IP Library Granted Patent US 10,209,363
Granted Patent B2
US 10,209,363 · App. 14/745,650 · Granted Feb 19, 2019

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 10,209,363
App. No.
14/745,650
Granted
Feb 19, 2019
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 (73)

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 said memory;

a first transmitter device; and

a computer program instruction development module communicatively coupled to said memory, said first processor device and said first transmitter device, wherein said 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;

the information processing system configured to perform a method comprising:

transmitting, by said first transmitter device, said set of computer readable program instructions to said vehicle;

wherein set of computer readable program instructions are further configured to, based at least in part on a determination that said 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;

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.

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 1 , wherein said determination comprises at least one of the following:

a comparison of a current position of said vehicle to said restricted-operation region; and

a comparison of a projected future position of said vehicle to said restricted-operation region.

4. 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.

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

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

the 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 a vehicle that attempts to operate within said notification sub-region;

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

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

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

a memory;

a first processor device communicatively coupled to said memory;

a first transmitter device; and

a computer program instruction development module communicatively coupled to said memory, said first processor device and said first transmitter device, wherein said 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;

the information processing system configured to perform a method comprising:

transmitting, by said first transmitter device, 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;

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;

wherein the restricted operation region is defined by a beacon;

wherein said beacon is transmitted by said first transmitter device of the information processing system;

wherein said beacon is configured to be received by said vehicle;

wherein said determination that said vehicle is attempting to operate within the restricted-operation region is based at least in part on said beacon.

8. The information processing system of claim 7 , wherein said determination comprises at least one of the following:

a comparison of a current position of said vehicle to said restricted-operation region; and

a comparison of a projected future position of said vehicle to said restricted-operation region.

9. The information processing system of claim 7 , 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.

10. The information processing system of claim 7 , wherein:

the 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 a vehicle that attempts to operate within said notification sub-region;

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

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

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

a memory;

a first processor device communicatively coupled to said memory;

a first transmitter device; and

a computer program instruction development module communicatively coupled to said memory, said first processor device and said first transmitter device, wherein said 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 a vehicle that attempts to operate within the restricted-operation region;

the information processing system configured to perform a method comprising:

transmitting, by said first transmitter device, said set of computer readable program instructions to a first remote computer;

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 from the first remote computer 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;

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.

12. The information processing system of claim 11 , wherein said first remote computer comprises a node of a cloud computing system.

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

the restricted operation region is defined by a beacon;

said beacon is transmitted by a second transmitter device of the information processing system;

said beacon is configured to be received by said vehicle; and

said determination that said vehicle is attempting to operate within the restricted-operation region is based at least in part on said beacon.

14. The information processing system of claim 11 , wherein said determination comprises at least one of the following:

a comparison of a current position of said vehicle to said restricted-operation region; and

a comparison of a projected future position of said vehicle to said restricted-operation region.

15. The information processing system of claim 12 , wherein said first transmitter device comprises a second remote computer configured to download said set of computer readable program instructions to said first remote computer.

16. The information processing system of claim 11 , 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.

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

the 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 a vehicle that attempts to operate within said notification sub-region;

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

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

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 Jun 22, 2015
From: ASHOORI, MARYAM; CONNELL, JONATHAN H., II; ELLIS, JASON B.; FARRELL, ROBERT G.; SOROKER, DANNY
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 035994/0816 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 14672855 · Mar 30, 2015
Related Publication 20160291589A1 · Oct 6, 2016
Cited By (1)
US 12,401,660