IP Library Granted Patent US 11,631,331
Granted Patent B1
US 11,631,331 · App. 16/430,262 · Granted Apr 18, 2023

Systems and methods for providing lane-specific recommendations to a vehicle operator of a vehicle

Inventor: Jason Palmer (San Diego, CA)
Assignee: SmartDrive Systems, Inc.
G08G1/167B60W30/18163G01C21/3658G06V20/588B60W2554/801B60W2554/804
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,631,331
App. No.
16/430,262
Granted
Apr 18, 2023
Kind
B1
Abstract

Systems and methods for providing lane-specific recommendations to a vehicle operator of a vehicle operating on roadways are disclosed. The roadways include one or more lanes in each direction of travel. Exemplary implementations may: generate, by a set of sensors, output signals conveying information pertaining to the vehicle; determine a current location of the vehicle; determine a current direction of travel of the vehicle; detect a current lane being used by the vehicle from the multiple traffic lanes of the particular roadway at the current location in the current direction of travel; obtain lane-specific information regarding the multiple traffic lanes at or near the current location of the vehicle; obtain a goal for providing lane-specific recommendations; determine a lane-specific recommendation for the vehicle; and provide the lane-specific recommendation to the vehicle operator.

Claims (41)

1. A system configured for providing lane-specific recommendations to a vehicle operator of a vehicle operating on roadways based on a goal, wherein the roadways include one or more lanes in each direction of travel, the system comprising:

one or more hardware processors configured by machine-readable instructions to:

generate, by a set of sensors, output signals conveying information pertaining to the vehicle;

determine a current location of the vehicle, wherein the determination of the current location is based on the generated output signals, wherein the current location corresponds to a particular roadway, and wherein the particular roadway includes one or more lanes in each direction of travel;

determine a current direction of travel of the vehicle, wherein the determination of the current direction of travel is based on the generated output signals, wherein the current direction of travel corresponds to the particular roadway, and wherein the current direction of travel is associated with multiple traffic lanes;

detect a current lane being used by the vehicle from the multiple traffic lanes of the particular roadway at the current location in the current direction of travel, wherein the detection of the current lane is based on the generated output signals;

obtain lane-specific information regarding the multiple traffic lanes at or near the current location of the vehicle, wherein the multiple traffic lanes include the current lane, wherein the lane-specific information is based on previously detected vehicle usage on the roadways;

obtain one or more goals for the lane-specific recommendations from a fleet manager of a fleet of multiple vehicles, wherein the vehicle is included in the fleet of multiple vehicles, wherein the one or more goals pertain to operating complexity for the vehicle operator among the multiple traffic lanes;

determine a lane-specific recommendation for the vehicle regarding the multiple traffic lanes, wherein the determination of the lane-specific recommendation is based on the obtained lane-specific information and the one or more goals; and

provide the lane-specific recommendation to the vehicle operator, wherein execution of the lane-specific recommendation results in progress toward the one or more goals.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the determination of the lane-specific recommendation is further based on a vehicle type of the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the determination of the lane-specific recommendation is further based on current traffic conditions.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the determination of the lane-specific recommendation is further based on a current time-of-day.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle operator is an autonomous driving algorithm.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more hardware processors are further configured by machine-readable instructions to:

determine following distances for the multiple traffic lanes of the particular roadway at the current location in the current direction of travel, wherein the determination of the lane-specific recommendation is further based on the following distances.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more hardware processors are further configured by machine-readable instructions to:

determine vehicle speeds for the multiple traffic lanes of the particular roadway at the current location in the current direction of travel, wherein the determination of the lane-specific recommendation is further based on the vehicle speeds.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the current location is located along a current route of the vehicle to a current target destination, and wherein the lane-specific recommendation is independent of the current route and the current target destination.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the lane-specific recommendation is determined based on the one or more goals pertaining to lowering the operating complexity for the vehicle operator, wherein the operating complexity in a particular lane of the particular roadway is higher than in a different lane of the particular roadway due to particular exits and/or on-ramps in the particular section of the particular roadway.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more goals for the lane-specific recommendations include a combination of one or more of fuel-efficiency, minimal travel duration, and/or minimal likelihood of vehicle events, with the operating complexity for the vehicle operator.

11. A method for providing lane-specific recommendations to a vehicle operator of a vehicle operating on roadways based on a goal, wherein the roadways include one or more lanes in each direction of travel, the method comprising:

generating, by a set of sensors, output signals conveying information pertaining to the vehicle;

determining a current location of the vehicle, wherein the determination of the current location is based on the generated output signals, wherein the current location corresponds to a particular roadway, and wherein the particular roadway includes one or more lanes in each direction of travel;

determining a current direction of travel of the vehicle, wherein the determination of the current direction of travel is based on the generated output signals, wherein the current direction of travel corresponds to the particular roadway, and wherein the current direction of travel is associated with multiple traffic lanes;

detecting a current lane being used by the vehicle from the multiple traffic lanes of the particular roadway at the current location in the current direction of travel, wherein the detection of the current lane is based on the generated output signals;

obtaining lane-specific information regarding the multiple traffic lanes at or near the current location of the vehicle, wherein the multiple traffic lanes include the current lane, wherein the lane-specific information is based on previously detected vehicle usage on the roadways;

obtaining one or more goals for the lane-specific recommendations from a fleet manager of a fleet of multiple vehicles, wherein the vehicle is included in the fleet of multiple vehicles, wherein the one or more goals pertain to operating complexity for the vehicle operator among the multiple traffic lanes;

determining a lane-specific recommendation for the vehicle regarding the multiple traffic lanes, wherein the determination of the lane-specific recommendation is based on the obtained lane-specific information and the one or more goals; and

providing the lane-specific recommendation to the vehicle operator, wherein execution of the lane-specific recommendation results in progress toward the one or more goals.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the determination of the lane-specific recommendation is further based on a vehicle type of the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the determination of the lane-specific recommendation is further based on current traffic conditions.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the determination of the lane-specific recommendation is further based on a current time-of-day.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the vehicle operator is an autonomous driving algorithm.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

determining following distances for the multiple traffic lanes of the particular roadway at the current location in the current direction of travel, wherein the determination of the lane-specific recommendation is further based on the following distances.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

determining vehicle speeds for the multiple traffic lanes of the particular roadway at the current location in the current direction of travel, wherein the determination of the lane-specific recommendation is further based on the vehicle speeds.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the current location is located along a current route of the vehicle to a current target destination, and wherein the lane-specific recommendation is independent of the current route and the current target destination.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the lane-specific recommendation is determined based on the one or more goals pertaining to lowering the operating complexity for the vehicle operator, wherein the operating complexity in a particular lane of the particular roadway is higher than in a different lane of the particular roadway due to particular exits and/or on-ramps in the particular section of the particular roadway.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more goals for the lane-specific recommendations include a combination of one or more of fuel-efficiency, minimal travel duration, and/or minimal likelihood of vehicle events, with the operating complexity for the vehicle operator.

Assignments (11)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT PATENT NUMBER D856640 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 056598 FRAME 0059. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Nov 17, 2021
From: OMNITRACS, LLC; ROADNET TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.; XRS CORPORATION; HYPERQUEST, LLC (F/K/A HYPERQUEST, INC.); AUDATEX NORTH AMERICA, LLC (F/K/A AUDATEX NORTH AMERICA, INC.); CLAIMS SERVICES GROUP, LLC; DMEAUTOMOTIVE LLC; ENSERVIO, LLC (F/K/A ENSERVIO, INC.); MOBILE PRODUCTIVITY, LLC; SEE PROGRESS, LLC (F/K/A SEE PROGRESS, INC.); SOLERA HOLDINGS, LLC (F/K/A SOLERA HOLDINGS, INC.); EDRIVING FLEET LLC; FINANCE EXPRESS LLC
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058175/0775 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT PATENT NUMBER D856640 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 056601 FRAME 0630. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Nov 17, 2021
From: OMNITRACS, LLC; ROADNET TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.; XRS CORPORATION; HYPERQUEST, LLC (F/K/A HYPERQUEST, INC.); AUDATEX NORTH AMERICA, LLC (F/K/A AUDATEX NORTH AMERICA, INC.); CLAIMS SERVICES GROUP, LLC; DMEAUTOMOTIVE LLC; ENSERVIO, LLC (F/K/A ENSERVIO, INC.); MOBILE PRODUCTIVITY, LLC; SEE PROGRESS, LLC (F/K/A SEE PROGRESS, INC.); SOLERA HOLDINGS, LLC (F/K/A SOLERA HOLDINGS, INC.); EDRIVING FLEET LLC; FINANCE EXPRESS LLC
To: GOLDMAN SACHS LENDING PARTNERS LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058174/0907 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 16, 2021
From: OMNITRACS, LLC; ROADNET TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.; XRS CORPORATION; HYPERQUEST, LLC (F/K/A HYPERQUEST, INC.); AUDATEX NORTH AMERICA, LLC (F/K/A AUDATEX NORTH AMERICA, INC.); CLAIMS SERVICES GROUP, LLC; DMEAUTOMOTIVE LLC; ENSERVIO, LLC (F/K/A ENSERVIO, INC.); MOBILE PRODUCTIVITY, LLC; SEE PROGRESS, LLC (F/K/A SEE PROGRESS, INC.); SOLERA HOLDINGS, LLC (F/K/A SOLERA HOLDINGS, INC.); EDRIVING FLEET LLC; FINANCE EXPRESS LLC
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056598/0059 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 16, 2021
From: OMNITRACS, LLC; ROADNET TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.; XRS CORPORATION; HYPERQUEST, LLC (F/K/A HYPERQUEST, INC.); AUDATEX NORTH AMERICA, LLC (F/K/A AUDATEX NORTH AMERICA, INC.); CLAIMS SERVICES GROUP, LLC; DMEAUTOMOTIVE LLC; ENSERVIO, LLC (F/K/A ENSERVIO, INC.); MOBILE PRODUCTIVITY, LLC; SEE PROGRESS, LLC (F/K/A SEE PROGRESS, INC.); SOLERA HOLDINGS, LLC (F/K/A SOLERA HOLDINGS, INC.); EDRIVING FLEET LLC; FINANCE EXPRESS LLC
To: GOLDMAN SACHS LENDING PARTNERS LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056601/0630 →
SECURITY INTEREST RELEASE (REEL/FRAME: 054236/0435) Recorded Jun 8, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS GRANTEE
To: SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 056518/0845 →
SECURITY INTEREST RELEASE (REEL/FRAME: 054236/0320) Recorded Jun 8, 2021
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS GRANTEE
To: SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 056520/0944 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 6, 2020
From: SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 054236/0435 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 6, 2020
From: SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 054236/0320 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF GRANT OF A SECURITY INTEREST - PATENTS Recorded Oct 6, 2020
From: TCS TALENTS, LLC, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
To: SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 053983/0525 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 3, 2019
From: SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
To: TCS TALENTS, LLC, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 050255/0071 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 3, 2019
From: PALMER, JASON
To: SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 049353/0358 →