IP Library Granted Patent US 10,162,059
Granted Patent B2
US 10,162,059 · App. 14/672,855 · Granted Dec 25, 2018

Implementing a restricted-operation region for unmanned vehicles

Inventors: Maryam Ashoori (Richmond Hill, CA); Jonathan H. Connell, II (Cortlandt-Manor, NY); Jason B. Ellis (New York, NY); Robert G. Farrell (Cornwall, NY); Danny Soroker (Larchmont, NY)
Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
G01S19/13G01S1/08G01S19/48G05D1/101G08G5/006G08G5/0013G08G5/0026G08G5/0069G08G5/045H04W4/021H04W4/046
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,162,059
App. No.
14/672,855
Granted
Dec 25, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments are directed to a system for implementing a restricted-operation region. The system includes an instruction development module configured to be utilized in the development of a set of instructions that implement an operation policy of the restricted-operation region. The set of instructions is configured to, when interpreted, implement the operation policy by controlling at least one function of a vehicle that attempts to operate within the restricted-operation region. The system further includes a first transmitter configured to transmit the set of instructions to the vehicle, wherein a processor of the vehicle is configured to interpret the set of instructions based at least in part on a determination that the vehicle is attempting to operate within the restricted-operation region.

Claims (59)

1. An information processing system for implementing a restricted-operation region, the information processing system comprising:

a memory;

a first processor device communicatively coupled to the memory;

a computer program instruction development module communicatively coupled to the memory and the first processor device, wherein the computer program instruction development module is configured to develop a set of computer readable program instructions configured such that, based at least in part on being downloaded by a second processor device of a vehicle, the set of computer readable program instructions modify operation of the vehicle in a manner that enables the second processor device of the vehicle to interpret control instructions and process data that implement an operation policy of the restricted-operation region by controlling at least one function of the vehicle based at least in part on the vehicle attempting to operate within the restricted-operation region;

wherein the second processor device of the vehicle cannot interpret the control instructions and process the data without having downloaded the set of computer readable program instructions; and

a first transmitter device configured to transmit said set of computer readable program instructions to said vehicle;

wherein said set of computer readable program instructions are further configured to, based at least in part on a determination that the vehicle is attempting to operate within the restricted operation region, be downloaded by the second processor of the vehicle to modify operation of the vehicle in a manner that enables the second processor device of the vehicle to interpret control instructions and process data that implement the operation policy of the restricted-operation region.

2. The information processing system of claim 1 , wherein:

the set of computer readable program instructions modify operation of the vehicle by modifying an operating system of the vehicle to generate a modified operating system of the vehicle configured to enable an interpreter of the modified operating system to run the control instructions.

3. The information processing system of claim 2 , wherein:

the restricted operation region is defined by a beacon;

said beacon is transmitted by a second transmitter device; and

a single unit comprises said first transmitter device and said second transmitter device.

4. The information processing system of claim 3 , wherein at least one of said first transmitter device and said second transmitter device comprises a node of a cloud computing system.

5. The information processing system of claim 1 , wherein:

the restricted-operation region comprises a space component, a range component and a time component.

6. The information processing system of claim 1 , wherein said first transmitter device comprises a remote computer configured to download said set of computer readable program instructions to said vehicle.

7. The information processing system of claim 1 , wherein said at least one function of said vehicle comprises a surveillance function.

8. The information processing system of claim 1 , wherein said restricted-operation region further comprises a plurality of sub-regions.

9. The information processing system of claim 8 , wherein:

at least one of said plurality of sub-regions comprises a notification sub-region; and

said at least one function comprises a notification communication function of said vehicle.

10. The information processing system of claim 8 , wherein:

at least one of said plurality of sub-regions comprises a warning sub-region; and

said at least one function comprises a warning communication function of said vehicle.

11. The information processing system of claim 8 , wherein:

at least one of said plurality of sub-regions comprises a limited-operation sub-region; and

said at least one function comprises a limited-operation function of said vehicle.

12. A computer program product for implementing a restricted-operation region, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions being readable by a first processor circuit to cause the first processor circuit to perform a method comprising:

initiating, by the first processor circuit, a transmission to a vehicle a set of computer readable program instructions configured such that, based at least in part on being downloaded by a second processor circuit of a vehicle, the set of computer readable program instructions modify operation of the vehicle in a manner that enables the second processor circuit of the vehicle to interpret control instructions and process data that implement an operation policy of the restricted-operation region by controlling at least one function of the vehicle based at least in part on the vehicle attempting to operate within the restricted-operation region;

wherein the second processor circuit of the vehicle cannot interpret the control instructions and process the data without having downloaded the set of computer readable program instructions; and

transmitting said set of computer readable program instructions to said vehicle;

wherein said set of computer readable program instructions are further configured to, based at least in part on a determination that the vehicle is attempting to operate within the restricted operation region, be downloaded by the second processor of the vehicle to modify operation of the vehicle in a manner that enables the second processor circuit of the vehicle to interpret control instructions and process data that implement the operation policy of the restricted-operation region.

13. The computer program product of claim 12 , wherein the set of computer readable program instructions modify operation of the vehicle by modifying an operating system of the vehicle to generate a modified operating system of the vehicle configured to enable an interpreter of the modified operating system to run the control instructions.

14. The computer program product of claim 12 , wherein said transmission of said set of computer readable program instructions comprises a download of said set of instructions to said vehicle from a remote computer.

15. The computer program product of claim 12 , wherein:

said restricted-operation region further comprises a plurality of sub-regions;

at least one of said plurality of sub-regions comprises at least one of a notification sub-region, a warning sub-region and a limited-operation region;

wherein said at least one function comprises at least one of:

a notification communication function of said vehicle;

a warning communication function of said vehicle; and

a limited-operation function of said vehicle.

16. A system for implementing a restricted-operation region, the system comprising:

a communication channel between a first transmitter device and a vehicle attempting to operate within the restricted-operation region; and

a set of computer readable program instructions configured to be transmitted over the communication channel to the vehicle;

wherein the set of computer readable program instructions are further configured to, based at least in part on a determination that the vehicle is attempting to operate within the restricted operation region, be downloaded by a processor device of the vehicle to modify operation of the vehicle in a manner that enables the processor device of the vehicle to interpret control instructions and process data that implement the operation policy of the restricted-operation region.

17. The system for implementing a restricted-operation region of claim 16 , wherein:

said restricted-operation region further comprises a plurality of sub-regions;

at least one of said plurality of sub-regions comprises at least one of a notification sub-region, a warning sub-region and a limited-operation region;

wherein said at least one function of said vehicle comprises at least one of:

a notification communication function of a vehicle attempting to operate within said notification sub-region;

a warning communication function of a vehicle attempting to operate within said warning sub-region; and

a limited-operation function of a vehicle attempting to operate within said limited-operation sub-region.

18. A vehicle for implementing at least one restricted-operation region, the vehicle comprising:

a receiver system comprising at least one receiver device;

said receiver system configured to receive a first set of computer readable program instructions configured to be downloaded by the receiver system of the vehicle to modify operation of the vehicle in a manner that enables a processor of the receiver system of the vehicle to interpret control instructions and process data that implement a first operation policy of a first restricted-operation region by controlling at least one of a plurality of functions of the vehicle.

19. The vehicle for implementing at least one restricted-operation region of claim 18 , wherein:

said receiver system is further configured to receive a second set of computer readable program instructions configured to be downloaded by the receiver system of the vehicle to modify operation of the vehicle in a manner that enables the processor of the vehicle to interpret control instructions and process data that implement a second operation policy of a second restricted-operation region by controlling said at least one of the plurality of functions of the vehicle.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 26, 2022
From: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
To: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; KIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 058780/0252 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 30, 2015
From: ASHOORI, MARYAM; CONNELL, JONATHAN H., II; ELLIS, JASON B.; FARRELL, ROBERT G.; SOROKER, DANNY
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 035287/0732 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160291588A1 · Oct 6, 2016
Cited By (1)
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