEON INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 025238/0298 →
RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY AGAINST SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 022575 FRAME 0186 Recorded Oct 7, 2010
From: WILMINGTON TRUST FSB, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 025105/0201 →
RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY AGAINST SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 022974 FRAME 0057 Recorded Oct 6, 2010
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
To: VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 025095/0711 →
ASSIGNMENT OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 17, 2009
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 022974/0057 →
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Apr 21, 2009
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: WILMINGTON TRUST FSB, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 022575/0186 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 27, 2009
From: VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK
Reel/Frame 022368/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 7, 2008
From: VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 020497/0733 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 4, 2005
From: IBRAHIM, FAROOG ABDEL-KAREEM
To: VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 016261/0254 →